Jalen Brunson scored 20 of his 35 points in the first quarter Tuesday night and the New York Knicks defeated the host Toronto Raptors 117-101 in their NBA Cup quarterfinal.
The Knicks will play the Orlando Magic in a semifinal game Saturday at Las Vegas.
Karl-Anthony Towns added 14 points and 16 rebounds for the Knicks, who have won four straight and eight of nine. Josh Hart scored 21 points, Mikal Bridges had 15, OG Anunoby chipped in with 13 points, two blocks and two steals while Jordan Clarkson contributed 12 points.
The Knicks have won 10 consecutive meetings with the Raptors.
Brandon Ingram had 17 of his 31 points in the opening quarter for the Raptors, who have lost four in a row. Jamal Shead added 18 points, Scottie Barnes and Ja’Kobe Walter each scored 13 and Jakob Poeltl had 10 points and nine rebounds.
The Knicks led by as many as 24 points before entering the fourth quarter with a 15-point advantage. The lead reached 20 when Bridges hit a 3-point shot with 10:14 to play. Toronto whittled it 15 on Ingram’s jumper with 6:27 left. Anunoby’s 3-point shot put New York up by 18 with 4:47 remaining.
The Raptors shook off a recent tendency for struggling starts to take a 39-35 lead after a loosely played first quarter that had nine lead changes. New York made seven turnovers and Toronto committed four.
New York stiffened defensively and opened the second quarter with a 12-2 burst. The lead grew to 11 with 5:13 to play in the second quarter when Brunson hit a floater.
The Knicks’ ability to gather offensive rebounds helped them stretch the margin to 18 with 1:19 to play when Bridges stuffed a reverse layup. New York led 69-52 at halftime.
Hart scored New York’s first nine points of the third quarter to bump the lead to 24. Toronto showed some spark and a steal by Barnes resulted in Walter’s layup that cut the lead to 14 with 4:11 to play. The Knicks led 94-79 after the third quarter.
Guard Immanuel Quickley (illness) did not play for Toronto, while guard Miles McBride (ankle) was out for New York.
Jalen Brunson (35), Knicks beat Raptors in NBA Cup quarterfinals
Desmond Bane had great quote after going off in NBA Cup quarterfinals
Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane had jokes ready after his monstrous performance in the NBA Cup quarterfinals.
Bane was a one-man offense for the Magic in their NBA Cup elimination game against the Miami Heat at Kia Center in Orlando, Fla. The 6’6″ shooting guard went off for 37 points on 14/24 shooting to go along with 6 rebounds and 5 assists.
The TCU alum scored 15 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter to help the Magic douse the Heat in the 117-108 contest.
During his postgame press conference, one reporter asked what the NBA Cup success and prize money meant for Bane and his teammates.
“I just lost $35,000,” Bane said, drawing laughter from the press room. “So, I’ve gotta go get it back somehow.”
“I’m excited. Great opportunity for us to play meaningful basketball early in the season. I know the group’s excited.”
The NBA fined Bane $35,000 earlier this week after he violently chucked the ball at New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby during their game last week. The two players meet again soon as Bane’s Magic fittingly play Anunoby’s Knicks in the NBA Cup semifinals.
Bane was able to recoup that money plus a little extra by making the NBA Cup quarterfinals, which earned each player $51,497 in prize money. The team got double that for making the semifinals.
NBA Cup 2025: Behind Desmond Bane, Jalen Brunson, Magic and Knicks advance to semifinals
The Eastern Conference semifinals of the NBA Cup are set, and it very well could be a preview of the Eastern Conference Finals next May. Here is how things shook out on Tuesday night. (The Western Conference quarterfinals games take place on Wednesday night between the Suns and Thunder, followed by the Spurs and Lakers.)
Knicks 117, Raptors 101
Toronto has struggled of late, losing three in a row coming into Tuesday night, in part because a team built on depth is missing two of the roster’s core starters, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley.
Overcoming those absences is harder when you run into a red-hot Jalen Brunson.
Brunson scored 35 and sparked the Knicks to the comfortable win, earning them a trip to Las Vegas to face Orlando on Saturday in the NBA Cup semifinals. The Knicks beat the Magic last Sunday at Madison Square Garden, 106-100.
Tuesday’s game in Toronto looked like it would be a shootout early on, with Brunson and Brandon Ingram putting on a show in the first quarter — Brunson had 20 in the frame and Ingram 17. It was a highly entertaining 39-35 Toronto lead after one defense-free quarter.
The game turned in the second quarter, when New York cranked up its defensive pressure. Toronto went cold, shooting 4-of-13 for the frame, scoring just 13 total points. While Ingram continued to put up points all night, he finished with 31, the rest of the team wilted under the pressure (this is where Toronto misses Barrett and Quickley. Remove Ingram from the equation, and the Raptors shot just 38.9% on the night and were 8-of-33 (24.2%) from 3-point range.
While the Raptors struggled to find a bucket, the Knicks started to pull away. By the half, it was 69-52 New York.
The game was never really in doubt in the second half. Josh Hart was 4-of-7 from 3 on his way to 21 points, while Mikal Bridges pitched in 15. Karl-Anthony Towns, who sat out
New York has won 8-of-9 and heads to Las Vegas feeling lucky as one of the hottest teams in the league.
Orlando 117, Miami 108
Orlando’s defense is back.
When the Magic stumbled out of the gate this season, questions about the fit of their offense became the talking point. However, the defense that had been the foundation of this team was the bigger issue — in October, Orlando gave up 120 points a game on nearly 60% true shooting.
The Magic have turned their defense around and Tuesday night was the exclamation point.
Miami is an offense built on pace and transition, and for the season the Heat came into the night with a 118.8 net rating in transition — Orlando held them to 88.2 on Tuesday, and limited the transition opportunities they got.
Forced into the half-court, Orlando’s quality individual defenders didn’t give Miami places to attack in its isolation-heavy offense.
Combine all that with 37 points from Desmond Bane, and Orlando gets the win and advances to Las Vegas and the semifinals of the NBA Cup.
The game started the way Miami wanted as it raced out — literally — to a 17-2 lead, getting out in transition thanks to seven first-quarter Orlando turnovers. The Heat led 30-17 after one quarter, during which the Magic shot 28.6% from the floor, including 1-of-5 from 3.
However, in the second quarter the Magic were able to grind the game’s pace down and get back in it, especially when their shots started falling. Bane’s driving the lane and getting downhill keyed the Magic’s comeback. It was 57-56 Miami at the half.
In the third quarter, Orlando went on a run behind Bane and took control of the game. He got help with 20 points on the night from Jalen Suggs and 18 from Paolo Banchero.
Norman Powell led a balanced Heat attack with 21 points, while Tyler Herro added 20. The Heat will next play the Raptors.
Wednesday’s TV/Radio listings (Dec. 10)
See Wednesday’s TV/Radio listings below:
EVENTTIMETVNBA Cup QuarterfinalsPhoenix at Oklahoma City6:30PrimeSan Antonio at LA Lakers9:00PrimeNCAA men’s basketballNorfolk St. at Baylor11 amESPN+Albany vs. Yale3:30ESPNULiberty at NC State6:00ACCMinnesota at Purdue6:00BigTenUMass vs. Boston College6:00ESPNUJackson St. at Houston7:00ESPN+Wisconsin at Nebraska8:00BigTenNCAA women’s basketballIowa at Iowa State6:00ESPNIllinois at Missouri6:00SECCoppin St. at SMU6:30ACCNXTexas at UTRGV6:30ESPN+Ball State at Louisville8:00ACCGolfDP World: Alfred Dunhill Championship4am (Thu)GolfNHLNY Rangers at Chicago6:30TNTLos Angeles at Seattle9:00TNTInternational hockeyUnited States at Canada8:00NHLMen’s soccerAthletic Club vs. Paris S-G1:50Ch. 49Leverkusen vs. Newcastle2:00CBSSN
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Giannis Antetokounmpo meets with Bucks teammates over trade rumors
Giannis Antetokounmpo is trying to keep his Bucks teammates focused amid swirling trade rumors around the NBA superstar.
Antetokounmpo reportedly met with several teammates to address the chatter about his future and encouraged them to keep the focus on basketball, though it didn’t seem like he did much to suggest that he would be remaining in Milwaukee.
“With rumors swirling rampant right now on Giannis Antetokounmpo and his future, sources have relayed to me that Giannis Antetokounmpo addressed some of his teammates recently to stress the importance of focusing on basketball,” NBA insider Cris Haynes reported on NBA TV on Tuesday. “And not to allow outside distractions to interfere with the process at hand. I was told that his point was that he’s here at the time being wanting to get better. Wanting to make sure he gets his game back on point, make sure he gets back from this injury, but he understood, and he relayed the message that he can’t control what goes on or what even happens to him.
“Obviously, things are getting loud to a certain point where he had to address some of his teammates. We shall see what happens from here on out.”
The Bucks star is currently out with a calf strain, with a timeline anticipating a 2-4 week window before returning to the court for a team sitting at 10-15. He last played on Dec. 3 against the Pistons. Antetokounmpo is averaging 28.9 points and 10.1 rebounds over 17 games.
Antetokounmpo and his agent, Alex Saratsis, have had conversations with the Bucks front office about Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee, and trade rumors have continued to swirl.
The Knicks have long been linked to Antetokounmpo, with The Post confirming two months ago that he viewed the Knicks as one of the teams that he would consider a trade to over the summer.
However, talks never progressed far between the Knicks and Bucks.
The Athletic’s Sam Amick painted the Heat as a potentially good fit for Antetokounmpo when he appeared on “Run It Back” on Tuesday.
A resolution is expected in the coming weeks and that would put the noise to bed.
But until then, the rumor mill is churning as all eyes are on Antetokounmpo and the Bucks to see what the future holds for both parties.
Knicks, Jalen Brunson issue reminder to East as they surge into NBA Cup semifinals
The New York Knicks made the Eastern Conference finals last season, have a top-10 player in Jalen Brunson, replaced Tom Thibodeau with Mike Brown in one of the biggest coaching changes of the offseason, signed a number of veterans to bolster their bench, play in the biggest market in the league and entered the season with the fourth-best odds to win the title.
And yet, they’ve felt like something of an afterthought through the first quarter of the season, even among their East rivals.
Early on, everyone wanted to talk about the Chicago Bulls’ perfect start. The Miami Heat’s new offense has captured analytic hearts and minds. Disappointing starts for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic commanded attention, as has a surprise surge from the Boston Celtics. The first-place Detroit Pistons have been one of the best stories in the league. Lately, all eyes have been on the Milwaukee Bucks amid the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors.
There hasn’t been much oxygen left over for the Knicks — who, it must be said, haven’t always put their best foot forward. They were 2-3 through their first five games, were still hovering just a few games over .500 in late November and have really struggled on the road (4-6).
Over the last few weeks, though, the Knicks have started to round into form. Including Tuesday night’s comfortable 117-101 win over the Toronto Raptors in the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup, they’ve won eight of their last nine games, with six of those victories coming by double digits. Now 17-7 on the season, they have sole possession of second place in the East and are two games back of the Pistons.
Despite some initial (and expected) hiccups with Brown’s new offensive system, the Knicks have been elite on that side of the ball. Their 121.7 offensive rating ranks third in the league, and is up significantly from last season’s 117.3 mark. They are sixth in the league in 3-point attempts per game (41) and fifth in 3-point percentage (37.5%), fourth in turnover rate (13.4%) and fifth in offensive rebounding rate (34%).
Brunson, who poured in 35 points on 13 of 19 from the field in Tuesday’s win over the Raptors, has once again been the engine. He’s up to 28 points per game, which ranks 10th in the league, on 47.1/35.9/85.7 shooting splits. He’s actually taking a few more shots this season than he did last season, but he has far more help.
The Knicks have seven other players averaging at least nine points per game, and while their bench is still one of the least productive in the league, it’s much improved from last season when it was the worst reserve unit by a significant margin.
Knicks’ bench scoring
SeasonPoints per gameLeague rank
2024-25
32
27th
2025-26
21.7
30th
Defensively, the Knicks have been almost exactly in line with where they were last season. Their 113.5 defensive rating ranks 14th in the league, compared to a 113.3 defensive rating and 13th place finish in that department last season.
They give up a ton of 3s (40 per game, which ranks 27th in the league), but they’re generally in the middle of the pack in most categories, and that’s despite missing Mitchell Robinson and OG Anunoby for extended stretches (both are now healthy). They’re always going to have some issues on that end with Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, but as long as their offense keeps playing like this, they just have to remain average defensively.
On Saturday, the Knicks will head to Las Vegas to face the Magic in the semifinals of the NBA Cup. A trip to next Tuesday’s championship will be on the line, and, for perhaps the first time all season, all eyes will be on the Knicks. This game(s) is a perfect opportunity for the Knicks to make sure they’re no longer overlooked.
Magic asserting themselves as serious contender with NBA Cup win
Playing without the injured Franz Wagner, the Orlando Magic continued their winning ways in the NBA Cup. The Magic are showing they don’t need their stars — as long as they have Desmond Bane.
Bane scored 37 points in the Magic’s 117-108 win over the Miami
Heat, earning a berth in the semifinal of the NBA cup in Las Vegas Saturday, Dec. 13. His emergence has helped the Magic win 11 of their last 15 games and become a top-10 offense in the NBA.
Desmond Bane corrected the Magic’s biggest offensive weakness
Last season, the Magic had the NBA’s fourth-worst offense, thanks to being the worst three-point shooting team at 31.8 percent and finishing last in assists with 23 per game. Bane struggled with his outside shot for his first 10 games with Orlando, but he’s averaging 2.2 per game since then and making 38.4 percent of his attempts. As a team, Orlando is up to 34.5 percent on threes and 25.6 assists, a sizable improvement.
Tuesday, Bane shot 6-of-9 from behind the arc, driving a second-quarter Magic surge where they scored 39 points behind Bane’s 4-of-5 shooting and three assists. His passing is helping the Magic run a more egalitarian offense this season, after they generally ran things through Wagner or Paolo Banchero last season. The two forwards are very good at scoring and going to the hoop, but they’re not the shooter or passers that Bane is.
After the game, Bane told reporters,
Kris Wright Headed Back to Trucks with McAnally
Kris Wright is headed back to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series full-time in 2026, pairing up with McAnally-Hilgemann Racing.
The organization announced on Tuesday that Wright, a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, will drive the No. 81 FNB Corporation Chevrolet Silverado RST for the Bill McAnally-owned operation in the NASCAR Truck Series.
Wright will be reuniting with the organization after contesting a two-race stint with the organization last Fall in the team’s fifth entry, the No. 16 Chevrolet, at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL and Talladega Superspeedway. The 31-year-old driver recorded finishes of 11th (a career-best) and 26th.
Darren Fraley has gotten the nod to work with Wright as the full-time shot-caller of the No. 81 Chevrolet Silverado RST in 2026. The Kinsman, Ohio-native has been with several organizations throughout his time in the NASCAR Truck Series including Niece Motorsports, GMS Racing, and Jordan Anderson Racing before moving to MHR in 2024.
Fraley and Wright have worked together before — twice, actually — once in a three-race stint at Niece Motorsports in 2022 (which netted finishes of 25th, 27th, and 31st) and in his afforementioned two-race stint with McAnally-Hilgemann Racing this past Fall.
“I’m really looking forward to next year and being a part of the MHR program,” said Wright. “This is the biggest organization I’ve had the chance to race with, and it’ll be a great opportunity to put the resources to good use. I felt really good about working with Darren [Fraley] in the two races we ran this fall. There’s a lot of familiarity there, so I’m really encouraged that we can have a strong season in 2026.”
Wright has jumped around from series-to-series throughout his NASCAR National Series career, which began in 2020, including stints in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (now the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series), the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and the ARCA Menards Series.
In 2025, Wright began the year driving the No. 5 Chevrolet for Our Motorsports in the Xfinity Series before the two parties split up and Our closed its doors mid-season. Aside from that endevour, Wright also made starts in the ARCA Menards Series for Venturini Motorsports and the NASCAR Truck Series for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing.
Although Wright has 49 career starts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the 2018 IMSA Prototype Challenge LMP3 champion and 2017 IMSA Prototype Challenge Rookie of The Year (ROTY) has never run a complete campaign with a single organization — something he hopes to change with McAnally-Hilgemann Racing in 2026.
“We’re glad we were able to run Kris in a couple of races before the end of the season and to have him on board in 2026,” team owner Bill McAnally said. “With Darren [Fraley] leading the No. 81 team, we’re making sure Kris has strong team behind him and motivated to elevate his career in his first full-time season.”
Wright will join Tyler Ankrum (No. 18) and Christian Eckes (No. 91) as the announced drivers for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing in 2026. The team has yet to confirm who will drive the flagship No. 19 Chevrolet next season.
The 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series campaign will begin with the season-opener at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, February 13 at 7:30 PM ET. Coverage of the event will be on FS1, NASCAR Radio Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
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NASCAR Trial Heats Up as Commissioner Steve Phelps Testifies
Tension rose again in the NASCAR trial on Tuesday as Commissioner Steve Phelps took the stand and was questioned about the long fight over team charters and revenue sharing.
The lawsuit, brought by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, claims NASCAR uses rules and business practices that limit competition and keep team payments low.
The case entered its second week in Charlotte, and Phelps’ testimony added new details about how NASCAR handled negotiations and how much control the league holds over tracks, teams, and technology.
With more witnesses scheduled, the trial continues to uncover years of internal disagreements and high-stakes decisions.
Dispute over charter talks and NASCAR’s leverage
According to Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic, Phelps denied claims that NASCAR pressured teams with a take-it-or-leave-it deadline. When shown an email where he wrote teams could “sign or lose their charters,” he responded, “That is not what happened.” He also pushed back at the idea that NASCAR acted as a monopolist, calling the suggestion “unfair.”
He explained that the team’s first request for $720 million per year would, in his view, have left NASCAR “bankrupt.” “The sport would cease to exist,” Phelps said. He also described the negotiation as “one of the most challenging and the longest” he had ever taken part in.
Phelps confirmed his total compensation “was worth as much as $5 million per year,” and he acknowledged that the France family received nearly $400 million from 2021 to 2024, though he was unsure how much was used for taxes.
Monopoly Concerns Raised in the NASCAR Trial
According to Autoweek’s reporter Deb Williams, economist Edward Snyder testified that “NASCAR protects itself from having other entrants into the sport through Charters and sanctions. Also, restrictions are on the cars.” He also said teams were paid “below a competitive market rate” and added that negotiations were not meaningful because “the teams didn’t have anywhere else to sell their services.”
Snyder stated that NASCAR’s long-term track exclusivity agreements block competitors, noting that NASCAR “controls the tracks, the teams, and the cars, which forces teams to accept less favorable terms. He testified that these agreements prevent tracks that host NASCAR from holding events with rival racing series.”
Snyder calculated that NASCAR owed 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports $364.7 million in damages and found that all 36 chartered teams together were shorted $1.06 billion from 2021 to 2024. He also noted that NASCAR held $2.2 billion in assets and an equity value of about $5 billion during the period studied.
Emails, memory gaps, and concerns over rival series
Phelps said he did not recall several emails raised in court, including one showing Speedway Motorsports agreed to “reject other competitor series that may present themselves.” He also said he did not remember a message noting teams once discussed running their own event, something NASCAR opposed.
But Phelps did remember early worry about the launch of the SRX series. He texted executives that SRX “could turn into LIV if we don’t play our cards right,” and later wrote, “Need to put a knife in this trash series.” He said his frustration came from teams racing in a series with sponsors and colors that looked similar to NASCAR.
Kyle Busch’s Future in Limbo As Richard Childress Admits Exit Plans Amid NASCAR on Sale Rumors
Having owned and operated a NASCAR team since 1969, Richard Childress has produced some of the finest drivers in the sport’s history while clinching 6 Cup Series championships. Moreover, Childress’s team, Richard Childress Racing, currently houses Austin Dillon and Kyle Busch. However, the stellar team owner might be preparing for a major setback, as he was made to admit on Day 7 of NASCAR’s antitrust lawsuit.
Could Richard Childress give up his RCR ownership?
It is no secret that RCR has struggled for performance in recent seasons, especially in the Cup Series. Only Austin Dillon roped in a single victory in 2025, winning the Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway and defending his 2024 win. What’s more, he averted the controversy that shrouded his Richmond trophy a year before.
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However, Richard Childress is himself gearing up for some controversy – not on the racetrack, but in the courtroom. With him being the primary subject of derogatory language in former NASCAR President Steve Phelps’ leaked texts, Richard Childress was called to the witness box on Day 7 of the antitrust lawsuit. During the questioning, the sport’s attorney made him admit that the team was in talks of selling an equity stake, including his 60% share.
This would be huge news regarding the lawsuit. It was NASCAR that elicited Childress’s information. And this may reveal that the sport has had some control over the teams’ operations. Furthermore, it could point towards the fact that legendary teams are finding it hard to continue operating under the current system.
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Earlier Tuesday, Kyle Busch testified that he felt pressurized while signing the 2024 charter agreement, the basis of Michael Jordan’s antitrust lawsuit. He admitted that the charters added value to his team, but said the equity falls short of its financial scope if the charters were permanent.
Childress testified that he supports the charter system that was implemented in 2016 when race teams “were worth 10 cents on the dollar at most. We didn’t have nothing.” However, he also claimed that “I would not have signed those charters if I was financially able to do what I do. We are a blue-collar operation.”
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The lawsuit is clearly taking a dramatic turn now. However, it could also turn out horribly for Kyle Busch, who has been struggling ever since he moved to the team.
Why would a change in management put Kyle Busch under pressure?
Kyle Busch moved to RCR beginning with the 2023 season when he delivered three strong victories. However, his Enjoy Illinois 300 win in June 2023 was the last. He hasn’t managed to win a race ever since. The 40-year-old hasn’t won a single race in the past two seasons, and his performances have been rather inconsistent.
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Understandably, this is partially also because of the team’s performance as a whole. But Busch is a senior driver and is understood to have a direct influence on the team, owing to his bond with Childress. However, if the management were to be changed, his future could be in question.
Seemingly, Kyle Busch would lose a huge influence over the team, which could result in worse finishes in upcoming seasons. Moreover, if his performance didn’t improve, he might be pushed to sign with another team or potentially retire.
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It is unclear how Busch’s future might turn out without Richard Childress. However, if the 80-year-old did sell the equity stake, RCR could lose its identity. Childress has built it over the course of close to six decades.
With Richard Childress’s assets being dissected in public, we can only wait and see what awaits the renowned Cup Series team.
Jim France Refutes Joe Gibbs’ Desperate Plea Claims as His Testimony Unravels Under Pressure With $365M at Stake
A day earlier, a professor of economics set off dramatic tones in the NASCAR antitrust lawsuit. Edward Snyder, who has worked with the Department of Justice, testified that NASCAR’s revenue-sharing model lags behind that of F1 in teams’ pay slips. In that regard, he also claimed that 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, the teams behind the lawsuit, are owed $364.7 million. With such a gigantic amount at stake, the sport’s head, Jim France, bizarrely appeared dumbfounded recently.
Jim France builds a diplomatic wall
“France says he doesn’t remember Joe Gibbs pleading with him on Sept. 6 to ‘don’t do this.’ France says he couldn’t see himself telling Coach ‘if I only get 20 charters back, I get 20 charters back.’ But did he deny it? ‘Im not sure I did,’” Journalist Matt Weaver wrote on X.
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Joe Gibbs was just one of the team owners frustrated with the new charter agreement, which was signed in September 2024, as the lawsuit has revealed. Richard Childress was another, along with, of course, Michael Jordan and Bob Jenkins. Nevertheless, Jim France was absolutely mum when Jordan’s attorney, Jeffrey Kessler, grilled him with a series of questions in court. As Matt Weaver revealed on X, France’s answers were mostly “I don’t know” and “I don’t recall.”
“Plaintiffs have finished grilling Jim France, and I don’t think he’s going to be able to skirt the claims of being a “brick wall” in negotiations as “I’m not sure” and “I don’t know” were a constant theme of the testimony,” Toby Christie posted on X. Jeff Gluck added his own take: “Court is done for the day. I don’t think I’m underselling it to say Jim France’s testimony was shockingly bad so far. Just not good at all for NASCAR IMO.”
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When Jeffrey Kessler asked Jim France about the consequences for teams if they did not sign the charter deal, the answer took a similarly bland tone. France simply said that if teams backed out, they would not get charters. He also added that NASCAR continued to negotiate for a year even after the email that offered all the options. That included 32 charters, going back to the open or going vertical.
Clearly, the NASCAR lawsuit’s latest development has raised eyebrows in the community. Stay tuned for further updates!
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NASCAR Trial Intensifies As Jim France And Richard Childress Testify
After NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps was the focus of attention in Tuesday morning’s session of the NASCAR Trail, interest increased dramatically as NASCAR Chairman Jim France and team owner Richard Childress testified in the afternoon session.
The NASCAR Anti-Trust Trial at the Federal Courthouse in Charlotte, North Carolina completed its seventh day on Tuesday, December 9.
France was the final witness called by attorneys for Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports. Those race teams have accused NASCAR of being a monopolistic bully that engages in anticompetitive business practices.
Also called Tuesday was Hall of Fame team owner Childress, who testified that he only signed a 2025 revenue-sharing agreement because refusing to do so would have put Richard Childress Racing out of business.
An anti-trust lawsuit was brought by Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing against NASCAR and Jim France’s family, but the son of NASCAR founder Bill France and the brother of former NASCAR leader Bill France, Jr. remains undeterred in his conviction. France said has not changed his mind on granting teams permanent charters, and evidence showed he entered negotiations on a new revenue-sharing agreement determined to thwart teams’ efforts for a bigger piece of the stock car series’ revenue, according to a report by Jenna Fryer of the Association Press.
“No, I have not,” France responded to attorney Jeffrey Kessler, who represents the plaintiffs in the lawsuit.
According to the AP report, Kessler later introduced a summary of notes from the first meeting of NASCAR executives on how they would approach negotiations with the teams over the new agreements. Steve O’Donnell, now the president of NASCAR, wrote in those notes, “Jim’s overarching comments — we are in a competition. We are going to win.”
Evidence entered in court showed France had received pleas from Hall of Fame team owners Joe Gibbs, Rick Hendrick, Jack Roush and Roger Penske. All four are close personal friends, France said on the stand Tuesday, according to AP.
France confirmed that his salary is around $3.5 million annually and his side of the family owns 54 percent of France Enterprises Inc., which is the holding company of NASCAR (Lesa France Kennedy’s side owns 46 percent),” Adam Stern of Sports Business Journal reported. The France family took in $397 million between 2021 and 2024 to their family trust. NASCAR’s Steve Phelps testified that about 75 percent of that $397 million figure was used to pay taxes. That leaves roughly $99,250,000 leftover to the France Family trust.
Richard Childress Takes The Stand In NASCAR Trial
Earlier Tuesday, Childress said he was pressured to sign the charter agreement.
“I would not have signed those charters if I was financially able to do what I do,” said Childress, a six-time championship winning owner, in his testimony. “We are a blue-collar operation.”
Childress, who has a 60-year relationship in NASCAR and is considered to be friends with the France family, testified that he pleaded with Jim France for the charters to be made permanent instead of renewable, and France refused.
When NASCAR Charters were first introduced in 2016, Childress testified he supported it because at that time, race “were worth 10 cents on the dollar at most. We didn’t have nothing” the AP reported.
The charters added value to his team, but said the equity falls short of its financial potential if the charters were permanent.
Childress was so dissatisfied with the system; he instructed NASCAR attorney Christopher Yates read sentences in which he explains the charters needed to be permanent. He said he added those sentences to a declaration that had been given to him to sign, according to AP.
Childress admitted he accepted the offer in 2024 when Hendrick Motorsports said it was signing and “all I know is financially we would be out of business” if he did not follow suit.
NASCAR Communications Issues Summary From NASCAR Trial
NASCAR Communication issued a summary of the day’s trail at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time on December 9. In the interest of transparency, here is NASCAR’s summary in its entirety.
“In testimony Tuesday, NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps shared that working with race teams to reach new Charter agreements for 2025 and completing NASCAR’s media rights agreements were his top priorities for 2023, but the Charter negotiations continued into 2024 because teams would not waiver off of Curtis Polk’s four pillars.
“Phelps went on to testify that the charter system was created in 2016 at the request of race teams and confirmed it has increased race team revenue and enterprise value. In discussing the 2025 Charter agreement, Phelps pointed to multiple benefits for teams:
“More Revenue: teams received significant new revenue that included all of the new media rights money, a 62% increase contract to contract and additional money from tracks and NASCAR to achieve a nearly $100 million increase.
“Improved Governance: replaced the ‘3 strike rule’ (which had only been used once in the 9-year contract term with respect to the Roval which went forward) with a more effective Team Owner Council.
“New Business: NASCAR created a committee to identify, negotiate and collaborate on joint business opportunities with the race teams like the ongoing discussions on parimutuel betting.
“Phelps also discussed the significant financial value of the Charter system to Teams. He noted race car owner and driver BJ McLeod had bought a charter for $3 million and sold it three years later for $40 million, a $37 million increase.
“Phelps testified NASCAR had taken steps to help teams cut costs so they would be more profitable, including homologation of cars and then the design and implementation of the Next Gen car.
“He shared that he supported the idea of a cost cap to help teams become even more profitable, noting it’s positive effect on F1 owner enterprise values.
“Phelps was disappointed that team owners rejected the idea, sharing that ‘nothing would have made teams more profitable or raise their enterprise value more than imposing a cost cap.’
“Phelps testified that the teams’ initial request in the 2025 charter negotiations for $730 million per year in revenue distribution was not feasible and that “the sport would cease to exist at $720 million.” “In the final agreement, all but the Plaintiffs’ teams accepted $431 million per year, up from $333 million in the previous agreement (+29 percent).
With counsel, Phelps walked through the 2025 charter contract negotiation timeline in great detail to underscore that Plaintiffs’ narrative from the beginning of the case of a contract sprung on the teams at the last minute:”
Attached were a first draft shared on December 22, 2023; a second draft on May 28, 2024; a third draft on August 14, 2024, with a September 1, 2024, deadline and a fourth draft on August 30, 2024, that included a September 6 deadline.
Final agreement shared with teams on Sept. 6; one day after race teams legal counsel, Covington, shared feedback for the teams.
“An amendment proposed by the teams’ lawyers at Covington shortly after NASCAR began sending out execution copies of charters, which NASCAR agreed to on Sept. 11, and which resulted in Amendment 1 of the Charter after 23XI and Front Row chose not to sign even after being more time.
“In the end, 32 of 36 charters were signed by 13 of 15 race teams.
“Richard Childress, majority owner of Richard Childress Racing, testified that he would like to see charters made permanent as he wanted to leave a legacy for his family.
Under questioning by defense counsel, he read from a declaration given in October where he stated the charter system is ‘essential to creating enterprise value to teams. It has allowed for team equity to grow. Without charters, team ownership model is unsustainable.’
“Childress acknowledged he has engaged in discussions to sell a portion of RCR and that RCR has had positive EBIDTA for 55 years.
“Earlier, the court heard testimony from Anthony Smith, an accountant whose Charlotte, N.C. based firm, GreerWalker, was hired by the court to assess the finances of 12 race teams (not including the two plaintiff teams) from 2020-2024.
“Smith testified that GreerWalker received the financial information in a secure portal by each team in an anonymized fashion.
“Under questioning by the defense, Brown acknowledged his firm did not audit nor verify the financial information it received from the teams to verify its accuracy.
“He did not know the revenue sources included in the figures; and did not know if the teams had used generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in developing the figures they sent to GreerWalker.
“The day began with the conclusion of Plaintiff’s expert Edward Snyder. The defense continued to successfully challenge his benchmark theory, including how the better benchmark would be IndyCar as it races domestically, utilizes similar racetracks to NASCAR schedule, recently launched its own charter system, and other critical business similarities. He also shared why he erroneously used 2019 vs. 2022 to set his multiplier.”
That is NASCAR’s summary in its entirety.
The NASCAR Trial enters its eighth day at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time Wednesday, December 9 with Jim France returning to the stand.
NASCAR chairman Jim France, team owner Richard Childress testify on Day 7 of trial
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Some of Jim France’s closest friends in racing begged him for permanent charters, hoping for a better deal as NASCAR’s team owners negotiated with the 81-year-old NASCAR chairman and CEO.
France wouldn’t budge.
Despite heartfelt letters from motorsports titans like Rick Hendrick, Roger Penske, Joe Gibbs and Jack Roush, underlining the need for franchise-like charters to sustain their struggling race teams, France never gave the slightest hint of making a concession, it was revealed Tuesday during the NASCAR antitrust lawsuit in a Charlotte federal court.
“They’re all telling you they need permanent charters — and you said no,” attorney Jeffrey Kessler said.
“We did not do evergreen or permanent charters, no,” France replied.
France, the final witness called by Kessler — who represents Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, the two teams who refused to sign the latest charter deal that is at the heart of this dispute and instead decided to sue NASCAR and France — was set up to give crucial testimony in a trial that had been building to this moment.
France is personally named in the suit, and the plaintiffs have been building a case through witness after witness that France is the ultimate decision-maker who was a “brick wall” despite his executives’ pleadings to find a middle ground with the teams.
Though France claimed he was just “involved in decisions” and said NASCAR’s board “has the ability to override me,” he was unable to name one instance when that happened.
And to be sure, the prevailing perception among teams and NASCAR employees is that France is the person in charge.
France acknowledged he was the person who wanted a Sept. 6, 2024, deadline for the teams to sign the charter agreements or lose them.
“If we didn’t have the charters (signed), we wouldn’t have the charters,” he said. “… I knew we needed to get them signed.”
But France said he remembered little else from the points Kessler raised with him. He did not recall specific meetings, including meetings in which he acknowledged being an active participant.
In several instances, he denied making certain statements to which the jury has already heard testimony and said he could not remember others (though he did not have reason to doubt the accuracy of the testimony, he said).
For example: Joe Gibbs Racing co-owner Heather Gibbs testified Friday that France was cold while speaking to Joe Gibbs in a last-minute call before the charter deadline. She said Gibbs begged France, “Don’t do this to us!” and France responded, “If I wake up and I have (only) 20 charters (signed), I have 20.”
But France said he did not remember Gibbs saying that and claimed he didn’t think he would have made a comment like that to Gibbs in response.
He also said there was nothing upsetting about a heartfelt letter Heather Gibbs sent, which NASCAR president Steve O’Donnell said, in a message to a fellow league executive, drew an angry verbal reaction as France read it aloud. (O’Donnell walked that back in testimony this week, saying he was exaggerating.)
Kessler went paragraph by paragraph of the letter and France said none of it made him angry, and said he also did not recall reading a letter out loud.
He also said he did not remember a 2021 strategy kickoff meeting for the charter negotiation meetings in which O’Donnell wrote in an email to other executives: “Jim’s over-arching comment: WE ARE IN COMPETITION. WE ARE GOING TO WIN.”
France was also unable to recall whether he knew about NASCAR’s $5 billion valuation from Goldman Sachs, had no memory of discussing NASCAR’s exclusive agreements with racetracks, and said he did not know about NASCAR’s revenue or his own exact salary as CEO.
That salary, he said, was in the $3.5 million per year range — on top of “hundreds of millions” of dollars his France family trust has received in the last four years.
France’s side of the family owns 54.4 percent of NASCAR, and his niece Lesa France Kennedy’s side owns 45.3 percent.
France’s testimony is set to conclude Wednesday morning.
Richard Childress: ‘I can’t lose my charters’
Prior to France’s appearance on the witness stand Tuesday afternoon, team owner Richard Childress told the jury how his race team would go broke if it wasn’t for his other successful businesses making enough to pay for his NASCAR losses.
The six-time champion car owner, who used to own Dale Earnhardt’s No. 3, also pleaded with France for permanent charters in a letter and said the lack of them put his team’s future in doubt. Holding a charter guarantees entry into races and certain revenues to owners.
“I would love to see RCR running 60 years from now, but with this model, we can’t do it,” Childress said.
Childress testified he asked France several times in person about the charters becoming permanent or auto-renewing, but said France told him: “We don’t know where the sport is going to be in seven years” regarding the media rights revenue.
Childress said he was pressured into signing the charters on Sept. 6, even though he didn’t want to, because the alternative was going out of business.
“They told us we had until (midnight) or you lose ’em,” Childress said. “Financially, I can’t lose my charters.”
The charter system is a positive for teams, Childress indicated, but the agreement itself is what’s bad in his view. In total, 13 teams signed the agreement, with 23XI and Front Row the only holdouts.
“It’s nothing where it should be compared to the blood, sweat and tears we’ve put into it,” he said. “It’s keeping us alive is all it’s doing right now.”
Childress’ appearance came shortly after inflammatory text messages sent by NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps were unearthed during the discovery process in advance of the trial. In the text messages, Phelps told another high-level NASCAR executive that Childress should be “taken out back and flogged” and called him a “stupid redneck who owes his entire fortune to NASCAR.” The remarks stemmed from critical comments Childress made about the costs associated with the NASCAR-mandated Next Gen car during a radio interview.
After Phelps’ texts became public, RCR said it was considering legal action. Phelps’ remarks cannot be entered into evidence, the presiding judge, Kenneth D. Bell ruled.
Phelps disputes ‘take-it-or-leave-it’ offer
Earlier Tuesday, NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps denied giving teams a much-discussed take-it-or-leave-it deadline to extend a charter agreement, calling the assertion “unfair” during his testimony.
Phelps had been presented with an email in which he wrote there were “lots of options, but all have the same theme: Pick a date and they can sign or lose their charters. It is that simple.”
“They are playing with fire,” Phelps had written regarding the teams.
But Phelps, the self-described “head negotiator” for the charter deal said it was “absolutely not” true to characterize the Sept. 6, 2024, deadline as a monopolist using its power to bully the teams into signing.
“That is not what happened,” he said.
“We’ll let the jury decide,” Kessler said.
Phelps said NASCAR had made “significant movement” from its earlier drafts of the deal and told the jury he personally had made it known to every team that Sept. 6 would be the deadline one week earlier.
Phelps was asked if it was true France was “very concerned about maintaining power over the teams,” which he denied.
“Should they just trust him to be a benevolent dictator?” Kessler asked. “Is that your view?”
The defense objected, and Phelps was not required to answer.
Otherwise, Phelps repeatedly said he did not remember or recall various moments Kessler tried to flag as central to the issue of whether NASCAR violated antitrust law.
Phelps said he had “no idea” how or why exclusivity clauses were placed into track sanctioning agreements beginning in 2016. He had no recollection of a 2015 email discussing the race teams’ plan to run their own event (something NASCAR strongly discouraged and vowed to fight), nor did he remember seeing an email from Speedway Motorsports owner Marcus Smith, expressing agreement for his track company to “reject other competitor series that may present themselves.”
Phelps also had no memory telling Hendrick, “We wish we could give you permanent charters, but Jim doesn’t want that.”
“I don’t deny doing it, but I don’t remember,” Phelps said.
Nor could he remember receiving an email from an International Speedway Corp. (ISC) executive flagging a 2016 ESPN.com article that unearthed the track exclusivity agreements, or a 2019 email from Roush Fenway Racing pleading for better financial terms from NASCAR.
Phelps also said he did not remember a 2020 meeting of NASCAR’s executive team, which discussed the threat of a series that eventually became known as SRX, short for Superstar Racing Experience.
But Phelps did recall being “concerned” about SRX “right out of the gate” and later texted fellow NASCAR executives that SRX “could turn into LIV if we don’t play our cards right,” a reference to LIV Golf, a breakaway circuit from the PGA Tour.
“Need to put a knife in this trash series,” he wrote in a later text.
Phelps explained his text messages by saying he was “frustrated our (team) owners were racing in a series using sponsors and colors and liveries that looked a lot like NASCAR.” He said NBC Sports executive producer Sam Flood complained to NASCAR that SRX was causing marketplace confusion.
But when NASCAR’s lawyers looked into potential violations, they found there was no infringement on NASCAR’s intellectual property.
Phelps, who acknowledged his compensation package from NASCAR is worth as much as $5 million per year, was asked about nearly $400 million being paid to the NASCAR-owning France family from 2021-24. Phelps said his understanding was $300 million of that was used to pay taxes, but later said he was unsure if that meant NASCAR’s taxes or the France family’s taxes.
Regarding the race teams’ initial request to be paid $720 million per year — enough to cover the estimated $20 million annual baseline costs per car — Phelps said that sum would have left NASCAR “bankrupt.” (NASCAR is paying the teams $431 million instead.)
“The sport would cease to exist,” Phelps said of the $720 million sum.
He called the charter agreement disputes “one of the most challenging and the longest negotiation I’ve ever been part of” but said his goal had been “to get it done” — and 32 of the 36 charters were ultimately signed.
Phelps was questioned about the France family taking ISC private — then selling Auto Club Speedway in California to pay down the debt from the purchase — but said the sale was vital for NASCAR’s scheduling flexibility.
“That was a really important and undervalued decision,” Phelps said, adding this year’s Mexico City race and Chicago Street Race would not have been possible with a publicly traded company.
Earlier Tuesday, NASCAR questioned economist Dr. Edward Snyder on his contention Formula One was the closest benchmark to NASCAR — with NASCAR attorney Larry Buterman saying IndyCar should have been a more comparable example.
After that, accountant Anthony Smith testified he received anonymized data from 12 race teams, nine of which reported a loss. However, Smith acknowledged he did not have the opportunity to certify or audit the finances of any team (though they were submitted under a court order requiring good faith).
Richard Childress Echoes Heather Gibbs’ ‘Gun to the Head’ Claims as He Exposes NASCAR’s Charter Negotiations
A few weeks ago, Richard Childress unexpectedly became part of the NASCAR lawsuit. An unpleasant and distasteful string of messages between NASCAR executives got out, revealing hidden contempt for team owners and fans, especially Childress. Following that incident, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports fixed Childress as a key witness for the NASCAR trial. And the result, as expected, has been jaw-dropping, with Childress’s important claims.
NASCAR trial further axes the sport’s standing
“👉Richard Childress says teams were attempting to negotiate for a better deal when Steve Phelps called to say they had to sign or they’d lose their charters. 🗨️”I would not have signed the charters if I financially didn’t have to. We’re a blue-collar organization, and we do what we’ve got to do.” 👉 Childress confirms Richard Childress Racing is losing money with its NASCAR Cup Series program,” journalist Joseph Srigley updated on X.
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Richard Childress has participated in NASCAR for 6 decades. The sport was founded in 1948 by the Florida-based France family, with whom Childress nurtures a long-time bond. Childress founded his own team in 1969, after which it went on to host legendary drivers like Dale Earnhardt and clinched 6 Cup Series championships. However, the current state of affairs is dire both for Childress’s team and ofr his relationship with the Frances. Childress’s NASCAR trial testimony for the charter deal echoes Heather Gibbs’ claims of feeling a “gun to the head.”
“👉Asked if Charters provide teams with long-term equity, Childress says teams were worth ten cents on the dollar before, but the long-term equity is nothing compared to what it would be with permanent charters. 👉Childress testifies that both his engine company (ECR Engines) and his military company are profitable, but says “that money should be going into my pocket,” Joseph Srigley continued.
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With a cloud of uncertainty hanging over his team, Richard Childress expressed his dissatisfaction with NASCAR’s charter model. During the NASCAR trial, he insisted that NASCAR attorney Christopher Yates read sentences in which he explained the charters needed to be permanent. He said he added those sentences to a declaration that had been given to him to sign. Childress only signed the deal because he realized that there was no other option.
While Richard Childress added fuel to the fire of the NASCAR trial, he remained mum on a more personal ordeal.
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Awaiting the wrath of his response
In late November, a few text messages whipped up a storm in NASCAR. They were between NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps and Chief Media & Revenue Officer Brian Herbst. Both used graphic terms to describe Richard Childress, calling him an ‘idiot’, a ‘dinosaur’, and ‘a total a–clown’ among others. Phelps notably called Childress ‘a stupid redneck’ who needs ‘to be flogged.’ In response, Childress’s team issued a stern warning that it may file a defamation lawsuit.
No update is available for this, however. In court, Steve Phelps was asked if he showed NASCAR team owners respect in messages. He said that the answer was ‘by and large yes’. He also added that he was ‘not proud of’ the Childress comments and had apologized. Richard Childress, in his part, is yet to comment on the entire fiasco.
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“Richard Childress has concluded his testimony. Afterwards, outside the courthouse, when I asked if he had anything to say regarding what Steve Phelps said about him in unearthed text messages, Childress declined comment,” Jordan Bianchi wrote on X.
Clearly, the veteran team owner’s appearance in court has significantly dramatized the lawsuit. Let’s wait and see what further information unravels in the future.
NASCAR CEO Jim France: ‘I have not’ changed stance on permanent charters
NASCAR chairman and CEO Jim France testified on Tuesday, the seventh day of an antitrust trial in Charlotte, that he has not budged from his position on granting racing teams permanent charters.
Front Row Motorsports and 23XI Racing filed the federal antitrust lawsuit, with the latter team co-owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan and driver Denny Hamlin. The plaintiffs have accused NASCAR of employing anti-competitive tactics to pressure teams into compliance, and France was the final witness called by their attorneys.
Plaintiffs’ attorney Jeffrey Kessler presented evidence that showed the likes of Joe Gibbs, Rick Hendrick, and Roger Penske had pleaded with France in the past for permanent charters for their teams, similar to other sports franchises.
“They’re all telling you they need permanent charters, and you said no,” Kessler said, prompting France to reply, “We did not do evergreen or permanent charters, no.”
Asked if he had changed his stance on the matter, France said, “No, I have not.”
Underscoring the issue, another team owner, Richard Childress, testified earlier Tuesday that his highly successful team would have gone bankrupt if he hadn’t been able to generate income through other businesses and avenues.
Charters are key to the lawsuit because 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports declined the take-it-or-leave-it charters offered before the 2025 season, leading to the contentious litigation. Jordan has called NASCAR and the France family “monopolistic bullies” in criticizing the league’s business practices, and his lawsuit specifically names Jim France.
The France family has owned and operated NASCAR since Bill France Sr. founded the league in 1948.
Jim France claimed that he is merely “involved” in decision-making and NASCAR’s board has the power to override him, but he did not provide examples of that ever actually happening.
Hamlin likened NASCAR’s charter agreements to a “death certificate” in testimony last week. On Tuesday, Childress drove the point home by alleging that he was pressured into signing the new charter in September 2024 after repeatedly asking France to consider making them permanent or auto-renewing.
“They told us we had until (midnight) or you lose ‘em,” Childress said. “Financially, I can’t lose my charters.”
The other witness to testify Tuesday was NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps, who was presented with an email in which he wrote that teams should “Pick a date and they can sign or lose their charters. It is that simple.”
Phelps stated it was “absolutely not” fair to describe France’s actions as a monopolistic exercise of power and also denied that France prioritized “maintaining power over the teams.”
He also testified that negotiating with Curtis Polk, Jordan’s longtime business partner, was “one of the most challenging and longest negotiations I’ve ever been part of.” Polk was working on behalf of the “Team Negotiating Council” in those talks.
“The TNC never wavered off their four pillars. It was just the same thing, the same thing, and that was very frustrating,” Phelps said.
Those pillars were permanent charters, a voice in rules and regulations, increased revenue, and one-third of new revenue streams in the future. Previous evidence and testimony in the trial have pointed to Jim France standing in the way of teams gaining a bigger slice of the sport’s revenue.
On Monday, economist Dr. Edward A. Snyder testified that NASCAR shortchanged its charter teams $1.06 billion between 2021 and 2024 when compared to Formula One’s revenue payouts for its teams.
–Field Level Media
Charter Lawsuit Updates: Rick Hendrick’s ‘Rejected’ Email Plea Unveils Dark Side of NASCAR Operations
The basis of the NASCAR lawsuit has been financial. Since the trial began on December 1st, we have witnessed the revelation of tall figures of loss. For example, Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins revealed that he loses $6.8 million per year on average. In fact, he is depending on the lawsuit’s success for the survival of his team, alongside 23XI Racing. But what people did not expect so easily was Rick Hendrick’s similar predicament.
NASCAR lawsuit reveals a dark plight
“Over the past five years, Hendrick Motorsports has won 20 NASCAR Cup Series championships – and lost $20 million. I’d be happy to show you audited financial statements. I love this sport, and my passion for it keeps me engaged, but there’s a clear business reality. Before we can possibly reach an agreement, NASCAR must acknowledge the current model is unsustainable for teams and cannot continue without substantive, fundamental change,” read a section of Rick Hendrick’s letter to Jim France, the CEO of NASCAR, in 2023.
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Exposing this letter provides significant evidence in the NASCAR lawsuit. With the 2nd week of the lawsuit’s trial ongoing, we have already learned of major struggles that other teams felt. Richard Childress, who testified earlier Tuesday, said that his highly successful team would have gone bankrupt. He was able to sustain it only by generating income through other businesses and avenues. And now, Rick Hendrick has also added to the narrative of losing money.
“To allow our racing programs to operate, Hendrick Automotive Group did $1 billion in business with Hendrick Motorsports sponsors in 2023,” Rick Hendrick’s letter further read. “We have invested in building star drivers and have promoted the sport as much as anyone over the last four decades. Our organization and our partners direct tens of millions of dollars back to our company.”
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When Jim France took the witness stand recently, plaintiffs’ attorney Jeffrey Kessler grilled him. He presented evidence that showed the likes of Joe Gibbs, Rick Hendrick, and Roger Penske had pleaded with France in the past for permanent charters for their teams. And France clearly stated that he still has not changed his status on the matter.
Rick Hendrick is yet to take the witness stand. But when he does, it will have a major impact on the NASCAR lawsuit.
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The value of the big names
When NASCAR dropped the charter deal back in September 2024, they allowed only 24 hours. Teams had to think and decide in that limited time, which Heather Gibbs described as a ‘gun to their heads’. The two years of negotiation with the Race Team Alliance screeched to a sudden halt, and teams felt helpless. But recently, RTA executive director Jonathan Marshall testified that a week before the take-it-or-leave-it offer, teams got a final version. And owners Joe Gibbs, Rick Hendrick, and Roger Penske all indicated they planned to sign.
“There was a lot of discussion that these three men had been speaking to Jim France, trying to get accommodations on issues, and it was clear it wasn’t going to happen,” Marshall said during the NASCAR lawsuit trial. “These were very friendly team owners with the Frances, in some cases, over 50 years. Once those three signed, no one felt a better deal would be available.”
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Hence, Rick Hendrick is one of the big team owners who drives the pulse of the sport. So let’s wait and see what he brings to the court soon.
Tower Motorsports sets 2026 IMSA line-up
Looking to avenge its disqualification from the 2025 Rolex 24 At Daytona, Tower Motorsports has confirmed its full line-up for the 2026 race and the upcoming IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
With Tower Motorsports owner/driver John Farano already set to return to drive the No. 8 ORECA 07-Gibson, so does the duo of 2014 Daytona overall winner Sébastien Bourdais and young Mexican driver Sebastian Alvarez. At Daytona, Tower Motorsports will welcome back NTT IndyCar Series driver Kyffin Simpson to the team, for the first time since 2023 when he ran the Michelin Endurance Cup and won the Twelve Hours of Sebring.
Farano, Bourdais, and Alvarez were part of the team that took the checkered flag first at Daytona, but the No. 8 car was stripped of its victory after a plank wear violation discovered in post-race scrutineering. They would rebound the following round by finishing second at Sebring, which would go down as Tower’s best finish of 2025 – finishing no better than seventh in the remaining five races.
It’ll be the 17th Rolex 24 appearance for Bourdais, the four-time Champ Car champion and current Cadillac Racing factory driver, who is set to begin his second FIA WEC season with Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA.
Simpson last raced in IMSA in 2024 before embarking on his new role as a Chip Ganassi Racing IndyCar driver, in which the former European Le Mans Series LMP2 champion made significant improvements in his 2025 sophomore campaign. He’ll reunite with Alvarez, who, like Simpson, makes his fourth Rolex 24 appearance.
23XI, FRM vs. NASCAR trial: Insider describes CEO Jim France testimony as ‘shockingly bad’
The lawsuit from 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports against NASCAR continues, and Tuesday brought a round of testimony from NASCAR CEO Jim France. According to reporters present for the testimony, things could have gone better for France.
And that might be putting it mildly. The Athletic’s Jeff Gluck put things in no uncertain terms.
“Court is done for the day,” Gluck wrote on Twitter. “I don’t think I’m underselling it to say Jim France’s testimony was shockingly bad so far. Just not good at all for NASCAR IMO.”
One of the primary points of information the trial sought to suss out on Tuesday was the financial interest Jim France has in NASCAR. That came to light in much more clear terms.
“Jim France has taken the stand as the last witness for plaintiffs, with France confirming that his salary is around $3.5 million annually and his side of the family owns 54% of France Enterprises Inc., which is the holding company of NASCAR (Lesa France Kennedy’s side owns 46%),” Adam Stern of Sports Business Journal reported.
It was also revealed that the France family took in $397 million between 2021 and 2024 to their family trust. NASCAR’s Steve Phelps testified that about 75% of that $397 million figure was used to pay taxes. That leaves roughly $99,250,000 leftover to the France Family trust.
The legal team for 23XI and FRM put France to the test, particularly engaging him on his reported comments about a letter from Heather Gibbs. The letter was first revealed to the public on Oct. 30 and included the following key snippet:
“When all the stakes are on the table, teams need to know their worth is valued and secure,” Gibbs wrote. “NASCAR has the guarantee that teams are ‘in it’ for the long run, and teams have assurance from the sanctioning body that their charters are secure. If there was anything to decide to move the team forward it will be trust in them, the owners, the legends and leaders of your sport with a permanent spot in your history book.”
NASCAR’s Steve O’Donnell wrote in an internal message thread at the time that he observed Jim France reading the letter, claiming France was swearing every other sentence while reading it. That has come up in court.
“When it comes to O’Donnell’s comments about France being mad while reading Heather Gibbs’ letter aloud, France says he doesn’t recall that, but said he wasn’t saying O’Donnell was lying,” wrote journalist Toby Christie. “However, he says he doesn’t think he’d read it out loud.”
Finally, Stern added another key element to the Jim France questioning. Lawyer Jeffrey Kessler pressed on this front.
“Kessler tried to get France to concede he was the key impediment to permanent charters, or that at least his execs said he was,” Stern wrote, ‘he disagreed with Kessler’s phrasing but admitted he said no to permanence.
“Kessler then asked, ‘No means no, correct sir?’ France responded, ‘Yes.’”
The trial will continue with Jim France questioned by the NASCAR legal team on Wednesday. That portion of the trial is set to begin at 8:30 a.m.
MLB insider predicts Red Sox to add two impact bats this offseason
Craig Breslow mapped out a few of Boston’s offseason objectives on the first day of MLB’s Winter Meetings on Monday.
At the top of the list? Adding more power to their lineup.
“At the end of the day, we’re trying to score as many runs as possible,” Breslow said to The Boston Globe’s Pete Abraham on Monday. “There are a few different paths to doing that. I think that the true middle-of-the-order bat that can hit the ball out of the park — it has probably outsized impact on the rest of the lineup because of the way you have to attack someone [and] the on-base implications it can have.
“And so, again, we’re going to consider all ways of improving the team, but finding someone in the middle of the order [who] hits the ball out of the park is a really good place to start.”
The Red Sox need to add another established hitter to a lineup currently propped up by the likes of Roman Anthony, Trevor Story, Wilyer Abreu, and others.
But, could a Red Sox team staring at a renewed contention window look to add two impact bats this winter in hopes of putting its roster over the top?
Longtime MLB insider and New York Post staff writer Jon Heyman said Tuesday that he expects Boston to target more than just one proven slugger this offseason.
“[The] teams making [the] most moves — I’m going to say Red Sox,” Heyman said on Bleacher Report from the Winter Meetings. “We’ve talked about them. I mean, they’re going to end up with either [Alex] Bregman, [Bo] Bichette or [Ketel] Marte — and plus they might get [Pete] Alonso.
“They’ve talked about [Kazuma] Okamoto, they’ve talked about [Jorge] Polanco. I think they’re going to get two bats. They need the two bats. And if they do get those bats, they’re ready to go. I think they’re a big-time contender.”
Abraham noted on Bluesky that retaining Bregman stands as the “priority” for Boston this offseason.
But, Boston has plenty of contingency plans in place if the veteran third baseman signs elsewhere in the coming weeks and months.
While Boston would have to dole out a hefty contract in free agency to bring in a slugger like Bichette, Alonso, or Bregman, the team could land a top talent on the open market and add another bat by way of a trade — such as Marte.
The 32-year-old Marte is arguably the best second baseman in baseball, and would give Boston another potent bat in the heart of their lineup — all on a fair contract that owes him $102.5 million over the next six seasons.
Prying Marte out of Arizona won’t be easy, with Boston needing to part with both prospects and proven big-league talent to entice the Diamondbacks to move on from the three-time All-Star.
But, MLB Network’s Jon Morosi noted on X Thursday that the Red Sox are “viewed as stronger candidates to land Ketel Marte than their AL East rival Blue Jays” — due to Boston’s glut of MLB-ready pitching.
Beyond a pair of blue-chip prospects in Payton Tolle and Connelly Early, the Red Sox could also move other proven starters on their roster like Kutter Crawford, Johan Oviedo, and possibly even Brayan Bello.
First full 2026 MLB Mock Draft
Now that MLB has held the Draft Lottery and we know which teams are picking where, it’s time to predict whom they’ll select.
The 2026 Draft actually won’t begin until July 11, so we have 214 days to figure it all out. But we can’t wait to make our first projections, so we won’t.
The White Sox secured the No. 1 overall pick via the lottery, and we envision them taking UCLA’s Roch Cholowsky. The best all-around college shortstop since Troy Tulowitzki in 2005, Cholowsky would be the prohibitive favorite to become the first choice no matter which club owned the selection.
Shortstops are the strength of the 2026 Draft crop, with our forecast below having them comprise each of the first three picks and nine of the 25 first-rounders. That group includes 13 college bats, five high school hitters, four college arms and three prep pitchers.
1. White Sox: Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA (No. 1 on the Draft Top 100)
The consensus national college player of the year as a sophomore, Cholowsky would have been the top prospect in the 2025 Draft too as a shortstop with four plus tools, average speed and a high baseball IQ.
2. Rays: Grady Emerson, SS, Fort Worth (Texas) Christian HS (No. 2)
The top prep prospect, Emerson could turn out to be a quicker version of Cholowsky.
3. Twins: Justin Lebron, SS, Alabama (No. 3)
If Lebron can improve his approach, he could develop into a shortstop with five legitimate plus tools.
4. Giants: Drew Burress, OF, Georgia Tech (No. 5)
Burress broke into college baseball with nine homers in his first eight college games and hasn’t stopped slugging while showing he’s a center fielder with at least solid tools across the board.
5. Pirates: Jacob Lombard, SS, Gulliver Prep, Miami (No. 4)
The son of former big leaguer George Lombard and brother of top Yankees prospect George Lombard Jr. (MLB No. 25), he has less hitting ability but maybe more power and speed than Emerson.
6. Royals: Carson Bolemon, LHP, Southside Christian HS, Simpsonville, S.C. (No. 7)
Bolemon has four quality pitches with control, physicality and makeup to match, which is why he ranks as this Draft’s best pitcher — high school or college.
7. Orioles: Derek Curiel, OF, Louisiana State (No. 6)
The leading hitter on LSU’s 2025 Men’s College World Series championship team as a freshman, Curiel could go even higher if he develops more power and proves he can handle center field.
8. Athletics: Cameron Flukey, RHP, Coastal Carolina (No. 9)
Flukey ranks as the best college pitching prospect because of his ability to get misses with a mid-90s fastball and chases with an upper-70s downer curveball.
9. Braves: Gio Rojas, LHP, Stoneman Douglas HS, Parkland, Fla. (No. 8)
Rojas is very similar to Bolemon but the latter has a tick better changeup and command.
10. Rockies: Vahn Lackey, C, Georgia Tech (No. 12)
Lightly scouted or recruited in high school, Lackey has blossomed into the Draft’s top catching prospect, an athletic defender with a patient approach.
12. Angels: Sawyer Strosnider, OF, Texas Christian (No. 10)
Strosnider has one of the best combinations of size, athleticism and all-around tools available.
13. Cardinals: A.J. Gracia, OF, Virginia (No. 15)
The first transfer on this list, Gracia arrives from Duke as an advanced hitter with plus power and fine instincts in center field.
14. Marlins: Chris Hacopian, SS, Texas A&M (No. 16)
Hacopian might be the best pure hitter in the college ranks, exhibiting advanced feel for the barrel and control of the strike zone.
16. Rangers: Jackson Flora, RHP, UC Santa Barbara (No. 14)
Flora has the potential to give UC Santa Barbara the top college pitcher selected for the third time in a dozen Drafts following Dillon Tate (2015) and Tyler Bremner (2025).
17. Astros: Ace Reese, 3B, Mississippi State (No. 18)
Reese’s massive raw power may leave his hitting ability a tad underrated, though there are questions about his defensive home.
18. Reds: Caden Sorrell, OF, Texas A&M (No. 20)
Both of Sorrell’s grandfathers (Tom Griffin, Billy Sorrell) played in the big leagues and he has the all-around ability to get there as well.
19. Guardians: Eric Becker, SS, Virginia (No. 21)
Becker has a similar profile to his younger brother, Nick (SEA No. 12), an offensive-minded middle infielder whom the Mariners drafted in the second round last July.
20. Red Sox: Tyler Bell, SS, Kentucky (No. 22)
The highest unsigned choice in the 2024 Draft (supplemental second round, Rays), Bell profiles as a switch-hitter with 20-homer pop and solid defense at shortstop.
21. Padres: Logan Schmidt, LHP, Ganesha HS, Pomona, Calif. (No. 17)
The three best prep pitchers, including Schmidt, are all southpaws who throw strikes with a promising three-pitch mix.
22. Tigers: Rocco Maniscalco, SS, Oxford (Ala.) HS (No. 19)
Maniscalco reclassified from the 2027 Draft and shares some similarities to No. 1 overall pick Eli Willits (WSH No. 1/MLB No. 15), providing more power potential but less speed.
23. Cubs: Chris Rembert, 2B, Auburn (No. 25)
Second basemen don’t often get popped in the first round, but some evaluators believe Rembert has more pure hitting ability than any other collegian in the class.
24. Mariners: Gabe Gaeckle, RHP, Arkansas (No. 24)
A shorter righty with an electric arm, à la former Arkansas teammate and 2025 Phillies right-hander Gage Wood (PHI No. 4), Gaeckle will go earlier than this if he proves he can start.
25. Brewers: Trevor Condon, OF, Etowah HS, Woodstock, Ga. (No. 32)
Condon may have the best combination of hitting ability and speed in the high school class, drawing comparisons to Lenny Dykstra, Brett Gardner and a stronger version of Sal Frelick.
The Mets, Yankees, Phillies, Blue Jays and Dodgers had their top picks dropped 10 spots as a penalty for exceeding the $241 million competitive balance tax threshold in 2025 by more than $40 million. But we can’t leave anyone out during holiday season, so here are predictions for those clubs as well:
35. Yankees: Will Brick, C, Christian Brothers HS, Memphis, Tenn. (No. 31)
Brick starred for Team USA before reclassifying from the 2027 Draft and stands out with his rocket arm and solid bat.
36. Phillies: Hunter Dietz, LHP, Arkansas (No. 38)
Elbow issues limited Dietz to 1 2/3 innings in his first two college seasons but he looked like a top-10 pick during fall practice, so we’ll split the difference for now.
World Baseball Classic rosters grow at MLB Winter Meetings
The World Baseball Classic may not begin until March, but you could be forgiven for thinking that it all kicked off in December. On Tuesday, managers, general managers, and team officials for all 20 teams participating in next year’s tournament gathered at the Signia by Hilton Orlando for the 2026 World Baseball Classic media day.
There, before an army of media members, team representatives confirmed interest in more than a dozen MLB stars who they expect to join them at this spring’s World Baseball Classic. Leading the way were superstars Elly De La Cruz, Manny Machado, and Fernando Tatis Jr. for the Dominican Republic, Randy Arozarena returning to play for Mexico — with whom he starred for in 2023 — and 2024 No. 1 overall Draft pick Travis Bazzana lining up for Australia. In addition, Team USA announced a flurry of players, including Gunnar Henderson, Will Smith, Kyle Schwarber and Brice Turang to start the day.
Of course, it’s important to note a caveat here: While all the players we list here have been confirmed to have interest in participating or have an intention to play, rosters will not be finalized until early February. Until then, nothing is official.
When Travis Bazzana was still in college and lighting up Cape Cod League boxscores, he had a dream: Leading off and playing second for the Australian national team at the World Baseball Classic. Well, he’ll get his chance now. Australia manger Dave Nilsson told Rob Bradford that the Guardians’ top prospect and No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 Draft intends to play for the team in 2026. He recently represented Australia at the 2024 Premier12, going 5-for-19 with an RBI as one of the youngest players on the team.
Prospect hounds, get excited: Cubs top prospect Owen Caissie intends to play for Canada once again at the 2026 Classic. Just 23 years old, Caissie represented Canada in the 2023 tournament, going 3-for-13 with a home run and four RBIs. Now, after making a brief Major League debut with the Cubs this past summer, he’ll try to help a Canadian team that could surprise. The decision was confirmed by Team Canada GM Greg Hamilton, who told Meghan Montemurro that the 2023 Classic was a
White Sox win first overall pick in 2026 Draft Lottery
The White Sox logo was flipped over on a placard at that point at the Winter Meetings, giving the club its first No. 1 overall pick since Harold Baines in 1977. When Baines received a call from then-White Sox general manager Roland Hemond the night before going No. 1 back when Jimmy Carter was president, the talented player out of St. Michael’s High School in Easton, Md., had no agent.
Baines and his family had to find a lawyer through the yellow pages to go over the fine print the ensuing day. The Hall of Famer and White Sox icon was the team’s good luck charm and representative at the fourth MLB Draft Lottery, bringing some much-needed positive news to the rebuilding franchise.
“It takes a lot for me to get nervous. But it was fun. I had never been to a Draft [lottery] before this one,” a smiling Baines said. “I’m happy for the organization. I’m still a part of it. I’m happy for them to get whoever the No. 1 pick is going to be.”
If Baines was happy, then general manager Chris Getz and the rest of his front office staff were downright giddy. This team endured three straight seasons of at least 100 losses, including the 121 defeats in ‘24 to set a record for Baseball’s Modern Era (since 1901).
Getz knew things wouldn’t be easy as he put his plan into place, building an infrastructure to help strengthen the team in every facet while helping to bring in better players and then better develop said players. He also honestly might not have imagined it would be this difficult.
“This is a significant event for us. It can’t be understated how important it is,” Getz said. “We’ve been hard at work at bringing talent into the organization in different ways, and obviously the amateur Draft is an obvious avenue. Now, to be able to get a chance at the top talent in the Draft, it’s really exciting and just gives us a greater boost.
“Last year, as players were joining our Major League club and performing the way they did, you began to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Now it’s just shining a little bit brighter.”
White Sox director of amateur scouting Mike Shirley officially is on the clock for the first overall pick on July 11 in Philadelphia. Chicago had the best odds (27.73%) for No. 1 entering Tuesday, so while it was the greatest, most jubilant sort of surprise to get the top selection overall above the Rays, the club was already at work.
“Great day in White Sox history. We’re super excited,” Shirley said. “We will exhaust all resources to ensure we’re prepared and execute Draft plans. Chris continues to build this thing out with a real plan, a plan that continues to build opportunities for the White Sox, and this will be another step in that direction.”
“Going into the whole Draft prepping for the lottery, you want to govern your emotions because you don’t know what the outcome is going to be,” Getz said. “But as the teams started falling, well it’s gotta end up somewhere. It looks like it’s coming our way.”
With the 10th pick in the 2025 Draft, the White Sox took shortstop Billy Carlson out of Corona High School in California. Carlson was listed by some as the best defensive shortstop coming into the Draft over the past decade or two.
Roch Cholowsky, a 20-year-old shortstop at UCLA, seems to be the consensus No. 1 prospect going into the 2026 Draft. A number of people across Tuesday’s Winter Meetings raved about Cholowsky’s elite, game-changing ability before he officially moved into play for the White Sox.
Maybe “Roch of Ages” as a theme for his arrival on the South Side? Or how about “Roch ‘n’ Roll” or even “Rate Field Roch?” There’s plenty of time to decide that nickname or if Cholowsky will be the No. 1 pick, but most importantly for the White Sox, it’s their choice to make and further transform the franchise.
“I’m really happy for our organization, our fan base and look forward to diving in more and learning more about this upcoming Draft and getting out and watching these guys,” Getz said. “It’s just a big moment for us, and the opportunity not only to capitalize on the first pick, but the depth of the Dawesraft and having the pool space, the capital to go out and bring in even more talent … I can’t say how excited we are.”
Giants’ Odds of Landing Great Talent in MLB Draft Goes up After Lottery
The San Francisco Giants got some luck on their side on Tuesday at the MLB winter meetings.
The Giants moved up in the 2026 MLB draft as they jumped into the No. 4 spot. The first six selections of the draft are determined by the lottery. The rest of the first round is determined by record.
San Francisco had a 1.01% chance of landing the No. 1 overall pick, which went to the Chicago White Sox. But, by landing at No. 4, the Giants could get a shot at a player that will help them in the Majors sooner rather than later.
The Giants haven’t selected this high in the MLB draft since 2018, when they took Joey Bart with the No. 2 overall pick. He made his MLB debut in 2020 and played parts of four seasons for San Francisco before he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Giants On Clock at No. 4
The Giants had former player and current vice president of player development Randy Winn represent them at the draft. Turns out he was a bit of good luck.
“Drafting is hard, but we’re definitely excited to be picking so early in the Draft,” Winn said to MLB.com. “It’s been a while since I believe we’ve drafted this high. We’ve got some time, we’ve got some work to do ahead of us.
Pete Alonso has significant demand, and his price tag ‘likely’ increased
Pete Alonso may have a four-word message for interested teams — “Prices just went up.”
The five-time MLB All-Star slugger Alonso has a significant ask in free agency, Sean McAdam and Chris Cotillo of MassLive reported on Tuesday. Alonso is “likely” seeking either a six-year or a seven-year deal on the open market.
MassLive’s report notes that Alonso’s asking price is likely to have gone up with Tuesday’s news about Kyle Schwarber, a fellow NL power hitter. Schwarber just agreed earlier in the day on Tuesday to an enormous $150 million contract in free agency.
The 31-year-old Alonso, who is represented by Scott Boras, has been with the New York Mets for his entire MLB career since 2019. But Mark Feinsand of MLB.com also reported Tuesday that the Mets may be reluctant to go beyond three years for Alonso, setting the stage for a potential breakup between the two sides.
Alonso played in all 162 games last season for a second consecutive year. He also did very well at the plate, batting .272 with 38 home runs and 126 RBIs to bring his free agent value close to a peak.
No. 1 draft picks made by Chicago’s professional sports teams
There will be a new No. 1 — pick, that is. The Chicago White Sox secured on Tuesday the first pick in the 2026 Major League Baseball draft by winning the league’s lottery at the annual winter meetings. The Sox get first dibs for the first time in 49 years — since the team selected Harold Baines in 1977.
Chicago White Sox win the 2026 MLB draft lottery, will have the No. 1 pick for the first time in 49 years
The most recent No. 1 pick was USC quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams, who the Chicago Bears selected in the 2024 NFL draft.
Williams joined 10 other athletes who were selected at the top of their draft classes by Chicago teams since 1940. (The Bears did have the first pick for the first time in 77 years in 2023’s NFL draft but traded it to the Carolina Panthers.)
Here’s a look back at these athletes and how they fared.
Bears: Tom Harmon
Drafted: Dec. 10, 1940
Bears owner George Halas’ “astute handling of trades,” as the Tribune called it, gave the team three of the first 10 picks in the 1940 draft, including the top spot.
QB Fernando Mendoza is the 2025 Chicago Tribune Silver Football winner — Indiana’s 1st winner in 24 years
Halas selected Harmon, a Gary native considered by many who covered college football — including the Tribune — to be its best player that year. When the Tribune awarded him its Silver Football trophy in early 1941, he said, “This moment is perhaps the happiest in my life.” That was just months after the Michigan running back became the school’s first Heisman Trophy winner.
Yet Harmon had his sights set elsewhere. Instead of signing a contract with the Bears, he signed one for $15,000 with Columbia Pictures — to star in a film called “Harmon of Michigan.”
Harmon did play football in Chicago in 1941 but not for the Bears — before more than 98,000 fans at Soldier Field as part of the Chicago Tribune All-Star Charity Football Game.
Bears: Bob Fenimore
Drafted: Dec. 16, 1946
Unlike Harmon, Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State) halfback “Blonde Bomber” Fenimore did sign with the Bears — but not before a trade was considered with the Buffalo Bisons of the All-America Football Conference. Trade talk was abandoned, however, after Bisons team doctors reported calcium spots on Fenimore’s injured knee.
As he prepared to play in the College All-Star Game in August 1947, Fenimore told reporters: “I don’t wear a knee brace. I should, but it slows me down. Every bit of speed counts, you know.” He didn’t participate in the game, however, because of the injury.
Fenimore played in 10 games for the Bears during the 1947 season but wrote a letter to Halas stating he would sit out the next season because of back and groin injuries incurred from exercising on a horse apparatus at a gym. He remained in Oklahoma, where he became an insurance salesman.
Bears: Caleb Williams
Drafted: April 25, 2024
Williams, who had been notably relaxed during his time in Detroit, appeared to get a major adrenaline rush. With an enthusiastic speed walk, he roared with excitement as he reached the draft stage.
“I didn’t know how I was going to react in the moment,” he said. “I was trying to think it through in my head throughout the process. But nothing feels better than actually being in the moment, actually getting that call. I didn’t feel nervous. I didn’t feel any of that. I was anxious and ready to go.”
Blackhawks: Patrick Kane
Drafted: June 22, 2007
The Hawks won the NHL draft lottery in 2007. Instead of picking fifth, as the standings dictated, they garnered the first selection for the first time in franchise history.
The Hawks interviewed Kane, Kyle Turris and James van Riemsdyk several times in the weeks leading up to the draft in Columbus, Ohio. Of the three, only Kane said publicly that he wanted to play in the NHL the next season — Turris and van Riemsdyk wanted to play college hockey.
The Hawks selected Kane, a native of Buffalo, N.Y., with the No. 1 pick, and van Riemsdyk was chosen second by the Philadelphia Flyers, making it the first time the first two selections were U.S.-born players.
“It’s unbelievable if you look at players who have gone No. 1,” Kane says. “(Vincent) Lecavalier, (Sidney) Crosby, (Alexander) Ovechkin all went No. 1, and they seem to be taking over the league.”
The Hawks front office hoped Kane’s selection — “a historic pick,” as general manager Dale Tallon called it — would become the future of the franchise sooner rather than later. Just hours before making the selection, Tallon cleared some payroll and picked up two young players by trading the team captain, often-injured veteran defenseman Adrian Aucoin, to the Calgary Flames.
“We’re going to be a young team, so he will get every opportunity to play,” Tallon said after choosing Kane. “We’ll put him with good players and see what happens.”
During his 16-year tenure with the Hawks, Kane won three Stanley Cups. His 1,225 points, 1,161 games and 67 game-winning goals rank second, third and fourth in franchise history, respectively. He was traded to the New York Rangers in 2023.
Blackhawks: Connor Bedard
Drafted: June 28, 2023
The Blackhawks took about a minute and a half once the clock started during the 2023 NHL draft to select Connor Bedard with the No. 1 pick, christening him as the “cornerstone” of their attempt to build the next Chicago sports dynasty.
With fans at Bridgestone Arena chanting, “Let’s go, Hawks,” general manager Kyle Davidson stepped onto the podium and said: “I’d like to say hi to all the Blackhawks fans back in Chicago, Blackhawks fans here today and Blackhawks fans watching around the world.
Connor Bedard’s rookie season: Tracking the goals of the Chicago Blackhawks’ No. 1 pick
“And with the first overall selection in the 2023 NHL draft, the Chicago Blackhawks are very proud to select, from the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League, Connor Bedard.”
During Bedard’s 39th game of the 2023-24 season — just 24 hours after he was named an NHL All-Star — he suffered a fractured jaw and went on injury reserve. He returned to the ice Feb. 15, 2024 against the Pittsburgh Penguins and picked up an assist in 21 minutes, 17 seconds of ice time in the Hawks’ 4-1 loss. Bedard led the Blackhawks — as well as all NHL rookies — with 61 points (22 goals, 39 assists) in 68 games.
Bulls: Elton Brand
Drafted: June 30, 1999
Then-Tribune columnist Skip Bayless said the Bulls should consider the top pick “more as a potentially tradable commodity than a cornerstone” during a draft class that had no clear favorite. That’s why he said the team should choose Rhode Island standout Lamar Odom.
The Bulls did the opposite. They chose the 6-foot-8, 275-pound Brand and established the 20-year-old power forward as the cornerstone of a rebuilding effort.
Brand arrived in Chicago after two years at Duke — the first player to leave Mike Krzyzewski’s program early — where he earned national player of the year honors from seven outlets. He earned NBA Rookie of the Year and All-Rookie honors, then was traded two years later to the Los Angeles Clippers — where Odom was still on the roster.
Bulls: Derrick Rose
Drafted: June 26, 2008
The 19-year-old Englewood native returned home. Rose led Simeon to back-to-back state titles, was named Mr. Basketball of Illinois in 2007 and was the point guard on a Memphis team that was runner-up in the NCAA Tournament.
“Of course it’s going to be pressure,” Rose said via conference call from New York. “But I’m used to playing in Chicago, so I don’t think that will matter.
“It means a lot to play at home. They had great players like Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, all of them, B.J. Armstrong. Just knowing I can be a part of that history, it’s amazing. Playing there for the Bulls, I just can’t wait.”
The Bulls selected Rose over Kansas State power forward Michael Beasley, a player they liked so much that sources confirmed they made trade overtures to the Miami Heat for the second selection. Those were rebuffed, and the Bulls focused on Rose.
“For us right now (Rose is) a perfect fit,” general manager John Paxson said. “He’s a very, very talented young man. In this league, point guards are really hard to find. He has a strength about him at that position that most guards don’t have in this league. Great burst, very fast with the ball.
“I think he’ll make other players better. And he’ll give us some leadership abilities as we go on, which we really need.”
Like Brand and Michael Jordan, Rose was named Rookie of the Year. He became the youngest MVP in NBA history at age 22 in 2011 and was named an All-Star three times. But injuries derailed his trajectory. Rose tore the ACL in his left knee on April 28, 2012, then had surgeries to repair torn right menisci in November 2013 and February 2015.
“It may be simplistic to say Rose’s left ACL tear serves as the delineation for the too-good-to-be-true ascension for Rose and his subsequent falling out of favor. But it’s true,” Tribune reporter K.C. Johnson wrote when Rose was traded to the New York Knicks in 2016, and retired in 2024.
Cubs: Shawon Dunston
Drafted: June 7, 1982
Dunston did not have an agent. The New York native never had been to Chicago and knew about Wrigley Field only from seeing it on television.
“An old park but a nice one,” the 19-year-old shortstop said after the Cubs picked him.
After seven seasons as the Cubs’ starting shortstop, which included two All-Star selections, Dunston missed most of the 1992 and ’93 seasons after back surgery, then the final 49 games of the 1994 season because of the MLB players strike. All that waiting gave Dunston, whose contract with the Cubs was for one more season, plenty of time to think about his future.
“I feel I want to sign one more contract and then go on,” he told the Tribune in February 1995. “I want to be with my wife and kids. People say it’s boring, but when you get away from your family two or three days, you miss them.”
But Ryne Sandberg’s return to the Cubs after the 1995 season meant Dunston’s exit. He became a free agent coming off a season in which he hit .296 with 14 home runs, 69 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. His batting average and RBI total were career highs for the 32-year-old. He signed with the San Francisco Giants but returned to the Cubs for a season in 1997.
When asked how fans in the bleachers who kept a Shawon-O-Meter would go on without him, Dunston responded: “They move on, just like when (Greg) Maddux left and Andre Dawson left and Rick Sutcliffe left and everyone else left. I am no one special. They are going to remember me, don’t get me wrong. But it is not like I am the greatest Cub who ever played.”
Stars: Zakiya Bywaters
Drafted: Jan. 18, 2013
The Pac-12 Player of the Year at UCLA was the first draft pick in the NWSL, which started after the bankruptcy of the Women’s Professional Soccer League.
Bywaters scored two goals in six games her rookie year despite being sidelined for majority of the season. She scored two more goals in 19 games in 2014. Unfortunately, Bywaters would never recover fully from her injury and the Red Stars eventually waived her.
White Sox: Danny Goodwin
Drafted: June 8, 1971
It wasn’t a surprise when the Sox took the 17-year-old catcher from Peoria — the team announced its decision a day before the draft. Yet it was a shock when the 6-foot-1 star chose to get a college education at Southern University in Louisiana — with the goal of becoming a dentist — instead of signing with the team. He was selected with the No. 1 pick again by the California Angels in 1975.
White Sox: Harold Baines
Drafted: June 7, 1977
Sox owner Bill Veeck scouted the 6-2, 175-pound left-handed hitter himself — Baines lived near Veeck’s former home in Maryland.
“He’s got good speed and he’s a natural hitter,” Veeck told the Tribune in 1977. “I saw him play in Little League, and he impressed me even then. I’ve been watching him for six years.”
Baines made his major-league debut April 10, 1980, starting in right field in a 5-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles at Comiskey Park, facing ace Jim Palmer and winding up 0-for-4. Veeck sold the team in 1981 to a group led by Jerry Reinsdorf, and Baines said he didn’t get to know the maverick owner who supposedly discovered him.
“He was a nice man with no money,” Baines said. “I’m always thankful because he gave me my start. He took me over (Paul) Molitor and people like that. He didn’t have to do that.”
After a couple of nondescript seasons, Baines came of age in 1982, hitting 25 home runs and driving in 105. The next season he helped lead the Sox to the American League West title, finishing 10th in AL Most Valuable Player voting.
He was in the prime of his career in 1989 when the Sox sent him to the Texas Rangers on July 29, along with infielder Fred Manrique, for a package of young players that included Sammy Sosa and Wilson Alvarez.
The deal upset many in the Sox clubhouse, including catcher Carlton Fisk.
“Harold and Freddy, two major-leaguers for one,” Fisk said. “And not just a major-leaguer — Harold Baines. Harold Baines! You know what I mean? Harold Baines!”
No one knew at the time Sosa would go on to become one of the game’s most prolific home run hitters after being dealt to the Cubs. While running for president in 2000, former Rangers managing partner George W. Bush was asked during a GOP debate what the biggest mistake of his adult life had been.
“I signed off on that wonderful transaction: Sammy Sosa for Harold Baines,” Bush cracked.
Baines played 14 of his 22 seasons for the Sox in 1980-89, 1996-97 and 2000-01 and had 2,866 hits and 1,628 RBIs in his 22-year career.
He was emotional when a life-size bronze statue of his likeness — replete with right leg kick — was unveiled at Guaranteed Rate Field in 2008.
The six-time All-Star was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame along with former Cubs closer Lee Smith via the Today’s Game Era ballot. The selection became a heavily debated topic. Baines and Smith joined Roy Halladay, Edgar Martinez, Mike Mussina and Mariano Rivera in the Hall’s Class of 2019.
“When you see a guy like Hank Aaron and guys like that, and you’re in their midst, yeah, that’s very special,” Baines said of the Hall ceremony. “I never envisioned myself being on the same stage with a person like that. All of them, they all deserve to be there and it’s very special to be a part of that.”
He was inducted on July 21, 2019. Fellow Sox Hall of Famers Fisk, Tim Raines, Frank Thomas and Jim Thome were among those in attendance on Aug. 11, 2019, as the Sox honored the longtime outfielder and designated hitter’s induction and accomplishments.
Sources: Tribune reporting and archives; the teams; NWSL; NFL
Giants get good luck in MLB draft lottery with fourth pick
Hours after the Dodgers agreed to a $69 million contract with star closer Edwin Diaz, one of their biggest rivals scored a huge offseason win as well.
The Giants came away with the fourth pick in Tuesday’s MLB draft lottery at the Winter Meetings in Orlando, Fla., a surprise given their relatively long odds.
The Bay Area squad had just the 12th-highest chances of landing the No. 1 overall choice in the 2026 draft, yet it ended up inside the top five.
The White Sox ultimately came away with the first choice, while the Rays and Twins got picks 2 and 3, respectively.
The Pirates, who came into the night with the third-best odds of getting the top pick, will select at No. 5. The Royals rounded out the lottery portion of the draft by grabbing the No. 6 spot.
The Athletics, meanwhile, were deemed one of the night’s losers — as they ended up at No. 8 despite having the fifth-best odds of grabbing No. 1.
Three teams were ineligible for a lottery pick, including the Angels. As a franchise that gives instead of receives revenue sharing money — also known as a “payor club” — the organization was not allowed to be in the top six. It got the No. 12 spot.
The Rockies and Nationals were the two other franchises that were ineligible. They touched down at Nos. 10 and No. 11, respectively.
The MLB draft will go down in mid-July during All-Star Week in Philadelphia.
Last year’s draft lottery winners, the Nationals, selected shortstop Eli Willits with the top overall choice.
Baltimore Orioles will pick 7th in 2026 Major League Baseball Draft
The Baltimore Orioles will pick seventh overall in the 2026 MLB Draft, after the Draft Lottery order was selected on Tuesday.
The Chicago White Sox will draft first on July 11.
Orioles and their first-round picks
The Baltimore Orioles have had recent success with their first-round draft picks.
Former first-round picks Ryan Mountcastle, Adley Rutschman, Heston Kjerstad, Colton Cowser, and Jackson Holliday have been impactful since they arrived in Baltimore.
The Orioles, this offseason, did trade away former first-rounder Grayson Rodriguez to the Los Angeles Angels for veteran outfielder Taylor Ward, who belted 36 home runs last season.
It’s still to be determined how former first-round selections Enrique Bradfield Jr., Vance Honeycutt, Ike Irish, Caden Bodine, Wehiwa Aloy, and Slater de Brun do in the majors, who have yet to go through the minor leagues.
The Orioles also drafted Manny Machado (2010), Matt Wieters (2007), Nick Markakis (2003), Brian Roberts (1999), Mike Mussina (1990), and Ben McDonald (1989).
Cal Ripken Jr. (1978) and Gunnar Henderson (2019) were drafted in the second round.
The 2026 Orioles’ outlook
The Baltimore Orioles are looking to bounce back after a last-place finish in 2025, which followed back-to-back playoff appearances in 2023 and 2024.
This offseason, they traded for outfielder Taylor Ward, signed relief pitcher Andrew Kittredge, and signed outfielder Leody Taveras.
The Orioles have a bunch of young talent, including Dylan Beavers, Colton Cowser, Jordan Westburg, Coby Mayo, Jackson Holliday, Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, and Samuel Basallo.
Baltimore plays its first spring training game on Feb. 20. Its regular-season begins at Camden Yards against the Minnesota Twins on March 26.
Here’s what Reds pitched Kyle Schwarber before he chose Phillies
The Cincinnati Reds failed to sign free agent and hometown native Kyle Schwarber.
Cincinnati’s final offer was reportedly worth about $125 million over five years.
The Reds are now exploring other free agent and trade market options to improve the team.
ORLANDO – Whatever the Cincinnati Reds accomplish – or don’t – in 2026, the story for how it happened will start with Dec. 9 at MLB’s winter meetings.
Fifteen days after Kyle Schwarber and his wife got the Reds-carpet treatment at Great American Ball Park from Reds ownership, manager Terry Francona and top executives, Middletown’s most powerful man turned down an offer to transform his hometown team and instead returned to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Just like that, a Reds offseason of high hopes and tape-measure dreams pivoted to whatever comes next after the team missed on signing the first nine-figure, top-of-the-market free agent in franchise history.
“Kyle’s a great guy and obviously he made the decision that is best for his family. I’m happy for him,” Reds president Nick Krall said. “He’s a great talent, and you’re always disappointed when you don’t get somebody. But that’s just the way it goes. You’ve got to figure out how to pick it up and move on to the next guy.”
The next guy?
“We’re looking at everything,” Krall said.
Another big-ticket target? Multiple modest signings? A trade?
Inter Miami star Messi is MLS’ first back-to-back MVP winner
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Best player. Best team. Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi is the unquestioned force in Major League Soccer right now, on a run like nobody else the league has ever seen.
The 38-year-old Argentine star — and captain of the MLS Cup champions — has become the first back-to-back MVP in MLS history, getting announced Tuesday as this year’s winner of the league’s top individual honor.
Messi — thanking his teammates and saying he couldn’t have won the award without them — accepted the trophy at the opening ceremony of his Messi Cup youth tournament, which kicked off Tuesday. That’s why the award announcement was delayed until after the season; Messi wanted kids to be part of it.
“He’s a unicorn, man — not just for what he does on the field,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said Tuesday after the on-field ceremony in misty conditions. “He’s just a special man.”
The back-to-back MVPs represent another first for Messi in what seems like a never-ending list of his career accomplishments and was widely expected, almost assumed after he had a league-best 29 goals along with 19 assists during the regular season.
He also becomes just the second two-time MVP the league has ever seen, joining Preki, the winner of the award in 1997 and 2003. The other winners are all one-time MVP recipients.
“He was fantastic the whole season, with the numbers and also with the commitment,” Inter Miami coach and longtime Messi teammate Javier Mascherano said after Saturday’s MLS final.
Messi played in barely half of Inter Miami’s regular-season games in 2024, and that sparked some doubt as to whether he deserved to win the MVP award.
He won a close vote last year. This year, there was no debate.
Messi got 70.4% of the total vote — the biggest winning total since Toronto’s Sebastian Giovinco in 2015. San Diego’s Anders Dreyer was second with 11.2%, followed by LAFC’s Denis Bouanga (7.3%), Cincinnati’s Evander (4.8%) and Nashville’s Sam Surridge (2.4%).
“There’s something about the way he’s wired,” Garber said of Messi while attending an Inter Miami match earlier in this season’s playoffs. “He’s thinking about the game like nobody else ever has. His intensity and desire to win is what makes him the greatest of all time. There are a lot of really competitive players, but he has this special sauce, this dynamic that has him so focused on doing what he needs to do to win games.”
This award joins dozens of other individual honors in Messi’s career, including eight Ballon d’Or titles, eight Pichichi trophies as La Liga’s top scorer, six La Liga best player nods, three Best FIFA Men’s Player awards, three UEFA Men’s Player of the Year wins, two FIFA World Cup Golden Balls and no fewer than 15 selections as Argentina’s best player in a given year. He’s also been part of winning 47 trophies for club and country — including the 2022 World Cup — making him the most decorated player the men’s game has ever seen.
“The reality,” Mascherano said as the regular season was ending, “is that Leo clears all doubts.”
Messi becomes the sixth player in MLS history to win MVP and a championship in the same season. Of the previous five, only Atlanta United’s Josef Martinez in 2018 won MVP, a title and the Golden Boot as the league’s scoring champion all in the same year, another hat trick of sorts that Messi achieved in 2025.
Indeed, there has been no one like him — in MLS for certain, and quite possibly anywhere.
Forget winning back-to-back MVPs. There have been only four players in MLS history — Carlos Valderrama in 1996 and 1997, Marco Etcheverry in 1998 and 1999, David Villa in 2016 and 2017, and Martinez in 2018 and 2019 — to win the award one year and then even be a finalist for MVP in the following season.
And Messi isn’t planning on leaving Miami anytime soon. He’s signed a three-year extension, meaning he’ll be there when Inter Miami — a franchise that has seen its value explode since his arrival 2½ years ago — opens its new stadium near Miami International Airport next season.
“Leo is a winner. It’s simple as that,” Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham said. “And I know that sounds like an easy and an obvious thing to say because of what he’s won. There’s no player that has probably won what he has won and done it the way he’s done it. There’s more to what makes him the greatest than just what he does on the field. I think everyone in Miami, everyone around the MLS, has seen what he’s done for this league and this city and this country. But he continues to raise that level, and that’s what great players do.”
The phenomenon of having a back-to-back MVP has occurred in each of the other major U.S. pro sports leagues in the past plenty of times, with the most recent instance of each happening fairly recently.
In Major League Baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani and the New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge have won the National League and American League MVP awards, respectively, in each of the last two seasons; Ohtani won the AL MVP award with the Los Angeles Angels in 2023 as well.
A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces has won the WNBA’s MVP award in each of the last two years. Denver’s Nikola Jokic was the most recent NBA player to win MVP back-to-back, doing so in 2021 and 2022. Aaron Rodgers — then of Green Bay — won two straight NFL MVP awards in 2020 and 2021, and Washington’s Alex Ovechkin won the NHL’s Hart Trophy in 2008 and 2009 for the most recent occurrence of someone claiming that award in consecutive years.
But never in MLS — until now.
“Great players always believe that they can win more and raise the level,” Beckham said. “And that’s what Leo’s doing.”
___
Lionel Messi becomes MLS’ first back-to-back MVP
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Best player. Best team. Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi is the unquestioned force in Major League Soccer right now, on a run like nobody else the league has ever seen.
The 38-year-old Argentine star — and captain of the MLS Cup champions — has become the first back-to-back MVP in MLS history, getting announced Tuesday as this year’s winner of the league’s top individual honor.
It’s another first for Messi in what seems like a never-ending list of his career accomplishments and was widely expected, almost assumed after he had a league-best 29 goals along with 19 assists during the regular season.
He also becomes just the second two-time MVP the league has ever seen, joining Preki, the winner of the award in 1997 and 2003. The other winners are all one-time MVP recipients.
“He was fantastic the whole season, with the numbers and also with the commitment,” Inter Miami coach and longtime Messi teammate Javier Mascherano said.
Messi played in barely half of Inter Miami’s regular-season games in 2024, and that sparked some doubt as to whether he deserved to win the MVP award.
He won a close vote last year. This year, there was no debate.
Messi got 70.4% of the total vote — the biggest winning total since Toronto’s Sebastian Giovinco in 2015. San Diego’s Anders Dreyer was second with 11.2%, followed by LAFC’s Denis Bouanga (7.3%), Cincinnati’s Evander (4.8%) and Nashville’s Sam Surridge (2.4%).
“I think he’s the unicorn of unicorns,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said of Messi while attending an Inter Miami match earlier in this season’s playoffs. “You know, there’s something about the way he’s wired. He’s thinking about the game like nobody else ever has. His intensity and desire to win is what makes him the greatest of all time. There are a lot of really competitive players, but he has this special sauce, this dynamic that has him so focused on doing what he needs to do to win games.”
This award joins dozens of other individual honors in Messi’s career, including eight Ballon d’Or titles, eight Pichichi trophies as La Liga’s top scorer, six La Liga best player nods, three Best FIFA Men’s Player awards, three UEFA Men’s Player of the Year wins, two FIFA World Cup Golden Balls and no fewer than 15 selections as Argentina’s best player in a given year. He’s also been part of winning 47 trophies for club and country — including the 2022 World Cup — making him the most decorated player the men’s game has ever seen.
“The reality,” Mascherano said as the regular season was ending, “is that Leo clears all doubts.”
Messi becomes the sixth player in MLS history to win MVP and a championship in the same season. Of the previous five, only Atlanta United’s Josef Martinez in 2018 won MVP, a title and the Golden Boot as the league’s scoring champion all in the same year, another hat trick of sorts that Messi achieved in 2025.
Indeed, there has been no one like him — in MLS for certain, and quite possibly anywhere.
Forget winning back-to-back MVPs. There have been only four players in MLS history — Carlos Valderrama in 1996 and 1997, Marco Etcheverry in 1998 and 1999, David Villa in 2016 and 2017, and Martinez in 2018 and 2019 — to win the award one year and then even be a finalist for MVP in the following season.
And Messi isn’t planning on leaving Miami anytime soon. He’s signed a three-year extension, meaning he’ll be there when Inter Miami — a franchise that has seen its value explode since his arrival 2½ years ago — opens its new stadium near Miami International Airport next season.
“When Lionel Messi made MLS his league of choice, it marked a turning point — not just for Inter Miami, but for our entire sport in North America,” Garber said when the contract was announced. “Since then, we’ve witnessed something truly historic: the greatest player of all time bringing global attention to our league. We’re thrilled that Leo has chosen to stay and continue his career with Inter Miami.”
The phenomenon of having a back-to-back MVP has occurred in each of the other major U.S. pro sports leagues in the past plenty of times, with the most recent instance of each happening fairly recently.
In Major League Baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani and the New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge have won the National League and American League MVP awards, respectively, in each of the last two seasons; Ohtani won the AL MVP award with the Los Angeles Angels in 2023 as well.
A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces has won the WNBA’s MVP award in each of the last two years. Denver’s Nikola Jokic was the most recent NBA player to win MVP back-to-back, doing so in 2021 and 2022. Aaron Rodgers — then of Green Bay — won two straight NFL MVP awards in 2020 and 2021, and Washington’s Alex Ovechkin won the NHL’s Hart Trophy in 2008 and 2009 for the most recent occurrence of someone claiming that award in consecutive years.
But never in MLS — until now.
___
It’s Messi. Repeat, Messi. The Inter Miami star is MLS’ first back-to-back MVP winner
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Best player. Best team. Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi is the unquestioned force in Major League Soccer right now, on a run like nobody else the league has ever seen.
The 38-year-old Argentine star — and captain of the MLS Cup champions — has become the first back-to-back MVP in MLS history, getting announced Tuesday as this year’s winner of the league’s top individual honor.
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Messi named 1st back-to-back MVP in Major League Soccer
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Best player. Best team. Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi is the unquestioned force in Major League Soccer right now, on a run like nobody else the league has ever seen.
The 38-year-old Argentine star — and captain of the MLS Cup champions — has become the first back-to-back MVP in MLS history, announced Tuesday as this year’s winner of the league’s top individual honor.
Messi — thanking his teammates and saying he couldn’t have won the award without them — accepted the trophy at the opening ceremony of his Messi Cup youth tournament, which kicked off Tuesday. That’s why the award announcement was delayed until after the season; Messi wanted kids to be part of it.
“He’s a unicorn, man — not just for what he does on the field,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said Tuesday after the on-field ceremony in misty conditions. “He’s just a special man.”
The back-to-back MVPs represents another first for Messi in what seems like a never-ending list of his career accomplishments and was widely expected, almost assumed after he had a league-best 29 goals along with 19 assists during the regular season.
He also becomes just the second two-time MVP the league has ever seen, joining Preki, the winner of the award in 1997 and 2003. The other winners are all one-time MVP recipients.
“He was fantastic the whole season, with the numbers and also with the commitment,” Inter Miami coach and longtime Messi teammate Javier Mascherano said after Saturday’s MLS final.
Messi played in barely half of Inter Miami’s regular-season games in 2024, and that sparked some doubt as to whether he deserved to win the MVP award.
He won a close vote last year. This year, there was no debate.
Messi got 70.4% of the total vote — the biggest winning total since Toronto’s Sebastian Giovinco in 2015. San Diego’s Anders Dreyer was second with 11.2%, followed by LAFC’s Denis Bouanga (7.3%), Cincinnati’s Evander (4.8%) and Nashville’s Sam Surridge (2.4%).
“There’s something about the way he’s wired,” Garber said of Messi while attending an Inter Miami match earlier in this season’s playoffs. “He’s thinking about the game like nobody else ever has. His intensity and desire to win is what makes him the greatest of all time. There are a lot of really competitive players, but he has this special sauce, this dynamic that has him so focused on doing what he needs to do to win games.”
This award joins dozens of other individual honors in Messi’s career, including eight Ballon d’Or titles, eight Pichichi trophies as La Liga’s top scorer, six La Liga best player nods, three Best FIFA Men’s Player awards, three UEFA Men’s Player of the Year wins, two FIFA World Cup Golden Balls and no fewer than 15 selections as Argentina’s best player in a given year. He’s also been part of winning 47 trophies for club and country — including the 2022 World Cup — making him the most decorated player the men’s game has ever seen.
“The reality,” Mascherano said as the regular season was ending, “is that Leo clears all doubts.”
Messi becomes the sixth player in MLS history to win MVP and a championship in the same season. Of the previous five, only Atlanta United’s Josef Martinez in 2018 won MVP, a title and the Golden Boot as the league’s scoring champion all in the same year, another hat trick of sorts that Messi achieved in 2025.
Indeed, there has been no one like him — in MLS for certain, and quite possibly anywhere.
Forget winning back-to-back MVPs. There have been only four players in MLS history — Carlos Valderrama in 1996 and 1997, Marco Etcheverry in 1998 and 1999, David Villa in 2016 and 2017, and Martinez in 2018 and 2019 — to win the award one year and then even be a finalist for MVP in the following season.
And Messi isn’t planning on leaving Miami anytime soon. He’s signed a three-year extension, meaning he’ll be there when Inter Miami — a franchise that has seen its value explode since his arrival 2½ years ago — opens its new stadium near Miami International Airport next season.
“Leo is a winner. It’s simple as that,” Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham said. “And I know that sounds like an easy and an obvious thing to say because of what he’s won. There’s no player that has probably won what he has won and done it the way he’s done it. There’s more to what makes him the greatest than just what he does on the field. I think everyone in Miami, everyone around the MLS, has seen what he’s done for this league and this city and this country. But he continues to raise that level, and that’s what great players do.”
The phenomenon of having a back-to-back MVP has occurred in each of the other major U.S. pro sports leagues in the past plenty of times, with the most recent instance of each happening fairly recently.
In Major League Baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani and the New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge have won the National League and American League MVP awards, respectively, in each of the last two seasons; Ohtani won the AL MVP award with the Los Angeles Angels in 2023 as well.
A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces has won the WNBA’s MVP award in each of the last two years. Denver’s Nikola Jokic was the most recent NBA player to win MVP back-to-back, doing so in 2021 and 2022. Aaron Rodgers — then of Green Bay — won two straight NFL MVP awards in 2020 and 2021, and Washington’s Alex Ovechkin won the NHL’s Hart Trophy in 2008 and 2009 for the most recent occurrence of someone claiming that award in consecutive years.
But never in MLS — until now.
“Great players always believe that they can win more and raise the level,” Beckham said. “And that’s what Leo’s doing.”
Messi arrasa en la MLS y gana por segundo año consecutivo el premio al mejor jugador de la temporada (MVP)
Por Cesar Lopez, CNN en Español
Era un secreto a voces, pero faltaba el anuncio oficial. Lionel Messi ganó por segundo año consecutivo el premio al MVP o Most Valuable Player, por sus siglas en inglés, de la temporada 2025.
La Major League Soccer (MLS) eligió al delantero del Inter Miami CF como ganador del Premio Landon Donovan al Jugador Más Valioso, convirtiéndose en el primer futbolista en la historia de la liga en obtener este reconocimiento en dos temporadas consecutivas.
En la votación, Messi superó a Anders Dreyer (San Diego FC), Denis Bouanga (LAFC), Evander (FC Cincinnati) y Sam Surridge (Nashville SC). El premio se otorga desde 1996 mediante votación de jugadores, personal técnico y medios de comunicación.
El argentino, fiel a su estilo de compartir sus premios individuales con sus compañeros de equipo, también ganó la Bota de Oro de la MLS 2025. Reconocimientos que se unieron a varios récords que recogió la MLS a lo largo de la campaña.
Messi, además de sumar los dos premios como mejor jugador, fue incluido por segunda ocasión en el 11 ideal de la campaña.
Desde su llegada a Inter Miami en julio de 2023, Messi ha dejado una huella imborrable: ayudó al club a ganar la Leagues Cup 2023, el Supporters’ Shield 2024 con una marca de 74 puntos y la MLS Cup 2025.
Messi y David Villa son los únicos campeones del mundo que han jugado en la MLS y han sido elegidos como los mejores de una temporada.
Inter Miami Superstar Lionel Messi Is First Back-to-Back MLS MVP
Best player. Best team. Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi is the unquestioned force in Major League Soccer right now, on a run like nobody else the league has ever seen.
The 38-year-old Argentine star – and captain of the MLS Cup champions – has become the first back-to-back MVP in MLS history, being announced Tuesday as this year’s winner of the league’s top individual honor.
It’s another first for Messi in what seems like a never-ending list of his career accomplishments and was widely expected, almost assumed, after he had a league-best 29 goals along with 19 assists during the regular season.
He also becomes just the second two-time MVP the league has ever seen, joining Preki, the winner of the award in 1997 and 2003. The other winners are all one-time MVP recipients.
On the road with the Sabres this season
Buffalo News reporter Rachel Lenzi heads to the Buffalo Sabres morning skate at TD Garden in Boston on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025.
The Buffall Sabres lost 6-3 Nov. 8 at Carolina. Here’s a look at the pregame scene at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C.
The Montreal Canadiens pay tribute to their legends outside the Bell Centre in Montreal on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025.
Toronto’s fans came to Buffalo in force, on a night when the Maple Leafs played the Sabres and the Blue Jays faced the Los Angeles Dodgers in …
The Toronto Maple Leafs take the ice at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto before a game against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025
The Buffalo Sabres practiced Nov. 11 at the Utah Mammoth’s new headquarters and training facility in Sandy, Utah.
The Buffalo Sabres played the Utah Mammoth at the Delta Center on Nov. 12 in Salt Lake City.
The Buffalo Sabres continued a four-game road trip Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena in Denver.
The pregame scene at Pittsburgh’s PPG Paints Arena
A video projection system gives the backdrop to the warmup sessions for the Sabres and Winnipeg Jets in Canada Life Centre on Dec. 5, 2025.
The Calgary Flames held their
Ohio bans marijuana billboards in a move questioned by Democrats, ad industry
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A divided state panel waived through an Ohio Division of Cannabis Control rule banning advertisements of recreational marijuana dispensaries on billboards, radio, television or the internet and in stadiums and arenas.
The Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review decision Monday makes it official that Ohio’s highways will look nothing like Michigan’s, where signage – especially profuse near its borders with other states – notify drivers of dispensaries and cannabis products.
The committee’s decision comes despite opposition from the Outdoor Advertising Association of Ohio, which warns that the rule will hurt business and could violate companies’ First Amendment rights to communicate with the public.
“Clearly billboards are a popular and impactful medium, and specifically prohibiting their use will have an adverse impact on cannabis operators to advertising their products,” said Kevin Futryk, the association’s executive director.
Futryk further said that a First Amendment attorney reviewed the rule, yet his comments were not included in an earlier analysis of business impacts put out by Gov. Mike DeWine’s office.
Democrats on the committee also opposed the rule, proposed a year ago.
On Nov. 7, 2023, 57% of Ohio voters approved an initiated statute that legalized recreational marijuana. The marijuana businesses that put the statute on the ballot called their proposal “Just Like Alcohol.”
But state Sen. Bill DeMora, a Columbus Democrat and committee member, said the marijuana advertising rule is more stringent than alcohol advertising.
“I go to sports arenas, I see alcohol signs everywhere,” he said.
The initiated statute that voters approved does put limits on advertising, specifically saying ads cannot be false or misleading. Ads cannot target children, promote excessive cannabis use or illegal activity.
Ads “shall not overly burden the legitimate commercial speech of adult use cannabis operators in communicating with adult use consumers,” the advertising section of the initiated statue says. “Notwithstanding, the division of cannabis control may adopt narrowly tailored time and place restrictions preventing advertising targeted to minors.”
Emily Groseclose, the Division of Cannabis Control’s deputy superintendent, defended the rules, pointing to a separate section of the initiated statute that created the Division of Cannabis Control and gives it authority to regulate licensed marijuana businesses.
That includes requiring the division “to adopt reasonable standards for any adult-use cannabis samples, and advertising.”
“These restrictions on billboards are a narrowly tailored advertisement prohibition,” she told the committee. “The restriction on billboards is to prevent targeting to minors.”
DeMora pushed back.
“I read the proposed rules for this, and basically you outlaw everything except the (company) website,” he said. “And they can’t say anything on their website except put their name and what their company does.”
DeMora is referring to a part of the rule that says licensed marijuana businesses can have a web presence with their name, address, contact information and services provided, “which prominently and conspicuously displays the Division of Cannabis Control seal and requires age affirmation of at least eighteen years of age by registered patients and at least twenty-one years of age by adult-use consumers, before gaining access to licensee’s website.”
DeMora said it didn’t make sense that a licensee is allowed to have a sign outside their business but is not allowed to have a billboard along a highway with their name on it.
“It’s the exact same sign, but one’s allowed and one’s not,” he said.
Andrew Makoski, the Division of Cannabis Control’s chief legal counsel, said those signs serve different purposes.
“The way the division would look at these two things is a sign that is attached to your building is much more likely to be aiding someone who’s in the area to locate a specific place where you are located,” he said. “It’s the same reason that we permit monument signs. So, if a dispensary happens to be located in a strip mall, they’re allowed to use a large sign that is outside the strip mall… If it’s on the highway or if it’s sort of out more in the public, that’s more of an advertisement.”
Makoski said there is court precedent on advertising, not related to cannabis, that has drawn this distinction. He noted that the rule largely mimics a rule that existed for medical marijuana.
As part of the master settlement agreement states reached with tobacco companies in 1998, billboards for cigarettes are prohibited, Makoski added.
The master settlement refers to research showing the billboards are a primary driver of youth use of cigarettes and nicotine, he said.
But that ban was part of a settlement to litigation against the nicotine industry, DeMora said.
The committee doesn’t approve agency rules; rather it OK’s them by considering several prongs about whether regulations don’t exceed the statutory authority of an agency, conflicts with existing rules, or has an adverse effect on business, among other standards.
“This is overly burdensome,” DeMora said. “I understand our governor doesn’t like marijuana, but the people of Ohio spoke.”
The Division of Cannabis Control is part of DeWine’s administration.
The committee’s vote was six Republican lawmakers in favor and four Democrats against.
The vote came one day before the Ohio Senate passed a final version of a separate piece of legislation that makes changes to the initiated statute and generally puts intoxicating hemp products in marijuana dispensaries.
Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani Gets Strong Prediction From Dave Roberts
Last season, Los Angeles Dodgers‘ Shohei Ohtani returned to pitching after sitting out all of 2024, gradually building up his workload and eventually throwing six innings late in the 2025 MLB season.
Now, with a full offseason in which Ohtani is fully healthy, the Japanese star will look to head to the mound with no restrictions for the 2026 season. Moreover, if the Dodgers standout can stay healthy and put up impressive numbers on the mound, he could be pushing for the Cy Young Award.
On December 9, Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts appeared on MLB Network and laid out the plan for Ohtani pitching a full season for the reigning back-to-back World Series champions.
“Shohei has shown that he works really well with extra rest,” Roberts said. “In the World Series, it was his shortest rest day start. I do think this is the first year he’s had a chance to prepare for a season as a regular, healthy player. With seven to nine days of rest between various starts, I see no reason he can’t make 25 [or] 27 starts.”
Dodgers Issue Stance for Shohei Ohtani Ahead of WBC
Despite Ohtani being healthy, the Dodgers remain cautious with their superstar. With the 2026 World Baseball Classic on the horizon before the start of the new season, Roberts made his feelings clear about Ohtani pitching for Team Japan in the competition.
“I don’t know,” Roberts said when asked if Ohtani would pitch in the WBC (h/t Dodgers Nation). “I’m hoping he doesn’t. … I would say, the thought is he’s probably just going to hit, but I don’t know.”
The Dodgers have reason to be cautious about Ohtani’s health heading into 2026, given his history of elbow surgeries and the significant time he has missed recovering from each procedure. Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see if Ohtani decides to pitch for Japan, who will be looking to defend their WBC title.
Shohei Ohtani Can Still Impact Team Japan
Ohtani returned to the mound in impressive fashion, posting a 2.87 ERA across 14 starts and 47 innings. He struck out 62 batters and recorded the second-lowest WHIP of his career at 1.043.
Even if he contributes solely as a hitter for Team Japan, Ohtani’s presence will be monumental. His offensive production alone earned him the 2024 MVP, and that firepower will be critical in the tournament.
Team Japan aims for a record fourth WBC championship next year and a second consecutive title. Ohtani is confirmed on the roster, with preliminary inclusion for Roki Sasaki alongside him as they chase another crown, per MLB insider Francys Romero.
Sasaki got off to a rocky start with the Dodgers, posting a 4.72 ERA over his first eight MLB starts before landing on the injured list in early May. He spent most of the season sidelined but made a strong return toward the end of September.
Once back, the rookie pitcher quickly regained his form and became a go-to option for the Dodgers in high-pressure moments. The 24-year-old stifled a Reds rally in the decisive game of the Wild Card Series and then notched his first two MLB saves on the road against the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS.
The team has confirmed Ohtani, included Sasaki in the preliminary roster, but has yet to list Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk Responds After Backstage Altercation With Jamahal Hill at UFC 323
Former UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk has broken her silence. Following a brief but heated backstage exchange with former light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill, a moment captured in a nine-second video clip that surfaced Monday on social media.
The incident allegedly took place backstage at UFC 323 inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. In the clip, Hill can be seen shouting toward Jedrzejczyk as security steps between them.
“If you touch my girl, I’m going to knock you the f*ck out,” Hill yells in the video.
With security restraining her, Jedrzejczyk responds: “Yeah? You will?” The clip ends abruptly, leaving the context unclear. As speculation grew, Jedrzejczyk issued a written statement which she also read in an Instagram video firmly denying any wrongdoing and expressing frustration that her name was pulled into an incident she says was unprovoked.
Jedrzejczyk: “I will always stand up for myself”
In her statement, Joanna Jedrzejczyk defended her character and said she was “embarrassed” to be involved in the situation at all.
“I worked so hard to earn my reputation, and I am embarrassed to be in this situation,” she wrote.
“But when somebody uses my name, falsely, without any basis in truth, I will always stand up for myself, and for that I do not deserve to be threatened.”
Jedrzejczyk emphasized that as a strong, financially secure and high-profile woman, she recognizes that many women confronted with threats or intimidation don’t have the same resources or platform to protect themselves.
“I empathize with the women who are disrespected and threatened, and lack the power and means to stand up for themselves,” she said.
“I expect more from each of us as individuals and as a society, and I certainly expect more from athletes in our sport especially former champions.”
She thanked UFC staff for their handling of the situation and said she considers the matter closed.
“I want to thank the UFC security and staff for their professionalism. … I consider this matter closed, and wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday season!”
Jamahal Hill has not addressed the incident and has not posted on any social media platform since November. The UFC has also not issued a comment, leaving the circumstances surrounding the confrontation unclear.
Hill is currently sidelined due to a major knee surgery. He’s not expected to return to competition until late 2026.
Jedrzejczyk’s Post-Career Role With UFC
Although she retired from MMA in June 2022, Joanna Jedrzejczyk remains highly active as a UFC ambassador. She frequently attends international events, serves in promotional roles, and maintains a strong public presence within the sport.
Her statement suggests she wants to distance herself from the situation quickly, reiterating her focus on professionalism and her broader responsibility as one of MMA’s most influential female athletes.
Aljamain Sterling Says Merab Dvalishvili Had an ‘Off Night’ at UFC 323
Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling believes Merab Dvalishvili’s performance at UFC 323 was far from his usual self. Dvalishvili (21-5 MMA, 14-3 UFC) lost his bantamweight title by unanimous decision to former champion Petr Yan. Who avenged their 2023 clash by turning in a vastly improved performance in the rematch. “The Machine” struggled mightily with his trademark wrestling, going just 2-for-29 on takedown attempts, while Yan out-struck and damaged him over five rounds. For Sterling Dvalishvili’s longtime teammate and arguably the person who knows Merab best the signs of an unusual off night were evident.
Sterling: “He didn’t go to the body at all something was different.”
Speaking to Submission Radio, Aljamain Sterling said Dvalishvili’s lack of body-punching stood out immediately. “I guess we were kind of wondering if Merab was seeing something different,” Sterling said. “Those body punches he’s almost put me down a couple times with those.”
Aljamain Sterling said even in the lead-up to fight night, Dvalishvili didn’t look like his normal self. “The weeks leading up to this fight and even the day of, in the back room, he didn’t go to the body with his hands like he normally does,” Sterling added.
“That could’ve been a difference maker.”
He pointed to adjustments from their first fight with Yan where calf kicks helped Merab take control but said this time Yan found success with his left body kick, particularly from southpaw, and Merab never fully disrupted that rhythm.
Joshua Van Willing to Make Things Right With Alexandre Pantoja After Injury-Hit UFC Title Win
UFC 323 wasn’t supposed to end with a collective gasp. It was supposed to be a showdown between the division’s most decorated champion and its fastest-rising contender, a passing of the torch of sorts. Instead, 26 seconds in, Alexandre Pantoja‘s arm folded beneath him, leaving Joshua Van standing in the kind of silence no new champion wants to debut in.
The celebration felt muted, the audience hesitant to accept the way the title changed hands, and the narrative abruptly flipped from triumph to aftermath. And unfortunately, a new question emerged online: What exactly counts as winning a title? Van heard every phrase, every asterisk, and every claim that he wasn’t the “real” heir. What followed was an unexpected reaction—and an offer that has the potential to change the entire narrative surrounding UFC 323.
Joshua Van claims responsibility and offers an instant rematch
What surprised fans was how firmly Joshua Van insisted the belt should be defended again, immediately, against the man he dethroned. Van told Ariel Helwani, “Nobody wants the fight to end that way. He’s one of the greatest of all time in our division. I want to run it back.” There was no gloating or relying on the result, just a young champion attempting to make things right.
And to make things even more interesting, he did something even bolder: ‘The Fearless’ claimed ownership of the moment that ended Pantoja’s reign. Not with ego, but with straightforward honesty. Van acknowledged the sequence—a kick, a shove, and a tumble—and stated, “I made that happen…it’s a fight.”
It wasn’t an attempt to take credit; it was his way of admitting that MMA fights are messy, unexpected, and sometimes cruel. If ‘The Cannibal’ heals quickly, Joshua Van says the door is open: “If you recover quickly enough, then yes.” Still, Van didn’t pretend he predicted the outcome. “I pushed him, but I didn’t think he was going to break his arm,” he explained.
And that mix of accountability and arrogance is exactly what kept the rematch conversation going. It is worth noting that this isn’t the first time he tried to prove his worth. After his win at UFC 323, he lashed out at fans during the post-fight interview, as he said, “F— them… I won.” He will defend that belt, but he won’t defend himself to anyone who won’t listen.
Meanwhile, Alexandre Pantoja himself tried to calm the debate. In a message sent from his hospital bed, he referred to Van’s win as “destiny,” congratulated him, and promised to return with one mission: to reclaim the flyweight title. No bitterness, no excuses, just the mindset of a champion determined to reclaim what he believes is still his.
With both men now agreeing on one idea, that unfinished business needs to be resolved. And the UFC fans may be treated to the rarest thing in MMA: a rematch motivated not by marketing, but by mutual respect and a desire to end the story the right way, even if Joshua Van saw it all coming a long time ago.
The new champion manifested his title win
Joshua Van’s confidence after UFC 323 didn’t come out of nowhere; he’d been calling his shot for more than a year. Ariel Helwani revealed that ‘The Fearless’ used to sign fan cards with the words “Champion by 2026,” a prediction that came true almost exactly. Even his phone wallpaper said, “I’m a champion. December 6, 2025.”
Long before the belt touched his waist, he had mentally prepared for the moment. He also bought a special pistol engraved with “World Champion December 6,” which he has yet to get because it couldn’t be completed in time for fight week. To Joshua Van, this wasn’t luck or controversy; it was a promise fulfilled.
But even with that belief, he returned to the same argument he made immediately after the fight: “Nobody wants the fight to end that way.” The manifestation, the prediction, the date—all of this means less to him without a solid conclusion. That’s why he will be working just as hard for a rematch as the former champion.
Payton Talbott Almost Cried After Henry Cejudo’s Emotional Plea to Dana White About His UFC Career
UFC 323 ended with a really unexpected moment—not from the fight, but from what happened afterward. Payton Talbott had just demolished Henry Cejudo, a former two-division champion and Olympic gold medalist, but the spotlight did not shine on the emerging star for long. As soon as the last horn sounded, cameras saw ‘Triple C’ walking, bloodied, tired, and emotional, straight to Dana White to make one special request.
And, surprisingly, the gesture was not about him, his legacy, or his retirement. It was about Talbott. The incident went viral as nobody expected the retiring legend to tell the UFC CEO, “Take care of that kid,” as his own career faded to black. And it created the setting for a post-fight conversation that flipped the normal script: the veteran stepping aside, and the prospect attempting to process a kindness offered at the exact time Henry Cejudo could have been thinking only about himself.
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Henry Cejudo’s final gesture hits Payton Talbott harder than any punch
By the time Payton Talbott saw the clip, the emotion he’d been holding together all fight week finally cracked. “That actually meant a lot to me and almost made me kind of tear up,” he told Ariel Helwani. Talbott isn’t known for expressing much emotion, certainly not after a career-best performance, but this was an exception.
It was the context: he had just beaten a man he had previously trained with, and Cejudo chose that moment to advocate for him instead. Payton Talbott feels that people misunderstand Cejudo by focusing solely on the promos and villain persona he constructed to sell his fights. But in actuality, he is a very different breed.
“At his core, man, he is a very generous guy… a solid dude,” he explained. And for him, that generosity was on full show in that short, overlooked exchange with Dana White: one fighter ensuring another’s future in the UFC long after he’s gone. What made it even more extraordinary was Cejudo’s effortless transition to mentorship mode.
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He did not defend the loss, attempt to reclaim the room, or belittle Talbott’s performance. Instead, he only pointed to the younger man’s potential. The 29-year-old understood the weight of that—the respect, the responsibility, and the silent passing of a torch that was unplanned but occurred nonetheless.
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And that’s what stuck with him: not the win, not the bonus Dana White gave him backstage, but the feeling that someone who’d already accomplished so much chose to boost him in their final moments under the spotlight. So now, all he looks forward to is making sure he continues making ‘Triple C’ proud, and to do that, he already has his eyes set on the next potential opponents.
Talbott wants to square off with a striker next
Cejudo’s message didn’t just move Payton Talbott; it sharpened his focus. If a legend is willing to vouch for him moments after defeat, Talbott feels obligated to live up to that level, rather than coast on it. And, from his perspective, the first step is choosing a matchup that allows him to showcase a different side of his game.
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He’s spent the last three fights grinding through wrestlers, and now he wants a bout that will allow him to open up. So, rather than pushing for a title eliminator or a safe stylistic matchup, Talbott is taking a direct risk. “I want a striker next,” he stated, emphasizing that he wants to give spectators something crazy, fast, and entertaining.
He’s proud of his grappling progress, but the 27-year-old wants people to remember what drew him to the dance in the first place: sharp hands, pressure, and a willingness to engage. Names like Marlon “Chito” Vera and Aiemann Zahabi are already at the top of his list. “I’m down for a [Marlon] ‘Chito’ [Vera] or [Aiemann] Zahabi,” he told Helwani.
They are more than just strikers; they are seasoned, durable, and capable of forcing him into a fight that will put his character to the test. That is exactly the point. If Payton Talbott is going to honor Cejudo’s faith in him, he intends to do so by entering a fight where nothing is guaranteed but chaos and opportunity.
Donald Trump Provides Major Update on UFC’s White House Event
President Donald Trump recently delivered a major update on the UFC’s upcoming White House event. It will be a historic occasion, as the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary. Trump has promised a record-setting and thrilling night of fights for fans.
UFC CEO Dana White has stated that the official fight lineup won’t be booked until February. However, that hasn’t stopped fans and media from speculating about who could potentially headline the event. Fighters including Conor McGregor, Jon Jones, Alex Pereira, and Michael Chandler have publicly requested a spot on the card.
Speaking with reporters at the 48th Kennedy Center Honors Gala, Trump revealed that several championship bouts are in the works. An arena will be built outside the White House and the card will feature some of promotion’s biggest stars.
“It’s a big deal. [The event is] going to be Jun. 14 next year, and they’re building an arena. The great Dana White is building an arena, and they’re going to have eight or nine championship fights, the biggest fights they’ve ever had,” Trump said. “Every one is a championship fight and every one is a legendary type of fight.”
He continued:
“[White’s] actually holding back fights right now for six months so he can do it for this 250 [celebration of America].”
Donald Trump Reveals Expected Capacity for the UFC’s White House Event
President Donald Trump also provided an update on the expected capacity for the UFC’s White House event in 2026. With Dana White having already shared the early renderings of how the arena will look, there has been some speculation about its capacity.
There are also plans to expand into a separate location that will accommodate more fans. Based on those plans, the historic event is expected to be the highest attended in UFC history.
“I think the arena is going to be 5,000 or 6,000 seats, right in front of the front door of the White House, and 100,000 people in the back, where they’re putting up eight or ten very big screens,” Trump told reporters at the Kennedy Center Honors Gala. “That’s going to be an exciting night. So many people are asking for tickets.”
White Confirms One of Trump’s Favorite UFC Fighters Could Be Featured
White recently confirmed that one of Trump’s favorite fighters could be competing at the UFC’s White House event. Before that, he had been reluctant to reveal potential matchups due to it being too early.
Now, White seems to have raised the stakes for Derrick Lewis. The former heavyweight title challenger is scheduled to face Waldo Cortes-Acosta at UFC 324 next month. Based on the timing, an impressive win could very well secure Lewis a spot on the card.
“Is the White House ready for Derrick Lewis? President Trump loves Derrick Lewis,” White said during his UFC 323 post-event press conference. “[Trump] hasn’t told me to do anything, but he will not stop talking about Derrick Lewis. So, it’s a big fight for Derrick coming up.”
The UFC CEO’s remarks are a strong indicator that Lewis is, at the very least, being considered.
Mike Tyson Reaches Coveted Venue for Floyd Mayweather Fight Before UFC
Dana White and his team expanded their international footprint, traveling to multiple countries and hosting promotional events in places like Qatar and Azerbaijan. The UFC continues to enter new markets, but several key regions remain on its radar, including Spain and South Africa. But boxing legend Mike Tyson might beat Dana White to conduct an event in the African continent.
“I’m looking to go everywhere on this planet.” With this simple declaration, Dana White signaled the UFC’s ambition to establish a truly global presence. However, fans around the world are still waiting, as these markets remain some of the biggest in combat sports. Unlike Mike Tyson, who will reach a milestone with his upcoming bout against Floyd Mayweather, the UFC has not yet achieved this level of international expansion.
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Floyd Mayweather vs. Mike Tyson scheduled in South Africa before Dana Whire & Co.
Ever since the pandemic, Dana White has dreamed of hosting a UFC show on the African continent. At that time, the promotion was thriving with three African-descended champions, Francis Ngannou, Israel Adesanya, and Kamaru Usman. At the height of their careers, they proudly called themselves “Africa’s Three Kings,” putting UFC firmly on the map across the continent.
Dana White had promised to make a show happen, but for years, it never materialized. In the meantime, other MMA promotions like the PFL had already brought events to Africa. Now, Mike Tyson is set to make history, planning a blockbuster showdown against Floyd Mayweather on African soil.
“It’s going to be in March, and it’s going to be in Africa. This is going to be incredible, we’re going to break all the records. It’s going to be one of the biggest events in the history of the sport,” declared Mike Tyson straight from Dublin in ‘An Experience with Mike Tyson’ Q & A in Dublin.
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Since then, the trio of kings has fallen. Ngannou has parted ways with the UFC, while Adesanya and Usman have passed their prime. Yet the UFC also witnessed Dricus du Plessis rise as a South African champion in the middleweight division (Jan 2024 to Aug 2025).
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During this period, Dana White promised Du Plessis at UFC 305 that if he beat Israel Adesanya, the UFC would “take the next 185‑pound title fight to Du Plessis’s home country of South Africa.” However, in that fight, the South African champ beat Adesanya, but that day never arrived.
The challenges behind UFC’s missed opportunity in South Africa
Before Khamzat Chimaev dethroned him, Dricus du Plessis carried enormous expectations from his region. But since his UFC 319 loss, there has been no update on what’s next for the South African. The promotion faced significant obstacles. Africa, while renowned for sports like football and track and field, lacks indoor stadiums and proper facilities, and Dana White has expressed his dislike for the available venues.
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When asked why he was unable to follow through on his pledge to host Du Plessis’ next fight in South Africa after the champion defended his title against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305, White told reporters that they are trying to figure it out.
“The place that we would have to do it at is outdoors, and you know how I feel about that. So I’ve been trying to figure out the weather, and one of the big things that I’ve been hearing out there is that wind is a big problem.”
In another interview with ESPN, Du Plessis highlighted ticket pricing as another barrier. On the Sias du Plessis Show, the UFC middleweight champion explained that ticket costs are standing in the way of the promotion’s entry into South Africa.
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“Where are you going to find 14,000 people willing to pay $300-$350 for the cheapest seat in the back? That’s the biggest problem we have.”
Considering these challenges, hosting a UFC event in Africa could be difficult. The promotion might explore a visit to Spain in the future, but if these issues persist, it remains uncertain when an African event will finally take place. Stay tuned.
Jake Paul’s Past Reveals Why Joe Rogan Wanted to Punch Bert Kreischer in Resurfaced Clip
Joe Rogan may not enter the UFC cage himself. But his fans and close friends know what the man is capable of. After all, he is a Jiu-Jitsu black belt and was a multiple-time Massachusetts full-contact Taekwondo state champion in his youth. Safe to say, not a lot of people would want to run a fade with the UFC color commentator even when he’s 58. However, that didn’t stop comedian and friend Bert Kreischer from messing with Rogan.
A podcast clip, dated November 2, 2023, from BS w/ Jake Paul recently resurfaced on social media and quickly went viral, attracting 206K views at the time of writing. In the clip, the 53-year-old comedian recalls a moment from their shared past—a story that’s equal parts hilarious and terrifying, at least for Kreischer—where Joe Rogan nearly swung on him after he crossed the line with his relentless trash talk.
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Joe Rogan doesn’t take challenges lightly
‘Joe Rogan Podcast News,’ a community account on X, posted the clip with the caption reading, “Bert Kreischer reveals the reason Joe Rogan stopped talking to him.” Meanwhile, in the clip, Kreischer recounts the entire story. “I’ve gotten into a lot of fights, dude. I talk s—t,” Kreischer said, explaining that his loudmouth persona didn’t always land well with friends. “There were times Rogan was gonna punch me. I talk wild s—t… I was the guy [who] did it and then just couldn’t back it up.”
When Jake Paul’s co-host asked when he truly thought Rogan might throw hands, Kreischer didn’t hesitate. “Oh, a million times,” he replied, pointing specifically to their first Sober October challenge. Notably, Sober October is an annual challenge that Joe Rogan started in 2018 with his comedian friends Ari Shaffir, Tom Segura, and Bert Kreischer. The rules are simple: no alcohol, no mar—ana, and no junk food/cheat meals for the entire month of October, while also committing to a strict workout regimen every day.
According to Kreischer, things escalated after he mocked one of Rogan’s motivational videos in the Sober October series. Rogan had filmed a wholesome update. “I’m really getting after it in the hills… What’s up, Marshall [Rogan’s dog]?” However, Kreischer found this funny and proceeded to parody it, which didn’t sit well with the UFC commentator. In his spoof, Kreischer jokingly claimed he would do double the work Rogan was doing. “Every two miles you do I do four f—king miles,” Kreischer recalled saying in the parody.
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Rogan apparently took it seriously. “Rogan goes ‘F—k it, I do 10,’” Kreischer recalled, noting the UFC icon then logged “like 20 miles” the next day. This wasn’t the end, though, as Rogan even distanced himself from Bert Kreischer after the ordeal. “Then he stopped talking to me,” Kreischer told Jake Paul and his team. “I don’t know if I would get in his head… but you could definitely feel the energy.” The moment remains a fan favorite, blending friendship, competitiveness, and Rogan’s relentless drive.
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While Joe Rogan and Kreischer’s relationship is in a better place today, the latter recently became embroiled in a long-running feud between Rogan and a former UFC fighter.
Rogan responds after a former UFC fighter trashes him on Bert Kreischer’s podcast
Joe Rogan has reacted after former UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey took a shot at his MMA credentials during her appearance on Bert Kreischer’s podcast. Rousey dismissed Rogan’s expertise, saying he “is not an expert, he’s a fan with an audience,” and added that despite his Taekwondo background, “he never fought. That’s not fighting.”
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Ronda Rousey addressed the remarks on his own show and opted for diplomacy rather than confrontation. “She’s a legend,” Rogan said. “I’ve got nothing but love and respect for that lady… she made the UFC female division possible.” He suggested her criticism came from competitiveness rather than personal dislike.
“When she said I wasn’t an expert… you’ve got to understand why she thinks like that. She has a champion mentality. ‘You never fought, you ain’t s—t?’ I get it.” Ultimately, Rogan brushed it off. “The Ronda Rousey one didn’t really bother me… she’s a f—king pit bull.”
Having said that, it appears Joe Rogan doesn’t take any challenge lightly. Thankfully, Kreischer didn’t actually end up getting punched. But what do you make of this story?
UFC star Payton Talbott continues bitter feud with streamer Adin Ross after gross DM exchange
Payton Talbott has insisted that his feud with Adin Ross is very real, and there is now a UFC bounty on his head from the streamer.
The fast-rising bantamweight scored the best win of his career on Saturday night as he brutalized former two-weight world champion Henry Cejudo at UFC 323. In the build-up to the fight, Talbott was invited on Ross’ live stream, but declined with a foul photo in response to the offer.
Now, the pair seem to be at odds, with Talbott complaining that Ross is a prime example of a ‘streaming culture’ which he feels is an overall negative for society. For his part, the Kick streamer seems to have taken the banter well, joking that he is going to sue the UFC star.
Payton Talbott again goes off on Adin Ross after denying streamer collaboration
Payton Talbott appeared on Ariel Helwani’s show after his win over Henry Cejudo to talk about a number of topics coming out of an impressive performance. One topic that caught viewers’ interest, however, was his ongoing rivalry with Adin Ross.
“It’s legit,” Talbott said of the rivalry. “I recently saw he put a bounty on my head… Then he said he was going to sue me, I’m sure he was joking or whatever. But that’s kind of my point. The one thing he can do to maintain relevance is to put a f—ing bounty on my head?
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“That’s why I said no in the first place… That’s the gripe I have with streaming culture. He has no ability to do anything to me so he’s offering money to someone else to produce some kind of viral moment. That’s why I don’t like it. It’s vampiric and leechy.
“Just pointing a camera at someone and saying ‘now clap like a monkey, wait do it again the chat missed it’? I just don’t like that… I don’t hate those people or anything, I just don’t want to be part of it.”
Payton Talbott sent Adin Ross graphic photo in response to stream offer
A story that went viral before the fight was that Ross had invited Talbott to join him on one of his popular Kick streams. The fighter claims that he responded with a photo of his testicles and a denial, to which Ross laughed and promised to remain friends.
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“He DM’d me asking me and this is everywhere but I sent him a picture with my decline,” Talbott continued. “I said ‘no, I would not like to be on your stream, stream these instead’ and sent some nice b—s… They were really good looking, a good pair of b—s.
“He kind of passed the vibe check, he was like ‘good luck anyway’, laughed and asked if we could still be friends. I just left it at that, but I guess he doesn’t want to be friends any more he wants to put a bounty on me, big scary bounty… Like nobody’s trying to knock me out as it is.”
UFC 323 Salaries For Dvalishvili, Yan, Pantoja and Cejudo
The UFC presented its final pay-per-view on Saturday night as UFC 323 took place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The company went out with a bang before its $7.7 billion move to streaming giant Paramount+, with two titles on the line in Sin City.
In the co-main event, Alexandre Pantoja put his flyweight title on the line against Joshua Van, before Merab Dvalishvili defended his bantamweight crown against Petr Yan in the evening’s headline contest.
Below is a look at all the action from the main bouts, together with the salaries for selected fighters on the card.
Petr Yan Stuns Merab Dvalishvili in UFC 323 Main Event
Heading into Saturday’s event, 135lbs titleholder Merab was unbeaten in 14 fights inside the Octagon, including a March 2023 victory over his UFC 323 opponent, Yan. As a result, the 34-year-old was a heavy favourite to get the job done again against the Russian.
However, Yan had other ideas. The defending champion started the five-round headliner in strong fashion, winning the session on each of the judges’ scorecards. Worryingly, though, for Merab, he saw all eight of his first round takedown attempts stuffed by Yan.
After the opening round, Yan found success with takedowns of his own in every frame that followed, including a thunderous slam in the third. When the action returned to the feet, Petr consistently found the target with strikes, relentlessly tagging the Georgian and leaving him bleeding from the nose.
While Dvalishvili certainly had moments of his own in the fight, few argued with the 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47 scorecards in Yan’s favour that Bruce Buffer read out at the conclusion of the contest.
Merab earned a total of $1,592,000 for his efforts, with new champion Yan walking away with a tidy $932,000, as well as the bantamweight strap.
Alexandre Pantoja vs Joshua Van at UFC 323 Lasted Just 26 Seconds
A freak injury saw that co-main event of UFC 323 end up as one of the shortest fights of the year inside the Octagon. Much like Dvalishvili, Pantoja came into the pay-per-view as a long-term champion, this time of the 125lbs division. The 35-year-old Brazilian had reigned since July 2023, and racked up four title defences since.
Understandably, 24-year-old Van entered the cage as an underdog. Unfortunately, the bout lasted only 26 seconds, and provided more questions than answers as a result.
Early in the first round, the champion threw a high kick that was caught by Van. The challenger then threw Pantoja to the mat, at which point it became apparent that something was very wrong.
Almost instantly, referee Herb Dean stepped in to wave off the contest, meaning that Van won the title in the most bizarre circumstances. After the fight, UFC backstage reporter, Megan Olivi, confirmed that she had been told that Pantoja sustained a
Caroline Garcia turns down $270,000 betting company offer for podcast
PARIS (AP) — Retired French tennis player Caroline Garcia has rejected a $270,000 sponsorship deal for her podcast from a betting company, saying she chooses values over money.
Garcia, who reached a career-high ranking of No. 4, retired earlier this year. She has stayed connected with the sport through the Tennis Insider Club podcast she created with her husband Borja Duran.
“It wasn’t an easy “no,” especially right after retiring from tennis,” the 32-year-old Garcia said on her social networks. “But we want to build a platform where players feel completely safe to be honest, vulnerable and open about anything, without pressure or distraction.”
Garcia did not identify the company that offered the deal.
Last year at the U.S. Open, Garcia drew attention to the persistent problem of cyberbullying in tennis — particularly from people who bet on matches — after her first-round loss at the Grand Slam tournament.
“Over the past two years of interviewing players, coaches, agents and parents, one theme keeps coming back again and again: betting has become one of the biggest sources of pressure, abuse and hate in modern sport,” she said in her latest post. “I do not want Tennis Insider Club to contribute, even indirectly, to a system that fuels addiction, destroys lives and turns athletes into daily targets.”
Garcia won 11 WTA titles and captured the WTA Finals crown in 2022, the same year she reached the U.S. Open semifinals. She also won the French Open doubles title in 2016.
Her path hasn’t always been smooth. Injuries, pressure and a break from the sport in 2022 tested her resolve. That same year she revealed she had struggled with eating disorders, triggered by the physical pain of a foot injury and the emotional toll of the tour.
“Our mission is to tell real stories from inside tennis, inspire people and grow the sport in a way that is healthy for athletes and fans,” Garcia added. “Taking betting money would move us in the opposite direction.”
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Pickleball injuries are getting out of hand for some adults
By Dawn Fallik, Kiplinger’s Consumer News Service
Terry Landers’ pickleball injuries include two concussions, a broken wrist, a shoulder injury, a torn thumb and a black eye. None of those disasters kept her from the court. In fact, she had both knees replaced so she could keep playing.
The 69-year-old from Bridgeton, Maine, has always been athletic, playing tennis, soccer and softball. She was drawn to pickleball about a decade ago because it was a sport she could play year-round in Maine, and the community she found on the courts kept her coming back.
She blames her shoes for two hospital visits, saying they caught on the surface of the court, which tends to be asphalt or concrete compared to a tennis court’s clay or grass. At one point, Landers literally taped her fractured wrist to her pickleball paddle to go to the emergency room.
“The first time I went into the wall — thankfully, the walls are padded — and hit my head pretty hard,” she says. “But then the second time, when I broke my wrist, I was side-stepping to get a low backhand, and I caught my foot, and I was down before I even knew I was falling. I broke it pretty good. I’ve got a plate and screws and all kinds of stuff going on in there.”
Landers has a lot of company. Pickleball, a combination of tennis and ping-pong, has been the fastest growing sport in the country for three years in a row, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Although the highest number of players fall in the 25-34 age bracket, it’s the older players running into walls and problems.
Taking a toll on the over-50 crowd
A 2024 study in Health analyzed nearly 17,000 pickleball-related injuries and found that 87% of emergency room visits involved people over 50. Orthopedic injuries were the most common, such as fractures, sprains and muscle tears, but cardiac incidents also stood out.
Ches Jones, an injury researcher at the University of Arkansas and lead author of the study, says the smaller court makes pickleball seem approachable, but too often players don’t realize they need to prepare physically.
“People think, ‘Oh, I can do this without getting proper doctor’s clearance,’” says Jones. “There’s a perception that pickleball is a less strenuous activity than other sports. But in actuality, pickleball can be very strenuous, especially on the cardiovascular system.”
‘Job security’ for surgeons
Frederick Azar is an orthopedic surgeon and director of the sports medicine fellowship at the University of Tennessee Campbell Clinic. There were so many referrals to orthopedic surgeons from pickleball injuries that it became a joke that they invented the sport for job security, he says.
He says he started noticing that his patients who had pickleball injuries fell into certain patterns and wanted more information to help with injury prevention. In a 2024 review in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, he analyzed emergency room data from pickleball injuries from 2001 to 2017 and also surveyed clinic patients. Like the Arkansas study, he found that wrist fractures and ankle sprains were common, along with soft-tissue injuries like meniscal tears and tendinitis.
Azar’s study also found that there were differences between genders — women were more likely to suffer fractures, often tied to bone health issues like osteoporosis, while men tended to sustain sprains and strains. Many issues stem from loss of balance as players move quickly front-to-back and side-to-side, he says.
Both studies highlighted another danger: the heart. In the Arkansas analysis of older players, one out of five injuries resulted in hospital admissions, with most admissions for cardiac arrest and 25% for fractures.
Azar says the cardiac numbers highlighted the need for a good check-up before hitting the court, particularly for sedentary people who planned to play. In addition to a cardiac check-up, new players should ask about bone health, balance issues and medication side effects, like dizziness, that might result in injury, he says.
“It’s a new sport, so we’re trying to raise awareness and encourage people to take precautions because people can get hurt here,” he says.
There’s never enough
Carl Cogdill, 62, from Fort Worth, Texas, turned to wheelchair pickleball three years ago after 34 years of tennis because the smaller courts were easier on his chair and his body. Cogdill loved the inclusive nature of the sport, competing in the National Wheelchair Pickleball Championships, winning three silvers.
But then his love of the sport became an obsession. Where he could only play tennis for 20 minutes before his arms started hurting, he could play pickleball for hours without pain. At one point he was playing 70 hours a week, and once played 13 hours straight.
“Then I ended up with tendonitis and started straining my ligaments,” he says, adding that he finally went to the doctor “when I couldn’t use my arm.” That became a real issue when he needed to transfer from his wheelchair to his bed, the couch or the car.
Cogdill ended up getting several steroid injections, doing the physical therapy exercises he’d learned in the past, and knocking back his hours. Somewhat. He still plays five days a week, but only for three or four hours a day.
Jon Herting, owner of Precision Performance Physical Therapy in Philadelphia, holds a doctorate in physical therapy. He says many of the injuries he sees come from people jumping from a sedentary lifestyle onto the pickleball court without a lot of preparation.
One particular challenge with pickleball, Herting says, is that, like tennis, pickleball has a lot of sudden power-based movements, a skill that deteriorates as people age. Leaping suddenly for a ball or pushing off to run puts a lot of stress on the Achilles tendon, potentially causing tears.
“Obviously, we recommend that people maintain their strength to be able to play pickleball and maintain tissue elasticity,” he says. “But on top of that, think about introducing power-based exercise. It doesn’t have to be these big-box jumps that you see NFL players doing, but like simply jumping rope, which is a great activity. That’s a low barrier of entry.”
Start simply, and build up, even if it’s starting with 10 reps, he says. People can start by holding onto a wall and practicing an explosive calf raise where the toes don’t leave the ground, building up to maintain balance.
Nevertheless, pickleball definitely has an addictive side to it. Says Herting: “I don’t think we’ve had anyone that hasn’t ended up going back to play in some capacity.”
Balancing joy and risk
Jason Fruen, a 51-year-old real estate agent in Minnesota, has an entire social scene at the pickleball court, where a regular group of four or eight comes to play and then goes out for a drink or checks out a concert. In his two years on the court, he has seen some terrible injuries, including someone who was hit in the eye and another man who tripped and hit his head.
On Aug. 6, Fruen posted a photo of his foot in a boot on Facebook after suffering a calf tear, announcing: “Well I went and did it this time… Tore my calf muscle driving to the net, felt it pop & down I went.”
Fruen, who says he mostly lifted weights before starting pickleball, says by the time he reached a local orthopedic urgent care, he couldn’t walk. But he considers the calf tear “one of the luckiest of injuries you can get,” because surgery wasn’t needed.
Even so, he made sure to elevate, ice and rest. Three weeks later, he was back on the court — reducing his playing time from four or five times a week to two. Now he makes sure to stretch in the hot tub, strength train and give himself permission to rest when he’s hurting instead of forcing himself on the court.
For Terry Landers in Maine, though, the risks are worth it. After concussions, surgeries, and a wrist held together by metal, she has changed nothing about the way she plays — except she’s traded her volleyball shoes for pickleball ones.
“No, no, I’m an idiot,” she says. “I play as aggressively as I always have.”
Caroline Garcia turned down $270,000 betting company offer for her tennis podcast
PARIS (AP) — Retired French tennis player Caroline Garcia has rejected a $270,000 sponsorship deal for her podcast from a betting company, saying she chooses values over money.
Garcia, who reached a career-high ranking of No. 4, retired earlier this year. She has stayed connected with the sport through the Tennis Insider Club podcast she created with her husband Borja Duran.
“It wasn’t an easy “no,” especially right after retiring from tennis,” the 32-year-old Garcia said on her social networks. “But we want to build a platform where players feel completely safe to be honest, vulnerable and open about anything, without pressure or distraction.”
Garcia did not identify the company that offered the deal.
Last year at the U.S. Open, Garcia drew attention to the persistent problem of cyberbullying in tennis — particularly from people who bet on matches — after her first-round loss at the Grand Slam tournament.
“Over the past two years of interviewing players, coaches, agents and parents, one theme keeps coming back again and again: betting has become one of the biggest sources of pressure, abuse and hate in modern sport,” she said in her latest post. “I do not want Tennis Insider Club to contribute, even indirectly, to a system that fuels addiction, destroys lives and turns athletes into daily targets.”
Garcia won 11 WTA titles and captured the WTA Finals crown in 2022, the same year she reached the U.S. Open semifinals. She also won the French Open doubles title in 2016.
Her path hasn’t always been smooth. Injuries, pressure and a break from the sport in 2022 tested her resolve. That same year she revealed she had struggled with eating disorders, triggered by the physical pain of a foot injury and the emotional toll of the tour.
“Our mission is to tell real stories from inside tennis, inspire people and grow the sport in a way that is healthy for athletes and fans,” Garcia added. “Taking betting money would move us in the opposite direction.”
___
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Copyright © 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
Ben Shelton, Taylor Fritz Lead American Men to the Top of ATP Charts as US Tennis Surges to New Heights in 2025
Italy and Spain have been the talk of the tennis world lately because of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, who are keeping their flags flying high. Both players might be ranked among the top in the world individually, but when it comes to the overall national depth, their countries are falling behind. Behind whom? America, because America is leading the charge in the ATP rankings.
Recently, Punto de Break revealed the distribution of ATP top-100 players by country at the close of 2025. The U.S. is flexing hard with 15 players, including big names like Ben Shelton, Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, and Brandon Nakashima. Basically, if you’re an American, there’s a good chance one of your guys is making waves on the tour
With 14 players like Rinderknech, Moutet, Humbert, Fils, Muller, and Royer, France is not far behind, showing that Europe still has significant depth. With eight players, Italy is holding firm in third place: Sinner, Musetti, Cobolli, Darderi, Sonego, Berrettini, Arnaldi, and Bellucci.
Spain and Argentina are also keeping things tense. Spain has six players in the top 100, including Alcaraz, Davidovich, Munar, Carreno, Bautista, and Martinez, while Argentina has seven: Cerundolo, Baez, Carabelli, Etcheverry, Comesana, Navone, and JM Cerundolo. Not to be overlooked are six players from Australia, including De Minaur, Popyrin, Walton, Vukic, Duckworth, and Schoolkate. Every continent seems to be demonstrating its capacity to produce exceptional talent.
The best part, though, is that tennis is now truly worldwide. Djokovic and three other players from Serbia hold the seventh position. Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Canada, and Russia all have three, and at least one Kazakhstani or Japanese player is ranked in the top 100.
The only thing a little shocking is that despite the presence of stars like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner dominating the game, their countries continue to fail to measure the greatness of the likes of the U.S. and France. But who is leading in the top 10?
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Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner shine even when nations lag
Italy and Spain may be struggling to keep pace with the depth of the United States, but they are still gaining attention on the ATP Tour. After all, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have kept their nations’ flags flying high with incredible performances. Alcaraz finished the year as ATP Year-End No. 1, while Sinner claimed No. 2, winning two Grand Slams, the Nitto ATP Finals, and multiple ATP Masters 1000 and 500 titles.
There are other well-known names in the Top 10. While Novak Djokovic won his 18th year-end Top 10 and added several trophies, including in Geneva and Athens, to his 100 tour-level career titles, Alexander Zverev achieved his third year-end Top 3 finish.
Among the emerging stars that made it to the Top 10 were Felix Auger-Aliassime, Lorenzo Musetti, and Ben Shelton, and as the Americans, Taylor Fritz topped the list with 867 aces. Jack Draper made history in the United Kingdom by winning his first ATP Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells and by being ranked among the top 10. The depth may favor the U.S., but Carlos Alcaraz and Sinner make Spain and Italy impossible to overlook.
Alex de Minaur Vows to Break Carlos Alcaraz & Jannik Sinner’s Dominance in a Bold Statement
The men’s tennis tour has had a clear story in the last couple of years: Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are the players to beat. Their speed and mental toughness have left almost everyone else chasing their shadow. But Alex de Minaur is ready to change that in 2026.
The Australian, ranked No. 7 in the world, has been quietly improving, showing he can compete with anyone on the court. After a strong season that included winning the Washington Open and, semifinal at the ATP Finals, Alex de Minaur isn’t satisfied with being just another name in the top 10. Because now he wants more. He wants to challenge them. Sure, he admires the top players, but admiration doesn’t mean intimidation.
As he says, “One of Jannik’s greatest strengths is his level, which never fluctuates from day to day. It’s one of the most impressive things, both in terms of his tennis and his mental game. A lot has happened this year, and it hasn’t affected him mentally….It’s incredible to be able to overcome such a disappointment and play the way he did to win Wimbledon.” And that’s exactly why de Minaur wants to challenge them.
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“You have to play very good tennis from the first point to the last; that’s my goal,” Alex de Minaur added. “…the goal is to keep improving and make life difficult for them.” With the aim of breaking the dominance of Sinner and Alcaraz, he added, “It’s not easy at all, but in the end we don’t want there to always be two players who win all the major tournaments. As competitors, we don’t like to lose and we have to give our all to compete with them.”
For Alex de Minaur, this is a plan rather than just talk. The message is clear: despite Alcaraz and Sinner’s recent dominance, Alex de Minaur is prepared to take charge and make the next season unforgettable. But it seems like Jannik Sinner also recognizes his potential.
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Jannik Sinner Sees Big Potential in Alex de Minaur for 2026
Alex de Minaur’s 2025 season came to an end in the semifinals of the ATP Finals, where he lost to Jannik Sinner in straight sets, 7-5, 6-2. Despite the loss, de Minaur impressed many with his growth and consistency throughout the tournament. Sinner himself praised the Australian, saying, “As I’ve played a lot lately against him, I feel like he has improved week after week, to be honest. Also, today the backhand was much stronger than maybe in Vienna.”
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Sinner further added, “He can now play this high level not only for half a set, but he goes basically all out. At the end of the day, top five, I think he can make it because physically he’s very, very strong. Great mentality. We saw it also here in this tournament: from a very tough loss.” These words show de Minaur’s potential to climb even higher in the rankings if he continues developing his game.
Alex de Minaur, who has a career-high ranking of world No. 6, has long been Australia’s top male player. When asked about comparing himself to Australian tennis legends, the 26-year-old was humble. “I feel I have a long way to go. I need to get my hands on a Slam to even be in the conversation with the greats before me,” he said. “I have plenty of work to do, but hopefully one day!”
The last Australian man to lift a major singles trophy was Lleyton Hewitt at Wimbledon in 2002. And de Minaur has reached six Grand Slam quarterfinals in his career, including two this year, but he has yet to advance further. Breaking that streak will be one of his main goals in 2026.
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Next year, Alex de Minaur will be looking to finally go beyond the quarterfinal stage, starting with his home Grand Slam at the Australian Open. With his improved consistency, strong mentality, and ambition to challenge the top players, 2026 could be the year he steps up, shakes up the top ranks, and makes a serious run at his first major.
Tennis stars get custom Devils jerseys after New Jersey tournament
These tennis stars are serving with their new looks.
The New Jersey Devils gifted team jerseys to Carlos Alcaraz, Francis Tiafoe, Amanda Anisimova and Jessica Pegula after Sunday’s “A Racquet at The Rock” competition that saw the four players match up at Prudential Center.
The exhibition matches featured Alcaraz (the reigning US Open champion and current World No. 1) face off against two-time US Open semifinalist Tiafoe, and the 2025 Wimbledon and US Open finalist Amanda Anisimova play 2024 US Open finalist Jessica Pegula.
Fans were in for a treat, as both matches ended in upsets, with Tiafoe taking down Alcaraz and Pegula – whose parents, Terry and Kim, own the Buffalo Sabres – beating Anisimova.
After all was said and done, the athletes got their sweet new sweaters from the Devils.
Looks like an ace of a gift.
American Fritz to headline $1 million MGM Slam in Las Vegas
Dec 8 (Reuters) – Eight of the world’s elite men’s professional tennis players, including American Taylor Fritz, will compete for a $1 million prize pool at the MGM Slam in Las Vegas next year.
The exhibition in March will feature a 10-point tiebreak knockout format. Fritz, the world number six and highest-ranked American, will headline the event. He will be joined by compatriot Tommy Paul, who is currently ranked 20th.
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Also competing are Norway’s Casper Ruud, Australia’s Nick Kyrgios, Brazil’s Joao Fonseca, France’s Gael Monfils, Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti and Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik.
In its third year, the MGM Slam has featured several high-profile match-ups, including last year’s showcase between Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka, and one of Rafael Nadal’s final appearances before his retirement.
The event comes at a time when tennis is facing criticism over its relentless tour schedule.
In March, the Professional Tennis Players’ Association (PTPA) filed a lawsuit against the sport’s governing bodies, including the ATP and WTA, labelling the crowded calendar unsustainable.
Nevertheless, exhibition matches continue to be scheduled.
World number one Jannik Sinner and second-ranked Carlos Alcaraz, who have won nine of the last 10 Grand Slam titles between them, will meet in South Korea in January.
The exhibition, which takes place eight days before the Australian Open, has featured tennis greats such as Roger Federer, Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Maria Sharapova.
Reporting by Angelica Medina in Mexico City; Editing by Ken Ferris
How to Watch The Garden Cup: Live Stream Tennis, TV Channel
Get ready for high-stakes rallies and rising stars as the Tennis Garden Cup serves up a thrilling showcase of world-class competition.
How to Watch The Garden Cup
When: Monday, December 8, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM ET
TV Channel: MSG
Live Stream: Fubo (try for free)
The Garden Cup will light up Madison Square Garden on December 8 as world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka takes on former world No. 1 and four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in one of the headline singles matches, a rare showdown between two of the biggest names in tennis today. Meanwhile, on the men’s side, fan favorite Kyrgios will face rising American star Tommy Paul in what promises to be a high-octane battle. Both matchups highlight a sharp contrast in styles and pedigrees, setting the stage for compelling tennis under the lights.
To wrap up the night, the four stars will pair up for a mixed-doubles finale, Osaka and Kyrgios teaming up against Sabalenka and Paul, offering a fun, unpredictable denouement for a one-night exhibition that blends showmanship, elite talent, and holiday-season energy. Expect drama, crowd favorites, and a celebratory vibe befitting The Garden Cup’s return to its tradition of star-powered exhibitions at Madison Square Garden.
This is a great tennis event that you will not want to miss; make sure to tune in and catch all the action.
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Carlos Alcaraz joins other tennis stars in first ever tennis event at Marlins’ loanDepot Park
MIAMI (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz wanted to play in front of an energetic crowd at the inaugural Miami Invitational.
The No. 1 men’s tennis player got his wish, drawing a roar of applause when he stepped onto the court and electric cheers throughout an exhibition event Monday night at loanDepot Park, the home of Major League Baseball’s Miami Marlins.
It was a one-time event — the first time tennis has ever been played at loanDepot Park — and also featured rising Brazilian standout João Fonseca and women’s stars Amanda Anisimova and Jessica Pegula.
Alcaraz defeated the 24th-ranked Fonseca 7-5, 2-6, 10-8 in a thrilling singles match, their first time facing each other. Anisimova topped Pegula 6-2, 7-5 earlier in the night. Alcaraz and Pegula also beat Anisimova and Fonseca in a mixed doubles 10-point tie breaker.
“I just expect that the people are going to get entertained by watching us play,” Alcaraz said before the match. “I think it’s unusual watching us play in these kinds of stadiums and court. I’m really excited about playing here with João. I’m just excited to see how people are going to respond.”
The 22-year-old Alcaraz recently wrapped up the 2025 season, ending the campaign with the ATP’s year-end No. 1 ranking, tour-highs of 71 match wins and eight trophies and a pair of Grand Slam titles that lifted his career total to six.
He’s still been busy during the exhibition season, which also included an exhibition event in Newark, New Jersey, on Sunday in which Alcaraz played a singles match against two-time U.S. Open semifinalist Frances Tiafoe.
“I’m having a lot of fun,” Alcaraz said. “Getting the energy from the people, playing in some places that we are not used to. It’s exciting. It’s been great so far, and I’m enjoying it a lot.”
The crowd Monday included Inter Miami stars Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, who became MLS champions just a couple days ago in the final match of their decorated careers.
Anisimova, a U.S. Open and Wimbledon finalist this year, and Pegula, who reached the U.S. Open semis, both noted that Monday’s exhibition was a great way to prepare for the upcoming season in a new environment.
“I think we love playing tennis and we love competing,” Pegula said. “Being able to change what that looks like a little bit where it’s not something we do 95% of the year is always really nice and refreshing for us. I think it’s great for the sport. It gives it a diff look for the fans, for everyone that’s involved. For players, it kind of keeps us refreshed and kind of brings you back to why you’re playing.”
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Iran World Cup 2026 Schedule: Locations, Dates, Times
Mehdi Taremi and Iran now know their path to glory in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final after learning their group stage opponents, which stadiums they will play at, and the times for the games.
When is the World Cup? How to Watch?
The World Cup will run from June 11–July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The FOX family of networks and the FOX Sports app are your complete home for World Cup content, including live matches, complete highlights, commentary and analysis, and full-match replays.
What is Iran’s Group and Who are the Opponents?
Iran will be in Group G. Its opponents will be:
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran and New Zealand | 2026 FIFA World Cup Draw
What is Iran’s World Cup Schedule?
Iran discovered its three group-stage opponents at the World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 5. The team’s three group-stage games will be as follows:
June 15: Iran vs. New Zealand — SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, USA (9 p.m. ET)June 21: Iran vs. Belgium — SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, USA (3 p.m. ET)June 26: Iran vs. Egypt — Lumen Field, Seattle, WA (11 p.m. ET)
Grant Thornton Invitational odds, picks and PGA Tour predictions
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Islanders can’t continue down familiar Ilya Sorokin path
Ilya Sorokin was named the NHL’s First Star of the Week on Monday, and deservedly so after he had an otherworldly .960 save percentage through three wins over Tampa, Colorado and Tampa.
The goaltender’s past couple of seasons were not bad, but it is another thing entirely to have him going like this. We saw it Saturday night in Tampa, a game in which 18 Islanders skaters had little to give on the road, spent the night getting shelled and won 2-0 anyway.
According to Evolving Hockey, the 4.54 goals saved above expected Sorokin produced that night was the fourth-highest of his career; the three better games all came in 2022-23, when Sorokin’s heroics should have won him the Vezina Trophy.
The last few weeks have felt a little like that season for the Islanders, in part because of Sorokin. And in part because of the circumstances around the goalie. Which is to say, he cannot keep doing this by himself.
If Olympic ice unsafe, NHL players won’t take part
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told league owners Monday that he didn’t believe construction issues with the Olympic ice hockey rink were
Golden Knights recall Dylan Coghlan, assign Jaycob Megna
The Vegas Golden Knights have swapped depth defenseman on the NHL roster. Dylan Coghlan has been recalled, while Jaycob Megna has been reassigned to the AHL. Neither player has appeared in an NHL game this season.
Megna, 32, was recalled to the Golden Knights roster on December 1st. He has been rotated between the NHL and AHL roster three times since clearing waivers on October 2nd. Through that movement, he’s managed to appear in 15 games with the Henderson Silver Knights. He’s recorded five points, 12 penalty minutes, and a plus-six in those appearances. That includes two points, four penalty minutes, and a plus-three in his last four games. Megna also has eight seasons of NHL experience. He has appeared in 193 games and scored 27 points, through stints with the Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks, and Florida Panthers.
Coghlan, 27, has performed well in line with Megna. He has 10 points, 10 penalty minutes, and a plus-four in 20 games with Henderson. This is his recall of the season. He appeared in six games with the Winnipeg Jets, with no scoring, last year and 18 games with the Carolina Hurricanes between 2022 and 2024. Coghlan has appeared in 112 games across six seasons and three teams. He has 22 points and a minus-10 in those appearances.
This swap surely has more to do with roster technicalities than it does lineup implications. Megna will only be able to spend 15 more days on the NHL roster before he will have to clear through waivers to be reassigned to the minors. The Golden Knights appear to be using those days sparingly, after recalling Megna for one week in October and the first week of December.
Dennis Hildeby earns his first NHL shutout as Maple Leafs blank Lightning 2-0
TORONTO (AP) — Dennis Hildeby made 29 saves for the first shutout of his NHL career as the Toronto Maple Leafs blanked the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-0 on Monday night.
Morgan Rielly and Auston Matthews, into the empty net, scored for Toronto, which improved to 4-0-1 over its last five games.
Jonas Johansson stopped 22 shots for Tampa Bay. The Lightning have dropped four straight after winning seven in a row.
Hildeby, who started the season as the Maple Leafs’ No. 4 goaltending option, got another start with both Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll on injured reserve.
The Lightning had center Brayden Point and winger Nikita Kucherov back in the lineup from injury absences, but were minus No. 1 goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. Point missed seven games with an undisclosed injury, while Kucherov sat out Saturday’s 2-0 home loss to the New York Islanders.
Tampa Bay has now been shut out in consecutive games for the first time since November 2023.
Lightning coach Jon Cooper said he hopes Vasilevskiy can return during the team’s four-game road trip, which started Monday.
John Tavares assisted on Rielly’s goal to become the first Toronto player age 35 or older with at least 30 points before their 30th game of a season since Mats Sundin in 2007-08.
Up next
Lightning: At Montreal on Tuesday night in the second of a four-game trip.
Maple Leafs: Host San Jose on Thursday night in the third of a five-game homestand.
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Dennis Hildeby earns his first NHL shutout as Maple Leafs blank Lightning 2
TORONTO (AP) — Dennis Hildeby made 29 saves for the first shutout of his NHL career as the Toronto Maple Leafs blanked the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-0 on Monday night.
Morgan Rielly and Auston Matthews, into the empty net, scored for Toronto, which improved to 4-0-1 over its last five games.
Jonas Johansson stopped 22 shots for Tampa Bay. The Lightning have dropped four straight after winning seven in a row.
Hildeby, who started the season as the Maple Leafs’ No. 4 goaltending option, got another start with both Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll on injured reserve.
The Lightning had center Brayden Point and winger Nikita Kucherov back in the lineup from injury absences, but were minus No. 1 goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. Point missed seven games with an undisclosed injury, while Kucherov sat out Saturday’s 2-0 home loss to the New York Islanders.
Tampa Bay has now been shut out in consecutive games for the first time since November 2023.
Lightning coach Jon Cooper said he hopes Vasilevskiy can return during the team’s four-game road trip, which started Monday.
John Tavares assisted on Rielly’s goal to become the first Toronto player age 35 or older with at least 30 points before their 30th game of a season since Mats Sundin in 2007-08.
Up next
Lightning: At Montreal on Tuesday night in the second of a four-game trip.
Maple Leafs: Host San Jose on Thursday night in the third of a five-game homestand.
___
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Hockey at the Winter Olympics will be played on shorter ice than NHL dimensions
MILAN — Hockey, one of the premier events at the Winter Olympics and one that is welcoming NHL players back for the first time in more than a decade, will take place on ice that is shorter than NHL-regulation size.
Men’s and women’s games at two arenas will be played in rinks that are 60 meters long by 26 meters wide, or 196.85-by-85.3 feet. NHL dimensions are 200 by 85 feet (60.96 by 25.908 meters), so the Olympic ice will be slightly wider and more than 3 feet shorter.
The International Ice Hockey Federation approved the Milan rinks, which fit one of the governing body’s standard sizes and was used by the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators for two games in Stockholm in November.
The IIHF shifted to the NHL dimensions at the Olympics beginning in 2018 and used again in 2022. The 2026 Games in February mark the first time NHL players will be at the Olympics since 2014 in Sochi.
The IIHF on Monday confirmed the different size was in place in Milan without explanation.
“While these dimensions differ slightly from a typical NHL rink, they are consistent with IIHF regulations, match the rink size used at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games and are fully consistent with the dimensions the NHL requires as part of its Global Series Game arena specifications,” the federation said. “All involved, the IIHF, the Organizing Committee, NHL, NHLPA, IOC and the relevant venue authorities agree that the differences in rink specifications are insignificant, and should not impact either the safety or quality of game play.”
Olympic hockey had been played on international ice of 60 by 30 meters (196.85 by 98.4 feet) in 1998, 2006 and 2014, with a slight variation in Salt Lake City in 2002. It was played on NHL-sized ice in Vancouver in 2010 because of the existing arenas.
“It’s the same for every team, and I think that’s the bottom line,” Finland men’s hockey general manager Jere Lehtinen told The Associated Press. “Our coaches, maybe it’s more interesting and something you need to pay attention more.”
Canada general manager Doug Armstrong first brought up the ice being slightly off from NHL regulation size on a podcast in early September and then discussed it again in October. National federations have been aware of the specs for quite some time; Canada assistant coach Peter DeBoer broached the topic recently on a radio show, raising questions about why it’s not NHL-sized ice.
The ice dimensions will be the same in both hockey arenas in February: the main arena that is still being built and the smaller, temporary venue that is situated inside an exhibition center.
Construction at the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena — the new, 16,000-seat venue on the outskirts of Milan — is going down to the wire and organizers told The AP that there was “no plan B.”
A test event had to be moved to the Rho Ice Hockey Arena and new test events at the main venue aren’t scheduled until Jan. 9-11, less than a month before the first puck is dropped. Workers on Friday were still putting the finishing touches to the venue in Rho, just three days before the start of the IIHF Group B Under 20 World Championship that will serve as a test event.
“We’re aware that they’re behind schedule a little bit, but we’re all assuming that that’ll all be taken care of,” Canada men’s assistant coach Bruce Cassidy said last week.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has brought up logistics concerns repeatedly. At the league’s annual fall Board of Governors meeting in October, he said: “We are constrained in what we can and can’t do, request and demand and if it reached a certain point, we’ll have to deal with it. But I’m not speculating, and we’ve been constantly assured by the IOC and the IIHF that it will be OK.”
The men’s Olympic hockey tournament is scheduled from Feb. 11-22. The women’s tournament runs from Feb. 5-19.
Gibson gets 1st shutout in almost 3 years as Red Wings blank Canucks 4-0
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — John Gibson made 39 saves for his first NHL shutout in nearly three years, and the Detroit Red Wings beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-0 on Monday night.
James van Riemsdyk, Andrew Copp, Nate Danielson and Dylan Larkin scored for the Red Wings (16-11-3), who moved from just outside the crowded Eastern Conference playoff picture into first place in the Atlantic Division.
Detroit is 3-0-1 since an 0-3-1 slide.
The 32-year-old Gibson improved to 7-7-1 this season with his 25th career shutout and first since a 2-0 win for Anaheim over Dallas on Jan. 4, 2023. Four of his shutouts have come against Vancouver.
Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen was removed after making 10 saves on 13 shots over two periods. Nikita Tolopilo stopped all six shots he faced in the third.
Vancouver (11-16-3) went 0 for 3 with the man advantage and has gone six games without a power-play goal. Detroit was 0 for 2.
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NHL roundup: John Gibson, Wings blank Canucks, move atop Atlantic
John Gibson made 39 saves for his first shutout as a member of the Red Wings, and Detroit moved into first place in the Atlantic Division with a 4-0 victory over the host Vancouver Canucks on Monday.
It was the 25th career shutout for Gibson and his first since Jan. 4, 2023, when he led the Anaheim Ducks to a 2-0 win over the Dallas Stars. Gibson shut out the Canucks for the fourth time in his career — his top total against any NHL team.
James van Riemsdyk, Andrew Copp, Nate Danielson and Dylan Larkin scored goals and defenseman Axel Sandlin-Pellikka had two assists for Detroit, which extended its point streak to five games (3-0-2) with its second straight win.
Kevin Lankinen stopped 10 of 13 shots for Vancouver before giving way to rookie Nikita Tolopilo at the start of the third period. Tolopilo finished with six saves for the Canucks, who lost for the eighth time in 10 games (2-7-1).
Maple Leafs 2, Lightning 0
Dennis Hildeby stopped 29 shots to earn his first career shutout as Toronto defeated visiting Tampa Bay.
Morgan Rielly scored in the first period for the Maple Leafs, who have won four of five. Auston Matthews added an empty-net goal with one second remaining in the game.
With Andrei Vasilevskiy landing on injured reserve earlier in the day because of an undisclosed injury, Jonas Johansson started in goal for Tampa Bay and stopped 22 shots. It was the opener of a four-game road trip for the Lightning, who have lost four in a row and have been shut out in back-to-back games.
Flames 7, Sabres 4
Yegor Sharangovich scored twice in a three-point game while Nazem Kadri tallied once and added two assists to lead host Calgary to a season-high goal total and a victory over slumping Buffalo.
Yan Kuznetsov logged a goal and an assist while Rasmus Andersson, Jonathan Huberdeau and Mikael Backlund also scored for Calgary, which has won three straight games. Matt Coronato notched two assists, and Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf made 25 saves.
Rasmus Dahlin posted a goal and an assist while Tage Thompson, Owen Power and Alex Tuch each had a goal for the Sabres, who have lost three straight. Josh Norris and Jason Zucker recorded two assists apiece. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen saved 17 of 22 shots before Alex Lyon made four saves in the third period.
Kings 4, Mammoth 2
Joel Armia scored two goals for Los Angeles in a win against Utah in Salt Lake City.
Adrian Kempe had a goal and an assist, Anze Kopitar also scored, Kevin Fiala had two assists and Darcy Kuemper made 19 saves for the Kings, who have won two in a row following a 2-3-3 stretch.
Clayton Keller had a goal and an assist, Dylan Guenther also scored and Karel Vejmelka made 23 saves for the Mammoth, who have lost six of their past eight games.
Wild 4, Kraken 1
Joel Eriksson Ek had a goal and two assists as Minnesota defeated host Seattle.
Marcus Johansson, Kirill Kaprizov and Vladimir Tarasenko also tallied and goaltender Filip Gustavsson made 23 saves for the Wild, who went 2-2-0 on their four-game trip.
Jordan Eberle scored for the Kraken, who lost their sixth straight (0-5-1). Philipp Grubauer stopped 25 of 27 shots but took his first regulation defeat of the season (4-1-1).
Detroit Red Wings blank Vancouver Canucks 4-0
John Gibson made 39 saves for his first NHL shutout in nearly three years, and the Detroit Red Wings beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-0 on Monday night.
James van Riemsdyk, Andrew Copp, Nate Danielson and Dylan Larkin scored for the Red Wings (16-11-3), who moved from just outside the crowded Eastern Conference playoff picture into first place in the Atlantic Division.
Detroit is 3-0-1 since an 0-3-1 slide.
The 32-year-old Gibson improved to 7-7-1 this season with his 25th career shutout and first since a 2-0 win for Anaheim over Dallas on Jan. 4, 2023. Four of his shutouts have come against Vancouver.
Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen was removed after making 10 saves on 13 shots over two periods. Nikita Tolopilo stopped all six shots he faced in the third.
Vancouver (11-16-3) went 0 for 3 with the man advantage and has gone six games without a power-play goal. Detroit was 0 for 2.
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NFL Week 14: Biggest questions, takeaways for every game
Week 14 of the2025 NFL seasonbegan with an offensive shootout between the Cowboys and Lions. Detroit ended Thursday night on top, led by three touchdowns from running backJahmyr Gibbs.
In the early window Sunday, multiple starting quarterbacks exited early due to injuries. Indianapolis quarterback Daniel Jonesleft the team’s loss to the Jaguars in the first quarter with an Achilles injury, while Washington’sJayden Danielsexited in the third quarter of a shutout loss to the Vikings with an elbow injury.
In Atlanta, the Seahawks kept the Falcons out of the end zone in a dominant win. The Dolphins easily handled the Jets, while the Titans squeaked out a win over the Browns and the Saints stunned the Bucs. In Buffalo, the Bills made big defensive plays in the fourth quarter to come back against the Bengals. And the Steelers took sole possession of the AFC North lead with a close win over the Ravens.
In the late window, the Broncos secured a season sweep over the Raiders. Meanwhile, the Rams blew out the Cardinals in their first matchup of the season as NFC West foes. And in the last of three matchups for first place in their respective divisions, the Packers picked off Bears quarterback Caleb Williams’ pass in the end zone to seal the win.
In Kansas City, the Chiefs’ playoff hopes diminished as the Texans’ top-ranked defense shut down Patrick Mahomes & Co., giving Kansas City (6-7) its worst record through 13 games since 2012.
NFL Week 15 Power Rankings: Texans & Jaguars, Cowboys & Colts Fall
Week 14 of the NFL season came and went with a ton of action. The playoff picture was shaken up this week with teams like the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs virtually eliminating themselves, while the likes of the Detroit Lions and Houston Texans took the next step towards securing their spot. We also saw both conferences see a new team take over the 1-seed, with the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Rams taking over the lead of the AFC and NFC, respectively.
There were a few teams that made a big jump or fell a handful of places, but things really didn’t change all that much this week. So with that said, here are my Week 15 NFL power rankings:
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32. Las Vegas Raiders (2-11)
Last Week: 31
Week 14 Result: 24-17 loss to DEN
PFF Rankings: Offense 29th, Defense 32nd
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Week 15 Matchup: Sunday, 1 pm at PHI
After the Tennessee Titans got their second win of the season, and looked pretty good doing so, I knew it was time for a changing of the guard. The Las Vegas Raiders are my worst team in the league. Their offense sucks despite having an elite running back and tight end, and their defense isn’t much better. They’re just a bad, bad team.
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31. Tennessee Titans (2-11)
Last Week: 32
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Week 14 Result: 31-29 win over CLE
PFF Rankings: Offense 31st, Defense 16th
Week 15 Matchup: Sunday, 4:25 pm at SF
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With the Raiders moving down, the Titans jump up to No. 31. They’re still not a good team whatsoever, don’t get me wrong, but I think they’re better than the Raiders at the moment. The battle for the No. 1 pick is truly on.
30. Washington Commanders (3-10)
Last Week: 26
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Week 14 Result: 31-0 loss to MIN
PFF Rankings: Offense 16th, Defense 29th
Week 15 Matchup: Sunday, 1 pm at NYG
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The Washington Commanders got destroyed by the Minnesota Vikings. Their offense was atrocious, but their defense made J.J. McCarthy, who has been playing like the worst QB in the league, look good. I almost put them at No. 32, because this might have been the worst single-game performance by a team this season, but they’re not actually as bad as the Raiders or Titans.
29. Cleveland Browns (3-10)
Last Week: 27
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Week 14 Result: 31-29 loss to TEN
PFF Rankings: Offense 32nd, Defense 2nd
Week 15 Matchup: Sunday, 1 pm at CHI
Shedeur Sanders looked great on Sunday, but of course, the one time Cleveland’s offense looks competent, their defense, which has been really solid all season, fell apart and gave up 31 to the Titans. A lot to look forward to with Sanders if you’re a Browns fan, and they still got to move up the draft order, so it’s really a win-win.
28. New Orleans Saints (3-10)
Last Week: 30
Week 14 Result: 24-20 win over TB
PFF Rankings: Offense 28th, Defense 18th
Week 15 Matchup: Sunday, 4:25 pm vs CAR
As a New Orleans Saints fan, I did not expect this outcome. I knew Tyler Shough had a little boogey to him, but he really impressed me on Sunday. Some of you will look at his stat line and disagree, but the weather was horrible and he made big throws on third down and had a couple big runs. I was very impressed, and he’s giving me hope for the future of this franchise.
27. Atlanta Falcons (4-9)
Last Week: 25
Week 14 Result: 37-9 loss to SEA
PFF Rankings: Offense 14th, Defense 17th
Week 15 Matchup: Thursday, 8:15 pm at TB
Another disappointing game for the Atlanta Falcons, but with so many of the bottom teams losing, they only drop two places. They looked lifeless against Seattle, but with Drake London possibly returning next week, there’s some optimism that their offense can get going again. Still, with no first-round pick, losses like these sting even more.
26. Arizona Cardinals (3-10)
Last Week: 24
Week 14 Result: 45-17 loss to LAR
PFF Rankings: Offense 22nd, Defense 27th
Week 15 Matchup: Sunday, 1 pm at HOU
The Arizona Cardinals were the casualty of a pissed off Rams team. After losing to Carolina, Matthew Stafford and Co. let out all their anger on their NFC West rivals, and it was not pretty in the desert. Arizona was a fun team for a while with Jacoby Brissett, but I think that run is over.
25. New York Jets (3-10)
Last Week: 23
Week 14 Result: 34-10 loss to MIA
PFF Rankings: Offense 30th, Defense 21st
Week 15 Matchup: Sunday, 1 pm at JAX
There’s the New York Jets that we all know and love. The bottom of this league is so bad that the Jets are No. 25. on our power rankings. I don’t really have much to say about them. Their offense continues to suck, and their defense really isn’t all that good either. Just not a great team, but they’re riding high off that win over Atlanta a couple of weeks ago for now.
24. New York Giants (2-11)
Last Week: 28
Week 14 Result: Bye
PFF Rankings: Offense 24th, Defense 28th
Week 15 Matchup: Sunday, 1 pm vs WAS
Is it crazy to have a 2-11 team at No. 24? I don’t think so. They are so obviously better than every team below them; they just have thrown so many games away. I still believe this is the best job opening in the NFL this offseason. A good rookie QB, one of the best defensive lines and likely a top-five pick.
23. Minnesota Vikings (5-8)
Last Week: 29
Week 14 Result: 31-0 win over WAS
PFF Rankings: Offense 27th, Defense 19th
Week 15 Matchup: Sunday, 8:20 pm at DAL
The Minnesota Vikings are not a good team, don’t get the massive jump twisted, but with so many bottom feeders losing this week and the fact that Minnesota won 31-0, they had to make a pretty significant jump. I still don’t think this offense is very good, but their defense was impressive on Sunday, so I’ll give them props for that.
22. Cincinnati Bengals (4-9)
Last Week: 21
Week 14 Result: 39-34 loss to BUF
PFF Rankings: Offense 17th, Defense 31st
Week 15 Matchup: Sunday, 1 pm vs BAL
This has been the story of Cincinnati’s season. Their offense has been great, but their defense can’t get a stop to save their lives, especially late in games. With them basically already out of playoff contention, I’m not sure it wasn’t on purpose…But that’s a conversation for another day.
21. Miami Dolphins (6-7)
Last Week: 22
Week 14 Result: 31-10 win over NYJ
PFF Rankings: Offense 23rd, Defense 20th
Week 15 Matchup: Monday, 8:20 pm at PIT
The Miami Dolphins just keep on winning, but I couldn’t put them any higher than this because they haven’t beaten a quality opponent outside of Buffalo during their run. I think reality is going to smack them real hard at the end of the season. They might not win another game before the end of the year, but hey, it was a fun run.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6)
Last Week: 18
Week 14 Result: 24-20 loss to NO
PFF Rankings: Offense 26th, Defense 14th
Week 15 Matchup: Thursday, 8:15 pm vs ATL
How does a team fall off as hard as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? I know they’ve been injured, but this team is completely different than the one that topped our power rankings some two months ago. They’re going to get Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan back as soon as this week, so maybe they can make a final push to try and win the NFC South, but they did themselves no favors against the Saints this weekend.
19. Baltimore Ravens (6-7)
Last Week: 19
Week 14 Result: 27-22 loss to PIT
PFF Rankings: Offense 18th, Defense 12th
Week 15 Matchup: Sunday, 1 pm at CIN
After a five-game win streak, which helped the Baltimore Ravens take control of the AFC North, they have lost two straight games, including one this weekend to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and all of a sudden, they’re back on the outside looking in. It wasn’t a horrible loss, but the Ravens’ offense still doesn’t look great. They need to take a lot of steps forward and claim at least two more wins before they face the Steelers again in Week 18, because that game may decide the division.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)
Last Week: 20
Week 14 Result: 27-22 win over BAL
PFF Rankings: Offense 25th, Defense 11th
Week 15 Matchup: Monday, 8:15 pm vs MIA
I didn’t think the Steelers had this one in them. They have looked horrible recently, especially on the offensive side of the ball, but they showed up on Sunday and upset their AFC North rivals. They not control the North, and they control their own destiny. Just keep winning, and they’ll be in the postseason. We’ll see if they can do it against a relatively tough schedule.
17. Indianapolis Colts (8-5)
Last Week: 11
Week 14 Result: 36-19 loss to JAX
PFF Rankings: Offense 4th, Defense 24th
Week 15 Matchup: Sunday, 4:25 pm at SEA
I feel so bad for Indianapolis Colts fans. They went from the 1-seed in the AFC to out of the playoffs without a single healthy quarterback on their roster in a matter of weeks. Now, they’re trying out 44-year-old Phillip Rivers as they hope to fight their way to the postseason. They deserve to be in the postseason, but I don’t see how they can stay afloat without a QB.
16. Kansas City Chiefs (6-7)
Last Week: 15
Week 14 Result: 20-10 loss to HOU
PFF Rankings: Offense 12th, Defense 7th
Week 15 Matchup: Sunday, 1 pm vs LAC
The Chiefs’ playoff hopes essentially went out the window on Sunday night. With their loss to the Texans, the Chiefs are 6-7 and two games out of the AFC Wild Card with four weeks to go. They’d need a miracle to get into the postseason, and I just don’t see it happening. It’s crazy because this is still a good team. Six of their seven losses have come by one score to teams with above .500 records. They just can’t win the big game this season, and it’s killed them.
15. Dallas Cowboys (6-6-1)
Last Week: 10
Week 14 Result: 44-30 loss to DET
PFF Rankings: Offense 8th, Defense 29th
Week 15 Matchup: Sunday, 8:20 pm vs MIN
Much like the Chiefs, the Cowboys’ playoff hopes were dashed by the Lions on Thursday night. They are now three games out of the NFC Wild Card, so they will start looking forward to next year. I think they actually have a bright future. Their offense is still great, and with two first-round picks, they should be able to add some talent to the defensive side of the ball. This year may be a goner, but I like what they have going into 2026.
14. Carolina Panthers (7-6)
Last Week: 17
Week 14 Result: Bye
PFF Rankings: Offense 18th, Defense 22nd
Week 15 Matchup: Sunday, 4:25 pm at NO
The Panthers were the beneficiaries of a bye week. They didn’t have to play, but they still rose three spots because of teams above them losing. They’re 7-6, and tied with the Buccaneers for first place in the South. If they can beat the Saints this weekend, they’ll either take the lead of the South, or keep pace with the Bucs, who they’ll face the following week.
13. Philadelphia Eagles (8-5)
Last Week: 9
Week 14 Result: 22-19 loss to LAC
PFF Rankings: Offense 11th, Defense 15th
Week 15 Matchup: Sunday, 1 pm vs LV
I’m so out on the Philadelphia Eagles. Their offense is absolutely atrocious right now. Jalen Hurts threw four interceptions in this loss, and they just have no juice. Their defense is still playing well, but that doesn’t mean much if your offense sucks.
12. Houston Texans (8-5)
Last Week: 14
Week 14 Result: 20-10 win over KC
PFF Rankings: Offense 21st, Defense 3rd
Week 15 Matchup: Sunday, 1 pm vs ARI
The Texans are riding high after their win over Kansas City in Arrowhead. They’re on a five-game win streak and have the best defense in the league. The only reason they’re not higher is that I do not trust C.J. Stroud and that offense. He’s been far too inconsistent this season, such as in the second half on SNF, where he completed three passes. Still, this is a very good team whose defense will keep them in every game.
11. Detroit Lions (8-5)
Last Week: 13
Week 14 Result: 44-30 win over DAL
PFF Rankings: Offense 3rd, Defense 4th
Week 15 Matchup: Sunday, 4:25 pm at LAR
The Lions earned a big win over the Cowboys on TNF, and I hope it will provide them with some momentum heading into the home stretch. They’re one game out of the playoffs, but more importantly, they’re also still in play for the NFC North. With a rematch against the Green Bay Packers coming up, a win over the Rams could suddenly put Detroit in a really good spot to win their division. It will be tough, though.
10. Los Angeles Chargers (9-4)
Last Week: 12
Week 14 Result: 22-19 win over PHI
PFF Rankings: Offense 20th, Defense 13th
Week 15 Matchup: Sunday, 1 pm at KC
It wasn’t pretty, but the Chargers got a big win over the Eagles on Monday Night Football. They have one of the toughest remaining schedules with the Cowboys, Chiefs, Texans and Broncos still to come, and with the AFC Wild Card race as close as it is, they really, really needed this one. There’s still room to improve offensively, but I thought Justin Herbert looked about as good as he could’ve just seven days removed from hand surgery. Their defense continues to play very well, too, so they’re a force to be reckoned with in the AFC.
9. Chicago Bears (9-4)
Last Week: 5
Week 14 Result: 28-21 loss to GB
PFF Rankings: Offense 10th, Defense 26th
Week 15 Matchup: Sunday, 1 pm vs CLE
Once I finally gave the Chicago Bears some respect, they go out and lose. In all honesty, this wasn’t a bad loss for the Bears. They had to go to Lambeau to take on the Packers, and just fell short. They’re still a very good football team that will make some teams nervous in the playoffs. I just don’t trust their defense to make a big play when they need to.
8. San Francisco 49ers (9-4)
Last Week: 7
Week 14 Result: Bye
PFF Rankings: Offense 9th, Defense 25th
Week 15 Matchup: Sunday, 4:25 pm vs TEN
San Fran was on a bye this week, but dropped one place due to a couple of teams below them earning some big wins this weekend. For a team that’s been as injured as they have been, it’s impressive that they’re 9-4 heading into the home stretch. Their offense has been pretty good ever since Brock Purdy returned, but I still have concerns about their defense.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4)
Last Week: 16
Week 14 Result: 36-19 win over IND
PFF Rankings: Offense 15th, Defense 10th
Week 15 Matchup: Sunday, 1 pm vs NYJ
I’ve been pretty low on Jacksonville all season. I didn’t trust that Trevor Lawrence could consistently put up big numbers and help the Jags win, but after this week, I’m all in. It seems like Lawrence and Liam Coen are really starting to connect, and Travis Etienne is back to his early-season form. Plus, their defense is playing better football right now, too. They’re peaking at the right time.
6. Buffalo Bills (9-4)
Last Week: 6
Week 14 Result: 39-34 win over CIN
PFF Rankings: Offense 6th, Defense 23rd
Week 15 Matchup: Sunday, 1 pm at NE
The Buffalo Bills earned a much-needed win over Cincinnati this weekend, but it was a bit harder than it needed to be. It looked like Cincy had this game in the bag when they were up 28-18 in the fourth, but Buffalo stormed back with three straight touchdowns to win this game. When Buffalo’s on, they’re one of the best teams in the league, but they need to be more consistent come playoff time.
5. Green Bay Packers (9-3-1)
Last Week: 8
Week 14 Result: 28-21 win over CHI
PFF Rankings: Offense 5th, Defense 6th
Week 15 Matchup: Sunday, 4:25 pm at DEN
The Packers regained the lead in the NFC North with a gritty win over the Bears on Sunday. After a bit of a rough stretch midseason, the Packers are finding their groove offensively and are now in contention for the 1-seed in the NFC. They have a pretty tough two-game stretch coming up with trips to Denver and Chicago, but if they can go 1-1 during that span, they should be able to finish strong and take the North.
4. Denver Broncos (11-2)
Last Week: 3
Week 14 Result: 24-17 win over LV
PFF Rankings: Offense 13th, Defense 8th
Week 15 Matchup: Sunday, 4:25 pm vs GB
Denver has won 10 straight games, but I still had to drop them a spot this week. Their defense continues to be incredible, but man, I just can’t shake the feeling that this offense is going to cost them in the playoffs. Bo Nix hasn’t had a multi-touchdown game in four weeks, and while they’re winning and that’s what matters, I just don’t feel like any of their wins have been convincing. Can’t knock them too hard, but I need to see more offensively.
3. Seattle Seahawks (10-3)
Last Week: 4
Week 14 Result: 37-9 win over ATL
PFF Rankings: Offense 2nd, Defense 5th
Week 15 Matchup: Sunday, 4:25 pm vs IND
After their dominating win over Atlanta, I have the Seattle Seahawks leapfrogging the Broncos for the No. 3 spot on our power rankings. After a rough month, Sam Darnold is back in form, and their defense looked as good as ever. They are still one of the best teams, not only in the NFC, but in the NFL. Real Super Bowl contenders, as long as Darnold doesn’t fold in the playoffs.
2. Los Angeles Rams (10-3)
Last Week: 2
Week 14 Result: 45-17 win over ARI
PFF Rankings: Offense 1st, Defense 1st
Week 15 Matchup: Sunday, 4:25 pm vs DET
The Rams dominated the Cardinals on Sunday, but I just can’t have them jump New England until the Patriots finally lose. I trust Matthew Stafford more than Drake Maye, and I probably trust LA’s defense more too, but the Patriots have earned the right to occupy the top spot, and until they drop a game like LA did against Carolina a couple weeks back, they’ll stay No. 1.
1. New England Patriots (11-2)
Last Week: 1
Week 14 Result: Bye
PFF Rankings: Offense 7th, Defense 9th
Week 15 Matchup: Sunday, 1 pm vs BUF
Occupying our top spot for the second week in a row is the Patriots. They were on a bye this week, but they have earned to be the No. 1 team in our power rankings until they lose. They have a tough matchup against Buffalo this weekend, so they could be dethroned, but if they keep playing how they have in the last 10 games, they’ll be just fine.
NFL Week 14 grades: Report cards for every team in action and key takeaways
Welcome to the Week 14 grades!
When you get this late in the season, almost every game seems to have some playoff implications, and that was definitely the case on Monday night. The Chargers stayed firmly in the AFC playoff picture after beating the Eagles, 22-19, in an overtime thriller.
If the Chargers lost, they would have dropped to the eighth spot in the AFC, which would have put them on the outside looking in. Instead, the Chargers will now head into Week 15 as the fifth overall seed in the conference.
The win by Los Angeles was one of several big games during a Week 14 slate that saw three first- and second-place teams from the same division face off.
Here’s a quick look at those three games:
AFC South: The Jaguars made a statement with their 36-19 win over a Colts team that’s suddenly reeling. At 9-4, it feels like the Jags are now in total control of the division, especially since the Colts just lost Daniel Jones to a season-ending Achilles injury.
AFC North: Just when you thought Mike Tomlin might be on the hot seat, he goes out and leads his team to its biggest win of the season. Tomlin’s Steelers took control of the division by taking out the Baltimore Ravens in a 27-22 win.
NFC North: The Packers moved to the top of the division with a 28-21 win over the Bears in Green Bay. With the loss, the Bears dropped all the way down from the No. 1 seed in the NFC to the seventh seed, just one spot ahead of the Lions, which could certainly add some drama to the NFC North race down the stretch.
There was also a big game on Sunday night with the Texans going into Kansas City and knocking off the Chiefs, 20-10. The Chiefs’ playoff hopes aren’t officially dead yet, but they’re certainly on life support following the loss.
We’re not here to talk about the playoffs, though. We’re here to talk about grades, so let’s get to them, starting with the Chargers’ win over the Eagles.
L.A. Chargers 22-19 over Philadelphia
Houston 20-10 over Kansas City
BIt’s not every day you see a defense manhandle the Chiefs offense, but that’s exactly what Houston did on Sunday night. The Texans have great players at every level of their defense and that was on display in Kansas City: Up front, the pass rush got eight hits on Patrick Mahomes and that led to two sacks. In the secondary, Kamari Lassiter recorded six tackles while coming up with one of Houston’s three interceptions. Offensively, all the Texans had to do was not give the game away and they were able to handle that. Woody Marks (76 total yards, 1 TD) and Nico Collins (121 yards receiving) combined for 197 of Houston’s 268 yards and that was all the Texans needed. This is a Super Bowl-caliber defense and if the the Texans (8-5) can find a way into the playoffs, they could be dangerous. C-The Chiefs have watched Patrick Mahomes save the day so many times that it seemed destined to happen once again on Sunday night, but instead, the Texans defense landed a knockout punch on the Chiefs. Mahomes struggled against Houston, throwing for just 160 yards with three interceptions, but he also got no help from his teammates, who dropped a total of six passes. Two of those drops came from Travis Kelce, including a back-breaking drop in the fourth quarter that led to a game-sealing interception for Houston. Basically, the Chiefs didn’t make the plays that we’ve become accustomed to seeing them make in crunch time. Andy Reid also made an aggressive decision to go for it on fourth down from his own 31-yard line in the fourth quarter. After the Chiefs failed, the Texans took over and ended up scoring what proved to be the game-winning touchdown. The Chiefs look old this year: They look a step slow, they’ve been sloppy at times and the offensive firepower hasn’t been there since the calendar hit November. At 6-7, it’s looking more and more like the Chiefs are going to miss the playoffs for the first time in Mahomes’ career.
Pittsburgh 27-22 over Baltimore
BAaron Rodgers finally figured out how to get the Steelers offense going: Just throw the ball to DK Metcalf. Rodgers threw for 284 yards and 148 of that went to Metcalf, including a 52-yard pass on Pittsburgh’s first play from scrimmage that set the offensive tone for the game. Defensively, the Steelers almost always go a good job slowing down Lamar Jackson and that was the case here: The Ravens QB got sacked twice and James Pierre came up with a huge interception in the first half that set up a Steelers touchdown. The Steelers (7-6) don’t win pretty, but they do win, and that’s all that matters. With this victory, they now have control of the AFC North.CIt might be time to file a missing person’s report for the Ravens offense. Lamar Jackson is struggling, Derrick Henry can’t find room to run and an offense that used to be the most explosive in the NFL has turned into a shell of itself. The Ravens offense struggled early and although it did turn things around by piling up 217 rushing yards, most of that went to waste, because Baltimore couldn’t score in the red zone. In the fourth quarter alone, the Ravens got inside of Pittsburgh’s 20-yard line on three different drives, but they came away with zero touchdowns. The AFC North is still within reach, but the Ravens are going to need to get their offense straightened out if they want to have a chance to win the division.
Green Bay 28-21 over Chicago
B-The Bears have been a good team all season, but to make the jump to great, this was a game they needed to win and they weren’t quite able to pull it off. The roller-coaster ride that is Caleb Williams was on full display against the Packers: The Bears QB made several spectacular plays, but he also made several errant throws, including a game-ending interception on a fourth-and-1 in the red zone. Defensively, the Bears played reasonably well, but they couldn’t get off the field on third down, letting the Packers convert 8 of their 12 attempts (Three of Green Bay’s four touchdowns came on third down). The Bears are now 0-2 against the Lions and Packers this year and they’re going to have to figure out how to get over that hump if they want to have any chance of winning the division. BFor the second straight week, the Packers were in a huge divisional showdown, and for the second straight week Jordan Love delivered an impressive performance with 234 yards and three touchdowns. The Packers QB got off to a rough start with an early interception, but he caught fire in the second quarter, throwing for 115 yards and two touchdowns. Although the offense moved the ball well, the defense almost gave the game away during a second half where the Bears were able to move the ball at will. The Packers had trouble stopping the run in the second half, which allowed Chicago to chip away at the lead. The Bears might have even tied the game if not for a game-sealing interception by Keisean Nixon. If you’re the Packers, you have to be mildly concerned at how the defense played late in the game. On the other hand, the Packers probably aren’t worried about much of anything right now after taking control of the NFC North with this win.
Denver 24-17 over Las Vegas
B-The Broncos defense has been bullying teams all year long and it bullied the Raiders on Sunday. The Broncos pass rush totaled four sacks in the game with two of those coming from Nik Bonitto, who has been doing a good job of earning every dollar from his $120 million extension that he signed in September. With the defense playing so well, the Broncos didn’t need much offense in this game, but they still got an impressive effort from RJ Harvey, who ran for a career-high 75 yards and a touchdown while adding 25 yards receiving. If the second-round rookie continues to play like this, that will make the Broncos offense even scarier down the stretch. C-The Raiders offense sputtered against the Broncos: Geno Smith rarely had time to throw, Ashton Jeanty had no room to run, and outside of their opening possessions, the Raiders just couldn’t move the ball. If the past seven weeks have proved one thing, it’s that the Raiders are probably going to have to blow things up and start over on the offensive side of the ball this offseason. And maybe the defensive side, too. You know what? It might just be time for a total reset.
L.A. Rams 45-17 over Arizona
A+The Rams time traveled back to 1999 on Sunday because they looked like
NFL playoff picture Week 14: Where Chargers and Eagles stand after MNF
When we look back at the 2025 regular season, we may be pointing to Week 14 as the pivotal moment that sculpted the playoff picture.
Coming into the weekend, the slate had the promise of being an inflection point with multiple divisional matchups on deck between clubs in the thick of the playoff race. That included Steelers-Ravens duking it out for first place in the AFC North, along with Bears-Packers squaring off at Lambeau Field in an NFC North duel, and Colts-Jaguars jockeying for position atop the AFC South. And those games did not disappoint.
Pittsburgh and Green Bay both pulled off wins to jump back into first place in their respective division. Meanwhile, Jacksonville held its spot atop the AFC South after taking down Indy, but the headline from that contest was Daniel Jones leaving the game due to an Achilles injury. That further shakes up the playoff picture in the AFC.
With Week 14 complete, let’s take a look at this latest snapshot and see who would be in and out of the playoffs. On top of the standings, we’ll also run through the entire playoff picture, including the remaining schedules for each primary contender.
NFL Week 14 grades: Chargers earn C+ for wild Monday win over Eagles; Chiefs get C- for loss to Texans
John Breech
Complete playoff picture
This is the NFL playoff picture as it stands, with the following teams tabbed for postseason spots:
AFC standings
Denver Broncos (11-2)
New England Patriots (11-2)
Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4)
Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)
Los Angeles Chargers (9-4)
Buffalo Bills (9-4)
Houston Texans (8-5)
1. Denver Broncos (11-2)
Remaining schedule: vs. Packers, vs. Jaguars, at Chiefs, vs. Chargers
After winning their 10th straight game, the Broncos are back atop the AFC as the No. 1 seed. They currently get the edge over New England thanks to a superior conference record (7-2 vs. 6-2). While the conversation is currently about whether or not the Broncos can secure the No. 1 seed, it shouldn’t be overlooked that they have a solid cushion in the AFC West and are primed to win it for the first time since 2015.
2. New England Patriots (11-2)
Remaining schedule: vs. Bills, at Ravens, at Jets, vs. Dolphins
The Patriots were on the bye in Week 14 and have a massive contest against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium next Sunday. While that game won’t flip the standings in the AFC East in the event that New England loses, a win could effectively lock it up for Mike Vrabel’s club. Beyond fending off Buffalo, a win next week would also keep pace with Denver for the No. 1 seed.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4)
Remaining schedule: vs. Jets, at Broncos, at Colts, vs. Titans
The Jaguars created some wiggle room for themselves in the AFC South with a win over the Colts on Sunday. That’s the fourth straight win for Jacksonville, which is now set to host the Jets in Week 15. With Daniel Jones now out for the year with an Achilles injury, the division is a two-team race between them and the Houston Texans.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)
Remaining schedule: vs. Dolphins, at Lions, at Browns, vs. Ravens
Pittsburgh is back in first place in the AFC North after defeating the Ravens; however, there is still a lot to be determined in this division. The Steelers and Ravens are still only separated by a game and have one more head-to-head matchup in Week 18. Before then, Pittsburgh has some tricky games ahead of it. The Dolphins have been spunky in recent weeks, and then they will have to go on the road in Week 16 and Week 17 against the Lions and Browns.
5. Los Angeles Chargers (9-4)
Remaining schedule: at Chiefs, at Cowboys, vs. Texans, at Broncos
The Chargers won a sloppy overtime game against the Eagles on Monday night. This was a huge game for Los Angeles, as a loss would have dropped them out of the playoff picture altogether due to a head-to-head tiebreaker working against them with the Colts, due to a loss in Week 7. Instead, they’re the No. 5 seed in the AFC with four games to play.
6. Buffalo Bills (8-4)
Remaining schedule: at Patriots, at Browns, vs. Eagles, vs. Jets
It cannot be overstated how important Buffalo’s comeback win over the Bengals was. After erasing the double-digit, fourth-quarter deficit, the Bills improved to 9-4, which keeps them within range of the Patriots in the AFC East, leading up to their showdown in Foxborough next Sunday. The victory also has them with a solid hold on the top wild card spot.
7. Houston Texans (8-5)
Remaining schedule: vs. Cardinals, vs. Raiders, at Chargers, vs. Colts
After starting the year 0-3, the Texans have clawed back into the playoff picture as the No. 7 seed thanks to an impressive win over the Chiefs. Houston is just a game behind the Jaguars for first place in the AFC South, so there is room for this climb to go even higher.
In the hunt
The Colts (8-5) are mathematically still in the hunt, but after losing Daniel Jones for the season due to a torn Achilles, it’s hard to envision them finishing well enough to get into the playoffs. The clock may have struck midnight for the Chiefs (6-7) after falling to the Texans on Sunday night. They continue to be out of the playoff picture, are now under .500 again, and are on the wrong side of a number of key tiebreakers. The team that may have the best chance of this group to make the postseason is the Ravens (6-7). Even after losing to the Steelers, they still have a lane to leapfrog them for first place in the AFC North and still have one more matchup against them in Pittsburgh in Week 18. Surprisingly, the Dolphins (6-7) are still lurking on the outskirts after winning four straight games, but a lot needs to go right. On top of likely needing to win out, Miami would need some wild card contenders to collapse, as they currently lose head-to-head tiebreakers to the Colts, Chargers and Ravens.
Chiefs’ NFL playoff hopes aren’t quite dead yet: Here’s how fading Kansas City could still get in postseason
John Breech
NFC standings
Los Angeles Rams (10-3)
Green Bay Packers (9-3-1)
Philadelphia Eagles (8-5)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6)
Seattle Seahawks (10-3)
San Francisco 49ers (9-4)
Chicago Bears (9-4)
1. Los Angeles Rams (10-3)
Remaining schedule: vs. Lions, at Seahawks, at Falcons, vs. Cardinals
The Rams bounced back nicely after their upset loss to the Panthers in Week 13 by blowing out the Cardinals, 45-17. Matthew Stafford looked more like his MVP self as well, throwing for three touchdowns. That win helped push them atop the NFC as the No. 1 seed, but they’ll need to finish strong to hold onto this spot. Specifically, these next two weeks against Detroit and then at Seattle will give us further clarity on where L.A. will ultimately end up.
2. Green Bay Packers (9-3-1)
Remaining schedule: at Broncos, at Bears, vs. Ravens, at Vikings
Green Bay is back atop the NFC North after taking down the Chicago Bears at home. The Packers offense came through in the clutch, particularly some hard running by Josh Jacobs late. While the Packers may have recaptured the top spot in the division, things are still very much up in the air in the NFC North, especially if they fall to the Broncos in Denver next week before taking on the Bears again in Week 16.
3. Philadelphia Eagles (8-5)
Remaining schedule: vs. Raiders, at Commanders, at Bills, vs. Commanders
Philadelphia still stands on solid footing at the moment despite its third straight defeat Monday night. The Cowboys losing to the Lions on Thursday and dropping to 6-6-1 took a lot of wind out of their sails in their pursuit to catch the Eagles in the NFC East. Philly also has a very manageable schedule down the stretch.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6)
Remaining schedule: vs. Falcons, at Panthers, at Dolphins, vs. Panthers
The Bucs were on the wrong end of arguably the biggest upset of Week 14, losing at home to the New Orleans Saints. While they are still atop the NFC South at the moment, Tampa Bay is now knotted with the Carolina Panthers — who were on the bye in Week 14 — for first place. The Bucs have the momentary edge, but they’ve yet to play any of their two matchups against Carolina, so this division is very much still up for grabs.
5. Seattle Seahawks (10-3)
Remaining schedule: vs. Colts, vs. Rams, at Panthers, at 49ers
Seattle is in a pretty comfortable position coming out of Week 14. The Seahaws are just one of two teams in the entire conference with double-digit wins. However, the problem is that the only other team with 10 wins is the Los Angeles Rams, who beat them out at the moment due to the head-to-head tiebreaker. That said, they still have one more game against L.A. in Seattle, and have a healthy position as a wild card entry if they cannot unseat them for the NFC West crown. They also catch a break in Week 15, facing an Indianapolis Colts team that just lost Daniel Jones (Achilles) for the year.
6. San Francisco 49ers (9-4)
Remaining schedule: vs. Titans, at Colts, vs. Bears, vs. Seahawks
The Niners were on the bye in Week 14, so they’ll be well-rested for the final four games. Out of the gate, it’s pretty favorable for San Francisco, hosting a 2-11 Tennessee Titans team before visiting the Colts, who will be without Jones. That creates a strong path to securing a wild card spot, but there is room for this team to go even higher if the pieces fall into place. The 49ers split the head-to-head series with the Rams and currently have a better division record, so they’d leapfrog them if they find themselves with the same record. Meanwhile, the club also owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over Seattle thanks to a Week 1 win before they square off in the regular-season finale. So, there is a path for the 49ers to win the NFC West and possibly end up as the No. 1 seed.
7. Chicago Bears (9-4)
Remaining schedule: vs. Browns, vs. Packers, at 49ers, vs. Lions
What a difference a week can make, right? Chicago entered Week 14 as the No. 1 seed in the conference and is now clinging to the No. 7 seed after falling to the Packers at Lambeau Field. While that is quite the fall from grace, all isn’t lost. If Chicago takes care of business next week against the Browns and gets some help from the Broncos, who host the Packers, we could be looking at another massive NFC North duel between the Bears and Green Bay in Week 16. If they aren’t careful, however, they do run the risk of falling even further, especially with the Lions looming.
In the hunt
NFL Monday night: Chargers’ final takeaway beats Eagles in overtime
The Philadelphia Eagles-Los Angeles Chargers game fittingly ended with an interception on Monday night.
Chargers safety Tony Jefferson made a one-handed interception of a pass tipped by cornerback Cam Hart at the Los Angeles 1-yard line for the game’s eighth turnover.
The Chargers’ fourth interception off Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts sealed Los Angeles’ 22-19 overtime victory.
Hurts had five turnovers, with a fumble on a snap on which he also threw an interception. Los Angeles lost two fumbles and Chargers QB Justin Herbert threw an interception.
RELATED: JALEN HURTS LOSES 2 TURNOVERS ON 1 SNAP
The Chargers needed a 46-yard field goal by Cameron Dicker with eight seconds left in the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime, then got a 54-yard field goal by Dicker with 6:24 left to end the opening possession of the extra period.
Dicker made five field goals in the game. Philadelphia kicker Jake Elliott had four but missed a 48-yard field-goal attempt on the final snap of the first half.
Each team scored one touchdown. Running back Omarion Hampton caught a 4-yard TD pass from Herbert to close Los Angeles’ first possession. Running back Saquon Barkley ran 52 yards for a score as Philadelphia took a 16-13 lead with 14:51 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Playing a week after surgery on his broken non-throwing hand, Herbert completed 12-of-26 passes for 139 yards with one touchdown and one interception and ran 10 times for 66 yards. Philadelphia sacked Herbert seven times.
Hurts completed 21-of-40 passes for 240 yards with no touchdowns and four interceptions and ran four times for 8 yards as the Eagles lost their third game in a row. The former Alabama QB was sacked once.
In addition to Hurts, 15 players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Monday night:
Eagles cornerback Jakorian Bennett (McGill-Toolen) did not record any stats.
Eagles running back Tank Bigsby (Auburn) had a 4-yard run.
Reed Blankenship (West Limestone) started at safety for the Eagles. Blankenship tied for the team lead with eight tackles and recorded one tackle for loss.
Bradley Bozeman (Handley, Alabama) started at center for the Chargers.
Eagles linebacker Jihaad Campbell (Alabama) made two tackles on defense and one on special teams.
Landon Dickerson (Alabama) started at left guard for the Eagles. Dickerson left early for the locker room in the second quarter because of a calf injury. But he returned to play in the second half.
Chargers defensive tackle Justin Eboigbe (Alabama) made one tackle on defense and one tackle on special teams.
Da’Shawn Hand (Alabama) started at defensive tackle for the Chargers. Hand made two tackles and recorded the first interception of his NFL career. Hand picked off quarterback Jalen Hurts at the Los Angeles 17-yard line in the second quarter, but after a 7-yard return, the defensive lineman fumbled the football, although the Chargers ended up with it.
Chargers long snapper Josh Harris (Auburn) handled the snaps for five field goals, five punts and one extra point.
Chargers running back Najee Harris (Alabama) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Chargers wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith (Auburn) was designated as a game-day inactive.
Eagles tight end Cameron Latu (Alabama) made one tackle on special teams.
Eagles cornerback Mac McWilliams (UAB) was designated as a game-day inactive.
Chargers cornerback Jordan Oladokun (Samford) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Chargers punter JK Scott (Alabama) averaged 51.2 yards on five punts, with a 40.4-yard net. Scott had a 53-yard punt to a fair catch at the Philadelphia 10-yard line, a 56-yarder returned 14 yards to the Philadelphia 26, a 44-yarder to a fair catch at the Philadelphia 39, a 46-yarder returned 22 yards to the Philadelphia 27 and a 57-yarder returned 18 yards to the Philadelphia 40. Scott also held for five field goals and one extra point.
DeVonta Smith (Alabama) started at wide receiver for the Eagles. Smith had four receptions for 37 yards, including a 28-yard reception on third-and-16 in overtime that moved Philadelphia into Los Angeles’ half of the field.
Tyler Steen (Alabama) started at right guard for the Eagles.
Eagles defensive tackle Byron Young (Alabama) tied for the team lead with eight tackles, recorded 1.5 sacks, registered two quarterback hits and recovered a fumble. With Philadelphia defensive tackle Jalen Carter sidelined by a shoulder injury, Young reached a career high for tackles. His previous best had been four. He also entered the game with one career quarterback hit and no sacks or fumble recoveries in 18 NFL games.
Kimani Vidal (Troy) started at running back for the Chargers. Vidal ran for 44 yards on 14 carries, caught a 60-yard pass and returned five kickoffs for 111 yards. Vidal turned a short pass into a 60-yard gain to the Philadelphia 17-yard line to set up Los Angeles’ touchdown.
Eagles wide receiver Quez Watkins (Athens) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
In its next game, Los Angeles (9-4) plays the Kansas City Chiefs at noon CST Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
Philadelphia (8-5) plays the Las Vegas Raiders at noon Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
2026 NFL Mock Draft Post Week 14: Raiders Select Fernando Mendoza While Shedeur Sanders Gets a New Weapon
With just four weeks left in the 2025 NFL season, there have already been nine teams eliminated from playoff contention. That means for these nine teams, their focus is already beginning to shift to the offseason, and more specifically, the NFL Draft, which takes place in late April.
So, for all of you out there that are fans of one of these teams already eliminated from the postseason (like myself), here’s a little something for you. Today, I mocked the first 10 picks of the 2026 NFL Draft, just a week before the College Football Playoffs begin.
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1. New York Giants (2-11)
Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
The New York Giants are in an amazing position. They already have their quarterback in Jaxson Dart, and they have one of the best defensive lines in the league. That opens things up for them in the draft. If they land the top pick, expect them to listen to trade calls, but I think it would be hard for them to pass up one of the best linebacker prospects we’ve seen in a long, long time.
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Arvell Reese exploded onto the scene this year, and he can literally do everything. He can defend the run, he can cover tight ends, and he can rush the passer. He’s a Swiss army knife, and as of today, he’s my No. 1 player in the draft. Easy pick for the Giants if they stick at No. 1.
Stats: 62 tackles, 31 run stops, 23 pressures, 6.5 sacks, 2 PBUs
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2. Las Vegas Raiders (2-11)
Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
The Las Vegas Raiders have moved up two spots to the second overall pick, and with the Giants sticking and picking Reese, Fernando Mendoza falls right into their laps. Geno Smith’s tenure in Vegas, at least as a starter, should come to an end this offseason, making way for a new era under their new QB1, Fernando Mendoza.
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Mendoza led the now No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers to a massive 13-10 win over the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Big 10 Championship game. He went 15-for-22 for 222 yards and one touchdown while also throwing one interception. He’s been QB1 for the back half of the year, and he should hear his name called in the top three.
Stats: 71.5 percent completion, 2,980 passing yards, 240 rushing yards, 39 total touchdowns
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3. Tennessee Titans (2-11)
Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami
The Tennessee Titans also have their quarterback in place, so they can afford to take the next best player on the board, Rueben Bain. The Miami standout has been fantastic this year. I know the sacks aren’t there, but he has the eighth-best pass rush grade (91.9) and fourth-best pass rush win rate (26.4 percent) in the nation. His Miami team just snuck into the playoffs, so he’ll have at least one more game to show teams what he’s capable of.
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Stats: 57 pressures, 4.5 sacks, 23.9 percent pass rush win rate
4. Cleveland Browns (3-10)
Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
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After Shedeur Sanders’ performance on Sunday, I’m pivoting off the Cleveland Browns and taking a quarterback. I know it was against the Titans, but he showed some really good things, and if he plays well the rest of the year, he could earn one more season as the starter, which means it’s time to get him some weapons.
I’ve gone back and forth between Jordyn Tyson and Carnell Tate as my WR1 for a couple of weeks now. I think Tyson still would be if he hadn’t gotten hurt, but his injury allowed Tate to slide in with some big performances and steal that title away. Tate is 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, and can get behind a defense pretty easily. He’s been a touchdown machine in recent weeks, too, which certainly helps his case for WR1.
I think the Browns try to secure a top receiver so they can really find out what they have in Sanders next year.
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Stats: 48 receptions, 838 yards, 9 TD
5. New Orleans Saints (3-10)
David Bailey, DE, Texas Tech
I seem to be higher on David Bailey than many of the professional draft analysts, but as a New Orleans Saints fan, I’m done with the whole drafting super athletic defensive ends and hoping they pan out thing. Give me someone who’s produced in college and has still proven to be a pretty good athlete, and that’s what Bailey has done this year at Texas Tech. He ranks first in pressures (70) and second in sacks (13.5) across all Division I players. He is exactly what the Saints need on their defense opposite of Chase Young.
Stats: 70 pressures, 13.5 sacks, 22.4 percent pass rush win rate
6. Washington Commanders (3-10)
Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
The Washington Commanders need a lot of help on the defensive side of the ball, but with the top guys gone and one of the best receivers on the board still sitting there, I think they go with Jordyn Tyson. This year has proven that they desperately need another receiver alongside Terry McLaurin, who has missed most of the year with an injury. If they want their offense to get back to playing how they did late in 2024, they need to add another weapon on the outside, and Tyson is someone they can pair with Jayden Daniels for years to come.
Stats: 61 receptions, 711 yards, 8 TD
7. New York Jets (3-10)
Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Caleb Downs is one of the best safety prospects we’ve seen in a long time, and if he played a premium position, he might be the first overall pick. He’s that talented. In my opinion, the New York Jets should just take the best player available, and outside of Jeremiyah Love, Downs is the best player left on the board at this point. He would instantly improve their secondary, and Aaron Glenn would have a whole lot of fun coaching him up.
Stats: 60 tackles, 29 run stops, 136 yards allowed, 2 INT
8. Arizona Cardinals (3-10)
Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
The Arizona Cardinals have to plug some holes on their offensive line this offseason, so drafting the best offensive lineman on the board, Spencer Fano, is an easy pick. Not only is he the best tackle on the board, but he’s probably the best guard too. He could move around pretty much anywhere but the center and still be efficient, so I think he’d be a perfect fit for Arizona.
Stats: 332 pass block snaps, 5 pressures, 0 sacks
9. Los Angeles Rams via Atlanta Falcons (4-9)
Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
If Fano isn’t the best tackle in the 2026 class, then it’s certainly Francis Mauigoa. He’s had an extremely efficient year at Miami and has worked his way into the top-10 conversation. With Rob Havenstein aging and on an expiring deal, finding a young, talented offensive tackle with a top-10 pick that isn’t even supposed to be yours would be a smart move for the Los Angeles Rams. I would love to see them go with a Jeremiyah Love or Mansoor Delane here, but I think they play it smart and go with an offensive tackle.
Stats: 414 pass blocking snaps, 9 pressures, 2 sacks
10. Cincinnati Bengals (4-9)
Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn
With both of the top tackles gone, the Cincinnati Bengals try to find their replacement for Trey Hendrickson by selecting Keldric Faulk. This is exactly the type of defensive end I hate drafting. He’s an athletic freak, and he’s 6-foot-6, but he just doesn’t have the production like the other top defensive ends. Still, NFL teams love drafting these guys, and there aren’t many other pass rushers I’m super bullish on, so I think he ends up in Cincy if the top tackles are off the board.
Stats: 31 pressures, 28 hurries, 2 sacks
Full 2025 NFL Draft Order
11. Minnesota Vikings
12. Miami Dolphins
13. Baltimore Ravens
14. Kansas City Chiefs
15. Dallas Cowboys
16. Carolina Panthers
17. Detroit Lions
18. New York Jets via Indianapolis Colts
19. Pittsburgh Steelers
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
21. Philadelphia Eagles
22. Houston Texans
23. Los Angeles Chargers
24. Chicago Bears
25. Buffalo Bills
26. San Francisco 49ers
27. Cleveland Browns via Jacksonville Jaguars
28. Dallas Cowboys via Green Bay Packers
29. Seattle Seahawks
30. New England Patriots
31. Los Angeles Rams
32. Denver Broncos
Jalen Hurts committed two turnovers on one play and made NFL history.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — When Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts turned the ball over twice on the same play against the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night, not even the fictional characters of Pixar’s “Monsters, Inc.” could keep up with one of the most bizarre sequences in recent NFL memory.
It also proved costly, giving away three valuable points in what would be a 22-19 overtime loss for the Eagles.
» READ MORE: Forget 2023. The Eagles are in bigger trouble now after their loss to the Chargers.
Hurts didn’t see defensive tackle Da’Shawn Hand dropping back into coverage over the middle on third down midway through the second quarter and threw it right to the 300-pounder. Hand started running but was stripped from behind by running back Will Shipley, sending the ball bouncing into Hurts’ hands, only for defensive tackle Jamaree Caldwell to force another fumble which was recovered by linebacker Troy Dye.
“Now, I got to do some ball security drills, you know what I’m saying,” Hand joked. “But I love this team, and it was a fire win.”
According to Elias Sports Bureau, it was the first time one player committed two turnovers on one play since at least 1978, which is as far back as available play-by-play data goes.
“I mean, you get some crazy things on special teams, when you do down, try to catch a punt or, like, cover like a muffed punt or something, but nothing like that,” Dye said. “That’s probably one of the craziest sequences ever.”
Only one of the three turnovers was captured by ESPN’s alternate broadcast featuring computer generated characters from the 2001 kids’ movie and its 2013 prequel, “Monsters University.” Despite operating on a delay which allowed game footage to be replaced with animated likenesses, including subbing Hand for John Goodman’s fuzzy purple and blue monster James P. Sullivan, the rendering software seemingly didn’t know what to do after Hand put the ball on the ground. It remained at the virtual 25-yard line where Shipley stripped Hand and didn’t capture Hurts losing the ball for a second time.
The play also had implications in fantasy football, where Hurts was docked four points by at least two major scoring systems for giving the ball away twice.
But most important, it allowed the Chargers’ defense to offer support to quarterback Justin Herbert, who played one week after undergoing surgery on a broken bone in his non-throwing hand, and a battered offensive line which lost right tackle Trey Pipkins III to an ankle injury in the second quarter.
The fumble led to a Chargers’ field goal and extended the Eagles’ deficit to 10-3 with 4:55 left in the first half.
Hurts ended up with a career-high five turnovers and four interceptions, the last coming in overtime at the Chargers 1.
“I feel like it was just loose, and I feel like the back end played some good coverage, causing Hurts to throw some passes in some windows that wasn’t open,” Caldwell said. “And I feel like, also, the guys up front, (Teair) Tart and them, they did a good job of just being dominant up front, stopping the run and just making the quarterback have to make plays in the sky. And I feel like we just played as a unit.”
That togetherness led to six crucial points off turnovers for the Chargers, the fine margins which sent the Eagles to their third straight loss.
“As frustrating as the night was, we had an opportunity to win the game in the end,” said Hurts, who came into the game having thrown two picks on 342 attempts. “Had the ball in my hands, driving down the field, having everything, you know, on our terms to a sense, and I didn’t bring it home, so that’s how I look at it.”
Jon Gruden rips College Football Playoff committee following controversial decisions
On Sunday, the College Football Playoff selection committee released its second 12-team bracket, handing automatic berths to five conference champions and filling the remaining slots with seven at-large selections.
The field featured a mix of Group of Five champions Tulane and James Madison and, controversially, at-large picks Alabama and Miami while leaving Notre Dame and BYU on the outside.
Indiana drew the No. 1 overall seed; first-round matchups include (12) James Madison at (5) Oregon, and (11) Tulane at (6) Ole Miss; Alabama will travel to Oklahoma, and Miami will play Texas A&M in the opening weekend.
Former NFL coach Jon Gruden weighed in on Monday’s episode of Wake Up Barstool, calling the committee’s work “horrific” and saying,
Former Kansas RB Devin Neal Making His Mark with the New Orleans Saints
One of the most decorated and beloved former running backs in Kansas football history is starting to get his first real taste of NFL action.
On Sunday, Devin Neal had his best performance of his young career for the New Orleans Saints’ in their road win versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by a final score of 24-20.
Neal accounted for 84 total yards in the victory with one catch for 14 yards and 70 yards rushing and a touchdown on 19 carries. It was easily the most yards of the season for Neal, and the touchdown was the first of his NFL career.
The touchdown was called by fellow KU alum Kevin Harlan.
Saints head coach Kellen Moore had nothing but good things to say about his young tailback following the win.
“I love Devin,” Moore said. “I think he’s been awesome – just the way he prepares and the way he’s always ready to play. I love his energy. I love his juice.”
On the season, Neal has now accumulated 178 yards rushing and 100 yards receiving in nine games. He’s also acted as the team’s kick returner at times with 152 yards on seven attempts – good for a 21.7-yard average per return.
Neal hadn’t seen much playing time as a rookie up until November when he started to finally get more touches on offense. His numbers were minor until taking over as the lead back when starting running back Alvin Kamara went down due to a knee and ankle sprain he suffered in the Week 12 matchup versus Atlanta.
Since then, Neal has made the most of his opportunity by averaging 76 total yards through two games to go along with his touchdown against the Bucs.
Neal was drafted by the Saints in the sixth round with the No. 184 pick overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, which many thought was too low for the former Kansas star. Now, he may be proving those people right.
It’s unclear how much longer Kamara will be out, especially considering the Saints have already been eliminated from this year’s playoffs. But with what Neal has shown the past few weeks, it will be hard to keep him off the field even if Kamara does return this season.
NBA roundup: Pacers down Kings, continue rebound from 2-16 start
December 9 – Andrew Nembhard posted 28 points and a season-high 12 assists as the Indiana Pacers overcame a Russell Westbrook triple-double to upend the Sacramento Kings 116-105 on Monday in Indianapolis.
Bennedict Mathurin scored 25 points and Pascal Siakam had 23 for Indiana, which has won four of six following a 2-16 start. The Pacers had a 19-point lead erased before closing the game on a 19-4 run across the last 5:41, 12 of the points coming from Nembhard.
Westbrook compiled 24 points, 12 rebounds and 14 assists for his record-extending 207th triple-double and fourth of the season, which he completed well inside three quarters. DeMar DeRozan contributed 20 points and Zach LaVine added 16 for Sacramento, which took its fifth loss in six games.
Suns 108, Timberwolves 105
Mark Williams scored 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds as Phoenix held on for a tight win over Minnesota in Minneapolis.
Collin Gillespie scored 19 points for the Suns, who beat the Timberwolves by single digits for the second time this season. Dillion Brooks scored 18 points.
Anthony Edwards scored 40 points on 15-for-21 shooting to lead the Timberwolves, whose five-game winning streak ended. Julius Randle finished with 21 points on 7-for-11 shooting.
Spurs 135, Pelicans 132
Dylan Harper canned the decisive jumper with 9.1 seconds to play as part of his career-high 22 points and visiting San Antonio outlasted reeling New Orleans.
The Spurs were up by 20 points at halftime, but New Orleans rallied to take a 102-100 edge to the final period. Harper answered Derik Queen’s driving layup in the closing seconds, and New Orleans couldn’t respond.
Harrison Barnes led San Antonio with 24 points while Stephon Castle had 18 in his first game back after missing nine contests with a hip injury. Queen scored 33, pulled down 10 rebounds and dished out 10 assists for his first career triple-double. Trey Murphy III added 32 points for the Pelicans, who have lost seven in a row.
–Field Level Media
NBA Cup 2025: Quarterfinals preview, format, how much money players can win in NBA’s in-season tournament
We have reached the NBA Cup quarterfinals, the eight-team knockout round — now things get serious. Especially for the players on those teams, because the money is now very real.
“I think half a million dollars is still a good amount of money to be able to motivate you to want to win games,” the Lakers’ Jake LaRavia told NBC Sports recently.
Here is everything you need to know about the NBA Cup quarterfinals matchups on Tuesday and Wednesday, and what happens from there.
What’s the NBA Cup 2025 format?
This is the one thing that has remained largely the same through the three years of the NBA Cup. First, all 30 teams were drawn into one of the six five-team groups (three East groups and three West groups). Each team plays the other teams in its group once — four games total — and those games count double as both regular-season and NBA Cup games.
The six group winners plus a wild card from each conference advance to the quarterfinals, where we are now. Those teams are placed in an eight-team knockout bracket (East vs. East, West vs. West, until the Finals). Starting with Tuesday’s games, they are single-elimination.
What are the quarterfinals matchups?
Eastern Conference
Dec. 9 (on Amazon Prime)
Miami Heat at Orlando Magic
Game Analysis: After a slow start to their season, Orlando found its footing just as the NBA Cup got rolling. Not only did the Magic sweep into the quarterfinals, but it also comes in hot, having gone 7-3 in their last 10 with a top-10 offense and defense over that stretch. However, the Magic will enter the game without their best player this season, Franz Wagner, who suffered a high ankle sprain on Sunday.
Miami has been one of the great surprises of the season, with Erik Spoelstra flipping the Heat offense on its head, putting in an up-tempo, fast-decision offense that shuns picks in favor of isolation attacks. The good news is that the Heat are basically healthy for this game, with Norman Powell and Tyler Herro ready to go. The bad news is they come in cold having dropped three in a row, and in the past couple of weeks their defense and offense have fallen off.
New York Knicks at Toronto Raptors
Game Analysis: Watch the tempo of this game to get a clue how it is going. Toronto wants to run — it starts more of its possessions in transition than any team in the league, and it’s got the athletes who can finish in space with Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley. Toronto relies on a pressure defense to fuel its transition offense, but when forced into the half-court, it banks on Brandon Ingram and his midrange game to power things (Toronto as a team loves the midrange).
The Knicks will run when they get the chance, but this is the team with the league’s sixth-best first-shot half-court offense behind Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. New York comes in red hot, having won 7-of-8.
Western Conference
Dec. 10 (on Amazon Prime)
Phoenix Suns at Oklahoma City Thunder
Game Analysis: Oklahoma City has been a juggernaut so far this season — 23-1 with a 15.9 net rating that is on pace to set an NBA record. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gets the headlines — he appears the early frontrunner to repeat as MVP — and they have Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, but what really drives the Thunder is their league-best defense. OKC’s 104.1 defensive rating is 6.5 points per 100 possessions better than any team in the league.
That said, just more than a week ago the Suns gave the Thunder all they could handle in a 123-119 loss. Phoenix has been one of the great stories of the young season and three people deserve a lot of credit for that. One is coach Jordan Ott, who, in his first season, has given this team an identity — which starts with an aggressive, pressing defense — and has them playing hard every night (something the Suns didn’t do consistently over the past couple of years). The second is Dillon Brooks, who came to Phoenix this summer in the Kevin Durant trade as a defensive stopper and an energy and intensity guy, but is breaking out on offense averaging 22.3 points per game. The other is Devin Booker, who remains one of the best two guards in the game, but his status for this game is questionable.
San Antonio at Los Angeles Lakers
Game Analysis: The big question heading into this one is whether Victor Wembanyama returns to play for the Spurs. He has been practicing with the team, but there is no word from the team (as of this writing), and the reports out of San Antonio make it sound like Wemby may sit this one out, too (Stephon Castle did return Monday night). San Antonio has gone 8-3 with Wembanyama out (calf strain), and in that time, the Spurs have gotten All-Star-level scoring and leadership from De’Aaron Fox, and keep an eye on rookie Dylan Harper, who has been brilliant.
The Lakers have been one of the best teams in the West, led by Luka Doncic playing at an MVP level, Austin Reaves proving he is ready to be a second scoring option, and LeBron James returning and fitting in, doing whatever the team needs to win on a given night. One thing to watch: the Lakers are 8-0 in clutch games this season (within five points in the final five minutes).
When are the NBA Cup quarterfinals, Finals?
Here is the schedule for the quarterfinals and beyond:
Quarterfinals: Dec. 9 and 10
Semifinals: Dec. 13 (Las Vegas)
Championship: Dec. 16 (Las Vegas)
NBA Cup 2025 odds
Here are the odds for the eight teams remaining to win the NBA Cup, via our partners at DraftKings:
Oklahoma City (-120)
New York (+475)
Los Angeles Lakers (+500)
Orlando (+1200)
Miami (+1200)
Toronto (+1400)
San Antonio (+1800)
Phoenix (+9000)
How much money does the champion get?
As the Lakers’ LaRavia said above, the prize money motivates the players — and every roster player in the quarterfinals will get a bonus check out of this. However, they all have their eyes on the big prize.
How big? This is how the payouts break down:
• Each player on the team that wins the championship: $530,933
• Each player on the team that loses in the championship: $212,373
• Each player on a team that loses in the semifinals: $106,187
• Each player on a team that loses in the quarterfinals: $53,093
Who won the 2024 NBA Cup?
Milwaukee bounced back from an ugly 2-8 start to the season to find its footing in NBA Cup games and went on a run behind Giannis Antetokounmpo. He lifted them to the Cup Finals against Oklahoma City, where Antetokounmpo had a 26-point triple-double, completely controlling the game on both ends of the court.
How to Watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock
Thunder host Suns Wednesday for NBA Cup group stage game
Phoenix Suns (14-10, seventh in the Western Conference) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (23-1, first in the Western Conference)
Oklahoma City; Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. EST
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Thunder -15.5; over/under is 224.5
BOTTOM LINE: The Phoenix Suns visit the Phoenix Suns in an NBA Cup in-season tournament group play matchup.
The Thunder are 19-1 against Western Conference opponents. Oklahoma City ranks fourth in the Western Conference with 52.5 points per game in the paint led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaging 12.3.
The Suns have gone 13-9 against Western Conference opponents. Phoenix is 2-2 in games decided by less than 4 points.
The Thunder average 13.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.3 more made shots on average than the 12.6 per game the Suns give up. The Suns average 9.0 more points per game (115.9) than the Thunder allow their opponents to score (106.9).
The teams square off for the second time this season. The Thunder won the last meeting 123-119 on Nov. 29, with Gilgeous-Alexander scoring 37 points in the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: Chet Holmgren is averaging 18.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks for the Thunder. Jalen Williams is averaging 25.0 points over the last 10 games.
Royce O’Neale is shooting 42.7% and averaging 10.8 points for the Suns. Collin Gillespie is averaging 3.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Thunder: 10-0, averaging 125.1 points, 41.1 rebounds, 27.9 assists, 9.1 steals and 5.4 blocks per game while shooting 52.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.8 points per game.
Suns: 6-4, averaging 111.8 points, 41.3 rebounds, 23.0 assists, 11.9 steals and 3.2 blocks per game while shooting 45.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.2 points.
INJURIES: Thunder: Nikola Topic: out (groin), Alex Caruso: day to day (quad), Isaiah Joe: day to day (knee), Isaiah Hartenstein: out (ankle), Thomas Sorber: out for season (knee), Luguentz Dort: day to day (adductor), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: day to day (elbow).
Suns: Isaiah Livers: day to day (hip), Devin Booker: out (groin), Jalen Green: out (hamstring).
___
Lakers host Spurs Wednesday for NBA Cup group stage game
San Antonio Spurs (16-7, fifth in the Western Conference) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (17-6, second in the Western Conference)
Los Angeles; Wednesday, 10 p.m. EST
Lakers -4.5; over/under is 234.5
BOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Lakers take on the San Antonio Spurs in an NBA Cup in-season tournament group play matchup.
The Lakers are 12-4 against Western Conference opponents. Los Angeles is sixth in the Western Conference scoring 118.3 points while shooting 50.7% from the field.
The Spurs are 10-6 in Western Conference play. San Antonio averages 119.6 points while outscoring opponents by 4.3 points per game.
The Lakers make 50.7% of their shots from the field this season, which is 3.6 percentage points higher than the Spurs have allowed to their opponents (47.1%). The Spurs average 13.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.9 fewer makes per game than the Lakers allow.
The teams square off for the second time this season. The Lakers won the last matchup 118-116 on Nov. 6, with Luka Doncic scoring 35 points in the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: Doncic is scoring 35.0 points per game with 9.2 rebounds and 9.1 assists for the Lakers. LeBron James is averaging 29.0 points and 7.0 rebounds while shooting 70.6% over the past 10 games.
Devin Vassell is averaging 15.7 points for the Spurs. Harrison Barnes is averaging 24.0 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Lakers: 8-2, averaging 121.2 points, 41.5 rebounds, 24.3 assists, 6.5 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 51.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.4 points per game.
Spurs: 7-3, averaging 120.6 points, 43.0 rebounds, 24.3 assists, 8.2 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 47.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.4 points.
INJURIES: Lakers: Marcus Smart: day to day (back).
Spurs: Jordan McLaughlin: day to day (hamstring), Victor Wembanyama: out (calf).
——
Will Rudy Gobert be suspended?
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Miami guard Rozier pleads not guilty to betting charges
NEW YORK — Miami Heat player Terry Rozier pleaded not guilty Monday to charges he helped gamblers placing bets on his performance in NBA games.
The 31-year-old point guard formally entered the plea during his arraignment in federal court in Brooklyn on wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy charges, and was released on $3 million bond secured by his home in Florida and another property. Prosecutors say Rozier conspired with friends to help them win bets on his performance in a March 2023 game when he played for the Charlotte Hornets.
He was also instructed not to gamble, have firearms or to have any contact with victims, co-defendants and witnesses in the case. Rozier, who’s from Ohio, additionally surrendered his passport and was restricted to traveling between Florida, Ohio and New York unless granted prior approval.
Rozier, wearing a gray suit, didn’t speak in court other than to answer the judge’s
Thunder enter quarters 1 win from tying record
All eight teams left in the running for the NBA Cup are now playing for a shot at going to Las Vegas for the tournament semifinals, along with a chance of picking up more than $500,000 per player as a reward for claiming the title.
And for the Oklahoma City Thunder, there’s something more: History is at stake.
The NBA Cup quarterfinal games — Miami at Orlando, New York at Toronto, Phoenix at Oklahoma City and San Antonio at the Los Angeles Lakers — are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday. The winners will head to Vegas for semifinal games this weekend.
If the Thunder beat the Suns, they’ll improve to 24-1 this season and tie Golden State for the best 25-game start in NBA history.
There are also cash incentives: Players on the quarterfinalist teams have already assured themselves of $53,093 apiece in a bonus, with two-way players getting half that much. A trip to the semifinal round doubles that to $106,187.
A semifinal win guarantees players $212,373 in bonus money, and players with standard contracts on the Cup-winning roster will get $530,933 apiece. Again, two-way players get half of whatever the bonus amount is.
All seven remaining games — the quarterfinals, semifinals and title game — are on Amazon Prime. Some quarterfinal games will also get local-market coverage, while the semifinals and final are Prime-exclusive.
ESPN Radio will also broadcast the three games from Las Vegas — the semifinals on Saturday and the title game on Dec. 16.
MIAMI HEAT AT ORLANDO MAGIC
WHEN Tuesday, 5 p.m. Central
RECORDS Heat 14-10, Magic 14-10
SEASON SERIES Magic lead 2-0 (Magic 125-121 in Orlando on Oct. 22; Magic 106-105 in Orlando on Dec. 5).
NBA CUP HISTORY Heat are 7-5 all-time in Cup games, in quarterfinals for first time, qualified for knockout stage this year by winning Eastern Conference wild-card at 3-1; Magic are 10-3 all-time in Cup games, in quarterfinals for second consecutive year, won East Group B this year at 4-0, seeking first semifinal appearance.
OUTLOOK It’ll be the third of five meetings between the Sunshine State rivals this season, and the first two were down-to-the-wire thrillers in Orlando. … Heat have lost three straight for the first time this season. … Magic just got Paolo Banchero back from injury, then lost Franz Wagner to injury in a loss at New York on Sunday.
NEW YORK KNICKS AT TORONTO RAPTORS
WHEN Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. Central
RECORDS Knicks 16-7, Raptors 15-10
SEASON SERIES Knicks lead 1-0 (Knicks 116-94 in New York on Nov. 30).
NBA CUP HISTORY Knicks are 10-4 all-time in Cup games, are the only team in the NBA to reach the Cup quarterfinals in all three years of the event, won East Group C with 3-1 record, seeking first semifinal berth; Raptors are 6-6 all-time in Cup games, in quarterfinals for first time, won East Group A this year at 4-0.
OUTLOOK Knicks have won seven of their last eight games and 14 of their last 18. … Knicks are 0-2 in quarterfinal games in Cup play, losing by a combined 32 points. … Raptors have had wild ups and downs this season. They started 1-4, then went unbeaten in four Group Stage games in Cup play during a stretch where they went 13-1. Problem is, they’re 1-5 since that stretch.
PHOENIX SUNS AT OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
WHEN Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. Central
RECORDS Suns 14-10, Thunder 23-1
SEASON SERIES Thunder lead 1-0 (Thunder 123-119 in Oklahoma City on Nov. 28).
NBA CUP HISTORY Suns are 9-4 all-time in Cup play, in quarterfinals for second time (2023), seeking first semifinal appearance, qualified for knockout stage this year by winning Western Conference wild-card at 3-1; Thunder are 10-5 all-time in Cup play, in quarterfinals for second consecutive year, lost last year’s final to Milwaukee, won West Group A this year at 4-0.
OUTLOOK Oklahoma City needs a win to match Golden State (24-1 in 2015-16) for the best 25-game start in NBA history. … Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has scored 445 points in Cup games, second-most in tournament play behind Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo (453). … Phoenix is 10-0 when holding teams to 113 points or less, 3-10 otherwise. … Thunder have former Fort Smith Northside and Arkansas Razorback standouts Isaiah Joe and Jaylin Williams on their roster.
SAN ANTONIO SPURS AT LOS ANGELES LAKERS
WHEN Wednesday, 9 p.m. Central
RECORDS Spurs 16-7, Lakers 17-6
SEASON SERIES Lakers 1-0 (Lakers 118-116 in Los Angeles on Nov. 5).
NBA CUP HISTORY Spurs are 5-7 all-time in Cup games, in quarterfinals for first time and won West Group B this season at 3-1; Lakers are NBA-best 13-2 in Cup games, are in quarterfinals for second time, won West Group C this season at 4-0 and won the inaugural title when the event was called the In-Season Tournament in 2023.
OUTLOOK Lakers guard Austin Reaves (Cedar Ridge) is having a breakout season and looking very much like an All-NBA player, plus has appeared in more Cup game wins (13 wins in 15 contests) than anyone still in this year’s tournament. … LeBron James is coming off a season-high 29 points in Lakers’ win at Philadelphia on Sunday. … Spurs are 8-4 with Victor Wembanyama in the lineup — and have more than held it down since he strained his calf, going 7-3 in his absence.
What channel is Knicks vs Raptors on? How to watch NBA Cup quarterfinals game
The NBA Cup quarterfinals is nearing the end, and the New York Knicks are still in contention.
The Knicks (16-7) take on the Toronto Raptors (15-10) in the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup on Tuesday night from Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
The winner of this game will advance to the NBA Cup semifinals, where they’ll play the winner of the Orlando Magic vs. Miami Heat in Las Vegas on Saturday, Dec. 13 with a spot in the NBA Cup championship on the line next Tuesday, Dec. 16.
This is the second head-to-head meeting for these two Atlantic Division mates, as the Knicks came out on top in the first matchup 116-94 just over a week ago at Madison Square Garden.
Tuesday night marks one of two trips for the Knicks north of the border this season, as they won’t have to play in Toronto again until March 3, 2026.
The NBA Cup quarterfinals will continue on Wednesday night, with the 23-1 defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder welcoming in the Phoenix Suns (13-10) followed by the Los Angeles Lakers (17-6) hosting the San Antonio Spurs (15-7), with Spurs’ superstar Victor Wembanyama potentially making his return from a left calf strain he suffered in mid-November that’s caused him to miss the last 10 games. Even without the 2023 No. 1 overall pick in that span, the Spurs have played well, posting a 7-3 record without the 7-foot-4 Wembanyama in the lineup.
Here’s all the information you need to know on how to watch, stream and more for Knicks vs. Raptors NBA Cup quarterfinals game on Tuesday night:
What time is Knicks vs Raptors NBA Cup game today?
Date: Tuesday, Dec. 9
Time: 8:30 p.m.
The Knicks-Raptors game begins at 8:30 p.m. from Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
What channel is Knicks vs Raptors NBA Cup game today?
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
The Knicks vs. Raptors NBA Cup quarterfinals matchup will stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video, which has an 11-year deal with the NBA.
Watch Knicks vs Raptors live on Amazon Prime Video
Knicks vs. Raptors betting odds
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Tuesday, Dec. 9:
Spread: Raptors by 1.5 points
Over/under: 228.5 points
Alpha Prime Racing Signs Lavar Scott for 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Series Ride
Alpha Prime Racing has confirmed that 22-year-old Lavar Scott will race full-time in the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, driving the No. 45 Chevrolet. The move lifts Scott from the ARCA Menards Series into NASCAR’s second-tier national level after several years of steady growth.
Scott, who is from Carney’s Point, New Jersey, built his early career through NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program and earned attention for his steady pace and short-track skill.
After the news broke, Scott shared his excitement, saying, “Don’t know what to say or type. Just thank you to everyone involved. Had a dream and a plan since 3 years old, and it’s actually happening. INSANE feeling.”
Scott Lavar Scott’s Path Through ARCA
Lavar Scott began his professional climb in the ARCA Menards Series East in 2023. He earned the 2024 ARCA Menards Series Rookie of the Year honors after a consistent season, which also saw him finish second in the championship standings. He expanded into the full ARCA series, gaining experience at larger tracks.
His 2025 season became his strongest yet, ending second in the championship standings. Scott made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut with Alpha Prime Racing in July 2025 at Dover Motor Speedway, recording a best finish of 19th in two starts in the 2025 season, according to Brandon White of Arcaracing.com.
Early Experience With Alpha Prime Racing
Lavar Scott already had a taste of the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series before going full-time. He ran two races with Alpha Prime Racing in 2025, finishing 28th at Dover and improving to 19th at World Wide Technology Raceway as he got more comfortable with the team and the car. Those starts helped Alpha Prime evaluate him as a long-term fit. Now they hope his energy and growing speed can lift their 2026 performance.
Nick DeGroot of Motorsport reported, “Along with the No. 45 utilizing various drivers, Alpha Prime also fielded the No. 44 and No. 4 entries this past year, which were driven by Brennan Poole and Parker Retzlaff. Retzlaff moved on to Viking Motorsports, but Poole will be teammates with Scott in 2026.”
These details give a clearer picture of the team structure Scott will join as he prepares for his first full year at this level.
What the Move Means for 2026
Scott’s full-time move reflects NASCAR’s ongoing effort to build more diversity within the sport. His rise through the Drive for Diversity program follows the same path used by several other drivers who reached national NASCAR levels.
The 2026 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series will include 33 races, starting at Daytona International Speedway in February. The schedule will test Scott across superspeedways, short tracks, and road courses.
Alpha Prime Racing has not yet shared who will sponsor the No. 45 car, though past deals suggest the team may continue working with automotive and consumer brands. Team officials believe Scott’s short-track strength will help him compete early in the season as he races against other newcomers for Rookie of the Year honors.
NASCAR Left Exposed in Front of Court Jury as Senior Sports Economist Confirms ‘Monopoly’ Allegations
Day after day in Charlotte, the antitrust trial has been peeling back layers nobody in NASCAR ever wanted public. What started as a charter fight has turned into a full-on look at how the sport really works. And on Wednesday, when senior sports economist Edward Snyder took the stand, the room got very quiet, very fast.
Snyder didn’t come to yell or point fingers. He came with charts, emails, and cold numbers. And by the time he was done, he had used NASCAR’s own documents to argue that teams have been paid less than they would in a fair market for years, confirming the ‘monopoly’ of the sport.
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Economist lays out why NASCAR looks exactly like a monopoly
Snyder’s big point was that every time someone talked about a breakaway series or real competition, the answer inside NASCAR wasn’t “pay the teams more.” It was to tighten the rules, lock the tracks, and make sure nobody could leave.
He walked the jury through internal messages where NASCAR worried about rival leagues, but never once wrote “let’s give teams a bigger cut so they stay.” Instead, they talked about paying tracks for exclusivity, writing charter clauses that stop teams from racing anywhere else, and keeping the Next Gen car on a short leash so nobody can take the technology and run. To an economist, that’s not just smart business. That’s monopoly behavior.
Snyder put NASCAR side by side with other big leagues: the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLS, F1, and IndyCar. In those sports, teams own a piece of the pie, can move if they want, and can build value that lasts. In NASCAR, teams rent their spot, can’t race stock cars anywhere else without permission, and watch most of the new money stay in Daytona. He called it suppressing competition off the track, not just regulating it on the track.
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The numbers hurt. Teams asked for 33 percent of the new revenue. NASCAR offered 30 and a committee to talk about it later. That’s not partnership. That’s kicking the can. And when teams pushed back, the answer was a contract with a midnight deadline and no real changes.
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Snyder’s job is to show damages and explain how much money teams lost because they weren’t free to compete. If the jury buys his math, the entire charter system, track contracts, and business structure could be on the table.
While Snyder was landing his points with data, Judge Kenneth Bell was trying to stop the trial from spiraling into chaos. Lawyers were filing objections at 2:00 a.m., 6:00 a.m., and all night. By morning, the judge had run out of patience.
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Judge Bell loses patience
Before the jury even took their seats, he called out both sides. He reminded them that the schedule was clear, the deadlines were not optional, and burying the court in filings before sunrise was not respectful to him or to the nine jurors who left their normal lives to sit through this case. When the jury eventually walked in, the first thirty minutes were wasted sorting out paperwork that should have been settled long before.
Once the jury stepped out again, Bell didn’t soften his tone. He warned that if this case drags to fifteen days instead of ten, the jury might “revolt.” He wasn’t being dramatic. He was making it clear that efficiency matters, and the court will not tolerate unnecessary delays.
Jeffrey Kessler said he expects to finish his side by Tuesday. Bell responded that he wants the schedule kept tight because the case is already at risk of ballooning.
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One day, the courtroom hears an economist explain why NASCAR looks like a monopoly using the league’s own internal communications. The next day, the judge is scolding lawyers for wasting time and pushing the jury to the limit. It’s the same case, but two kinds of pressure are closing in fast.
The jury is watching all of it. And when it is finally their turn to decide who is right, they will remember not just the evidence, but how this case was handled at every step.
Federal Judge Puts NASCAR & Michael Jordan on Notice as Courtroom Frustration Mounts
December 19 — that’s the hard deadline Judge Kenneth Bell has given for the NASCAR lawsuit. He made it crystal clear he doesn’t want to let this trial drag a minute beyond it. Yet as Week 2 of one of the most consequential legal battles in NASCAR history kicked off, the pace inside the courtroom remained anything but urgent, and this has started to irk the jury.
23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports are still working through their own witnesses, and NASCAR’s attorneys have already signaled they plan to take just as long, effectively “splitting the trial in half.” With both sides digging in, the end of the week no longer looks like a realistic finish line, which has led to frustration among Judge Bell and co.
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NASCAR lawsuit: Judge Bell issues a “revolt” warning
The second week of the NASCAR lawsuit trial opened with more frustration than momentum, as the case continued crawling forward with no sign of the headline witnesses taking the stand anytime soon. Jeffrey Kessler, representing 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, laid out the order he intends to follow.
Kessler has planned a lengthy financial analysis from an accountant, followed by testimony from NASCAR President Steve Phelps, then Hall of Fame team owner Richard Childress, and finally NASCAR chairman Jim France. But none of that is happening quickly enough for U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell.
Bell has warned both sides several times that they must accelerate the pace of the NASCAR lawsuit. And Monday only tested his patience further. The day started late after Bell had to handle a stack of filings submitted over the weekend, including objections arriving as early as 2:55 a.m. and 6:50 a.m. He spent an hour issuing rulings before testimony could resume, already pushing the schedule 30 minutes behind.
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Once the jury was dismissed for a break, Bell again made it clear that the trial cannot drift past his hard December 19 deadline. Kessler insisted he hopes to finish presenting his witnesses by Tuesday. However, the judge fired back that the jury would “revolt” if the case stretched to 15 days instead of 10.
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The morning finally wrapped up testimony from Jonathan Marshall, executive director of the Race Team Alliance, who spent a second day outlining the tense negotiations over NASCAR’s revenue model. Marshall revealed that just one week before NASCAR delivered its take-it-or-leave-it final offer to the teams, a preliminary version appeared acceptable: major team owners (Joe Gibbs, Rick Hendrick, and Roger Penske) had all indicated they were prepared to sign.
As the trial lurches forward, Bell’s warnings grow sharper, and the pressure increases on both sides to pick up the pace before the court’s patience and the calendar run out.
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Michael Jordan’s testimony sends shockwaves
Retired NBA great and 23XI co-owner, Michael Jordan, took the stand at the landmark NASCAR lawsuit Friday and delivered exactly the kind of moment the second week of the trial had been building toward. Testifying before a packed courtroom, Jordan explained that although he has been a fan of NASCAR since childhood, he ultimately felt he had no choice but to join the lawsuit pushing for sweeping changes to the sport’s business model.
Jordan held the jury’s attention for a full hour, his celebrity drawing quips from both Judge Kenneth Bell and even a defense attorney. But once he began describing why 23XI Racing chose to stand alongside Front Row Motorsports in challenging NASCAR, the tone grew serious. Delivering one of the NASCAR lawsuit trial’s most gripping lines, Jordan said:
“Someone had to step forward and challenge the entity. I sat in those meetings with longtime owners who were brow-beaten for so many years trying to make change. I was a new person, I wasn’t afraid. I felt I could challenge NASCAR as a whole. I felt as far as the sport, it needed to be looked at from a different view.”
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His testimony came immediately after dramatic moments from Heather Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing’s daughter-in-law, who detailed the intense, chaotic six-hour window during which teams were forced to sign an extension or risk losing their charters entirely. Jordan’s appearance only amplified the urgency surrounding those revelations.
Jordan praised NASCAR chairman Jim France personally, but he also made clear that the system France oversees needs a fundamental reset. He continued with another pointed statement that echoed across the courtroom:
“I’m not discrediting the things NASCAR has done for the sport but I’m pushing them to be better. The risk is to the drivers and the teams. The credit is not being given to the drivers who risk their lives every week without an insurance policy or union. There is nothing to benefit them.”
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His words struck at the heart of the lawsuit: the claim that teams operate on razor-thin margins, absorb disproportionate risks, and lack the protections and leverage seen in other major sports. Jordan’s testimony didn’t just raise eyebrows. It raised the stakes. And as Judge Bell continues urging both sides to speed up the trial, Michael Jordan ensured that the pressure, both legal and public, is now higher than ever.
Economist Drops Shocking NASCAR ‘Bankruptcy’ Claims as Michael Jordan & Co. Demand $365 Million From Charter Trials
It’s been a couple of weeks now that the Charlotte courtroom drama has been turning NASCAR inside out. What started as a charter fight between 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports, and the France family has become a full-blown look at how the sport actually makes money and who gets to keep it. Every day brings new emails, new numbers, and new headaches for the folks in Daytona. Right now, it’s coming from an economist talking from the stands.
The plaintiff teams, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, seek their share of the damages, asking for a whopping $365 million from NASCAR. And as they revealed this massive figure, the senior sports economist then exposed how much more NASCAR can still pay them without going bankrupt.
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Edward Snyder says NASCAR could pay teams way more
The plaintiffs want $365 million in total for what they say they’ve lost under NASCAR’s alleged ‘anti-competitive’ rules. That’s a big number, but Edward Snyder claimed that even paying the teams $300 million a year on top of this won’t make NASCAR go bankrupt. It would just force them to share more fairly.
He used NASCAR’s own paperwork to show teams have been paid less than they’d get in any normal market. Every time someone inside the company talked about a breakaway league or more competition, it was always discouraged, and instead, the rules were tightened, and the tracks were locked to avoid losing anyone. To him, that’s textbook monopoly behavior: control everything so nobody else can play.
He lined NASCAR up next to the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLS, even F1 and IndyCar. In those leagues, teams own a real piece of the pie, can build value, and can move if they want. In NASCAR, teams rent their spot, can’t race stock cars anywhere else, and watch most new money stay with the league. Edward Snyder called it suppressing competition off the track, not just managing it on the track.
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When lawyers tried the “we can’t afford it” defense, he shut it down. Three hundred million more a year to teams? NASCAR would feel it, but it wouldn’t go bankrupt. It would just have to run more like every other major sport and less like a private kingdom.
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That $365 million the teams want isn’t random either. It’s what 23XI and Front Row Motorsports say they lost because they couldn’t shop parts, couldn’t race elsewhere, couldn’t grow their charters like real assets. They’re not just asking for a check. They’re asking the court to make NASCAR treat them like partners instead of renters.
Edward Snyder’s job is to show damages, how much money teams lost because they weren’t free to compete. If the jury buys his math, the whole charter system, track deals, everything could be on the table. And the scary part for NASCAR is that he says they can pay it without the lights going out in Daytona.
The same trial that got Edward Snyder talking money is about to get a lot more personal.
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Richard Childress ready to tell his side
Richard Childress, six-time championship owner and NASCAR legend, is expected to take the stand soon. And everybody knows why he’s mad.
Leaked texts showed NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps calling Childress a redneck who “needs to be taken out back and flogged.” Those words came out in discovery and hit Childress hard. Now he gets his turn to talk under oath about how the charter talks really felt from the owner’s side.
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Childress is one of the old guard, the kind of guy who helped build the sport into what it is. Seeing his name dragged like that by the people running it today? That’s personal. His testimony could turn the heat up even more on a trial that’s already burning hot.
From Edward Snyder saying NASCAR can easily afford to pay teams better to Richard Childress getting ready to tell the jury exactly how it felt to be insulted by the top brass, the message is the same: the garage is tired of being told to be grateful for scraps.
Michael Jordan, Denny Hamlin, Bob Jenkins, and now maybe Childress are all saying the same thing in different ways. The France family built something huge, but the people who fill the cars every Sunday want a real seat at the table, not just a thank-you note and a charter that never grows.
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Edward Snyder says the money is there. Childress might just show the jury why the trust is gone.
NASCAR Champ Causes ‘Ugly Scene’ at Five Flags for $50,000 After Soul-Crushing Snowball Derby Defeat
A dramatic week befits a dramatic weekend. The 2025 Snowball Derby was clouded with inclement weather and track problems at Five Flags Speedway. That affected many drivers’ qualifying ambitions, including two-time Derby winner and NASCAR Cup Series driver Erik Jones. But another NASCAR driver not only made it into the Derby, but excelled – like 2024 Craftsman Truck champion Ty Majeski. However, he made sure to end the Derby festivities with a sensational touch.
Snowball Derby’s rules come under the spotlight
“I don’t know, I felt like I was being pretty consistent. I definitely jumped the first and the second. The rule is to pick up the pace to the line, but the rule, the way it is written, is not black and white, and leaves it open to balls and strikes. So, I don’t know what to say… I’d like to talk to race control and have a discussion. I feel like we won this race, and we’ll try and argue, of course,” Ty Majeski said after the conclusion of the 2025 Snowball Derby.
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In what fans expected to be 300 laps of sheer survival, Ty Majeski dominated. However, on the restart with 13 laps to go, he went on defense. Officials gave him a warning for jumping the first restart attempt – and then the black flag for jumping the second attempt. That allowed Stephen Nasse, who never actually crossed the line and finished behind Majeski, to capture the win unexpectedly.
So Ty Majeski whipped up a storm of protest in the Snowball Derby garage. According to journalist Matt Weaver’s X posts, he approached the people in tech, feeling incredulous that the win was stripped from him. He showed replays of the race’s last laps to prove his point and had conversations with individuals like Tim Bryant, Five Flags Speedway owner, and Scott Menlen.
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For Stephen Nasse, it marked his first Snowball Derby victory, ahead of post-race technical inspection. Nasse won the race on the track in 2019 but was disqualified for an illegal braking system. Dawson Sutton earned runner-up honors, and Jake Garcia charged from his 32nd starting spot to finish third. Kasey Kleyn and Jake Finch completed the top five. No other NASCAR driver could finish in the top ten, as Kyle Busch was the next-best bet with a 19th-place finish.
Ty Majeski’s ruckus may not ease out with a clear solution. Stay tuned for more updates!
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NASCAR Champ’s Desperate Plea Got Rejected as Snowball Derby Official’s Bizarre Confession Sparks Outrage
Erik Jones, a two-time Snowball Derby winner, was determined in 2025. However, rain battered Five Flags Speedway throughout the week, and that potentially derailed Jones’ plans. He could not make it in the Last Chance Qualifier, coming up one position short in 5th place. As it turns out, this is not the only NASCAR star who experienced heartbreak. The 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion will also need to nurse his wounds after the event.
Snowball Derby turns a deaf ear
“Race director Nicholas Rogers says the black flag decision is final and they will look at re-writing the rule for next year. Ty Majeski says he doesn’t care about next year and this is about $50,000 and now there’s a black cloud over the race,” journalist Matt Weaver updated on X.
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Ty Majeski had dominated the 300-lap Snowball Derby race until twin controversial restarts popped up with 13 laps to go. Officials issued a warning the first time, but waved the black flag on the second. So although Majeski finished way ahead of Stephen Nasse, the latter bagged the Tom Dawson trophy and $50,000. This unfortunate climax left Majeski so tattered that he desperately protested the race results.
Sadly, however, Snowball Derby director Nicholas Rogers turned down that protest. When the black flag was presented, there were still 8 laps left. And officials would have to stop scoring the No. 91, as Majeski stayed on track and raced Nasse to the finish. That is what made things more complicated, and as Matt Weaver wrote, the race director indirectly admitted to his fault, as he vowed to change the rules for next year.
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Stephen Nasse became the first driver without a NASCAR resume since Derek Thorn in 2022 to win the non-NASCAR-sanctioned race. He is also only the second non-NASCAR driver to win the race since 2020. Majeski’s fellow Craftsman Truck Series drivers Dawson Sutton and Jake Garcia would finish second and third behind Nasse. The other trendsetting finishers include David Gilliland in 12th, Derek Kraus in 17th, Kyle Busch in 19th, and Kaden Honeycutt in 26th. Ty Majeski washed up in 23rd place.
“I don’t know. I feel like we won this race. Had the best car all day and yeah, going to try and argue it, of course.” As we all know, Ty Majeski could not succeed in his argument. However, fans are not happy about it.
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Fans bash officials over dramatic finish
The controversy whipped up a storm among fans, who pointed out the arbitrary nature of the Snowball Derby. Although Ty Majeski could not succeed in his protest, the Snowball Derby officials acknowledged a shortcoming. One fan wrote, “So the race director admitted that there is a problem but still upholding the black flag…… please make this make sense.” Somebody else chimed with this sentiment: “We’re gonna re-write the rule” is absolutely not the thing to say right now. That’s practically an admission that they’ve made the wrong call. Yeesh.”
Tim Bryant, the owner of Five Flags Speedway, was also seen listening to Ty Majeski’s qualms. So another fan pleaded with Bryant to do something drastic about the situation. “Tim Bryant needs to dismiss Nicholas Rogers after that embarrassment to short track racing.”
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Somebody else compared the 2025 Snowball Derby fallout with the 2021 Abu Dhabi F1 scandal. Race director Michael Masi had allowed only a partial number of lapped cars to unlap themselves before the restart, a highly controversial move. “Welcome to the American version of the Abu Dhabi scandal,” the fan wrote.
What’s more, this is not the first controversy for the Snowball Derby. Back in 2019, Stephen Nasse officially won the race but was disqualified due to a brake issue, handing Ty Majeski the win. This time, the situation has flipped. So a fan wrote, “This race loses it prestige every year. I wouldn’t come back if I was Ty.”
Clearly, the Snowball Derby scandal is making waves in the community. Let’s wait and see how Ty Majeski processes the results and prepares for a good comeback next year.
NASCAR Hits Back at Michael Jordan & Co.’s Key Witness After Shocking ‘Bankruptcy’ Claims
The NASCAR lawsuit’s basis was financial. After 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports refused to sign the charter deal in October 2024, they decided to go nuclear. Michael Jordan and Co. filed the lawsuit, claiming NASCAR indulged in ‘monopolistic practices’ with exclusivity clauses in its premier stock car racing series. And the second week of the lawsuit’s trial shed light on precisely that – with NASCAR’s defense showering attacks on a key witness.
Michael Jordan’s scholar witness gets a rebuttal
“NASCAR has started trying to chip away at the testimony of team expert Edward Snyder, with Larry Buterman suggesting Snyder incorrectly told the jury that F1 doesn’t have non-compete clauses with teams and incorrectly said that NASCAR started paying tracks for exclusivity in ’16,” journalist Adam Stern wrote on X. “@NASCAR lawyer Larry Buterman has spent the afternoon trying to get team expert economist Edward Snyder to admit that comparing NASCAR to F1 is offbase, that he didn’t prepare thoroughly and that he’s not enough of an expert on teams or tracks to form the basis of his testimony.”
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Dr. Edward Snyder, the former dean of business schools at Yale University, the University of Chicago, and the University of Virginia, took the witness stand on Monday morning. He made a case for Michael Jordan and Co. by exposing financial truths. Using a complex formula, Snyder came up with the damages owed to 23XI and FRM – $364.7 million. While sharing this figure, he also claimed that if NASCAR paid $300 million more to each team per year, the sport might go bankrupt.
Snyder also talked about a 45% revenue sharing that he alleged Formula 1 gives to its teams in his calculation. The economist found that NASCAR’s revenue-sharing model, when its charter system began in 2016, gave only 25% to the teams. In contention, NASCAR’s own two experts took serious issue with the findings of Michael Jordan’s witness. Snyder has previously testified in more than 30 cases, including “Deflategate” involving the NFL’s New England Patriots.
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Among his claims, Snyder also pointed to NASCAR’s control over the three elements of the sport: racetracks, race teams, and race cars. And he shed light on how NASCAR has taken steps to “reduce the likelihood and viability of entry” from a competitor series, which thus caused financial harm to the teams beyond 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports.
“To me, as an economist, this situation bothers me,” Snyder said of the car usage restriction. “Team owners are building the car. They technically own the car, and it’s their most important piece of equipment. But they cannot use it outside of NASCAR. That’s anti-competitive.”
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With Michael Jordan’s scholar witness heating up the case, another witness also added fuel.
The chance for a breakaway series
In his testimony, Dr. Edward Snyder noted one internal NASCAR document listing strategy options to combat a potential breakaway league. Not only did the sport lack a ‘pay the teams more’ option, but it also sealed such a possibility for a rival league. Also on the witness stand on Monday was Jonathan Marshall, executive director of the Race Team Alliance, a consortium of the 13 charter-holding teams. He spoke about the group examining starting up a rival racing series called the United States Racing League.
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However, soon after the charter system’s introduction in 2016, NASCAR had started buying up racetracks. So, a lack of high-quality tracks that weren’t already locked into exclusivity agreements with NASCAR posed a major challenge to the RTA’s aspirations. Marshall said starting a rival series was deemed a way to create leverage amid the chaotic negotiations leading to the 2024 charter deal. This was part of the evidence presented to the jury last week about NASCAR’s exclusivity agreements.
Evidently, the NASCAR lawsuit is picking up in intensity. Let’s wait and see what unfolds in the following days.
Carson Hocevar Shuts Down NASCAR Star’s Embarrassing Snowball Derby Tantrum in Blunt Social Media Takedown
The 2025 season ended on a lackluster note for Carson Hocevar. The sophomore NASCAR Cup Series driver clinched just 2 top fives and 9 top tens, missing short of a victory more than once. Similarly, another driver in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series also could not capitalize on an otherwise consistent season. But despite the similarity in the two drivers’ seasons, Hocevar did not sympathize with the other driver’s continued misery at the Snowball Derby.
Carson Hocevar shrugs off Derby protest
“You can clearly see it launch before the line. his car was so dominant. bottom lane on every restart dominant. why even jump it once let alone twice,” Carson Hocevar wrote in response to Ty Majeski’s late-race mishap at the Snowball Derby. “He just said he jumped it first time. and then said he rolled speed to the restart box. I mean if the rule is the restart he definitely went early and was just trying to anticipate the 51 jumping it. his word. too dominant of a car to put it in their hands like that.”
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Ty Majeski dominated most of the 300-lap Snowball Derby on Monday. But he clearly jumped a restart with 13 laps left. Race officials issued a warning to him the first time. The second time, though, the verdict was a little blurry – Majeski started solid, but it was questionable with his No. 91 blazing out front. That was where Carson Hocevar contended with a race fan about Majeski’s wrongdoing.
“You can see him point down the hill and go just before the line. i mean it’s close but he just burned the mulligan,” Carson Hocevar wrote on X while posting the exact moment when Ty Majeski jumped the restart.
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The officials waved a black flag for the second mishap with 8 laps left, although Majeski went on to cross the line first. Though Majeski finished well in front of the No. 51, Stephen Nasse captured the win in his 15th career try at the Derby. Soon after, the 2024 Craftsman Truck Series champion filed an official protest, trying to strike sympathy among race officials. However, his complaint did not work, as race director Nicholas Rogers went ahead with the results.
Carson Hocevar refuted Ty Majeski’s distressed protests with his point of view. In his own super late model venture, Hocevar was relaxed.
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Counting the experience over the result
Although Carson Hocevar did not enroll for the 2025 Snowball Derby, he was not idle. The Spire Motorsports driver took his talents to the Gateway Dirt Nationals. He had run one of winter’s most anticipated dirt showcases once before, finishing twelfth in 2022. Hocevar returned this year with an equal if not higher level of enthusiasm. After the race, he observed how much he enjoyed being surrounded by familiar faces, describing the garage as a reunion of sorts.
“These are a lot of my NASCAR guys or guys in the shop that grew up doing this that they get to go have fun with Jeff and then Tim Kloss,” he said. Carson Hocevar continued about how the results did not bother him. “Just having real racing or just not a lot of aero or engineering, I’m not looking at laptops and data, and you’re looking at flow, try to figure out what lane works everything.”
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For Carson Hocevar, the Gateway scene was a place where drivers could race freely. Free from the data-heavy, aerodynamic restraints of a Cup car, racers can explore their potential with ease. He even called dirt racing the “real racing” he craves in the off-season. The unfiltered nature of the dirt racing competition tingles his senses. And that is what Hocevar values above everything else.
Carson Hocevar has a distinct purpose in dirt racing. And it does not match that of Ty Majeski, left nursing his wounds after the Snowball Derby.
Richard Childress to Testify in NASCAR Antitrust Trial Amid Derogatory Texts and Revenue Dispute
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR Hall of Fame team owner Richard Childress could be called to the witness stand as early as Monday in the federal antitrust suit lodged against the top motorsports series in the United States. Childress’ testimony should shed more light on the animosity between teams and series executives during the contentious two-plus years of negotiations on a new revenue sharing agreement.
Childress was the subject of derogatory text messages in which NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps called the six-time championship-winning owner a redneck who “needs to be taken out back and flogged.”
The texts came out in the discovery phase of this messy saga in which Basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan refused to accept NASCAR’s final offer on a new charter agreement and decided to sue the Florida-based France family, which founded NASCAR in 1948 and privately owns the stock car racing series.
It took Jordan’s testimony Friday to bring the national spotlight to NASCAR, but not for its racing product or its competition. Instead, Jordan is out to prove NASCAR is run by a family of dictators enriching themselves at the expense of the teams and drivers. Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, along with Front Row Racing, were the only two teams out of 15 to refuse the new charter agreements offered in September 2024 with a six-hour deadline to sign the 112-page document.
A charter is similar to the franchise model in other sports, but in NASCAR it guarantees 36 teams spots in the 40-car field, as well as specific revenue.
NASCAR publicly admitted it wants to settle the case in comments made ahead of the November season finale by Phelps, but the first week of testimony in the Western District of North Carolina has revealed Jordan and Front Row owner Bob Jenkins want a combined $340 million in damages.
The case had a dreadfully slow first week in which U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell told both sides to pick up the pace, but as the plaintiffs close in on calling Childress at the start of the second week, it seems certain the trial will carry into a third week as NASCAR remains days away from beginning its defense.
Every twist in the yearlong court battle has been a setback for NASCAR, which maintains it did give teams an improved revenue model from the original 2016 charter agreement and everything it has done is for the benefit of growing the sport.
However, Jenkins has claimed he’s never turned a profit in more than two decades of racing and has stated losses between $70 million and $100 million. Jordan and Hamlin have admitted 23XI Racing has been profitable in its five years of existence, but largely based on Jordan’s ability to draw high-dollar sponsors.
Jordan, who testified he’s a lifelong NASCAR fan, felt as one of the newer owners in a sport in which the top teams have existed for decades, that he was the only one who could actually challenge the France’s on their way of doing business.
“Someone had to step forward and challenge the entity,” Jordan testified. “I sat in those meetings with longtime owners who were brow-beaten for so many years trying to make change. I was a new person, I wasn’t afraid. I felt I could challenge NASCAR as a whole. I felt as far as the sport, it needed to be looked at from a different view.”
Childress is the next high-profile witness expected to be called as early as Monday afternoon. Although he signed the charter agreement, the longtime car owner for the late Dale Earnhardt wanted the charters to become permanent and is headed to court scorned over the revelation of Phelps’ remarks. Although it is believed that Phelps apologized to Childress ahead of the release of the text messages, Childress has threatened legal action.
Among witnesses NASCAR is expected to call are Hall of Fame team owners Rick Hendrick and Roger Penske, two of the most powerful figures in motorsports. Penske tried to set his court appearance schedule by telling NASCAR he was only available to testify Monday, but the plaintiffs objected to Penske being called in the middle of their presentation.
Bell sided with 23XI Racing and Front Row and told NASCAR to work it out with Penske, who as owner of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IndyCar, which recently adopted its charter system, can testify to race sanctioning agreements, the revenue models and financial health of race teams.
Hendrick, a close friend of the France family for decades, is a car salesman and Charlotte local who can use his communication skills to support the theory everyone in racing understands the financials and willingly enters into NASCAR and the France’s business model.
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Ilott joins Wright Motorsports for full IMSA season; will dovetail IndyCar commitments
NTT Indy Car Series driver Callum Ilott will join Wright Motorsports as a full-time driver for the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
Ilott, who raced in IndyCar with PREMA this year following earlier stops at Juncos Hollinger and Arrow McLaren, will share the No. 120 Porsche 911 GT3 R with Wright owner/driver Adam Adelson, who purchased the team from founder John Wright in April.
It will be Ilott’s first full-season campaign in sports car racing since his 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship effort with Hertz Team JOTA, in which Ilott won the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, driving one of JOTA’s privateer Porsche 963s. He drove for Wright Motorsports as a guest driver during the 2023 Indianapolis 8 Hour.
Ilott also said that his new program in IMSA will be run alongside a continued program in IndyCar. There are no clashes between the two series, outside of shared events at the Grand Prix of Long Beach and Detroit Grand Prix.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Wright Motorsports for the full season in GTD alongside my IndyCar season,” said Ilott. “Having raced with Wright Motorsports once before, I got a taste of how impressive the team is and I’m motivated to continue building on that throughout the year. It’s shaping up to be a great season ahead and I can’t wait to get to work with Adam, Elliott, Tom and the whole Wright crew.”
2025 Porsche Motorsport North America (PMNA) Selected Driver, Tom Sargent, returns to drive the five-race Michelin Endurance Cup, while Adelson’s long-time co-driver Elliott Skeer will round out the four-driver crew for the Rolex 24 At Daytona in January.
“I’m extremely excited to get the 2026 season started off with Daytona,” said Adelson, who enters his third season in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. “We have a new car in the 911 GT3 R Evo, and have been working hard in the off season to be able to extract the most of it as soon as we hit the track.
“I’m also very excited that Callum is joining the team for the full season. We’ve been good friends for quite some time and always spoke about how cool it would be to race together, and I’m glad to see that come to fruition. For the Rolex 24, we have Tom and Elliott with us, and it’s a driver lineup I know we can count on to bring home a really strong result – hopefully better than last year!”
Wright Motorsports, who won the GTD class at the 2022 Rolex 24, will be one of at least five teams entering the newest 992.2-generation Porsche 911 GT3 R for its first IMSA race at Daytona – including Manthey’s two-car, two-class program, as well as AO Racing, Mühlner Motorsports, and RS1.
Economist says NASCAR owes $364.7M to teams in antitrust case
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — An economist testified in Michael Jordan’s federal antitrust trial against NASCAR that the racing series owes a combined $364.7 million in damages to the two teams suing it over a revenue-sharing dispute.
Edward Snyder, a professor of economics who worked in the antitrust division of the Department of Justice and has testified in more than 30 cases, including “Deflategate” involving the NFL’s New England Patriots, testified on Monday. He gave three specific reasons NASCAR is a monopoly participating in anticompetitive business practices.
Using a complex formula applied to profits, a reduction in market revenue, and lost revenue to 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports from 2021-24, Snyder came up with his amount of damages owed. Snyder applied a 45% of revenue sharing he alleged Formula 1 gives to its teams in his calculations; Snyder found that NASCAR’s revenue-sharing model when its charter system began in 2016 gave only 25% to the teams.
The suit is about the 2025 charter agreement, which was presented to teams on a Friday in September 2024 with a same-day deadline to sign the 112-page document. The charter offer came after more than two years of bitter negotiations between NASCAR and its teams, who have called the agreement “a take-it-or-leave-it” ultimatum that they signed with “a gun to their head.”
A charter is similar to the franchise model in other sports, but in NASCAR it guarantees 36 teams spots in the 40-car field, as well as specific revenue.
Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin for 23XI, along with Front Row Motorsports and owner Bob Jenkins, were the only two teams out of 15 to refuse the new charter agreement.
Snyder’s evaluations found NASCAR was in fact violating antitrust laws in that the privately owned racing series controls all bargaining because “teams don’t have anywhere else to sell their services.” Snyder said NASCAR controls “the tracks, the teams and the cars.”
Snyder repeatedly cited exclusivity agreements NASCAR entered into with racetracks after the charter system began. The agreements prevent tracks that host NASCAR from holding events with rival racing series. Prior to the long-term agreements, NASCAR operated on one-year contracts with its host racetracks.
The Florida-based France family founded NASCAR in 1948 and, along with Speedway Motorsports, owns almost all the tracks on the top Cup Series schedule. Snyder’s belief is that NASCAR entered into exclusivity agreements with tracks to stave off any threats of a breakaway startup series. In doing so, he said it eliminated teams’ ability to race stock cars anywhere else, forced them to accept revenue-sharing agreements that are below market value, and damaged their overall evaluations.
Snyder did his calculations for both teams based on each having two charters – each purchased a third charter in late 2024 – and found 23XI is owed $215.8 million while Front Row is owed $148.9 million. Based on his calculations, Snyder determined NASCAR shorted 36 chartered teams $1.06 billion from 2021-24.
Snyder noted NASCAR had $2.2 billion in assets, an equity value of $5 billion and an investment-grade credit rating – which Snyder believes positions the France family to be able to pivot and adjust to any threats of a rival series the way the PGA did in response to the LIV Golf league. The PGA, Snyder testified, “got creative” in bringing in new revenue to pay to its golfers to prevent their defections.
Snyder also testified NASCAR had $250 million in annual earnings from 2021-24 and the France family took $400 million in distributions during that period.
NASCAR contends Snyder’s estimations are wrong, that the 45% F1 model he used is not correct, and its own two experts “take serious issue” with Snyder’s findings. Defense attorney Lawrence Buterman asked Snyder his opinion on NASCAR’s upcoming expert witnesses and Snyder said they were two of the best economists in the world.
Snyder testified for almost the entirety of Monday’s session – the sixth day of the trial – and will continue on Tuesday. The snail’s pace has agitated U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell, who heard arguments 30 minutes early Monday morning because he was annoyed that objections had been submitted at 2:55 a.m. and then 6:50 a.m.
He needed an hour to get through the rulings, and testimony resumed 30 minutes behind schedule. When the day concluded, he asked the nine-person jury if they were willing to serve an hour longer each day the rest of the week in an effort to avoid a third full week of trial. He all said all motions must be filed by 10 p.m. each evening moving forward.
Bell wants plaintiff attorney Jeffrey Kessler to conclude his case by the end of Tuesday, but Kessler told him he still plans to call NASCAR chairman Jim France, NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps and Hall of Fame team owner Richard Childress, who was the subject of derogatory text messages amongst NASCAR leadership and has said he’s considering legal action.
NASCAR has a list of 16 potential witnesses and Bell said he wanted the first one on the stand before Tuesday’s session concludes.
3 takeaways from ‘pretty busy’ day at winter meetings
Zac Gallen remains one of the most intriguing arms available in MLB free agency. Over seven seasons, the 30-year-old right-hander has developed into one of the league’s most reliable starting pitchers, spending the majority of his career with the Arizona Diamondbacks after debuting with the Miami Marlins in 2019.
Since then, Gallen established himself at the top of the Diamondbacks’ rotation. He has earned an All-Star selection, played a pivotal role in sending Arizona to the World Series in 2023 and has three top-10 finishes in NL Cy Young voting. At his peak, he has been regarded as one of the best pitchers in baseball.
Unfortunately for Gallen, his 2025 campaign was the worst of his career, and it came just as he entered unrestricted free agency. Although he made 33 starts, he posted a 4.83 ERA with a 13–15 record, and his strikeout numbers dipped to 175 across 192 innings, raising questions about his value.
Gallen is still expected to draw wide interest around the league given his peak abilities and the potential upside of signing him at a lower price tag following his dip in performance. Yet he remains unsigned while the winter meetings are underway.
A rumor briefly circulated that the Chicago Cubs had agreed to a multi-year deal with Gallen worth close to $22 million annually, but ESPN’s Jeff Passan quickly shot it down. The post nevertheless gained traction, prompting Gallen to respond. He not only dismissed the false report but also took the opportunity to announce some personal news.
In a playful collaboration post with his partner, Gallen announced that the two had officially gotten married over the weekend. “The only contract signed this weekend,” the caption read on Instagram.
While the marriage announcement gave fans a lighthearted moment, Gallen’s focus will eventually shift back to baseball as he navigates free agency.
Despite the struggles of 2025, his track record of durability and past dominance ensures that multiple contenders will remain interested. Teams in need of rotation stability know he can handle a heavy workload, and his postseason experience with Arizona in 2023 adds further appeal.
For Gallen, the challenge now is proving that last season was an outlier rather than a trend. As the winter meetings continue, his name will remain one of the most closely watched among available pitchers.
Jed Hoyer says Cubs eye market for relievers, starting pitchers
ORLANDO, Fla. — Chicago White Sox general manager Chris Getz described the first day of the annual MLB winter meetings as “pretty busy.”
“We have a big group here and getting together and having some discussions and talking to other clubs and agents,” Getz said Monday.
“It’s a good opportunity to get everyone together like we normally do at winter meetings and try to find ways to build this club out and build momentum going into next year.”
Here are three Sox takeaways from Day 1 of the winter meetings.
1. The Sox are searching for ‘a bat that can help.’
When it comes to outfield depth, Getz said the Sox are “going to continue to find ways to add.”
“We brought in Everson (Pereira, via a Nov. 18 trade with the Tampa Bay Rays), we’ve got (top prospect) Braden Montgomery in the wings, we’ve got Luis Robert manning center field, we’ve got (left fielder Andrew Benintendi), we’ve got Brooks Baldwin,” Getz said.
The Sox see the possibility of Montgomery, who reached Double A in 2025, aiding the Sox at the major-league level at some point in 2026.
Robert, Benintendi, Baldwin, Pereira and Derek Hill are the five outfielders currently on the team’s 40-man roster.
“With everything still developing early in the offseason here, and I know that we have some work to do,” manager Will Venable said. “Bringing Derek Hill back is great. Obviously, picking up Luis’ ($20 million club) option. We have Benintendi in the mix. Obviously, we lost (Mike) Tauchman (non-tendered in November) for the time being.
“We have some moves still to be made and look forward to seeing how it all rounds out. But, really happy with some of the guys we have.”
Getz said the corner outfield is “an area that really can boost our overall production.”
“Primarily, it’s really finding a bat that can help things,” Getz said of any possible addition. “And if that’s in the outfield, that’s the most obvious place to look to add that.”
2. The Sox are interested in relievers capable of working in ‘higher-leverage situations.’
The Sox had the fewest saves in the majors (25), but that doesn’t mean they are specifically aiming to add a closer this offseason.
“More than anything, we’re looking to help our bullpen,” Getz said. “And there are different ways of doing that.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a set closer, so to speak. It would be nice to get someone who has closer experience, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to be a ninth-inning guy, or even an eighth-inning guy. Someone that can help in higher-leverage situations is something that we’re set out to add.”
Jordan Leasure collected a team-high seven saves in 2025. Grant Taylor was next on the list with six.
“I think the idea of a traditional closer is great, if you have the six-, seven-, eight-inning guys also,” Venable said. “Leverage aside, you just want to have good players and good pitchers.”
On pitching in general, the Sox also remain interested in more rotation options.
“I think it’s fair to assume that we’re going to continue to add to our starting pitching,” Getz said. “I think that’s the best way to sum up our future actions.”
3. Venable is experiencing a ‘different’ offseason.
Last winter, Venable was gearing up for his first season as a major-league manager. With a full season as the skipper behind him, Venable said this offseason has been “a lot different.”
“Especially because we were hiring so many people early (this offseason) and trying to figure out that process, so a lot of Zoom calls, a lot of phone calls — which I was on the other end of that last offseason leading up to this,” Venable said.
Derek Shomon is the new hitting coach and Zach Bove is the new pitching coach.
“Those guys are very good with connecting with players,” Venable said.
Getz said Shomon and Bove “fit in really well with Will and (bench coach) Walker (McKinven) and our front office.”
“And most importantly, I think they’re going to connect really well to our players,” Getz said. “We’ve got a lot of player feedback, just based on peers that they have with other clubs that they’re excited to work with some of our new faces, our new hires.
“We feel really good about where we’re at and once again, when you’re talking about the foundation of the organization and supporting these players the best that we can, we feel like we’re in a very good place.”
Breslow confirms top priority for Red Sox amid reports of Alonso meeting
ORLANDO, Fla. – With starting pitcher acquisitions checked off their to-do list, the Boston Red Sox came to the 2025 MLB Winter Meetings with a clear top priority.
A big, game-changing bat.
“We still haven’t addressed some of the position-player needs that we have,” said chief baseball officer Craig Breslow on Monday. “We still are going to prioritize someone who can hit in the middle of the order and kind of change the overall outlook of the offense.”
That ‘someone’ could be one of the market’s more homer-heavy hitters like Kyle Schwarber or Pete Alonso, or a more well-rounded hitter whose consistency makes up for their somewhat lower power output, like Alex Bregman or Bo Bichette.
“Home runs are a foolproof way to put runs on the board,” said Breslow. “Typically, that type of profile comes with a trade-off, most often contact-ability, which is another area that we feel like we need to improve, kind of the identity of the offense. But at the end of the day, we’re trying to score as many runs as possible.”
The Arizona Diamondbacks are also listening to offers on second baseman Ketel Marte. Said position has been something of a black hole for the Red Sox ever since knee injuries brought Dustin Pedroia’s career to a premature end in 2017. Arizona’s asking price will be high, specifically in regard to club-controlled starting pitching, but the Red Sox are willing to trade from their pitching surplus, Breslow confirmed Monday.
“We’ve got pitching depth, based on some of the inbound calls that we’ve received over the last couple weeks,” said Breslow. “I think teams have recognized that there’s appeal to controllable starting pitching. If there are opportunities to use some of that depth in order to address other areas of the roster, we’d be willing to do it.”
The Red Sox were a top-ranked offensive production in several metrics this year, including fourth in hits and batting average, eighth in on-base percentage, and seventh in runs. They again led the majors in doubles (a byproduct of playing in the unique confines of Fenway Park).
In home runs, however, they ranked 15th and fell two round-trippers short of the league average (188). The ’25 Red Sox were excellent at creating situations for such a slugger to come through, only to be reminded that they lacked such a man.
Breslow pointed to it as soon as Boston’s short-lived postseason run came to an end: teams that go far in October have hitters who can go deep.
Adding a player with high strikeout probability may seem counterproductive for a team that, as Breslow acknowledged, already does that too much; the Red Sox ranked eighth in strikeouts this year. Yet this type of power bat brings another benefit to the lineup.
“I think that the true middle-of-the-order bat that can hit the ball out of the park, it has probably outsized impact on the rest of the lineup, because of the way that you have to attack someone, the on-base implications that can have,” Breslow said. “And so again, we’re going to consider all ways of improving the team, but finding someone in the middle of the order who hits the ball out of the park is a really good place to start.”
What the Red Sox lack in everyday ‘horses,’ to borrow a term from manager Alex Cora, they make up for in players who can man multiple positions. Breslow believes their major and minor league infield depth will work to their advantage. They’re not searching specifically for a power-hitting third baseman or contact-hitting second baseman; they’re on the hunt for the best bat they can get, and will then reshape the team accordingly.
“I don’t want to put limitations on what we may be able to do,” said Breslow. “That’s where the positional flexibility comes in… We’ve seen with guys like Romy (Gonzalez), (David Hamilton), Marcelo (Mayer), the ability to move around, even with the outfielders and rotating through both three spots and the DH spots, and I think that just gives us a little bit more latitude when it comes to finding someone who can improve the offense.”
The position player market is currently waiting for the first big domino to fall, with the expectation that it will be Schwarber. The Red Sox are among the many teams linked to him and Bregman. Their competition for Schwarber includes the Phillies, his team these last four seasons, and the Orioles.
Alonso is driving from his Tampa home to meet with select teams in Orlando this week, but Breslow would neither confirm nor deny reports that the Red Sox are on his dance card.
“Our hope is that we’re having a lot of meetings here over the next few days,” he answered cleverly.
Padres going about winter work with familiar funding level
ORLANDO, Fla. — The Padres arrived at the winter meetings having established the level at which they plan to spend in 2026.
It should be a familiar number.
“We anticipate payroll will remain at a similar level to last year,” Padres chairman John Seidler said Monday. “… We’re operating the club as we have for the last five or six years.”
Seidler’s assertion was consistent with what sources have said throughout the offseason — that the looming sale of the team will not affect ownership’s investment in the club.
That means the Padres plan to again have a payroll that ranks among the top 10 in Major League Baseball in 2026 and are virtually guaranteed to pass the Competitive Balance Tax threshold and pay the corresponding penalty for the second consecutive season and the fifth time in six years.
Last year’s $224 million payroll, which included bonuses and CBT penalties, ranked eighth in MLB. It was the second-highest payroll in franchise history, behind only the estimated $295 million the Padres doled out in 2023. That expenditure left them out of compliance with MLB’s debt rules.
Both relative to their history and to the rest of MLB, the Padres have spent at a high level for five consecutive years.
According to figures provided by the Padres and MLB, San Diego is the smallest media market in the league based on number of households. Yet they have had an average payroll of $222 million since 2021. The Padres are one of seven teams to have passed the CBT threshold in at least three of the four years under the current collective bargaining agreement.
Their average payroll from 2015 through ‘19 was $96 million. Their average from 2010 to ‘14 was $61 million. Their payroll ranked higher than 25th just twice in those 10 years (17th in 2016 and 20th in 2019).
The only two years since 2020 that the Padres have not made the postseason were ‘23 and ‘21, when their payroll was the eighth highest in the majors.
They will in 2026 be attempting a franchise first — to make the playoffs for a third consecutive season.
To do so, their offseason work almost certainly must include the acquisition of at least two veteran starting pitchers.
As of now, it appears they will return eight regular position players and the bulk of what was arguably the league’s best bullpen. But they have just three established starting pitchers.
“Like every year, we have some holes to fill,” Seidler said. “And A.J. is scouring the market looking for what is the best way to field the most competitive roster.”
As of Monday, the Padres were not among the teams generating the most buzz in the lobbies of the two Walt Disney World hotels where this year’s winter meetings are being held.
But if the Padres are not involved in a big move here, it won’t be for lack of conversations.
Preller was described by multiple people as frenetically working the phones, though it is not clear how much more activity that was than his usual pace of investigating virtually endless possibilities.
“It’s been a lot of conversation today,” Preller said while seated in his top-floor suite at the Waldorf Astoria. “Kind of typical Day 1 of a winter meetings.”
The meetings continue through Wednesday.
Said Preller: “Hopefully productive and see where things come out in the next couple of days.”
Two sources familiar with the Padres’ discussions said Preller is shooting big.
One source said the Padres are working multiple fronts that could result in deals that rival the massive trade in which they acquired four major leaguers in exchange for Juan Soto and Trent Grisham at the winter meetings two years ago. Another source said Preller’s plans coming to fruition would make the deals he made at the past two trade deadlines pale in comparison.
The sources, who were not authorized to speak publicly, provided no further details.
And that is the way the winter meetings go.
There is often difficulty in discerning speculation from rumors and either one from a nugget of information with actual traction.
If there is truth to the scuttle that the Padres are listening to offers for starting pitcher Nick Pivetta, it is one of the more glaring examples of the fact that Preller rules out virtually nothing and explores virtually everything.
“It’s a time of year where teams are calling you, you’re calling teams,” Preller said. “You’ve got to be open-minded to like, ‘Hey, is there a better fit or a better way to build a roster?’”
A trade of Pivetta is considered unlikely and would only be executed if it were part of what one source termed a “blockbuster” that netted multiple major league players. Pivetta is due $20.5 million in 2026 and is a strong candidate to exercise the opt-out on his contract after the season rather than accept the $32 million he would be owed in total for 2027 and ’28.
As has been the case almost non-stop for at least two years, the Padres have also fielded calls on second baseman Jake Cronenworth, who is attractive for the fact he is an above-average player locked up for five more seasons at a reasonable $12.28 million per year. The Padres have really had no intention of trading Cronenworth in the past and once again seem to be willing to part with one of their team leaders only if staggered by the return.
The exact amount of money the Padres have to spend could be fluid, as it has been the past couple years when they made significant acquisitions during spring training — trading for Dylan Cease in 2024 and signing Pivetta this past February.
“The conversations with John, he has talked about being business as usual,” Preller said. “We have a budget and a payroll number. We’ll have more conversations based on what’s out there. We’ll get more information here this week. From that standpoint, it’s a similar process to what we’ve had, really, since I’ve been here. We’ll have an idea about where we’re at from a payroll number and then see what’s out there in terms of conversation coming out of this week. And then that could be a higher number (or a) lower number. I think it really just depends a little bit on the conversations about who’s out there and what we think we can do.”
SUN: Orioles winter meetings: Mike Elias says club has payroll space for 2 splashes
A frontline starting pitcher is at the top of the Orioles’ Christmas wishlist, but can Santa afford another big gift this winter?
Mike Elias says yes.
MLB’s winter meetings — where baseball’s movers and shakers gather to conduct business — began Monday, and the Orioles’ first day ended with a news conference with the club’s president of baseball operations. The first question about free agency Elias answered was about impact bats on the free-agent market, and he said the Orioles are “talking to a whole bunch of hitters.”
Can the Orioles afford both a big arm and a big bat?
How Mets Reacted to Pete Alonso’s MLB Winter Meetings Activity
The New York Mets know more than any other general manager or front office executive attending the winter meetings just how much Pete Alonso is worth.
Like most teams, the Mets also have multiple positions to fill this offseason and aren’t looking to rush any decisions. After reports detailing the teams Alonso would meet with at the winter meetings surfaced, many Mets fans became uneasy and worried this was the beginning of the end.
President of baseball operations David Stearns, on the other hand, had a rather calm response when asked about Alonso meeting with other teams.
Carlos Alcaraz, other stars play exhibition at Marlins’ park
MIAMI — Carlos Alcaraz wanted to play in front of an energetic crowd at the inaugural Miami Invitational.
The No. 1 men’s tennis player got his wish, drawing a roar of applause when he stepped onto the court and electric cheers throughout an exhibition event Monday night at loanDepot Park, the home of Major League Baseball’s Miami Marlins.
It was a one-time event — the first time tennis has ever been played at loanDepot Park — and also featured rising Brazilian standout João Fonseca and women’s stars Amanda Anisimova and Jessica Pegula.
Alcaraz defeated the 24th-ranked Fonseca 7-5, 2-6, 10-8 in a thrilling singles match, their first time facing each other. Anisimova topped Pegula 6-2, 7-5 earlier in the night. Alcaraz and Pegula also beat Anisimova and Fonseca in a mixed doubles 10-point tie breaker.
Former AquaSox catcher was ‘pretty sad’ to get traded.
No one would have blamed Harry Ford for celebrating Saturday.
The team that traded him away, the Seattle Mariners, might as well have been baseball purgatory for a catcher eyeing full-time work in MLB. And his new team, the Washington Nationals? No MVP finalist. No backstop with a six-year, $105 million extension. No big butt that captured hearts across the sport.
That situation brought Ford (a top-100 prospect) and pitching prospect Isaac Lyon (a 2025 10th-round draft pick) to Washington in exchange for reliever Jose A. Ferrer. Without Cal Raleigh blocking Ford’s way, a clearer path toward playing time could have brought comfort. But there is what you might assume Harry Ford felt. And then there is what Harry Ford actually felt.
“I was pretty sad,” said Ford, who was a Northwest League All-Star with the Everett AquaSox in 2023.
In a call with reporters Monday, it became evident why. When Ford spoke, he did so in terms of relationships: with his faith and with the people who molded him into the catcher the Nationals were so desperate to acquire. With his former pitchers, catchers and coaches. To him, the job, more than anything, is to care for and love the pitching staff as much as he can. On a plane ride from Georgia to Great Britain, he had time to reflect on his four-plus years in the Seattle organization.
“Just about all I’ve known is the Mariners and the relationships and the people that have been around there. It definitely hit hard, knowing I’m not going to see them anymore or consistently,” Ford said. “I really believed that I was drafted there for a reason. … I truly believed that God had a plan for me, for the Mariners, and that I was there to stay. I was loyal to that until the end.”
There is, however, that aforementioned opening behind the plate. Given Keibert Ruiz’s struggles and the absence of another blue-chip prospect in the Nationals’ minor league system, the 22-year-old Ford appears in line to be Washington’s new franchise catcher. At MLB’s winter meetings in Orlando, Nationals President of Baseball Operations Paul Toboni said he views Ford as a catcher and hopes that, within a few years, he will make an impact on defense. Ford said he loves that he is going to get a chance to fight for a spot on the team.
“I am thankful for the chance to be — I guess — a little more in the conversation than in Seattle,” Ford said.
Ford’s profile should give him a place in the conversation. Last season, he hit .283 with 16 homers and a .408 on-base percentage at Class AAA Tacoma. He coupled a gap-to-gap approach with patience at the plate as he drew 74 walks in 97 games.
Washington’s catchers, by comparison, drew just 30 walks all of last season.
“(It was) learning how to stop tinkering and just trust yourself and trust that you are a good player,” Ford said. “You have God-given talent, and just go play and not trying to manufacture something every day.”
Behind the plate, he is less of a sure thing. Among other offseason plans — Ford said he expects to play for Britain in the World Baseball Classic — the backstop is working on framing, blocking and throwing. New catching coordinator Bobby Wilson will have his work cut out for him, especially after the Nationals’ catchers ranked 28th in blocks above average (minus-15) and 30th in catcher framing runs (minus-18) this year.
But that is what these new Nationals are about: developing at the major league level.
A year ago, the Nationals traded another controllable left-handed reliever with great peripheral stats (Robert Garcia) for Nathaniel Lowe. That trade, in part, was viewed as a win-now move, even though Washington wasn’t actually close to competing. (And, to make matters worse, Lowe was designated for assignment before the season ended.) This time around, under a new administration, the Nationals got a young catcher who could be their long-term answer.
“I’m excited to be on … a young team and just start from scratch really,” Ford said. “I’m looking forward to building something.”
Ford probably won’t be the last prospect the Nationals acquire this offseason. He probably won’t be the only one who is sad to leave his old organization for one that is reestablishing its foundation. But the guys on the roster now — they know what it’s like to be in his shoes, in one way or another.
Three of his new teammates — Brady House, James Wood and Daylen Lile — also were drafted out of high school in 2021. He knows Dylan Crews and Nasim Nuñez as well. He played against a handful of them while he was in high school.
“It feels different because I’m in the same boat (as my new teammates) — I’m coming up, I’m trying to eat, I’m trying to get up there,” Ford said. “With Seattle, I love all the guys there, [but] we are a little different. Most of us are Iin) different phases of our career. So I think with the Nationals, everyone’s really fresh and up-and-coming. So, yeah, I’m excited to be around some grinders.”
Mets Drop True Feelings on Pete Alonso, Edwin Diaz Returning
The MLB Winter Meetings are underway, and for the New York Mets, the saga is whether they intend to bring back free agents Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz. After a disappointing 2025 MLB season, all eyes are on the Mets to see how they improve their team.
Nonetheless, it will also be key to keeping vital pieces of their team, like Alonso and Diaz. At the MLB Winter Meetings, the Mets’ President of Baseball Operations, David Stearns, shared the latest on signing their two free agents.
“I think Pete knows us really well, and we know Pete really well,” Stearns told reporters on December 8. “He’ll take the time to meet with organizations he doesn’t know as well, and I’m sure we’ll be in touch… I think Pete has demonstrated that he’s one of the best offensive players in baseball and has performed at a high level for us.
“That would be a priority for any team, and it certainly is for us… We made that clear to his agent at the start of free agency. We also respect that this is a process, and Pete has earned the right to evaluate the market. We’ll see where that leaves us.”
Mets Aren’t Done With Bolstering Their Bullpen
As far as Diaz goes, Stearns didn’t go into any details as to where talks with their closer stand. Moreover, even with the addition of former New York Yankees reliever Devin Williams, the Mets president left the door open for a Diaz return.
“We’re thrilled to add Devin Williams,” Stearns added. “I wouldn’t say we’re done with our bullpen at this point. We recognize we have slots to fill. Some may come through free agency, some through trade, and some from internal candidates poised to take the next step in their development or in a role at the major league level. We understand we have roles to fill in the pen, and I’m confident we will do so.”
Could the Mets Land Kyle Schwarber This Offseason?
If Alonso does leave, rumors suggest that New York could be in on Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber. On December 5, ESPN’s Buster Olney reported that “the juiciest rumor [he has] heard this week was the notion that the Mets could push the Phillies for Schwarber.”
The Phillies star had a batting average of .240 with 145 hits, 56 homers, 132 RBIs, and 111 runs scored in 162 games for the Philadelphia in 2025, per StatMuse. Amid this free agent rumor, SNY’s Will Sammon shared what he knows about the Mets’ interest in Schwarber.
“I can say that, talking to some sources around the game,“ Sammon said on the December 5 edition of “Baseball Night in NY.“ “Now, the level of interest I personally kind of question and I wonder about, but it does exist. There is something there.
“I will add, though, that the Mets typically cast a pretty wide net, and they want information on all these guys. Kyle Schwarber is a tremendous hitter, so why wouldn’t you be interested on some level? So we’ll see on that.”
Woman Jailed For Extortion Of Major League Soccer Star
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SEOUL, Dec 8 (Reuters) – A South Korean woman who demanded money from national team captain and Major League Soccer player Son Heung-min claiming she was pregnant with his child was sentenced to four years in jail on Monday for extortion, Yonhap news agency reported.
A woman in her 20s known by her surname Yang was indicted earlier this year for threatening to make her pregnancy public and receiving 300 million won ($205,000) in return for her silence, after which she tried to get a further 70 million won.
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A man in his 40s was also indicted for conspiring with her.
The Seoul Central District Court sentenced Yang to four years in prison and the male accomplice to two years in jail, Yonhap reported.
The defendants used Son’s fame and his “vulnerability” to the type of crime they were committing, causing significant mental anguish for him, the court was reported as saying in the ruling.
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Yang never confirmed the identity of the father of the child she was carrying, the court reportedly said.
Son’s representatives could not be reached for comment.
His agency has previously said Son had known the woman but had received a demand for money with fabricated materials, according to South Korean media.
The public affairs judge at the court did not return phone calls seeking confirmation on the sentences. A court official declined to comment.
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LA Galaxy Receive Good News From MLS on Monday
After a disappointing MLS season, the Los Angeles Galaxy received good news on Monday, Dec. 8.
Major League Soccer announced the Galaxy was named the 2025 Community Impact Club of the Year for its commitment to the Los Angeles community.
Bowling: Anthony Arias captures first Staten Island USBC Masters crown
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Brooklynite Anthony Arias dominated the Staten Island bowling landscape in 2025.
That after the righty captured the 17th Staten Island USBC Masters event last weekend at Rab’s Country Lanes, a few months after winning the Staten Island Singles Classic at the same center.
The 45-year-old righty toppled 16-year-old junior kegler Justin Arenas, the leader after qualifying, in the title game to take home the $1,500 top prize. Arenas walked away with $800 in SMART scholarship winnings.
“(The competition) is very tough,” said Arias of winning his first Masters crown. “Tim (McAuliffe) was my first match and he is well accomplished and a great bowler. Dennis Nichol (his third opponent), as well, is very tough.
“I’ve had pretty good success at Rab’s. I won the Donnie Walters’ (Staten Island Singles Classic) tournament twice.”
Arias blasted his way to the finals, winning his first three head-to-head matchups, following the five-game qualifier.
Arias then met Arenas in the second round. Arenas fell short that matchup, but then went on to win all of his loser brackets matchups to make it back to the finals against Arias.
Arias, without a loss to his name, needed to win one of his two matchups against Arenas.
In a close first game, Arenas took advantage of an open frame from Arias to win, 193-190.
In the second match, both bowlers struggled early but it was Arias who got into a groove and prevailed on the tough pattern, 203-170.
It was Arenas’ second runner-up finish in the last three years.
***
NOTES: The tourney drew 53 entries this year which was up 11 from 2024 … Arenas knocked over 1,034 pins during his five-game qualifing block … Michael Ruffe is the new SIUSBC tournament chair, taking over for past SIUSBC president Jim Episcopia, who is still involved on the board … After two rounds of qualifying, the cut score to make the finals was 961. The event saw a tie for the eighth and final position between Dan Dunleavy and Karalyn Buono, the latter of who came out ahead of that one to secure the eighth spot … The field saw five past champions compete. They were McAuliffe (2012-13, 2024), Mickey Endress (2015), Jeff Scire (2020, 2023), Jeff Martin (2021) and Rob Butler Jr. (2022)
For complete results, visit https://siusbc.org/masters-championship-tournament/
Final standings with prize money.
Cellectis Presents Development Plan to Further
Eti-cel showed an 88% ORR and 63% CR (n=8) at current dose level in r/r NHL after ≥2 prior lines of therapy
In vivo data suggest IL-2 may further enhance response rates and optimize eti-cel expansion and persistence
IL-2 cohort enrollment to start in Q1 2026; full Phase 1 dataset expected in 2026
NEW YORK, Dec. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cellectis (the “Company”) (Euronext Growth: ALCLS – NASDAQ: CLLS), a clinical-stage biotechnology company using its pioneering gene-editing platform to develop life-saving cell and gene therapies, announced the presentation of encouraging updated data of patients treated in the Phase 1 NATHALI-01 clinical trial with eti-cel, at the 67th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) in Orlando, FL.
Eti-cel product candidate is the first allogeneic dual CAR-T targeting CD20 and CD22 simultaneously, being developed in Phase 1 of the NATHALI-01 clinical trial, for patients with relapsed/refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma (r/r NHL), following at least two lines of therapy.
Cellectis presented preliminary results on eti-cel, which demonstrated an encouraging overall response rate (ORR) of 88% and a complete response (CR) rate of 63% (n=8) at the current dose level.
Additional in vivo data presented suggest that exogenous low dose Interleukin-2 (IL-2) support can significantly enhance the expansion and persistence of CAR-T cells to boost CAR-T efficacy without exacerbating toxicity.
“Cellectis believes that, with the addition of low dose IL-2 support, it is possible to further deepen the already high response rates seen with eti-cel in these patients who have relapsed following multiple prior lines of therapy including, in most cases, a CD19 CAR-T” said Adrian Kilcoyne, MD, MPH, MBA, Chief Medical Officer at Cellectis. “The trial will now investigate any potential impact of low dose IL-2 support in these difficult to treat patients. We look forward to sharing the full Phase 1 dataset expected in 2026.”
Next Steps
Overall, these preliminary data underscore the potential of this innovative approach to transform outcomes for r/r NHL patients. The Company will now investigate the potential impact of low dose IL-2 support and will start recruitment of patients in the IL-2 support cohort in Q1 2026. Cellectis expects to present the full Phase 1 dataset in 2026.
The poster presentation will be available on Cellectis’ website.
About Cellectis
Cellectis is a clinical-stage biotechnology company using its pioneering gene-editing platform to develop life-saving cell and gene therapies. The company utilizes an allogeneic approach for CAR T immunotherapies in oncology, pioneering the concept of off-the-shelf and ready-to-use gene-edited CAR T-cells to treat cancer patients, and a platform to develop gene therapies in other therapeutic indications. With its in-house manufacturing capabilities, Cellectis is one of the few end-to-end gene editing companies that controls the cell and gene therapy value chain from start to finish.
Cellectis’ headquarters are in Paris, France, with locations in New York and Raleigh, NC. Cellectis is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market (ticker: CLLS) and on Euronext Growth (ticker: ALCLS). To find out more, visit www.cellectis.com and follow Cellectis on LinkedIn and X.
Cautionary Statement
This press release contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “can,” or “potential,” or the negative of these and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements, which are based on our management’s current expectations and assumptions on information currently available to management, include statements regarding the advancement, timing and progress of clinical trials (including with respect to patient enrollment and follow-up), the timing of our presentation of data and submission of regulatory filings, the sufficiency of cash to fund operations, the potential benefit of our product candidates and technologies, and the financial position of Cellectis. These forward-looking statements are made in light of information currently available to us and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including with respect to the numerous risks associated with biopharmaceutical product candidate development. Furthermore, many other important factors, including those described in our Annual Report on Form 20-F as amended and in our annual financial report (including the management report) for the year ended December 31, 2024 and subsequent filings Cellectis makes with the Securities Exchange Commission from time to time, which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, as well as other known and unknown risks and uncertainties may adversely affect such forward-looking statements and cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.
For further information on Cellectis, please contact:
Media contacts:
Pascalyne Wilson, Director, Communications, + 33 (0)7 76 99 14 33, media@cellectis.com
Patricia Sosa Navarro, Chief of Staff to the CEO, +33 (0)7 76 77 46 93
Investor Relations contact:
Arthur Stril, Chief Financial Officer & Chief Business Officer, investors@cellectis.com
Attachment
PRESS RELEASE-ASH2025-ENGLISH
Miami Heat’s Terry Rozier appearing New York court on gambling charges
NEW YORK (AP) — Miami Heat player Terry Rozier is set to appear in a New York court on charges he helped gamblers placing bets on his performance in NBA games.
The 31-year-old point guard will be formally arraigned in Brooklyn federal court late Monday on federal wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy charges. He’ll also join five other co-defendants and their lawyers for a pre-trial hearing later in the day on the case.
Rozier previously appeared before a federal judge in Orlando on Oct. 23, when prosecutors first announced the indictment.
At the time, he was released with conditions. One of his lawyers, Jim Trusty, denied the charges, saying the Ohio native was “not a gambler” and “looks forward to winning this fight.”
Prosecutors say Rozier conspired with friends to help them win bets on his performance in a March 2023 game when he played for the Charlotte Hornets.
They say he informed the bettors that he intended to leave the game against the New Orleans Pelicans early with a supposed injury, allowing gamblers to place wagers earning them tens of thousands of dollars.
Rozier played the first nine minutes and 36 seconds of the game before leaving, citing a foot issue. He did not play again that season.
More than 30 people have been arrested in connection with the sprawling federal takedown of illegal gambling operations linked to professional sports, including several Mafia figures.
Rozier was one of three current or former NBA players ensnared in the investigation.
Portland Trail Blazers coach and NBA Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups was among a number charged with participating in a scheme to fix high-stakes, Mafia-backed illegal poker games.
Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones has also been charged in that poker scheme, as well as the separate scheme to help gamblers win bets on NBA games that also implicated Rozier.
Billups and Jones pleaded not guilty during their separate arraignments last month. Both Billups and Rozier have been placed on unpaid leave from their team as their court cases play out.
Rozier has earned about $160 million over a 10-year NBA career.
He had been a first round pick for the Boston Celtics in 2015 after starring at the University of Louisville. Charlotte traded him to the Heat last year.
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Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier to be arraigned in New York court over sports betting scheme
NEW YORK (AP) — Miami Heat player Terry Rozier is set to appear in a New York court on charges he helped gamblers placing bets on his performance in NBA games.
The 31-year-old point guard will be formally arraigned in Brooklyn federal court late Monday on federal wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy charges. He’ll also join five other co-defendants and their lawyers for a pre-trial hearing later in the day on the case.
Rozier previously appeared before a federal judge in Orlando on Oct. 23, when prosecutors first announced the indictment.
At the time, he was released with conditions. One of his lawyers, Jim Trusty, denied the charges, saying the Ohio native was “not a gambler” and “looks forward to winning this fight.”
Prosecutors say Rozier conspired with friends to help them win bets on his performance in a March 2023 game when he played for the Charlotte Hornets.
They say he informed the bettors that he intended to leave the game against the New Orleans Pelicans early with a supposed injury, allowing gamblers to place wagers earning them tens of thousands of dollars.
Rozier played the first nine minutes and 36 seconds of the game before leaving, citing a foot issue. He did not play again that season.
More than 30 people have been arrested in connection with the sprawling federal takedown of illegal gambling operations linked to professional sports, including several Mafia figures.
Rozier was one of three current or former NBA players ensnared in the investigation.
Portland Trail Blazers coach and NBA Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups was among a number charged with participating in a scheme to fix high-stakes, Mafia-backed illegal poker games.
Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones has also been charged in that poker scheme, as well as the separate scheme to help gamblers win bets on NBA games that also implicated Rozier.
Billups and Jones pleaded not guilty during their separate arraignments last month. Both Billups and Rozier have been placed on unpaid leave from their team as their court cases play out.
Rozier has earned about $160 million over a 10-year NBA career.
He had been a first round pick for the Boston Celtics in 2015 after starring at the University of Louisville. Charlotte traded him to the Heat last year.
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Follow Philip Marcelo at https://x.com/philmarcelo
Copyright © 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
Heat visit Magic Tuesday in NBA Cup group stage
Miami Heat (14-10, sixth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Orlando Magic (14-10, fifth in the Eastern Conference)
Orlando, Florida; Tuesday, 6 p.m. EST
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Magic -1.5; over/under is 237.5
BOTTOM LINE: The Miami Heat travel to face the Miami Heat in an NBA Cup in-season tournament group play matchup.
The Magic are 4-2 against opponents in the Southeast Division. Orlando is fourth in the Eastern Conference with 33.0 defensive rebounds per game led by Paolo Banchero averaging 7.1.
The Heat are 2-2 against opponents in the Southeast Division. Miami ranks second in the NBA with 35.2 defensive rebounds per game led by Bam Adebayo averaging 7.6.
The Magic make 46.9% of their shots from the field this season, which is 2.5 percentage points higher than the Heat have allowed to their opponents (44.4%). The Heat are shooting 48.0% from the field, 0.8% higher than the 47.2% the Magic’s opponents have shot this season.
The two teams match up for the third time this season. The Magic defeated the Heat 106-105 in their last matchup on Dec. 6. Franz Wagner led the Magic with 32 points, and Norman Powell led the Heat with 28 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Desmond Bane is averaging 18.3 points and 4.5 assists for the Magic. Jalen Suggs is averaging 17.0 points over the last 10 games.
Adebayo is scoring 19.2 points per game and averaging 9.0 rebounds for the Heat. Jaime Jaquez Jr. is averaging 27.0 points and 6.0 rebounds over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Magic: 7-3, averaging 121.1 points, 44.9 rebounds, 27.2 assists, 9.4 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 47.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.0 points per game.
Heat: 6-4, averaging 119.1 points, 47.7 rebounds, 28.7 assists, 8.6 steals and 5.6 blocks per game while shooting 46.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.7 points.
INJURIES: Magic: Franz Wagner: day to day (leg), Moritz Wagner: out (knee).
Heat: Pelle Larsson: day to day (hip), Davion Mitchell: day to day (groin), Tyler Herro: day to day (toe).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Copyright © 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
Raptors and Knicks meet Tuesday in NBA Cup group stage
New York Knicks (16-7, second in the Eastern Conference) vs. Toronto Raptors (15-10, fourth in the Eastern Conference)
Toronto; Tuesday, 8:30 p.m. EST
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Knicks -3.5; over/under is 231.5
BOTTOM LINE: The New York Knicks travel to play the New York Knicks in an NBA Cup in-season tournament group play matchup.
The Raptors are 13-6 in Eastern Conference games. Toronto ranks fourth in the Eastern Conference with 53.8 points per game in the paint led by Scottie Barnes averaging 10.5.
The Knicks are 4-1 against opponents from the Atlantic Division. New York leads the Eastern Conference with 13.8 offensive rebounds per game led by Mitchell Robinson averaging 4.6.
The Raptors average 11.6 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.1 fewer makes per game than the Knicks give up (14.7). The Knicks average 15.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.8 more made shots on average than the 12.6 per game the Raptors allow.
The teams square off for the second time this season. In the last matchup on Nov. 30 the Knicks won 116-94 led by 22 points from Karl-Anthony Towns, while Immanuel Quickley scored 19 points for the Raptors.
TOP PERFORMERS: Brandon Ingram is averaging 21.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists for the Raptors. Barnes is averaging 18.0 points over the last 10 games.
Jalen Brunson is averaging 28 points and 6.4 assists for the Knicks. OG Anunoby is averaging 21 points, seven rebounds and three steals over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Raptors: 5-5, averaging 111.1 points, 43.8 rebounds, 28.6 assists, 9.3 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 46.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.0 points per game.
Knicks: 8-2, averaging 119.8 points, 44.9 rebounds, 27.2 assists, 8.1 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 49.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.7 points.
INJURIES: Raptors: RJ Barrett: out (knee), Jamison Battle: out (ankle).
Knicks: Landry Shamet: out (shoulder), Karl-Anthony Towns: out (calf).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Copyright © 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
Rookie Facing Discipline From NFL After Rams-Cardinals
The Los Angeles Rams notched a major win over the Arizona Cardinals, particularly because of happenings elsewhere around the league. However, there was at least one play in particular that figures to draw additional scrutiny from the NFL in the coming week.
The Rams needed a bounce-back effort after losing to the Carolina Panthers in Week 13, and they defeated a downtrodden Cardinals team to do it.
Moreover, there will be even more bad news for Arizona.
Cardinals OLB Jordan Burch Facing Costly Fine Over Play Involving Rams TE Davis Allen
The play occurred during the third quarter of the eventual 45-17 Rams victory on an otherwise innocuous play. Rams tight end Davis Allen went out for a route on a pass play, but was unable to connect with quarterback Matthew Stafford.
However, officials called linebacker Jordan Burch for a facemask, as he grabbed Allen during the tight end’s break. The Rams got 7 yards, half the distance to the goal, on the call.
Stafford found tight end Colby Parkinson for a touchdown to end the drive three plays later.
The fines for facemasks range from $11,593 (first offenses) to $17,389, per the NFL’s Football Operations portal. This would be the first fine of the season for Burch, whom the Cardinals selected with the No. 78 overall pick of the 2025 draft, per Spotrac.
The Rams seemingly avoided committing any infractions during the game that would draw the kind of additional attention Burch figures to receive.
The NFL typically announces the week’s fines on the following Saturday.
Burch, who is on a four-year, $6.5 million contract, will likely have to wait until then to find out whether he will have to come out of pocket for the infraction. The Rams and Cardinals will square off again in LA in Week 18.
Rams Reclaim No. 1 Seed in NFC
The Rams entered the day as the No. 2 seed in the NFC, a reality formed both by their loss to the Panthers in Week 13. It also happened because the Chicago Bears defeated the Philadelphia Eagles that same week.
The script flipped in Week 14, with the Rams downing the Cardinals and the Bears suffering a loss to the Green Bay Packers.
That win moved the Packers, who are 9-3-1, into second place in the NFC.
The Rams will not face the Packers this season, so they cannot impact the standings directly in that way. However, the Packers must travel to face the NFL-leading Denver Broncos and their 11-game win streak in Week 14.
LA is at home, and they will be up against a familiar foe in Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions, who have won three of their last five games.
The Rams are 7-1 in their last eight outings and have not lost back-to-back games this year.
This matchup will certainly have a little more meaning, though, with Stafford also facing his old team for just the fourth time since he and Goff (as part of a package) were traded for one another ahead of the 2021 season, after which the Rams won the Super Bowl.
Stafford and the Rams are 1-2 against Goff in the Lions since that trade, including a loss in the 2023 NFC Wild Card Playoffs, adding another incentive for LA.
The Winners and Losers of the NFL Week 14
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, the Chiefs offense hit rock bottom as the dynasty continues to crumble, the Packers-Bears series finally feels like a real rivalry again, “what is a catch” discourse is back, and more. Welcome to Winners and Losers.
Loser: The Chiefs Dynasty
According to The Athletic’s playoff prediction model, there’s now an 84 percent chance that we’ll see something that would have been unthinkable just a few months ago: the Chiefs, with a healthy Patrick Mahomes, in his prime, missing the playoffs. Sunday’s 20-10 loss to the Texans dropped their odds of earning a postseason berth to just 16 percent; that jumps to just 52 percent if they win all of their final four games.
With a month left in the regular season, the three-time defending AFC champs find themselves in a three-way tie with Baltimore and Miami for ninth place in the conference. If Andy Reid and GM Brett Veach didn’t have so much goodwill—with the three Super Bowl rings and whatnot—I wonder if they might have found themselves on the hot seat. Missing the playoffs with one of the most talented quarterbacks this league has ever seen and a very favorable schedule that featured nine home games and only seven true road would typically be viewed as a fireable offense. That’s not likely to happen here, but the reality is that right now the Chiefs are a poorly coached team that lacks high-end talent outside of the quarterback position.
Reid and Veach haven’t delivered this season, though the team they’ve built is probably better than its 6-7 record indicates. After running the table in one-score games a year ago and finishing the regular season 15-2, the Chiefs haven’t won a single close game all season. The loss to Houston on Sunday night was the first time all season they’ve lost by more than one score. In an alternate universe, this team, with largely the same roster as last season, is still enjoying that same devil’s magic and is cruising into the playoffs.
Some good may come out of this tragic reversal of fortune. It should force the organization to finally make an honest assessment of the roster, which should lead to a conclusion that was painfully obvious back in September: the team around Mahomes kind of stinks, and Reid’s coaching is no longer making up for it. Sunday’s game against a stellar Texans defense offered an extreme example. Kansas City’s offensive line, which had already been decimated by injuries and lost tackle Wanya Morris on the very first snap of the game, couldn’t protect, and the receiving corps couldn’t catch a pass. Rashee Rice’s fourth-down drop when the game was tied at 10 in the fourth quarter was the beginning of the end for the Chiefs on Sunday night. Mahomes was left exasperated with his face buried in the turf.
Not long after that, Travis Kelce basically handed to the Texans a third interception off Mahomes. It might be time to turn that podcast into a full-time job.
That was one of six dropped passes for the Chiefs on the night. That’s the most ever in a single game during the Mahomes era, and, unsurprisingly, contributed to what was the worst statistical game of his career. It was also the worst offensive performance in this entire era of Chiefs football.
And yet, thanks largely to the defense, Kansas City still had a good shot at winning this game in the fourth quarter before Reid’s inexplicable decision to go for it on fourth-and-1 on the 31-yard-line. The numbers backed the decision to go for it, but this was a “read the game” situation. The Chiefs offense was dead in the water and up against one of the league’s best defenses. The Texans offense, meanwhile, was dealing with its own issues moving the ball, and Reid should have known that a failed fourth-down attempt would set Houston up in field goal range. I totally get Reid trusting Mahomes in that situation, but the rest of the offense hadn’t earned that same level of trust—and the defense certainly had. The Texans scored the game-winning touchdown shortly after the failed fourth-down attempt. Reid didn’t give his defense a chance.
And now the Chiefs have no margin for error over the final month of the season. They should be able to bank wins against the Titans and Raiders, but a home game against the Chargers feels like a toss-up, and Denver could be favored when they travel to Arrowhead on Christmas night in a game that could be a division clincher for the Broncos.
If the first 13 games of the season weren’t enough to give up on this Chiefs season amounting to anything, maybe the sight of another team donning “AFC West Champs” shirts and hats will do the trick.
Winner: The Packers-Bears “Rivalry”
We’ve been told all our lives that this is one of the NFL’s greatest rivalries, but I can count all of the meaningful moments from it in this century on one hand, with fingers to spare. There was Aaron Rodgers’s fourth-down throw to Randall Cobb to win the division in 2013. There was the opening-week comeback in 2018 when Rodgers hurt his knee and may have been the highest man in America (allegedly after the training staff got him right at the half. And then there was the time Rodgers told Bears fans “I own you” … and their only response was well, yeah. This may have been a great rivalry at some point, but recently, it’s just been Green Bay quarterbacks tormenting an entire team and fan base. Chicago hasn’t won two straight games in the series in nearly 20 years. And after Green Bay’s 28-21 win on Sunday, the Packers have won 12 of the last 13 matchups between these teams.
This isn’t a rivalry, it’s straight up bullying. But for the first time since early in the Lovie Smith era, it feels like things could be competitive for the foreseeable future. The Packers will remain competent as long as Matt LaFleur and Jordan Love are on the payroll, and the Bears may have finally found a coach-quarterback combo with some staying power. At the very least, this feels like a fair matchup in 2025.
Sunday’s game was the first of two meetings in a three-week span with the NFC North title in reach for both teams. If both teams take care of business next week—the Bears get Cleveland at home while Green Bay goes to Denver—that Week 16 game will decide first place in the division with just two weeks remaining. It’s been 12 years since these teams have played a late-season game with real stakes.
The first leg of the 2025 series got off to a crappy start before blossoming into a highly entertaining game. Bears QB Caleb Williams missed on his first six pass attempts (with a few wild overthrows sprinkled in), while Love checked in with one his patented bozo moments.
Nobody throws a bad interception quite like Love. He doesn’t throw a lot of picks, but he always gets his money’s worth when he does. But Love went back to looking like one of the best quarterbacks in the league once he got that mistake out of his system. He connected on two deep touchdown throws and finished the game as the league’s leader in average depth per target.
The Bears tried to fluster him with blitzes, but the Packers were prepared and were able to block Chicago’s extra rushers all game. Love was essentially perfect against the blitz on Sunday.
Williams also settled into the game but needed a little more time to do so. He was averaging under 2 yards per dropback going into the half, but lit up the Green Bay secondary in the second half with a number of daring escapes from pressure and comical displays of arm talent.
Williams had a chance to answer with a two-minute drive late. It got off to a promising start, with the second-year quarterback quickly moving the Bears offense into scoring range with two explosive passes. But he threw away the game on fourth-and-1. Williams had Cole Kmet breaking open to the back corner of the end zone but was late on the throw and put way too much air on it, allowing Keisean Nixon to run under it and seal the Green Bay win with a pick.
The football was good and there was enough chippiness to make this one feel like a real rivalry game. Even the coaches seem to have beef, which may have emanated from Ben Johnson telling everyone how much he enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year in Detroit. After their first matchup as head coaches, LaFleur hit Johnson with one of the coldest postgame handshakes you’ll ever see.
I’m not ready to call this a proper rivalry just yet, but I can’t wait to see the sequel to this game in two weeks. It’s been a while since I’ve felt that way about a Bears-Packers game.
Loser: The Daniel Jones Redemption Arc
The Colts’ season has taken a dark turn. Just over a month ago, they were sitting at 7-1 and running away with the AFC South. The offense was putting up historic numbers, quarterback Daniel Jones was garnering MVP buzz, and Shane Steichen was the front-runner for Coach of the Year. The magical season quickly turned into a season from hell. Their lead in the division is gone after a soggy 36-19 loss in Jacksonville on Sunday, and Jones is done for the year after reportedly tearing his Achilles in the first half.
Jones was already playing with a hairline fracture on his other leg, which had severely compromised his ability to move in or out of the pocket, and things were pretty bleak before his right Achilles appeared to pop on a third-and-8 throw in the first quarter. Jones’s first-quarter pick-six staked the Jags to an early lead—and was so bad it may have broken the RedZone broadcast.
It’s difficult to play football when you can hardly move, so it’s not surprising that Jones’s numbers have nosedived since first injuring his lower leg in a Week 10 win over Atlanta. His negative plays (sacks and interceptions) spiked, his accuracy regressed, and he was no longer a factor in the run game. And the Colts haven’t won a game since that day against the Falcons in Berlin. The version of the offense that lit up scoreboards over the first two months was already fading. Indianapolis’s season was slipping away; Jones’s new injury just accelerated the process.
The Colts season isn’t mathematically over, of course. At 8-5, they’ve fallen behind both the Jaguars and the Texans and are currently out of the playoff field. They have just a 30 percent shot of making the postseason, per The Athletic’s model. But spiritually, it feels over. With Anthony Richardson still parked on injured reserve after a suffering a broken orbital bone while doing pregame resistance band work back in Week 6—he has yet to be cleared for football acitviities—it will be up to sixth-round rookie Riley Leonard to salvage what’s left of this campaign.
That’ll be a daunting task for the 23-year-old QB, whose first start will come against the same Seahawks defense that put Minnesota’s Max Brosmer through hell in his pro debut last Sunday. That’s followed by a game against the 49ers, a rematch with the Jaguars, and a trip to Houston to play DeMeco Ryans’s terrifying defense to close out the season. Indianapolis is already stuck in a three-game losing streak and is staring at four loseable games without its top two quarterbacks. This league is brutal.
Winner: Catch-Rule Controversy
It had been too long since we’ve had a good catch-rule controversy. A decade ago, it felt like we didn’t go a few weeks without getting to say “I don’t know what a catch is anymore.” Catch-rule haters, I’m thrilled to report that we are back after this apparent Isaiah Likely touchdown was overturned by replay assist.
I don’t know what a catch is anymore! Actually, that’s not true. That is very clearly a catch; it just wasn’t ruled as one. The NFL’s vice president of instant replay—which is a real job, apparently—offered an explanation for the decision, citing Likely’s failure to make an “act common to the game” before Pittsburgh cornerback Joey Porter Jr. was able to knock the ball loose.
Texans Player Could Hear From League Over Patrick Mahomes
The Houston Texans’ win over the Kansas City Chiefs on “Sunday Night Football” in Week 14 was significant on many levels, but there figures to be some fallout, specifically for veteran defensive lineman Mario Edwards.
Edwards and the Texans have clawed their way back from starting the season 0-3 and are now 8-5 on the season.
However, Edwards’ decision in Week 14 could prove costly.
Texans DT Mario Edwards Figures to Hear From NFL Over Penalty
During the second quarter of the Texans’ win over the Chiefs, on a third-and-5 and Edwards’ unit on the field, the 11th-year defensive tackle pursued Patrick Mahomes as the two-time MVP broke the pocket and scrambled to his right.
Edwards made a diving attempt to bring Mahomes down, but instead wound up getting his fingers into the QB’s facemask as he converted with a pass to JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Officials threw a flag, giving the Chiefs an additional 15 yards.
The drive ended seven plays later, with Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker hitting the upright and missing a field goal try. The miss preserved the Texans’ 10-0 lead into the break in a game they won by the same margin.
Still, Edwards figures to receive a notice from the league, with face masks one of the many fineable offenses in the NFL.
Per the NFL Football Operations portal, face mask fines start at $11,593 for first offenses.
Second offenses can incur fines starting at $17,389. However, Edwards has not received a fine this season. The Texans, meanwhile, have had players fined seven times already this season, per Spotrac.
Texans Overcome Major Injury Setback
Edwards, 31, is signed through 2026 on a two-year, $9.5 million contract. He re-signed this past offseason after spending the 2024 season with the Texans.
He had 2 total tackles and a quarterback hit against the Chiefs.
There is some hope for Edwards to avoid the fine. The NFL declined to fine defensive tackle Tim Settle Jr. over his roughing the passer penalty against Daniel Jones of the Indianapolis Colts in Week 13.
Settle is out for the season after suffering a knee injury during the contest. The Texans placed him on injured reserve last week.
Tommy Togiai replaced Settle in the Texans’ starting lineup, with Edwards in a reserve role.
Texans Force Patrick Mahomes Into Career-Worst Performance
Edwards and the rest of the Texans’ defense proved problematic for the Chiefs, who lost fill-in starting left tackle Wanya Morris on their first play from scrimmage. They deflected 7 passes and sacked Mahomes twice.
They also came away with 3 interceptions.
The NFL posted a highlight reel on X after the game, saying, “The @HoustonTexans put on a defensive clinic tonight,” and it was rough for Mahomes in particular.
“Mahomes ends the game with -0.54 EPA per dropback. The worst start of his career,” ESPN’s Benjamin Solak said in a post on X on December 7. “42.4% completion percentage. Worst of his career.
“19.8 passer rating. Worst of his career.”
The Texans had a similar showing against Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills on “Thursday Night Football” in Week 12, sacking the reigning MVP a career-high 8 times.
Edwards and the Texans entered the contest with the NFL’s No. 1-ranked defense in terms of yards and points allowed. Their showing drew attention, especially coming during a primetime game, but it is hardly an outlier.
State NFL roundup: Former prep receiver records safety on 60th sack
The Jacksonville Jaguars have sole possession of first place in the AFC South after former Abbeville High School All-State wide receiver Josh Hines-Allen made five tackles, recorded one sack, registered two quarterback hits and scored the first safety of his career in a 36-19 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
Jacksonville and Indianapolis entered Sunday’s game with 8-4 records. The Jaguars now have a one-game lead in the division standings with four games remaining on their regular-season schedule.
Hines-Allen has 6.5 sacks in Jacksonville’s past six games, and his sack on Sunday made him the 12th player from an Alabama high school or college with 60 in the NFL.
It also was worth two points for Jacksonville since it came in the end zone with 6:57 left to play.
Auburn alumnus Kevin Greene is the state leader with 160 career sacks. The other players with Alabama football roots with more than 60 NFL sacks are DeMarcus Ware, Derrick Thomas, Robert Mathis, Trace Armstrong, Osi Umenyiora, Tim Harris, Cornelius Bennett, Za’Darius Smith, Mario Addison and Justin Tuck.
Hines-Allen was among the 26 players from Alabama high schools and colleges (excluding Alabama and Auburn) who got on the field on the 14th Sunday of the NFL’s 106th season.
Seven other former state players were involved in the Indianapolis-Jacksonville game:
Colts running back Ameer Abdullah (Homewood) had a 4-yard run, two receptions for 5 yards and three kickoff returns for 64 yards.
Jaguars quarterback Carter Bradley (South Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Colts quarterback Riley Leonard (Fairhope) completed 18-of-29 passes for 145 yards with no touchdowns and one interception and ran twice for 5 yards and one touchdown. In his second NFL action, the rookie QB took the field when starter Daniel Jones went out with an Achilles tendon injury with 11 seconds left in the first quarter. Leonard scored his first NFL touchdown on a 6-yard run with 1:51 to play.
RELATED: SUDDENLY THE COLTS QB, RILEY LEONARD ‘COMPETED HIS TAIL OFF PRETTY DARN GOOD’
Jaguars quarterback Nick Mullens (Spain Park) completed his only pass for 3 yards as he handled the final two series for the Jacksonville offense. The second series consisted of three kneel-downs to run out the clock.
Jaguars defensive back Caleb Ransaw (Sparkman, Troy) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Jaguars safety Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig (Fultondale) made two tackles. Jacksonville elevated Silmon-Craig from its practice squad to make him eligible to play.
Colts safety Trey Washington (Hewitt-Trussville) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
More stories on the NFL
Bo Nix on Broncos’ 10-game winning streak: ‘We’re always looking to get better’
Suddenly the Colts QB, Riley Leonard ‘competed his tail off pretty darn good’
Tua Tagovailoa leaves personal losing streak out in the cold
In the other Sunday games:
Seattle Seahawks 37, Atlanta Falcons 9
Falcons cornerback Cobee Bryant (Hillcrest-Evergreen) was designated as a game-day inactive.
Seahawks safety A.J. Finley (St. Paul’s Episcopal) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Seahawks running back Velus Jones (Saraland) ran for 32 yards on four carries and made one tackle on special teams. Seattle elevated Jones from its practice squad to make him eligible to play.
Darnell Mooney (Gadsden City) started at wide receiver for the Falcons. Mooney had a 6-yard reception.
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.
Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Baltimore Ravens 22
Steelers defensive tackle Brodric Martin-Rhodes (Northridge, North Alabama) was designated as a game-day inactive.
Ravens offensive tackle Carson Vinson (Alabama A&M) did not record any stats.
Steelers punter Corliss Waitman (South Alabama) averaged 49.3 yards on four punts, with a 45.8-yard net. Waitman had a 48-yard punt to a fair catch at the Baltimore 11-yard line, a 50-yarder returned 10 yards to the Baltimore 32, a 46-yarder returned 4 yards to the Baltimore 22 and a 53-yard returned 8 yards to the Baltimore 26.
Buffalo Bills 39, Cincinnati Bengals 34
Bills offensive tackle Tylan Grable (Jacksonville State) dressed for the game but did not play.
Bengals defensive end Cedric Johnson (Davidson) registered one quarterback hit and made three tackles on special teams.
Bengals kicker Evan McPherson (Fort Payne) made four extra-point kicks.
Bills defensive end Javon Solomon (Troy) did not record any stats.
Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt (Park Crossing) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Tennessee Titans 31, Cleveland Browns 29
Titans offensive tackle Chandler Brewer (Florence) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Browns linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (Auburn High) made four tackles.
Browns safety Christopher Edmonds (Samford) did not record any stats.
Quinshon Judkins (Pike Road) started at running back for the Browns. Judkins ran for 26 yards on 14 carries and turned a short reception into a 58-yard gain.
Browns linebacker Nathaniel Watson (Maplesville) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Titans guard Clay Webb (Oxford, Jacksonville State) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Alex Wright (Elba, UAB) started at defensive end for the Browns after a three-game injury absence. Wright made one tackle and registered one quarterback hit.
Minnesota Vikings 31, Washington Commanders 0
Commanders running back Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt (Sidney Lanier, Alabama State) ran for 32 yards on seven carries.
Commanders safety Jeremy Reaves (South Alabama) made one tackle.
Commanders offensive tackle Trent Scott (Lee-Huntsville) was designated as a game-day inactive.
Miami Dolphins 34, New York Jets 10
Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (West Alabama) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Jets wide receiver Jamaal Pritchett (Jackson, South Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
· Dolphins offensive tackle Kadeem Telfort (UAB) is on the practice squad and not eligible play.
Quincy Williams (Wenonah) started at linebacker for the Jets. Williams made seven tackles and recorded one sack.
New Orleans Saints 24, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20
Tez Johnson (Pinson Valley, Troy) started at wide receiver for the Buccaneers. Johnson did not record any stats.
Denver Broncos 24, Las Vegas Raiders 17
Broncos cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine (Spanish Fort) made one tackle.
Los Angeles Rams 45, Arizona Cardinals 17
Rams cornerback Darious Williams (UAB) was designated as a game-day inactive. A leg injury kept Williams out of the lineup.
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.
Green Bay Packers 28, Chicago Bears 21
Bears tight end Qadir Ismail (Samford) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Houston Texans 20, Kansas City Chiefs 10
Jake Andrews (Stanhope Elmore, Troy) started at center for the Texans.
Nico Collins (Clay-Chalkville) started at wide receiver for the Texans. Collins had four receptions for 121 yards. Collins had a 53-yard reception that put Houston on the Kansas City 7-yard line and set up a touchdown that gave the Texans a 10-0 lead with 9:24 left in the first half. Collins has 13 100-yard receiving games in his career (including one playoff contest). Three of the games have come this season.
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 had six tackles, intercepted one pass and broke up another pass, even though a foot injury allowed him to practice only once on a limited basis for the game. Lassiter got his third interception of the season and sixth of his career when he picked off Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes at the Houston 16-yard line on the first snap of the fourth quarter with the score tied 10-10.
Chiefs quarterback Chris Oladokun (Samford) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Texans cornerback Tremon Smith (Saks) returned two kickoffs for 41 yards and made one tackle on special teams.
Texans safety Jimmie Ward (Davidson) is on reserve/physically unable to perform and not eligible to play.
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
Week 14 started on Thursday night, when the Detroit Lions defeated the Dallas Cowboys 44-30.
Week 14 concludes on Monday, when the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Chargers square off at 7:15 p.m. CDT at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. ABC and 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: Raiders receiver scores on his first career reception
In his third season in the NFL, wide receiver Shedrick Jackson caught his first pass on Sunday, and it went for a touchdown for the Las Vegas Raiders.
In the Raiders’ 24-17 loss to the Denver Broncos, the former Hoover High School standout was on the receiving end of a 25-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kenny Pickett with 2:17 left to play.
“It would have been better if we came out with a dub,” Jackson said, “but, you know, it is what it is. Get back to work and keep going.”
Las Vegas elevated Jackson from its practice squad to make him eligible to play. With Alex Bachman sidelined by a thumb injury and Dont’e Thornton out because of a concussion, the Raiders were without two of their regular wide receivers.
Jackson’s NFL journey started when he signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted rookie on May 12, 2023. Jackson played five offensive snaps and was targeted once in five games with Cincinnati in 2023.
He’s in his second season on the Las Vegas practice squad and had played three offensive snaps in his only previous appearance with the Raiders in a 31-0 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Oct. 19.
“Just staying ready all game because you never know what can happen,” Jackson said. “You know, somebody can go down, somebody get tired, you never know. Just staying ready. …
“In the years past, I’ve done it and continued to just make plays, make plays at practice, building on the opportunities I’ve gotten and keeping going.”
Jackson was among the 15 former Auburn players who got on the field on the 14th Sunday of the NFL’s 106th season.
Four other former Auburn players were involved in the Denver-Las Vegas game:
Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson made all his kicks – a 46-yard field goal and two extra points.
Bo Nix (Pinson Valley) started at quarterback for the Broncos. Nix completed 31-of-38 passes for 212 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions and ran three times for 15 yards and one touchdown. Nix scored the game’s first points on an 8-yard run with 6:06 left in the first quarter. Nix became the third player in NFL history to have three games with at least 25 completions and a completion rate of 80 percent or higher within his first two seasons, following Tua Tagovailoa and Jayden Daniels.
RELATED: BO NIX ON 10-GAME WINNING STREAK: ‘WE’RE ALWAYS LOOKING TO GET BETTER’
Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham dressed for the game but did not play.
Raiders defensive tackle JJ Pegues made one tackle.
More stories on the NFL
Alabama NFL roundup: Packers lean on Josh Jacobs down the stretch
State NFL roundup: Former prep receiver records safety on 60th sack
Bo Nix on Broncos’ 10-game winning streak: ‘We’re always looking to get better’
In the other Sunday games:
Seattle Seahawks 37, Atlanta Falcons 9
Seahawks outside linebacker Derick Hall made two tackles, registered one quarterback hit and broke up one pass.
Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett (Jackson) did not record any stats.
Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Baltimore Ravens 22
Steelers offensive tackle Jack Driscoll is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Ravens defensive end Carl Lawson is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Tennessee Titans 31, Cleveland Browns 29
Browns tight end Sal Cannella is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Titans linebacker Dorian Mausi made one tackle on special teams.
Jacksonville Jaguars 36, Indianapolis Colts 19
Jaguars linebacker Jalen McLeod is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Braden Smith started at right offensive tackle for the Colts.
Jaguars offensive tackle Kilian Zierer is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Minnesota Vikings 31, Washington Commanders 0
Noah Igbinoghene (Hewitt-Trussville) started at cornerback for the Commanders. Igbinoghene made three tackles and broke up one pass.
Jonathan Jones started at cornerback for the Commanders. Jones made three tackles and broke up two passes.
Vikings linebacker Austin Keys made one tackle on special teams.
Miami Dolphins 34, New York Jets 10
Dolphins linebacker K.J. Britt (Oxford) made two tackles on defense and three tackles on special teams.
Jamien Sherwood started at linebacker for the Jets. Sherwood made 15 tackles, recorded one tackle for loss and broke up two passes. Sherwood’s season high for tackles was the third-highest total of his career. Last season, Sherwood had 18 tackles in a 32-26 overtime loss to Miami and 17 tackles in a 31-6 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. With 121, Sherwood has the most tackles among players from Alabama high schools and colleges in the NFL this season.
New Orleans Saints 24, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20
Jamel Dean started at cornerback for the Buccaneers. Dean made four tackles.
Buccaneers defensive tackle Jayson Jones (Calera) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Los Angeles Rams 45, Arizona Cardinals 17
Rams running back Jarquez Hunter was designated as a game-day inactive.
Cardinals linebacker Eku Leota is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Rams cornerback Roger McCreary (Williamson) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Cardinals inside linebacker Owen Pappoe led the Arizona defense with nine tackles, broke up one pass and made one tackle on special teams. In the Cardinals’ first 12 games this season, Pappoe had been on the field for 254 special-teams plays but had not played a defensive snap. That changed on Sunday, and Pappoe recorded a career high in tackles. His single-game best in his first two NFL seasons had been five tackles.
Green Bay Packers 28, Chicago Bears 21
Packers safety Jaylin Simpson is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Packers quarterback Malik Willis dressed for the game but did not play.
Colby Wooden started at defensive tackle for the Packers. Wooden made three tackles.
Houston Texans 20, Kansas City Chiefs 10
Texans defensive tackle Marlon Davidson (Greenville) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
Week 14 started on Thursday night, when the Detroit Lions defeated the Dallas Cowboys 44-30.
Week 14 concludes on Monday, when the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Chargers square off at 7:15 p.m. CDT at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. ABC and ESPN will televise the game.
Alabama NFL roundup: Packers lean on Josh Jacobs down the stretch
When Green Bay took possession after the Chicago Bears scored a touchdown to tie the game with eight minutes to play on Sunday, Packers running back Josh Jacobs had 50 yards on 15 rushing attempts.
When Jacobs crossed the goal line on a 2-yard touchdown run with 3:32 remaining, he had pushed his game totals to 86 yards on 20 carries, and Green Bay was on its way to a 28-21 victory that put the Packers into first place in the NFC North.
In the fourth quarter of a game that kicked off in a temperature of 16 degrees, Green Bay moved 65 yards on eight plays for the go-ahead touchdown, and Jacobs accounted for 36 yards on five carries and another 6 yards on a reception.
On a third-and-2 snap, Jacobs broke through the Chicago defense for a 21-yard run to the Bears 7-yard line.
“That was a hell of an individual effort,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said, “because, I mean, we missed (the block). All of a sudden, I just see a burst right in front of my face.”
By improving to 9-3-1, Green Bay slipped past Chicago, who fell to 9-4, into first place in the NFC North with four games remaining on its regular-season schedule.
Jacobs was among the 33 former Alabama players who got on the field on the 14th Sunday of the NFL’s 106th season.
One other former Alabama player was involved in the Chicago-Green Bay game:
Xavier McKinney started at safety for the Packers. McKinney made seven tackles.
More stories on the NFL
Auburn NFL roundup: Raiders receiver scores on his first career reception
State NFL roundup: Former prep receiver records safety on 60th sack
Bo Nix on Broncos’ 10-game winning streak: ‘We’re always looking to get better’
In the other Sunday games:
Seattle Seahawks 37, Atlanta Falcons 9
Falcons inside linebacker Ronnie Harrison made one tackle.
Falcons safety DeMarcco Hellams is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Josh Jobe started at cornerback for the Seahawks. Jobe made three tackles and broke up one pass.
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. He could play only if Sam Darnold and Drew Lock could not.
Seahawks fullback Robbie Ouzts did not record any stats.
Seahawks nose tackle Jarran Reed made two tackles. Reed came off injured reserve on Saturday after missing the previous four games because of a hand injury.
Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Baltimore Ravens 22
Derrick Henry started at running back for the Ravens. Henry had 94 yards on 25 rushing attempts and caught an 8-yard pass. Henry’s output pushed him past 1,000 rushing yards for the seventh season in his career.
RELATED: DERRICK HENRY REACHES RUSHING MILESTONE AGAIN
Marlon Humphrey (Hoover) started at cornerback for the Ravens. Humphrey made four tackles and broke up three passes.
Buffalo Bills 39, Cincinnati Bengals 34
Jordan Battle started at safety for the Bengals. Battle made eight tackles on defense, broke up one pass and had one tackle on special teams.
Bengals wide receiver Jermaine Burton was designated as a game-day inactive.
Bills defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis was designated as a game-day inactive.
Bengals center Seth McLauglin is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Tyrell Shavers started at wide receiver for the Bills. Shavers had a 16-yard reception.
Tennessee Titans 31, Cleveland Browns 29
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.
Browns wide receiver Isaiah Bond did not record any stats.
Browns running back Jerome Ford caught two passes for 10 yards and returned five kickoffs for 113 yards.
Jerry Jeudy started at wide receiver for the Browns. Jeudy had three receptions for 76 yards and one touchdown. Jeudy caught a 60-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Shedeur Sanders as Cleveland took a 17-14 lead with 2:47 left in the first half. The TD was the sixth of at least 60 yards for Jeudy in his NFL career.
J.C. Latham started at right offensive tackle.
Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Cam Robinson started at left offensive tackle for the Browns.
Jacksonville Jaguars 36, Indianapolis Colts 19
Colts defensive tackle Tim Smith is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Minnesota Vikings 31,Washington Commanders 0
Jonathan Allen started at defensive tackle for the Vikings. Allen made two tackles and registered two quarterback hits against Washington, where he played for the previous eight seasons.
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.
Ryan Kelly started at center for the Vikings.
Daron Payne (Shades Valley) started at defensive tackle for the Commanders.
Vikings kicker Will Reichard (Hoover) made his only field-goal attempt from 45 yards and hit four extra points.
Dallas Turner started at outside linebacker for the Vikings. Turner made two tackles.
Miami Dolphins 34, New York Jets 10
Minkah Fitzpatrick started at safety for the Dolphins. Fitzpatrick made three tackles on defense and one tackle on special teams.
John Metchie III started at wide receiver for the Jets. Metchie had four receptions for 34 yards.
Malachi Moore (Hewitt-Trussville) started at safety for the Jets. Moore made seven tackles.
Jets running back Keilan Robinson is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Tua Tagovailoa started at quarterback for the Dolphins. Tagovailoa completed 13-of-21 passes for 127 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. Tagovailoa threw a 3-yard pass to wide receiver Jaylen Waddle for the first points of the game.
RELATED: TUA TAGOVAILOA LEAVES PERSONAL LOSING STREAK OUT IN THE COLD
Jaylen Waddle started at wide receiver for the Dolphins. Waddle had five receptions for 90 yards and one touchdown and a 21-yard gain on a rushing attempt. The run was the longest of the 13 carries in Waddle’s NFL career. Waddle scored on a 3-yard pass from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa as Miami took a 7-0 lead with 12:46 left in the first quarter.
New Orleans Saints 24, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20
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 three tackles and recorded his first sack of the season.
Ga’Quincy “Kool-Aid” McKinstry (Pinson Valley) started at cornerback for the Saints. McKinstry tied for the team lead and tied his career high with seven tackles and broke up one pass. McKinstry broke up a fourth-and-2 pass from the New Orleans 46-yard line with 12:48 left to play and the score tied 17-17. It was one of the five times that the Saints defense stopped Tampa Bay on downs, and New Orleans drove from there for the go-ahead touchdown.
Denver Broncos 24, Las Vegas Raiders 17
Broncos outside linebacker Que Robinson (Jackson-Olin) was designated as a game-day inactive.
Broncos linebacker Drew Sanders is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Patrick Surtain II started at cornerback for the Broncos. Surtain made three tackles and broke up one pass.
Los Angeles Rams 45, Arizona Cardinals 17
Dalvin Tomlinson started at nose tackle for the Cardinals. Tomlinson made one tackle.
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.
Houston Texans 20, Kansas City Chiefs 10
Will Anderson Jr. started at defensive end for the Texans. Anderson made three tackles, recorded one tackle for loss and registered one quarterback hit.
Texans linebacker Christian Harris did not record any stats.
Henry To’oTo’o started at linebacker for the Texans. To’oTo’o made three tackles.
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
Week 14 started on Thursday night, when the Detroit Lions defeated the Dallas Cowboys 44-30.
Week 14 concludes on Monday, when the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Chargers square off at 7:15 p.m. CDT at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. ABC and 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…
Deion Sanders Breaks Silence After Browns Waste Shedeur’s 4TD Game
Deion Sanders was in the building on Sunday to watch his son, Shedeur Sanders, deliver the best performance of his young NFL career against the Tennessee Titans.
Shedeur put on a show, throwing for 364 yards and accounting for four total touchdowns — three through the air and another on the ground. He had Cleveland within striking distance of a stunning comeback, but a pair of failed two-point attempts ultimately proved costly in the Browns’ 31-29 loss.
After the final whistle, Coach Prime summed up what he witnessed in a single word.
“Wow!” he posted on X. He followed it up with a message of gratitude and faith.
“But guess what GOD IS SO SO SO SO GOOD! We’re gonna praise him consistently with Passion & Purpose!” Deion Sanders said, tagging all of his family members, including Shedeur.
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Dealing With ‘Stuff Behind Curtain’
Deion Sanders has been in attendance for two of Shedeur Sanders’ first three starts — including his debut in Las Vegas in Week 12. But Sunday marked the first time he saw him take the field as a starter in Cleveland. With Colorado’s season wrapped up, Coach Prime also visited the Browns‘ facility during the week to pay Shedeur a visit. It’s been an unfamiliar shift for Deion, who coached Shedeur for most of his football life before handing him off to the pros.
Shedeur’s path hasn’t been linear. Once projected as an early first-round pick, he slid to the fifth round and entered the league with something to prove. He’s steadily climbed the depth chart and made the most of his chances, a progression his father has watched with pride and perspective.
“I know some stuff behind the curtain, so I offer him not just on-the-field advice, off-the-field advice, life advice, because he’s going through a lot,” Deion said. “A lot of stuff is coming at him and he’s doing a great job. Thank God that God prepared him for everything he’s dealing with. I think a lesser man would’ve crumbled. But he’s been built for this.”
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Weighs in on Failed Conversion
Sanders helped spark the Browns’ comeback, but he wasn’t on the field for the afternoon’s most pivotal snap. With the game hanging on a two-point conversion, Cleveland turned to a wildcat look and dialed up a bit of trickery. It backfired in spectacular fashion. Running back Quinshon Judkins never completed the handoff on a reverse and ultimately floated an errant pass that fell incomplete. Sanders did not question the call after the game.
“If I’m out there any play, you know, I would wish I would always have the ball in my hand, but that’s not what football is. Sometimes you got to run the ball, sometimes you got to kick a field goal,” Sanders said. “So in any situation, of course you would want to. But I know we practiced something, and we executed it in practice, and we just didn’t seem to this day. So, I would never go against what the call was or anything.”
What we learned in NFL Week 14: End of an era for Chiefs, Colts look finished
In all likelihood, this season’s AFC playoff field is going to look nothing like it has in years. No Kansas City Chiefs. No Cincinnati Bengals. And quite possibly, no Baltimore Ravens.
The Chiefs’ run of nine straight AFC West titles? Finished. Their streak of seven straight conference championship games? All but over. That’s Kansas City’s new reality following Sunday night’s 20-10 loss to the Houston Texans. The Chiefs, winners of three straight AFC titles, will almost assuredly be watching the postseason from home for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era. Meanwhile, driven by the league’s nastiest defense, the Texans (8-5) are winners of five straight and currently in the AFC playoff field for the first time all year.
The Chiefs are not alone among expected AFC contenders. The Bengals are finished after allowing a 10-point second-half lead slip away in the Buffalo snow. The game turned on back-to-back Joe Burrow interceptions in the fourth quarter, and Josh Allen accounted for two of his four touchdowns in the final 7:41 to push the Bills to a 39-34 comeback win. Buffalo is now 9-4, Cincinnati 4-9.
And after clawing their way back to the front of the AFC North race, the Ravens have dropped two straight division games and fallen out of the current playoff seedings.
The door has opened, it seems, and the conference’s new blood — the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos and Jacksonville Jaguars — look primed to make January interesting.
One team that appeared ready to join that group throughout the first half of the season might have seen its playoff window close in the cruelest of ways Sunday. In Jacksonville, the Indianapolis Colts lost more than a divisional showdown. They also lost their starting quarterback, Daniel Jones, likely for the season with a torn Achilles. The 36-19 defeat was Indy’s fourth in five games, and the Colts are now in third place in the AFC South with a brutal schedule the rest of the way and an undrafted rookie, Riley Leonard, as their quarterback.
The Jaguars, meanwhile, have won four straight and are sitting alone atop the AFC South at 9-4. With so much of the Coach of the Year chatter focused on Mike Vrabel and Ben Johnson — deservedly so — the job Liam Coen has done in Jacksonville has been easy to overlook. It’s time to pay attention. He’s remade that franchise in a matter of months.
While Vrabel’s 11-2 Patriots were on a bye, the Broncos slid past them as the AFC’s top seed. Denver has won 10 straight after beating the Las Vegas Raiders 24-17 and owns a common opponent tiebreaker over New England.
In the NFC, the Los Angeles Rams moved back into the top spot after routing the Arizona Cardinals 45-17, while the No. 1 seed entering Sunday, the Chicago Bears, fell all the way to the No. 7 seed after a 28-21 loss to the Green Bay Packers. It was the Bears’ first loss since Halloween. The Packers, meanwhile, have rebounded nicely from that two-game skid in early November. Matt LaFleur’s team has won four straight and is back in front in the NFC North.
Both the Rams and Seahawks are 10-3, but L.A. owns the tiebreaker by virtue of a head-to-head meeting in Week 11. Seattle has been lights-out ever since. Over the past two games, the Seahawks’ defense has forced eight turnovers and allowed a combined nine points. This unit is downright scary and dominated again in an easy 37-9 win over the reeling Atlanta Falcons.
That two-point loss to the Rams in Week 11 — the game in which Sam Darnold tossed four interceptions, almost half his season total — is the only defeat for Seattle dating to Oct. 5. Mike Macdonald, now the first coach in franchise history to win 10 or more games each of his first two seasons, has his team playing like a Super Bowl contender.
In rainy Tampa, the NFC South race tightened up. The New Orleans Saints stunned the Buccaneers, 24-20, a result that had to have the Carolina Panthers smiling during their bye week. The Bucs and Panthers are both 7-6 with four games left and will meet in Weeks 16 and 18, likely with the division title on the line.
A week ago, Steelers fans were chanting “Fire Tomlin” during Pittsburgh’s listless loss to the Bills. On Sunday, Mike Tomlin’s team — and his 42-year-old quarterback — responded with their best offensive game of the year: Aaron Rodgers’ 284 passing yards were a season best, and the Steelers handed the Ravens a 27-22 loss. After all the noise in Pittsburgh all week, plenty of it centered on Tomlin’s status as his team again stumbled late in the season, what did Sunday’s result mean?
“It means maybe you guys will shut the hell up for a week,” Rodgers told reporters. The victory moves the Steelers to 7-6 and back atop the division with four to play. They’ll see the Ravens (6-7) again in Week 18.
In Cleveland, the Tennessee Titans won for just the second time all season, beating the Browns 31-29. Shedeur Sanders threw for three touchdowns and ran for another in the loss but wasn’t on the field for the Browns’ two-point attempt that could have tied it late. More significant was the impact of Tennessee’s second win on the top of the draft board. Thanks to a strength-of-schedule tiebreaker, it’s now the New York Giants who own the No. 1 pick. If that holds, it would be the franchise’s first No. 1 selection since 1965.
In Minnesota, J.J. McCarthy put together the best game of his young career in a 31-0 blanking of the Washington Commanders. McCarthy threw for three touchdowns in the Vikings’ first win in over a month. The Commanders, meanwhile, got quarterback Jayden Daniels back, but he was a rusty 9-for-20 for 78 yards and an interception before leaving with an elbow injury (coach Dan Quinn said Daniels could have returned). A year after a stirring run to the NFC Championship Game, the Commanders are 3-10. Minnesota is 5-8.
In East Rutherford, N.J., the Miami Dolphins won their fourth straight by running all over the Jets, 34-10. “It’s BS,” Jets coach Aaron Glenn said of Miami’s 239 rushing yards. “Way too many.” While the Dolphins have rallied admirably under embattled coach Mike McDaniel in the second half of the season, winning five of their last six after a 1-6 start, Glenn’s Jets have clinched another January at home. The franchise’s 15-year playoff drought is the longest in North American major sports.
Here’s what stood out from Week 14 across the NFL:
End of an era in Kansas City?
Travis Kelce, the 36-year-old future Hall of Famer, stumbled off the field in a daze, saying nothing. Two plays. Two drops. The drive that could’ve saved the Chiefs’ season ended with an interception because Kelce couldn’t hold onto the ball.
That’s how it ended Sunday night at Arrowhead. This was a slugfest, an ugly defensive battle, a 10-0 Texans’ lead at halftime that was knotted up by the start of the fourth quarter. Then came a pair of pivotal calls from Andy Reid, who elected to go for it on fourth down on his half of the field twice in the final period. Both times, his offense failed to convert.
Then — trailing by seven with 3:44 left and his team’s playoff hopes possibly hanging in the balance — Mahomes had one final shot. The drive lasted two plays. Kelce dropped one, then another, the second of which turned into an interception for Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. Houston tacked on a field goal to put the game out of reach.
Will the final days of Kelce’s career unfold over the coming month? He weighed retirement after last season, and as disappointing as this one has been, it’s not all that difficult to imagine him walking away.
Either way, the Chiefs will have to regroup for 2026 and find more answers on offense, with or without one of their longtime stalwarts. It wasn’t just Kelce on Sunday. The Chiefs dropped six Mahomes passes, the most in any game he’s ever played. On third and fourth downs, Kansas City finished 3-for-10.
The Chiefs built their dynasty by executing in key moments. All season long, they’ve found ways to screw them up.
The Texans, meanwhile, have only allowed two opponents this season to score more than 20 points, and none since early November. With the game on the line Sunday night — in the same stadium Houston’s season ended last January in the divisional round — DeMeco Ryans’ unit shut the door, over and over and over. Some of it was KC’s mistakes. Plenty more was the Texans’ pressure on Mahomes and sticky coverage in the back end. That’s what a championship defense looks like.
If Houston keeps this up, it could be a problem in the AFC playoffs. No one will want to see that defense.
LaFleur, Packers take Round 1
It was an odd jab, but one to file away. The day he was introduced as the Bears’ new coach in January, Ben Johnson lauded praise on his former boss in Detroit, Dan Campbell, as well as Minnesota’s Kevin O’Connell. Then he threw this in about the NFC North’s other head man: “I kind of enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year.”
Johnson was referring to his time with the Lions. His first test with his new team arrived Sunday. And by the end of this one, the Packers’ faithful at Lambeau Field were chanting a familiar refrain: “The Bears still suck.” The tally? LaFleur 1, Johnson 0. The handshake between the two head coaches was noticeably icy.
“We’ll see them again in two weeks,” LaFleur said later, downplaying any personal satisfaction after beating Johnson. “It’s Packers-Bears.”
The engine behind this one was a Packers’ offense that has come to life in recent weeks. Jordan Love threw three touchdowns, including two to Christian Watson, and running back Josh Jacobs scored the go-ahead TD in the fourth quarter.
Caleb Williams had a shot to tie it late, but he underthrew a fourth-and-1 pass from the Packers’ 5-yard-line that was intercepted by Keisean Nixon. Ever since that ugly seven-point outing against the Eagles a month ago — which now feels like the low point of the Packers’ season — Green Bay has responded with games of 27, 23, 31 and 28 points. This offense is finding itself just in time for a playoff run.
The win moves the Packers to the top of the NFC North, a division they haven’t won since 2021. After stumbling to a 1-5 mark in division games last season, the Packers have started 4-0 this year. Meanwhile, the Bears’ five-game win streak is history, and they are now 1-12 in their last 13 against the Packers.
Are the Colts finished?
This was a worst-case scenario unfolding in real time, a playoff contender watching its postseason chances fade to black in one brutal sequence. There was no hit from the Jaguars’ defense, just Daniel Jones crumbling to the grass in Jacksonville after a first-half completion, grabbing his lower right leg in agony. A moment later, while the Colts’ training staff surrounded him, the quarterback unstrapped his helmet and twice slammed it on the field. It was about as much emotion as Jones has shown all season.
The 36-19 defeat, the Colts’ 12th straight road loss to the Jaguars, feels less consequential than what Jones’ injury will mean for the franchise moving forward. Simply put: this muddies everything. It has been a stunning turn of events for a team that had the best record in the league just five weeks ago.
Back in late October, Indianapolis was 7-1 and steamrolling opponents every week. Jonathan Taylor was running over and around every defense he saw. Jones was scripting a stunning second act. First-year coordinator Lou Anarumo was revitalizing the defense and Shane Steichen had worked his way into the Coach of the Year conversation. General manager Chris Ballard, emboldened by his team’s hot start, made an ambitious move at the trade deadline, sending two first-round picks to New York in exchange for cornerback Sauce Gardner.
The Colts were going for it. Now they are 8-5.
They’ve dropped four of their last five. And indications are that Jones tore the Achilles in his right leg, an injury that will jeopardize his availability for the start of the 2026 season. The QB was already playing through a left fibula injury, which played a significant role in the offense’s regression over the last few weeks. Now, a nightmare injury comes at one of the worst times. With a brutal stretch coming up — at Seattle, home against San Francisco and Jacksonville, at Houston — Indianapolis is staring at some long odds to make its first playoff trip since 2020.
Furthermore, Jones’ future in Indianapolis now becomes a different conversation. The trade for Gardner was a clear indication this team felt comfortable moving forward with Jones beyond this season; you don’t send away two first-round picks if you don’t believe you have your quarterback of the future already on the roster. Jones will be a free agent in the spring, and the Colts preferred locking him up before he hit the open market. How much does the injury change that? And how much pause does it give an organization that has cycled through six Week 1 starters dating to 2019?
Complicating matters is the uncertain status of Anthony Richardson, the No. 4 overall pick in 2023, who lost the starting job to Jones in August and has been on injured reserve for over a month after suffering an orbital fracture in his eye during a freak stretching incident in the locker room in October. Steichen has said recently that the team remains “hopeful” that Richardson can return this season, but he’s still regaining vision in his eye. It doesn’t sound like he’ll be ready anytime soon.
Richardson will be entering his fourth NFL season next year, and the Colts have publicly vowed not to trade him. If Richardson is able to return this season, it’ll be another opportunity for the young quarterback to overcome the rocky start to his career. And maybe his last opportunity in Indianapolis.
Not even Patrick Mahomes can save these Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, a future first-ballot Hall of Famer and generational talent that played a major role in establishing the Kansas City Chiefs’ dynasty. And yet, he seems powerless to stop his team from what increasingly looks like an inevitable fate: with four games left to be played, the 6-7 Chiefs are on the verge of playoff elimination.
Sunday night’s 20-10 loss to the visiting Houston Texans was not the final nail in the coffin yet, but things are looking bleak. We already know Kansas City’s streak of AFC West titles will end at nine, while the chances of a postseason push are low as well.
According to The Athletic, Mahomes and company have only a 16% chance of qualifying as one of the seven best teams in the AFC. For comparison, nine other teams have better odds that the three-time reigning AFC champions.
Even if they win out, their chances of making it into the tournament are only calculated at 53%. It seems that not even Mahomes can save them, and Sunday’s game made that painfully clear.
Going against arguably the best defense in football, he completed only 14 of 33 passes for 160 yards with zero touchdowns and three interceptions. While he did gain a team-high 59 yards on seven runs for a solid average of 8.4 yards per carry, he posted an abysmal EPA per play of -0.44 with a completion percentage 14.9% below expectation. No matter the angle, his game on Sunday was, statistically, the worst of his career.
It was par the course for the 30-year-old this season.
So far in 2025, Mahomes has completed 63.1% of his passes — lowest in his career — while throwing 22 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Since the calendar flipped to November, his numbers have been even less impressive: in five games since, he stands at 57.3% completion rate with five touchdowns and six interceptions. The Chiefs are 1-4 over that span, with the only win an overtime defeat of a Colts team in free fall.
Obviously, football is a complex game and not all the blame for Kansas City’s issues can be pinned on its QB. Sunday was no exception.
Left tackle Wanya Morris, who under ideal circumstances would be the third option at the position, suffered a game-ending injury knee injury on the very first snap of the night. The ground game was carried by quarterback scrambles, averaging only 3.0 yards per attempt between the three backs employed by the team. Ol’ reliable Travis Kelce was among several receiving options who failed to make a positive impact as well.
Add it all up, and you get a team in offensive shambles with a quarterback unable to make up for the various shortcomings. Against a world-class defense like Houston’s the results speak for themselves.
So, where do the Chiefs go from here?
They will take on the 8-4 Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium next Sunday, in a do-or-die game: if Kansas City loses, the playoff dream is effectively over. If they survive that challenge, it is on to matchups with the Titans, Broncos and Raiders — not the most daunting schedule, but Denver is a definitive challenge even at home.
“We know the chances are getting lower and lower, but I know the guys on this team are going to give everything they have, every opportunity we get,” Mahomes said on Sunday.
“We’re not winning games, but that mindset the guys have in this locker room, in the games we’re not winning, you can never question the fight of this team. Obviously, we’re not executing at the right moments and we’re not making those plays, but at the end of the day you can never question that, and I think you’ll see that these last four weeks.”
At the end of the day, however, results speak the clearest language. And those have largely been lacking in Kansas City this season.
As a consequence, it would take a major turnaround for the Chiefs to get back into the playoff picture. Even for Mahomes, who has made a career out of pulling himself and his team out of unfavorable situations, that appears to be too big of a challenge.
3 Unexpected Fantasy Takeaways from Raiders’ Discouraging Loss to Broncos
The Las Vegas Raiders dropped their seventh straight game in Week 14, this time getting swept by the Denver Broncos with a 24-17 loss at home.
This team wasn’t expected to beat the current AFC West leader, but they were hoping to show some signs of improvement from the first time they faced the Broncos. Instead, they seemingly went backward with Greg Olson as offensive coordinator instead of Chip Kelly.
That’s not exactly fair, though. The margin may have been closer in the first leg of the season series, but that was more a result of the Broncos playing down to their opponent than a testament to anything Kelly or the Raiders did right. In their first matchup with Denver, Las Vegas only put seven points on the board. They had a lot more offensive success in this last game, even if a lot of it came in garbage time.
Is Kenny Pickett the answer?
1. Geno Smith
At this point in the season, it’s clear that the only impact Geno Smith will have on fantasy football is what he does for the Las Vegas Raiders’ other options. He didn’t play an awful game against the Denver Broncos, finishing with 116 yards and a touchdown on 13-of-21 passing, but he couldn’t consistently move the chains on an elite defensive unit.
Smith exited this game with a shoulder injury. Initial scans didn’t show any serious damage, but with the season already lost and his abysmal performance this year, this could be the end of his time with the Raiders, at least for the remainder of the campaign.
2. Kenny Pickett
Kenny Pickett spelled Smith after the Raiders’ starting quarterback went to the locker room. While the contest was already well out of hand when he came in, Pickett moved the ball encouragingly well in his limited time at the helm. He threw for 97 yards and a touchdown on 8-of-11 passing against the Broncos, who were essentially playing prevent defense to avoid any kind of last-minute comeback on huge plays.
Still, Pickett could wind up bringing some more life to this offense. It’s not like Smith set a very high bar. That could lead to some resurgent Raiders performances in the fantasy playoffs.
3. Ashton Jeanty
A big focus for new offensive coordinator Greg Olson was to fix Las Vegas’ abysmal run game. Chip Kelly was fired largely because he couldn’t maximize Ashton Jeanty, whom the Raiders took with the sixth-overall pick in the previous draft. So far, Jeanty’s been just as unproductive under Olson.
In Week 14, he finished with just 30 yards on 10 carries and caught two balls for eight yards. It wasn’t likely that Jeanty would get much going against a stout Denver run defense, but he’s got to show more in the final few games of the season. His fantasy managers will be hoping that Pickett can open things up more on the ground.
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Soccer South Korean jailed 4 yrs for extorting MLS star Son claiming pregnancy, Yonhap says
December 7 – Texas businessman and philanthropist Tom Hicks, who simultaneously owned NHL, Major League Baseball and English Premier League soccer clubs, died Saturday. He was 79.
Hicks formerly owned the Dallas Stars from 1995-2011 and the Texas Rangers from 1998-2010. He also acquired 50% ownership of Liverpool.
A news release from Hicks Holdings LLC early Sunday morning said Hicks died peacefully surrounded by his family in Dallas.
The 2022 inductee into the Texas Business Hall of Fame co-founded Hicks & Haas in 1984 and
Mo Salah Could Make Shock MLS Move as Two Clubs Weigh Up Approach
SEOUL, Dec 8 (Reuters) – A South Korean woman who demanded money from national team captain and Major League Soccer player Son Heung-min claiming she was pregnant with his child was sentenced to four years in jail on Monday for extortion, Yonhap news agency reported.
A woman in her 20s known by her surname Yang was indicted earlier this year for threatening to make her pregnancy public and receiving 300 million won ($205,000) in return for her silence, after which she tried to get a further 70 million won.
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A man in his 40s was also indicted for conspiring with her.
The Seoul Central District Court sentenced Yang to four years in prison and the male accomplice to two years in jail, Yonhap reported.
The defendants used Son’s fame and his
Rising Citizenship Shifts Prompt Blunt Mirra Andreeva Verdict From Russian Tennis Chief
Since the tension between Russia and Ukraine began in February 2022, Russian players have competed as neutral athletes on the ATP and WTA Tours and remain banned from the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup. Several athletes have since changed their sporting nationality, with Anastasia Potapova becoming the latest. However, Russian tennis chief Shamil Tarpischev has now bluntly dismissed suggestions that Mirra Andreeva could join those making such a switch.
Asked by the Russian sports website Championat whether there was any concern that the current Russian No. 1 Mirra Andreeva might change nationality, Shamil Tarpischev gave a sharp and clear reply.
“No. Neither she [Andreeva] nor Shnaider. Imagine I have 1,070 tennis players playing abroad. They’re like army men! And we keep 350 on our national teams. The rest are on their own.”
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Since February 2022, nine Russian players have switched their sporting nationality. Before the conflict, players like Elena Rybakina, Alexander Bublik, and Yulia Putintseva moved to Kazakhstan mainly for financial reasons. While nationality changes are not new, the rise in switches since 2022 has been significant.
Anastasia Potapova became the fourth player this year to change nationality. She followed Kamila Rakhimova and Maria Timofeeva, who now represent Uzbekistan, and Daria Kasatkina, who represents Australia. The trend has drawn attention as more players look for stability, support, or new opportunities abroad.
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Rumors about Andreeva’s future are not new. In 2023, speculation surfaced that she might seek French citizenship after being confirmed for Netflix’s second Break Point season. Craig Shapiro, host of a tennis podcast, even suggested she could follow Varvara Gracheva’s path.
However, those rumors were quickly shut down. Mirra Andreeva’s agent, Lev Kassil, firmly denied the claims. “Today’s information about Mirra receiving French citizenship is erroneous. We are preparing a refutation,” Kassil said.
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Now, with Tarpischev again dismissing the possibility of Andreeva joining another nation, he has also commented on Potapova’s recent decision to switch her sporting nationality.
Tarpischev offers his reaction to Anastasia Potapova’s nationality switch
Just a couple of days ago, Anastasia Potapova used her Instagram account to confirm a major change in her career. She announced that she would officially represent Austria starting in 2026. Her decision came shortly after world No. 112 Rakhimova’s switch to Uzbekistan was confirmed by the Uzbek Tennis Federation.
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Potapova, ranked No. 51, was only the seventh-highest-ranked Russian player on the WTA Tour. Now, she becomes Austria’s No. 1 player and the country’s highest-ranked woman since July 2014.
Tarpischev now shared what he believed might have motivated Potapova’s decision. He suggested that the chance to compete in the Billie Jean King Cup and the Olympic Games likely played a role.
“I can’t say anything about Potapova. For us, if this isn’t a complete surprise, then it’s a surprise that she did it. She lived in Austria for two years. I can only assume she wants to participate in the Olympics. She doesn’t make our team based on the rankings. She kept complaining about visa problems. It disrupts our rhythm. Purely mundane things. Athletes don’t change their home countries, but their sporting citizenship. Because everyone wants to play. Why do they leave at this time? Because other countries are recruiting for the Olympics and, as a rule, they take our reserves. They pay a lot of money,” he explained.
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Tarpischev added more thoughts on the topic.
“It’s a combination of a person’s thinking about how to play better and how to best achieve results. With this attitude, they change their sporting citizenship, but not their home country.”
With the speculation now resolved, Andreeva heads into 2026 after a strong 2025 season that included two Masters titles. The focus now shifts to whether she can rise to the moment again and produce another deep run at the year’s first major, the Australian Open.
Veteran WTA Icon’s Comeback After Painful Hiatus Faces 20-Year-Old’s Wrath
For most players, a year and a half away from professional tennis is enough to blur the rhythm, dull the instinct, and soften the fire that once burned on court. But as 41-year-old Vera Zvonareva walked into Dubai this week, she carried none of that hesitation. Instead, she arrived with a quiet resolve – one that soon turned into the biggest storyline of the ITF W100 tournament. Few expected her to string together wins. Even fewer anticipated the depth of the run she’d produce. But she did! However, fairytales in tennis often meet a reality check… Guess what?
In Dubai, that reality arrived in the form of a fearless 20-year-old Croatian rising star. Zvonareva arrived in Dubai without a ranking, without expectations, and without the spotlight that once followed her across the biggest stages in tennis. After beating Tara Wuth. Tereza Martincova and Sofya Lansere, the former world number 2, took on 16-year-old Mika Stojsavljevic in the SF. Before that match, Zvonareva admitted, “This is going to be yet another challenge before me.” But the veteran managed to beat the British player in three sets to reach her first final since 2020. But now in the final, her dream run came to an end at the hands of Petra Marcinko.
The Croatian tennis star defeated Vera Zvonareva by 6-3,6-3 to win the ITF W100 title in Dubai. This was her 10th win in a row, and with this win, Marcinko has now also secured her spot in the main draw of the 2026 AO. Had Zvonareva defeated Marcinko, she would have won her first singles title since 2017. However, nevertheless, it was still a very impressive outing for the 41-year-old tennis star, especially considering her return from the shoulder surgery that she had in September last year. With this incredible run, Zvonareva has now also secured a ranking of 654 in the WTA singles list.
So, for Zvonareva, this run was something deeper. Her dream run may have ended, but it felt less like a conclusion and more like a beginning. In Dubai, the trophy went to a 20-year-old. But the story? That belonged to a 41-year-old who reminded everyone why she became a fan favorite in the first place. What did she say, though, after finishing her campaign in Dubai on a positive note?
Tennis ace Vera Zvonareva looks pleased with her performance in Dubai
If we take a look back, Vera Zvonareva turned pro in 2000, and over these 25 years, she has won 12 singles titles and 16 doubles titles. Although she won three Grand Slam titles (2012 AO, 2006 US Open, 2020 US Open) in doubles, if we take a look at her singles record, she reached the finals twice (2010 Wimbledon, 2010 US Open). But she never really got hold of the title. She has tasted more success in doubles than in singles.
However, here in Dubai, nobody had penciled Vera Zvonareva into the final – or even deep into the draw. But with every win, the 41-year-old defied expectations, proving that time away from the tour hadn’t dimmed her brilliance. Her journey through Dubai became the week’s most unexpected – and inspiring – headline.
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But just like the singles, even in doubles, her title triumph hope was so close, yet so far. Zvonareva and her doubles partner Rada Zoloatreva missed out on a big lead and a golden chance to beat Gao Xinyu and Manachaya Sawangkaew in the final. The match ended at 4-6, 7-5, 10-7 in favor of Xinyu and Sawangkaew.
After finishing her campaign in Dubai, she summed up her week with grace and gratitude, sharing a heartfelt message with fans. “Thank you @alhabtoortennis for this week! Finalist in singles and finalists in doubles 🏆🙏🏼.” What are your thoughts on the 41-year-old tennis star’s incredible run in Dubai? Good things lining up for Vera Zvonareva in 2026? Share your views with us in the comments section.
Alex De Minaur’s Near-$1 Million Feat Becomes National Talking Point Despite Off-Season
Alex de Minaur claimed the Ultimate Tennis Showdown in London on Sunday, defeating World No. 12 Casper Ruud in a thrilling final. The World No. 7 pocketed $964,000, including a $390,000 winner’s cheque and a $250,000 bonus from a prior UTS event in France. In the process, the Aussie etched his name in history, surpassing Lleyton Hewitt’s record and marking a remarkable rise in his career.
Alex de Minaur has become the highest-earning male prize-money winner in Australian tennis history, surpassing the long-standing record held by Lleyton Hewitt. His latest success at the Ultimate Tennis Showdown saw him walk away with nearly $1 million, marking one of the biggest paydays of his career. This milestone pushes him past Hewitt, who earned $20,890,470, and makes de Minaur the top male prize-money earner in Australian tennis.
He is now 31st on the ATP all-time prize-money list and is closing in on several legendary names. He also lifted the lightning bolt trophy for the second straight year, a symbol that looks like something Zeus himself would carry. The 26-year-old now has more than US$21 million, around $32 million Australian, in career earnings.
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To put that in perspective, Ivan Lendl earned $21,262,417 in his great career, while Boris Becker collected $25,080,956. The comparison highlights how much prize money has grown in modern tennis.
De Minaur is also on track to become the highest-earning Australian player overall in the coming years. Although he now holds the men’s record, Ash Barty still leads the national list with $23,829,070. Sam Stosur sits behind her with $20,070,126.
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Since the UTS began five years ago, de Minaur has now won three titles. After lifting the trophy at London’s Copper Box Arena last year, he has now claimed back-to-back wins at the home venue of his fiancée, Katie Boulter.
He defeated Casper Ruud 3-1 in Sunday’s final, winning 11-15, 15-10, 15-11, 16-7. “It’s amazing to win here again,” he said. “London is a special place for me, and my home now. There’s no rest for me. I might take Monday off, but then it’s back on court practising for the new season.”
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With his preseason appearances already bringing in major earnings, even Nick Kyrgios has praised the “tennis Demon’s” divine year.
Nick Kyrgios tips de Minaur to challenge tennis’s rising “New Two”
After another standout season, Alex de Minaur is set to collect his fourth Newcombe Medal at Australian tennis’s night of nights in Melbourne on Monday. Only Ash Barty, with five awards, has won more. De Minaur will also surpass Samantha Stosur’s run of three consecutive medals from 2010 to 2012.
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The 26-year-old reached the semi-finals of the season-ending ATP championship, joining his mentor Lleyton Hewitt and John Newcombe as only the third Australian to achieve the feat. He also matched his career-high ranking of world No. 6 in October.
De Minaur remains the only Australian man since Hewitt, two decades ago, to break into the top 10. Even Nick Kyrgios peaked at world No. 13 after reaching the 2022 Wimbledon final.
Now, Kyrgios believes it may still be early to call de Minaur a future Grand Slam champion. However, he places him firmly among the players ready to strike, especially if Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner falter at the Australian Open.
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“Demon’s doing an amazing job, to be honest. He’s a genuine contender, I think. Maybe not at a grand slam over best of five with the way Alcaraz and Sinner are playing right now. But if one of those guys go down early, I would say that Demon’s one of the other three or four people that genuinely has a chance to do it,” Kyrgios said.
He praised de Minaur’s intensity and professionalism. “We all know how hard he works. I’ve been around him and his competitiveness and work ethic is literally probably second to none.”
Kyrgios also pointed out that success is not defined by major titles alone. “But look, regardless, he may not ever win a grand slam, or he may not ever win a Masters event or whatever it is, but I like what he’s doing now. It is still incredible. He’s been top 10 now for years and he’s already done things that are incredible.”
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With such strong support from an Australian icon, de Minaur now turns toward his home Slam. Fans will hope the “Demon” can finally produce a deep run at the Australian Open.
What to know about Grant Thornton Invitational golf tournament
The Grant Thornton Invitational is a mixed-team golf tournament featuring 16 PGA and LPGA players.
Teams will compete for a $4 million purse over three days using scramble, foursome, and modified four-ball formats.
The event takes place at Tiburón Golf Club in Naples from December 12-14.
Tiburón Golf Club in Naples will host the third annual Grant Thornton Invitational this week, a mixed-team event that’s part of the Challenge Season.
The 16 mixed teams, evenly comprised of PGA and LPGA players, will compete for an equal $4 million purse. The three-day tournament will consist of three distinct playing formats: scramble, foursome and modified four-ball.
This year’s field has a combined 137 LPGA and PGA career victories with nine of those wins coming in 2025. There are 10 major champions in the field, including Sweden’s Maja Stark, this year’s U.S. Women’s Open Champion. A total of seven different countries will be represented in Naples.
The three-day event starts Friday, Dec. 12 and runs through Sunday, Dec. 14. Monday and Tuesday are reserved for practice days and the tournament’s Pro-Am is Wednesday and Thursday. The practice rounds and Pro-Am are closed to the public.
The tournament will be televised by Golf Channel and NBC. If you plan to head out to Tiburón, here’s a guide to what you’ll need to know and what to expect once you arrive for the Grant Thornton Invitational.
Grant Thornton Invitational teams
Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings (WWGR); Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) as of Dec. 1, 2025
Patty Tavatanakit (WWGR: 56) and Jake Knapp (OWGR: 99)
As the defending Grant Thornton champions, this pair holds a total of three career wins on their respective tours. The 26-year-old Tavatanakit, a native of Thailand, has two wins on the LPGA Tour and was the 2021 Rookie of the Year on the LPGA Tour. Knapp, 31, has one career PGA TOUR title.
Lydia Ko (WWGR: 6) and Jason Day (OWGR: 49)
As the inaugural champions of the Grant Thornton in 2023, these former World No. 1 players have the most individual career titles in the field. Ko, 28, an LPGA Hall of Fame member from New Zealand, has 23 victories and won a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Day, 37, from Australia, has won 13 times, including the 2015 PGA Championship.
Lilia Vu (WWGR: 43) and Tony Finau (OWGR: 84)
Vu, 28, is a five-time winner on the LPGA Tour, with four victories in 2023, including two major championships. Finau, 36, has six career victories. This is a new team and Finau’s return to the tournament since 2023, when he finished T4 with Nelly Korda.
Nelly Korda (WWGR: 2) and Denny McCarthy (OWGR: 63)
Korda, 26, has accumulated 15 career victories, including two major titles. She was named the 2024 Rolex Player of the Year following a seven-win season. This is her third consecutive appearance in the tournament, with her best result being a T4 in 2023, when she was paired with Tony Finau. McCarthy, 32, is making his second appearance since 2023, when he finished T4 with Megan Khang.
Jessica Korda (WWGR: NA) and Bud Cauley (OWGR: 69)
Both are newcomers to the competition. Korda, 32, has won six times on the LPGA Tour. Cauley, 35, who has suffered multiple injuries since 2018, had a strong resurgence in 2025, qualifying him for the PGA TOUR playoffs and rising to No. 66 in the world.
Brooke Henderson (WWGR: 25) and Corey Conners (OWGR: 30)
This will be the third consecutive year this Canadian team has been paired together, finishing second in 2023 and T4 last year. Henderson, 28, has won 14 times on the LPGA Tour, including a special victory this year at the CPKC Women’s Canadian Open. Conners, 33, has two career victories on the PGA TOUR, both at the Valero Texas Open. He was T8 at the Masters Tournament and T10 at The Open Championship this year.
Andrea Lee (WWGR: 21) and Billy Horschel (OWGR: 45)
This will be the second time these two are paired together. In 2023, they finished T14. Combined, they have nine victories on their respective tours. Lee, 27, has one victory, and Horschel, 38, has eight PGA TOUR wins, including a FedEx Cup trophy.
Charley Hull (WWGR: 5) and Daniel Berger (OWGR: 58)
England’s Hull will be returning for her second appearance in the tournament since finishing T9 with fellow countryman Justin Rose in 2023. Berger is also making his second start, finishing 13th with Nelly Korda last year. Hull, 29, has won three times during her career, including a win in September at the Kroger Queen City Championship. Berger, 32, is a four-time winner on the PGA TOUR.
Lottie Woad (WWGR: 11) and Luke Clanton (OWGR: 165)
This team is making its Grant Thornton debut. As the youngest pairing in the field, Woad, 21, and Clanton, 21, were college teammates at Florida State. Woad, from England, won the 2022 Girls Amateur Championship, 2024 Augusta National Women’s Amateur and reached No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking in June 2024. Earlier this year, she won her first professional start on the LPGA Tour at the Women’s Scottish Open. Clanton, 21, rose to No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking in August 2024.
Lexi Thompson (WWGR: 73) and Wyndham Clark (OWGR: 38)
This major championship-winning duo will be paired for the first time. Thompson, 30, has played the last two years with Rickie Fowler, while Clark, 31, is joining the tournament for the first time. Thompson has 11 career victories. Clark has won three times on the PGA TOUR, all in 2023, including the U.S. Open.
Jennifer Kupcho (WWGR: 32) and Chris Gotterup (OWGR: 28)
Kupcho returns for the second year, finishing third last year with Akshay Bhatia. Gotterup is a rookie in the field. Kupcho, 28, won the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur in 2019 and has since recorded four career LPGA Tour victories, including this year’s ShopRite LPGA Classic. Gotterup, 26, was the college player of the year in 2022 and has two PGA TOUR wins, including the Scottish Open in July.
Rose Zhang (WWGR: 59) and Michael Kim (OWGR: 36)
Zhang, 22, returns for her second start in the tournament. She finished T9 with Sahith Theegala in 2023. Zhang has won twice on the LPGA Tour. Her first win in 2023 made her the first player to win in her professional debut on the LPGA Tour since 1951. Kim, 32, holds one PGA TOUR victory from 2018. In 2013, while at the University of California, Berkeley, he was named the college national player of the year. This is his first appearance in the tournament.
Lauren Coughlin (WWGR: 20) and Andrew Novak (OWGR: 31)
Coughlin is making her second consecutive start in the tournament. She finished T7 with Cam Young last year. This is the first start for Novak. Coughlin, 33, has two LPGA Tour wins, both in 2024. Novak, 30, captured his first PGA TOUR victory this year in New Orleans at a team event with partner Ben Griffin.
Maja Stark (WWGR: 15) and Neal Shipley (OWGR: 96)
Stark is making her second consecutive appearance in the competition. The Swedish star was T9 last year with J.T. Poston. Shipley is another tournament rookie in the field. Stark, 25, has two career victories, including this year’s U.S. Women’s Open. Shipley, 24, has won twice on the Korn Ferry Tour this season, earning his PGA TOUR card for the 2026 season.
Angel Yin (WWGR: 13) and Tom Hoge (OWGR: 94)
This is a new team competing in the Grant Thornton Invitational. Yin, 27, has won twice on the LPGA Tour, including the Honda LPGA Thailand earlier this season. Hoge, 36, won the 2022 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am for his lone PGA TOUR victory so far.
Megan Khang (WWGR: 37) and Keith Mitchell (OWGR: 123)
Khang is returning to the Grant Thornton for the third time with a different partner. She was T9 with Matt Kuchar last year and T4 with Denny McCarthy in 2023. Mitchell is making his tournament debut. Khang, 28, has one career victory, and Mitchell, 33, has one PGA TOUR win.
Format of play
Men’s yardage: 7,382 yards
Women’s yardage: 6,595 yards
How much are tickets?
Tickets are $55 for daily grounds and $130 for weekly grounds. For more information on VIP and specialty tickets, including to the Michelob Ultra Brew House and The 1834 Club, visit grantthorntoninvitational.com.
The Grant Thornton Invitational will provide complimentary admission each tournament day to all veterans, active, reserve, and retired military personnel and up to two dependents. To receive a complimentary ticket, a valid proof of service must be shown at the tournament’s main entrance. The offer is valid at the gate only.
For more information, visit grantthorntoninvitational.com.
Where do I park?
Tiburón is located on the same property as The Ritz-Carlton Naples. General parking is located in Lot C (Friday and Saturday) at 3000 Orange Blossom Drive between Airport Pulling Road and Livingston Road and in Lot D (Sunday only) at 13275 Livingston Road. The parking fee is $10 per vehicle. Shuttles will be provided to and from the golf course.
All tournament-provided parking lots are handicap accessible.
What can I do when I’m not watching golf?
The Grant Thornton Invitational Fan Zone will feature tournament merchandise, LPGA Lesson Zones with complimentary golf instruction, a 6-hole putting course and an autograph alley area.
Lee Health sponsors Health & Wellness Day on Saturday, Dec. 13 featuring a pair of free events: Burn Boot Camp, which takes place at 8 a.m. behind the 18th green, and Fairway Yoga starting at 9 a.m. on the 18th fairway.
What is Live Fest?
The sixth annual concert has become a highlight of tournament weekend.
This year’s event features Darius Rucker, Russell Dickerson, O.A.R., and Rock Republic with special guest Casey Bishop. The outdoor concert is from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13 at the Tiburón Golf Club driving range. General admission tickets are $150 with other packages from $195 and up.
Yankees live updates from MLB Winter Meetings 2025
ORLANDO, Fla. – Welcome to MLB’s Winter Meetings, where the Yankees’ objective is clear on Cody Bellinger and foggy on the rest.
Pursuing the versatile, lefty-hitting outfielder is a big part of the pinstriped agenda just outside Disney World, but there’s a need, too, for pitching depth and some complementary right-handed bats.
“You never know,’’ GM Brian Cashman said of finding trade or free agent matches at these meetings. “It’s that time of year, so you hope you run into some things.’’
That said, “I don’t think there’s as deep of a need of a lot of things as there were last year,’’ said Cashman, referencing the pivots after losing free agent Juan Soto to the Mets.
“But there’s things we’re obviously trying to do,’’ Cashman said of acquisitions big and small.
Any larger scale deals by the Yanks might be via trade, due to owner Hal Steinbrenner’s “ideal’’ of a payroll just south of the final luxury tax threshold.
But there are no hard-and-fast budget restrictions, and Cashman will continue to bring expensive player acquisition ideas and recommendations for Steinbrenner’s consideration.
Already, Cashman has spoken to super-agent Scott Boras about his big-name free agent list, including Bellinger.
NY Mets live updates from MLB Winter Meetings 2025
ORLANDO, Fla. — A season ago at the Major League Baseball’s Winter Meetings, the Mets grabbed a stranglehold on the attention when they landed Juan Soto one night into the proceedings on the richest contract in sports.
It was a massive swing by the Mets front office – one that only netted soft contact during Soto’s first season in Flushing as the team fell shy of the postseason.
As president of baseball operations David Stearns and the Mets descend on this year’s installment of the league’s offseason soiree in Orlando, Fla., there is much work to do with the club’s roster with two months to go before a return trip to the Sunshine State and the beginning of spring training.
The Mets have already made waves early in the offseason, trading Brandon Nimmo and bringing in Marcus Semien. Last week, they signed reliever Devin Williams to a three-year, $51 million contract to plug in one hole in the bullpen.
But the futures of franchise favorites Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz still linger at the top of mind for Mets fans. After last season’s disappointment, there is a need to bolster the top of the starting rotation — either via a signing or trade — and Nimmo’s exit opens up a second gap in the outfield that needs to be filled. And the bullpen, oft a liability a season ago, could stand to add some dependable contributors after a swath of exits from last season’s unit.
All of those needs take center stage as the Mets hit the marketplace at this Winter Meetings. Follow along for updates on all the moving and shaking throughout MLB:
MLB Winter Meetings information, key dates, storylines to follow
The baseball world converges on Orlando for a few days of wheeling and dealing.
Major League Baseball’s Winter Meetings often become a hot bed of activity to feed the offseason’s hot stove, with all 30 clubs having representatives from their respective front offices within the same area.
The Guardians have a number of ongoing storylines, including the potential trading — or possibly re-signing — of All-Star left fielder Steven Kwan, the legal proceedings and investigations of Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz and the possibility of adding to a roster coming off of back-to-back American League Central titles.
Zooming out to the league, 29 clubs are again chasing the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are trying to further a potential dynasty with Shohei Ohtani and Co.
What are the MLB Winter Meetings?
The Winter Meetings act as the official convention of Major League Baseball. The week features numerous events and meetings and a baseball-centric job fair. This year’s Winter Meetings are being held in Orlando, Florida.
2025 Winter Meetings start date?
The 2025 MLB Winter Meetings are set for Dec. 7-11, though most of the activity often occurs toward the middle of the week.
When is the Rule 5 Draft?
Blue Jays, Red Sox rumors
There’s no nifty little trinket awarded to the team that “wins” the winter meetings. And no, satisfying the media-industrial complex by being the most active team doesn’t count.
Still, as 30 Major League Baseball clubs converge on the synthetic exterior of Orlando for baseball’s annual transactions bazaar, some franchises could stand to make a little noise. Of course, the three-day affair is no hard deadline to add or subtract personnel, and many bold-faced names will loiter on the market, perhaps into the new year.
But proximity can certainly breed activity. With that, we examine five teams who could – or should – shake things up this week:
Boston Red Sox
Their quick strike to reel in Sonny Gray shows evidence of a winter plan they’d like to execute with dispatch. And there’s little ambiguity regarding two of the top free agent targets to which they’ve been consistently linked: Alex Bregman and Pete Alonso.
Both are Scott Boras clients who suffered through a long December a year ago as draft-pick compensation was attached to their free agency. This time around, they are truly free agents, with Bregman bringing the perk of familiarity with the Red Sox.
Bregman’s one season in Boston – he opted out of the final two seasons of a $120 million deal to do this again – was a smash, save for injuries that limited him and his .821 OPS to 114 games. Still, Boston climbed out of .500-ville and made the playoffs for the first time since 2021.
We know Boras clients can linger on the market. Yet there are few secrets with these guys and, after one trip around the sun last winter, agent and players know what’s out there. With Boston’s desperate need to fortify its lineup – and still armed with most of the $250 million cost savings from the Rafael Devers deal – a quick strike for one (both?) of these guys is logical.
Baltimore Orioles
Their money was no good last winter, when Corbin Burnes declined their aggressive offer to stay near his Arizona home and now, the Orioles have no choice but to reel in pitching help.
It stood to reason they might get outbid for Dylan Cease, whose elite strikeout rate earned him a $210 million deal with the rival Toronto Blue Jays. But drop down a tier, and the fit could be just about right.
Left-hander Framber Valdez would be a strong and not thoroughly cost-prohibitive match in Baltimore. Durable, playoff-tested and originally signed by the Houston Astros when current Orioles baseball chief Mike Elias was scouting director, Valdez would provide a crucial anchor for an Orioles staff with several question marks.
The early smoke has indicated Elias has been in on all the key free agent targets – Cease, Valdez, Zac Gallen and Ranger Suarez. In a winter in which the Orioles simply cannot come up empty in their pitcher search, jumping quickly into the market could be particularly important here.
Arizona Diamondbacks
They hold one of the more valuable trade chips this winter: An All-Star hitter on a team-friendly deal who can bolster anyone’s infield. And if and when they deal Ketel Marte, the Diamondbacks will still have an economically friendly core to build around in shortstop Geraldo Perdomo – who finished fourth in NL MVP voting – and right fielder Corbin Carroll.
So, they have options. And they can look around an NL West in which the Dodgers will find it doubly hard to three-peat (that tax bill for October pitcher usage will come due), the Padres are receding financially and the Giants might suddenly grow wary of all the nine-figure deals they’re suddenly carrying and believe they can sneak through the field.
It’s unfortunate they’ll be without Burnes in 2026 due to Tommy John surgery in June, but jumping into the pitching market will both help backfill the likely loss of Gallen but also equip them for a future that includes Burnes. A team with holes to fill and options to create further flexibility.
Toronto Blue Jays
The winter parlour game of free agency got a lot more interesting once these guys jumped in annually. Perhaps their Cease signing will be the loudest noise they make, but it’s not likely.
And it won’t be for lack of effort. The Blue Jays may face an either-or situation with regard to top free agent prize Kyle Tucker and their own superstar, infielder Bo Bichette. Unless they truly want to become New York North, Strong and Free, signing both seems unlikely – it would put total commitments to just three players (including $500 million man Vladimir Guerrero) over $1 billion.
Yet they cannot afford to miss on both if they want to maintain these best of times – and the Cease signing indicates they will try like hell to improve on their runner-up finish in the finals. Always keep an eye on these dudes.
Detroit Tigers
Oh, we’re not expecting Tarik Skubal to move. The public appetite for Big Transaction often tramples over the fact that some teams actually want to win.
Combine that with the fact that there’s no universe in which the Tigers get “market value” for a two-time AL Cy Young Award winner and yep, there’s likely no offer that could move them to move Skubal.
Instead, think of this as their all-in year.
Ownership and baseball ops chief Scott Harris fully realize retaining Skubal is probably impossible. Thus, the Tigers’ “win curve” may never bend more north than it will in 2026. That’s probably why they’ve been connected once again to Bregman, who turned down $171 million from them last season.
If nothing else, the Bregman engagement indicates they’re not willing to trudge to an AL Central title or a third wild card while leaning too hard on the Zach McKinstrys and Wenceel Perezes of the world, whose best usage might be in a lesser role.
No, it makes sense for the Tigers to go for it now. And maybe make a little noise this week.
Nichushkin, MacKinnon help Avalanche increase NHL-best record in 3-2 win over Philadelphia Flyers
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Valeri Nichushkin scored the eventual game-winner early in the second period, Nathan MacKinnon had an assist to add to his NHL-leading points total and the Colorado Avalanche hung on for a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday.
Brent Burns and Brock Nelson also scored for Colorado, which improved to 21-2-6 with a league-leading 48 points. The Avalanche were playing their third game in four days while Philadelphia had the last three days off.
Sean Couturier and Travis Konecny had the goals for Philadelphia, which lost for just the third time in the last nine games. The Flyers were playing the third contest of a season-long, six-game homestand.
Burns netted the first of three straight Avalanche goals on a wrist shot midway through the first period. Nelson put Colorado ahead 2-1 with 52 seconds remaining in the period when he scored on a power play on a scrum in front. MacKinnon originally was credited with the goal before being awarded the primary assist. He now has 49 points.
Nichushkin finished a 2-on-1 by beating Samuel Ersson on the blocker side on a wrist shot from the circle to make it 3-1 with 18:13 to play in the second. Ersson made 25 saves.
Konecny pulled Philadelphia within a goal four minutes later when he scored from close range. Philadelphia had a chance to tie it in the third period, but Trevor Zegras missed a penalty shot 4:54 into the period when he shot into Mackenzie Blackwood’s pads.
The Flyers pressured the Avalanche, who were coming off Saturday’s 3-2 overtime win at the Rangers, in the third period but couldn’t connect.
Couturier, playing in his 900th career game, put Philadelphia up 1-0 two minutes into the contest when he deflected Noah Juulsen’s slap shot past Blackwood.
Blackwood had 24 saves.
Up next
Avalanche: At Nashville on Tuesday to end four-game road trip.
Flyers: Host San Jose on Tuesday night.
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Canadian NHL Team Review: Bouchard, Raty & Wolf Shine Saturday Night
Saturday was a busy night for Canada’s NHL teams, and a few made statements that go a long way in both the standings and in building team confidence. The Edmonton Oilers have found their offense and reminded everyone why Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are the league’s most deadly duo. Meanwhile, Vancouver had players step up when Elias Pettersson unexpectedly went missing in action. Finally, the Flames were given another reason to be confident that the season isn’t a write-off.
For fans of Canadian hockey teams, these performances are worth noting.
Oilers 6, Jets 2 – Evan Bouchard Red Hot
The Oilers jumped on a tired Winnipeg Jets team, who were playing in back-to-back contests. Edmonton has exploded for offense, and the Oilers dropped four goals in the first period and cruised to a 6–2 win at Rogers Place. Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard each had a goal and an assist, while Connor McDavid added two helpers.
Edmonton’s first-period dominance—16–5 in shots—set the tone early. As well, Stuart Skinner’s calm play in the crease kept the Jets from mounting any serious comeback.
McDavid and Draisaitl continue to elevate their teammates, but Bouchard’s game has really come on strong of late. The team added scoring from the fourth line, and defenseman Alec Regula played a season high, on the ice for more than 20 minutes. The Oilers appear more balanced and connected, which fans would say is long overdue.
Canucks 4, Wild 2 – Raty Breaks Out
Aatu Raty stole the show in Vancouver, scoring twice and adding an assist in a 4–2 win over Minnesota. His performance suggests that he could become more than a temporary fill-in. The timing of his emergence is nearly perfect. Räty isn’t yet a household name. However, there’s a good chance he can give the Canucks a solid center.
Tom Willander scored his first NHL goal, and young defenseman Elias Pettersson also contributed, helping the Canucks snap a five-game slide. Willander is an integral part of Vancouver’s youth pipeline, which could shape the kind of trades the Canucks are willing to make as they shop veterans and UFAs.
Nikita Tolopilo’s 28 saves provided steady goaltending, allowing Vancouver’s young forwards to take calculated risks and generate offense.
Flames 2, Mammoth 0 – Wolf Stands Tall
Calgary’s Dustin Wolf posted his second shutout of the season, turning aside 27 shots in a 2–0 win over Utah. Yegor Sharangovich scored just 16 seconds in, the Flames’ fastest opener since last April, and Connor Zary sealed the win with an empty-netter. Calgary’s penalty kill has been stellar, going 17-for-17.
Outside of a blip against the Lightning, Wolf has found his game for the Flames. His shutout comes after a .963 save percentage outing against the Wild and a .917 performance against Nashville. He’s bouncing back from a rough start.
Also bouncing back is Sharangovich, whose offensive instincts are finally showing returns.
Trade chatter will continue to surround the Flames, but wins behind a franchise goaltender could change how much the organization is willing to consider.
Nichushkin, MacKinnon help Avalanche increase NHL
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Valeri Nichushkin scored the eventual game-winner early in the second period, Nathan MacKinnon had an assist to add to his NHL-leading points total and the Colorado Avalanche hung on for a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday.
Brent Burns and Brock Nelson also scored for Colorado, which improved to 21-2-6 with a league-leading 48 points. The Avalanche were playing their third game in four days while Philadelphia had the last three days off.
Sean Couturier and Travis Konecny had the goals for Philadelphia, which lost for just the third time in the last nine games. The Flyers were playing the third contest of a season-long, six-game homestand.
Burns netted the first of three straight Avalanche goals on a wrist shot midway through the first period. Nelson put Colorado ahead 2-1 with 52 seconds remaining in the period when he scored on a power play on a scrum in front. MacKinnon originally was credited with the goal before being awarded the primary assist. He now has 49 points.
Nichushkin finished a 2-on-1 by beating Samuel Ersson on the blocker side on a wrist shot from the circle to make it 3-1 with 18:13 to play in the second. Ersson made 25 saves.
Konecny pulled Philadelphia within a goal four minutes later when he scored from close range. Philadelphia had a chance to tie it in the third period, but Trevor Zegras missed a penalty shot 4:54 into the period when he shot into Mackenzie Blackwood’s pads.
The Flyers pressured the Avalanche, who were coming off Saturday’s 3-2 overtime win at the Rangers, in the third period but couldn’t connect.
Couturier, playing in his 900th career game, put Philadelphia up 1-0 two minutes into the contest when he deflected Noah Juulsen’s slap shot past Blackwood.
Blackwood had 24 saves.
Up next
Avalanche: At Nashville on Tuesday to end four-game road trip.
Flyers: Host San Jose on Tuesday night.
___
AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL
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Hockey 101: How do starters work in the NHL?
In many sports, the designation of “starter” carries a certain level of prestige. The starters are the important players, and everyone else is just a substitute.
It’s not that way in hockey, aside from the goaltenders.
In hockey, shifts are so quick — typically less than a minute each — that starting the game has little to no influence on how much playing time a player will get over the course of 60 minutes.
The Utah Mammoth, for example, often start their third line: Lawson Crouse, Jack McBain and Michael Carcone, as it stands at the time of writing. But they’re seventh, ninth and 12th, respectively, among Mammoth forwards in terms of average ice time per game.
What’s the difference between starting goalies and backup goalies in hockey?
Goalies, on the other hand, typically are decidedly starters or backups, which affects the number of games they play in a given year.
Starting goalies usually play anywhere from 50-65 games, give or take, with the backup filling in periodically. Backup goalies will often take the easier matchup in a back-to-back situation, and if the starter is injured or has a particularly bad start, he’ll sometimes replace him midway through a game.
That happened in the Mammoth’s 6-3 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Monday. Starting goalie Karel Vejmelka allowed three goals on nine shots in the first period, so backup Vítek Vaněček stepped in to play the latter 47 minutes of the game.
Occasionally, a team will go with a 1A, 1B system where they trust both goalies equally, and they play them as such. It’s not always the most effective system, but can be a big advantage in the right situation.
What happens if both goalies get hurt in an NHL game?
Both goalies getting injured in the same game is extremely rare, but it has happened on a handful of occasions — and it’s one of the most entertaining situations there is: the EBUG.
EBUG stands for “emergency backup goalie,” and it is exactly what it sounds like: a designated guy sitting in the stands who, if needed, will head to the locker room and change into his equipment.
He typically has some goaltending experience at a somewhat high level, but he can’t have played in the NHL on a standard player contract before. He’ll play for either team in the event that he’s needed.
The most famous instance of this was David Ayres, who suited up for the Carolina Hurricanes in 2020. He allowed goals on the first two shots he faced, but was perfect after that and eventually became the first EBUG to ever be credited with a win.
Beginning in the 2026-27 season, teams will be permitted to carry a third goalie on the roster instead of using an EBUG. It’ll be a full-time position with a full-time salary, though not nearly the league-minimum amount that typical players make.
The rules still dictate that the third goalie may not have played in an NHL game under normal circumstances, so it will still be a big story any time he’s called upon.
Three Potential Landing Spots for Flames’ Blake Coleman
With the Calgary Flames sitting near the bottom of the NHL standings, their roster is increasingly being viewed through a trade-deadline lens. While much of the speculation has centered on Rasmus Andersson and Nazem Kadri, Blake Coleman has quietly emerged as one of the more intriguing names to watch around the league.
Coleman checks a lot of boxes for playoff-bound teams. He brings speed, physicality, and a willingness to play hard minutes, while also offering some finishing ability. Through 30 games this season, the 33-year-old has eight goals and 12 points and ranks near the top among Flames forwards in hits. He is also just two seasons removed from a 30-goal campaign and has two Stanley Cups on his résumé from Tampa Bay.
The contract is the main complicating factor. Coleman has two years remaining at a $4.9 million cap hit and carries a 10-team no-trade list. Calgary isn’t actively shopping him, but as TSN’s Pierre LeBrun noted, it wouldn’t be surprising if contenders circle back closer to the deadline.
If the Flames decide to move him, these three teams stand out as logical fits.
Boston Bruins
When you look at what Coleman brings, the Bruins seem like a great fit. For a while, Boston has liked guys who play with grit but can still get the job done, and Coleman is that kind of player.
Sometimes, Boston’s scoring isn’t great after their best players, and Coleman would give coach Marco Sturm someone who can play different roles. He can play tough defense with a good center, or he can score more when guys get hurt.
Most of all, Coleman knows what it takes to win in the playoffs. He won two Cups with Tampa Bay, which fits what the Bruins are trying to do while David Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie are still leading the team.
They’d have to get creative with the money, but if Calgary pays part of Coleman’s salary, the Bruins might think he’s worth it because he’s a playoff-type player.
Vegas Golden Knights
Vegas loves grabbing players who’ve done well in the playoffs, and Coleman would be a great fit for what the Golden Knights are all about: pressure, speed, and scoring from everyone.
The Golden Knights want to use all four lines, but injuries and money issues often mean they have to mix up their bottom two lines. Coleman would provide flexibility right away. He can forecheck hard, kill penalties, and still score when he gets the opportunity.
He’s won championships before, just like many players on Vegas’ current team who aren’t scared of the playoffs. Coleman wouldn’t be brought here to lead a line; he’d be here to make shifts count, wear out the other team, and make life hard in long series.
If Calgary pays part of his salary, Vegas would be in a good spot to grab him, especially if they think Coleman can help in the playoffs for a few years instead of just being a short-term rental.
New York Rangers
Coleman could be a cool fit for the Rangers, who are a pretty interesting team. They’ve got some seriously good players, but how well they do often depends on whether the rest of the team can keep up physically when the playoffs roll around.
Coleman would help with that right away. He’s got that tough edge that GM Chris Drury seems to like, but he can also score enough to not be a drag on the team. He’s good at pressuring the other team, which would work well with the Rangers’ skilled guys. Plus, he’s been around the block, and that could really help a team trying to make a deep run in the East.
Since the Rangers are watching their players closely because of injuries and inconsistent play, Coleman would give them some options and consistency. If the Flames are willing to help out with his salary, the Rangers might see him as a smart pickup for the playoffs, not just an extra luxury.
A Valuable Deadline Chess Piece
Blake Coleman won’t be cheap, and Calgary has no obligation to move him quickly. However, his blend of physical play, scoring touch, and championship experience ensures that his name will stay in trade conversations as March approaches.
If the Flames receive the right offer, contenders will line up — because players like Coleman tend to matter most when the games stop being easy.
Macklin Celebrini helps San Jose Sharks upset Carolina Hurricanes
The San Jose Sharks put together one of their most complete road efforts of the season on Sunday.
John Klingberg and Alexander Wennberg both scored second-period goals, Macklin Celebrini had a goal and two assists, and goalie Alex Nedeljkovic finished with 29 saves to help the Sharks earn an impressive 4-1 win over the host Carolina Hurricanes to snap a five-game road losing streak.
Celebrini, playing his 100th career NHL game, assisted on goals by Collin Graf and Klingberg before he scored his 15th of the season on an empty-net with 1:20 left in regulation time. It was Celebrini’s 12th multi-point game of the season as the Sharks earned their first win away from home since beating the Minnesota Wild 2-1 in overtime on Nov. 11.
Celebrini assisted on Graf’s goal 33 seconds into the first period, and also worked a give-and-go with Klingberg, whose even-strength goal at the 7:54 mark of the second period gave the Sharks a 2-1 lead.
Wennberg then gave the Sharks a 3-1 lead at the 15:44 mark of the second. William Eklund, in his 200th NHL game, took a pass from Klingberg and put a shot on net that Hurricanes goalie Pyotr Kochetkov stopped, but Wennberg scored his sixth of the season on the rebound.
That was enough offense for Nedeljkovic, who made 16 saves in the third period for his first win since Nov. 7, when he stopped 32 of 33 shots in the Sharks’ 2-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets. In five games since, Nedeljkovic was 0-3-0 with a .870 save percentage as Yaroslav Askarov established himself as the Sharks’ No. 1 goalie.
The Sharks (14-13-3) were coming off a 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars on Friday, in which they allowed three goals in the third period. In their last five away games before Sunday, the Sharks were 0-5-0 while being outscored 20-5.
The Sharks’ road trip continues next week with games in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Toronto on Thursday, and Pittsburgh on Saturday.
Macklin Celebrini has goal and 2 assists in the Sharks’ 4-1 won over the Hurricanes
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Macklin Celebrini set up San Jose’s first two goals to tie for the NHL assists lead and added an empty-netter, helping the Sharks beat Carolina 4-1 on Sunday night for their first road victory over the Hurricanes since 2018.
Celebrini tied Edmonton star Connor McDavid for the assists lead with 28, and moved a point ahead of McDavid for second in the scoring race with 43 — six behind Nathan MacKinnon of Colorado.
The Sharks had lost six in a row in Raleigh since a 3-1 victory Feb. 4, 2018 — when Celebrini was 11 years old.
Collin Graf, John Klingberg and Alexander Wennberg also scored, and Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 29 shots against his former team.
Jordan Staal scored for the Hurricanes, and Pyotr Kochetkov made 18 saves in his first loss in five starts this season. The Hurricanes dropped to 3-3-0 with a game left on their homestand.
Celebrini found Klingberg in the slot for a one-timer at 7:54 of second period to give the Sharks a 2-1 lead. Wennberg scored off a rebound on a 4:46 to go in the period.
Nedeljkovic was particularly sharp in the third period with 16 saves. Celebrini capped the scoring with the empty-netter with 1:20 left.
The Hurricanes kicked off a celebration of the 20th anniversary of their 2006 Stanley Cup champion team on Sunday. Most of the players, and former coach Peter Laviolette, were at the game and will be honored on the ice Tuesday night before a home game with Columbus.
Up Next
Sharks: At Philadelphia on Tuesday night.
Hurricanes: Host Columbus on Tuesday night.
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Thompson makes 39 saves for 100th NHL win, Capitals shut out Blue Jackets
It was Thompson’s first shutout of the season and seventh in the NHL. He is 5-0-1 over his past six starts.
Jakob Chychrun and Aliaksei Protas scored for the Capitals (18-9-3), who are on a season-long eight-game point streak (7-0-1) and are 10-1-1 in their past 12 games.
Jet Greaves made 36 saves for the Blue Jackets (13-10-6), who had their five-game point streak (2-0-3) end.
Chychrun gave the Capitals a 1-0 lead 50 seconds into the second period, scoring on a snap shot from the top of the left circle off a pass from Tom Wilson.
Thompson made a series of saves to help the Capitals kill off a double-minor penalty against Hendrix Lapierre midway through the third period.
Protas scored into an empty net at 18:34 for the 2-0 final.
Rangers blow late lead in OT loss to Golden Knights
The Rangers extended the worst home record in the NHL this season, while also continuing another disturbing losing trend.
The Blueshirts now have played five sets of back-to-back games among their first 31 contests, and they have lost on the back end every time after allowing the tying goal in the final minute of regulation before falling 3-2 to the Golden Knights at the Garden on Jack Eichel’s net-crashing goal with eight seconds remaining in overtime.
Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafrenière potted second-period goals about four minutes apart during a 17-shot second period but the Rangers did not receive a power play in the game in falling to 3-9-2 at home this season and to 15-13-3 overall ahead of Wednesday’s visit to Chicago.
Backup goalie Jonathan Quick made 26 saves in his first start since Nov. 22 due to a lower-body injury. He held a 2-1 lead until the Golden Knights pulled goalie Carter Hart during a 4-on-4 in the final minute, with Tomas Hertl burying a rebound in front for a tie game with 51.3 seconds remaining.
Vegas opened the scoring just 36 seconds into the match, taking advantage of Vladislav Gavrikov’s turnover along the defensive-zone boards with a conversion by former Rangers center Brett Howden at the left post for a quick 1-0 deficit.
Howden nearly connected again about seven minutes later, beating Quick’s glove but ringing the puck off the right post.
The sluggish Rangers managed just one shot against Hart over the first 14-plus minutes, despite Sam Carrick attempting to spark the bench and the home crowd with a spirited fight against Golden Knights winger Keegan Kolesar just before the midpoint of the period.
Quick was needed to gobble up a rebound attempt by Mark Stone from the slot and another from close range on a deflection by Hertl shortly thereafter, giving the Knights a 7-1 shot advantage.
CHECK OUT THE LATEST NHL STANDINGS AND RANGERS STATS
Vincent Trocheck finally managed the Rangers’ second official SOG with a wrister with under six minutes to play, right after Conor Sheary rang one off the crossbar.
Zibanejad finally drew the Rangers even with his 11th of the season on a rebound stuff at the right post off Lafrenière’s deflection of Matthew Robertson’s left-point wrist shot at the 9:08 mark. It was Zibanejad’s fourth goal in his last six appearances and extended his point streak to seven games.
The Rangers carried much of the play in the middle session, with Hart denying Sheary’s backhanded bid in alone shortly after Zibanejad’s equalizer.
The Garden crowd erupted when Lafrenière ripped home his seventh — but first non empty-netter in seven games since Nov. 24 vs. St. Louis — a roofed wrist shot off a feed from Zibanejad that whistled over Hart’s glove for a 2-1 home lead at 13:01.
Artemi Panarin was whistled for a high-sticking call in the final minute of the period, the only power play for either team, but Quick and the Rangers killed it off at the start of the third to maintain the one-goal advantage.
Color of Hockey: Park thriving as freshman at Michigan, ‘going to be a stud’
Some things are just comfortable, like a warm fuzzy blanket on a cold winter day.
And so it is with Aidan Park and his hoodie.
The 19-year-old University of Michigan freshman forward still rocks the white hoodie he wore with shorts when he was famously and unexpectedly selected in the seventh round (No. 223) by the Edmonton Oilers at the 2025 NHL Draft at L.A. Live’s Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on June 28.
“It’s a nice hoodie and I still wear it a decent amount,” Park said. “Whenever I wear it, the boys give it to me a little. A couple of my teammates, they saw an Instagram reel of me wearing the hoodie and sent it to me, and we just laugh about it.”
These days, Park is seen more in highlight reels than in fashion videos. The next-to-last player selected in the draft has 10 points (six goals, four assists) in 19 games with the Wolverines, who are No. 1 in various NCAA Division I men’s hockey polls. Park had a goal and two assists in a 10-2 win against Robert Morris on Oct. 17, the game-winner in a 5-3 victory at Notre Dame on Oct. 31, and scored a power-play goal in an 8-1 win against Ohio State on Nov. 22.
“He’s going to be a stud hockey player,” Michigan coach Brandon Naurato said. “He’s helping us right now, figuring some stuff out, having some success as a freshman. He’s going to be a big-time piece this second half and a big-time player for Michigan down the road. I think his best attribute is his hockey IQ. You’ve really got to watch him and then spend time with him to appreciate it. We see him down the road being used in all situations and a leader on this team.”
Park attributes his start to his ability to find open space on the ice to create enough time to get a shot off.
“I think getting open ice is a really important skill, I think it’s kind of underrated,” he said. “Finding quiet ice, spinning off for guys when you’re covered, having the right timing, I think it’s all like a skill that you can develop.
“And that’s something I’ve had conversations with the coaching staff with…It’s just like a testament to how detailed our coaching staff is. I get a lot of reps in practice, and we do a lot of small area games, that fun stuff. And I think it’s just something I work on a lot, and I’m hoping to continue to get better at.”
Park is one of 11 freshmen on the Wolverines this season and has played multiple roles for the team.
“Our lines change a lot, and I’ve played with a bunch of different guys,” he said. “Some people might not like that, but I really do. I think an important skill is being able to play with anyone. I was with Cole McKinney (San Jose Sharks second round pick, No. 53 in 2025 NHL Draft) and Malcolm Spence (New York Rangers second round pick, No. 43 in 2025 draft) (two) weekends ago. I’m just really lucky because they’re all great players.”
Park is the nephew of retired forward Richard Park, who was the second player born in South Korea to reach the NHL and played 738 games for six teams in the League from 1994-2012. The younger Park was bypassed in the 2024 NHL Draft following a season when he had 93 points (30 goals, 63 assists) in 56 games for storied Shattuck-St. Mary’s School in Faribault, Minnesota, four points (three goals, one assist) in five games for the United States at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup tournament, and four points (two goals, two assists) in eight postseason games for Green Bay.
He kept his 2025 Draft expectations low, even after he was fifth in the United States Hockey League with 66 points (33 goals, 33 assists) in 55 games with Green Bay last season and was No. 94 on NHL Central Scouting’s final ranking of North American skaters.
He attended the first day of the draft on June 27 to see Ryker Lee, a former Shattuck St. Mary’s teammate, get selected in the first round (No. 26) by the Nashville Predators. Lee was whisked off to Nashville on a private jet the next day, but Park decided to attend the draft’s Rounds 2-7 anyway. Instead of being dressed to the nines like the top prospects, Park came California casual for Draft Day 2, expecting to be a spectator.
“I ended up getting picked,” he said.
A smiling Park calmly walked up to the theater’s stage with a sparse audience looking and swapped his hoodie for a blue Oilers home jersey. It was a viral moment caught by Lee, who was in the middle of a media availability and saw Park’s pick on a television that was in the room.
This pastor fills up arenas by not sugarcoating the Bible
Christian rap and contemporary music blast like a block party as volunteers cheer into megaphones for around 6,000 weekly churchgoers — up from less than 200 in 2023, the church reports. Inside the sanctuary, the atmosphere turns serious. Many drawn to 2819’s riveting worship are hungry for Mitchell’s animated intensity and signature preaching: No sugarcoating the Bible.
After spirited prayers and songs leave many crying, Mitchell ambles onstage in his all-black uniform, sometimes in quiet contemplation or tears, before launching into a fiery sermon. His messages, unpolished and laden with challenges to revere God and live better, often spread quickly online. A recent prayer event drew far more people than State Farm Arena could handle, with many flying in.
Crying, shouting, storming across the platform and punching the air, Mitchell preaches with his whole body — and an urgency to bring people to faith before they die or what he calls Jesus’ impending return to Earth.
“It is life or death for me,” Mitchell told The Associated Press, comparing preaching to the front lines of war. “There are souls that are hanging in the balance. … I think about the fact that in that room somebody might hear the Gospel, and that might be their last opportunity.”
The church — whose name references Matthew 28:19, a Bible verse commanding believers to go “make disciples of all the nations” — is nondenominational and theologically conservative, with beliefs opposing abortion and in support of marriage only between a man and a woman.
The congregation’s growth has attracted people of many races and ages, but it’s predominantly young Black adults. Their youth is notable since Americans ages 18 to 24 are less likely than older adults to identify as Christian or attend religious services regularly, according to Pew Research Center.
Sharp sermons and moving worship
Warren Bird, an expert on fast-growing churches, believes the right leader is key to a church’s growth — along with God’s help — and described Mitchell as “speaking a language” that connects with young people who other pastors haven’t reached.
Churchgoers say Mitchell’s message resonates because he carefully walks them through scripture and talks candidly about his spiritual transformation, including his past dealing drugs, paying for abortions and attempting suicide.
“I’m still a little rough around the edges, right? I still got a little hood in me,” said Mitchell, who still speaks with a regional New York accent.
Many at 2819 want more than motivational speeches and say Mitchell’s sermons are counterweights to the feel-good American preaching he criticizes.
“I’m preaching without watering that down, without filtering out things that we think might be too controversial,” said Mitchell, who wants people to mature spiritually and insists they can’t deal with sin and its consequences without Jesus.
“I think that there is a generation that is gravitating towards that authenticity and truth,” he said. “As a result of that, we are seeing lives being radically transformed.”
Christian podcaster Megan Ashley said she brought a friend to 2819 who had stepped away from her faith, and Mitchell had an impact. The friend told Ashley, “When he speaks, I believe him.”
The tougher messages might hurt some people’s feelings, said Donovan Logan, 23.
“But that’s what it’s supposed to do. If you don’t come to church and want to change, then that’s not the church you’re supposed to be going to,” Logan said.
Elijah McCord, 22, said Mitchell’s sermons about sin touch on what’s happening around him in Atlanta, and Mitchell’s story shows that “there’s life in what God has commanded.” He also values Mitchell’s pleadings to wait until marriage to have sex.
“He biblically talks about sin and repentance and how there’s actually hope in the Gospel,” McCord said.
Churchgoers say 2819’s draw goes beyond Mitchell. It’s the entire worship experience.
Passing the dancing greeters, the Sunday crowd enters the dark auditorium. It’s permeated with prayer and bold instrumental music before the service, which 2819 calls a gathering, officially begins, with hands already lifted amid shouts of praise. Tissue boxes sit at the end of aisles, ready to aid those moved to tears.
“The worship is crazy. The Holy Spirit is just there. Like, tangible presence. You feel it!” said Desirae Dominguez, 24.
Mitchell feels ‘ill-equipped’ to lead 2819
Mitchell spent 10 years preaching, racking up unfruitful notes from church growth conferences, and eventually started struggling with depression. During that time, he took a transformative trip to Israel where he said encounters with God and other Christians changed him. Then, in 2023, he changed the church’s name to 2819.
Mitchell, who has spent three years preaching just from the Book of Matthew alone, said God told him to preach without bringing prepared notes onstage. Although he attended Bible college, he sometimes doubts himself because of his past.
“I shed a lot of tears because I feel often ill-equipped, undeserving,” said Mitchell. “I would not have called me if I was God to steward something like this, and sometimes I don’t know why my preaching is reaching (people). … I’m still shocked myself.”
When preparing to preach, “I’m thinking about the brokenness of the people in the room, the troubled marriages, the one who is suicidal. I’m thinking about the young lady who’s battling crippling insecurities and don’t know that she has a father up there that loves her more than any man she’s going to find down here.”
When not preaching, Mitchell’s demeanor is quieter. He and his staff are “here to serve,” he often says.
His large online platform exposes him and sometimes his family to public critique, pushback, and even threats. Some accuse him of self-righteousness or say he’s too harsh. He also issued a public apology earlier this year for comments in a sermon about obeying authority that were seen as dismissive of police brutality.
At times, he says he is deeply affected by criticism and said he repents for some of what critics decried. But Mitchell also finds solace in better understanding Jesus by enduring it.
Staff constantly adjusts for growth
The church recently moved into its own building, having outgrown the charter school where they held the services, and added a third one. On the first two Sundays at the new location, they added an impromptu fourth gathering because so many people came.
The staff faced similar conundrums at Access, the church’s October prayer event that drew an estimated 40,000 people. State Farm Arena was filled to capacity, as was an overflow space in a nearby convention center, leaving thousands outside, the church reported.
“We’re constantly tinkering. We’re constantly fixing things,” said Tatjuana Phillips, 2819’s ministries director.
Logistical challenges, such as packed parking lots and swamped staff, are common at fast-growing churches, said Bird, the church growth expert.
Despite its size, the church encourages community through its small groups, called “squads,” that give about 1,700 people a place to discuss sermons and support each other’s personal growth. Staff also engage with about 75,000 people weekly who watch gatherings online.
The long lines also yield friendships. Ashley Grimes, 35, said that’s where she’s “met so many brothers and sisters in Christ that I now get to do life with.”
Many of those new friends can be found shuffling into the church’s auditorium on Sundays while volunteers, called servant leaders, pray over each seat before Mitchell preaches.
On a recent Sunday, Mitchell told the crowd that they can turn to Jesus regardless of what they’ve done. It worked for him. God, he said, “used failure to transform my life.”
Messi and Inter Miami Have Completed Their Journey. They Win the MLS Cup, Topping Vancouver 3-1
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Lionel Messi’s legacy was long secured when he came to Inter Miami and joined Major League Soccer. He’d won a World Cup, won dozens of trophies, was generally considered the greatest player in the sport’s history.
He didn’t need an MLS Cup.
But he wanted one — and got it.
Messi and Inter Miami have completed their ascent, beating the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 on Saturday in the MLS Cup final for the franchise’s first championship. It came 2 1/2 years after the legend arrived in South Florida, a move that stunned plenty of onlookers at the time.
He set up the title-clinching goal with a 72nd-minute assist to Rodrigo De Paul, a play where Messi stole the ball and threaded a pass through a tiny gap in a wall of Vancouver defenders. De Paul got it in stride, pushed it into the far corner of the net — and Messi went airborne to hop into his arms a few seconds later, all smiles.
And as the final minutes ticked away, Inter Miami’s pink-clad fans — most wearing Messi’s No. 10 on their backs — stood and stomped and cheered. South Florida has seen NFL and NBA and Major League Baseball and NHL titles in the past.
It’s a soccer town now, too. Messi made that happen. Tadeo Allende scored in the sixth minute of stoppage time — off another Messi assist, of course — to make it 3-1.
Inter Miami became the 16th franchise in the league’s 30-year history to win an MLS title. And this extends a run of parity for MLS, which has seen five different franchises win championships in the last five years and eight franchises claim a title in the last nine seasons — only Columbus has won twice in that span.
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Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Inter Miami schedule, Lionel Messi stats after Herons win first MLS Cup Final
Lionel Messi continues to torch Major League Soccer defenses and now he’s led Inter Miami to a first MLS Cup.
The Herons lifted the silverware following a 3-1 defeat of Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS Cup Final on December 6, as Messi played a part in all three Miami goals with two primary assists.
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
Nothing changed in the final as Messi set up the ball that became an own goal and then assisted both second-half goals as Inter Miami outlasted Thomas Muller and the Vancouver Whitecaps in Fort Lauderdale.
The David Beckham-owned Miami have been among the favorites to win it all in MLS all year, and this year they delivered the goods.
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: 33 games, 34 goals, 20 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: 48 games, 42 goals, 23 assists
Leo Messi’s career stats with Inter Miami
MLS: 63 games, 57 goals, 46 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: 88 games, 77 goals, 44 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
2025 MLS Cup 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
Major League Soccer Champions
2025 — Inter Miami CF
2024 — Los Angeles Galaxy
2023 — Columbus Crew
2022 — LAFC
2021 — New York City
2020 — Columbus Crew
2019 — Seattle Sounders
2018 — Atlanta United
2017 — Toronto
2016 — Seattle Sounders
2015 — Portland Timbers
2014 — Los Angeles Galaxy
2013 — Sporting Kansas City
2012 — Los Angeles Galaxy
2011 — Los Angeles Galaxy
2010 — Colorado Rapids
2009 — Real Salt Lake
2008 — Columbus Crew
2007 — Houston Dynamo
2006 — Houston Dynamo
2005 — Los Angeles Galaxy
2004 — D.C. United
2003 — San Jose Earthquakes
2002 — Los Angeles Galaxy
2001 — San Jose Earthquakes
2000 — Kansas City Wizards
1999 — D.C. United
1998 — Chicago Fire
1997 — D.C. United
1996 — D.C. United
Copyright © 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
Major League Soccer Championship Scores
2025 — Inter Miami CF 3, Vancouver 1
2024 — LA Galaxy 2, New York 1
2023 — Columbus 2, Los Angeles FC 1
2022 — Los Angeles FC 3, Philadelphia 3, Los Angeles won 3-0 on penalty kicks
2021 — New York City 1, Portland 1, New York City won 4-2 on penalty kicks
2020 — Columbus 3, Seattle 0
2019 — Seattle 3, Toronto 1
2018 — Atlanta 2, Portland 0
2017 — Toronto 2, Seattle 0
2016 — Seattle 0, Toronto 0, Seattle won 5-4 on penalty kicks
2015 — Portland 2, Columbus 1
2014 — LA Galaxy 2, New England 1, OT
2013 — Kansas City 1, Salt Lake 1, Kansas City won 7-6 on penalty kicks
2012 — LA Galaxy 3, Houston 1
2011 — LA Galaxy 1, Houston 0
2010 — Colorado 2, Dallas 1, OT
2009 — Salt Lake 1, Los Angeles 1, Salt Lake won 5-4 on penalty kicks
2008 — Columbus 3, New York 1
2007 — Houston 2, New England 1
2006 — Houston 1, New England 1, Houston won 4-3 on penalty kicks
2005 — LA Galaxy 1, New England 0, OT
2004 — D.C. 3, Kansas City 2
2003 — San Jose 4, Chicago 2
2002 — LA Galaxy 1, New England 0, OT
2001 — San Jose 2, LA Galaxy 1, OT
2000 — Kansas City 1, Chicago 0
1999 — D.C. 2, LA Galaxy 0
1998 — Chicago 2, D.C. 0
1997 — D.C. 2, Colorado 1
1996 — D.C. 3, LA Galaxy 2, OT
Copyright © 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami have completed their journey, winning the MLS Cup over Vancouver
Lionel Messi’s legacy was long secured when he came to Inter Miami and joined Major League Soccer. He’d won a World Cup, won dozens of trophies, was generally considered the greatest player in the sport’s history.
He didn’t need an MLS Cup.
But he wanted one — and got it.
Messi and Inter Miami have completed their ascent, beating the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 on Saturday in the MLS Cup final for the franchise’s first championship. It came 2 1/2 years after the legend arrived in South Florida, a move that stunned plenty of onlookers at the time.
“They said soccer would never make it in America,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said during the trophy ceremony. “Inter Miami fans, has soccer made it?”
It has in South Florida, thanks to Messi. He set up the title-clinching goal with a 72nd-minute assist to Rodrigo De Paul, a play where Messi stole the ball and threaded a pass through a tiny gap in a wall of Vancouver defenders. De Paul got it in stride, pushed it into the far corner of the net — and Messi went airborne to hop into his arms a few seconds later, all smiles.
And as the final minutes ticked away, Inter Miami’s pink-clad fans — most wearing Messi’s No. 10 on their backs — stood and stomped and cheered. South Florida has seen NFL and NBA and Major League Baseball and NHL titles in the past.
It’s a soccer town now, too. Messi made that happen.
Tadeo Allende scored in the sixth minute of stoppage time — off another Messi assist, of course — to make it 3-1. And when Messi lifted the trophy surrounded by his teammates, confetti rained down and fireworks boomed.
Inter Miami became the 16th franchise in the league’s 30-year history to win an MLS title. And this extends a run of parity for MLS, which has seen five different franchises win championships in the last five years and eight franchises claim a title in the last nine seasons — only Columbus has won twice in that span.
It was also the culmination of a 12-year odyssey for David Beckham, part of Inter Miami’s ownership group.
He retired as a player in 2013 and his MLS contract said he could start a franchise at a discounted rate when his career ended. Beckham chose Miami and it took him years to finally make it happen; it wasn’t until January 2018 when the franchise was formally born, after he partnered with Miami businessmen Jorge Mas and Jose Mas, and even then the team didn’t have a stadium plan.
The team started play in 2020, and Messi arrived halfway through the 2023 season. Inter Miami was in last place in MLS at the time.
And then Messi arrived. The last-place team then now runs the league.
“It’s been an incredible journey,” Beckham said.
The trophy is Messi’s 47th for club and country, extending his global men’s soccer record, and some say it’s actually 48 because MLS awards a trophy for winning conference titles as well. He’s now won at least 21 titles in one-match final situations, many of them with the core of this team — Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Luis Suarez and Javier Mascherano, his longtime Barcelona teammates.
Busquets and Alba are retiring and got to go out as champions. Suarez’s future is uncertain. Mascherano is the coach now, one who changed Inter Miami’s lineup and tactics halfway through the season — his first one leading the club — with this moment in mind.
And the 38-year-old Messi, the 2024 MLS MVP who seems like a lock to win the award again this season, still is like none other in the biggest moments with a contract that could have him playing with Miami into his early 40s. When next season starts, the team will be playing in a new stadium near Miami International Airport with a back-to-back title in mind.
“He’s not just here to enjoy living in Miami,” Beckham said. “His wife and the kids love Miami, but he’s come here to win, and that’s really what Leo is all about. He wants to win. He’s got that dedication, the loyalty that he shows to his teammates, to the city, to the club. Leo is a winner. It’s simple as that.”
Inter Miami went up 1-0 on an own goal in the eighth minute, before Vancouver tied it in the 60th on a score by Ali Ahmed. Another Vancouver shot hit both posts about two minutes later but stayed out, and Inter Miami got the lead for good when Messi found De Paul.
And not long after the final whistle, Messi went over to the Inter Miami supporters section and threw both his hands in the air. It was a moment 2 1/2 years in the making.
Messi, Inter Miami complete their MLS journey
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Lionel Messi’s legacy was long secured when he came to Inter Miami and joined Major League Soccer. He’d won a World Cup, won dozens of trophies, was generally considered the greatest player in the sport’s history.
He didn’t need an MLS Cup.
But he wanted one — and got it.
Messi and Inter Miami have completed their ascent, beating the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 on Saturday in the MLS Cup final for the franchise’s first championship. It came 2 1/2 years after the legend arrived in South Florida, a move that stunned plenty of onlookers at the time.
He set up the title-clinching goal with a 72nd-minute assist to Rodrigo De Paul, a play where Messi stole the ball and threaded a pass through a tiny gap in a wall of Vancouver defenders. De Paul got it in stride, pushed it into the far corner of the net — and Messi went airborne to hop into his arms a few seconds later, all smiles.
And as the final minutes ticked away, Inter Miami’s pink-clad fans — most wearing Messi’s No. 10 on their backs — stood and stomped and cheered. South Florida has seen NFL and NBA and Major League Baseball and NHL titles in the past.
It’s a soccer town now, too. Messi made that happen. Tadeo Allende scored in the sixth minute of stoppage time — off another Messi assist, of course — to make it 3-1.
Inter Miami became the 16th franchise in the league’s 30-year history to win an MLS title. And this extends a run of parity for MLS, which has seen five different franchises win championships in the last five years and eight franchises claim a title in the last nine seasons — only Columbus has won twice in that span.
It was also the culmination of a 12-year odyssey for David Beckham, part of Inter Miami’s ownership group.
He retired as a player in 2013 and his MLS contract said he could start a franchise at a discounted rate when his career ended. Beckham chose Miami and it took him years to finally make it happen; it wasn’t until January 2018 when the franchise was formally born, after he partnered with Miami businessmen Jorge Mas and Jose Mas, and even then the team didn’t have a stadium plan.
The team started play in 2020, and Messi arrived halfway through the 2023 season. Inter Miami was in last place in MLS at the time.
And then Messi arrived. The last-place team then now runs the league.
Former Texas Rangers, Dallas Stars owner Tom Hicks dies at 79
December 7 – Texas businessman and philanthropist Tom Hicks, who simultaneously owned NHL, Major League Baseball and English Premier League soccer clubs, died Saturday. He was 79.
Hicks formerly owned the Dallas Stars from 1995-2011 and the Texas Rangers from 1998-2010. He also acquired 50% ownership of Liverpool.
A news release from Hicks Holdings LLC early Sunday morning said Hicks died peacefully surrounded by his family in Dallas.
The 2022 inductee into the Texas Business Hall of Fame co-founded Hicks & Haas in 1984 and
Ex-GM Tabs Red Sox to Trade Jarren Duran For 100 mph Ace
As baseball’s winter meetings get underway Sunday, the Boston Red Sox enter with two items topping their shopping list: a power bat, preferably from the right side, and another addition to their starting rotation. While chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has previously said that he hopes to acquire a No. 2 starter after ace Garrett Crochet, he has been less clear about that since making trades to get starters Sonny Gray from the St. Louis Cardinals, and Johan Oviedo from the Pittsburgh Pirates.
And while Breslow has not said so, there is at least a 50 percent chance that Boston will trade outfielder Jarren Duran, according to ESPN longtime MLB insider Jeff Passan, and Duran’s name has appeared in numerous trade rumors, frequently for a pitcher.
Former MLB general manager and 1999 MLB Executive of the Year Jim Bowden on Friday proposed a trade that would address both of those concerns, dealing Duran as part of a package for a starting pitcher who once set a record for throwing the most pitches at 100 mph or faster in a single start, as recorded by Statcast.
Bowden’s proposal:
Red Sox Get Good News on $105 Million Trade Target
The Boston Red Sox have been one of the most active teams in Major League Baseball over the course of this offseason. They have made two meaningful trades in the last weeks.
First, Boston acquired starter Sonny Gray from the St. Louis Cardinals, and then showed no hesitation in letting one of their top prospects, Jhostynxon Garcia, go in a trade with the Pirates for Johan Oviedo. A new report suggests that the Red Sox have been one of the few teams to inquire about trading for Arizona Diamondbacks‘ infielder Ketel Marte.
More MLB on Heavy: Braves Get Bad News on Potential Two-Time All-Star Trade Target
Could the Red Sox Trade for Ketel Marte?
According to a new report by USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Red Sox are one of a new group of teams (Rays, Tigers) that have checked in with the Diamondbacks on Ketel Marte.
The Red Sox now join other big-time offseason players like the Phillies and Blue Jays in the Marte sweepstakes. Arizona has indicated that they are willing to move on from the three-time All-Star, but it will likely take a big haul.
The Diamondbacks trading Marte doesn’t mean they won’t still be competitive in 2026, as they still have Corbin Carroll and Geraldo Perdomo to build a team around.
There have also been reports from Nightengale that some members of the Diamondbacks’ clubhouse have grown frustrated with Ketel Marte’s work ethic and attitude towards the season. Marte has become one of the premier second basemen in MLB and is in the middle of a seven-year, $105 million deal.
If there’s one team in baseball that may have a ready package for Marte, it could be Boston. They have a plethora of tradeable outfielders like Wilyer Abreu and Jarren Duran, and also several starting pitchers on their depth that they could move.
More MLB on Heavy: Yankees-Brewers Trade Idea Sends 2-Time All-Star Starter to New York in Exchange for Will Warren
What Would Ketel Marte Bring to Boston?
Adding Ketel Marte would make the Red Sox immediately one of the top contenders in the AL, if they aren’t already.
As noted, either Abreu or Jarren Duran could be the most attractive pieces for Arizona in a potential deal. The Diamondbacks would also likely want to add a prospect or two. In total, it would likely cost the Red Sox three or more total players to get a deal done.
However, Marte could be well worth it if acquired. He finished top-3 in NL MVP voting last season, and has 89 home runs since 2023.
He’s a back-to-back All-Star selection and has posted an OPS+ of 154 and 145 in the last two seasons. An impressive mark for a second baseman, who also happens to be a switch-hitter.
As MLB’s winter meetings are getting started, it will be interesting to see what rumors surround Ketel Marte and his trade market.
Freddy Peralta’s Brewers Tenure Nears End as Mets to Cut Ties With 3 Stars After Twins Shatter Hopes: MLB Trade Rumor
The Milwaukee Brewers might be one of the toughest teams to beat right now, but behind the scenes, they are staring down at a rather familiar dilemma. Freddy Peralta’s contract just runs through 2026, and if history tells anything, it’s that the Brewers simply are not one to hand out the big checks to their frontline starters.
And this is why trading him makes sense—and it’s an idea that is getting a lot of traction. And the Brewers have done it before with Corbin Burnes and Devin Williams—so it makes sense, right? Because letting Peralta walk away next season for nothing would be a major blow for the team.
Insider Jim Riley put it best: “With free agency on the horizon following the 2026 season, and the Brewers unlikely to pay up to sign him to a long-term deal, now is the logical time to move Peralta.” And the team that needs him the most? The New York Mets!
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See, the Twins just crushed the Mets’ off-season blueprint by putting their players off the table. Everyone from Joe Ryan to Pablo Lopez and even Byron Buxton. Minnesota thinks it can contend in 2026, but honestly, holding Lopez and his $20 million salary feels like a miscalculation.
But now with all the original targets gone, the Mets will have to pivot, and sure, Tarik Skubal is an option, but the price tag would be sky-high. That’s where Peralta enters the picture, and he is the best way forward. The Mets get a true ace without essentially draining their entire farm system. Riley floated a realistic trade idea, Freddy Peralta to the Mets, in exchange for David Peterson plus prospects Eli Serrano and Jonathan Sanucci.
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Now it works for Brewers, given Peterson immediately slides into their rotation behind Woodruff and Misiorowski, while Serrano and Sanucci—ranked No. 12 and 14 in the Mets’ system—bring a long-term upside to the team.
It also works for the Mets because Peralta could become their playoff anchor almost immediately, and they would have a shot at extending him before he ends up hitting the market.
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With Peralta valued at 26.7 and the New York Mets package at 24.3, it’s close enough to get both sides interested. This move just shakes up the entire pitching market.
Mets could make another stunning winter meetings shake-up
There is no doubt that the Mets want to turn the page around this offseason. They cut ties with Brandon Nimmo, then they handed Devin Williams a three-year deal—so they are, one step at a time, reshaping their identity. But it seems like the biggest piece of unfinished business might still be left—and the next move might be bigger than anyone expected.
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Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller predicts that the Mets are ready to trade Kodai Senga before the Winter Meetings wrap on Wednesday. Yes, the same player who came with a lot of hype became a hot favorite among fans and owns a career 3.00 ERA with elite strikeout numbers. But given his 2025 unraveling, the Mets seem ready to move on.
Miller didn’t mince words, writing, “(New York) will trade away Kodai Senga… who ended this past season in Triple-A after a disastrous run through the first six weeks of the second half.” And the teams interested could be everyone except Seattle. Because they need rotation help and might not have the budget for other top-tier free agents.
This is honestly a wild turn for Kodai Senga, but his numbers don’t lie. After the All-Star break, he posted a 6.56 ERA and walked 22 hitters in 35.2 innings. This is a kind of collapse that is hard to overlook.
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But the dilemma sure is that Senga is inexpensive by today’s pitching standards, so if he rebounds, then moving him now could backfire in a big way.
Do Cardinals need MLB’s economics to shift before they can contend again?
Greetings! Welcome back from the holiday. Hope you had an enjoyable, healthy weekend — and …
Bloom leads the Cardinals’ baseball operations into the Winter Meetings for the first time.
Zak Kent, 27, made his major-league debut with Cleveland this past season and appeared in 12 games.
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Cubs Put 24-Year-Old Star’s Career on the Line as $66M Free Agent Emerges as Key Trade Target: MLB Trade Rumors
The Chicago Cubs are entering this offseason with one of the trickiest decisions as of yet: 24-year-old Matt Shaw. After holding down third base as a rookie in 2025, Shaw’s future in the Cubs suddenly looks a lot less secure thanks to one powerful bat in the market—Eugenio Suarez.
Now, Shaw’s season wasn’t perfect. A .226 average and .689 OPS doesn’t scream a franchise cornerstone, but his second half was a different tale in itself. His .839 OPS after the All-Star break does give a snapshot of what he could be. But can the Cubs wait for a resurgence? is the big question.
If you listen to rumors, maybe not.
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MLB insider Francys Romero reported on Sunday: “The Cubs continue to explore the third-base market in free agency, and Eugenio Suárez is one of the names to watch in the coming days.” And just like that, Shaw’s seat has gotten a lot hotter.
Suarez remains one of the league’s most potent power threats—and he has smashed 36 homers for the Arizona Diamondbacks and added 13 more after the deadline trade to the Mariners. Sure, the strikeouts simply skyrocketed in Seattle by over 35%, but then the power never left him. Chicago needs homers, and Suarez can get them that.
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The problem is that he plays third base, and third base is supposed to be Shaw’s. If the Cubs sign Eugenio Suarez, the $66 million free agent, then Shaw instantly becomes the odd man out. They tried him at second base, but that seat is Nico Hoerner’s.
The question is what comes of Shaw? Does he become a utility guy or a trade chip? On paper, Suarez fits what the Cubs need; he is an affordable pop and way cheaper than Bregman, so the Cubs will be interested. For now, it seems like Shaw’s future with the Cubs might be at risk.
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Cubs’ ace hunt takes a twist as Zac Gallen rumors spiral
The Chicago Cubs have made one thing clear this offseason—they want a frontline starter. They were even in the running for Dylan Cease until his bidding crossed the $200 million mark. Jed Hoyer and Co. apparently tapped out, deciding that $210 million for over seven years was a little too steep for them.
Still, that doesn’t mean the Cubs would scoot over their initial plan. The next wave of arms—Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez, Tatsuya Imai, Michael King, and Zac Gallen—are expected to all have smaller and shorter deals. And the Chicago Cubs have been linked interestingly to all of them.
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And things got really interesting on December 6.
Early in the morning, social media lit up with posts claiming that the Cubs had already agreed to terms with Zac Gallen. FOX Sports and some others had made it seem like the deal was done. Cubs fans already went into celebration mode.
He tweeted, “UPDATE: The Chicago Cubs are HOPEFUL of finalizing an agreement with free-agent starter Zac Gallen on a multi-year deal, but the deal is NOT DONE with others still in contention.” Then Jeff Passan also posted, “Zac Gallen does not have a deal and is not close to finalizing one.”
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So, Gallen’s posts to the Cubs simply vanished into thin air. Now, pretty much everyone is in a wait-and-watch mode. If the Cubs are even talking to Gallen, nothing is close enough to lock in.
Cuba confirma su participación en el VI Clásico Mundial de Béisbol con roster preliminar de 50 jugadores
La Federación Cubana de Béisbol y Softbol (FCBS) confirmó este sábado que participará en el VI Clásico Mundial de Béisbol, previsto para disputarse el próximo año en varias sedes internacionales. El anuncio llegó acompañado de un primer listado de 50 peloteros, entre ellos jugadores cubanos contratados en las Grandes Ligas de Estados Unidos, un detalle clave que marca la preparación del equipo rumbo al evento.
Según indicó la nota oficial de la FCBS, el grupo inicial está compuesto por “incluidos afiliados a las Grandes Ligas de Béisbol (MLB), la Liga Japonesa de Béisbol Profesional, otras ligas profesionales y miembros de equipos que participan en la 64 Serie Nacional”.
La Federación también señaló que se encuentran a la espera de la autorización de los clubes de la MLB para la participación de sus jugadores, entre los cuales destacan Andy Pagés, de los Dodgers; Daysbel Hernández, de Atlanta Braves; Lázaro Estrada, de Toronto Blue Jays, y Víctor Labrada, de Seattle Mariners.
En relación con los trámites migratorios necesarios para competir, las autoridades del béisbol cubano añadieron: “Esperamos que las autoridades estadounidenses garanticen los visados que permitan concretar nuestra presencia en el torneo, sin que medien en este proceso cuestiones ajenas a la competencia o contrarias a los principios del deporte”.
La FCBS destacó la relevancia del Clásico Mundial, programado del 5 al 17 de marzo y con sedes en Puerto Rico, Estados Unidos y Japón, de acuerdo con la información oficial del evento. El torneo, considerado la competencia internacional más importante del béisbol profesional, es organizado por la MLB y la Confederación Mundial de Béisbol y Softbol (WBSC).
Con esta confirmación y un pre–roster que mezcla talento de la MLB, Japón y el béisbol doméstico, Cuba inicia su cuenta regresiva hacia una cita deportiva que promete captar la atención de fanáticos alrededor del mundo.
El torneo del Clásico Mundial de Béisbol reunirá a 20 selecciones: 16 que obtuvieron su pase por los resultados de 2023 y otras cuatro que saldrán del clasificatorio de 2026. Japón, vigente campeón, buscará retener la corona en una competencia que tendrá sus grupos en Miami, Houston, San Juan y Tokio, mientras que la fase decisiva se disputará en Miami.
Cuba, presente en todas las ediciones anteriores, firmó su actuación más destacada en 2006 al terminar como subcampeona frente al propio Japón. En 2023 alcanzó el cuarto lugar, año en que por primera vez integró a jugadores contratados de manera independiente en ligas profesionales.
Jeff Kent elected to the Hall of Fame; Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens fall way short
Jeff Kent has been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens may be running out of chances to ever join him.
The Contemporary Baseball Era committee voted on Sunday to induct Kent, one of the best offensive second basemen in history, who won an MVP award during a late-career peak with the San Francisco Giants in the early 2000s. Fourteen of the 16 committee members voted in favor of Kent.
Fewer than five voted for either Bonds or Clemens.
Due to a new rule implemented this year, any player who receives less than five votes on an Era Committee ballot will be ineligible for consideration when the ballot is next considered in three years. Furthermore, a player who receives less than five votes on multiple ballots will be ineligible for all future ballots (vote totals before this year do not count toward future eligibility).
That means Bonds and Clemens will not be up for consideration again until 2031, and if they get fewer than five votes then, they will be ineligible for future consideration.
Kent never received as much as 50 percent of the vote on the BBWAA ballot but had been trending upward when he was last eligible in 2023 (he got 46.5 percent of the vote that year). This was Kent’s first time being eligible for an Era Committee ballot.
A good but unspectacular player in the first part of his career, Kent went to the Giants in 1997 and had a breakout season at age 29. He made his first All-Star Game at 31 and won the MVP award at 32 when he produced a career-best 7.4 fWAR and 1.021 OPS. After hitting 107 home runs in his 20s, Kent hit 258 in his 30s, going to All-Star Games as a member of the Giants, Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Kent’s induction with 56 fWAR and 45.6 JAWS could open the door to other second basemen — among them: Chase Utley, Lou Whitaker, Willie Randolph and Dustin Pedroia — who have similar if not better numbers, but as a purely offensive second baseman, Kent stands out. He has the most home runs ever at the position and his OPS+ is higher than Hall of Famers Roberto Alomar, Craig Biggio and Ryne Sandberg.
Kent was the only player who got the required 75 percent of the Era Committee’s support. Carlos Delgado got the second-most votes with nine, while Don Mattingly and Dale Murphy got six votes apiece. Bonds, Clemens, Gary Sheffield and Fernando Valenzuela each received less than five votes, continuing a trend that does not look good for Bonds and Clemens.
Statistically in the upper echelon of all-time greats but tainted by suspicions of performance-enhancing drugs, both Bonds and Clemens last appeared on the BBWAA ballot in 2022 when Bonds got 66 percent of the vote and Clemens got 65.2 percent. Each came roughly 40 votes shy of election and were almost immediately up for reconsideration 11 months later when they were put on the 2022 Contemporary Era ballot, where they got even less support.
The Hall of Fame does not announce exact vote totals for players who get less than 25 percent of support from the Eras Committee, but both Bonds and Clemens were among those who got fewer than four votes in 2022. Fred McGriff was elected unanimously by the 2022 committee, while Mattingly got eight votes and Murphy got six.
This time around, President Trump weighed in with a social media post in August saying Clemens “should be in the Baseball Hall of Fame, NOW!” and doubled down on that demand Sunday when he posted that Clemens should “sue the hell out of Major League Baseball” if he’s not elected. It seemingly made little difference to the 16-member committee that voted Sunday at baseball’s Winter Meetings.
The Era Committees have replaced the Veterans Committee as the Hall of Fame’s method of considering candidates who have exhausted their 10 years of BBWAA ballot eligibility. The Contemporary Baseball Era player ballot (for players whose greatest impact came since 1980), Contemporary Baseball Era manager/executive/umpire ballot (for the same time period) and the Classic Baseball Era (for those who mostly played prior to 1980) are considered on a rotating, three-year cycle. The committees elected former manager Jim Leyland in 2023 and former MVPs Dave Parker and Dick Allen in 2024.
Pete Rose will be among the players eligible for the Classic Era ballot in 2027.
This year’s Contemporary Era Committee consisted of Hall of Fame members Fergie Jenkins, Jim Kaat, Juan Marichal, Tony Pérez, Ozzie Smith, Alan Trammell and Robin Yount; executives Mark Attanasio, Doug Melvin, Arte Moreno, Kim Ng, Tony Reagins and Terry Ryan; statistician and historian Steve Hirdt, and veteran baseball writers for The Athletic, Tyler Kepner and Jayson Stark.
Jeff Kent elected to Baseball Hall of Fame through Eras Committee
In about a month and a half, the baseball world will learn if there will be any new Hall of Famers from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America’s 2025-26 ballot. That’s not the only way to earn enshrinement in Cooperstown, though.
The first night of Major League Baseball’s Winter Meetings also marked the convening of the Eras Committee. The 16-member group met to discuss eight retired players from 1980 and beyond who passed a screening to appear on the Contemporary Era Committee ballot. All fell off the BBWAA ballot at one point or another, whether it was because they earned under five percent of the vote, or exhausted all years of eligibility. The Eras Committee offers a second (or third, or fourth, etc.) chance before another electorate, which last year helped put Pittsburgh Pirates icon Dave Parker and underrated Philadelphia Phillies standout Dick Allen into the Hall — albeit posthumously.
Eras Committee members could only vote for a maxium of three players, but if any of them earned at least 12 of the 16 votes (a 75-percent threshold, just like the BBWAA vote), then they’d punch their ticket to Cooperstown. The votes are in and … the committee elected just one Hall of Famer.
No, not the guy with the most homers and MVPs in MLB history.
No, not the guy with the most Cy Young Awards in MLB history.
No, not either of the two sluggers and former MVPs who were among MLB’s most popular players of the ‘80s.
Jeff Kent.
If your reaction is: “Well, okey dokey then,” then we’re right there with you. Kent earned 14 of votes to clear induction with two to spare.
In a vaccuum, Kent is not the most undeserving Hall of Famer. He was a very good ballplayer! He broke through some early-career wanderings through Toronto, Queens, and Cleveland to eventually find himself out west en route to 560 doubles and 377 homers, the most of any primary second baseman in MLB history. He was a key part of the San Francisco Giants teams around the turn of the 21st century that made multiple playoff berths and won the 2002 National League pennant. He made five All-Star teams, won the 2000 NL MVP, earned four Silver Slugger honors, and didn’t miss a beat moving San Francisco to Houston, nearly guiding the Astros to an NL pennant of their own in 2004.
There’s just something … not particularly exciting about Kent considering the other options. (And that’s without exploring Kent’s reputation as a prickly personality, even among teammates.)
That guy with the most homers and MVPs in MLB history? Kent’s superior teammate Barry Bonds, who should have also won Kent’s lone MVP? And Roger Clemens, the guy with the most Cy Young Awards? Neither received more than four votes. Under the Hall of Fame’s revised rules, because the same thing happened to them three years ago, they will ineligible for Era Committee induction until at least 2031. The same fate falls on Bonds’ fellow slugger, Gary Sheffield, and former Dodgers ace Fernando Valenzuela.
Fernando had his own tricky case because the pitching stats weren’t as consistently good and he supporters had to try to point to his status as a pioneer bringing so many Mexican fans into the game. It wasn’t a bad argument, to be clear! But it was harder to make to the 16-man committee, and they didn’t support it.
Bonds, Clemens, and Sheffield all have PED connections, even though they played the vast majority of their careers at a time when MLB (and commissioner—excuse me—Hall of Famer Bud Selig) was looking the other way to try to generate more fan interest in wake of the 1994 strike. None were ever suspended. Various writers have said in the past that there are already other PED users in the Hall of Fame anyway (they said so even before David Ortiz got in). But the Hall has already made it clear in so many words that they want no part of them; against the BBWAA’s objections, they truncated candidacies before them from 15 years to 10 with Bonds and Clemens about to hit the ballot, and few members of these Era Committees have been likely to support them. Rendering them ineligible for the next cycle as a penalty—with the potential of being permanently ineligible if there are no rule changes and get so few votes again.
Have we mentioned how embarrassing it is that Selig got into the Hall of Fame instantly and these guys (not to mention Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and others from that era) are on the outside looking in? Hm.
Kent’s Hall of Fame enshrinement is also partly at the expense of the two previously alluded 1980s stars, Braves icon Dale Murphy and Yankees legend Don Mattingly. Both had amazing careers that petered out a little too quickly to earn BBWAA induction, but they seemed to be making headway. On the last Eras Committee vote (which saw Fred McGriff elected), Mattingly got eight votes and Murphy earned six. This time around, Murphy stagnated and Mattingly lost two votes. The committee members are not identical, but that’s still discouraging. Did Kent have a better career? He played in more games and accrued more WAR, so if that’s your go-to measure—and if it is, no judgments—then yes. In terms of the “Fame” aspect though, Kent is not nearly as important to the story of baseball history or its evolution as Murphy and Mattingly were to up-and-coming ‘80s fans. C’est la vie.
The only other candidate who hasn’t been discussed yet is the most surprising. Carlos Delgado went one-and-done on a very crowded BBWAA ballot in 2015. Before this panel though, he got 9 of 16 votes, the second-most and just three shy of induction. The longtime Blue Jays slugger deserved a longer consideration on the BBWAA ballot and would have fared better if he had appeared just a few years later. So even if you’re not 100-percent sold on Delgado as a Hall of Famer, he’s someone who merits discussion and he’ll get another long look in a few years. If you agreed with the Eras Committee’s call of McGriff as a Hall of Famer a few years ago, you’d likely support Delgado’s case as they have very similar numbers.
Anyway, congratulations I suppose to Jeff Kent, the Hall of Fame’s version of a regular ham sandwich with a few random dabs of hot sauce on it.
Kodai Senga’s Mets Tenure Could Be Over As New York Weighs Two Potential Replacements, per Insider
The Mets won’t say it out loud, but by last season’s end, Kodai Senga had pretty much tested every ounce of their patience. His slow injury recovery, constant need for extra rest, fixation on his mechanics, and that surprisingly blunt September admission, that he wasn’t ready to help their Wild Card push, all added up. So this winter, the Mets haven’t exactly hidden their willingness to move him.
In fact, per The Athletic, Senga recently contacted David Stearns to say he wants to remain in Queens. Yet, per Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report, the Mets are expected to sign either Ranger Suárez or Michael King in the coming days.
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“Shortly thereafter (or maybe even before), they will trade away Kodai Senga, who has two years and $30M remaining on his deal and who ended this past season in Triple-A after a disastrous run through the first six weeks of the second half,” Miller wrote.
“While the Mets might be done with Senga, there should be quite a bit of interest in a very reasonably priced pitcher with a career ERA of 3.00 and career K/9 of 10.1. We’ll get semi-specific here and say he lands with one of the non-Seattle teams in the AL West, all of whom have rotation needs and probably not enough room in their budget to sign a Valdez or a Suárez.”
Michael King, 30, isn’t exactly a newcomer to New York. Born in the city and breaking into the majors with the Yankees, he knows the territory well. His career took a turn in 2024 when the Yankees dealt him to the Padres, a move that turned him into a full-time starter, and he ran with it.
He posted a sharp 2.95 ERA that season and finished seventh in the NL Cy Young race. Injuries cut his 2025 campaign down to just 15 starts, but even then, he managed a solid 3.44 ERA.
When it comes to Suárez, he has been a reliable presence for the Phillies all along. He wrapped up the 2025 season with a 3.20 ERA, a 1.220 WHIP, and 151 strikeouts across 157.1 innings, his second straight season under a 4.00 ERA, and the fifth time he’s pulled that off in his career.
He’s exactly the kind of pitcher Philadelphia would hate to lose. But with reports linking as many as five other teams to him, there’s a real chance he could be wearing a different uniform next year. For the Mets, landing Suárez would be a major win, especially after already bringing in Devin Williams.
After missing the postseason by the slimmest margin, the Mets are clearly pushing hard to upgrade every corner of the roster for 2026. Framber Valdez and Zac Gallen are also reportedly on their radar, and all signs point to New York adding at least one more starting arm before the offseason wraps up.
So, it looks increasingly likely that the Mets will be trading Senga. But will that move benefit the Mets? This question was asked to several MLB scouts and executives this week. And intriguingly, the general answer was no.
Why do MLB scouts and execs think the Mets shouldn’t trade Kodai Senga?
Well, the reason is certainly his proven upside, and not to forget, his relatively affordable contract makes keeping him the smarter move. Referring to his 2023 and pre-injury 2025 seasons, one scout even praised him for pitching at a “high level.”
Trading him now would probably mean selling low. The Mets probably wouldn’t get comparable value in return. He has the talent to help a team win a championship. And so, the consensus is to wait and hope he’s healthy when it matters most.
That was agreed by many responders. Meanwhile, others argued the Mets could use the $30 million remaining on Senga’s contract. However, NY insider Jon Heyman has a different take, which he shared during a December 1 Bleacher Report live stream.
“Senga odds [of getting traded]? I did see that it was reported by The Athletic that he’d prefer to stay with the Mets. I don’t think that will weigh; they’ve got to do what they need to do, what they want to do. He’s obviously being shopped.”
Heyman believes it’ll be odd for Senga to return now. As he sees it, the chances of a trade are actually pretty good. Well, let’s see where Kodai Senga will end up after this year.
Yankees’ winter strategy starts with Cody Bellinger
ORLANDO, Fla. – If the Yankees were to secure Cody Bellinger, then seek to improve on the margins, this might be a largely drama-free winter.
But we’ve only just begun.
On the eve of MLB’s Winter Meetings, Yankees GM Brian Cashman said he spoke Saturday to agent Scott Boras “about his list of clients,’’ including a certain versatile, lefty-hitting outfielder.
Bellinger was “an impact player for us last year and we’d love to have him back if it could fit for us,’’ Cashman said Sunday, as the meetings unofficially began.
Yankees’ open-minded to other outfield scenarios
Overall, “I don’t think there’s as deep of a need of a lot of things as there were last year,’’ said Cashman, whose series of countermoves following the free agent loss of Juan Soto included a trade for Bellinger.
“But there’s things obviously we’re trying to do,’’ including the pursuit of Bellinger in free agency.
“Cody Bellinger would be a great fit for us. A great fit for anybody,’’ said Cashman. “I think our environment was a great one for him.’’
Naturally, the Yankees will say they’ve got some outfield leverage with center fielder Trent Grisham returning, Jasson Dominguez leading the left field depth chart, repeat AL MVP Aaron Judge in right and slugging Spencer Jones in the wings.
Grisham’s presence “gives us some comfort, because I have a lane I can go with if the markets dictate that,’’ said Cashman.
“But if I can find matches, too, that make enough sense whether it’s free agents or challenge trade that pull me in a different direction, then we’re open-minded to that as well.’’
One obvious free agent outfield pivot is lefty-hitting Kyle Tucker, who could net twice as much as Bellinger in this market.
A potential “challenge trade’’ pivot could lead to the Twins’ Byron Buxton, though his availability – at least this winter – is questionable.
Where the Yankees’ payroll situations could factor in
Bellinger’s camp will point to his made-for-the-Bronx persona and swing, his high contact rate and 1.016 OPS against lefty pitching as evidence he’s essential to the Yankees’ winter strategy.
Throw in the potential interest of deep-pocketed contenders, including the Mets, and Bellinger’s asking price might be closer to $200 million than $150 million, and at what price point would the Yankees balk?
Though Hal Steinbrenner feels a $300 million payroll, under the final luxury tax threshold, would be “ideal,’’ the Yankees owner has not given a drop-dead figure to his GM.
“Hal’s exact words to me continue to be, ‘Take everything that’s out there to me,’ which Cashman has pledged.
Still,
Jordan takes the stand in NASCAR antitrust case
Michael Jordan, a lifelong NASCAR fan and now majority owner of 23XI Racing, explained in federal court Friday that he’s suing the sport he loves because the economics are not being handled fairly.
23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports were the only two of 15 teams that did not sign the charter agreement that began in 2025. The joint antitrust lawsuit was filed in North Carolina federal court in early October 2024.
“Someone had to step forward,” Jordan said of taking such action. “I wasn’t afraid.”
Jordan was pitched by Denny Hamlin to start the team that has become known as 23XI Racing. Those off-the-cuff conversations were intriguing enough for Jordan to review the pitch deck Hamlin sent and to want to get involved. The team formed in 2020 and debuted in 2021.
However Curtis Polk, Jordan’s financial advisor and partner in 23XI Racing, did tell Jordan that he felt the venture was “risky to your brand and image.” Jordan smiled on the witness stand when counsel for NASCAR assessed that Polk admitted he didn’t enjoy NASCAR as much as Jordan and that he wasn’t as big a fan.
“Obviously not,” Jordan said.
Jordan estimated he’s invested roughly $35-40 million into the race team, which he does not have a day-to-day role in. Considering himself “more of a fan,” Jordan leaves those details to Polk and Hamlin, but is made aware of what is going on.
Jordan was the one who paid the $28 million to buy a third charter and expand to three teams. Hamlin pitched it as another opportunity to win races and improve chances to compete for a Cup Series championship.
U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell previously ruled that NASCAR is a monopoly. The teams are looking to show that NASCAR used that power in an anticompetitive manner and that its business model is hurting the race teams. Jordan explained that once he and his partners entered the sport, upon signing the previous charter agreement, they really got to understand the business and the economic model.
“I’m not discrediting what NASCAR has done for the sport,” Jordan said. But he wants to push to improve the sport.
Speaking on the witness stand, Jordan said he believes there needs to be growth and unity across NASCAR and its drivers. He also explained how that has worked in stick-and-ball sports with a business partnership between the league and its participants. And in doing that, he’s come to believe that the ups and downs of growth and finances should be a shared responsibility.
“The thing I’m hoping for is you create more of a partnership between two entities,” Jordan said. “If that’s the case, it becomes a more valuable business. If you can ever compromise on the things that matter, you can grow your business.”
There were multiple reasons why 23XI Racing didn’t sign the charter agreement, according to Jordan: it wasn’t economical; counsel offered advice on the clause about not suing NASCAR; and the ultimatum to sign it didn’t “best suit 23XI.” The lack of a partnership, permanent charters, say in governance of the sport, and the requested money were at the heart of those issues.
Jordan testified for 25 minutes before NASCAR was given the chance to do its cross-examination. During that time, NASCAR asked about previous statements Jordan had made about NASCAR and the charter system, in which he clarified that he can speak highly of the sport and the system, but not the agreement.
NASCAR counsel also asked about messages Jordan and Polk exchanged during the charter negotiations. Polk was more actively involved in those negotiations than Jordan, but he admitted he attended meetings to understand the race teams’ and 23XI Racing’s asks.
In one message, Polk told Jordan, “Our plan is to be a pest and have a mosquito bite every week.” The meaning was to continue conversations with teams/drivers and have things end up in the media. Polk also wanted to meet with some of the smaller teams in the garage to explain why the offer they thought NASCAR was making was not good for their teams.
“We wanted them to understand what was fair and what was not fair (about the economics),” testified Jordan.
Other proceedings from Friday:
The NBA legend and North Carolina native was the third witness of Friday’s proceedings. The day started with NASCAR president Steve O’Donnell finishing his testimony, which began Thursday. Heather Gibbs, a co-owner of Joe Gibbs Racing and the daughter-in-law of Joe Gibbs, was the second witness.
Gibbs testified for about an hour, which led into the lunch break. After giving her background on how she got into racing by meeting and marrying Coy Gibbs in the 1990s, Heather Gibbs spoke publicly for the first time about Coy’s passing in 2022. It was the night Ty Gibbs won the Xfinity Series championship on Nov. 5, 2022.
“He didn’t wake up,” Heather said.
Heather Gibbs said she became a co-owner of Joe Gibbs Racing on Nov. 6. She is involved in strategic decision-making and was part of the charter agreement negotiations.
Gibbs described the sport as “very challenging for the teams” because of its financial model, and said Joe Gibbs Racing does not have outside income. NASCAR racing is its business.
A comment by NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps about reckless spending by the race teams prompted Gibbs to write a letter that was sent to multiple NASCAR executives and the France family. Gibbs said the comment bothered her, and she disagreed with it. The lengthy letter, which became public a few weeks before the trial started, consisted of Gibbs explaining how much NASCAR means to the Gibbs family and the need for a stronger sport, including with permanent charters.
Lesa France Kennedy was the only one who responded to Gibbs’s letter. Gibbs felt it was a nice conversation, France seemed receptive, and Gibbs thought her letter had been impactful. But no other NASCAR executives responded.
“I think (permanent charters) are absolutely vital for the teams,” Gibbs said. One of the main reasons is the stability they provide, as what the organization has built can’t be taken away.
Gibbs would further detail how upsetting the deadline to sign the charter agreement was. NASCAR sent teams a notice on August 30 that the deadline was September 6. Joe Gibbs Racing did sign the agreement, but Gibbs used the “gun to the head” expression that some others involved in the case have used to describe the feeling.
“I did not think it was a fair deal for the teams,” Gibbs said.
But through the emotion, the organization signed it because of its legacy and not wanting that to disappear.
Gibbs also acknowledged during her testimony that some years are profitable for Joe Gibbs Racing and some are not.
‘RIP’: NASCAR World Crumbles in Tears as 39-YO Former JR Motorsports Driver Passes Away
When one leaves a mark in NASCAR, it never washes away. The same can be said about Michael Annett, a racer who made his mark in prominent race teams like JR Motorsports and Richard Petty Motorsports. He brought several jaw-dropping results and one prestigious race victory to those teams. And they remember him ardently today, a date which was the bearer of tragic news for Annett’s family, friends, and colleagues.
Michael Annett passes to the other side
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family with the passing of our friend Michael Annett. Michael was a key member of JRM from 2017 until he retired in 2021 and was an important part in turning us into the four-car organization we remain today,” JR Motorsports posted on X.
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Michael Annett, who turned 39 earlier this year, has left this world for a heavenly abode. No reasons have yet been rolled out for his untimely death. Annett made his final start at the national level of NASCAR in 2021, finishing eleventh in the Phoenix finale of the Xfinity Series. He also missed a handful of races that year due to a stress fracture in his right femur. Although he stepped away from a car, he remained in touch with industry members. His family company, Pilot Flying J, supported JRM driver Sammy Smith’s debut in 2022.
“Very sad to lose someone who meant so much to me and my family. Michael was a great person to so many, and we’ll miss him a lot. ❤️” Sammy Smith wrote on X. Other NASCAR personalities also remembered the bygone talent. Landon Cassill wrote, “RIP Michael Annett – I was on the radio with him at Hawkeye Downs Speedway the first time he drove a big car on asphalt. Life is precious.”
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Then Ricky Stenhouse Jr., a full-time Cup Series driver, also paid his respects. He remembered his times together with Michael Annett. “Sad to get the news of Big Mikes passing. Raced each other for a long time coming up through ARCA together. Spent a lot of days in the gym together before he retired.”
Having been a full-time Cup driver from 2014 through 2016, Michael Annett started 106 races and placed as high as 13th in the 2015 Daytona 500. As a driver in Xfinity, Annett competed in 321 races between 2008 and 2021, including several seasons with JR Motorsports, notably winning a 2019 Daytona race. Annett only started nine Truck races, earning a runner-up finish at Kentucky in 2008. He also won twice as an ARCA driver, at Talladega in 2007 and Daytona in 2008.
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Former NASCAR winner Michael Annett passes away at 39
Michael Annett, a NASCAR series winner who drove for JR Motorsports for five seasons, has died at 39, the team announced Friday.
In a statement on their X account, JR Motorsports posted, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family with the passing of our friend Michael Annett. Michael was a key member of JRM from 2017 until he retired in 2021 and was an important part in turning us into the four-car organization we remain today.”
Annett, a Des Moines, Iowa, native, made more than 300 O’Reilly Auto Parts, formerly Xfinity Series, starts and earned his lone series win in 2019 at Daytona International Speedway.
He retired from full-time competition after the 2021 season.
No additional details about his death were immediately released.
NASCAR Community Mourns Michael Annett, Dead at 39
Michael Annett, a former NASCAR Xfinity Series driver known for his steady rise through the ranks and his memorable win at Daytona, has died at age 39.
JR Motorsports shared the news, confirming the passing of their former driver, who raced with the team from 2017 until his retirement in 2021.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family on the passing of our friend Michael Annett. Michael was a key member of JRM from 2017 until he retired in 2021 and was an important part in turning us into the four-car organization we remain today, JR Motorsports posted. ”
Fans, former teammates, and drivers reacted as the news spread, marking a sad moment for many who followed his career from his early days in Iowa to the national racing stage.
Early Life and Shift from Hockey to Racing
Michael Wayne Annett was born June 23, 1986, in Des Moines, Iowa. Before racing, he played hockey as a defenseman for the Waterloo Black Hawks in the United States Hockey League. He helped the team win the Clark Cup in 2004 and earned the title of “Most Improved Player.” His size, listed at 5’10” and 180 pounds, was considered small for higher-level hockey, which led him to look toward motorsports.
His father, Harrold Annett, CEO of TMC Transportation, supported his early steps in racing. Annett began competing at local tracks, including Hawkeye Downs, before moving into the national series. His first major success came in the ARCA Menards Series, where he won at Talladega Superspeedway in 2007 and at Daytona International Speedway in 2008.
NASCAR Career and Major Achievements
Annett made his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut in 2008 with Germain Racing. The following year, he earned Rookie of the Year honors after scoring four top-10 finishes. His Xfinity Series career stretched across 321 starts, producing one win, 95 top-10 finishes, and one pole position. His lone victory came at the 2019 NASCAR Racing Experience 300 at Daytona, a moment that remained one of the highlights of his racing years.
He also competed in the NASCAR Cup Series, running 106 races between 2014 and 2016 with Tommy Baldwin Racing and HScott Motorsports. His top Cup results were 13th-place finishes in the Daytona 500 in both 2015 and 2016.
Annett additionally took part in the NASCAR Truck Series, appearing in nine races. His best Truck Series result was a second-place finish at Kentucky Speedway in 2008.
Throughout his career, injuries interrupted his momentum. In 2013, he suffered a fractured sternum, and in 2021, he dealt with a stress fracture in his femur. The injuries and recovery time played a role in his decision to retire from full-time racing at the end of the 2021 season.
Reaction to His Passing
The message spread fast across social media, leading to many reactions from the NASCAR community. NASCAR.com also reported the news with a statement. “NASCAR is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former NASCAR driver Michael Annett. Michael was a respected competitor whose determination, professionalism, and positive spirit were felt by everyone in the garage. Throughout his career, he represented our sport with integrity and the passion of a true racer. NASCAR extends its condolences to Michael’s family and many friends.”
“Very sad to lose someone who meant so much to my family and me. Michael was a great person to so many, and we’ll miss him a lot. The driver of the No. 8 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports, Sammy Smith, posted.”
Michael Annett, who made 436 combined starts in NASCAR’s 3 national touring series, dies at 39
MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Michael Annett, a former racecar driver who made 436 combined starts in NASCAR’s three national touring series, has died. He was 39.
JR Motorsports, one of Annett’s former teams, posted the news on social media on Friday. No cause of death was announced.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family with the passing of our friend Michael Annett,” the team wrote. “Michael was a key member of JRM from 2017 until he retired in 2021 and was an important part in turning us into the four-car organization we remain today.”
According to NASCAR, Annett made 321 starts in the Xfinity Series, 158 of which came with JRM.
In 2019, Annett won the season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway in the No. 1 JRM Chevrolet for his only win at the national level.
Annett, a native of Des Moines, Iowa, was also a two-time winner in the ARCA Menards Series. He won at Talladega Superspeedway in 2007 and then took the series opener at Daytona in 2008.
“NASCAR is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former NASCAR driver Michael Annett,” the racing body said in a statement. “Michael was a respected competitor whose determination, professionalism, and positive spirit were felt by everyone in the garage. Throughout his career, he represented our sport with integrity and the passion of a true racer. NASCAR extends its condolences to Michael’s family and many friends.”
NASCAR community remembers Michael Annett after Xfinity winner’s death at 39
The NASCAR industry reacted this weekend to the death of former Xfinity Series winner Michael Annett.
In a statement late Friday night, NASCAR’s communications staff confirmed Annett, who turned 39 this past June, had died at 39. No cause of death was provided.
“NASCAR is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former NASCAR driver Michael Annett,” the statement read. “Michael was a respected competitor whose determination, professionalism, and positive spirit were felt by everyone in the garage. Throughout his career, he represented our sport with integrity and the passion of a true racer. NASCAR extends its condolences to Michael’s family and many friends.”
Annett raced in the Xfinity Series from 2008-21, including full time from 2009-13 with Germain Racing, Rusty Wallace Racing and Richard Petty Motorsports. After racing in the NASCAR Cup Series from 2014-16 for Tommy Baldwin Jr. and HScott Motorsports, Annett returned to Xfinity and raced full time for JR Motorsports from 2017-21.
The Des Moines, Iowa, native’s lone Xfinity win came in the 2019 season opener at Daytona International Speedway, driving the No. 1 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports. He finished a career-best fifth in the 2012 Xfinity points standings and had 19 top fives and 95 top 10s in 321 series starts. He also had two ARCA victories from 2008-09.
Michael Annett Dead: Former Xfinity Series Race Winner Was 39
Michael Annett, known for winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2019, has died. He was 39.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family with the passing of our friend Michael Annett,” JR Motorsports wrote on social media on Friday, Dec. 5.
The organization continued, “Michael was a key member of JRM from 2017 until he retired in 2021 and was an important part in turning us into the four-car organization we remain today.”
“NASCAR is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former NASCAR driver Michael Annett,” the company added in its own statement. “Michael was a respected competitor whose determination, professionalism, and positive spirit were felt by everyone in the garage.
Michael Annett Dead: Former Xfinity Series Race Champ Was 39
Retired race car driver Michael Annett has died. He was 39.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family with the passing of our friend Michael Annett,” JR Motorsports wrote via Instagram on Friday, December 5, announcing the former driver’s death. “Michael was a key member of JRM from 2017 until he retired in 2021 and was an important part in turning us into the four-car organization we remain today.”
Annett, who previously won NASCAR’s Xfinity Series, was also memorialized by the racing organization.
“NASCAR is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former NASCAR driver Michael Annett,” a Friday statement read. “Michael was a respected competitor whose determination, professionalism and positive spirit were felt by everyone in the garage.”
The statement concluded, “Throughout his career, he represented our sport with integrity and the passion of a true racer. NASCAR extends its condolences to Michael’s family and many friends.”
A cause of death for Annett has not yet been publicly revealed.
Annett made his debut in the Xfinity Series in 2008, racing full-time the following year. He previously drove for Turner Sports Motorsports before joining JRM in 2017.
“The [racing] opportunity opened up and I got my parents talked into it,” Annett told NBC Sports in 2017, recalling his entry into the high-speed sport. “[My college hockey team] lost in the playoffs that year in 2005 and a week later [my family and I] were in a Silver Crown car down at Memphis Motorsports Park. My dad wanted to see if I had any talent whatsoever.”
The pro racer ultimately announced his retirement in October 2021 after suffering a stress fracture in his leg.
“I’m just so grateful for the opportunities I’ve had,” Annett said in a press release at the time. “Being able to drive race cars for a living is honestly a dream come true for me. It’s been a privilege to work with some great teams and alongside some of the most talented folks in the garage.”
He concluded, “None of this would have been possible without the support of my partners, and I am happy to call them lifelong friends. It’s those relationships and friendships that are the most rewarding.”
Many of Annett’s former racing colleagues have since taken to social media to offer their condolences in the wake of his death.
“RIP Michael Annett,” Jeremy Clements wrote via X. “Was a pleasure to go door to door with you for so many years. You’ll be missed.”
Noah Gragson, for his part, wrote via Instagram, “Heartbroken. Going to miss you man. Love you Diesel Mike.”
JRM driver Sammy Smith noted that Annett “meant so much” to him.
“Very sad to lose someone who meant so much to me and my family,” Smith, 21, wrote via X. “Michael was a great person to so many, and we’ll miss him a lot.”
Retired racer Brad Keselowski, for his part, recalled Annett’s debut at Daytona in an emotional social media tribute.
“I remember this day vividly. Michael was an up and comer at the same time I was and he was looking really good,” Keselowski, 41, wrote. “In the end, life took us different paths and all of us who knew him and the talent he had are sad to see him go, but glad he is no longer suffering.”
Legal World Obsessed with Michael Jordan’s NASCAR Lawsuit as Case Explodes Beyond the Garage
NASCAR’s antitrust lawsuit just doesn’t stop getting hotter. Right when you sink into an update, another is waiting in line. What started as a simple disagreement between two parties — 23XI Racing/Front Row Motorsports and NASCAR — has now been the hottest topic in the garage. And the latest update says it’s crossed that boundary too.
NASCAR antitrust lawsuit reaches law schools
Antitrust lawsuits are not uncommon. However, when they include a sport valued in billions and a team co-owned by an NBA legend like Michael Jordan, they can take quite a turn.
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A law school student recently took to social media, revealing that the case is being discussed in their school by people who have never watched the sport.
“As a lot of people who follow me know, I am both attending law school and work at a firm currently. Not only has the suit been discussed in school, now three different attorneys, 0 of whom watch NASCAR actively, have shared this case with me,” Stephen Mallozzi wrote on X.
“This case is way bigger than NASCAR.”
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This purely shows the impact of the case everywhere. Even those having no relation with the sport are vested in it religiously, trying to decode the legal drama in their own ways. In this case, teach it.
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Plus, the case is also one of a kind, as the motorsports world is witnessing a debut one right now with this. Very rarely you get to see two teams suing their own sport for fairness to excel in that very sport.
Last year, in October, 23XI and FRM had filed the lawsuit, alleging unlawful monopolization by NASCAR regarding the Charter Agreement. They claimed that the agreement is anticompetitive and is making the team run at a loss. This was allegedly because of the small share of the broadcasting profits the teams get from NASCAR.
Michael Jordan also shook the courtroom with his strong statements against the sport’s authorities.
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Michael Jordan shakes the court with NASCAR’s risk-takers’ comment
Jordan’s mere presence in the courtroom has been a significant talking point for people outside the motorsports world. They are seemingly engaged with the trial. On the trial’s fifth day, the former Bulls player was in the witness box for over an hour, answering questions and delivering strong statements.
Citing the NBA, Jordan claimed that the sport and teams should be equally responsible and divided for development. At the same time, he claimed that 23XI, which he co-owns with Denny Hamlin, aims to increase teams’ share.
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“We never thought we would get what basketball gets but we thought we could get closer to 45 percent,” Jordan said.
At the same time, some of his statements against NASCAR authorities raised eyebrows across the motorsports world. Commenting on the sport’s CEO, Jordan claimed that the drivers and teams are the only risk-takers.
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“I never saw Jim France drive a car or risk his life,” he added. “Give a little more credit to those who put their life on the line.”
Michael Jordan has put in a lot for 23XI ever since the team’s inception. He is present with the team during races multiple times throughout the Cup Series season. He also told the court that he catches up with all of the races on TV. Seemingly, he is heavily invested in the sport and hence, the lawsuit.
The trial is at a sensitive stage right now. It has seemingly gained global attention in the legal world, as Mallozzi’s X post confirms. If the plaintiffs win the lawsuit, it will benefit teams in the sport, with possible changes in NASCAR’s fundamental rules
NASCAR world rocked by death of second driver during weekend: ‘Lost a great person’
The NASCAR world has been rocked by the death of another driver this weekend as veteran Nick Joanides has died.
Joanides, 55, was a star on the West Coast scene most recently making three starts in the ARCA West Series. He also drove in the NASCAR Xfinity Series when it was called the Nationwide Series.
“Heard today Nick Joanides passed away,” Andy Villanueva wrote on X. “The world lost a great person. Forget all of his championships he won at short tracks across California. Not many people like Nick.”
Villanueva shared a couple of personal stories about the driver and closed with, “The mark of a good person is when they say, ‘You need anything. Call me.’
“I’d call him constantly,” he added. “We’d talk about anything. Mainly to keep me from worrying about life. That was Nick. He will be missed.”
Joanides died on Friday. No cause of death was reported.
He was the second former NASCAR driver to die on the day, joining Michael Annett, 39.
Annett drove for JR Motorsports from 2017 through 2021 and the team shared the news of his death on social media.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family with the passing of our friend Michael Annett,” the team shared on X. “Michael was a key member of JRM from 2017 until he retired in 2021 and was an important part in turning us into the four-car organization we remain today.”
“RIP Michael Annett,” NASCAR driver Jeremy Clements wrote on X. “Was a pleasure to go door to door with you for so many years. You’ll be missed.”
“So sad that Michael Annett has passed,” longtime NASCAR reporter Claire B Lang wrote on X. “He was always so nice. Hard to believe he is gone.”
A native of Des Moines, Iowa, was behind the wheel for 106 NASCAR Cup Series races, but never managed to finish in the top 10. While his results at that level were not eye-popping, Yahoo Sports noted he drove for a pair of “underfunded teams” in Tommy Baldwin Racing and HScott Racing.
Annett had more success on the Xfinity Series where he drove in 321 races with 95 top-10 finishes. His lone win came in the 2019 NASCAR Racing Experience 300 at Daytona International Speedway.
He also drove in nine NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races with two top-10 finishes.
NASCAR champion mourns fellow driver’s death at 39: ‘Glad he is no longer suffering’
Former NASCAR champion Brad Keselowski was among those to react to the stunning news of former driver Michael Annett’s death.
Annett, 39, passed away on Friday. No cause of death has been reported, but Keselowski seemed to have some insight on the situation.
“I remember this day vividly,” Keselowski wrote on X while resharing a video of Annett winning the ARCA 200 at Daytona International Speedway. “Michael was an up and comer at the same time I was and he was looking really good. In the end, Life took us different paths and all of us who knew him and the talent he had are sad to see him go, but glad he is no longer suffering.”
Annett drove for JR Motorsports from 2017 through 2021 and the team shared the news of his death on social media.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family with the passing of our friend Michael Annett,” the team shared on X. “Michael was a key member of JRM from 2017 until he retired in 2021 and was an important part in turning us into the four-car organization we remain today.”
As the news spread many took to social media to remember Annett.
“RIP Michael Annett,” NASCAR driver Jeremy Clements wrote on X. “Was a pleasure to go door to door with you for so many years. You’ll be missed.”
“So sad that Michael Annett has passed,” longtime NASCAR reporter Claire B Lang wrote on X. “He was always so nice. Hard to believe he is gone.”
“I am just absolutely gutted to hear that we’ve lost Michael Annett!” Brad Doty posted on X. “The more I think about it the harder it gets! Thoughts and prayers are with his entire family.”
“NASCAR is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former NASCAR driver Michael Annett,” the organization said in a statement on its site. “Michael was a respected competitor whose determination, professionalism, and positive spirt were felt by everyone in the garage. Throughout his career, he represented our sport with integrity and the passion of a true racer. NASCAR extends its condolences to Michael’s family and many friends.”
A native of Des Moines, Iowa, was behind the wheel for 106 NASCAR Cup Series races, but never managed to finish in the top 10. While his results at that level were not eye-popping, Yahoo Sports noted he drove for a pair of “underfunded teams” in Tommy Baldwin Racing and HScott Racing.
Annett had more success on the Xfinity Series where he drove in 321 races with 95 top-10 finishes. His lone win came in the 2019 NASCAR Racing Experience 300 at Daytona International Speedway.
He also drove in nine NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races with two top-10 finishes.
His agency, RSMG, also released a statement announcing his death.
“We are sad to have lost a family member,” the post on X read. “Michael Annett will always be in our hearts. Our thoughts are with the Annett family at this time. Rest in peace MA.”
Annett stepped away from racing following the 2021 campaign after a stress fracture in his leg caused him to miss parts of that season.
Who Was Michael Annett? About the Former NASCAR Racer Who Died at 39
Michael Annett built a legacy in the racing world. The late retired NASCAR Xfinity Series driver died at the age of 39 in December 2025, and the sports world has been mourning his death ever since. No cause of death was immediately disclosed.
NASCAR confirmed the news of Annett’s death in a public statement, which read, “NASCAR is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former NASCAR driver Michael Annett. Michael was a respected competitor whose determination, professionalism, and positive spirit were felt by everyone in the garage. Throughout his career, he represented our sport with integrity and the passion of a true racer. NASCAR extends its condolences to Michael’s family and many friends.”
JR Motorsport also paid tribute to the late former racer, writing in an X statement that he was “a key member of JRM from 2017 until he retired in 2021 and was an important part in turning us into the four-car organization we remain today.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family with the passing of our friend Michael Annett,” JR concluded in its statement.
Here, learn more about Annett’s life and career.
Michael Annett Was an Iowa Native
Annett was born in Des Moines, Iowa, on June 23, 1986.
Michael Annett Started Racing in His Childhood
Before he made it to the big leagues, Annett started racing mini-cup events in elementary school. After graduating from high school, Annett kick-started his professional racing career.
His Late Father Sponsored His Racing Efforts
Annett’s late father, Harrold, was the CEO of TMC Transportation, and he helped sponsor his son’s racing efforts in the early days of his career.
Michael Annett Retired From Racing at 35 Years Old
Annett announced his retirement from stock car racing in 2021. In a statement at the time, he called his career a “dream come true.”
“It’s been a privilege to work with some great teams and alongside some of the most talented folks in the garage,” Annett said upon retiring. “None of this would have been possible without the support of my partners, and I am happy to call them lifelong friends. It’s those relationships and friendships that are the most rewarding.”
Carson Hocevar Takes a Sly Dig at NASCAR’s Data-Driven Gimmicks in Honest Dirt Track Rant
As the 2025 NASCAR Cup season is wrapped up, the drivers are chilling in their own ways. Some are resting, some are racing. Among the latter is Carson Hocevar, who’s enjoying himself racing with his friends at the Gateway Dirt Nationals in St. Louis, Missouri. The 22-year-old finished 11th in the race, but his post-race happiness showed he didn’t race for the results.
There is something in dirt racing that he doesn’t find in NASCAR, and he casually expressed that after the race.
Carson Hocevar calls dirt events “real racing”
Speaking to FloRacing, he said, “Yeah, it’s just fun to be back here. These are a lot of my NASCAR guys, guys at the shop that grew up doing this. They get to have fun, with Jeff [Jeffrey Ledford] and Tim Kloss, everybody here. It’s a lot of fun, just happy. Just race, real racing.”
Hocevar had a fun time racing with his friends, which included Jeffrey Ledford, Tim Kloss, Wil Herington, and Jonathan Davenport. As for why he calls it real racing, it’s best to hear that from himself.
“There’s not a lot of aero or engineering. I’m not looking at laptops and data, I’m looking at flow and what lane works, and everything.”
Hocevar basically points out how dirt racing brings the sport down to its most authentic form. It’s more raw, and there’s not much tech involved. It’s more about going with the flow and judging how the car feels. There are no complex simulators, wind-tunnel numbers, or any kind of sophisticated setups as you have in NASCAR.
Instead of data, he’s reading the track more with his eyes and instincts. It’s more about how, as a driver, you handle your car more naturally and adapt to the conditions by yourself.
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“When I walk into this building, I don’t know how many people watch NASCAR, but they sure remember me in a heat, just getting the car drove into my head, almost.”
Whether or not they recognize him for NASCAR, they surely remember him for that 2023 dirt-track clash he had with Jason Feger. Reports say that after a bump, Feger rammed the driver’s side door of Hocevar’s car. “The retaliation part, I wish he would — if he was that mad — full-throttle me from behind and not go for my head,” Hocevar had said.
Nonetheless, after the off-season, the Spire Motorsports driver will retain his spot in the No. 77 for the Cup Series next year.
Bobby Pierce is three-time Gateway Dirt Nationals winner
Bobby Pierce became the first driver to win the Gateway Dirt Nationals three times. He dominated the Kubota Gateway Dirt Nationals at The Dome, as he led all 40 laps and won a record $70,000 prize money, the richest payday ever offered.
Starting from the pole, he finished the race first, beating Ricky Thornton Jr. by 2.15 seconds. He wins his third title after the first two coming in consecutively in 2017 and 2018.
“You just dream of things like this, ever since this event came around,” he said. “It’s been a spectacle from the beginning. I’ve watched it grow into what it is now. They’ve got a packed house. I don’t see it stopping from growing. I think one day this place will probably be full from the tippy top.”
Looking ahead, he will look to cash in on his dominant run in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series starting at the Volusia Speedway Park in Florida in January.
Michael Jordan and NASCAR Executives Take the Stand in Antitrust Trial
The antitrust trial involving 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports, and NASCAR opened on December 1 in federal court in Charlotte, setting up a major fight over how the sport operates and who controls its financial future.
The teams say NASCAR uses its power to enforce an unfair charter model, limit competition, and leave teams without enough revenue to stay stable. NASCAR argues the charter system is legal, optional, and designed to support teams.
Across the first week, the courtroom heard from key figures including Denny Hamlin, Michael Jordan, Steve O’Donnell, and Front Row owner Bob Jenkins. Their testimony offered a detailed look at tense talks, failed negotiations, internal emails, and the financial strain teams say they face under the current structure.
Jury Selection and Opening Statements
Day 1 began with jury selection, which took about two hours. A nine-person panel was seated after several prospects were excused for showing support for Michael Jordan.
Opening statements followed. Plaintiffs’ attorney Jeffrey Kessler told jurors they would see internal messages showing NASCAR acting to keep teams financially dependent. He said teams needed permanent charters and a more balanced split of revenue.
Denny Hamlin later explained the financial pressure at 23XI Racing, saying it cost about $20 million each season to operate a single Cup car.
“NASCAR President Steve O’Donnell testified teams asked in early 2022 for an improved revenue model because they were fighting for their financial survival, according to Jenna Fryer of AP News.”
Midweek Testimony and Internal Documents in the NASCAR Antitrust Trial
Testimony on Days 2 and 3 focused on negotiations over the 2025 charter agreement. According to Jordan Bianchi and Jeff Gluck of The Athletic, O’Donnell described his meetings with 23XI executive Curtis Polk as “the most difficult meetings I’ve had with an individual in my 30 years in NASCAR.” He said Polk “threatened to kick me out of my own meeting” and came at negotiations from a business-first approach.
Evidence presented also showed NASCAR explored ways to limit the growth of outside series such as SRX. Steve O’Donnell said he became concerned after seeing Chase Elliott race an SRX car that looked similar to his NASCAR entry.
Steve O’Donnell confirmed under questioning that Jim France was “not open to a new model,” despite earlier discussions that suggested otherwise.
Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins told jurors he had lost about $100 million since entering the sport and said NASCAR pushed the 2024 charter extension through as a “take-it-or-leave-it” offer. He added that rising costs tied to the Next Gen car created even more pressure on teams.
Week Ends With Key Testimony
The week closed with Michael Jordan taking the stand. He explained why 23XI refused to sign the 2024 charter agreement, saying it did not include what he called the team’s essential “pillars,” including permanent charters and meaningful negotiation.
Joe Gibbs Racing co-owner Heather Gibbs. She said she begged Jim France not to push through the September 2024 charter offer. Don’t do this to us! But said France answered, If I wake up and I have 20 charters, I have 20. If I have 30, I have 30 she recalled saying.”
Judge Kenneth D. Bell said the trial is moving slowly due to long questioning sessions. The trial resumes next week.
Kevin Harvick Son Keelan Silences Critics With Masterclass Comeback to Hunt Down Rivals in Biggest Career Win
If you’ve been keeping up with the weather updates at Pensacola, then you might be aware that for days, teams, drivers, and fans awaited a break from the stormy skies. But when the track finally came alive in the early hours of Sunday morning, a different kind of storm took over. It was none other than 13-year-old Keelan Harvick!
Keelan Harvick didn’t just show up for the 2025 Snowflake 125. Instead, he shut up every critic in the room, delivering a jaw-dropping comeback that rewrote the record books.
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A record-breaking win for Keelan Harvick
13 years, 4 months, and 29 days.
That’s the exact age of the kid who just rewrote one of short-track racing’s most respected record books. Keelan Harvick stormed into history by winning the Allen Turner Hyundai Snowflake 125 Pro Late Model event at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida, on December 7, 2025, to become the youngest victor the race has ever seen.
But this wasn’t some clean, fairy-tale drive from the front row. Nothing about Keelan’s night (or morning technically) came easy. Starting deep in the 15th position, he spent the opening stages carving through traffic with calm precision far beyond his age. After pit stops shuffled the field, Keelan found himself at the point with 50 laps to go, but the race had no plans on letting him cruise.
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A restart with 46 laps remaining nearly derailed everything. One small bobble, one moment of lost grip, and suddenly Harvick slid back to fourth. Critics have long questioned whether he could handle adversity on the big stage. And right here, he answered with his hands on the wheel.
Keelan regrouped, reset, and went hunting again. By 24 laps to go, he powered past Tristan McKee to reclaim the lead, showing the kind of calculated aggression that defines seasoned veterans, not teenagers.
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Still, one final restart loomed with 10 laps left. No mistakes. No panic. No hesitation. Keelan Harvick held firm to capture the biggest win of his young career. McKee finished second, and defending Snowball Derby winner Kaden Honeycutt rounded out the podium.
“It’s really special,” Harvick told Matt Weaver. “Like I said, just to win it for my guys that put in a lot of hours for me to be able to do this. All my family, my sponsors, it just wouldn’t be possible without all of them.”
He credited late-night study sessions with his father, Kevin Harvick, focusing on staying low on corner exits – a detail that proved decisive. Dad Harvick was naturally very happy and proud seeing his son follow his footsteps.
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“Me and my dad watched the Snowflake from last year. We saw everybody coming out of (the turns) low and straight. That’s what I did, ” Keelan added.
Originally scheduled for 6 pm, the race didn’t start until 1:41 am due to the rain showers that took place in the Penascola area.
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Meanwhile, Peltier’s lap sets the stage for the derby
If Keelan Harvick’s win lit up the early hours of Sunday morning, Preston Peltier made sure the buildup to the 2025 Snowball Derby carried its own electricity. The veteran racer stormed to pole position for the 58th annual event, laying down a blistering 16.240-second lap during a qualifying session that was every bit as dramatic as the weekend’s weather.
Persistent rain throughout Derby week pushed the session back an entire day, but when the track finally came to life, Peltier wasted no time reminding everyone that he’s far from done. The 2017 Snowball Derby pole-sitter delivered a lap that blended precision, experience, and a little bit of swagger.
“I’m old, but I’m still fast,” Peltier joked to FloRacing afterward. “I just wanted to give it one more try, and here we are. I can promise you the car is better than me.”
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Behind him, two-time Derby winner Ty Majeski secured second, while Hudson Bulger, Jake Finch, and Spencer Davis completed the top five. This shows a mix of proven talent and rising threats, setting up a fascinating grid for Sunday’s 300-lap showdown.
But not everyone had a smooth night. In a surprising twist, three NASCAR Cup Series drivers — Kyle Busch, Erik Jones, and Noah Gragson — failed to lock themselves into the field through time. That sent them to the Last Chance Qualifier, where only four transfer spots were up for grabs.
Busch showed why he’s a former Derby winner, dominating the 25-lap LCQ from the pole. Stephen Nasse, Derek Griffith, and Jake Garcia also fought their way in. Gragson, meanwhile, never even made it to the green flag, sidelined by issues with his No. 30 entry.
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Two provisionals filled out the final positions: Matthew Craig earned his through Deep South Cranes Blizzard Series points, while Gavan Boschele claimed his via the ASA Southern Super Series. With the lineup set, the intensity surrounding this year’s Derby only continues to climb. And some storylines are just beginning to take shape.
NASCAR racer dies at 39: ‘He is no longer suffering’
Michael Annett, a past NASCAR winner at Talladega and Daytona, has died at age 39.
JR Motorsports announced Annett’s death on Friday.
NASCAR.com reports the Des Moines, Iowa native made 436 combined starts across NASCAR’s three national touring series, with 321 in the Xfinity Series.
In 2019, he took the series’ season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway in the No. 1 JRM Chevrolet for his first and only win at the national level.
He retired in 2021 after a stress fracture kept him out for parts of the season.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family with the passing of our friend Michael Annett,” JR Motorsports shared in a post on X.
“Michael was a key member of JRM from 2017 until he retired in 2021 and was an important part in turning us into the four-car organization we remain today.”
Annett made his debut in 2008 before going full-time in 2009, entering with Germain Racing before transitioning to Rusty Wallace Racing and Richard Petty Motorsports.
He spent three years at the sport’s top level in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving for Turner Scott Motorsports from 2014 through 2016 and making 106 starts across those three seasons. He then joined JRM in 2017.
Annett was also a two-time winner in the ARCA Menards Series, with a Talladega Superspeedway victory in 2007 before winning the 2008 series opener at Daytona.
In a statement, NASCAR called him a “respected competitor whose determination, professionalism, and positive spirit were felt by everyone in the garage.”
“Throughout his career, he represented our sport with integrity and the passion of a true racer,” NASCAR’s statement said.
Brad Keselowski paid tribute to Annett on social media after his death.
“Michael was an up and comer at the same time I was and he was looking really good. In the end, Life took us different paths and all of us who knew him and the talent he had are sad to see him go, but glad he is no longer suffering,” he wrote.
NASCAR Champ Crushes Rivals to Claim Historic Snowball Derby Feat at Five Flags Speedway
For decades, the Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway has been the toughest test in short-track racing. Three hundred laps on a half-mile that eats tires for breakfast and spits out dreams by dinner. One little mistake and the weekend is over.
The field is always loaded with Cup guys, late-model kings, and hungry kids who would sell their truck for a shot at the Tom Dawson Trophy. This year was no different, maybe even deeper, and when the checkered flag finally fell, one name stood taller than the rest.
Ty Majeski proves once again why the Snowball Derby is his playground
Ty Majeski rolled into Pensacola as the two-time defending Snowball Derby champ and left qualifying reminding everyone why nobody wants to see his name on the scoring pylon. He put his car second on the grid, beating almost all his rivals, which he calmly called his fifth career front-row start at the Derby.
“Obviously just the unknown of not quite understanding what the track is gonna have but yea good effort for Menards and iRacing.com, like I said it puts ourselves at a good spot for Sunday, it’s my fifth front row,” he said with the easy confidence of a guy who’s done this before.
He knows the half-mile changes every session. “It’s so hard everybody’s testing the track changes so much,” he explained.
What feels perfect Friday morning can be junk by Sunday afternoon when the rubber is laid down and the tires are screaming. Starting up front just means clean air early, fewer cars to pass, and one less thing to worry about when the long green-flag runs start chewing up equipment.
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Majeski had nothing but respect for the guy who beat him to the pole. “Yea, Preston is a great guy. We talk occasionally and we have a lot of respect for him. His cars are beautiful, and he’s got a really fast car, so he’ll be tough to beat on Sunday.”
That’s short-track talk for “I’m coming for you, but good luck.” Two of the best in the business on the front row, both knowing one tiny mistake Sunday and the trophy goes somewhere else.
He wrapped it up simple and clear: “Start at the Snowball so yea it’s nice to have that track position.”
Because at Five Flags, track position early can keep you out of the wrecks and let you control your own destiny when the real racing starts. Majeski has won this race twice in the last four years by being fast when it counts and smart when it counts more. Another front-row start just means he gets to start the hunt from the best seat in the house.
The weekend started with Preston Peltier reminding everyone he’s still one of the fastest men alive on a short track. He ripped off a 16.240-second lap to take the pole, his second career Snowball Derby pole, and looked like the man to beat all Friday night.
Preston Peltier grabs pole and sets the tone
“I had a perfect car and a good crew,” he said climbing out. “All the puzzle pieces are here.” He knew the hard part was still coming. “I’ve never had a problem going fast for a couple laps, but let’s see how I feel after 300 on Sunday.”
That front row with Majeski told the story before the green flag even dropped: two of the best in the business, both hungry, both knowing one of them would probably lift the trophy. Peltier led early and ran strong, but when the late chaos hit, he couldn’t quite thread the needle the way Majeski did.
The rest of the field was stacked. Cup guys, late-model hammers, everybody chasing the same dream. Some made it, some didn’t. The track stayed brutal and fair in that special Snowball way. When the smoke cleared Sunday night, Ty Majeski was the one holding the trophy again, proving once more that at Five Flags, you don’t have to be fastest every lap, you just have to be fastest on the one that counts.
Racing world mourns NASCAR driver who died at 39
Michael Annett, a past NASCAR winner at Talladega and Daytona, has died at age 39.
JR Motorsports announced Annett’s death on Friday.
NASCAR.com reports the Des Moines, Iowa native made 436 combined starts across NASCAR’s three national touring series, with 321 in the Xfinity Series.
In 2019, he took the series’ season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway in the No. 1 JRM Chevrolet for his first and only win at the national level.
He retired in 2021 after a stress fracture kept him out for parts of the season.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family with the passing of our friend Michael Annett,” JR Motorsports shared in a post on X.
“Michael was a key member of JRM from 2017 until he retired in 2021 and was an important part in turning us into the four-car organization we remain today.”
Annett made his debut in 2008 before going full-time in 2009, entering with Germain Racing before transitioning to Rusty Wallace Racing and Richard Petty Motorsports.
He spent three years at the sport’s top level in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving for Turner Scott Motorsports from 2014 through 2016 and making 106 starts across those three seasons. He then joined JRM in 2017.
Annett was also a two-time winner in the ARCA Menards Series, with a Talladega Superspeedway victory in 2007 before winning the 2008 series opener at Daytona.
In a statement, NASCAR called him a “respected competitor whose determination, professionalism, and positive spirit were felt by everyone in the garage.”
“Throughout his career, he represented our sport with integrity and the passion of a true racer,” NASCAR’s statement said.
Brad Keselowski paid tribute to Annett on social media after his death.
“Michael was an up and comer at the same time I was and he was looking really good. In the end, Life took us different paths and all of us who knew him and the talent he had are sad to see him go, but glad he is no longer suffering,” he wrote.
Nets playing like ‘different team’ with encouraging signs showing
No longer among the laughingstocks of the NBA, the Nets have gone from winless in their first seven games, with just one victory through a dozen games, and 3-16 as recently as just over a week ago, to having won three of four.
The reasons aren’t complicated: Michael Porter Jr. has been a force when healthy; their defense, which was abysmal in the early going, has improved; and some of their rookies are starting to contribute.
And as they wait to play their next game, Friday at Dallas, the Nets are 4-5 since Nov. 16.
While they’re far from a formidable team, they’ve shown some encouraging signs.
“You can feel, as a group, we’re getting better,” Porter said following their most recent victory, which came at Barclays Center against New Orleans.
“We knew going into the season we had a young group and it was gonna take some time,’’ Porter said of the inexperienced roster after the Nets selected five players in the first round of the NBA draft. “But we’ve done a really good job getting better over the course of the season, and I feel we’re a completely different team right now than we were Games 1 through 7.”
Back then, they were routinely giving up 120-plus points per game and seemed well on their way to a historically bad season.
But coach Jordi Fernández preached patience, and after getting an undermanned Nets team to a surprising 26 wins last year, he’s begun to get the most out of this year’s team, as well.
It helps when the schedule offers up games against a three-win New Orleans team, as well as scuffling Charlotte and Chicago, as has been the case in the three victories, but it beats getting trounced on a regular basis.
“It’s never easy to win an NBA game,” Fernandez said. “This team has played a lot of close games and competed.”
That’s resulted in more productive minutes from rookies like Egor Dëmin, who had seven assists against New Orleans, as well as Danny Wolf (seven points, four rebounds and two assists in 19 minutes) and Ben Saraf (seven points, four assists).
Wolf has put up 12.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game over his past five and impressed Porter in the process.
“Danny has, the last few games, really shown he’s NBA ready,” Porter said. “He’s ready to contribute to winning right now and being depended on.”
Fernández added, “We’re taking positive steps. On both ends of the floor, we played the right way.”
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There also are issues that will take time to fix, like three turnovers apiece from Dëmin and Wolf.
Still, things could be much worse.
Just ask New Orleans, which hasn’t won a playoff series in nearly a decade, even after drafting Zion Williamson with the first-overall pick in 2019.
Williamson is hurt again, and the Pelicans, with the worst record in the league, don’t even own their first-round pick next year, having traded it away in exchange for the pick they used on Derik Queen at No. 13.
And the Nets’ next game comes against a team in the Mavericks that ended up with the first-overall pick, when the lottery fortunes landed in their favor and they selected Cooper Flagg.
So Fernández will continue to try to come up with ways for his young team to succeed and he said he’s “happy with the way we’re evolving,” especially on defense.
But their schedule is about to get tougher, with games upcoming against the Mavericks and struggling Milwaukee before facing Miami, Toronto, Philadelphia, Minnesota, Golden State and Houston.
Which NBA teams have the best Christmas Day records?
The NBA has 30 teams, as noted. A full 29 of them have played at least once on Christmas. The Hornets have never had the pleasure. That includes the original iteration, the Bobcats, and the current iteration. Maybe LaMelo Ball and company will get good enough to earn a Christmas game.
In 2022, the Grizzlies, with burgeoning star Ja Morant, got a chance to face the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors won easily, 123-109. This is the only time the Grizzlies, of Memphis or Vancouver, have played on Christmas.
We don’t know how often the Raptors have played on Boxing Day. What we do know is that the Raptors, Canada’s only extant team, has played twice on Christmas. Both games ended in losses, leaving the Raptors as the third and final team without a Christmas Day win.
The Pelicans’ history began in 2002, since the Hornets got their old history back, a la the Cleveland Browns. Guys like Chris Paul and Zion Williamson certainly have excited the casual NBA fan, aka the perceived Christmas viewer. The Pellies have played four Christmas games, and they do have a win. The article “a” is shouldering the load there.
This is the first team on this list to have played more than a smattering of Christmas Day games. That includes the Seattle SuperSonics era. The Thunder had the Kevin Durant and the Russell Westbrook years, and during that time, they were staples of national TV. Unfortunately, the franchise has also had limited luck. The Thunder are 6-14 on Christmas, putting them in the running for the most futile Christmas performer.
For our money, though, the Pistons hold the title, such as it is, for making things the toughest for their fans on a day of fun and celebration. Detroit has played 32 games on Christmas, which is more than most NBA teams. However, it is also 10-22 on Christmas. Sure, the Pistons’ .313 win percentage is a smidge better than the Thunder’s .300 win percentage, but with another 12 games in the mix, the Pistons feel like they have been a bit worse.
The Nuggets had the Carmelo Anthony era, and Nikola Jokic has three MVPs and has led the team to a title. Perhaps there have been more fallow years than we realized, though, and admittedly, Denver isn’t the biggest market. The Nuggets have only made 10 Christmas appearances, and they haven’t gone great, as the franchise is 3-7.
Even when the Hawks have been really good, they haven’t necessarily been star-studded. Of course, Turner Sports is also based in Atlanta, so the Hawks are a convenient pick for Christmas. Atlanta has actually played in 21 Christmas games, more than we expected, and is 9-12 in those games.
The Knicks are the kings of Christmas. Regardless of how good the team is in any given year, you can pretty much lock them into playing on Christmas Day. Of course, the degree to which success doesn’t play a role has also led to a mixed bag of results. The (St.) Knicks have played in 56 Christmas games, the most of any franchise. They are 25-32.
A dynastic run has made the Warriors recent staples on Christmas. Given the propensity Steph Curry has for going off, that’s just fine. As long as Curry is a Warrior, keep the team in action on X-Mas! Golden State did lose to the Lakers in 2024, though, dropping the team’s record to 15-19.
The Spurs are a bounce or two away from being higher on this list. However, the reason for that is because the team has actually not been a regular on Christmas Day. Obviously, they’ve had some great teams and great players, but not the most exciting personalities. San Antonio is 5-7 on Christmas. Flip that around to 7-5, and it would jump a lot of teams.
Unsurprisingly, one of the iconic NBA franchises has played a ton of Christmas. The Celtics are third in overall games, though a decent distance behind the Knicks and the team in second (which you can guess). All told, the defending champs are under .500, but just barely. Boston is 17-21 on X-Mas.
For years, decades even, there was zero chance of the Clippers getting a Christmas Day game. Even with the Los Angeles market, the Clippers were just such a futile franchise. Then, things got turned around and the Clippers of Chris Paul and Blake Griffin became cool and exciting. Now, the Clippers have played 17 games on Christmas, and even have an 8-9 record on the day.
It turns out when you play a ton of Christmas, it’s hard to rack up win after win. There’s also the fact that these matchups are usually designed to showcase top teams, so easy opponents are hard to find. To that end, the Lakers are just under .500. They have played 51 Christmas Day games, but are 25-26.
We enter the realm of .500 teams. Cleveland has played 14 Christmas Day games, but none since 2017. Huh, we wonder what happened to get the Cavaliers off the Christmas schedule since. With a 7-7 record and the most games played of the .500 teams, we’d argue that Cleveland is the best of the bunch when it comes to mediocrity.
The Rockets were champs a couple of times in the 1990s and had some really good teams with some big names since. Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady, James Harden, the list goes on. While a rebuilding stretch has kept Houston off the schedule for a few years, the franchise is 6-6 on Christmas.
You’d think that during the Reggie Miller era, the Pacers would have gotten a chance to face the Knicks a few times on Christmas. The franchise has made rare appearances, though. In fact, Indiana has only played in four Christmas Day games and is 2-2. The Pacers last played on Christmas in 2004, and in a very-2004 game lost to the Pistons 98-93.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (and a title) has made the small-market Bucks a viable option for Christmas. That wouldn’t have been the case for a long time. In 2023, the Bucks hit double digits but lost to the Knicks and thus fell to 5-5.
Kevin Garnett? Karl-Anthony Towns? Anthony Edwards? So far, none of them have been able to make the case to the NBA schedule makers to include the Timberwolves in the process. The team is all of 2-1 on Christmas. It won its second and third games, which is nice for the franchise. Otherwise, it would have been in the winless category.
The Nets are the inverse of the Spurs. They have also played in 11 Christmas Day games. However, while San Antonio is 5-6, Brooklyn is 6-5. Even with the market, the Nets are just starting a rebuild, so it may be a bit before the 12th Christmas Day game arrives.
When Shaq arrived, the Magic quickly became a team the NBA very much wanted on national TV. When Shaq left for Los Angeles, that stopped being the case. Orlando has played in nine Christmas games, none since 2011. The Magic are 5-4, though!
The most-common Christmas matchup? That would be the 76ers versus the Knicks. Those two teams have played 13 times, and the Sixers have the 8-5 lead in that series. That basically makes the difference in the team’s Christmas Day record, as Philly is 20-15 on the holiday.
Of the teams with a winning record, the Mavericks have played the fewest Christmas games. Evidently, neither Dirk nor Luka has had the cache to appear all that regularly (maybe Cooper Flagg will be different). Dallas is .500 at 4-4 after a loss to Minnesota in 2024.
From Charles Barkley to “7 Seconds or Less” to the new (to-date unsuccessful) super team, the Suns have had their era when they were in the mix. Phoenix is just over the 20-game mark, but also a few games over .500. The Suns are 13-9 on Christmas, and what city says the holiday season like Phoenix, Arizona?
The NBA assuredly wanted Michael Jordan playing on Christmas as much as possible, but Jordan left the Bulls a long time ago at this point. Like the Suns, the Bulls have played in 21 Christmas Day games. MJ can rub it in with Barkley once more, as the Bulls are one game better at 13-8.
The Kings are the NBA team with the longest Christmas Day drought. Sacramento hasn’t played on Christmas since 2003. Here’s the thing, though. The Kings must have made a point of being available on Christmas back in the day. Would you believe the franchise has played in 29 Christmas games? At 18-11, the Kings have the fourth-most Christmas Day wins in NBA history.
Washington was once a regular on Christmas, and has a track record of success on the day. With a 16-7 record and a .696 win percentage, some might have the Wizards atop the Christmas Day power rankings. Of the teams that have played more than 20 games, they do have the most success from a percentage perspective.
The Jazz have not played often on Christmas (but have played since the Stockton-and-Malone era, FYI), but the success makes up for that. Utah is 6-2 on X-Mas, making it one of three teams with a winning percentage over .700.
The Trail Blazers and Warriors used to make it a habit of playing on Christmas. In fact, from 1977 through 1980, they played every year. Portland is 5-1 on Christmas when playing Golden State. Though the team has not played on Christmas since 2018, it is 14-4. That’s very good, so much so that fans may hope that the team doesn’t return to Christmas Day until the rebuild is further along. Got to save that record!
How much do four games mean to you? Portland has played in 18 Christmas games, while Miami has played in 14. The Blazers are 14-4, as noted, which is excellent. However, the Heat are 12-2. That’s remarkable. Miami has the best win percentage on Christmas of any NBA team. Portland is close, but has done it over four more games. How you come down on that may decide where you land in terms of the number-one Christmas franchise.
Yang Hansen, rookie from China, makes first NBA start
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Yang Hansen, the 7-foot-1 rookie out of China, made his first NBA start in a game Sunday against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Hansen, picked 16th overall in last summer’s draft, moved into the starting lineup after the Trail Blazers primary centers — Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams III — missed the game. Williams was a late scratch due to an illness and Clingan missed his second straight with a left lower-leg contusion.
The Grizzlies built a big lead in the first half and defeated Portland 119-96.
Yang entered the game averaging 2.5 points a game and 1.5 rebounds. He had a season-high nine points in a 127-110 home loss to Phoenix on Nov. 18.
He finished Sunday night’s game with four points on 2-of-5 shooting and five rebounds in slightly more than 19 minutes. His four points came in the third quarter, which included a spin move and a dunk over 7-foot-3 Zach Edey.
Clippers assistant Jeff Van Gundy, Chris Paul reportedly had multiple verbal run-ins
Clippers assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy and veteran guard Chris Paul had multiple verbal dust-ups this season, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes.
One of those exchanges stemmed from a late-game moment during Los Angeles’ November 29 loss to the Mavericks.
Haynes said Paul approached Kawhi Leonard during a fourth-quarter timeout and suggested the Clippers switch Leonard off Klay Thompson, noting that Leonard was on a minutes restriction and had just checked back in cold.
The Clippers adjusted the matchup, but the suggestion didn’t sit well with Van Gundy.
“The next day, Jeff Van Gundy called a meeting with Chris Paul on the plane,” Haynes said. “He asked Paul if he changed the defensive assignment. Paul said he hadn’t — only that he suggested someone else guard Klay until Kawhi warmed up.”
According to Haynes, Van Gundy responded by telling Paul, “You might have had leeway in other places… but you don’t have that leeway here.”
Haynes described the moment as one of “a few” verbal incidents between the two.
Paul appeared in 16 games for the Clippers, averaging 2.9 points, 1.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists. He was sent home during the team’s recent trip to Atlanta as tensions escalated.
Team sources told Ashish Mathur of DallasHoopsJournal that Kawhi Leonard and James Harden had grown “sick and tired” of Paul’s persistent criticism of players, coaches and front office staff.
To move on from Paul, the Clippers must waive him and absorb his $3.6 million salary, agree to a buyout, or wait until December 15 when he becomes trade-eligible.
Kings Assign Former Lottery Pick to NBA G League
In what should not be too surprising a development, the Sacramento Kings have assigned former 13th overall pick Devin Carter to their G League affiliate in Stockton.
Simply put, Carter has not panned out in Sacramento. Sacramento trounced the Miami Heat, and Carter still received a DNP-CD. All other young players entered the game, and the only other DNPs were veterans Doug McDermott and Dario Saric. Very odd, but it encapsulates just how things have gone for Carter during his first two seasons in Sacramento.
Devin Carter’s Kings tenure has not gone to plan
The former Providence Friar entered the league widely seen as a winning player who could serve as a versatile connective piece that could fill many gaps. Comparisons ranged from Ayo Dosumnu to Jrue Holiday and Derrick White. Comps can vary, but it was undeniable that Carter was viewed as someone who could immediately impact winning as a rookie.
Those expectations did not come close to materializing. Sacramento received a lot of praise for taking Carter 13th, even if there was some positional redundancy with De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk, Keon Ellis, and Davion Mitchell (who was ultimately traded before the season began).
The final first-round pick of Monte McNair’s run as General Manager certainly stayed true to his preferred archetype, placing a premium on multi-year college prospects who improved every year of college. Tyrese Haliburton, Davion Mitchell, and Keegan Murray all fit this bill as well. The idea was that Carter was simply too good a talent, and that his skill set could mold to fit with the talent already present in the Sacramento backcourt.
Just three weeks after the draft, though, Sacramento announced that Carter would undergo shoulder surgery and would be re-evaluated in six months. This brutal development immediately put Carter behind the eight-ball, as he would return right in the thick of the postseason chase, when there was little to no room for error while Carter tried to find his footing.
There is undoubtedly a universe where Carter is a useful player in Sacramento’s rotation this season. Conventional wisdom would probably say that a team starved for perimeter defense would play their young, second-year former lottery pick who has shown the ability to play plus perimeter defense.
However, that universe is probably also the one where Monte McNair is still Sacramento’s General Manager. Once McNair and the Kings mutually parted ways, Carter’s trajectory became far less certain. There was no guarantee the next regime would see Carter as a building block for the next iteration of the Sacrament Kings – regardless of the draft capital invested in him just one season ago.
Scott Perry almost immediately made it clear he did not see Carter as a fit moving forward. Sacramento very publicly courted both Dennis Schroder and Russell Westbrook starting in June, and eventually signed both before the season began. They eventually acquired Schroder on a well-above-market level contract via a sign and trade in July, touting him as their new starting point guard. Schroder started all of 12 games before moving to a reserve role.
After the Westbrook signing just days before opening night, Sam Amick reported that Sacramento’s “need for a more impactful backup point guard was even more glaring after a training camp in which none of their current players impressed enough to win the job.”
So, Perry and the organization got to see Carter in training camp, and did not think he was good enough to run the second unit. This led to Carter being buried in the depth chart, playing in just 8 games this season. He has only played more than 10 minutes twice this season. Regime change aside, it is incredibly rare to see a player this clearly on the outs just 44 games and less than 500 minutes into his NBA career.
Carter may well end up having a long, productive NBA career. However, it seems like the chances that Carter enjoys that productive career in Sacramento are slim to none. At this point, Sacramento would be fortunate to receive second-round picks back from whichever opportunistic team sees this as a chance to nab lottery-caliber backcourt talent for next to nothing.
While not wholly unsurprising, this has been a truly puzzling way to manage a young player and willingly tank any trade value he may have had going into the season. Sacramento does not have much in the way of young, cost-controlled talent. Their unwillingness to provide them with an opportunity to grow on the court – despite the abysmal results from the veteran-laden rotation thus far – is confusing.
The Stockton Kings are a well-run G League organization that has helped develop a lot of good talent. Keon Ellis spent significant time there, as did Neemias Queta, who is now thriving with consistent minutes in Boston. Hopefully, Carter can get some good reps with that team and get his confidence up, should an opportunity arise in Sacramento.
If the season continues down the path it is going, it would be irresponsible not to give Carter some run with Nique Clifford, Keon Ellis, Keegan Murray, and Maxime Raynaud. While Carter may not be part of Perry’s vision for the future of Kings basketball, it is worth seeing (i) how he meshes with the young group he has, and (ii) if Carter can play well enough to create some sort of trade market for himself. Hopefully, a stint in Stockton is the kick-start needed to get this process rolling.
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Podziemski scores 21, Warriors beat Bulls 123-91 for Chicago’s 7th straight loss
CHICAGO (AP) — Brandin Podziemski scored 21 points off the bench, Jimmy Butler added 19 in his return to the lineup and the injury-depleted Golden State Warriors beat the Chicago Bulls 123-91 on Sunday night to extend the longest active losing streak in the NBA.
The Bulls have lost seven in a row, their most since an eight-game skid in the 2019-20 season.
Quinten Post also scored 19 points for the Warriors.
Golden State shot 22 of 47 from beyond the arc with seven players connecting from long range. Post and Podziemski each hit five 3s.
Josh Giddey scored 18 points and Matas Buzelis added 16 for the Bulls, who shot 36% from the field and were out-rebounded 51-38.
The Warriors held an opponent to under 100 points for a third straight game and limited Chicago to its fewest points in a game this season.
Butler started after missing two games (left knee), but Golden State remained without Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Al Horford. Coach Steve Kerr said trio might return Friday against Minnesota.
Buddy Hield and Post each hit a 3-pointer in the first 90 seconds and Golden State led by as many as 16 before taking a 60-46 advantage into the intermission. The Warriors hit their first four 3-point attempts and were 12 for 25 in the first half.
Golden State stretched its lead to 24-points in the third quarter. Chicago used a 17-1 run to narrow its deficit to 87-79 early in the fourth before the Warriors pulled away late.
Chicago played without four regulars: Kevin Huerter, Tre Jones, Isaac Okoro and Jalen Smith. Ayo Dosunmu started despite right thumb sprain and
Curry is expected to resume practice as soon as Wednesday as he comes back from a left quadriceps contusion and muscle strain.
Up next
Warriors: Host Minnesota on Friday.
Bulls: At Charlotte on Friday.
___
Ja Morant linked to a new playoff contender in trade rumors
Ja Morant may be getting a lifeline from the ultimate reclamation project destination.
The Miami Heat have had internal discussions about potentially trading for the Memphis Grizzlies star Morant, veteran NBA writer Jake Fischer reported to Substack on Sunday. Fischer notes that the Heat have discussed how their infrastructure might potentially benefit the mercurial Morant.
With the Grizzlies struggling to tread water at 11-13 this season, trade rumors involving the two-time NBA All-Star Morant, 26, have been widely circulating for weeks now. While Morant has not played since mid-November due to a calf strain, he is said to be unhappy with the team’s leadership and even got suspended by the Grizzlies last month after a confrontation with head coach Tuomas Iisalo.
As for the 14-10 Heat, they are seventh in a wide-open Eastern Conference and sit just 2.5 games back of the No. 2 seed. Miami also has an unbalanced backcourt with no true point guard since Tyler Herro and Norman Powell are natural shooting guards and Davion Mitchell is more of a defense-first role player.
Meanwhile, the Heat have long been known for a heavy emphasis on discipline and conditioning. Dubbed “Heat Culture,” the Miami zeitgeist has helped the franchise turn numerous misfits or otherwise outcasted NBA players into thriving pieces on championship-caliber teams.
Los Angeles Lakers vs Philadelphia 76ers Player Stats, Box Score and Game Recap (Dec 7) – 2025-26 NBA Season
The LakeShow starpower that was missing in Boston is now in Philadelphia. But the 76ers aren’t laidback. With Luka Doncic and LeBron James back alongside Austin Reaves, Tyrese Maxey has gone all out. From tying the first quarter to putting the Lakers on the defensive backfoot, the Sixers are determined to take down another team favored by the odds. After making it very difficult on the visiting team, the Sixers lost 108-112.
Los Angeles Lakers vs Philadelphia 76ers player stats and box score
Los Angeles Lakers
Philadelphia 76ers
Lakers vs 76ers: Game summary and key moments
After the disappointing game against the Celtics, the Los Angeles Lakers needed to end this road trip on a high note. The Philadelphia 76ers were not going to make it easy. The first quarter ended in a tie, the second with the Sixers in the lead, and the next half was a neck-and-neck matchup.
Lakers’ Luka Doncic Passes Nikola Jokic on Historic NBA List
Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers took care of business on Sunday night against the Philadelphia 76ers.
While the NBA world will rightfully rave over the superstar takeover from LeBron James in the clutch time, Luka Doncic quietly moved up an NBA historic list, surpassing the Denver Nuggets superstar, Nikola Jokic, and the future Hall of Famer, Russell Westbrook.
With his major night in Philadelphia, Doncic passed Jokic and Westbrook on the 30-point triple-double leaderboard. Only the NBA legend Oscar Robertson has more at this point.
Doncic checked in for 39 minutes on Sunday night. He shot 9-24 from the field and drained 11 of his 14 free throws. The veteran sharpshooter finished the game with a game-high 31 points.
With 11 assists and 15 rebounds, Doncic secured the triple-double on the night.
Heading into Sunday’s game, there was a three-way tie between Doncic, Westbrook, and Jokic, as they all had 48 triple-doubles that involved 30-point outings.
While Doncic is now second on the list, he has a long way to go to catch Robinson. In 387 games, Robinson has 106 triple-doubles under his belt that include a 30-point scoring game.
Beyond the top four, LeBron James is fifth with 42. James Harden is sixth with 37, while Giannis Antetokounmpo is the last active player in the top ten with 25 of his own.
Sunday’s game was just the second triple-double of the season for Doncic this year. Four players are ahead of him on this year’s leaderboard. The list includes Russell Westbrook, Jalen Johnson, Josh Giddey, and Jokic.
Doncic is back in the mix for the Lakers after missing the last couple of games due to personal reasons. Heading into Sunday’s action, the sharpshooter had appeared in 16 games.
This year, Doncic is averaging a career-high 35.3 points per game, while shooting 47 percent from the field. He is producing 8.9 rebounds, 8.9 assists, and 1.6 steals per game.
With their 112-108 victory over the Sixers on Sunday, the Lakers moved to 17-6 on the year. They are set to face the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday for some NBA Cup quarter-final action.
Magic Johnson Names His Clear Favorite for NBA MVP
We’re nearing the two-month mark of the 2025-26 NBA season, and while we’re only about a quarter of the way through with plenty of basketball left, NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson believes there’s already a clear frontrunner for league MVP.
Johnson, who stays very active on X, shared his thoughts after watching his former team—the Los Angeles Lakers—pull out an impressive 112–108 win over a fully healthy Philadelphia 76ers squad. Luka Doncic erupted for a 31-point triple-double in his return after missing two games for the birth of his second child.
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Doncic finished with 31 points, 15 rebounds, and 11 assists, continuing his dominant campaign and helping the Lakers improve to 17–6. Johnson believes Doncic is the clear MVP favorite over Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and several others, while also praising veteran LeBron James, who scored a season-high 29 points, including 10 straight in the fourth quarter.
Texans Stifle Patrick Mahomes and Chiefs in 20-10 Victory to Keep Pace in AFC South Race
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — C.J Stroud threw for 203 yards and a touchdown, the Texans leaned on the NFL’s top-ranked defense to shut down Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, and Houston came away from Arrowhead Stadium with a 20-10 victory over Kansas City on Sunday night.
Nico Collins contributed four catches for 121 yards, and Dare Ogunbowale added a go-ahead touchdown run in the fourth quarter as the Texans (8-5) won their fifth straight overall and remained a game back of the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC South.
Mahomes, operating behind an ailing offensive line, was just 14 of 33 for 160 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions, the last of them late in the fourth quarter when Kansas City was trailing by a touchdown and trying to get the game to overtime.
While the win gave a big boost to Houston’s playoff chances, whether it be a division title or wild-card spot, it dealt a crippling blow to the defending AFC champs. Kansas City dropped to 6-7, its worst record through 13 games since a 2-11 start to the 2012 season.
The Chiefs had won five straight against the Texans, including a divisional playoff matchup last January on their way to another Super Bowl appearance. But they were two different teams entirely when they returned for the rematch on Sunday night.
The streaking Texans were trying to keep their momentum going, and perhaps join a rare club of teams that includes Houston’s 2018 version that started 0-3 and made the playoffs. And the once-dominant Chiefs were simply trying to stay in the postseason fight amid a dismal season marked by injuries, underwhelming performances and too many mistakes across the board.
The first half turned into a microcosm of all of it.
Stroud, who played so well against Indianapolis last week in his return from a concussion, connected with Collins for a 46-yard gain that set up Ka’imi Fairbairn’s field goal, and a 53-yard catch that led to a short touchdown toss to Woody Marks.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs sustained two more significant injuries, this time to left tackle Wanya Morris and cornerback Trent McDuffie, leaving them without their best defensive back and Mahomes working with an offensive line consisting of three backups.
Kansas City wound up with 98 first-half yards and trailed 10-0 at the break, only the fourth time with Mahomes at quarterback and the second time in the regular season that the Chiefs had been shut out in the first half.
The Chiefs’ defense held its own, though, forcing Stroud into eight consecutive incompletions to start the second half. That allowed Mahomes and the offense to pick away at the deficit, first on Kareem Hunt’s TD run and then on Harrison Butker’s tying field goal.
Ultimately, the game hinged on two fourth-down decisions in the first quarter.
With the score still 10-10, the Texans had fourth-and-1 at their own 35 and punted. The Chiefs were then held to fourth-and-1 at their own 31, chose to go for it, and watched Mahomes throw incomplete with just over 10 minutes remaining.
Six plays later, Ogunbowale plowed into the end zone from 5 yards out to give Houston the lead again.
The Chiefs failed on fourth down again moments later, when Rashee Rice dropped a wide-open pass that would have produced a first down. And after Kansas City got the ball back one last time, Mahomes was picked off to end any hope of a comeback.
Injuries
Texans: RB Nick Chubb (ribs) left in the first half.
Chiefs: RG Trey Smith (ankle) and RT Jawaan Taylor (triceps) were inactive. Morris (knee) and CB McDuffie (knee) got hurt in the first half, leaving Kansas City with a patchwork offensive line and without its best defensive back.
Up next
Houston plays the Cardinals next Sunday.
Kansas City plays the Chargers the same day.
___
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Texans shut down Mahomes and beat Chiefs 20-10
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — C.J Stroud threw for 203 yards and a touchdown, the Texans leaned on the NFL’s top-ranked defense to shut down Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, and Houston came away from Arrowhead Stadium with a 20-10 victory over Kansas City on Sunday night.
Nico Collins contributed four catches for 121 yards, and Dare Ogunbowale added a go-ahead touchdown run in the fourth quarter as the Texans (8-5) won their fifth straight overall and remained a game back of the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC South.
Mahomes, operating behind an ailing offensive line, was just 14 of 33 for 160 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions, the last of them late in the fourth quarter when Kansas City was trailing by a touchdown and trying to get the game to overtime.
While the win gave a big boost to Houston’s playoff chances, whether it be a division title or wild-card spot, it dealt a crippling blow to the defending AFC champs. Kansas City dropped to 6-7, its worst record through 13 games since a 2-11 start to the 2012 season.
The Chiefs had won five straight against the Texans, including a divisional playoff matchup last January on their way to another Super Bowl appearance. But they were two different teams entirely when they returned for the rematch on Sunday night.
The streaking Texans were trying to keep their momentum going, and perhaps join a rare club of teams that includes Houston’s 2018 version that started 0-3 and made the playoffs. And the once-dominant Chiefs were simply trying to stay in the postseason fight amid a dismal season marked by injuries, underwhelming performances and too many mistakes across the board.
The first half turned into a microcosm of all of it.
Stroud, who played so well against Indianapolis last week in his return from a concussion, connected with Collins for a 46-yard gain that set up Ka’imi Fairbairn’s field goal, and a 53-yard catch that led to a short touchdown toss to Woody Marks.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs sustained two more significant injuries, this time to left tackle Wanya Morris and cornerback Trent McDuffie, leaving them without their best defensive back and Mahomes working with an offensive line consisting of three backups.
Kansas City wound up with 98 first-half yards and trailed 10-0 at the break, only the fourth time with Mahomes at quarterback and the second time in the regular season that the Chiefs had been shut out in the first half.
The Chiefs’ defense held its own, though, forcing Stroud into eight consecutive incompletions to start the second half. That allowed Mahomes and the offense to pick away at the deficit, first on Kareem Hunt’s TD run and then on Harrison Butker’s tying field goal.
Ultimately, the game hinged on two fourth-down decisions in the first quarter.
With the score still 10-10, the Texans had fourth-and-1 at their own 35 and punted. The Chiefs were then held to fourth-and-1 at their own 31, chose to go for it, and watched Mahomes throw incomplete with just over 10 minutes remaining.
Six plays later, Ogunbowale plowed into the end zone from 5 yards out to give Houston the lead again.
The Chiefs failed on fourth down again moments later, when Rashee Rice dropped a wide-open pass that would have produced a first down. And after Kansas City got the ball back one last time, Mahomes was picked off to end any hope of a comeback.
Injuries
Texans: RB Nick Chubb (ribs) left in the first half.
Chiefs: RG Trey Smith (ankle) and RT Jawaan Taylor (triceps) were inactive. Morris (knee) and CB McDuffie (knee) got hurt in the first half, leaving Kansas City with a patchwork offensive line and without its best defensive back.
Up next
Houston plays the Cardinals next Sunday.
Kansas City plays the Chargers the same day.
___
Dave Portnoy goes ballistic on ref, Pete Carroll after Raiders-Broncos
Bettors beware.
The end of the Broncos-Raiders game had Dave Portnoy up in arms, calling for “prison” for the officials, Raiders coach Pete Carroll and the NFL after Las Vegas was able to get a field goal late in the game that had no implication on the final outcome — but was big for gamblers.
The game seemed all but over when Raiders receiver Tyler Lockett made a catch and was tackled in bounds with five seconds left on the clock.
Time would have expired right there, except for the fact that Broncos safety Brandon Jones was on top of Lockett after making the tackle, and the officials called a delay of game penalty — allowing the Raiders to get one more play.
Carroll opted to send his field goal unit onto the field and Daniel Carlson nailed the 46-yard kick as time expired, making the final 24-17, meaning the Broncos failed to cover — Denver had been favored by 8.5 points, and the over, which had been set at 40.5, hit.
Portnoy, along with other accounts on social media, alleged there was malfeasance afoot due to the decision-making and the call at the end of the game.
“This is honestly prison,” Portnoy wrote on X along with a roughly two-minute breakdown of the moment. “I’ve never seen a shadier sequence in my life. Prison for Pete Carroll and that ref.”
Warning: Adult Language
“You call that delay of game on the defense with 12 seconds left,” Portnoy said at one point in the video. “You call that delay of game when the game is over? What are you talking about. I’ve seen that 1,000 times where it’s four, three, two, one go home, game is over. And then Pete Carroll runs out the field goal unit and kicks a field goal to end the game with no time.”
“This guy, prison,” he continued when the referee was shown in the video. “This ref, prison. Pete Carroll, prison. NFL, prison. This is the most rigged game I’ve ever seen in my entire life. Disgusting. F–king prison.”
Portnoy had posted another video before that where he crashed out over the play, lamenting that the game was “rigged” and calling for the “murder” of Pete Carroll.
The Raiders coach was not asked about the decision to kick a field goal after the game.
The sequence comes with sports betting under a heavy microscope after a federal probe into alleged illegal gambling practices involving the NBA.
Insider Warns Tiger Woods PGA Tour Pros May Soon Desert His $500M Project Amid Schedule Changes
Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods have spent the past two years championing TGL as golf’s bold leap. The two co-founders have flaunted their $500 million project as the big tech-driven entertainment in golf. However, golf analysts Andy Johnson and Brendan Porath suggest that the $500 million venture may be facing a sharper reality than its founders expected.
A recent Fried Egg Golf discussion aimed at the league’s habit of playing it safe for star players. The analysts questioned whether its long-term appeal can survive if design freedom, competitive teeth, and broader player investment remain secondary.
“The players are not going to be there year-over-year. You’re catering to players who are going to be the first ones to bow out or be like, ‘I’m done. I did my time. I’m out.’ The players don’t sustain this for the next 10 years. It’s like getting a product that crabs fans. You know, like how many of these players are going to be that you’re catering to are going to be big TGL heads for the next decade?” Brendon Porath said on the Fried Egg Golf podcast.
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TGL reached a $500 million valuation in a 2024 Series A funding round led by Dynasty Equity and Connect Ventures. Season 1 debuted in January 2025 with quick-paced matches under two hours. TGL’s second season launches on ABC on December 28, 2025, for its network debut, running late December through January. There won’t be any gap left for the PGA Tour pros after the TGL Season 2.
Although the feedback is mostly positive, TGL still has not garnered the kind of traction Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy would have hoped for. Thus, a time may come when PGA Tour pros playing the event may want to get out. Currently, the roster features many elite names from the PGA Tour. This includes stars like Rory McIlroy, Keegan Bradley, Patrick Cantlay, Justin Thomas, Hideki Matsuyama, Max Homa, Collin Morikawa, and more.
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The organizers set the TGL schedule during the PGA Tour’s offseason. While these golfers are all in to play for some seasons, they may start to think they need to rest and prepare for PGA Tour events during the offseason. And this may make them set their priorities.
While Brendon Porath discussed no long-term commitment, Andy Johnson hinted at the lack of challenges. And he didn’t even spare the PGA Tour or any other professional golf tournaments.
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“I think the issue, and I think Joseph was hitting on this, is that there are literally no rules, nothing. Like, you could get really weird, but they haven’t done it because they’re still afraid of players, which is stupid. These players are contracted. It’s effectively video game golf, and they’re all doing it for, I’m sure they’re being paid, but like it’s way more relaxed,” Andy Johnson said.
“You can push it, but they haven’t done it. And it’s just this deference to players that is maybe the most poisonous thing in the game of golf, is like, oh, the big bad players, we can’t rock the boat with the big bad players.”
TGL holes blend par 3s, 4s, and 5s with strategic risk-reward elements. This includes narrow landing zones, bunkers, and penalty areas designed by architects, including Beau Welling, Agustín Pizá, and Gil Hanse, to challenge pros’ decision-making.
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Season 1 featured soft, receptive fairways and greens that drew criticism for lacking penalty and realism. Short-game shots proved unexpectedly challenging due to distance control issues on approaches, while full swings benefited from quick pacing under two hours.
In Season 1, most of the holes in TGL tried to reflect real-world courses. However, Andy Johnson says that they could have made it way more challenging. After all, it’s a simulator golf, and there’s no limit to creativity. He believes the big names involved with TGL kept it from happening.
While Season 1 was a little upsetting for some fans and analysts for various reasons, TGL is coming back with some massive updates to improve both fan and golfer experiences.
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Updates for TGL Season 2
TGL is expanding the GreenZone putting surface by 38%, from 3,800 to 5,270 square feet. It will roughly be the same size as that of PGA Tour golf courses.
Additionally, there will be 12 pin locations, up from 7, for greater variety and drama. Bunkers will grow by 50% with added depth. On the other hand, the designers removed one bunker entirely. These changes aim to boost volatility and creativity based on Season 1 data.
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Gil Hanse joined designers Beau Welling, Agustín Pizá, and Nicklaus Design to create new holes that mix links, canyon, desert, and coastal themes. Returning holes like Quick Draw, Temple, Pick Yer Plunder, The Spear, Alpine, The Plank, and Flex received analytics-driven updates for heightened risk-reward and strategy. Six Season 1 holes became official team holes, with customized local backdrops and terrain that reflect each franchise’s identity.
Full Swing upgraded the game engine to create more realistic, immersive virtual environments and improved hole graphics. Fans will see enlarged hitting boxes that enhance playability. Full Swing is also relocating ball-tracking camera towers for better fan sightlines. These tweaks address Season 1 feedback on pacing, volatility, and visuals to elevate competition and broadcast appeal.
TGL’s push into its second season shows ambition. However, the pressure to keep stars engaged while delivering sharper competition won’t fade anytime soon. The league’s future hinges on whether it can move past player-friendly habits and craft a product strong enough to stand on its own.
3x-PGA Tour Champ Shares His Secret Formula for Perfect Chipping
Scott Stallings has spent the last year in a place where no professional golfer wants to be. The three-time PGA Tour winner vanished from the leaderboard completely due to a severe left shoulder injury and missed the entire 2025 season while his peers chased FedEx Cup points and massive checks. But the 40-year-old Tennessee native didn’t just sit on the couch and wait for his body to heal.
Instead, he recently popped up on Blair Wheeler’s YouTube channel to drop some serious knowledge about chipping.
Wheeler first faces a standard chip shot from the fairway grass, where he hits the ball safely and immediately starts begging it to stop rolling near the hole, saying, “Yeah, that’s what I wanted to do. Settle. Settle. Settle. Okay.”
Stallings immediately jumped in to interrupt this celebration and said, ” No, you can do better than that. Especially like when you get into the like a little bit of slope kind of lean into it and then you get a way sharper contact…”
The pro notices Wheeler using a scooping motion that adds loft and kills the spin. That’s why Wheeler admits, “Yeah. So you’re saying like most of short game is all more shaft lean.”
Most amateurs misunderstand shaft lean and try to dig the leading edge into the turf. Stallings corrects this by saying, “You’re not trying to like jam it forward, but lean into it a little bit, and where you can kind of stay so if you were going to swing all with your right hand and you wouldn’t go this way.”
The veteran uses a brilliant visual to help Wheeler feel the correct motion and asks “If you were going to swing all with your right hand… You wouldn’t go this way.” Stallings mimics a flipping motion that amateurs use to help the ball into the air. This motion forces the wrist to stay firm.
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Stallings then drops the most important cue for consistent chipping. He said, “If you had to hit the ball so your chest kind of stays down.” Keeping the chest down ensures the player covers the ball and strikes it before the turf. This prevents the dreaded “early extension” where the body lifts up and ruins the contact. So, one must keep their sternum pointing at the ball until it leaves the clubface.
This “secret formula” is simply doing the basics better than the others, while the amateur mistakes kill your short game
So what are the mistakes most amateurs make?
Amateurs play defense with the “settle” mindset, and they lean back and try to scoop the ball into the air for safety. This defensive motion destroys shaft lean and adds inconsistent loft to the clubface. Stallings, on the other hand, proves that playing safe actually leads to random results.
The second major error is “jamming” the hands forward without moving the body correctly. Players think they are creating a shaft lean, but they are actually just digging a trench. Stallings teaches that you must move your center of mass forward to “lean into it,” and this body movement creates natural compression without forcing the clubhead into the ground violently.
Finally, the “chest up” move is the silent killer of consistency. So Stallings emphasizes that the chest must cover the ball until it leaves the clubface. This discipline ensures the club strikes the ball first and the turf second every single time.
So, what makes Stallings’ advice worth listening to? Well, Stallings tore his labrum and damaged his bicep tendon, which required major surgery last year. He used his time away to train for the 2025 Boston Marathon and finished the grueling race in just over four hours to raise money for charity. Plus, he’s a three-time Tour Champion, including the 2011 Greenbrier Classic, 2012 True South Classic, and 2014 Farmers Insurance Open.
So, the man giving this advice knows a thing or two about rebuilding mechanics and bodies.
Plus, Stallings is currently on a strict “pitch count” protocol to protect his surgically repaired shoulder and is targeting a return for the start of the 2026 PGA Tour season.
Rory McIlroy points out US star who claims the Australian Open tops many PGA Tour events
Rory McIlroy did not mount a serious challenge at the Australian Open, but he certainly seemed to enjoy his time at Royal Melbourne and had no regrets about making the trip.
It was not a smooth week for McIlroy. His hopes of winning were dashed early after he opened with six bogeys in his first round, leaving him well off the pace from the start.
But McIlroy did recover enough to finish inside the top 20, and he seemed pleased with how things turned out overall. At 36, it is clear that experiences like this still hold value for him beyond just results.
And the Northern Irishman was not alone in that sentiment.
Matt McCarty shares thoughts on Royal Melbourne with Rory McIlroy
McIlroy’s final round pairing included Stefano Mazzoli and Matt McCarty, with the latter making the most of his day by shooting a 67 to finish inside the top 10.
After the round, McIlroy spoke to FOX Sports about what McCarty said regarding Royal Melbourne compared to typical PGA Tour courses.
“So yeah, just absolutely, it’s been incredible and even Matt McCarty and I were talking about it out there and I said, ‘oh, what brought you down here?’ He said, the golf course, said ‘I really wanted to play a tournament at Royal Melbourne.’
“And he said, I mean, you compare this to a majority of PGA Tour events, this is so much better.
“So I think everyone really appreciated the atmosphere that they played in this week, and hopefully it’ll be the same next year at Kingston Heath and hopefully the tournament sort of grows from here and sort of gets back to the stature that it deserves,” the Northern Irishman said.
Rory McIlroy’s appearance at the 2026 Australian Open could spark a surge in interest from PGA Tour players
Regardless of where you stand on LIV Golf, it is clear they have made smart decisions in holding events across the globe.
The PGA Tour could take note by looking at the energy around the Australian Open compared to some of their own tournaments.
It may not have matched the Hero World Challenge in terms of field strength, but Royal Melbourne provided a fitting stage for an event that carried the atmosphere of something much bigger than its billing.
If the PGA Tour continues moving towards a smaller calendar, building relationships with established international tournaments makes sense. It is a model already in place with events like the Scottish Open and expanding those connections could benefit everyone involved.
The feeling now is that more PGA Tour players are highly likely to follow the lead of McIlroy and McCarty next year.
What Happened to Sepp Straka’s Newborn Son? Inside PGA Tour Pro’s Family Struggles
Most unfortunate events in life come without a warning. And for Sepp Straka, things could not be any more brutal. In a recent update, the PGA Tour pro has confirmed that he will not participate in the playoff events for the Race to Dubai. The reason? Well, a couple of months ago, Straka and his wife, Paige, welcomed a newborn baby. However, as the boy was premature, the golfer could not bring him home.
Instead, their beloved Thomas was put inside a neonatal intensive care unit. Surely, this was not something that Straka and her partner enjoyed. But finally, after two long months of waiting, the pro-golfer did get some good news. In a recent announcement, the golfer pointed out that he will be rushing home as Thomas is cleared by the doctors to come back home. And in such a sensitive situation, it is only normal for the PGA Tour pro to come back and be with his family.
The official announcement read, “Paige and I are pleased to share that we are preparing for our son, Thomas, to return home in the coming weeks after spending his initial two months of life in intensive care.” He further added, “We are immensely grateful to the dedicated medical teams who have cared for him and helped him grow stronger following his early arrival in August.”
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Rory McIlroy outlines major PGA Tour change he thinks fans would strongly support
Rory McIlroy featured in the Australian Open at the historic Royal Melbourne Golf Club.
The Northern Irishman was impressed by the crowds, who came out in force to watch him play.
The tournament field also included PGA Tour regulars Min Woo Lee and Adam Scott, along with LIV Golf’s Cam Smith and Joaquin Niemann.
Smith had a strong showing, finishing second in front of his home fans, while Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen claimed victory by a single stroke. McIlroy, on the other hand, ended up tied for 14th.
Rory McIlroy outlines PGA Tour idea he believes fans will embrace
The Northern Irishman, who was also the main draw at Royal Melbourne, feels tournaments like the Australian Open could benefit if the PGA Tour season were trimmed down.
He said (via Fox Sports): “Yeah, I think I understand what they’re doing. They’re trying to get their domestic model right before focusing internationally, and they obviously don’t want to go up against football.
“NFL is king in the States, and it makes sense from an American point of view, but then I think it does let international and global golf shine for five months of the year.
“So if the Tour are really thinking about playing from February through to August, that leaves September through to January for here and Europe and wherever else in the world to really be the shining light of golf for those five months. So I think people could really get behind that.
“And you sort of have the American swing with maybe the Scottish Open and The Open in the middle, but the rest of the big international stuff sort of in that September to January time frame, which I think works pretty well, especially for the southern hemisphere, for tournaments like this.”
Rory McIlroy’s proposed change could work very well for golf fans
Reducing the number of events is something PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp has openly discussed, though details on what that might look like have not been made clear yet.
As McIlroy mentioned, cutting down the schedule would put more eyes on events like the Australian Open.
That would not be a bad thing, considering how well this year’s event went. The Australian Open drew huge crowds and strong viewership numbers, showing there is a real appetite for golf outside the traditional American calendar.
This was despite it going head-to-head with Tiger Woods’ Hero World Challenge, which included Scottie Scheffler and many of the game’s biggest names.
Reitan holds on to win in South Africa and earn his first trip to the Masters
SUN CITY, South Africa (AP) — Kristoffer Reitan held on over the back nine Sunday and closed with an even-par 72 to complete a wire-to-wire victory in the Nedbank Golf Challenge, his second European tour title of the year that will send him to the Masters for the first time.
The Norwegian began the final round with a five-shot lead, but he saw the lead shrink to a single stroke when he played the back nine without a birdie.
He held his nerve against Jayden Schaper of South Africa (68) and Dan Bradbury of England (66) for a one-shot victory.
Reitan, who earned a PGA Tour card for 2026 by finishing eighth in the Race to Dubai, also won the Soudal Open. His second victory moves him just outside the top 30 in the world rankings, assuring he will finish in the top 50 with one tournament left this year.
The top 50 earn Masters invitations.
“I don’t know what I’m feeling right now. I had a lot of nerves today,” Reitan said. “But to get it over the line in the end is a better feeling than I can describe.”
Reitan finished at 17-under 271.
Reitan became the second European tour player Sunday who earned PGA Tour status through the Race to Dubai and won a tournament to get into the Masters. Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen won the Australian Open, which came with a spot at the Masters.
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PGA Tour Quietly Responds After Shattering Dreams of Players With Q-School Ruling
In Valdosta, Georgia, hope was supposed to rise with the final round of Q-School. For golfers like James Nicholas, it was one last chance to fight through the pressure and edge closer to a PGA Tour dream. Nicholas pushed hard through the opening holes, climbing into a position that could have changed the course of his career. But golf can often be painfully unpredictable.
While Nicholas had already gained his momentum in the stroke play, the event was forced to stop as a sudden heavy downpour began. When play was halted, some groups were nearly done. But others had barely made it halfway. Everyone waited, hoping the weather would clear. But soon, the players received the news no competitor would want to hear. The entire final round was canceled.
Under PGA Tour bylaws, all scores from Round 4 were wiped clean. This, in turn, reset the leaderboard back to where it stood after 54 holes. And James Nicholas was brutally pushed out of contention in an instant, and took to Instagram and shared “what the PGA Tour is doing by going forward.”
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He then narrated how the day turned out and then shared how the PGA Tour has reached out to him and has shared a few updates.
The American then reflected on what the PGA has shared, “The way that the bylaws state is that on the final round of a tournament, regular season, or Q School, if the rules officials and meteorologists come together and they know for a fact based on time par, which is the expected time you’re supposed to play the round, that the final group will not finish, then they do not allow anybody to start or resume or remain in play. Not remain in play. Resume or restart. So we went out and played. I played 13 holes. The leaders were on hole 8. We got thunder coming in; there was a system passing, so we’re waiting inside.”
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“The Tour reached out, actually, after they saw the Instagram post, and I spoke to a few people, and it looks like they’re open to changing this policy. I know the LPGA Tour and the DP World Tour for Q-School have this policy where you try to play four rounds in five days. That means if one of the days is bad weather, you can push another day. Now, there might be a scenario going forward where there are two bad days, and you have to play three rounds, but at least give us a buffer day for something like this to happen,” he added.
The disheartened golfer also said, “Luckily, I was affected a little less than others. I know I would have been at finals this week, right now playing for a PGA Tour card, but I do have a Korn Ferry Tour card. Other guys were screwed out of a spot at a chance at a Korn Ferry Tour card and a PGA Tour card, and I’m left with no status.”
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Hoping for betterment, he stated, “So the rules need to be amended, but that’s exactly why we got canceled and what might come from it. So we’ll see.”
This was the second consecutive time for the Q-School second-stage tournament to be forced to a stop by rain. Moreover, the LPGA, too, had to tackle a similar scenario.
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How the final round of LPGA Q-School too faced the wrath of nature
Unfortunately for the LPGA Tour as well, the final round of the Q-Series has been affected by significant rain disruptions over the last couple of years. For example, this year’s Q-Series kicked off at the end of September at the Indian Wells Golf and Country Club. Apart from that, the subsequent events have also been held in Daytona Beach and at the Denton Country Club.
But come December 4, when the final round kicked off, the fans and the anticipating golfers were pretty much disappointed. As per the official X handle of the LPGA Media, it was reported that the first round of the final qualifiers was disrupted due to heavy downpour.
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As the course degraded significantly, it was naturally difficult to start the tournament on time. “Due to heavy rain and course conditions, Round 1 of LPGA Q-Series Final Qualifying is further delayed until 10:00 am local time. We will provide more information as it becomes available,” read the statement from LPGA Media.
And this was not the first time that the qualifiers were disrupted due to rain. Last year, too, things were the same. Now, coming to this year’s stoppage, things started to get dark as early as 7 am. As the authorities decided to delay the start by two hours, the rain was still steady at 9:30 am. Thus, with the wrath of nature wreaking havoc, golf fans will pray to the rain gods to stay away next time.
Masters Champ Hits Roadblock as He Closes in on Feat Even Tiger Woods Couldn’t Achieve
With a fifth-place finish in the Crown Australian Open, Adam Scott has booked his ticket for the Royal Birkdale in 2026. And if he’s fit to play, then it will be his 26th appearance in The Open Championship. He has also qualified for the Masters Tournament already. However, he still needs to make the field for the U.S. Open.
That’s what Bob Harig pointed out: “He’s got some work to do for 100 in a row at US Open. He is hovering around 60 now which will be the cutoff in May and June. He could use a couple of good early-season results to make it easy. (USGA might also give him a special exemption). The Aussie Open result has him basically treading water.”
After the great finish in the Australian Open, Scott is hovering around 60th place on the OWGR table. That will be the cutline for pros to qualify automatically for the U.S. Open via their official rankings. If the Australian veteran can finish within the top 60 in the weeks leading up to it, then he won’t need any special qualification criteria to play in the major.
If he does manage to qualify for Shinnecock Hills, then it will be his 25th consecutive appearance in the U.S. Open. And he would be eager to play in the major, considering that’s where he delivered his best performance in 2025. Interestingly, Scott’s amazing run in the majors has seen him surpass Tiger Woods as well.
Even the big cat couldn’t maintain such a long streak in the U.S. Open. While he won the major thrice, his longest streak went on for 16 appearances from 1995 to 2010.
Coming back to making the cut for the majors in 2026, it won’t be an easy task for Adam Scott. Especially considering how things turned out for him in 2025.
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Can Adam Scott avoid the mistakes of this season and turn things around in 2026?
2024 was an excellent season for Adam Scott. He got two runner-up finishes in the Genesis Scottish Open and the BMW Championship. That helped him end the season comfortably as the 18th-best golfer in the world. However, the Australian veteran couldn’t replicate the success this year.
Scott struggled to perform on the PGA Tour throughout the season. He only had three missed cuts, which is great. However, he couldn’t achieve a single top-10 finish throughout the season. He also dropped from 4th to 90th on the FedEx Cup leaderboard.
As far as his OWGR standings go, his ranking went from 18th at the beginning of the year to 62nd before the conclusion of the 2025 Crown Australian Open. He should finish inside the top-60 thanks to his fifth-place finish at Royal Melbourne. But it still won’t be enough to make up for all the momentum he has lost in 2025. If he wants to continue his majors streak, then Adam Scott will need to perform much better on the PGA Tour early next season than he did in 2025.
Tour Confidential: Tiger Woods takeaways, future PGA Tour schedule logistics
Check in every week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topics in the sport, and join the conversation by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week, we discuss Tiger Woods’ first public comments in months, the potential for a new PGA Tour schedule, Rory McIlroy’s career major total and more.
Tiger Woods spoke to the media for the first time in several months when he held his annual press conference at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas (won by Hideki Matsuyama). Tiger touched on a variety of topics; which was most interesting to you?
Dylan Dethier, senior writer (@dylan_dethier): I was most intrigued by Woods’ involvement in the future vision for the PGA Tour; I wrote about that here but what’s fascinating to me is the pairing of Woods — the ultimate insider, and at this point one of the Tour’s longest-tenured figures in any position — and Rolapp — the ultimate outsider with admittedly very little golf-specific knowledge — as the shapers of the Tour’s future.
Josh Berhow, managing editor (@Josh_Berhow): I don’t think anyone anticipated this particular presser getting so into the rumored schedule changes, but I thought Tiger speaking about it added some legitimacy to it. The health update was both unsurprising and disappointing. I don’t think Tiger can come back and contend regularly these days, but it would be fun to see him healthy and play a few times a year. The watch is on for the Masters.
James Colgan, news and features editor (@jamescolgan26): I was most interested by Tiger’s comment about YouTube. He indicated he felt the infinite video library of swings on the internet was helping to turbocharge golf’s youth movement. Every so often, you’ll hear Woods say something that reflects he thinks about golf on a wholly different plane from most mere mortals. One example was when he started talking about the “cut” and “draw” spin necessary on chip shots at Augusta National. This was another.
As the chair of the Future Competitions Committee, Tiger also indicated the Tour is looking at creating a shortened schedule (and avoiding the NFL) that could begin in 2027, although he was light on details. There’s been much talk about the potential for a new Tour schedule in the future, but what’s the biggest hurdle from making it all happen?
Dethier: Ironically one of the things the Tour wants to change is the same thing preventing it from making that change. There are so many [buzzword alert] stakeholders, so many separate deals with so many different tournaments that it’s challenging to get everything just right for everyone without crossing a dozen can’t-cross lines. Put another way: the Tour is a big boat, and it’s tough to turn a big boat around.
Berhow: Wow, love the boat analogy, Dylan. Good work. But the answer is there’s a lot in the way of making something like this happen. I’d love a schedule that takes the best 70-some players and puts them in the same 20 or so events a year (including majors) and all of a sudden we have some simplicity, continuity, distinction and burgeoning rivalries. But what about the middle class? How many members are there? How does the Korn Ferry Tour factor in? What about the smaller events? It’s frustrating we still don’t have a great way to do this, but I am also happy I’m not the person in charge of this. Because it can’t be easy.
Colgan: Every so often, the history of a major professional sports league comes down to the brute force capacity of its leadership. For baseball, this happened with the pitch clock. For basketball, with the first and second “aprons.” For football, with the 2011 lockout. I think brute force is the biggest hurdle facing the PGA Tour, and we’ll know if Woods and PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp have the gumption for it soon enough.
Six-time major champ Nick Faldo said it will be “tough” for Rory McIlroy to win another major title, saying, in part, “it is like climbing Everest, you don’t turn around and say, ‘Let’s go up again next month.’ There was so much emotion at Augusta, and you cannot reproduce the emotion to win a major like that again.” Do you buy this? And what say you, how many more majors does Rory win in his career?
Dethier: Faldo’s right that you can’t reproduce that emotion. But you can certainly recharge and come back hungry for more. I’ll give Rory two more majors, seven in all, rarified air and one more than Faldo…
Berhow: It seemed like a bit of a cheap shot since technically you could say this about any recent major champ. But that’s what makes these guys great. They find ways to keep that drive and continue to push back the goal posts. Rory wins three more majors. He’ll have enough chances.
Colgan: The very centerpiece of Sir Nick’s argument here is wrong. The emotion was Rory’s greatest obstacle to breaking the major drought — not a superpower. A Rory McIlroy playing more freely, more aggressively, and more self-assuredly would have won eight majors over the last decade — and the freedom to live into that version of himself is what’s going to accelerate the last stage of his competitive life.
The PGA Tour released the finalists for its Player of the Year (Jack Nicklaus Award) with Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood and Ben Griffin earning nominees. While it seems likely Scottie snags his fourth straight this year, let’s look ahead: which player not on this list will be a nominee at this time next year?
Dethier: Cameron Young. The second half of this season, with his victory and Ryder Cup star show, was a turning point. Cam’s time is coming.
Berhow: Tommy Fleetwood. Another guy who got hot late and will continue to build off it. I also think a healthier Xander bounces back and returns to something closer to that 2024 form.
Colgan: Lots of fun answers to this question, in part because of the number of players who seemed to take a half-step back (due to injury or form or some other reason) in 2025. I’ll go with Ludvig Aberg, who was the trendiest pick in golf to win at Augusta in April. We’ve seen golfers take a step back in their second pro season before, only to bounce back in a severe way in Year 3. Aberg still has all the talent, it’s just a matter of time.
How Much Did Hideki Matsuyama’s Caddie Earn From His Latest Win? PGA Tour Pro’s Bagman’s Net Worth Explored
A second Hero World Challenge for Hideki Matsuyama. After an unexpected weekend in the Bahamas, the Japanese successfully added another victory (second of the year) to his bag. It’s hard to believe the outcome, as Matsuyama was placed among the last spots at the start of the tournament. But as they say, golf is unexpected. And Matsuyama successfully took advantage of that, filling not just his coffers but also those of his caddie.
Hideki Matsuyama’s caddie made a jackpot
The Tiger Woods event came with a massive $5 million prize purse, with the winner taking home $1 million. Not all of this will go into the pocket of Matsuyama. As per golf’s tradition, he will have to pay his caddie, Shota Hayafuji, a share, which is based on the performance of the golfer in the tournament.
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On the PGA Tour, the caddie of the winning golfer earns a 10% share of the prize money. It reduces to 7% if the finish is in the top 10, and 5% for just making the cut. Although it should be noted that the Hero World Challenge was a no-cut event. Hence, each of the 20 players on the field – and their caddies – took home some amount.
So if one applies those standards, Hayafuji will earn 10% of the share. That amounts to $100k.
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That wouldn’t be all, though. Every caddie has a base salary. This amount comes anywhere between $1,500 and $6,000, depending on the prep days. Adding all that, Hayafuji likely earned somewhere around $101k to $106k. This income can actually anchor someone for an entire season, all thanks to Matsuyama.
But his 2025 season does have other credits, too. Although his 2025 net worth is not publicly disclosed, one could make a guess by Matsuyama’s performance. Apart from a win at the Sentry, Matsuyama bagged a T16 in the Sony Open, which gave him $132k. Then came a whopping $384k from the Genesis Invitational’s T13. Overall, he played 23 events and missed only 3 cuts.
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Now, factoring in the traditional 10-7-5 rule of pay and an annual base salary of reportedly $75,000 to $150k, Hayafuji could have earned somewhere around $1 – $2.5 M, boosting his net worth significantly.
One should also note that he did not caddied for Matsuyama in every event.
Earlier this year, in June, Hayafuji had dealt with certain visa renewal issues. This had prompted him to return to Japan temporarily for the summer. For this very reason, it was Matsuyama’s wife, Mei Inui, who caddied for him at this year’s Rocket Classic.
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Hideki Matsuyama’s and Shota Hayafuji’s deep connection
While the money is important, it’s the golfer-caddie relationship that stands out. Hideki Matsuyama and Shota Hayafuji have known each other since their junior high school days in Japan. Back then, Hayafuji himself chased the dream of professional golf. When he competed in the China Tour, his profile famously bore, “My favorite golfer is Hideki Matsuyama.”
It was 2018 when Hayafuji started caddying for Matsuyama. His playing career had been unsuccessful, and caddying for his favorite seemed like the best option. Since then, both have built one of pro golf’s most successful partnerships, with Hayafuji carrying Matsuyama’s bag for the five PGA Tour wins and the 2021 Masters victory.
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If you ask Hayafuji about their dynamic, he’ll call it “senior and junior.” This comes from the Japanese culture of respecting the elders and the more experienced. Shota Hayafuji reportedly refers to Matsuyama as “Matsuyama Pro.” Their deep bond with the sport could be traced back to the time when the golfer won the Masters.
After his victory, he bowed to the course spontaneously. When asked later, he said he did it because he was “thankful.” The image became one of the sport’s most beloved.
NFL mandates new standards for playing surfaces for all stadiums
The playing surfaces at every NFL stadium will have to meet new enhanced standards set through lab and field testing by the start of the 2028 season.
NFL field director Nick Pappas detailed the plans for the program Thursday that will provide each team “a library of approved and accredited NFL fields” before the start of next season. Any new field will immediately have to meet those standards and all teams will have two years to achieve it, whether they are grass, synthetic or a hybrid.
Pappas said the fields will have undergone extensive testing and been approved by a joint committee with the NFLPA. He compared to the testing that has led to new standards for helmets.
“It’s sort of a red, yellow, green effect, where we’re obviously trying to phase out fields that we have determined to be less ideal than newer fields coming into the industry,” he said. “This is a big step for us.”
Pappas said fields have been tested in labs and on site using two main tools with one called the BEAST that is a traction-testing device that replicates the movements of an NFL player and another called the STRIKE Impact Tester that helps determine the firmness of each field.
The goal of the league is to find fields that are as consistent as possible across all 30 NFL stadiums, as well as at each stadium throughout the season. Pappas said the “key pillars” for a field are optimized playability, reducing injury risk and player feedback.
The NFL has no plans to require natural grass fields across the league, with the NFL’s chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills saying there is no “statistically significant differences” in lower extremity injuries or concussions that can be attributed to the type of playing surface or a specific surface despite widespread preferences from players for grass fields and complaints about surfaces such as the one at MetLife Stadium where the New York Giants and Jets play.
“The surface is only one driver of these lower-extremity injuries,” Sills said. “There are a lot of other factors, including player load and previous history and fatigue and positional adaptability and cleats that are worn. So surfaces are a component, but it is a complex equation, and so I’m excited about where we are in the work because I think we’ll get away from a very crude measurement of artificial here and the grass here, and now we can say for any individual surface, let’s look at the biophysical properties of that surface. How might those correlate with injury? And then, obviously, how do we optimize them?”
Pappas also shared plans for the Super Bowl to be held Feb. 8 at the San Francisco 49ers home at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. The field has been growing at a sod farm about two hours east of the Bay Area with Pappas making several visits over the last 18 months to monitor the field.
The league will plan to install the field around the third week in January — or later if the 49ers are hosting playoff games.
NFL to implement new playing surface standards at all stadiums
The NFL and NFL Players Association have agreed to implement a new system for selecting playing surfaces at each team’s home stadium in an effort to enhance player safety.
Under the agreement, each NFL team will be required to select a playing surface from an approved list of both natural and synthetic surfaces. The policy will apply to any teams that plan to replace their fields for the 2026 season, and all teams are required to have approved fields by the beginning of the 2028 season.
All fields approved by the NFL and NFLPA have undergone testing both in labs and on-site using two tools: BEAST and Strike Impact Tester, according to NFL Field Director Nick Pappas.
BEAST — Biocore Elite Athlete Shoe Turf Tester — is a traction testing device that mimics how NFL player move during gameplay to measure field traction, according to NFL Operations. STRIKE Impact Tester, meanwhile, replicates the pressure points a player feels when hitting a playing surface.
The NFL’s new policy on playing surfaces is the league’s latest effort towards ensuring a consistent and safe playing field across all stadiums.
“It’s sort of a red, yellow, green effect, where we’re obviously trying to phase out fields that we have determined to be less ideal than newer fields coming into the industry,” Pappas said Thursday. “This is a big step for us. This is something that I think has been a great outcome from the Joint Service Committee, all the work, the deployment and development of devices, determining the appropriate metrics and ultimately, providing us with a way to substantiate the quality of fields more so than we ever have in the past.”
The NFLPA also issued a statement applauding the league’s efforts to improve the quality and consistency of each stadium’s playing surface. The NFL has 30 stadiums for its 32 teams, with the New York Giants and New York Jets sharing MetLife Field in New Jersey and the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers sharing SoFi Stadium in LA.
“While our player members have been clear about their overwhelming preference for high-quality, natural grass surfaces, we’re encouraged that their demands for more consistent and safer fields across the board are taking a step in the right direction,” the NFLPA wrote in a post to X. “We look forward to continuing this work with the NFL on behalf of our player members.”
As the NFLPA mentioned, NFL players have previously been outspoken about their desire to play on a grass playing surface as opposed to a turf field, which some data points to causing more injuries.
NFL unveils initiative to raise safety standards for all stadium surfaces
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As the debate over NFL playing surfaces continues, the league introduced a plan that aims to bring more consistency to all stadiums.
The new enhanced standards will have to be met by 2028, according to the NFL, and will be set through lab and field testing.
Nick Pappas, an NFL field director, shared some details about the plans for the program rollout.
Each team will be provided with
2026 World Cup schedule: Complete list of group stage games following Final Draw
Following its Final Draw on Friday afternoon, the 2026 FIFA World Cup schedule is now complete, with the full list of games, times, and host stadiums for the group-stage schedule revealed.
While MetLife Stadium will provide the New York City area with some brilliant matches before hosting the Final on July 19, here is a look at how World Cup matchdays will unfold for the other 15 host cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
2026 FIFA World Cup schedule
Group A
June 11, 3 p.m. ET: Mexico vs. South Africa (Mexico City)
June 11, 10 p.m.: South Korea vs. Europe play-off winner (Guadalajara)
June 18, 12 p.m.: Europe play-off winner vs. South Africa (Atlanta)
June 18, 9 p.m.: Mexico vs. South Korea (Guadalajara)
June 24, 9 p.m.: Europe play-off winner vs. Mexico (Mexico City)
June 24, 9 p.m.: South Africa vs. South Korea (Monterrey)
Group B
June 12, 3 p.m.: Canada vs. Europe play-off winner (Toronto)
June 13, 3 p.m.: Qatar vs. Switzerland (San Francisco Bay Area)
June 18, 3 p.m.: Switzerland vs. Europe play-off winner (Los Angeles)
June 18, 6 p.m.: Canada vs. Qatar (Vancouver)
June 24, 3 p.m.: Switzerland vs. Canada (Vancouver)
June 24, 3 p.m.: Europe play-off winner vs. Qatar (Seattle)
Group C
June 13, 6 p.m.: Brazil vs. Morocco (New York/New Jersey)
June 13, 9 p.m.: Haiti vs. Scotland (Boston)
June 19, 6 p.m.: Scotland vs. Morocco (Boston)
June 19, 9 p.m.: Brazil vs. Haiti (Philadelphia)
June 24, 6 p.m.: Scotland vs. Brazil (Miami)
June 24, 6 p.m.: Morocco vs. Haiti (Atlanta)
Group D
June 12, 9 p.m.: USA vs. Paraguay (Los Angeles)
June 13, 12 a.m.: Australia vs. Europe play-off winner (Vancouver)
June 19, 12 a.m.: Europe play-off winner vs. Paraguay (San Francisco Bay Area)
June 19, 3 p.m.: USA vs. Australia (Seattle)
June 25, 10 p.m.: Europe play-off winner vs. USA (Los Angeles)
June 25, 10 p.m.: Paraguay vs. Australia (San Francisco Bay Area)
Group E
June 14, 1 p.m.: Germany vs. Curacao (Houston)
June 14, 7 p.m.: Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador (Philadelphia)
June 20, 4 p.m.: Germany vs. Ivory Coast (Toronto)
June 20, 8 p.m.: Ecuador vs. Curacao (Kansas City)
June 25, 4 p.m.: Ecuador vs. Germany (New York/New Jersey)
June 25, 4 p.m.: Curacao vs. Ivory Coast (Philadelphia)
Group F
June 14, 4 p.m.: Netherlands vs. Japan (Dallas)
June 14, 10 p.m.: Europe play-off winner vs. Tunisia (Monterrey)
June 20, 12 a.m.: Tunisia vs. Japan (Monterrey)
June 20, 1 p.m.: Netherlands vs. Europe play-off winner (Houston)
June 25, 7 p.m.: Japan vs. Europe play-off winner (Dallas)
June 25, 7 p.m.: Tunisia vs. Netherlands (Kansas City)
Group G
June 15, 3 p.m.: Belgium vs. Egypt (Seattle)
June 15, 9 p.m.: Iran vs. New Zealand (Los Angeles)
June 21, 3 p.m.: Belgium vs. Iran (Los Angeles)
June 21, 9 p.m.: New Zealand vs. Iran (Vancouver)
June 26, 11 p.m.: Egypt vs. Iran (Seattle)
June 26, 11 p.m.: New Zealand vs. Belgium (Vancouver)
Group H
June 15, 12 p.m.: Spain vs. Cape Verde (Atlanta)
June 15, 6 p.m.: Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay (Miami)
June 21, 12 p.m.: Spain vs. Saudi Arabia (Atlanta)
June 21, 6 p.m.: Uruguay vs. Cape Verde (Miami)
June 26, 8 p.m.: Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia (Houston)
June 26, 8 p.m.: Uruguay vs. Spain (Guadalajara)
Group I
June 16, 3 p.m.: France vs. Senegal (New York/New Jersey)
June 16, 6 p.m.: FIFA play-off winner vs. Norway (Boston)
June 22, 5 p.m.: France vs. FIFA play-off winner (Philadelphia)
June 22, 8 p.m.: Norway vs. Senegal (New York/New Jersey)
June 26, 3 p.m.: Norway vs. France (Boston)
June 26, 3 p.m.: Senegal vs. FIFA play-off winner (Toronto)
Group J
June 16, 12 a.m.: Austria vs. Jordan (San Francisco Bay Area)
June 16, 9 p.m.: Argentina vs. Algeria (Kansas City)
June 22, 1 p.m.: Argentina vs. Austria (Dallas)
June 22, 11 p.m.: Jordan vs. Algeria (San Francisco Bay Area)
June 27, 10 p.m.: Algeria vs. Austria (Kansas City)
June 27, 10 p.m.: Jordan vs. Argentina (Dallas)
Group K
June 17, 1 p.m.: Portugal vs. FIFA play-off winner (Houston)
June 17, 10 p.m.: Uzbekistan vs. Colombia (Mexico City)
June 23, 1 p.m.: Portugal vs. Uzbekistan (Houston)
June 23, 10 p.m.: Colombia vs. FIFA play-off winner (Guadalajara)
June 27, 7:30 p.m.: Colombia vs. Portugal (Miami)
June 27, 7:30 p.m.: FIFA play-off winner vs. Uzbekistan (Atlanta)
Group L
June 17, 4 p.m.: England vs. Croatia (Dallas)
June 17, 7 p.m.: Ghana vs. Panama (Toronto)
June 23, 4 p.m.: England vs. Ghana (Boston)
June 23, 7 p.m.: Panama vs. Croatia (Toronto)
June 27, 5 p.m.: Panama vs. England (New York/New Jersey)
June 27, 5 p.m.: Croatia vs. Ghana (Philadelphia)
For more on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, visit AMNY.com
2026 World Cup schedule: Dates, times, stadiums all confirmed – Full details
The full schedule for the 2026 World Cup has been confirmed, with the kick off times, dates and venues for all 104 games now confirmed.
MORE — Groups confirmed for 2026 World Cup
We now know where you can watch each team play across the USA, Canada and Mexico next summer and you can start making your plans.
This is what it is all about, as we’ve been waiting years for the schedule for this 48-team tournament to be revealed.
MORE — 2026 World Cup hub | 2026 World Cup venues
Below are all the details you need.
2026 World Cup schedule, dates, times, stadiums, full details
Group A schedule
June 11: Mexico vs South Africa – Estadio Azteca, Mexico City – 3pm ET
June 11: South Korea vs UEFA playoff D – Estadio Akron, Guadalajara – 10pm
June 18: UEFA playoff D vs South Africa – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta – 12pm ET
June 18: Mexico vs South Korea – Estadio Akron, Guadalajara – 9pm ET
June 24: UEFA playoff D vs Mexico – Estadio Azteca, Mexico City – 9pm ET
June 24: South Africa vs South Korea – Estadio BBVA, Monterrey – 9pm ET
Group B schedule
June 12: Canada vs UEFA playoff A – BMO Field, Toronto – 3pm ET
June 13: Qatar vs Switzerland – Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area – 3pm ET
June 18: Switzerland vs UEFA playoff A – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles – 3pm ET
June 18: Canada vs Qatar – BC Place, Vancouver – 6pm ET
June 24: Switzerland vs Canada – BC Place, Vancouver – 3pm ET
June 24: UEFA playoff A vs Qatar – Lumen Field, Seattle – 3pm ET
Group C schedule
June 13: Brazil vs Morocco – MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey – 6pm ET
June 13: Haiti vs Scotland – Gillette Stadium, Boston – 9pm ET
June 19: Scotland vs Morocco – Gillette Stadium, Boston – 6pm ET
June 19: Brazil vs Haiti – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia – 9pm ET
June 24: Scotland vs Brazil – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami – 6pm ET
June 24: Morocco vs Haiti – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta – 6pm ET
Group D schedule
June 12: USA vs Paraguay – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles – 9pm ET
June 13: Australia vs UEFA playoff C – BC Place, Vancouver – Midnight ET
June 19: USA vs Australia – Lumen Field, Seattle – 3pm ET
June 19: UEFA playoff C vs Paraguay – Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area – Midnight ET
June 25: UEFA playoff C vs USA – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles – 10pm ET
June 25: Paraguay vs Australia – Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area – 10pm ET
Group E schedule
June 14: Germany vs Curacao – NRG Stadium, Houston – 1pm ET
June 14: Ivory Coast vs Ecuador – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia – 7pm ET
June 20: Germany vs Ivory Coast – BMO Field, Toronto – 4pm ET
June 20: Ecuador vs Curacao – Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City – 8pm ET
June 25: Ecuador vs Germany – MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey – 4pm ET
June 25: Curacao vs Ivory Coast – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia – 4pm ET
Group F schedule
June 14: Netherlands vs Japan – AT&T Stadium, Dallas – 4pm ET
June 14: UEFA playoff B vs Tunisia – Estadio BBVA, Monterrey – 10pm ET
June 20: Netherlands vs UEFA playoff B – NRG Stadium, Houston – 1pm ET
June 20: Tunisia vs Japan – Estadio BBVA, Monterrey – Midnight ET
June 25: Japan vs UEFA playoff B – AT&T Stadium, Dallas – 7pm ET
June 25: Tunisia vs Netherlands – Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City – 7pm ET
Group G schedule
June 15: Iran vs New Zealand – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles – 9pm ET
June 15: Belgium vs Egypt – Lumen Field, Seattle – 3pm ET
June 21: Belgium vs Iran – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles – 3pm ET
June 21: New Zealand vs Egypt – BC Place, Vancouver – 9pm ET
June 26: Egypt vs Iran – Lumen Field, Seattle – 11pm ET
June 26: New Zealand vs Belgium – BC Place, Vancouver – 11pm ET
Group H schedule
June 15: Spain vs Cape Verde – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta – 12pm ET
June 15: Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami – 6pm ET
June 21: Spain vs Saudi Arabia – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta – 12pm ET
June 21: Uruguay vs Cape Verde – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami – 6pm ET
June 26: Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia – NRG Stadium, Houston – 8pm ET
June 26: Uruguay vs Spain – Estadio Akron, Guadalajara – 8pm ET
Group I schedule
June 16: France vs Senegal – MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey – 3pm ET
June 16: Inter-confederation playoff 2 vs Norway – Gillette Stadium, Boston – 6pm ET
June 22: France vs Inter-confederation playoff 2 – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia – 5pm ET
June 22: Norway vs Senegal – MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey – 8pm ET
June 26: Norway vs France – Gillette Stadium, Boston – 3pm ET
June 26: Senegal vs Inter-confederation playoff 2 – BMO Field, Toronto – 3pm ET
Group J schedule
June 16: Argentina vs Algeria – Arrowhead Stadium – Kansas City – 9pm ET
June 16: Austria vs Jordan – Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area – Midnight ET
June 22: Argentina vs Austria – AT&T Stadium, Dallas – 1pm ET
June 22: Jordan vs Algeria – Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area – 11pm ET
June 27: Algeria vs Austria – Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City – 10pm ET
June 27: Jordan vs Argentina – AT&T Stadium, Dallas – 10pm ET
Group K schedule
June 17: Portugal vs Inter-confederation playoff 1 – NRG Stadium, Houston – 1pm ET
June 17: Uzbekistan vs Colombia – Estadio Azteca, Mexico City – 10pm ET
June 23: Portugal vs Uzbekistan – NRG Stadium, Houston – 1pm ET
June 23: Colombia vs Inter-confederation playoff 1 – Estadio Akron, Guadalajara – 10pm ET
June 27: Colombia vs Portugal – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami – 7:30pm ET
June 27: Inter-confederation playoff 1 vs Uzbekistan – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta – 7:30pm ET
Group L schedule
June 17: England vs Croatia – AT&T Stadium, Dallas – 4pm ET
June 17: Ghana vs Panama – BMO Field, Toronto – 7pm ET
June 23: England vs Ghana – Gillette Stadium, Boston – 4pm ET
June 23: Panama vs Croatia – BMO Field, Toronto – 7pm ET
June 27: Panama vs England – MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey – 5pm ET
June 27: Croatia vs Ghana – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia – 5pm ET
Round of 32 schedule
June 28: Match 73 – Runner up Group A vs Runner up Group B – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles – 3pm ET
June 29: Match 76 – Winner Group C vs Runner up Group F – NRG Stadium, Houston – 1pm ET
June 29: Match 74 – Winner Group E vs 3rd Group A/B/C/D/F – Gillette Stadium, Boston – 4:30pm ET
June 29: Match 75 – Winner Group F vs Runner up Group C – Estadio BBVA, Monterrey – 9pm ET
June 30: Match 78 – Runner up Group E vs Runner up Group I – AT&T Stadium, Dallas – 1pm ET
June 30: Match 77 – Winner Group I vs 3rd Group C/D/F/G/H – MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey – 5pm ET
June 30: Match 79 – Winner Group A vs 3rd Group C/E/F/H/I – Estadio Azteca, Mexico City – 9pm ET
July 1: Match 80 – Winner Group L vs 3rd Group E/H/I/J/K – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta – 12pm ET
July 1: Match 82 – Winner Group G vs 3rd Group A/E/H/I/J – Lumen Field, Seattle – 4pm ET
July 1: Match 81 – Winner Group D vs 3rd Group B/E/F/I/J – Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area – 8pm ET
July 2: Match 84 – Winner Group H vs Runner up Group J – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles – 3pm ET
July 2: Match 83 – Runner up Group K vs Runner up Group L – BMO Field, Toronto – 7pm ET
July 2: Match 85 – Winner Group B vs 3rd Group E/F/G/I/J – BC Place, Vancouver – 11pm ET
July 3: Match 88 – Runner up Group D vs Runner up Group G – AT&T Stadium, Dallas – 2pm ET
July 3: Match 86 – Winner Group J vs Runner up Group H – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami – 6pm ET
July 3: Match 87 – Winner Group K vs 3rd Group D/E/I/J/L – Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City – 9:30pm ET
Round of 16 schedule
July 4: Match 90 – Winner Match 73 vs Winner Match 75 – NRG Stadium, Houston – 1pm ET
July 4: Match 89 – Winner Match 74 vs Winner Match 77 – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia – 5pm ET
July 5: Match 91 – Winner Match 76 vs Winner Match 78 – MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey – 4pm ET
July 5: Match 92 – Winner Match 79 vs Winner Match 80 – Estadio Azteca, Mexico City – 8pm ET
July 6: Match 93 – Winner Match 83 vs Winner Match 84 – AT&T Stadium, Dallas – 3pm ET
July 6: Match 94 – Winner Match 81 vs Winner Match 82 – Lumen Field, Seattle – 8pm ET
July 7: Match 95 – Winner Match 86 vs Winner Match 88 – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta – 12pm ET
July 7: Match 96 – Winner Match 85 vs Winner Match 87 – BC Place, Vancouver – 4pm ET
Quarterfinal schedule
July 9: Match 97 – Winner Match 89 vs Winner Match 90 – Gillette Stadium, Boston – 4pm ET
July 10: Match 98 – Winner Match 93 vs Winner Match 94 – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles – 3pm ET
July 11: Match 99 – Winner Match 91 vs Winner Match 92 – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami – 5pm ET
July 11: Match 100 – Winner Match 95 vs Winner Match 96 – Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City – 9pm ET
Semifinal schedule
July 14: Match 101 – Winner Match 97 vs Winner Match 98 – AT&T Stadium, Dallas – 3pm ET
July 15: Match 102 – Winner Match 99 vs Winner Match 100 – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta – 3pm ET
Third-place game
July 18: Match 103 – Loser Match 101 vs Loser Match 102 – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami – 5pm ET
Final
July 19: Match 104 – Winner Match 101 vs Winner Match 102 – MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey – 3pm ET
Andre Agassi & 29YO Pro Dubbed the Biggest ‘What If’ in Tennis History in Bold Take by Ex-American Pros
Back in the day when tennis was all about big serves and colorful characters, Andre Agassi really stood out, both for his talent and his intriguing personality. He shot to fame not only because of his talent but also for his rebellious vibe—the denim shorts, the long hair, and the catchphrase “Image is Everything.” And recently, some of the standout names in the tennis world, such as Sam Querrey and Steve Johnson, shared their views on Agassi and another tennis star.
Their experiences and insights come from years of competing on tour at the highest level. On their popular show, ‘Nothing Major’, they share untold stories and have some fun chatting with fellow American pros. Recently, they focused on one of sports’ most intriguing themes: the haunting question of ‘what if’.
Steve Johnson thought about a legendary player whose career had its fair share of tough times and amazing comebacks. And yes, Johnson brought up Andre Agassi as a huge ‘what if’, really thinking about how the champion’s well-known break from the sport might have changed things. “Agassi is kind of a what if, if he didn’t go for that mental break… maybe not a mental break, but it was for like four years,” Johnson wondered.
“How many more majors could he have had, you know what I mean?” Agassi had a pretty rough patch in the late 1990s when his ranking dropped below the top 100, and he really started to wonder about his future in tennis. So, when he made a comeback and snagged five of his eight major titles after turning 29, it turned into one of the sport’s most inspiring comeback tales.
On the flip side, when it comes to Sam Querrey, the biggest ‘what if’ isn’t about a global superstar. Instead, it’s about a brief talent who looked like they were on the brink of greatness but then just vanished. Querrey pointed out that Hyeon Chung from South Korea is the biggest mystery in the sport right now.
“I think Chung [Hyeon] is like the biggest one. Just because he made the semifinals of the Australian Open, got that crazy blister on his foot and then like vanished off the face of the earth, and he was like 22 years old,” Querrey said. Chung had an amazing run at the 2018 Australian Open! He scored wins against big names like Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev, and even pulled off a straight-sets upset against Novak Djokovic.
Unfortunately, a foot injury cut his journey short in the semifinals against Roger Federer. Querrey shared a feeling that a lot of people in the tennis community felt back then, saying, “I think everyone had him pencilled in as a guy who was gonna be like top 10 for a while and then, like, where is the dude? I don’t know what happened to him.”
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Chung’s battle with injuries really took a toll, causing his ranking to drop from a peak of 19th all the way down to outside the top 350. It definitely makes you think about what could have been in his tennis journey. However, Agassi did mention his resurgence in tennis.
Andre Agassi once opened up about his comeback in the sport
For Andre Agassi, his incredible comeback from being ranked outside the top 100 to reaching world No. 1 wasn’t just about chasing glory; it was really about reconnecting with the core of who he is. This transformative time really changed how he sees things, and he even said, “When I was number one, I was probably the worst version of myself. When I was 140, I was the best—people just hadn’t seen it yet.”
This deep thought shows that his return wasn’t just about getting a title back; it was really about growing a stronger character from a place of true humility. It all started with one simple question he asked himself every day to help with his recovery: “Can I be better than I am today?” He adopted the view that “Success is how we choose to live in the moments that make us better,” focusing on controllable effort rather than uncontrollable outcomes.
His trainer, Brad Gilbert, summed it up nicely: “There’s a lot of good waiting for you on the other side of tired.” His disciplined, inward-focused approach helped him handle the huge pressure of his return, realizing that “Pressure is really a perspective.”
He decided to concentrate on the present moment instead of getting stuck in the past or worrying about what’s ahead. This choice led to one of the most incredible comebacks in sports history, showing that his true greatness came not from winning, but from the brave decision to start over.
Daria Kasatkina Drops a 1-Word Bomb After 24YO Russian’s Shock Citizenship Switch
When Anastasia Potapova revealed she would represent Austria starting in 2026, it caught the tennis world’s attention immediately. However, it was not only the announcement that was making noise; it was the reaction of Daria Kasatkina that took the stage.
We saw, Potapova shared the news on Instagram, writing, “I am delighted to let you all know that my application for citizenship has been accepted by the Austrian Government. Austria is a place I love, is incredibly welcoming and a place where I feel totally at home. I love being in Wien and look forward to making my second home there…” And within no time, fans realized that something was wrong.
The phrasing of Potapova’s announcement was also very similar to that of a message Daria Kasatkina posted earlier this year when she announced her nationality change. The only difference was that ‘Australia’ was replaced with ‘Austria.’
One fan even commented on the post, “Not she copying Dasha’s words but only replaced Australia with Austria,” leaving everyone wondering how Kasatkina would respond.
Social media exploded with comments, memes, and jokes after Kasatkina responded to the similar phrasing with a single skull emoji. But she didn’t stop there.
Daria Kasatkina further added, “And no, we are not from same agency😂,” she added with a laughing emoji.
The laughing emoji made it clear she found the situation funny and dismissed any idea that the same PR team had written both posts. But it raises the bigger question: why did they decide to switch their sporting nationality in the first place?
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Why did Anastasia Potapova and Daria Kasatkina switch their nationalities?
For Daria Kasatkina, the decision to start representing Australia in March 2025 was a major step in her career and life. The 28-year-old has been a vocal critic of Russia’s military actions in Ukraine and has openly cited safety concerns as a gay woman for leaving the country. She hasn’t returned to Russia since February 2022 and has been living in Dubai in the years leading up to her permanent residency.
Changing her sporting nationality allowed her to continue competing at the highest level while securing her personal safety and freedom. Her action is typical of a larger trend of Russian and Belarusian athletes as well, who have also been banned from participating under their national flags since 2022. Others have sought to acquire new nationalities to preserve their careers.’.
In a similar move, 24-year-old Anastasia Potapova declared that she will compete in Austria beginning in 2026. This move was done by Potapova, who has three singles titles and a career-best ranking of No. 21, almost two years after her ex-husband, Alexander Shevchenko, changed his nationality to Kazakhstan in January 2024.
When Potapova makes the switch, she will be the highest-ranked female tennis player in Austria and will play on the Austrian flag in the 2026 season, becoming part of the list of Russian athletes transforming the tennis landscape by changing nationality.
Tommy Paul’s Coach Hits Back at Tennis Players Over Constant Scheduling Complaints
Carlos Alcaraz made his frustration with the ATP schedule clear last year when he warned, “They’re going to kill us in some way.” His concerns were echoed by many players such as Iga Swiatek and Taylor Fritz. Still, it looks like Tommy Paul’s coach sees things from an entirely different angle.
Brad Stine isn’t buying the idea that players are victims of the calendar. In fact, he’s putting the onus back on the players. “I think the ATP circuit players forget that this is not a team sport,” he stated recently. The 67-year-old further explained that “We are not in a league like the NBA, we are independent entrepreneurs. And it’s a free market… No one threatens them with a weapon to force them to play. They can take all the weeks off they want. Are there any consequences? Of course. And it’s normal.”
Even after his loss at the ATP Finals, Carlos Alcaraz (who had just skipped Spain’s Davis Cup run due to a right hamstring edema) still chose to face two-time US Open semifinalist Frances Tiafoe in Newark on December 7, then hopped on a flight to Miami to take on rising Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca the very next day, a decision that some question considering his earlier remarks on the scheduling.
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Alcaraz explained that exhibitions simply aren’t the same as tournaments. He said “the biggest difference is that in a tournament you have to stay focused and it is expensive both from a physical and mental point of view. A performance is only one day.”
In other words, exhibitions don’t drain him the way a long tournament week does, which is why he feels comfortable playing them even during a busy stretch.
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Still, the bigger debate remains. Many players argue the schedule is becoming too much, with nonstop travel, quick surface changes, and barely any time to recover. They feel the sport demands more than the calendar allows, leaving little space for proper training or avoiding injuries, while trying not to incur points penalties for skipping mandatory tournaments.
That’s why some believe the system is pushing players into a constant cycle of fatigue and burnout.
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Lower-ranked players benefit from having more events, but top players often feel pressured to compete every week to maintain their ranking and honor commitments. This leads many to question whether the tour is more focused on business than on the athletes’ health. So when Brad Stine says it’s ultimately on players to choose whether or not to play, his point hits hard for a lot of fans and insiders who see both sides of the issue.
But Stine doesn’t stop there. Tommy Paul’s coach also calls for real change to the tennis calendar, arguing that the current setup gives an “advantage for top players.” So what exactly did he say?
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Brad Stine’s bold call to scrap Masters byes
The debate over the ATP and WTA schedules is still raging, and now another issue has joined the conversation. Brad Stine believes that a major change is needed at Masters 1000 events, one that would directly impact the tour’s biggest stars. With growing frustration over the new extended formats at tournaments like Cincinnati and Shanghai, he thinks the system needs to be rebalanced.
Brad Stine’s main point is simple: he wants Masters 1000 tournaments to get rid of byes. Right now, top players automatically skip the first round, something many fans and players see as an unfair advantage. Speaking to The Slice, Stine admitted, “I’m not a fan to be honest with you of the byes in the Masters 1000’s, or in the 250’s. I think that we should fill the draw. Why don’t we?” He believes tournaments should start with a full field so every player begins on equal footing.
He further explained that what bothers him most is the built-in edge that higher-ranked players enjoy. As Stine put it, “I don’t like the idea that any player, regardless of their status, has a slight advantage. I only have to win four matches instead of five matches or whatever it may be in the Masters 1000s.” To him, skipping a match and arriving later in the week gives top players a head start that doesn’t really fit the spirit of competition.
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And in the end, Stine summed up his view, saying, “I personally don’t like that. I think that the draw should be filled and there should not be byes in any draws during the year.” Currently, the top eight seeds receive byes at Masters events, players like Alcaraz, Sinner, Taylor Fritz, and Novak Djokovic. But if Stine had it his way, every player would step onto the court from day one.
‘Incredible’: Kyrgios hails tennis Demon’s divine year
Nick Kyrgios reckons Alex de Minaur need do nothing more to be regarded as a modern-day great of Australian tennis.
After another stellar season, de Minaur will land a fourth Newcombe Medal at Australian tennis’s night of nights in Melbourne on Monday.
Only retired legend Ash Barty, with five gongs, has been crowned Australia’s player of the year more times, with de Minaur set to eclipse Samantha Stosur’s three straight medals from 2010-12.
Alex de Minaur and Ash Barty were named joint winners of the 2018 Newcombe Medal. (David Crosling/AAP PHOTOS)
The 26-year-old joined his mentor Lleyton Hewitt and John Newcombe himself as only the third Australian to make the semi-finals of the prestigious season-ending ATP championship.
After matching his career-high ranking of No.6 in the world in October, de Minaur also remains the only Australian man since Hewitt 20 years ago to crack the top 10.
Even Kyrgios only peaked at No.13 after reaching the 2022 Wimbledon final.
Kyrgios says it is too early to anoint de Minaur as a future grand slam champion, but he places his countryman in the batch of stars ready to pounce – even at next month’s Australian Open – if tennis titans Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner somehow slip up.
Alex de Minaur couldn’t stop Jannik Sinner’s run to the 2025 Australian Open championship. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)
Alcaraz and two-time defending AO champion Sinner have won the past eight grand slam titles.
“Demon’s doing an amazing job, to be honest. He’s a genuine contender, I think,” Kyrgios told AAP.
“Maybe not at a grand slam over best of five with the way Alcaraz and Sinner are playing right now.
“But if one of those guys go down early, I would say that Demon’s one of the other three or four people that genuinely has a chance to do it.
Nick Kyrgios believes compatriot Alex de Minaur has what it takes to win a major championship. (Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS)
“We all know how hard he works. I’ve been around him and his competitiveness and work ethic is literally probably second to none.
“But look, regardless, he may not ever win a grand slam, or he may not ever win a Masters event or whatever it is, but I like what he’s doing now.
“It is still incredible. He’s been top 10 now for years and he’s already done things that are incredible.
“He’s done amazing for Australia, regardless of what happens.”
Hoping to make a comeback from career-threatening knee and wrist injuries that have limited him to six tour matches in more than three years, Kyrgios is urging de Minaur to embrace the pressure and expectation that comes with being Australia’s top summer hope.
The gifted Nick Kyrgios hopes to make a comeback after a string of career-threatening injuries. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)
The mercurial talent also advised de Minaur to savour every moment in the spotlight.
“That’s the one thing I tell athletes now, and not even just tennis, you can’t really take it for granted, being right there,” he said.
“It just goes so quick. Like, one second you have it all figured out and then an injury can happen and your whole career flashes before your eyes.
“We’ve seen these injuries like Holger Rune snapping an achilles. These injuries can happen so acutely and it’s a scary feeling.”
Teenage sensation Maya Joint, who is poised to claim a first-time grand slam seeding at her home major in Melbourne, along with Kim Birrell, Priscilla Hon and Adam Walton are this year’s other Newcombe Medal nominees.
De Minaur, though, is a shoo-in.
ATP and WTA Awards 2025: EssentiallySports Picks the Season
This year’s tennis season has been about so much more than just the champions. It’s been filled with amazing stories, incredible rallies, and some heartfelt moments. When you look past the year-end rankings and trophies, the real essence of a season lies in those unforgettable moments that go beyond the score: a display of sheer determination, a heartfelt nod between past rivals, or a fresh outfit that symbolizes a personal transformation.
The EssentiallySports In-House Awards are all about recognizing those amazing stories, that make tennis such a fascinating sport.
Best Match of the Year – the cousins’ showdown between Valentin Vacherot vs. Arthur Rinderknech
In a season filled with incredible stories, nothing grabbed the attention and passion of tennis fans quite like the 2025 Shanghai Rolex Masters final, where cousins Valentin Vacherot and Arthur Rinderknech faced off in a memorable showdown.
The whole situation felt like something out of a movie: two unseeded players, with Vacherot, ranked 204th, coming up from the qualifying rounds, and Rinderknech, who was thinking about retirement just a few months ago, taking down some big names like Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev en route to the final. It was quite the match on the court, with Vacherot coming out on top, winning 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.
The emotions that came after went beyond just the game. With tears in his eyes, Rinderknech referred to Vacherot as his “beloved cousin, my brother,” and said, “Two cousins are stronger than one.”
He reflected on the match, saying, “Such a thing will never happen again, never in history.” The Shanghai final takes the cake for delivering an unforgettable family fairytale, some serious drama, and a moment of pure sporting togetherness.
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Best Moment of the Year – Serena Williams’ tribute to Maria Sharapova during Hall of Fame Induction
One of the defining moments of this tennis year occurred not on a match court, but on a stage in Newport, Rhode Island, when Serena Williams stepped forward to deliver the Hall of Fame induction speech for her storied rival, Maria Sharapova.
Williams referred to Sharapova as her “former rival, former fan and forever friend,” recognizing their intense competitive history, where they were each other’s “biggest obstacle” for more than ten years.
She appreciated how Sharapova’s challenge pushed her to “practice harder” and commended her rival for transforming “how women not only approached tennis, but sports and opportunity.”
In a personal reflection, Williams even mentioned, “She actually reminds me a lot of Venus… the more I get to know her the more I think the things we share… If I didn’t know her better, I think she could have been my sister.”
The moment really captured a journey from being “miles and miles apart” to building mutual respect and friendship. Sharapova even described it as “a gift to find someone who motivates you to reach those heights.”
Best Grand Slam Finale of the Year – Roland Garros: Jannik Sinner vs. Carlos Alcaraz
The 2025 Roland Garros final featuring Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz was an unforgettable match that is the clear winner for the year’s best Grand Slam finale. In an incredible showdown, the world’s top two players, both with perfect records in major finals, put on a thrilling display of strength and skill for five hours and twenty-nine minutes.
This epic match, the longest French Open final ever, wrapped up with a score of 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2), going to Alcaraz. The match was full of twists and turns: Sinner took charge in the first two sets and even had three championship points at love-40 in the fourth, but Alcaraz pulled off an incredible comeback to stay in the match and push it to a final fifth set.
His clutch performance under immense pressure really showed what he thinks a champion is all about: “I think the real champions are made in that situations when you deal with that pressure with that situations in the best way possible. I mean, that’s what the real champions have done in their whole careers.”
Even in a tough loss, Sinner recognized the significance of the moment: “Now I find myself here, playing the longest match in history of Roland Garros in a final. It hurts, yes, but in other way you cannot keep going crying… So, it happens.”
Best Photograph of the Year – Jasmine Paolini
Captured by veteran photographer Ray Giubilo, this viral image shows Italian star Jasmine Paolini with her face perfectly aligned with the strings of her racket, creating an optical illusion that resembles a Halloween mask or jack-o’-lantern. This sports photo was truly one-of-a-kind because of the perfect mix of luck, skill, and timing. The photo was taken during Paolini’s first-round US Open match against Destanee Aiava,
Giubilo pointed out that the shot happened just because Paolini was a bit off-balance and swung her racket in a unique way, with the colors of her Yonex frame creating that amazing illusion. Paolini jumped right into the moment, saying, “Maybe the picture of the year!” She even made an effort to track down Giubilo on the court to give him a shout-out, saying, “Grande photo!”
Best Comeback of the Year – Naomi Osaka
After a long stretch of uneven form following her time away from the sport due to maternity leave, Naomi Osaka made an impressive comeback to the top tier of women’s tennis in 2025. Her journey back wasn’t straightforward at all. It had its ups and downs, like that emotional first-round exit at the French Open, where she openly talked about the weight of her own expectations.
She reflected on her experiences, saying that the time away made her realize, “I love tennis way more than I thought I did, and I learned that I actually really love challenges.”
A key moment happened at the Canadian Open when saving two match points led to a big mental breakthrough. “Ever since then I’ve started thinking anything’s possible,” Osaka said. That mindset really fueled her standout win of the season—a solid 6-3, 6-2 victory against world No. 3 and reigning French Open champ Coco Gauff at the US Open.
On her favorite court, an emotional Osaka shared her thoughts on the full-circle moment, recalling how she watched from the stands as a new mother just two years ago: “This is my favorite court in the world, and it means so much to me to be back here.”
Best Rally of the Year – Alexander Zverev vs. Adam Walton 52 shot rally at the National Bank Open
The 52-shot rally between Alexander Zverev and Adam Walton in the second round of the 2025 National Bank Open was something else to watch. At a crucial 5-5 moment in the first-set tiebreak, both players really pushed each other to the max. Zverev brought some serious power from the baseline, while Walton showed incredible determination with his scrambling defense.
The German ended up winning the tough rally, grabbing a key set point that changed the whole vibe of the match, which he took in straight sets. Zverev really emphasized how crucial it was, saying it was a “very important moment, very important point for me,” and he credited it as the key to his win.
Best Rivalry of the Year – Jannik Sinner Sinner vs. Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek vs. Amanda Anisimova
Well, we’ve got a tie for Best Rivalry of the Year, and it’s all about two thrilling matchups that really stood out in 2025. First up, we have the faces of the ATP, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, going head-to-head. Then, on the WTA side, we can’t forget the fierce and unpredictable clashes between Iga Swiatek and Amanda Anisimova.
The rivalry between Sinner and Alcaraz has really hit a high point, with both stars under 25 swapping the world No. 1 ranking and sharing all four Grand Slam titles this year. Their French Open final was quite the marathon—five hours and twenty-nine minutes of intense action, with Alcaraz saving three match points – a possible all-time classic.
Then, in the Wimbledon final that followed, Sinner got immediate revenge. ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi pointed out, “These two guys are really incredible for our sport,” highlighting their different styles. Soon after, Alcaraz reigned supreme once again at the US Open.
On the other hand, the rivalry between Swiatek and Anisimova has been quite the rollercoaster, especially when you look at their two Grand Slam matches. Swiatek completely dominated in the Wimbledon final with a jaw-dropping 6-0, 6-0 win, but then just two months later, Anisimova pulled off an incredible comeback in the US Open quarterfinals.
Anisimova wrapped up their season series by taking down Swiatek at the WTA Finals, which put an end to the Pole’s tournament run. Swiatek, reflecting on the unexpected turn after her Finals loss, said, “I don’t know, maybe I won too much in last year and this is karma.”
Best Partnership of the Year – Sara Errani/Andrea Vavassori at the US Open Mixed Doubles Finals
The Best Partnership of the Year award belongs to the Italian duo of Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, whose title defense at the 2025 US Open Mixed Doubles Finals was a masterclass in doubles synergy and a powerful statement for their discipline. The reigning champions, being the only real doubles specialists in a 16-team lineup filled with big-name singles players, found themselves up against a tournament that had been revamped to keep players like them out.
They showed up at the event as wild cards, ready to stand for “all the doubles players who cannot compete here.” Even though their singles rankings were much lower—Errani sitting at world No. 291 and Vavassori at No. 306—their chemistry on the court was clear as day. The big moment happened in the final match featuring singles stars Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud.
Vavassori, giving a shoutout to his partner, said to the crowd, “Thanks for the energy, it’s unbelievable for me to play with you. We’ve shown today that doubles is a great product.” After clinching an exciting 6-3, 5-7, [10-6] win to share the $1 million champion’s prize, Errani shared her thoughts on what the victory meant: “I think this one is also for all the doubles players that couldn’t play this tournament.”
Tribute of The Year – Rafael Nadal’s ceremony at Roland Garros
The heartfelt farewell ceremony for Rafael Nadal at the 2025 Roland Garros was a beautiful tribute to a legend, capturing the essence of his incredible 20-year journey. On the 20th anniversary of his debut, a full Court Philippe-Chatrier, filled with “Merci Rafa” shirts, gave the “King of Clay” a warm welcome that had him in tears before he even said a word.
The ceremony really shone with its personal touch and meaningful symbolism: they unveiled a permanent plaque with his footprint and the number 14 right next to the net, which truly touched Nadal’s heart.
“Knowing that it’s going to be there forever is a present I can’t describe in words,” he reflected. The emotional peak came when his three biggest rivals, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray, showed up unexpectedly, sending a strong message about respect and friendship.
“To have my three biggest rivals there in the court with me meant a lot, no? And at the same time it’s a great message for the world, I think, that best rivals, toughest rivalries probably in the history of our sport, are able to be good colleagues, to respect each other. You don’t need to hate the opponent to try to beat him with all your forces,” Nadal said.
It wasn’t just a goodbye; it was the perfect way to wrap up the greatest story ever told at Roland Garros.
Best Outfit of the Year – Taylor Townsend’s Phoenix dress worn at the US Open this year
Taylor Townsend rocked a phoenix-inspired kit that symbolized her amazing personal and professional comeback during her impressive run at the 2025 US Open. It’s not just any tennis dress; this black outfit with those cool flame details on the sleeves and skirt was actually designed by Townsend herself.
She created it under her “TT” apparel line, which she started after having a tough time finding a traditional clothing sponsor, even with her impressive doubles status.
Townsend shared her thoughts on the kit’s deep significance: “One of the reasons why I did the Phoenix kit for myself. A phoenix is a made-up creature, but the premise is that you have to burn or lose your old self in order to emerge as something new. And I feel like that’s indicative of my career, me as a person, me as a woman, me as a player.”
When it comes to turning a fashion statement into a powerful story of empowerment, Townsend’s phoenix dress really takes the crown.
How the Miami Marlins infield transformed into a tennis court
Tennis is experiencing a resurgence, with almost 26 million people playing in the U.S. alone. That number has been on an upward trajectory five years in a row. While the sport’s renewed cultural relevance can be attributed to multiple factors, brands across fashion, entertainment, and even sports leagues like Major League Baseball are capitalizing on the trend through unconventional opportunities.
On December 8, LoanDepot Park, home of baseball’s Miami Marlins, will undergo a temporary redesign to host the Unified Events Miami Invitational, a one-night, first-of-its-kind exhibition featuring top tennis stars Carlos Alcaraz, João Fonseca, Amanda Anisimova, and Jessica Pegula in a city with a strong appetite for elite tennis.
“While they have the Miami Open, there is such a fervor for tennis in the Miami market, especially for those players,” says Molly Pendleton, SVP of MLS, Touring, and Unified Events.
To tap into the market’s enthusiasm, Pendleton and her team originally planned to host the event in a traditional arena, a common choice for these exhibition matches. However, due to scheduling conflicts and the time needed to set up the courts, Unified Events decided not to take that route. Since both United Events and the Marlins work with sports and culture company IMG, the partners explored creative ways to bring tennis to a baseball stadium. They selected LoanDepot Park because it offered optimal sigh tlines and a high-quality fan experience.
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“I was skeptical until I saw the renderings of what it could look like and what the fan experience would be, says Pendleton. [I] got on board with the idea [that] this could be a really unique experience for fans and the players.”
Anthony Favata, Vice President of Operations & Events for the Marlins, and his team created CAD renderings to visualize the transformation, which sealed the deal.
“We have an extremely versatile building,” says Favata. “Tennis was always on the road map.”
A Stadium Built for Adaptation
Historically, LoanDepot Park, formerly known as Marlins Park, was built to accommodate a variety of events. After opening in 2012, it hosted an international soccer game, and over the years, expanded to other entertainment, including concerts. Now, with recent investments in its infrastructure, the organization is reimagining the stadium’s design to expand its non-baseball slate.
For the Marlins’ operations team, months of site visits, engineering assessments, and software modeling informed how they will compress the stadium’s 130,000-square-foot footprint with 37,442 seats into an 8,700-square-foot environment with 12,000 seats for a quality viewing experience.
“It’s very important that you have that intimacy and the premium feel of being as close to the court as you can get,” Favata explained. “One thing that [was] created for us is the need to remove the pitcher’s mound.”
Design Challenges and Transformations
Unlike a tennis court, the typical dimensions of a baseball field is not rectangular but rather a “snow-coned” shape. To achieve the level of intimacy spectators want during a tennis match, the Marlins will place the court in front of home plate. Based on their CAD visualization, the team decided that the court will run diagonally from first base to third base.
One of the most complex design challenges in creating an intimate environment is the full removal of the pitcher’s mound, an undertaking requiring roughly eight hours by a dedicated five-person crew.
“We’ll remove [the] clay, and we’ll make sure it’s flat so that our flooring can come on top of that mound and then we can come on top of it with the cork,” explains Favata. This step ensures the installed court sits at the ideal distance from spectator seats so fans have up close and clear views of play.
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Previously, LoanDepot Park featured a natural grass field. However, the stadium later transitioned to a turf surface. Leveraging the stadium’s in-house flooring system has proven beneficial, allowing adaptability of its turf surface for various events. A team of up to 20 people will lay down a thick, plastic event decking or protective flooring called Terraplas directly on top of the clay comprising the pitcher’s mound. To further avoid impacting the clay underneath, the team will place a cork-rubber blend called Regupol Aktiv atop the Terraplas, followed by another layer of wood. Finally, additional workers will lay down the professional hard court, which will be transported overnight from the Charlotte Invitational happening just before the exhibition match in Miami.
The Marlins’ operations team will get a head start on the mound removal for another event occurring two days prior to the match. However, the majority of the conversion will happen overnight, involving about 37 people across multiple vendors working from roughly 10 p.m. on December 7 into the morning hours of December 8.
Enhancing the intimacy created by removing the pitcher’s mound will be the addition of roughly 600 temporary seats. The team will also recline the foul ball netting. While the main event will occur infield, the Marlins plan to restrict access to the outfield.
As Favata’s team reconfigures the field into a tennis court, ensuring player safety is critical.
“Although it’s an exhibition, we want to make sure that the court is at the highest level of play,” Favata said. “Some of the best in the world are going to be performing. We want to make sure it’s safe for them.”
Creating a Premium Tennis Environment
Beyond the technical build, the team will deliver a complete tennis environment with premium courtside seating, hospitality, and signature cocktails (Miami Ace and Sunset Invitational) inspired by the U.S. Open’s Honey Deuce. Partner brand activations include Segafredo’s specialty desserts and coffee, Geico’s tennis bracelet activation, and Penguin Tennis Apparel’s pop-up retail shop to create an immersive experience.
Depending on its success, Unified Events anticipates this invitational being an annual event in Miami. It’s already nearing capacity with about 9,500 seats sold, with tickets starting at $40.
In the meantime, the Miami Marlins are preparing for other events in the new year, like the Winter Classic in partnership with the National Hockey League.
“We’re very much involved in trying to continue to put this venue at the forefront of the concert and live entertainment business [with] some of those sports that you don’t typically consider in a baseball diamond that are cool, that are splashy, that are global,” Favata said. “[We want to] draw an attendee base to the facility that may not already be familiar with the venue in hopes that we give them a great experience and they return for Marlins baseball.”
20X WTA Title Winner Makes a Comeback After Retirement With a Surprising Twist
Agnieszka Radwanska had an incredible career in Polish tennis, winning twenty WTA Tour singles titles over her thirteen years as a pro. She really changed the game for her country in the sport. She really made history by becoming the first Polish player to win a WTA singles title back in 2007. Then, in 2012, she hit a career-high ranking of world No. 2 and wrapped up that amazing season by finishing as the runner-up at Wimbledon.
She was the first Pole in the Open Era to make it to a Grand Slam singles final! After dealing with injuries, she decided to retire in 2018, leaving a legacy of excellence that set the Polish standard until Iga Swiatek came onto the scene.
In a surprising and heartwarming turn of events, the thirty-six-year-old Radwanska is gearing up to make her comeback to the professional tour. But she won’t be using a racket in any competitions. Instead, she’s taking on a coaching and mentoring role for her longtime friend and peer, Magda Linette.
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Andy Murray Gets Brutally Honest on Life After Tennis: “I Don’t Miss It”
Andy Murray officially retired, marking the end of an incredible journey in one of the most resilient and celebrated careers in British sports history. So, after going pro in 2005, Murray really made a name for himself and joined the legendary ‘Big Four’ in men’s tennis. He picked up three Grand Slam singles titles along the way—first the US Open in 2012, then Wimbledon in 2013 and 2016.
His career highlights really show his relentless drive: he hit the world No. 1 ranking in 2016 and made history as the only player, male or female, to snag two Olympic singles gold medals in 2012 and 2016. He made his last professional appearance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he decided to represent Team GB one final time before hanging up his boots for good.
Now that he’s been retired for months, Andy Murray has shared an honest and uplifting view on what life is like after tennis. As reported by journalist Scott Barclay on X, shared a surprising sentiment about his life after retirement, stating, “I don’t play tennis now for enjoyment, and I’m really happy about that.” This statement shows a deep and calm change in who he is.
He said, “I feel like my purpose has changed. I was very focused on my tennis career, and now all of that attention goes into my family and my children.” Murray has taken that same relentless drive that helped him win Grand Slam titles and shifted it to things like the school run, family birthdays, and everyday life at home.
He shows he’s content by saying, “So I don’t have any urge to go on the tennis court right now; I don’t miss it. And I think that’s a really positive thing.” He’s found a new purpose in the everyday, sometimes humbling, routines of being a full-time father. Murray, married to Kim Sears and a dad to four little ones, is now the one doing the daily school drop-offs and pick-ups. He’s recognized that this big change in life needed some time to adjust, especially for his oldest daughter, Sophia, who felt a bit embarrassed at first by having her famous dad around all the time at school.
Murray really values this deep connection with family life. Well, Murray’s life after retirement shows us an athlete who’s really found happiness not by trying to relive his glory days, but by enjoying a calm and down-to-earth present. And recently, the Brit shared a memory from his career.
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Andy Murray on his battles with Roger Federer
When Andy Murray thinks about his career, there are definitely some matches that stick in his mind. One memorable match is his five-set showdown with Roger Federer at the 2013 Australian Open semifinal. “Yeah, so I watched him like loads when I was growing up,” Murray said about the Swiss tennis legend.
“I used to took notes from watching matches on watch matches of him on Sky. I had an injury when I was uh 15… I didn’t play for, like, six months, and you know, I really enjoyed watching him (Federer). Like, I loved watching him play, but I also, like, felt like I knew again. This is where it’s, like, from a strategical point of view, I felt like I knew how to play against him.”
He really pulled off one of his biggest wins in that semi-final, going through a tough five-set match: 6‑4, 6‑7 (5), 6‑3, 6‑7 (2), 6‑2. That victory not only took him to the final of the tournament but also marked his first-ever Grand Slam win against Federer. Murray shared his thoughts on the mental aspect of going up against Federer.
“I would feel going into those matches and the pressure that I would feel. Obviously, he would have felt that too… on the court, whereas you know he had this aura about him, and you know was always sort of described as you know he’s the best tennis player of all time that to overcome him,” the Brit said. Absolutely, that mindset really played a big role in shaping his tennis career.
Word Reaction to Ben Shelton After Dramatic On
On Saturday at the Atlanta Cup, Nick Kyrgios made his much-anticipated comeback to the court, going up against American sensation Ben Shelton. After months away from the game due to ongoing wrist and knee issues, the Australian, currently ranked outside the top 600, stepped onto the court for his first match. He saw this high-profile exhibition as a chance to gauge his physical condition for a possible comeback in 2026.
In the end, it was Shelton’s consistent performance that clinched the friendly match, as the American took home a 7-6, 6-3 win. Even though the outcome wasn’t in his favor, the highlight of the night for Kyrgios wasn’t a great shot or an ace; it was actually a funny, awkward fall at the net. He hopped on his Instagram story and shared a quick, two-word response to Shelton about the viral clip: “Hahaha thanks.”
This fun back-and-forth highlights the special and changing relationship between Kyrgios and the younger Shelton. Before the Atlanta exhibition, Kyrgios shared his thoughts about the American player, saying he sees “a lot of myself in his tennis, his risk-taking, and the way he interacts with the crowd.”
He referred to Shelton as an “incredible player,” saying that his explosive energy takes him back to his own younger days. Kyrgios’ social media comment after the net incident really highlights this bond, seeing Shelton not just as a rival but as someone he can share a laugh with.
For Kyrgios, who’s working his way back from some tough injuries, these exhibitions mean a lot more than just tennis. It’s a great opportunity to get back to the excitement of competition and the friendship that comes with being on tour. But you know, the Aussie’s mindset is definitely worth looking into before he makes his full return to the sport.
Nick Kyrgios keeps his mind balanced
Nick Kyrgios’ mindset in professional tennis is shaped by a mix of complex and sometimes conflicting psychological factors. Kyrgios really opened up during a rare moment of vulnerability, saying, “I think when things get tough, I’m just a little bit soft… I don’t love the sport. But, you know, I don’t really know what else to do without it.”
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But this mindset isn’t fixed; he’s shown he can turn criticism into motivation and even respect his competitors. A good example of this was after his tough Wimbledon match against Novak Djokovic in 2022.
The Serb took the match with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6, and the Aussie commented, “Yeah, yeah, he’s a bit of a god, I’m not going to lie. I thought I played well, but yeah, first of all, I want to congratulate Novak and your team, of course. You’ve won this championship, I don’t even know how many times anymore.”
In the end, his way of thinking shows that there’s a constant mental struggle involved, and it takes discipline to really make the most of it at the top level. And 2026 might be an exciting year for the Aussie, owing to his proper comeback to tennis.
Novak Djokovic & Carlos Alcaraz Give Their Verdict on Max Verstappen vs Lando Norris’ Nail
The 2025 Formula 1 season really ramped up to an exciting finish, ending with one of the tightest finales we’ve seen in the sport’s history. Prior to the final race in Abu Dhabi, McLaren’s Lando Norris was clinging to a slim 12-point lead over the ever-persistent Max Verstappen from Red Bull. Plus, his teammate Oscar Piastri was still in the mix, making things even more interesting!
In a nail-biting, strategic showdown, Verstappen pulled off a perfect drive to snag the win. However, Norris was really feeling the heat, having to navigate through traffic and deal with a tough defensive play from Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda, and also an early battle with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who was also chasing him down with his new tire compounds. But he totally stepped up and pulled off an incredible performance to grab that all-important third place.
When he crossed the finish line, just 16.5 seconds behind Verstappen, Norris clinched the title of Formula 1’s new world champion by a super close margin of only two points in the final standings, putting an end to Verstappen’s four-year reign. This incredible match, decided by the tiniest of margins, really caught the attention of sports fans everywhere, featuring two of tennis’ biggest names: Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz.
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Djokovic, knowing how important legacy is and feeling the sting of a close loss, shared a touching tribute on his Instagram story. He kicked things off by congratulating the new champion, saying, “Congratulations Lando. What a season! You are a World Champion.” His message also paid tribute to the dethroned king, recognizing Verstappen’s fierce determination: “What an amazing finish Max had. Very close to clinch it all again. Champion mentality.”
In a similar vein, the young Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz, who is part of the exciting modern tennis rivalries with Djokovic and Jannik Sinner, had a straightforward yet heartfelt response. Alcaraz shared on his Instagram story, “Many congrats,” giving a shoutout to Norris for his first win. So, the title was pretty spot on.
Before the race, Verstappen secured pole position, and even though Norris was right beside him on the grid, if he dropped to P4, the championship was really his to lose. Norris actually dropped to P2 behind his teammate Piastri right at the start, but he pulled it together and held onto P3, snagging that first WDC he’s been chasing.
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Djokovic and Alcaraz’s reactions really give us an interesting look at what elite athletes think and feel, no matter the sport. So, recently, another tennis star was seen hanging around the F1 paddock.
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Jannik Sinner was also interested in the title fight between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen
Lando Norris said, “Simply lovely, huh,” right after he clinched victory at the 2024 Dutch GP. And you definitely don’t mess around on Max Verstappen’s turf. Even though the Brit couldn’t get anywhere near Verstappen in 2024, this year was a different story. Red Bull didn’t really give the Dutchman a shot at the championship until the first race after the summer break due to the car not being fast enough.
This title fight really caught the attention of tennis stars like Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, and even Jannik Sinner. The Italian who had an amazing tennis season in 2025, was spotted in Abu Dhabi enjoying a fun night out with his girlfriend, Laila Hasanovic. But you know what?
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The exclusive Billionaire Dubai dinner show had some F1 superstars in attendance as well. The Italian snapped a photo with two-time Formula 1 World Champion Fernando Alonso and Alpine F1 team principal Flavio Briatore. “A star-studded evening at Billionaire Dubai last night with champions Fernando Alonso and Jannik Sinner,” Briatore shared.
Later, Sinner was spotted taking a hot lap with Mercedes’ rookie, Kimi Antonelli. Well, Sinner opted to skip the Davis Cup Finals and focus on a lengthier pre-season in order to be in peak condition for his title defense at the Australian Open. This gave him the proper amount of time to spend his time around the F1 paddock.
Jordi Alba es multado por la MLS antes de la final: el español podrá jugar la MLS Cup pese a nueva sanción
A pocos días de disputarse la MLS Cup, el Comité Disciplinario de la Major League Soccer anunció una nueva sanción económica contra el lateral español Jordi Alba, jugador clave del Inter Miami. La liga confirmó que el veterano defensor violó las políticas disciplinarias durante la final de la Conferencia Este ante New York City FC.
Multa por agresión con las manos a la cara/cuello de un rival
Según el comunicado oficial, Jordi Alba fue multado por agredir con las manos la cara o el cuello de un oponente en el minuto 22 del duelo del pasado 29 de noviembre. Esta acción fue revisada por el Comité, que determinó imponer una sanción económica, aunque la liga no reveló el monto exacto de la multa.
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Sin castigo deportivo: Alba podrá jugar la final
A pesar de la falta disciplinaria, el castigo no incluye suspensión. Por lo tanto, Jordi Alba sí estará disponible para disputar la final de la MLS Cup este sábado, en la que Inter Miami enfrentará a los Vancouver Whitecaps.
La noticia llega en momentos decisivos para el equipo de Gerardo Martino, que busca coronarse nuevamente y cuenta con Alba como pieza clave en su estructura ofensiva y defensiva.
Comunicado oficial de la MLS
En el anuncio emitido por la liga se detalla:
“El Comité Disciplinario de la MLS ha multado al defensa del Inter Miami, Jordi Alba, por violar la política de la Liga con respecto a las manos hacia la cara/cabeza/cuello de un rival en el minuto 22 del partido de Miami contra New York City el 29 de noviembre”.
Contexto: otro episodio disciplinario en la temporada
Esta no es la primera vez que Alba se encuentra bajo revisión disciplinaria en 2025. Con su intensidad habitual, el español ha protagonizado varias jugadas polémicas, aunque en la mayoría de los casos ha evitado suspensiones.
Para Inter Miami, la multa representa un aviso más pero no afecta su alineación titular para la cita más importante del año.
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Inter Miami, Whitecaps meet in star-studded MLS Cup final
A pair of international stars will be on Major League Soccer’s biggest stage when Lionel Messi and Inter Miami host Thomas Muller and the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday in the MLS Cup final at Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Both clubs will be chasing their first MLS title, with an opportunity to raise the Philip F. Anschutz trophy.
Messi is all but certain to win a second consecutive MLS MVP after scoring 29 goals and assisting 19 more in the regular season. But Saturday is also the realization of the vision that convinced Messi to make the move to MLS in the summer of 2023.
In addition to a lucrative contract and numerous new American marketing opportunities, joining Inter Miami also has resulted in a club constructed in his own image.
First there were his former FC Barcelona teammates Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and later Luis Suarez who joined the Herons. Then this summer, Messi’s national team colleague Rodrigo De Paul made the move from Atletico Madrid. Promising teenager Mateo Silvetti joined on loan from Newell’s Old Boys, Messi’s boyhood club in Argentina.
Just before the playoffs began, Messi and Inter Miami announced a three-year contract extension that will see him retire in MLS.
While the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has been exceptional this postseason, with six goals and seven assists in five matches, he admits to a sense of contentment.
Lionel Messi is playing for another trophy. Inter Miami to meet Vancouver in the MLS Cup final
By TIM REYNOLDS
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — For Lionel Messi, the MLS Cup final on Saturday will represent some endings. And, quite possibly, a new beginning.
Messi and Inter Miami will take on Thomas Müller — one of his longtime rivals — and the Vancouver Whitecaps for Major League Soccer’s championship. It’s the first final for both clubs, which means MLS is about to have a first-time champion.
But for Messi, it’s the end of a couple eras. It’s the last match planned at Inter Miami’s current home, with the team set to move into a still-under-construction stadium near Miami International Airport next season. And barring some serious changes of heart, it’ll be the last time he gets to play with longtime teammates Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets — they’re both retiring after Saturday — and possibly Luis Suarez as well.
“I’m very grateful for the career I’ve had, the teams I’ve played for, everything I’ve learned, everything I’ve enjoyed, and well, it’s been a privilege,” Alba said in Spanish on Thursday. “Yes, it’s a week with a lot of emotions, knowing that it’s going to be my last game … and hopefully, I end my career in the best possible scenario, in a final and we win.”
It’s not like Messi needs this win for his legacy; Argentina’s star — a winner of 46 championships for club and country worldwide, the most in history — is widely considered the greatest player ever and Saturday’s outcome won’t help or hurt that reputation. Same goes for Müller, the German great who has been on the winning end of a World Cup final in which he played against Messi (and Javier Mascherano, now the Inter Miami coach).
That said, Saturday will bring at least one first: If Vancouver wins, Müller will be the first player to win a World Cup and an MLS Cup. If Inter Miami wins, Messi, Rodrigo De Paul and Busquets will become the first trio to say they were both a World Cup and an MLS champion.
“We are going to have four World Cup winners on the pitch,” Mascherano said. “I think it’s very, very interesting for the league.”
Müller — part of more than 30 trophy wins for club and country himself — was asked how the MLS Cup ranks on his list.
“At the moment, I rank it No. 1,” Muller said. “Because it’s the only final that we are talking about. It’s upcoming. At the moment, for me, this final on Saturday is the most important thing in my life.”
He then paused a bit.
“That’s a good line, ah?” he asked, laughing at his joke.
But clearly, the MLS Cup is something that both teams want badly. For Inter Miami, it’s a chance to prove that bringing in the Barcelona foursome — Messi, Alba, Suarez and Busquets — was all worth it. For Vancouver, which beat Inter Miami twice this season in the CONCACAF Champions League, it’s a chance to win a trophy and go through Messi to get it done.
“Obviously, they were much better than us in April,” Mascherano said. “But the situation is not the same. We are in a different situation. We arrive to this final with confidence, with some different players. And we know that they have a very, very good team.”
Of late …
Inter Miami is 10-2-1 in its last 13 matches, going back to the regular season. The team has been particularly dominant in three win-or-go-home matches during these MLS playoffs, winning those by a combined score of 13-1.
Vancouver is 7-1-5 in its last 13 matches and has given up a total of 17 goals in its last 17 matches against MLS opponents.
Home edge
The team playing in its home stadium, or home market, has won 11 of the last 14 MLS Cup titles. Of the three that lost in that scenario, two fell in penalty kicks.
Vancouver won at Inter Miami in April in the CONCACAF semifinals. Inter Miami is 16-2-2 across all competitions at home since.
“We’ve been ready for this this whole season,” Vancouver midfielder Sebastian Berhalter said. “The pressure, it comes with it. It’s a privilege and it’s fun and I think you know our guys are going to lean into it and enjoy it. Home team, away team, I don’t think it matters.”
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Garber doesn’t rule out relegation in MLS but makes clear it’s years or decades away
WASHINGTON (AP) — Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber won’t rule out adopting relegation and promotion while making clear such a decision is years or decades away.
MLS launched in 1996 with 10 teams and currently has 30 in a closed system. The latest team, San Diego, paid a $500 million expansion fee to start play in 2025.
Garber has said relegation and promotion doesn’t work for MLS because of the huge amounts of money owners have spent on stadiums, training complexes and youth academies.
“There’s no real point of saying never because I don’t know what the future would look like. I certainly never thought we would adapt to the international calendar,” he said Thursday night during a news conference at D.C. United’s Audi Stadium in conjunction with the World Cup draw.
“Maybe as the development of the lower divisions continue to grow, as they’ve been doing so well over the years, there will be a proper ecosystem, I’m not sure. Frankly, I don’t believe that ecosystem can exist today, but who knows?’ he added. “I’ve learned never say never. That doesn’t mean we’re having promotion relegation any time soon.”
The United Soccer League said this year it plans to start a top tier league in 2027-28 and a promotion/relegation system. What is now USL’s League Championship has been sanctioned as the second-tier division since 2017 and has 24 teams. The third-tier League One started play in 2019. USL League Two is a semipro level that includes 144 teams in 19 regional divisions and four conferences.
Succession planning
Garber, who turned 68 in October, has been commissioner since August 1999 and in 2024 agreed to a contract through the 2027 season.
“MLS has almost been operating as a startup for 30 years, so we never gave any thought to succession planning, at all,” he said. “High-performing companies need to do that. So the start of this process is to have a proper succession process not just for the next commissioner but for the next leader of our commercial business or the next leader of our sporting business.”
Garber said he hasn’t thought about staying beyond 2027.
“Right now I’m focused on the next couple of years and I’ll think about that and have a conversation with the MLS ownership at that right time,” he said.
MLS owners voted last month to switch starting in 2027-28 to a summer-to-spring schedule similar to the calendar of most European leagues. It has had a yearly season running from February to December in most recent years.
“Certainly I wasn’t thinking about the renewal of my last contract with an eye towards the calendar change because we had no idea back then that we’d be doing it,” he said. “But we’ll figure it out.”
Vancouver stadium
Ahead of Vancouver playing Inter Miami for the MLS title on Saturday, Garber was critical over a lack of progress in stadium planning. The Whitecaps would like to move from B.C. Place, where they are a tenant, to a new stadium.
“The MLS team, its owners, its fans, its players have done everything to earn the support that they’re not getting today from the city and from the province and that’s an untenable situation,” he said. “What we have there has to change. And right now, we’re not necessarily on a path to do that. … We had a very positive meeting with the mayor. We’re looking at getting a better lease at B.C. Place right now. There’s been no movement on that and it’s been a month.”
“We are in the business of delivering for those people that really, really want to have an MLS team that they can love and embrace. And that’s not just fans. They’ve done that,” he added. “You need to have cities and provinces do that, and we’re still waiting to see whether they’ll be able to deliver. And if they don’t, we’re going to have to make some tough decisions.”
Vancouver’s owners announced in December the club was for sale. Greg Kerfoot has owned the team since 2002, 11 years before it started play in MLS. Steve Luczo, Jeff Mallett and former NBA star Steve Nash joined Kerfoot in 2008.
Mallett suggested in August that the group’s strategy may have shifted to adding a new partner.
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AP Sports Writer Anne M. Peterson contributed to this report.
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Blackhawks’ top-five penalty kill delivers again in win over Kings
LOS ANGELES — In most ways, the Blackhawks are punching above their weight talent-wise this season.
They absorbed a punch in the form of a five-game losing streak and are now riding another point streak, which they extended to three games Thursday with a 2-1 road win over the Kings. A 12-9-6 record in early December is better than anyone outside their locker room expected.
On the penalty kill specifically, though, the Hawks are punching right at their weight, not above it. They are legitimately stacked with superb killers, and those superb killers are delivering consistent results.
Another five-for-five performance Thursday, including a game-sealing kill for the final 86 seconds of the game, moved the Hawks up to fourth in the league at 85.3% this season. Since Nov. 5, they’re at 90.7%, having killed 39 of 43 opportunities during that span.
“We’ve got really good penalty-killers that have bought into the system, but the system is less important than the buy-in,” coach Jeff Blashill said.
Leading the bunch is Ilya Mikheyev, who has emerged as a truly elite player in those situations — a “one-man machine,” as Blashill put it. He relentlessly hounds power-play puck-carriers all over the ice, not just in the defensive zone.
“Mikheyev is right up there with some of the really good killers in the league,” Blashill added. “And he does it in a different way than some guys. Some guys do it just with their head or the cerebral way. He certainly can think [well], but he’s just so explosive on pucks and wins so many puck battles because his compete level is so high. He takes great pride in it, and he’s been excellent at it.”
Forwards Jason Dickinson and Teuvo Teravainen are also stellar. Teravainen lost teeth blocking a shot during the final minute Thursday; Blashill said he’s in “a lot of pain” but will be fine.
Defensemen Alex Vlasic, Louis Crevier and Connor Murphy, meanwhile, use their length effectively to cover more ground than most men could when shorthanded. Wyatt Kaiser uses his agility to do the same.
Analytically, the Hawks’ penalty kill has allowed the second-fewest goals, eighth-fewest scoring chances and fifth-fewest shot attempts per minute.
“On the entries, we’re really gapping up hard and not really giving [our opponents] a lot of options,” Kaiser said. “It starts there, killing a lot of time, and then you frustrate them. They start trying to force little things. And then in-zone, we’re sticking to doing our jobs.”
The Hawks benefited from an enormous swing late in the second period Thursday. Murphy saved a goal on one end after goalie Spencer Knight misplayed the puck, then Kaiser buried his first goal of the season with five seconds left.
Knight (26 saves) allowed one goal in the third, but the Hawks showed they’ve learned from their lead-squandering mistakes during the past month. They continued to play offense instead of sitting back before eventually letting their penalty kill close things out.
“It’s really important for us to be in those tight games,” Knight said. “It’s the way hockey’s going to be, the longer you play into the season. If you eventually get to the postseason, that’s how it is. [When] all the pressure is on, you have to know how to hold that lead. It was good for us.”
NHL roundup: Islanders end Avalanche’s 17-game point streak
Mathew Barzal had a goal and two assists Thursday night and the New York Islanders never trailed as they ended the Colorado Avalanche’s 17-game point streak with a 6-3 win in Elmont, N.Y.
The regulation loss was just the second of the season for the Avalanche, who went 14-0-3 following a 3-2 loss to the Boston Bruins on Oct. 25.
New York’s Anders Lee and Bo Horvat each had a goal and an assist. Kyle MacLean, Adam Pelech and Casey Cizikas also scored while Ilya Sorokin made 35 saves for the Islanders, who finished 3-3-1 on a seven-game homestand.
Colorado’s Valeri Nichushkin, Martin Necas and Artturi Lehkonen tallied. Avalanche goalie Mackenzie Blackwood, starting in place of Scott Wedgewood (upper body), recorded 36 saves.
Flames 4, Wild 1
Matt Coronato scored to break a third-period tie and added an assist, pacing host Calgary to a victory over Minnesota.
Rasmus Andersson also collected one goal and one assist while Jonathan Huberdeau and Connor Zary each had a goal for the Flames, who snapped a two-game skid (0-1-1). Dustin Wolf made 26 saves.
Yakov Trenin scored for the Wild, who lost in regulation time for the first time after a 12-game point streak (10-0-2). Minnesota goalie Filip Gustavsson stopped 27 shots.
Penguins 4, Lightning 3
Evgeni Malkin scored the game-winner late in regulation, and Pittsburgh won in a controversial finish at Tampa Bay.
After the Penguins blew a 3-0 lead, Malkin, who had two goals and an assist, broke the tie by sweeping in a pass from Tommy Novak, who had two assists, at 17:17 of the third period. Ville Koivunen and Ben Kindel also scored for Pittsburgh, and Tristan Jarry made 37 saves.
Brandon Hagel scored twice, Nikita Kucherov had a goal and an assist and Darren Raddysh posted two helpers for Tampa Bay, which got 27 saves from Jonas Johansson. An apparent late goal by Kucherov was overturned when it was ruled that Hagel performed a hand pass in the buildup.
Blue Jackets 6, Red Wings 5 (SO)
Kent Johnson and Kirill Marchenko scored during a shootout and also had regulation goals as Columbus beat visiting Detroit.
Adam Fantilli scored twice, including the tying goal with 1:31 left to send the game into overtime for the Blue Jackets. Ivan Provorov had Columbus’ other goal, Zach Werenski and Sean Monahan each recorded three assists, and Elvis Merzlikins made 28 saves.
Lucas Raymond and Patrick Kane each had a goal and an assist for the Red Wings. Dylan Larkin, Alex DeBrincat and James van Riemsdyk also scored while Moritz Seider and Andrew Copp registered two assists apiece. Cam Talbot stopped 26 shots.
Bruins 5, Blues 2
Pavel Zacha’s back-to-back tallies capped a three-goal flurry in the second period of Boston’s win over visiting St. Louis.
Six Bruins registered multiple points as Morgan Geekie had a goal and two assists, Viktor Arvidsson and Alex Steeves each notched a goal and an assist, Elias Lindholm dished three assists and Mason Lohrei added two helpers. Joonas Korpisalo made 37 saves to earn his first win since Nov. 6.
Pavel Buchnevich and Pius Suter each scored and Jordan Binnington stopped 22 shots for St. Louis, which has dropped two straight and gone 3-4-3 in its last 10.
Predators 2, Panthers 1 (OT)
Steven Stamkos scored with 57 seconds left in overtime as Nashville defeated reeling Florida in Sunrise, Fla.
Ryan O’Reilly had a goal and an assist for Nashville. Juuse Saros made 30 saves in a brilliant performance during which the Predators never led until the game’s final shot.
The Panthers — the two-time reigning Stanley Cup champions — have lost five straight home games (0-4-1). They have also lost four consecutive games overall (0-3-1) to begin a six-game homestand. Carter Verhaeghe scored for the Panthers, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 27 saves.
Maple Leafs 5, Hurricanes 1
Bobby McMann scored two goals and Matthew Knies had a goal and an assist as Toronto won its third game in a row, beating Carolina in Raleigh, N.C.
Scott Laughton and Auston Matthews also scored for the Maple Leafs, who won for the fourth time in the past five games. Ex-Carolina forward Max Domi and Nicolas Roy each had two assists. McMann scored in the game’s opening minute and again with less than two minutes to play into an empty net, producing his first multi-goal game of the season. The Maple Leafs needed to use multiple goalies as Joseph Woll departed with a lower-body injury stopping 22 of 23 shots through two periods. Dennis Hildeby turned aside all nine shots he faced in relief.
Seth Jarvis scored his team-leading 16th goal for the Hurricanes. Carolina goalie Frederik Andersen continued to struggle, yielding four goals on 22 shots in his first action in three games.
Rangers 4, Senators 2
Artemi Panarin had a goal and an assist and J.T. Miller recorded three assists in New York’s win at Ottawa.
Mika Zibanejad, Vladislav Gavrikov and Will Borgen scored for the Rangers, who are 5-1-0 over their past six games and are an NHL-best 12-4-1 in away games this season. Igor Shesterkin stopped 25 of 27 shots.
Ottawa’s Drake Batherson had a goal and an assist, Dylan Cozens also tallied and Jake Sanderson notched two assists. Leevi Merilainen stopped 23 of 26 shots for the Senators, who are 1-3-0 in their past four games.
Oilers 9, Kraken 4
Connor McDavid scored three goals and added an assist as Edmonton routed visiting Seattle.
Leon Draisaitl had a goal and three assists and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Evan Bouchard each had three helpers for the Oilers, who went 4-for-5 on the power play. Matt Savoie scored twice and Vasily Podkolzin, Zach Hyman and Mattias Janmark also tallied.
Eeli Tolvanen, Freddy Gaudreau, Jared McCann and Jani Nyman scored for Seattle, which lost its fourth game in a row (0-3-1). Kaapo Kakko registered two assists. Kraken goalie Joey Daccord was pulled in the second period after allowing five goals on 14 shots. Philipp Grubauer didn’t fare much better in relief, giving up four goals on 18 attempts.
Blackhawks 2, Kings 1
Spencer Knight made 26 saves for visiting Chicago in a win against Los Angeles.
Connor Bedard and Wyatt Kaiser scored for the Blackhawks, who had lost six of the previous seven games (1-4-2). Frank Nazar assisted on both tallies.
Trevor Moore scored and Darcy Kuemper made 34 saves for the Kings, who have lost two in a row.
Let’s just enjoy the Flyers’ hot start … however long it lasts
It’s the time of the year to be thankful and Flyers fans have several reasons to be overflowing with gratitude.
Or at least you would think so …
The Flyers, whose front office made clear its desire for the team to take a positive step forward in its rebuild this year and be more competitive, are 15-8-3 under new coach Rick Tocchet, and have the seventh-most points and the seventh-best points percentage in the NHL. If the season ended Thursday morning, the Flyers would occupy the third spot in the Metropolitan Division based on points percentage and be in the playoffs for the first time in five seasons.
“We expect more of a fight internally, and we hope that it’s going to make us better, it’s going to hopefully make us more competitive throughout the season, and maybe push to get closer to the playoffs,” general manager Danny Brière said in September. “At the end of the day, we want to make the playoffs.”
The Flyers might be on course to do that.
» READ MORE: Trevor Zegras has fit in seamlessly and is exceeding expectations with the Flyers. What will it cost to keep him long-term?
Beyond their record, the Flyers have struck gold with inexpensive offseason acquisitions Trevor Zegras and Dan Vladař, the former flashing his puck handling wizardry and superstar potential, and the latter playing like a bona fide Vezina Trophy candidate over the first third of the season. The Flyers’ checkered history between the pipes is well documented, but maybe just maybe, Vladař, who is 28 and signed through next year, can bring some consistency to the position for the next few seasons. And in the 24-year-old Zegras, a restricted free agent at season’s end who leads the team with 26 points, the Flyers hope they have identified part of their long-term solution down the middle.
The positives don’t end there. Zegras’ close friends Cam York (24) and Jamie Drysdale (23) have leveled up after surviving John Tortorella’s wrath, and so had fellow first-rounder Tyson Foerster (23), who had 19 goals in his last 30 games dating back to last season before suffering an upper-body injury Monday on that will sideline him for two to three months. York was banged up on Wednesday but is listed as “day-to-day.”
Owen Tippett, 26, has had more good moments than bad this season as he strives for consistency, while Matvei Michkov, who is still just 20, is coming on strong after a slow start. Noah Cates (26) and Bobby Brink (24) have also picked up where they left off last season, while the exciting Emil Andrae (23) looks to have made himself into an everyday NHL defenseman. In other words, the kids are getting better.
The Flyers have more on the way as they boast a top-10 prospect pool in hockey and probably couldn’t have dreamed up better starts for their potential future stars. Porter Martone, the No. 6 overall pick in June, is dominating college hockey with Michigan State; Alex Bump and Denver Barkey are off to fast starts in their first full pro seasons with Lehigh Valley; and Egor Zavragin continues to put up historic numbers for a 20-year-old goalie in Russia. Even Jett Luchanko got the trade many felt he needed to further his development in the Ontario Hockey League. Martone, Bump, and Luchanko will all be expected to break camp with the Flyers next season.
So all is good in Flyers land, right?
Not if you scroll through X or find yourself wading through the ever dark and gloomy depths of Flyers Twitter:
“I hate Rick Tocchet hockey man…,“ tweeted @aftern_alex earlier this month.
or
“I DO NOT LIKE TOCCHET AT ALL. IF BREIRE AND JONES R ON BOARD WITH MICHKOV GETTING 13 MINUTES A GAME. FIRE THEM ALL,” wrote @Philly4everrr.
So why is a large portion of the fan base so unhappy amid the team’s surprising start? Well, it largely boils down to three things: (1) Tocchet’s style of play; (2) Michkov’s usage under Tocchet; and (3) the Flyers not tanking for a No. 1 center or No. 1 defenseman. Let’s explore those three points further.
» READ MORE: Flyers top 20 prospects: Porter Martone is No. 1, but where do Alex Bump and Jett Luchanko rank?
Boring hockey = winning hockey?
Tocchet’s teams will never be confused with the ‘80s Edmonton Oilers, the ‘90s Pittsburgh Penguins, which he played on, or the Detroit Red Wings around the turn of the century. He’s a defensive coach first and has said as much. The Flyers are 25th in the NHL in scoring (2.85 goals per game) and are fourth-to-last in shots per game (25.2), which matches with previous Tocchet teams’ low volume of shots.
On the other hand, the Flyers are much improved defensively and have taken a lot of the “risk” out of their game. Some of that is thanks to better goaltending from Vladař, who has saved almost 11 goals above expected, per Money Puck. But the Flyers are also conceding fewer shots, high-danger chances, and rush attempts. They have allowed the eighth-fewest shots per game (26) and have surrendered the 13th-fewest high-danger shots at five-on-five (64), per Money Puck. They also rank 10th in the league in fewest expected goals against at five-on-five (54.9).
Sure, everyone would love for the Flyers to score a few more goals and shoot a little more, but there also has to be an expected tradeoff there, as the Flyers last season were historically bad at keeping the puck out of their net (28th in goals against), and partly due to bad goalie environments had the league’s worst save percentage (.879). Tocchet’s philosophy centers around keeping opponents to the outside and allowing his goalies to see the initial shot, and the Flyers have largely executed that plan.
New coaches also tend to focus on laying a defensive foundation first and then building out from there. The Flyers, while improved, are far from a finished product offensively and weren’t this high-flying team that scored a ton of goals last year either — they averaged 2.83 goals per game. Making permanent judgments or broad assertions about Tocchet and the Flyers’ future after 26 games and where the roster stands hardly seems fair.
» READ MORE: The Flyers are in Rick Tocchet’s ‘blood.’ Now he’s tasked with returning the once-proud organization to prominence.
Anti-Michkov bias?
The Michkov dilemma is probably the biggest criticism of Tocchet, as the Russian winger is ninth among Flyers in average ice time at 14 minutes, 51 seconds per game. There’s no way around saying Michkov started the season slowly — one goal in his first 13 games — as his conditioning was not up to par after an offseason ankle injury, and he made several ill-advised decisions with and without the puck. So it was hardly surprising to see him play less than other forwards.
Tocchet clearly wants the youngster to earn his ice time and kick some of his bad habits. He also wants to win games and, at times, has felt that he couldn’t trust Michkov in tight games when the team is protecting a lead. While it’s easy for fans to yell “Play Michkov more!” Tocchet has a responsibility to the rest of his players to hold everyone accountable and look out for the best interests of his team.
“I know he’s the lightning rod for everybody around here. He’s got to relax,” Tocchet said in mid-October. “He’s got to get himself into shape. He’s got to be in positions … you can’t just leave the zone. And it’s OK, he’s gotten better at it.”
Michkov has “gotten better at it” of late and has seen more ice time as a result. His making better decisions with the puck and cheating less has coincided with his offensive uptick; he has four goals and seven points in his last seven games and is playing his best hockey of the season. Tocchet is rewarding Michkov’s improved play, as the Russian winger has skated at least 15:37 in three of his last four games.
While it can be frustrating to see a talent like Michkov playing less, it looks as if the message has been received and the winger will likely be better in the long run for it. That said, there needs to be a balance and Tocchet has to teach Michkov good habits without curbing his creativity or reprogramming such a talented player.
Despite what you may read online, Tocchet has no personal vendetta against Michkov or desire to see him fail. He simply wants him to play winning hockey and learn from his mistakes. While this relationship, language barrier included, remains a work in progress, don’t be surprised to see Michkov continue to get more ice time as the season wears on and for this to eventually become a whole lot of nothing.
Why aren’t they tanking?
Should the Flyers have tanked more and kept rebuilding for at least one more season, especially without obvious solutions for their future No. 1 center and No. 1 defenseman holes? This is a completely reasonable take, if not the most feasible one, considering how the roster is and was constructed.
Could the Flyers have bottomed out more and stripped their roster thinner over the past years to get more/better bites at the draft apple? I guess so, but they did largely do the latter.
Brière inherited many of the team’s salary cap problems and actually did some impressive work to get out from players like Ivan Provorov, Kevin Hayes, and Tony DeAngelo, and net high-end drafts picks and prospects in deals for Provorov, Sean Walker, Scott Laughton, Morgan Frost, Joel Farabee, and Andrei Kuzmenko. The only other three obvious and needle-moving subtractions would have been to trade well-paid veterans Sean Couturier, Travis Konecny, and Travis Sanheim. Rasmus Ristolainen is another player they might have moved, but bad injury timing has largely tied Brière’s hands there, not to mention the GM could still move him.
Given Couturier’s contract, which still has 4½ seasons remaining at a $7.75 million average annual value, he was and remains all but impossible to trade. Regarding Sanheim, Brière DID try to move him before his new deal kicked in but that move was nixed due to a St. Louis player opting not to waive his no-move clause. That nontrade might be the best move Brière didn’t make, as Sanheim has blossomed into a top-pairing defenseman and the Flyers’ leader on the backend. Whether the Flyers should have traded Konecny before extending him can be debated, but most teams usually try to hold onto 30-goal, almost-point-per-game players who are in their mid-20s and on an upward trajectory.
In other words, the Flyers largely carried out their rebuild the right way, they subtracted when it made sense, stockpiled assets, and didn’t jeopardize their long-term vision for short-term success, a la trading Walker amid pushing for the playoffs in 2023-24. But what about landing that all-important 1C and a 1D?
Those problems are not isolated to the Flyers, as those two holes, along with the starting goalie, are the three hardest to find. There is a shortage of true No. 1 centers across the league, and the teams that have them don’t usually like to give them up. The Flyers have also drafted centers in the top half of the past two drafts in Luchanko and Jack Nesbitt to try and address the position, and also have several young defensemen — York, Drysdale, Oliver Bonk, Spencer Gill — they believe could one day play in their top four.
Listening to Brière and president Keith Jones, the Flyers were prepared to pay up and probably envisioned finding that No. 1 center in what was once a rich 2026 free agent class. That crop has since dried up, but that doesn’t mean all hope has.
Armed with a deep prospect pool, future draft picks, including Toronto’s first in 2027, and a plethora of young wingers and defensemen, the Flyers have valuable pieces to package in a deal for a top-end center when one becomes available. Wouldn’t Tage Thompson look nice in burnt orange? Could things between William Nylander and Toronto turn sour? Might St. Louis be blown away to move on from Robert Thomas and tear it down? Is Quinton Byfield untouchable? The Flyers can bide their time for now and can feel good that they have the type of assets to compete with most offers.
Or on the backend, Norris Trophy winner Quinn Hughes, a huge fan of Tocchet from their time together in Vancouver, could soon be available. As could younger options like Bowen Byram, Brandt Clarke, and Šimon Nemec, for the right price.
The Flyers are set up well for the long term, whether they make the playoffs this season or not, so let’s just enjoy them for a while and see where this season goes. It’s been a long time since this city has had a hockey team it could be proud of. The complaining can wait.
Is Heated Rivalry Based On A True Story? NHL’s Real
HBO Max’s Heated Rivalry burst onto the scene as the latest book-to-screen sensation, prompting questions about whether it’s based on real life. Using novels as a source of new material for TV has always been a practice in Hollywood, but that doesn’t mean that they always succeed. Faced with challenges, especially in terms of how accurate its live-action storytelling, some ultimately fail despite the prominence of its source material.
Thus far, Heated Rivalry has deviated from the book only a handful of times. Based on Rachel Reid’s Game Changers novel series, it tells the story of professional hockey players — Russian Ilya Rozanov and Canadian Shane Hollander — who have maintained a rivalry since they entered the big league. Off-ice, however, the pair find themselves developing an enchanting romance.
Ilya Rozanov & Shane Hollander’s Rivalry Are Inspired By NHL’s Alex Ovechkin & Sidney Crosby
Technically, the whole story of Heated Rivalry is not based on a true story. Reid confirms this on her official website, Rachel Reid Writes Romance, when she is asked if any of her characters are based on real life. The author clarifies that she never directly bases her characters on any real people. That being said, she admits that one of her inspirations for Ilya and Shane’s professional dynamic is
NHL Power Rankings: 1-32 poll, each team’s game of the month
Aside from a loss Thursday, the Colorado Avalanche keep rolling, and their spot atop the NHL standings is equaled by their position in the ESPN NHL Power Rankings.
Beyond the Avalanche, the Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers rose up the rankings this week, while the Anaheim Ducks, New Jersey Devils and Utah Mammoth took a tumble.
The month of December includes many games on the schedule, and for this week’s edition of the Power Rankings, we’ve identified the most intriguing matchup on the docket for each club.
How we rank: A panel of ESPN hockey commentators, analysts, reporters and editors sends in a 1-32 poll based on the games through Wednesday.
Note: Previous ranking for each team refers to the previous edition, published Nov. 28. Points percentages are through Thursday’s games.
1. Colorado Avalanche
Previous ranking: 1
>Points percentage: 81.5%
Dec. 27 at the Golden Knights. Months remain before the Stanley Cup playoff picture crystallizes into its final form. It’s a decent bet, however, that the Avs and Knights will both be skating into late April and beyond, and this contest is as good of a Western Conference finals preview as we may get before the actual thing — or at least until their next game on the schedule on April 11.
Next seven days: @ NYR (Dec. 6), @ PHI (Dec. 7), @ NSH (Dec. 9), vs. FLA (Dec. 11)
2. Dallas Stars
Previous ranking: 2
>Points percentage: 73.2%
Dec. 13 vs. the Panthers. The Stars have won a great many of their games this season; they are second in the NHL standings behind the juggernaut Avs. But one of the games they didn’t win was against the defending Stanley Cup champs. Can they get a W here, in the last time they’ll see them this season until a possible Cup Final?
Next seven days: vs. SJ (Dec. 5), vs. PIT (Dec. 7), @ WPG (Dec. 9), @ MIN (Dec. 11)
3. Carolina Hurricanes
Previous ranking: 3
>Points percentage: 65.4%
Dec. 20 at the Lightning. There’s a lot of season left. But it looks these two former Southeast Division rivals will be near the top of their respective divisions — and could square off in the Eastern Conference finals in May.
Next seven days: vs. NSH (Dec. 6), vs. SJ (Dec. 7), vs. CBJ (Dec. 9), @ WSH (Dec. 11)
4. Tampa Bay Lightning
Previous ranking: 5
>Points percentage: 63%
Dec. 9 at/Dec. 28 vs. the Canadiens. There were many strange events during the early 2020s. One of them was the 2020-21 NHL season where four new divisions were created, and the playoffs culminated in a Stanley Cup Final pitting one Atlantic Division team against another. Years have passed since then, and now both the Lightning and Canadiens are fighting for playoff position among their traditional division rivals.
Next seven days: vs. NYI (Dec. 6), @ TOR (Dec. 8), @ MTL (Dec. 9), @ NJ (Dec. 11)
5. Minnesota Wild
Previous ranking: 8
>Points percentage: 62.5%
Dec. 27 at the Jets. Around 450 miles separate these two Central Division rivals, but both will be fighting for similar real estate in the playoff race if the Avs and Stars keep dominating as they have.
Next seven days: @ VAN (Dec. 6), @ SEA (Dec. 8), vs. DAL (Dec. 11)
6. Washington Capitals
Previous ranking: 12
>Points percentage: 64.3%
Dec. 11 vs. the Hurricanes. Although the team matchup here is notable — both the Caps and Canes are near the top of the Metro — this comes down to a historical stat angle for Alex Ovechkin. The team against which Ovi has scored the most goals in his record-breaking career is the Winnipeg Jets (58); No. 2 on that list is Carolina (53). Does he close the gap with a tally (or two, or three) in this contest?
Next seven days: @ ANA (Dec. 5), vs. CBJ (Dec. 7), vs. CAR (Dec. 11)
7. Anaheim Ducks
Previous ranking: 4
>Points percentage: 61.1%
Dec. 27 at the Kings. With the Ducks back in the contenders’ mix this season, these Battle of SoCal games take on extra meaning. Anaheim won the most recent matchup, 5-4 in a shootout, on Nov. 28.
Next seven days: vs. WSH (Dec. 5), vs. CHI (Dec. 7), @ PIT (Dec. 9), @ NYI (Dec. 11)
8. Vegas Golden Knights
Previous ranking: 7
>Points percentage: 61.5%
Dec. 23 vs. the Sharks. For the first few years of the Golden Knights’ existence, the Sharks were a bitter rival, including some epic, violent clashes in the postseason. San Jose dropped off a bit, but appears back on the upswing. Will this showdown match the intensity of seasons past?
Next seven days: @ NJ (Dec. 5), @ NYR (Dec. 7), @ NYI (Dec. 9), @ PHI (Dec. 11)
9. New Jersey Devils
Previous ranking: 6
>Points percentage: 61.1%
Dec. 14 vs. the Canucks. With the trade rumor machine running on overdrive when it comes to Quinn Hughes joining his brothers in New Jersey at some point, this is another chance for the Devils faithful to see the eldest Hughes brother in action with his current team.
Next seven days: vs. VGK (Dec. 5), @ BOS (Dec. 6), @ OTT (Dec. 9), vs. TB (Dec. 11)
10. Pittsburgh Penguins
Previous ranking: 15
>Points percentage: 63.5%
Dec. 13 vs. the Sharks. Penguins fans have been blessed to see Sidney Crosby in 1,378 regular-season games (and 180 in the playoffs). On this night, they’ll see Macklin Celebrini on PPG Paints Arena ice, a player whose game has recently drawn Crosby comparisons.
Next seven days: @ DAL (Dec. 7), vs. ANA (Dec. 9), vs. MTL (Dec. 11)
11. Los Angeles Kings
Previous ranking: 9
>Points percentage: 57.4%
Dec. 29 at the Avalanche. The true test for the 2025-26 Kings will be in how far they progress in the playoffs. But this late-December matchup against the current top team in the West will be a good litmus test.
Next seven days: vs. CHI (Dec. 6), @ UTA (Dec. 8), @ SEA (Dec. 10)
12. Philadelphia Flyers
Previous ranking: 21
>Points percentage: 63.5%
Dec. 13 vs./Dec. 14 at the Hurricanes. The Flyers’ current standings position is a moderate surprise to those who did not peg them as a playoff team. This home-and-home series against the perennial playoff-contending Canes is a chance for Philly to make a statement.
Next seven days: vs. COL (Dec. 7), vs. SJ (Dec. 9), vs. VGK (Dec. 11)
13. New York Islanders
Previous ranking: 10
>Points percentage: 58.9%
Dec. 27 vs. the Rangers. Neither of these teams has what could be called a firm grasp on a playoff spot at this point, but the geographic rivals always bring the heat to these games no matter the standings.
Next seven days: @ TB (Dec. 6), @ FLA (Dec. 7), vs. VGK (Dec. 9), vs. ANA (Dec. 11)
14. Ottawa Senators
Previous ranking: 16
>Points percentage: 55.6%
Dec. 27 at the Maple Leafs. Have the Senators surpassed the Leafs? Ottawa didn’t have enough to knock Toronto off in the clubs’ first-round playoff series in the spring but sits ahead of its intraprovince rival currently.
Next seven days: vs. STL (Dec. 6), vs. NJ (Dec. 9), @ CBJ (Dec. 11)
15. Montreal Canadiens
Previous ranking: 17
>Points percentage: 59.6%
Dec. 6 at the Maple Leafs. Is there anything better than a Saturday night matchup between the Canadiens and Maple Leafs? The clubs have split their matchups thus far, and their next tilt after this one isn’t until March 10.
Next seven days: @ TOR (Dec. 6), vs. STL (Dec. 7), vs. TB (Dec. 9), @ PIT (Dec. 11)
16. Detroit Red Wings
Previous ranking: 14
>Points percentage: 55.4%
Dec. 13 at the Blackhawks. These two teams are no longer Norris Division rivals (or even in the same conference), but there’s always something special about a Blackhawks-Red Wings game!
Next seven days: @ SEA (Dec. 6), @ VAN (Dec. 8), @ CGY (Dec. 10), @ EDM (Dec. 11)
17. Boston Bruins
Previous ranking: 22
>Points percentage: 55.2%
Dec. 23 vs. the Canadiens. These two of the Original Six clubs are both in playoff position in the first week of December, which adds some fuel to this rivalry compared to recent seasons when one team was clearly better than the other.
Next seven days: vs. NJ (Dec. 6), @ STL (Dec. 9), @ WPG (Dec. 11)
18. Utah Mammoth
Previous ranking: 13
>Points percentage: 51.8%
Dec. 14 at the Penguins. While the Mammoth and Penguins are fighting for postseason positioning, this game is under more of a spotlight for one Utah skater in particular: Logan Cooley, who grew up in the Pittsburgh area and participated in Sidney Crosby’s
Texas Longhorns’ Michael Taaffe Just Took Major Step Toward NFL Draft
The end of the regular season and a all-but-certain miss on the College Football Playoff means many Texas Longhorns players will have to make some major decisions on their future.
Whether that’s entering the transfer portal, staying with the program or entering the 2026 NFL Draft, these decisions can be tough, though that isn’t the case for safety Michael Taaffe.
Taaffe, who is in his final year of eligibility, would certainly stay at Texas for another season if he could, but fortunately, the former walk-on’s hopes of making it to the NFL are taking a big step in the right direction.
Michael Taaffe Receives Invite to Senior Bowl
According to reports from Chip Brown of Horns247, Taaffe has been invited to play in the annual Senior Bowl in Mobile, AL., where some talented college players will look to impress NFL scouts.
Though Taaffe is not considered to be a major NFL prospect, he will have a chance to show scouts what he can do while also start to build relationships with teams in hopes of being a late-round pick or even an undrafted free agent.
At the least, Taaffe could potentially find his way onto an NFL practice squad down the line if he performs well at the Senior Bowl. Regardless of what happens, it’s been quite a journey for the Austin native.
Michael Taaffe’s Texas Career Stats
During his Texas career, Taaffe has played in 53 games while making 36 starts. In that span, he’s posted 222 total tackles (119 solo), three sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, 21 pass breakups and seven interceptions.
He will have a chance to add to that total during Texas’ bowl game in what will be his final game as a Longhorn.
In the 27-17 win over Texas A&M, his final home game at Texas, Taaffe made the game-sealing interception of Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed.
The Loop NFL Picks: Week 14
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Jared Goff Pulled Aside as NFL Procedure Forces Unexpected Postgame Delay After Lions Beat Cowboys
A little over a year after spoiling Jerry Jones’ 82nd birthday in Dallas, the Detroit Lions welcomed the Cowboys to Ford Field on Thursday Night Football and handled business again, winning 44-30. Jared Goff was lights-out all night. But before he could even enjoy the win or make it to the podium for the postgame press conference, the NFL pulled him aside.
In simple terms, his postgame presser got pushed back because the league tapped him for a drug test. And when Goff finally walked in, he kicked things off with an easy apology: “Sorry about that guys, NFL drug testing rules,” he said, per ESPN’s Eric Woodyard.
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It’s a script we’ve seen pop up around the Lions before. We don’t have to rewind that far, just think back to 2023. The Lions’ running back Jahmyr Gibbs lit up the Minnesota Vikings on Christmas Eve, stacking 100 scrimmage yards and two scores as Detroit locked up its first division title in 30 years. And right after the game, the league handed him a random drug test. Gibbs even posted the slip on social media with a three-word caption that instantly went viral: “Am I cooked?”
Fast-forward to now, and Goff just put on a show of his own against Dallas. He went 25-of-34 for 309 yards, a touchdown, no picks, and the Cowboys got to him only once. In other words, it was the kind of clean, efficient outing that tends to get the league’s attention, sometimes in ways players don’t exactly expect.
And with that, the Lions picked up their eighth win of the year, nudging themselves a little closer to locking in a playoff spot. The Cowboys, on the other hand… well, their three-game winning streak just slammed to a halt, dropping them to 6-6-1.
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Takeaways from Jared Goff’s eighth win of the season
The Lions rolled into Week 14 with only a 30% shot at making the playoffs. A loss would’ve tanked that number to around 12%. But they didn’t lose. Instead, they flipped the script, and The Athletic now bumps their playoff odds to a solid 45%. And if they can take three of their final four, go ahead and pencil them in for January football, all because they handled business in a must-have game against the Cowboys.
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Detroit’s offense was brilliant. The team piled up 408 yards. Jameson Williams (7 for 96) and Amon-Ra St. Brown (6 for 92) carried the passing game as Goff pushed the Lions to 299 yards through the air. On the ground, David Montgomery set the tone with 60 yards on just six carries, but Gibbs stole the spotlight. 43 yards on 12 carries and three touchdowns will do that, while also hauling in 7 receptions for 77 yards.
Defensively, the Lions were just as solid. Dallas actually finished with more total yardage (417), but Detroit kept the pressure on Dak Prescott (31-of-47 for 376 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions) all night, racking up five sacks. Special teams had a few shaky moments, but none of it mattered in the final score.
The Cowboys, on the other hand, had some brilliant moments, especially from CeeDee Lamb, as the wide receiver caught 6 receptions for 121 yards. However, he went down with a concussion and left the game in the third quarter. And just like that, the Lions walked out of Ford Field with a 44–30 win, and now turn their attention to the Los Angeles Rams as the playoff chase stays wide open.
NFL news: Darius Slay considering retirement after being claimed by Bills
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The Buffalo Bills claimed cornerback Darius Slay off waivers earlier this week in hopes of bolstering their secondary for the playoff stretch, but he appeared to be hesitant to continue his career.
Slay put off reporting to the Bills to take time to contemplate his future, his agent Drew Rosenhaus said on Thursday.
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NFL picks: Browns QB Shedeur Sanders will thrive vs. Titans
LAS VEGAS — In the middle of the third quarter, inside their Huntington Bank Field and trailing only 10-8, the Browns doomed themselves with a horrible fourth-down play in their territory.
Terrible special-teams debacles greased a deficit that would become 23-8, and the 49ers’ eventual 26-8 victory became academic.
Such utter sloppiness, we’d venture, is uncommon even down the road from Huntington at St. Ignatius High School.
Dawg Pound faithful might be howling for the sacking of special-teams boss Bubba Valentine, but offensive coordinator Tommy Rees also must be on the hot seat for that goofball fourth-down call.
Furthermore, the lot of Kevin Stefanski’s staff, including the head coach himself, soon might be unemployed after the defeat guaranteed a fourth losing season in his six years.
The gaffes were many, but the Browns’ whirlpool of misery began swirling after that brutal fourth-and-one call at their 33-yard line.
Stefanski panicked, acting as if 25 seconds remained in a playoff game.
(The Browns won a wild-card game, in Pittsburgh, in Stefanski’s first season, nothing since.)
With the play clock running down, he kept quarterback Shedeur Sanders on the sideline, sending rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. in to take the snap. Fannin had gained nine yards on four runs this season.
In the milliseconds before the snap, though, he swung his noggin left, right and left, appearing bewildered.
Coaches didn’t even opt for Quinshon Judkins, who has had success taking the snap and running in Wildcat formations.
Predictably, the ill-fated snap to Fannin gave the 49ers the ball at the Browns’ 32.
“That’s not the way to play a good team,” Stefanski told reporters, “where you’re giving them short fields.”
And the play that I’m nominating as the worst call of the NFL season?
“I felt good,” Stefanski said. “I think there’s always the obvious risk when you go for it in those situations. If you feel good about the plays you have and your players, you feel good about converting on those distances.
“Just felt good about it. Didn’t get it done.”
Fortunately for the Dawg Pound, the absolute dregs of the NFL, the Titans, visit this weekend. We see the Browns’ fantastic defense, led by Myles Garrett and his league-best 19 sacks, dominating.
Our admiration for Sanders stems from the 94 sacks, the most in college football, he suffered his two seasons at Colorado. Deion’s kid, though, rose from the turf every time, the definition of tough.
Tennessee’s defense has forced only one turnover in its last six games, so we expect Sanders to flourish.
Should the Browns’ coaches continue to stumble, we’ll nominate, to team owner Jimmy Haslam, the St. Ignatius staff as replacements. No way they’d go for it on fourth down from their 33.
Best bet
TITANS at BROWNS
Time: Noon Sunday.
Line: Browns by 4½. Total: 33½.
Records (overall/ATS): Titans 1-11/4-8; Browns 3-9/5-7.
Pick: Browns 17, Titans 3.
Play: Browns -4½.
How Miech’s plays fared
Last week Overall
Best bet 0-1 5-8
Top plays 1-2 19-20
All plays 4-8-2 78-110-4
7-point tease 12-2 134-56-2
Top plays
DOLPHINS at JETS
Time: Noon Sunday.
Line: Dolphins by 2½. Total: 41½.
Records (overall/ATS): Dolphins 5-7/6-6; Jets 3-9/8-4.
Outlook: Winners of four of their last five, the Fins have averaged 168 rushing yards in those triumphs. RB De’Von Achane has 428 rushing yards (three TDs) in his last three. The Jets yielded 142 to Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson last Sunday.
Pick: Dolphins 23, Jets 6.
Play: Dolphins -2½.
BRONCOS at RAIDERS
Time: 3:05 p.m. Sunday.
Line: Broncos by 7½. Total: 40½.
Records (overall/ATS): Broncos 10-2/5-6-1; Raiders 2-10/3-8-1.
Outlook: With an NFL-high eight one-score victories, the Broncos also take the league’s lead in luck. Knowing when that pendulum swings back is the key to thickening the wallet, but it won’t happen here. That smell? The Raiders.
Pick: Broncos 27, Raiders 10.
Play: Broncos -7½.
RAMS at CARDINALS
Time: 3:25 p.m. Sunday.
Line: Rams by 7½. Total: 47½.
Records (overall/ATS): Rams 9-3/8-4; Cardinals 3-9/5-5-2.
Outlook: Victors in nine of their last 10 in the Valley of the Sun, the Rams also get the benefit of playing the team with the worst home record (13-26, .333) since the 2021 season. Nothing about this tilt is good for the Cardinals.
Pick: Rams 33, Cardinals 13.
Play: Rams -7½.
Other plays
SEAHAWKS at FALCONS
Time: Noon Sunday.
Line: Seahawks by 7. Total: 44½.
Records (overall/ATS): Seahawks 9-3/7-4-1; Falcons 4-8/5-6-1.
Outlook: The Seahawks have won four of their last five in Atlanta, including three in a row (by a 13-point average). Even better, they’re 5-1 against the spread on the road, tying them atop the NFL with Arizona and New England.
Pick: Seahawks 21, Falcons 10.
Play: Seahawks -7.
BENGALS at BILLS
Time: Noon Sunday, Fox 32.
Line: Bills by 5½. Total: 52½.
Records (overall/ATS): Bengals 4-8/5-7; Bills 8-4/6-6.
Outlook: Cincy QB Joe Burrow’s return was stellar, as he directed a triumph in Baltimore. He gets another joke secondary to pick apart, but Bills QB Josh Allen’s wheels (155 rushing yards, eight TDs last six games) are the difference.
Pick: Bills 24, Bengals 21.
Play: Bengals +5½.
COMMANDERS at VIKINGS
Time: Noon Sunday.
Line: Vikings by 1½. Total: 41½.
Records (overall/ATS): Commanders 3-9/4-8; Vikings 4-8/4-8.
Outlook: Both are underwater, with negative points-per-play (PPP) margins for the season and over their last three games. QB J.J. McCarthy returns for the Vikes; don’t forget, he led them to victory in Chicago and at Detroit.
Pick: Vikings 20, Commanders 13.
Play: Vikings -1½.
COLTS at JAGUARS
Time: Noon Sunday, CBS 2.
Line: Colts by 1½. Total: 47½.
Records (overall/ATS): Colts 8-4/7-4-1; Jaguars 8-4/6-4-2.
Outlook: The Colts have dropped their last 10 games in Jacksonville. Plus, they’ve lost three of their last four on the highway. This is for the AFC South lead, and the Jags have won four of their last five.
Pick: Jaguars 24, Colts 20.
Play: Jaguars +1½.
SAINTS at BUCCANEERS
Time: Noon Sunday.
Line: Buccaneers by 8½. Total: 42½.
Records (overall/ATS): Saints 2-10/4-8; Buccaneers 7-5/5-6-1.
Outlook: After correcting a three-game skid last weekend at home against the woeful Cardinals, QB Baker Mayfield and the Bucs get the just-as-woeful Saints this weekend, again at home. Grazie, NFL schedule-makers.
Pick: Buccaneers 21, Saints 10.
Play: Buccaneers -8½.
STEELERS at RAVENS
Time: Noon Sunday.
Line: Ravens by 6. Total: 42½.
Records (overall/ATS): Steelers 6-6/5-7; Ravens 6-6/4-8.
Outlook: QB Lamar Jackson might have returned for Baltimore, but that Swiss-cheese secondary remains. Joe Burrow exploited those punching bags in his return, and leave it to sage veteran Aaron Rodgers to keep this one close.
Pick: Ravens 17, Steelers 16.
Play: Steelers +6.
BEARS at PACKERS
Time: 3:25 p.m. Sunday, Fox 32.
Line: Packers by 6½. Total: 44½.
Records (overall/ATS): Bears 9-3/7-4-1; Packers 8-3-1/5-7.
Outlook: The Bears are one of nine NFL teams with negative PPP-margin figures for the season, in their last three games and in their previous game, and they’re on a 3-14 run in Wisconsin. The Packers ride a three-game turnover-less streak.
Pick: Packers 31, Bears 17.
Play: Packers -6½.
TEXANS at CHIEFS
Time: 7:20 p.m. Sunday, NBC 5.
Line: Chiefs by 3½. Total: 41½.
Records (overall/ATS): Texans 7-5/6-6; Chiefs 6-6/5-7.
Outlook: Officially underwater in their last three games, with a negative PPP margin (-.086), the Chiefs now get the league’s best road defense, in points (16.5) and total yards (270). The Texans have won three of their last four on the highway.
Pick: Texans 23, Chiefs 14.
Play: Texans +3½.
EAGLES at CHARGERS
Time: 7:15 p.m. Monday, ABC 7, ESPN.
Line: Eagles by 3. Total: 40½.
Records (overall/ATS): Eagles 8-4/7-5; Chargers 8-4/5-6-1.
Outlook: We’ll take QB Justin Herbert’s sterling history of playing through pain and his own comments Sunday, that a broken bone in his left (non-throwing) hand (requiring Monday surgery) likely won’t keep him out of this game.
Pick: Chargers 24, Eagles 21.
Play: Chargers +3.
“Nobody’s calling us crazy”: Why Myles Garrett breaking NFL sack record against Titans feels inevitable
CLEVELAND, Ohio — The casual confidence is almost jarring. As the Orange and Brown Talk podcast hosts discussed Sunday’s Browns-Titans matchup, they casually predicted defensive end Myles Garrett would break the NFL’s single-season sack record this weekend — and nobody batted an eye.
That kind of prediction — at least four sacks — would normally be dismissed as hometown hyperbole, but when it comes to Garrett this season, the extraordinary has become expected. It’s no longer if he’ll break the record, but when — and this Sunday’s matchup against the league’s most-sacked quarterback presents the perfect opportunity.
“Is Myles Garrett going to break the NFL single-season sack record this weekend? Because he has a chance to,” Browns beat reporter Ashley Bastock said on the podcast. “It’s crazy that we’re saying that because he’s at 19, he needs four more to beat the 22.5 record that was set by Michael Strahan and matched by T.J. Watt. But Cam Ward is averaging about four sacks a game right now. He’s been sacked 48 times. It’s the most of any quarterback in the NFL.”
What’s most remarkable isn’t just that Garrett is challenging the record — it’s that he’s doing it with five games still to play. NFL sack records typically come down to the wire in Week 17 or 18, not in early December. Michael Strahan famously needed Brett Favre to essentially surrender to set the mark at 22.5 sacks. Garrett could surpass it before many teams have even started their holiday parties.
The situation has created a bizarrely confident atmosphere around the Browns, despite their disappointing 3-9 record. As host Dan Labbe noted, there’s something unprecedented about the way people are discussing a potential four-sack performance.
“We’re sitting here two, three days before this football game and we’re just kind of really casually saying, ‘Yeah, Myles will get four sacks on Sunday and break this record.’ And nobody is calling us out and being like, ‘You’re crazy.’ You’re predicting a four sack game for this guy. It feels so normal,” Labbe remarked.
The matchup couldn’t be more perfect for Garrett’s record-breaking aspirations. The Titans’ rookie quarterback has been sacked at least twice in every game, with multiple five and six-sack performances already on his resume. Ward has also lost six of his nine fumbles this season, making him particularly vulnerable to Garrett’s signature strip-sacks.
Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz has made it clear he wants more than just sacks — he wants the strips too. Mary Kay Cabot noted that Schwartz “brought that up today, that he doesn’t want these guys just getting sacks. He wants the strips in this game.”
For a 3-9 team playing out the string, individual achievements like Garrett’s have become the rallying cry. As Labbe pointed out: “The one thing this defense can sort of cling to or the couple things this defense can sort of cling to is the sack record, getting Myles defensive Player of the Year.”
If you want to witness potential NFL history this Sunday, tune in to Browns-Titans. You might just see Myles Garrett accomplish something that typically takes a full season in just his 13th game — and based on the matchup, nobody in Cleveland would be surprised if it happens.
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The Mystery of the Missing NFL Score
There was no good reason to be thinking about NFL history when the Dallas Cowboys took on the Las Vegas Raiders a couple of weeks ago. Neither team had a winning record at the time, and the score was never close after halftime. But as the game stretched on that Monday night, the sportswriter and video maker Jon Bois sensed that something unprecedented could be afoot. “I glanced up and realized 36–23 was very much in play,” he told me.
Bois is the mind behind “Scorigami,” a term he defines as “the act, and art, of producing a final score in a football game that has never happened before.” He conjured that portmanteau after a 2014 Seattle Seahawks victory over the Green Bay Packers. That game finished 36–16, the first time those two numbers had ever appeared side by side at the end of an official NFL contest.
In the 11 years since, Scorigami-watching has become a national pastime. Throughout the NFL season, fans of football and whole numbers keep a weekly vigil, hoping for novel combinations. Sometimes, their dedication is rewarded with a score that has never been achieved in any of the 18,000-plus regular-season and postseason games found in official league records. Since Bois’s coinage, we’ve celebrated 78 more Scorigamis, including four this year: 41–40, 40–40, 36–29, and 44–32. In a world suddenly awash with legalized sports betting and its associated ills, tracking these football digits is a comparatively wholesome compulsion. Scorigami is a game within the game that anyone can follow, one in which the teams and players are irrelevant. All that matters is the scoreboard.
For those keeping count, there have now been 1,095 unique scorelines in NFL history. But one never-before-seen Scorigami stands apart from all the others, on account of its maddening elusiveness: 36–23.
Some Scorigamis haven’t happened for a reason: You wouldn’t expect an NFL game to finish 83–12. But the somewhat normal-sounding 36–23—a single touchdown and an extra point off the Seahawks–Packers score that inspired Bois’s whole Scorigami conceit—has also remained out of reach. Indeed, scan across and down the NFL Scorigami grid, and you’ll find that given one team’s score of 23 points, opponents have put up every point total between six and 49. Every total, that is, except for 36.
Dave Mattingly, the programmer behind the NFL Scorigami website and a companion social-media bot with more than 500,000 followers, said the evasiveness of 36–23 has become “something of a meme” among the online score-monitoring community. Mattingly’s bot, which he engineered to spit out live Scorigami predictions for every NFL game, has posted, “Most likely Scorigami: 36–23,” a gobsmacking number of times, to no avail. A few representative replies: “Please 36-23 at long last igami,” “How has 36-23 never happenedigami,” and “36-23 needs to be a national holiday when it hitsigami.”
National 36–23 Day is the NFL’s perpetual broken promise. Bois was primed to celebrate a few weeks back, when the Cowboys were up 33–16 on the Raiders with four minutes to go. The Scorigami was right there—just a field goal, touchdown, and extra point away. But when the Dallas offense stalled deep in Las Vegas territory, the Cowboys went for it on fourth down rather than opting for the sure three points. It was a sensible move strategically but devastating Scorigamically. The final score: that same ho-hum 33–16, for the tenth time in NFL history.
“Man,” Bois told me, “the second it looks like it might happen, 36–23 keeps finding some unexpected way to give us the slip.”
That slipperiness, and Scorigamis more broadly, have been the subject of deep study over the past year. Nate Silver recently analyzed the NFL’s “Scorigami Era,” in which the combination of prolific offenses and placekickers, updated kickoff rules, and aggressive coaches have produced a raft of unusual scores. The academic researchers Liam Moyer, Jameson Railey, Andrew Daw, and Samuel C. Gutekunst—who collectively specialize in computer science, data sciences and operations, and mathematics—published a 2024 paper on a new model to “forecast likely future Scorigamis.” And Bois himself, along with his co-producer Alex Rubenstein, released a four-part Scorigami series on YouTube, culminating in an 88-minute finale on the next frontier of NFL scores.
All of these experts reached very similar conclusions: 36–23 is the “most likely unrealized Scorigami,” according to Silver, who described it as “honestly, not that weird a score” compared with goofier possibilities like 40–19 and 33–11. Daw, Gutekunst, and their colleagues originally had a different score, 32–26, as their top candidate for the next Scorigami triumph; when the Jets and the Dolphins took those numbers off the board last December, 36–23 became their top contender as well.
Exactly how likely is a 36–23 NFL game? Scorigami simulations by both Silver and the academics found that, given modern scoring conditions, it should pop up roughly once every 1,400 games. By Daw and Gutekunst’s numbers, there’s a 50 percent chance that we’ll see 36–23 by the end of the 2028–29 season. There’s also a 0.6 percent chance that it won’t happen by 2050.
Bois and Rubenstein, for their part, have decreed that 36–23 is “overdue.” They’ve also unearthed one very close call—what Rubenstein referred to as “a malfunction in the space-time continuum that clearly was supposed to end 36–23 and didn’t.” Back in 2014, the Steelers were leading the Ravens 36–23 with two minutes to go, and needed just two yards to ice the game and clinch the Scorigami. Instead, Pittsburgh got a 33-yard touchdown pass from Ben Roethlisberger to tight end Matt Spaeth. I think that Spaeth’s knee might have been down before the ball crossed the goal line. But in the record books, the final score was 43–23, for the third time ever.
This agonizing 36–23 drought is strictly an NFL phenomenon. According to the data clearinghouse Sports Reference, there have been nine 36–23 games in major college football since 1968, the most recent coming last November. The Canadian Football League has also played host to four 36–23 games in its 67-year history, including the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ win over the Edmonton Elks earlier this year.
Once you start looking for it, you can find 36–23 pretty much everywhere. In the past five weeks, the score turned up in an NCAA Division III game; in the Texas high-school playoffs; and on a junior-varsity field in California’s Central Valley. Further back in time, 36–23 games have been contested in the Hawaii–Aleutian Time Zone, in a now-defunct, college all-star game called the Challenge Bowl, and in a second-tier arena league. That is, in nearly every football setting ever invented except the National Football League.
There is one caveat: At least two NFL preseason games have finished 36–23. But Bois believes that exhibition football shouldn’t register Scorigami-wise, because it’s essentially a different sport, one in which the main goals are injury avoidance and carving out playing time for backups. “When a 36–23 happens in preseason, it feels to me like we didn’t really come by it honestly,” he said.
So what would it take to come by 36–23 honestly?
The 23 part isn’t really an issue. Twenty-three is currently in the sweet spot for NFL scoring—teams have averaged 22.9 points per game so far this year—and it’s easily achievable with football-friendly sevens and threes: All you need is two touchdowns, two extra points, and three field goals. Scoring 36 on the dot is far more unusual; it’s taken place only 155 times in NFL history and just once so far this year. (That game happened to be a Scorigami, too.) Although you can get to 36 with sevens and threes—three touchdowns plus extra points and five field goals—that exact combination of events is extremely uncommon. When a team hits 36, it’s more likely the result of a missed extra point, a made or missed two-point conversion, a two-point safety, or some mishmash of the above.
Even so, the lack of a 36–23 Scorigami can’t be explained just by the rarity of 36. As Andrew Daw, one of the authors of that 2024 Scorigami paper, put it to me, “There’s a broader story here on dependence between events that seem like they’re independent.”
In football, the scoreboard dictates strategy. A 13-point gap, like the one that separates 36 and 23, has a strong repellant force on NFL coaches. They’re a lot more attracted to 14-point differentials, which will protect them from losing if their opponent happens to score two touchdowns and two extra points. That gravitational pull helps explain why there have been 11 NFL games that ended 36–22 and zero that finished 36–23.
Judging by recent history, when 36–23 does happen, it will be more of a happy accident than the residue of design. Tennessee beat Vanderbilt 36–23 last college football season, with the help of a late safety. This year in Canada, Winnipeg botched an extra point in its 36–23 victory over Edmonton. (For the CFL-curious: No, that game did not feature a one-point rouge.) In the 2022 NFL preseason, the Cardinals missed two extra points in their 36–23 win over the Bengals.
Carolina Panthers predicted to pick freakish Oregon prospect in 2026 NFL draft
It’s been almost a decade now since the Carolina Panthers had a dominant tight end on their roster, or even an above-average starter, for that matter.
Greg Olsen’s injuries caught up to him around 2016, and the Panthers have been at the bottom of the league at this spot ever since.
There have been flashes from rookie Mitchell Evans out of Notre Dame, but the 2026 NFL draft represents a chance to really change the dynamic at this spot.
Enter Oregon star Kenyon Sadiq, who goes to the Panthers at No. 13 overall in a new seven-round mock draft from Pro Football Network.
Cowboy’s Dak Prescott sends warning to NFL after loss to Lions
Earlier in the week, Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones acknowledged that his team’s
Patriots bye week as New England has best record
If there’s an unsung reason the New England Patriots have entered their bye week with the NFL’s best record following back-to-back 4-13 seasons, it may be as simple as them enjoying being around one another.
While teams around the league dole out platitudes about brotherhood, these Patriots (11-2) are remarkably close, on and off the field.
Whether it’s been quarterback Drake Maye and rookie left tackle Will Campbell sitting courtside at a Celtics game or having dinner together in Boston’s North End, the weekly dinners shared by the offensive line, or the ways coach Mike Vrabel has given attention to individual players, the bonds of this roster are noticeable.
“This is probably the tightest group of guys I’ve been around in my four years,” offensive lineman Vederian Lowe said.
Creating those connections was not a given after an offseason that saw only 27 holdovers from last season make this season’s initial 53-man roster.
At his introductory news conference in January, Vrabel said he wanted to put the players and their needs at the forefront as he began building the team’s culture.
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He has backed it up at the end of every game, when he shakes hands with the opposing coach, then sprints to the tunnel to ensure he’s at the locker room door to greet each player.
Some get a handshake or a “Nice job.” Others receive a longer embrace and maybe a few words in their ear. It’s varied by design.
“I understand I’m going to have a different relationship with some players than I do others,” Vrabel said. “But I’m going to have a relationship with every single one of them.”
He’s also done smaller things that have resonated, like bringing back individual player introductions before games — something that had been absent for at least a decade in New England. He also selects weekly game captains, which come as a surprise to players. Those picked for the role often have a link with that week’s opponent.
In New England’s win over the New York Giants last week, one captain was linebacker Jahlani Tavai, who missed the team’s game at Cincinnati in Week 12 for personal reasons.
The Patriots dedicated that victory to him and made a video call to him in the locker room afterward. After the win over the Giants, Vrabel asked Tavai to break down the locker room huddle.
“Glad to have you back,” Vrabel told Tavai as teammates stood around him cheering.
Walking to the middle of the group, Tavai said, “I love the brotherhood in here and I’ll ride with any of y’all any day. I love you guys and appreciate you guys.”
Then there are players like 32-year-old wide receiver Stefon Diggs. Along with leading the Patriots in receptions (64) and receiving yards (705), he’s also embraced his role as a mentor to young receivers Kayshon Boutte (23), DeMario Douglas (25) and Kyle Williams (23).
Diggs didn’t score a touchdown over the first seven games, the longest such stretch of his career to begin a season. But he supported his fellow receivers throughout, often being the first in line to give them high-fives.
Williams said the Patriots have a culture of joy.
“It is hard not to feel it,” he said. “As soon as you walk through the building, you see we share a whole locker, so we are always just cracking jokes and uplifting everybody. It is hard to be in a bad mood when you’ve got so many joyful people around you.”
Diggs said a lot of the credit goes to Vrabel, who helped him feel welcome as a free-agent addition coming off knee surgery.
“He is one of my favorite coaches up to this point. I look forward to building off of that,” Diggs said. “It’s been a very, very fun year. … He’s made the transition real seamless as far as helping the team band together, spending time together, getting to know each other, and appreciating him as a man.”
Diggs said the way the Patriots interact with one another is genuine.
“Guys really pulling for each other. It’s not fake out there,” he said. “You want the guys to play well, you want the guys around you to play well. Throwing those extra blocks and doing all that. I think it goes a long way. … We all hold each other accountable.”
Fanatics to sell 2026 World Cup merch at MetLife Stadium
Sports merchandise giant Fanatics has landed the on-site retail license for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will see 104 matches played across 16 stadiums in the U.S., Canada and Mexico next summer, including MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.
Fanatics will be able to operate retail and merchandising at next summer’s World Cup, regarded as the world’s largest sporting event. Fanatics will offer “world-class brands and official FIFA merchandise,” according to a Dec. 4 announcement.
All told, “Fanatics will have thousands of different products from many official licensees,” said Shannon Donohue, a representative for Berk Communications, which does public relations for Fanatics.
Story continues below photo gallery
Fanatics has overseen other international sporting events such as Major League Baseball’s Tokyo series, where it made $40 million from trading card sales; the National Hockey League’s Four Nations tournament, where fans could buy hockey jerseys from different country teams; and the UEFA’s Euro 2024, where fans could buy collectibles such as trading cards and stickers.
“We’re bringing together our expertise across event and physical retail operations, buying and merchandising, product creation, and rapid production to serve millions of fans in real time,” Fanatics CEO Andrew Low Ah Kee said in a Dec. 4 statement.
The tournament — which kicks off June 10, 2026, and wraps with a final match at MetLife Stadium on July 19, 2026 — is the first to take place in three different countries. East Rutherford will host five group stage matches, two knockout round matches and the tournament final.
Buy FIFA World Cup 2026 gear
The official draw — when all 48 teams find out where they will be playing their group stage matches — will be held at noon on Dec. 5 in Washington. That is when teams will be assigned to specific match schedule fixtures, including venues and kickoff times.
The bid for the matches to be played in East Rutherford was part of a partnership between the state of New Jersey and New York City. The host city obligations are the responsibility of both New Jersey and New York City, and officials have previously said costs would be split with New York City.
There is still no formal agreement in place with New York City. Bringing the tournament to the Garden State costs money, and though hosting duties are part of a joint bid with New York City, New Jersey taxpayers have footed the bill so far — roughly $207 million spent or contracted, according to documents obtained by NorthJersey.com.
Daniel Munoz covers business, consumer affairs, labor and the economy for NorthJersey.com and The Record.
FGCU golf management program offers fairway to the future
Florida Gulf Coast University offers one of only 16 PGA-accredited golf management programs in the nation.
Students are paired with local PGA professionals for mentorship throughout their education.
Many graduates of the program remain in Florida, with 32% working in the Southwest Florida region.
At Florida Gulf Coast University, golf is more than a game. For students majoring in the PGA golf management program, it’s the fairway connecting them to the local workforce through internships, mentorship and hands-on learning.
While some question higher education’s return on investment, this program’s value is reflected not just in student outcomes but in economic benefits to our community.
FGCU’s golf management program is one of 16 in the country accredited by the PGA — and the only one in Florida.
The admissions process is competitive: Not only must students meet FGCU’s academic standards, but they must also have a golf handicap of 12 or lower. To graduate with a four-year degree and earn PGA Class Certification, students must pass a rigorous 36-hole PGA playing test as well as secure full-time employment.
For our students, that’s not a problem. Our program boasts a nearly 100% placement rate, largely due to the 16 months of paid internships required. Half of those internships happen in Southwest Florida during peak season, when employer demand is high but supply is low due to housing challenges. Majority of our students already have housing, making them ideal candidates. Our program provides more than 120 professional interns who work full time in season and about 50 more who work part time.
Southwest Florida’s golf economy is unique, with a high concentration of private clubs, “bundled” communities and distinct ties to real estate development and seasonal residents. With limited public access, the golf climate provides challenges and opportunities for aspiring golf professionals. Surrounded by more than 140 upscale private facilities, our students have a rich training ground in which to work and play. That’s why FGCU’s Eagles enjoy significant opportunities, using Southwest Florida as a living laboratory for golf management.
Our program has collaborated with more than 85% of courses and facilities across Lee and Collier counties, ensuring that students are learning from some of the best professionals in the country. This relationship – in which employers mentor our students and students are eager to contribute – is essential to the golf fabric of our region.
Enrollment has grown dramatically since the current director, Tara McKenna, Ed.D. (PGA/LPGA), took over in 2010. Under her leadership, the program has become a national destination for this field. Since its inception 17 years ago, it has attracted students from 38 states and 10 countries.
From day one, students are paired with local PGA professionals who mentor them through their bookwork, refine their games, guide them in navigating career and internship opportunities in and outside of Florida, and provide early, valuable insight into the broader golf industry.
The success of our graduates continues to grow. Over 400 golf management alums work across the United States, but many choose to stay and enrich this area with their talent. Nearly 40% work in Florida and 32% in Southwest Florida.
In addition to holding management and instructional roles at traditional green-grass facilities, our graduates are also local entrepreneurs. Two excellent examples are Thor Parrish, founder of Thunder Performance and owner of Junior Golf Performance Academy, and Jason Becker, founder and CEO of Golf Life Navigators.
Walk into nearly any private golf club in Southwest Florida, and you’re likely to find either an FGCU intern or alum at work. We are proud of their impact in the golfing community.
We invite you to visit FGCU’s state-of-the-art Swing Lab and see how our students are mastering the technology shaping the future of the game. And don’t forget to stop by our Pro Shop to pick up golf apparel and accessories that support YOUR university.
Aysegul Timur, Ph.D., is FGCU president and Tara McKenna, Ed.D., is director of the FGCU golf program.
Who Can Break LeBron James’ 1297-Game 10-Point Streak? Kevin Durant, Luka Doncic & Others Eye History
Another remarkable chapter in LeBron James’ storied career closed tonight against the Raptors. The Lakers pulled off a 123-120 win, but LeBron couldn’t carry his own streak. One person can carry so much weight, and he has, from being the first NBA player to enter his 23rd season, breaking his own record of never missing the start of a season, and, funnily enough, becoming the first father-son duo to replace his son, Bronny, in the starting lineup.
It’s now time for the 40-year-old to start thinking about passing the torch.
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What makes LeBron’s 10-point streak historic?
A bittersweet moment came late in the game when LeBron James had a chance to keep his legendary streak alive. With the Lakers clinging to a narrow lead, he could have taken the final shot himself, but instead, he passed the ball to Rui Hachimura in the left corner.
Hachimura’s 3-pointer went in as time expired, giving the Lakers the win but leaving LeBron with just eight points.
That meant his incredible streak of 1,297 consecutive games scoring in double digits, the longest in NBA history, finally came to an end.
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The streak was nothing short of legendary, beginning on January 6, 2007. To put it in perspective, Michael Jordan’s 866-game streak, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 787, and Karl Malone’s 575 all small in comparison to LeBron’s extraordinary run.
Even during this historic streak, there were moments when it seemed like it might finally end. Going into Thursday, LeBron had reached double digits by the start of the fourth quarter in 1,266 games, but just days earlier, he struggled.
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Against Dallas on November 28, he had only nine points entering the fourth, and against Phoenix on Monday, he had just six. He managed to extend the streak in Phoenix, but tonight it wasn’t meant to be.
LeBron finished the game shooting 4-of-17 from the floor, missing all five of his 3-point attempts, though he still contributed 11 assists and six rebounds as the Lakers improved to 16-5, sitting second in the Western Conference.
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Despite the streak ending, LeBron didn’t seem bothered. Asked about it afterward, he simply said, “None. We won.”
That mindset captures James’ approach over his career; records matter, but winning matters more. “I was like, ‘Oh, that’s pretty cool,’” James said, referring to passing Jordan’s record. “At first I was like, ‘That’s just another one of those records that’s kind of made up,’ but then I realized it’s not. It’s like a real record. But, I don’t know. I just go out and play.”
Play. That’s it. That’s what he’s here for, even at age 40 in his 23rd season.
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Now the NBA world is left wondering: who could ever match this level of consistency? With 42,268 career points and a streak likely to stand for decades, LeBron’s mark isn’t just a record; it’s a testament to his longevity.
Top candidates who can break LeBron James’ streak
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Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant is the closest player still chasing LeBron’s legendary streak, but the gap is massive. Even with 267 straight games scoring in double digits, he’s still more than a thousand games behind James. Durant’s previous run of 562 consecutive 10-point games from 2009 to 2017 shows he’s capable, but the numbers tell the story.
Durant would essentially need to play into his late 40s to even consider matching LeBron, which seems a bit far-fetched.
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Next in line is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has a streak of 170 consecutive games scoring in double digits. In theory, he could catch LeBron, but only if he keeps it going for another 14 years, until he’s 41. His streak began in 2023, and the man is putting up MVP-level numbers: 32.8 points per game (2nd), 4.7 rebounds (99th), 6.5 assists (15th), and a 54.8% shooting clip (13th).
However, SGA himself has hinted that it would not be something he’d consider pursuing. In a GQ interview, he explained: “I play this sport ultimately to discover the best version of myself. Once I identify that and begin to decline, then it becomes a question of, ‘What am I playing for now?’ The moment that realization hits, I’ll be the first to leave.”
He affirmed that he could play until 40, but “won’t though—a hundred percent,” prioritizing family time over a prolonged career.
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Maintaining that streak shouldn’t be too difficult, but longevity is the real challenge.
Luka Doncic
Then there’s the Lakers’ rising star, Luka Doncic, third in line with a streak of 157 consecutive games scoring in double digits. His run also began in 2023, and he’s putting up eye-popping numbers: 35.3 points per game (1st), 8.9 rebounds (19th), 8.9 assists (4th), and 47.8% shooting (64th).
Luka is the heart and soul of the Lakers right now, and while scoring 30+ points almost every night makes maintaining the streak seem doable, the road ahead is long and challenging.
Simply put, no one in the league is anywhere near LeBron’s streak. His record stands in a league of its own, untouchable for now and likely for years to come.
Which NBA father-son duos have the most points?
Whether it’s Bill Walton and Luke Walton, Arvydas Sabonis and Domantas Sabonis, or Rick Brunson and Jalen Brunson, the NBA has featured several productive father-son duos throughout its history. With the kickoff of the 2024-25 regular season, Bronny Jamesand his fatherLeBron Jamesbecame the first to play alongside each other and the highest-scoring father-son duo in NBA history. On October 30th, 2024, Bronny scored his first NBA points when the Los Angeles Lakers played the Cleveland Cavaliers, his father’s former team.
LeBron’s career total alone is over 2,000 points more than the NBA’s previous all-time highest-scoring father-son duo of Joe
Wizards coach calls out team after blowout Celtics loss
When the Celtics first went up big by 17 points on the Wizards in the first half, the young squad at least responded. It was just a seven-point C’s lead by halftime as Washington went on a big run to cut it to a manageable deficit.
But the game unraveled for the Wizards after halftime. They were outscored 80-42 in the second half to lose 146-101 to the Celtics. The 45-point difference is the largest margin of victory by an NBA team this season. Wizards coach Brian Keefe, a Winchester native, called out his team after the loss.
“We have a certain expectation of how we want to play,” Keefe told reporters after the game. “I think we have seen this lately that we can play physical, we can defend, we can disrupt people. We can really move the ball and share it when we play with a certain pace. I didn’t see those things out there in the game. You can call that what that is, but it’s just the way we play. And I didn’t see how our identity of how we play basketball, and that’s not unacceptable.”
It’s been another tough season in Washington as it dropped to an East-worst 3-18 after Thursday’s loss. The Wizards have the worst defense in the NBA as evidenced by the Celtics scoring at least 32 points in every quarter Thursday. The Wizards just haven’t been competitive this season as they’re trending toward another lottery pick.
The Wizards have some young pieces, though neither Alex Sarr (No. 2 overall in 2024) and Tre Johnson (No. 6 overall in 2025) played Thursday. The Wizards went 18-64 under Keefe in his first full season at the helm last year. It’s looking like another season where Washington will have to hope the lottery balls fall its way, though the 2026 NBA Draft is considered to be loaded with talent.
In the meantime, the Wizards are just trying to develop good habits despite suffering 14 straight losses earlier this season. As seen Thursday, that takes some effort which wasn’t necessarily there in this blowout.
“It was painfully obvious that we didn’t meet the standard that we want to play at,” Keefe said. “Our competitive juice. I thought we made a little bit of a run there at the end of the second quarter. But the second half was not representative of what we want to be and who we have been lately. We have to own that, and we gotta buckle down and get better and get ready for our next game. But was not up to our standard.”
Former NBA All-Star Ben Simmons says he would play for one NBA team for free
Ben Simmons was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft and went on to be an all-star three times during his time in Philadelphia.
The 29-year-old is currently a free agent, but he recently made it clear that he would be interested in returning to the 76ers organization.
A former LSU star, Simmons posted several pictures on his Instagram account over the weekend with the caption: “Here and there.”
In the comments, a fan asked if he would come back to the 76ers to play center or power forward on a minimum contract if he was asked to do so.
According to Simmons, he would play in Philadelphia again, even if he wasn’t getting paid.
“It ain’t about the $. I’d hoop there for free,” Ben Simmons said. “It’s deeper than what they make y’all believe, which is why I keep it pushing. (Right now) the focus is getting the body to 100% before putting my health on the line again… like I have been the past few years.”
The comment from Simmons is interesting because he appears to want to return to Philadelphia to play but also said that there is something “deeper” going on.
A former NBA Rookie of the Year, Simmons played college basketball for one season at LSU before beginning his professional career.
In addition to the 76ers, Simmons has also played for the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers.
He is averaging 13.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. While he has been a productive NBA player, his lack of a jump shot has kept him from being a regular all-star and is likely why he is currently a free agent.
Conor McGregor Legal Battle Ends as 2023 NBA Finals Lawsuit Dropped: Report
It’s rare for a months-long legal cloud to be lifted in a single filing, but that’s exactly what happened in Conor McGregor‘s world this week. What began as a high-stakes accusation related to the spectacle of the 2023 NBA Finals has now come to a surprising conclusion. The situation, which was once loaded with public scrutiny and uncertainty, has taken a sharp turn.
The tension had been tense for over two years, with questions swirling and speculation growing every time ‘The Notorious’ resurfaced publicly. Yet the shift arrived not with fanfare, but through a simple notice submitted to a Florida court. With that, one of the most controversial legal threads involving the UFC star was ultimately resolved. And the story behind how it unraveled says even more.
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Conor McGregor’s NBA lawsuit closed itself
The pivotal moment occurred when the accuser, only identified as Jane Doe, voluntarily dismissed her civil lawsuit with prejudice, a key legal detail that prevents it from being refiled. What had previously been characterized as a serious claim involving an alleged bathroom incident during a Miami Heat game in June 2023 at Kaseya Center was now officially ended.
When the allegations originally appeared, police investigated, but no charges were filed, and Conor McGregor denied any wrongdoing. Barbara Llanes, his attorney, pointed out the case’s flaws from the start. “After a thorough investigation at the time, the State’s Attorney concluded there was no case to pursue,” she said earlier in the year.
She added, “Almost two years, and at least three lawyers later, the plaintiff has a new false story.” Llanes predicted the lawsuit would collapse, and she was correct; the court accepted the dismissal and closed the file. The complainant, a 49-year-old Wall Street executive who sued anonymously, had previously sought more than $75,000 in damages for unlawful s-xual contact.
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But with the dismissal finalized, the case is permanently closed. So, no trial, no rehearing, no reviewing the claims, and Conor McGregor can avoid losing out on more money. After all, in Ireland, he was previously found liable in a separate legal case stemming from an alleged 2018 incident—a decision he appealed but ultimately failed to overturn on appeal.
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That verdict imposed significant damages and fines and made many question what the addition of the 2023 lawsuit meant for the future of the Irishman. But now, with the case no longer hanging over his head, he can make his return at the UFC’s White House card, like he has been promising to for what feels like forever to his MMA fans. In fact, if Michael Chandler is to be believed, it is already a done deal.
Michael Chandler confirms McGregor’s return fight
Even before the lawsuit vanished from Conor McGregor’s path, ‘Iron’ had already stoked the fire. A few days before the dismissal, Michael Chandler was publicly promoting the idea that the Irishman’s return was real, imminent, and finally happening after years of failed negotiations. So, as the legal dust settled, his earlier confidence suddenly looked less like bravado and more like a foreshadowing of what was to come.
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Chandler gave the news MMA fans had been longing for: “It ain’t a negotiation. It’s a done deal, signed, delivered. McGregor will compete in the White House for America’s 250th birthday.” And while Dana White is yet to give a direct confirmation of it, he did reveal in an earlier interview that there has been a lot of backroom talk with the Irishman about a massive return to the Octagon.
“He and I have been talking nonstop,” White told the Impaulsive podcast on Sept. 16. “And he’s like, ‘I’m dead serious. I want this. You know, I’m training. I’m back in the pool,” indicating that the return was already taking shape behind closed doors. And far from a flimsy return attempt, Conor McGregor is presenting it as something solid and long planned for, as he is finally ready to resurface. “I have eight months until the White House event, and it will be a six-month operation,” McGregor explained in an interview, describing the preparation as a mission rather than a comeback camp.
He highlighted that the return is about addressing past mistakes—“a slight lapse led to an injury; I wish to correct that”—and hinted that the stakes are bigger than any single opponent. Michael Chandler may still be the frontrunner, but McGregor’s focus is obviously on the larger redemption arc, as evidenced by the outlandish $100 million figure he floated for headlining the card. He’s eager to get back, so let’s see what the future holds for ‘The Notorious.’
NBA intel: Next for Clippers? League insiders examine three paths
It has been a downright terrible opening stretch for the 2025-26LA Clippers.
Between the Aspiration scandal, the ensuing salary cap circumvention investigation involving Kawhi Leonard and this week’s messy public breakup with future Hall of Famer Chris Paul, there’s been a steady stream of bad news coming from Inglewood. Not to mention the Clippers are 6-16 and 13th in the Western Conference, a disastrous start given a welcome respite by Wednesday’s blowout victory over the Atlanta Hawks. LA’s spot in the standings has already led to some leaguewide angst.
Remember: The Clippers infamously owe their 2026 unprotected first-round pick … to Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti and the defending champs.
Denver holding itself back in clutch time
The Nuggets are used to finishing strong.
They’re used to walking down their opponents at the end of a close game. They’re used to ratcheting up their defensive intensity when the moment calls for it. They’re used to getting the exact shots they want, imposing their roster continuity, their calmness, their cohesion.
Their clutch-ness.
Three consecutive years, they’ve ranked top-three in “clutch time,” which the NBA defines as any scenario in which two teams are separated by five or fewer points in the last five minutes of a game (regulation or overtime). In five of the last six years, they’ve been a top-10 clutch team, only sliding to 13th when Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. both missed the entire 2021-22 season.
Even then, Denver finished with a positive net rating in the clutch.
Which makes it all the more befuddling for a Nikola Jokic-led team to be stumbling so often in these situations. At the 20-game mark of the season, all six of Denver’s losses had involved clutch time. Its average margin of defeat was 4.8 points, in contrast to a 14.6-point average margin of victory — a trend of missed opportunities to be even better than the record indicates.
It was a source of frustration for Jokic this week after a rare fourth consecutive home loss.
“We were in all four of the games,” he pointed out, “but we just didn’t execute. We didn’t play our best basketball.”
Situational poise does matter, even beyond the standings. In the 2022-23 regular season, Miami ranked second in clutch-time net rating — measured in points per 100 possessions — then made an improbable run to the NBA Finals as a No. 8 seed.
Indiana was the league’s top-ranked clutch team last year, lending credence to the notion that Tyrese Haliburton’s breathtaking highlight reel of playoff buzzer beaters was not an anomaly. Those Pacers also made the Finals despite entering the playoffs as a No. 4 seed.
Nine of the last 15 NBA champions have finished top-five in clutch net rating for the regular season, and none of those 15 teams finished worse than 12th.
The Nuggets were ranked dead last after 20 games.
Their numbers have also been poor in GOLPs (Game On the Line Possessions), a stat invented last year by The Denver Post to arbitrarily track Denver’s execution in the highest-stakes moments.
A quick refresher on what qualifies as a GOLP: Possessions during the last 30 seconds of regulation or the last 30 seconds of overtime in which the team with the ball is either tied or trailing by three points or fewer. In simpler terms, it’s an opportunity to tie or win the game at a point when you aren’t guaranteed to get the ball back. Gulp.
The Nuggets have scored three total points on five GOLPs, all on Aaron Gordon’s go-ahead 3-pointer with 26 seconds to go on opening night at Golden State. That shot went to waste along with his other 47 points, and since then, the Nuggets have come up empty on similarly high-stakes possessions (including Jokic’s missed floater that same night at the buzzer of regulation).
Their offensive rating on GOLPs is 60. Their success rate at tying or taking the lead is 20%. Their shooting percentage is 16.7%. Jokic missed out on another potentially heroic moment against Portland when Gordon completed a Christian Laettner-esque pass to him, but he couldn’t complete the “easy” part of the play. He’s a spectacular 26-for-39 (67%) on shots between 10 and 19 feet deep this season, but when he turned around to release a 15-footer at the buzzer in Portland, his usually soft midrange touch betrayed him.
Nuggets opponents have a 75% success rate and 175 offensive rating on their first four GOLPs. The only “stop” Denver has made on one of these possessions was a play that barely met the subjective qualifications — Alperen Sengun’s half-court shot that was off the mark when Houston had 2.7 seconds to go the length of the floor. Excluding that, the Nuggets have allowed a Steph Curry game-tying 3-pointer and a pair of decisive — if controversial — trips to the foul line at Portland.
They’ve also committed costly errors on a couple of last-minute defensive possessions that didn’t meet the GOLP criteria. Down one point to Chicago and likely to get the ball back in a one-score game, the only shot they couldn’t afford to give up was a 3-pointer, but Nikola Vucevic made them pay for leaving him unguarded on a pick-and-pop. A few days later against Sacramento, they had a chance to get the ball back and draw something up for a game-tying three, but Spencer Jones reached and gave up an and-one to DeMar DeRozan. Both shots all but clinched a loss.
This is all opposed to last season, when Denver succeeded on 53% of its 39 GOLPs (including playoffs) with a 135.9 offensive rating, while opponents were held to an 81.8 offensive rating and 35% success rate. Games overwhelmingly leaned Denver’s way in the most suspenseful moments. That might indicate that the Nuggets weren’t as good as their 50-32 regular-season record, but their knack for the dramatic was also almost enough for them to steal a playoff series from mighty Oklahoma City.
The Thunder, of course, ended up being so good that it didn’t matter if a few buzzer beaters burned them.
“If you’re not in a lot of clutch games, it means you’ve won a lot of games by a lot of points,” Adelman said recently. “I’ll always remember, last year was so crazy with OKC (when) we played them in the playoffs. I had the video guys pull up their late-game situations, and they said there isn’t much stuff (to study) because they just always win by 12 points.”
That’s a difficult level of dominance to achieve, though. The Nuggets have shown flashes of it, but not enough to shrug off the importance of clutch execution altogether. Their 33 clutch minutes were the sixth-fewest in the league as of Wednesday, certainly a sign of their ability to run opponents out of the gym. To return to the OKC reference point, however, the 2024-25 Thunder played 66 clutch minutes the entire regular season — 20 fewer than any other team.
What’s even scarier is that clutch time seems to be an area of growth for Oklahoma City early this season. While winning nine of 10 qualifying games, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been getting wherever he wants on the floor, shooting 54% on a league-leading 46 clutch shot attempts. He also has nine assists and one turnover in those situations.
Jokic and Jamal Murray have combined for five assists and six turnovers in the clutch, when their lethal two-man usually game kicks into high gear, when swagger and nonchalance mix to form maximum composure.
At Denver’s best, it’s thrilling to watch. Nuggets fans are still waiting to experience the sensation this year, to feel like they’re in safe hands.
In their clutches
The Nuggets have been one of the most consistently clutch teams in the sport throughout Nikola Jokic’s prime, until now. This is how they ranked in clutch-time offense, defense and net rating (measured in points per 100 possessions) each of the last six years, compared to where they stood after 20 games this season: last place. Record refers to wins and losses in games that involved clutch time.
Season Record Minutes played Offense (rank) Defense (rank) Net rating (rank) 2019-20 29-16 176 115.4 (7th) 105.4 (12th) 10.0 (6th) 2020-21 18-13 145 116.1 (4th) 108.3 (14th) 7.8 (8th) 2021-22 23-17 160 107.8 (18th) 106.3 (12th) 1.5 (13th) 2022-23 22-15 142 109.8 (13th) 99.3 (3rd) 10.4 (3rd) 2023-24 26-14 135 122.7 (3rd) 98.2 (2nd) 24.5 (1st) 2024-25 21-16 146 126.7 (1st) 109.7 (13th) 17.0 (3rd) 2025-26 2-6 33 101.6 (23rd) 140.0 (30th) -38.4 (30th)
NBA power rankings: Updated championship chances for all 30 teams
The start of the 2025-2026 NBA season has been full of surprises. The Eastern Conference was thought to be a New York Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers showdown, but so far the Detroit Pistons have emerged as the top team with the Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat as their biggest challengers. The West always felt destined to be an Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Denver Nuggets slugfest, but the Houston Rockets are making the case that they’re also a legit contender with the Los Angeles Lakers not far behind.
The picture at the bottom of the league also has some surprises. No one expected the Los Angeles Clippers to be this bad, and somehow that means another top draft pick could be going to the Oklahoma City Thunder, who controls their selection. The Pacers wasted no time in entering the tank race, while a team like the Jazz is punching a bit above its weight so far.
It’s time for another league power rankings with the calendar changed to Dec. Let’s dive in.
30. Brooklyn Nets
The Nets have the bleakest future in the league in my eyes. I wasn’t a fan of their five-man rookie draft class, but obviously there’s still plenty of time for them to prove me wrong. There’s a high volume of young players on the roster, but I just don’t think any of them look like long-term franchise pillars. At least Michael Porter Jr. has been fantastic, and should command real interest come February’s trade deadline. Without Houston owning pick swaps in 2027 or 2029, the Nets are desperate to find a franchise player in the 2026 draft. A lot of teams need lottery luck this year, but no one needs it as badly as Brooklyn.
29. Washington Wizards
The Wizards have some things they can be excited about this year: Alex Sarr has taken a substantial leap in his second season, Kyshawn George looks like a keeper on the wing, and they’re once again going to have maximize lottery odds at a top pick. This rebuild would suddenly look promising if it added Darryn Peterson, A.J. Dybantsa, or Cameron Boozer as the new primary option and knocked everyone else down a peg.
28. Indiana Pacers
The value of the Pacers’ gap year will be determined during the lottery, but Indiana has to like its odds of grabbing a top pick. As if losing Tyrese Haliburton to injury and Myles Turner in free agency wasn’t enough, the Pacers have had most of their remaining roster decimated by injuries to start the season. Can Indiana just fast-forward to July already? Next season could be very fun again if Haliburton is fully health — especially if he lands a blue chip prospect next to him.
27. New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans are praying they drop on lottery night after sending their unprotected first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks for the rights to Derik Queen. Queen has been outstanding thus far as a bulldozer driver with an impressive combination of touch, power, and balance, and his passing already looks a lot better in the NBA than it did at Maryland. Queen and fellow rookie Jeremiah Fears give the Pelicans hope even as Zion Williamson’s value disintegrates, but the good vibes will be dented irrevocably if they hand over a top-3 pick to Atlanta.
26. Charlotte Hornets
Kon Knueppel would win NBA Rookie of the Year if the season ended today, and that alone is enough to mark this as a successful Hornets season. Add in Ryan Kalkbrenner and Sion James, and the Hornets easily boast the best rookie class this season. Unfortunately for Charlotte, there’s still has no further clarity on if LaMelo Ball can be its franchise player, whether last year’s top-10 pick Tidjane Salaun is even an NBA player, and what it looks like to have a fully healthy Brandon Miller. The Hornets are at least showing signs of something, and one extra talented prospect could take this thing to the next level. Please just get rid of Miles Bridges already.
25. Sacramento Kings
About nine out of every 10 Kings seasons are absolutely terrible, and this one is no different. Keegan Murray and rookie wing Nique Clifford might be the only long-term keepers on this roster as a flawed veteran core is just waiting to blow up. It feels like everyone from Domantas Sabonis to Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan to Keon Ellis and Devin Carter could be dealt by the deadline. I’m sorry Kings fans, I want good things for you.
24. Dallas Mavericks
Cooper Flagg is the youngest player in the NBA, and he’s starting to string together great performances after an understandably slow start to his rookie season. The Mavericks are still compiling a lot of losses and just biding their time until an Anthony Davis trade market emerges. This is all going to be worth it if Dallas lands a top-3 pick to be Flagg’s co-star, and there should be some pretty good consolation prizes (Mikel Brown Jr., Kingston Flemings, Nate Ament) should the Mavs fall. Without control of their first-round pick in 2027-2030, Dallas really needs to make a good pick this year to set up the rest of the Flagg era for success.
23. Utah Jazz
The Jazz’s first-round draft pick is top-8 protected in the 2026 draft, otherwise it is owed to the Oklahoma City Thunder in what would be another nightmare for the rest of the league. I would expect the Jazz to get serious about losing in short order, but there have been some encouraging signs in the early season. Lauri Markkanen is having the best season of his career as a 7-foot scoring virtuoso, Keyonte George is taking a big step forward in this third season, and rookie Ace Bailey has shown some enticing flashes. Give head coach Will Hardy a top-3 pick and look out.
22. Los Angeles Clippers
Almost everything has gone wrong for the Clippers this year. Last season’s No. 3 overall defense has completely fallen off and now ranks near the bottom of the league. Swapping out Norm Powell for Bradley Beal was a massive bust. Kawhi Leonard still isn’t reliable (shocker), and head coach Ty Lue hasn’t figure out how to balance his lineups even with a seemingly deep bench. Just about every move the Clippers made this offseason has gone wrong, and they owe their draft pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder in what’s a catastrophic situation for the rest of the league. At least James Harden has been excellent, and suddenly might have some real trade value. The Clippers have pushed the Kawhi era as far as it could go, and it’s bound to have a morbid ending.
21. Chicago Bulls
The Bulls’ 6-1 start feels like a mirage now. Chicago has clawed out several last second wins thanks to Nikola Vucevic’s clutch shot-making before free-falling down the standings with losses to many of the worst teams in the league (Pelicans, Hornets, Nets, Jazz, Pacers). Blowing these easy games has completely ruined the good work Chicago did at the start of the season without Coby White and Zach Collins, and now it seems like the season is effectively over. The Bulls might end up making the play-in tournament in the soft Eastern Conference, but they shouldn’t be proud of it. There’s
20. Memphis Grizzlies
It’s been a nightmare season for the Grizzlies. This team seems like it’s always decimated by injuries, which again took a toll to start the season. While shorthanded, Ja Morant started beefing with the coaching staff to force their hand on a one-game suspension before suffering his own injury. There is some hope for the future: rookie wing Cedric Coward looks outstanding and could end up being a stud, while Zach Edey has smashed the doubters to become arguably the league’s top sophomore. The Morant situation is hanging over Memphis, and Phoenix’s surprisingly good season means a top 2026 draft pick likely isn’t on the way. I trust this front office to figure things out, but this has been a bummer of a start.
19. Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks’ nightmare scenario is here: Giannis Antetokounmpo is essentially asking out, and he reportedly wants to control his next destination. Milwaukee already took on significant five-year cap anchor by waiving and stretching Damian Lillard in an effort to appeal to Giannis (and sign Myles Turner), but it’s completely blown up in their face. The Bucks started 4-1 and then it all went downhill. A Giannis trade feels inevitable now, and if he gets to pick his landing spot, the Bucks’ future is going to be incredibly bleak without control of their future first-round picks through 2030.
18. Portland Trail Blazers
The Blazers were supposed to be a defensive powerhouse this year, but instead they’ve remained competitive by chucking threes, pounding the offensive glass, and playing at one of the NBA’s fastest paces as the defense has struggled to hit its stride. Deni Avdija has taken a massive scoring jump and looks like a worthy first-time All-Star, Jrue Holiday is giving Portland good-looking veteran minutes, and Scoot Henderson should be back from injury before the new year. The Blazers’ playoff fate will ultimately be determined in the play-in.
17. Phoenix Suns
The Suns have been one of the most pleasant surprises of the early season, and they certainly look a lot more competitive than I expected. First-year head coach Jordan Ott has Phoenix playing competent ball around Devin Booker on both ends of the floor, with Dillon Brooks’ defensive bite, Grayson Allen’s shooting, and a deep center rotation all helping keep the team afloat. Phoenix’s schedule is about to get tougher and I’m a bit skeptical it can keep securing offensive rebounds and forcing turnovers at its current excellent rate, but the baseline play is so, so much better than last year, and that’s worth celebrating.
16. Boston Celtics
A gap year will not be in the cards for the Celtics it seems. The offense is top-5 in efficiency right now with a characteristically three-point heavy shot-profile that now includes extra punch on the offensive glass. Neemias Queta looks like a real find up front, Jordan Walsh is starting to emerge as a legit defensive stopper, and Jaylen Brown just never tires as a volume scorer. If Derrick White (who has been dominant defensively) and Payton Pritchard can finally get hot again as shooters, maybe the Celtics really can be a factor if Jayson Tatum eventually rejoins the team from his Achilles rehab later in the season.
15. Philadelphia 76ers
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but the Sixers are ramping up. Paul George has looked good early into his return from a knee injury knowing he doesn’t have to do the heavy lifting on this team (sorry for calling you one of the NBA’s most underwhelming players). Jared McCain is also back from injury and showing some of the per-minute scoring brilliance he displayed in his limited rookie season. Joel Embiid should be a factor again soon too … at least until his next absence. This is now fully Tyrese Maxey’s team, and he’s playing at an All-NBA level while somehow playing a league-leading 40 minutes per night. If VJ Edgecombe can get past the rookie wall and the veteran stars can give them anything, Philly should be a top-6 East team by the end of the year.
14. Golden State Warriors
The Warriors were the most difficult team to rank in this exercise. Golden State brought a very old roster into this season, and they’re already seeing injuries and age-related decline pile up. The hope for one more vintage Al Horford season hasn’t transpired yet, and maybe that was always a delusional wish at age-39. The offense turns the ball over way to much, doesn’t play with power on the offensive glass, and sits outside of the top-20 in free throw rate. The Warriors just don’t have the athletes to win the possession game on most nights, but there’s enough talent here to be a major pain in the playoffs if they can get healthy. Stephen Curry is still one of the best players in the world when he’s on, but it’s impossible for him to be that player every night over 82 games at 37 years old. Draymond Green’s offense has been just awful with 49.4 percent true shooting, 52.4 percent rim finishing, and a huge turnover rate. Jonathan Kuminga’s feel-good bounce-back story lasted like two weeks as he’s dealt with a knee injury, and a big leap from Brandin Podziemski hasn’t happened, either. The Curry-Green-Jimmy Butler trio is still going to be hell to play against if the Warriors can make the playoffs, but ultimately this team just isn’t good enough.
13. Orlando Magic
The Magic look like a more cohesive team without Paolo Banchero, and now his challenge will be proving he can adapt his game upon his return from injury to give this team the extra offensive firepower it needs. Orlando is off to a 7-3 start without their former No. 1 pick which follows a trend from last season when the team was much better with Franz Wagner on and Banchero off. I’ve always been a believer in Banchero’s talent and he was starting to play really well before he got hurt, but the Magic’s offense just makes more sense when it’s centered around Wagner’s on-ball driving, and Paolo needs to show that he can fit in around it. Orlando hasn’t escaped the bottom 10 in offensive rating in more than a decade, and right now they’re playing at a top-10 level with the slowest offensive pace of any team in the NBA. This team’s identity starts with defense, and they keep getting better on that end, too. With Anthony Black looking like a legit breakout player so far, Orlando could possibly regain East contender status if Paolo and Franz can finally make each other better.
12. Toronto Raptors
Someone from the East’s purported middle tier had to breakthrough this season, and it turns out it might be the Raptors. Toronto’s bold decision to add Brandon Ingram to its already expensive core is paying off nicely, with the veteran’s tough shot-making giving the team just enough offensive juice to complement its very good defense. The Raptors’ defense has been flirting with top-5 status all year and it doesn’t seem like a fluke: they have a ton of length on the perimeter defensively, boast a legit shutdown stopper in Scottie Barnes, and have a plus rim protector in Jakob Poeltl. The offense is near the bottom of the league in three-point volume, and they don’t get much back on the offensive glass, so I fear there’s a chance the bottom could fall out over time. Still, this starting lineup is proving it’s pretty damn good with bounce-back seasons for Barnes and Immanuel Quickley, and the bench led by Sandro Mamukelashvili and Jamal Shead looks solid, too. There’s some fluke potential for the Raptors’ hot start, but I’m buying it more and more.
11. Minnesota Timberwolves
The Wolves are tracking as a solid Western Conference playoff team, but they don’t look fully right yet. The offense has been better than the defense for the first time since the Rudy Gobert trade, benefitting from Anthony Edwards’ efficient scoring explosions and Julius Randle’s continued All-Star-caliber bully ball. Edwards is truly becoming one of the best three-point shooters in the league right now by making 41 percent of 8.8 attempts per game from deep, but his mid-range game and decision-making as a passer will be under a big spotlight come playoff time. Gobert remains really good at age-33, with a +18.9 net-rating for his on/off minutes. The Wolves could really use a real point guard, but the bold trade for Rob Dillingham on 2024 draft night is looking like a bust. After two straight conference finals appearances, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Wolves tried to make a big move at the deadline if they still haven’t hit their groove.
10. Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta has been hot since Trae Young went down with a knee sprain that will keep him out a while longer. It’s no surprise the Hawks’ defense looks more formidable without the diminutive point guard, but the offense’s ability to find new contributors every night is particularly impressive. Jalen Johnson is morphing into Atlanta’s engine as a killer transition scorer who can pass like a point guard and clean the glass as well as any forward in the NBA. The Hawks are constantly finding new co-stars around him, from Onyeka Okongwu turning into a knockdown three-point shooter overnight to Vit Krejci’s occasional scoring explosions to Nickeil Alexander-Walker looking really good on both ends of the court. Young can take this offense to an even higher level upon return as long as he’s shooting the ball well, but a more egalitarian approach is looking good on the Hawks right now. This team is set up really well to trade for Giannis. Will they want to play ball, or prefer keeping the best of the Bucks and Pelicans pick?
9. Miami Heat
The Heat revamped their offense, dug their heels in defensively, and became one of the most pleasant surprises of the early season. Miami went away from screens (not just ball screens, all screens!) and cranked up the pace to league-leading levels for an iso-heavy offense that has lifted them from No. 21 last year to No. 13 this year. The offseason trade for Norman Powell was a brilliant move, giving them an engine who can mix usage and efficiency (66.3 percent true shooting) to keep the offense going even when Tyler Herro was injured. With Herro looking pretty good in his return, Kel’el Ware breaking out in his second season, and Jamie Jaquez returning to form after a down sophomore season, the Heat have some real weapons to work with, and Erik Spoelstra is maximizing every piece. Spo has been considered the best coach in the NBA for years, but he’s still never won a Coach of the Year award. If the defense stays this dominant and the offense can stay in the top-half of the league, the Heat are going to win enough games to finally give him the award.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavs have looked nothing like an Eastern Conference front-runner 20+ games into the season, and it’s fair to be at least a little concerned right now. Cleveland remains really beat up with Darius Garland barely playing this season and Max Strus still out with a foot injury, so maybe this is just a case of the team needing to get healthy. Still, the Cavs don’t really have an identity on either end of the floor right now. Evan Mobley is regressing a bit after last season’s breakout, Ty Jerome’s flamethrower shooting off the bench has been missed, and Lonzo Ball doesn’t look like a miracle-worker yet. The Cavs’ regular season success last year proved that less is more with Donovan Mitchell, and this year he’s back to being a massively high-usage guard, and the team has been worse of for it even though Mitchell has been amazing. The Cavs were a Finals-or-bust team coming into the year, and at least to this point most of the signs are pointing to bust.
7. Detroit Pistons
The Pistons are ascending into the next great young team in the Eastern Conference. Detroit’s scorching start can mostly be owed to an elite defense, but there’s to believe this offseason can be built for playoff settings, too. The guard/center battery of Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren is built to get tough buckets in the halfcourt. Cunningham is emerging into one of best players in the East, and while his turnovers and scoring inefficiency can be frustrating at times, he consistently delivers in the clutch while also playing on a vital role on defense. Duren is turning into a full-blown monster at age-22, showing improved attacking off the dribble and elite rebounding on both ends. The Pistons also have the best depth in the conference and at this point it’s hard for head coach JB Bickerstaff to give everyone minutes. I think the Pistons are real, but Bickerstaff still needs to prove himself in the playoffs before I say they’re winning the East. For now, this has been an incredible start for Detroit, and it feels like the first step in what should be a sustained stretch of contention.
6. San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs have kept rolling even with Victor Wembanyama out of the lineup with a calf strain. De’Aaron Fox is stepping into a starring role after missing the start of the year, and he’s earning every penny of his massive extension so far. Fox’s speedy shot-creation off the bounce is something San Antonio has been desperately missing in the Wemby era, and it’s helped that he’s been hot from three so far. The free agent addition of Luke Kornet is also looking like a masterful move, giving the Spurs real rim protection even in Wembanyama’s absence and a high-level reserve when he’s healthy. This team hasn’t even really worked in its two rookie lottery picks yet, and I’d expect No. 2 overall pick Dylan Harper to break out soon. If Wembanyama comes back as a top-5 player, it now seems like the Spurs have the horses to not just make the playoffs, but make a little noise once they get there.
5. Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers are rolling through the first 20 games. Luka Doncic is playing at a top-3 level in the world, Austin Reaves is an easy All-Star who could push for All-NBA consideration, and LeBron James hasn’t even hit his groove yet in his return from sciatica. Doncic is posting the highest usage rate in the league, and he’s operating at very good efficiency to set up scoring chances for himself and his teammates. Reaves is playing the role of the shifty secondary creator next to Luka once mastered by Jalen Brunson and Kyrie Irving, and he’s been every bit as excellent in the job as those two were. Doncic is making players like Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton look better than ever before, and JJ Redick continues to push the right buttons and looks like a long-term fit at head coach. I’m still worried about the Lakers’ defense long-term, but this start has been as good as anyone could have hoped for, and Doncic is such a playoff killer that Los Angeles will always have a puncher’s chance.
4. New York Knicks
The Knicks feel like a sizable favorite to come out of the East after the start of the season. The offense is humming in the early days of the Mike Brown tenure, the glass is getting cleaned at a league-best level on both ends of the floor, and this team just doesn’t beat itself very often. Jalen Brunson remains the workhorse for New York and he’s playing great ball to start the year, but it feels like he doesn’t have to do quite as much because everyone in chipping in. Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby look like the best wing combo in basketball once the latter returns from a hamstring strain, with both shooting the lights out and boasting tons of matchup versatility defensively. Mitchell Robinson has been a monster with his rebounding and shot-blocking, and New York has to pray he can stay healthy. Karl-Anthony Towns is the one Knick who hasn’t been at his best yet, but he’s still been fine in his role. The Knicks need to watch out for a Robinson injury and for playoff teams hunting the Towns/Brunson pairing defensively, but it feels like New York has both the highest floor and highest ceiling in the conference right now.
3. Houston Rockets
People who say every NBA team plays the same way these days should look no further than the Rockets (and the other two teams ahead of them on this list). Houston has made itself a legitimate championship contender despite being the lowest volume three-point shooting team in the league, because they’re one of the best offensive rebounding teams in league history. The Rockets are rebounding like 40 percent of their misses, and all those extra possessions are making an elite offense (No. 2 right now) even without shooting. While Houston’s volume is super low, it is making 40 percent of the threes it does take, as good as anyone in the league. Reed Sheppard has started to pop into a real contributor in his second season, Kevin Durant can still carry the team for stretches without having to do too much, and Steven Adams remains one of the NBA’s best role players. With Alperen Sengun making the leap that was predicted and a young roster still better seemingly every month, Houston has a fantastic set up for both this year and the future. The Rockets play with so much physicality and power that the two teams ahead of them on this list should be praying to be on the opposite side of the bracket from them entering the playoffs.
2. Denver Nuggets
How good has the Nuggets offense been so far? If the season ended today, Denver would boast the best offensive rating in league history. Nikola Jokic might still be getting better, and he’s at the controls of a brutally efficiency offense that rips the nets from three, avoids turnovers, gets extra possessions on the glass, and consistently gets to the foul line. Jokic’s dominance is comical at this best as he leads the league in assists and rebounds while scoring nearly 30 points per game, and he has an improved supporting cast around him. Jamal Murray is having a fantastic season and could finally make his first All-Star team. Aaron Gordon’s leap last season was real, and he’s more than just a great fit next to Jokic at this point — he’s one of the best forwards in the NBA. Cam Johnson has gotten off to a slow start as the big offseason acquisition, but Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jonas Valanciunas have been really good. There should be some concern about the defense here, but Denver feels like the biggest contender to basketball’s undeniable juggernaut right now.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder are even better than last year’s championship team, they’re only going to continue to get better in the future, and that’s terrifying for the rest of the league. Not since the Kevin Durant Warriors has the NBA seen such a dominant front-runner, and this OKC group has run away from the pack in a totally different way. The Thunder have one of the best defenses ever by blurring the lines between fouling and physicality, and their ability to rack up steals that turn into easy layups is unprecedented in this era of the league. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the best guard alive and the most consistent superstar in basketball, and by the way he’s shooting nearly 44 percent from three this year. Chet Holmgren is playing like an All-NBA player, and Jalen Williams has looked good in his return from injury. The emergence of last year’s second round pick Ajay Mitchell has filled arguably the Thunder’s biggest hole as a bench creator when SGA is resting. Isaiah Hartenstein is also having an awesome season and gives them the physicality needed to matchup with Denver and Houston. My prediction that the Thunder would be the third team in league history to cross 70 wins is looking good so far. The fact that they’re about to land a top pick in a loaded 2026 NBA Draft from the pathetic Clippers just feels unfair. Everyone is chasing OKC for the foreseeable future.
Mallory Edens opens up on how ‘harmful’ viral NBA draft moment changed her life
Mallory Edens, the daughter of Milwaukee Bucks owner Wes Edens, reminisced on her viral moment at the 2014 NBA Draft Lottery and the lasting effect harmful comments online had on her.
During a recent appearance on the “Unlike Me” podcast, Edens — who became an internet sensation when she represented the Bucks in the lottery on stage in New York — explained that the wave of online attention made her “so protective” of herself.
“I actually think people actually don’t know that much about me and I think that the biggest misconception — is just that they don’t know that much about me,” Edens said. “I went really viral on the internet at a really young age and it put me in this place where I felt so protective of myself because the things people were saying online about me at that time felt so harmful.
“And I don’t know that I’ve ever if really left that protective casing. So, I think the misconception is just I don’t think people know me that well online.”
Edens became an instant meme when she appeared at the lottery.
Despite the Bucks slipping to No. 2, many were convinced Milwaukee was the real winner of the night due to the stunning then 18-year-old.
“I’ll say it. Mallory Edens is a star,” Michelle Beadle, a FanDuel host and former ESPNer, tweeted at the time.
“The Cavs won the lottery and Mallory Edens won the Internet,” Bill Simmons added.
Her celebrity status only rose from there.
In 2023, Edens was rumored to be dating then Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who has since played for the Jets and Steelers while marrying a mystery woman named Brittani.
Edens, a model, founded Little Ray Media, a production company based in Los Angeles with a mission to tell stories by and about women and girls.
When asked if she has any desire to be involved in the Bucks organization in a bigger capacity, Edens said, “Um I’ve had my moments.”
“I have such a deep respect for what the front office does. And I love just getting to be a fly on the wall in their conversations,” Edens said. “I always tell my dad exactly what I think all the time … We have a respectful banter about those things. So we’re not always on the same page but I always let him know exactly how I feel.
“I love basketball. I’m open minded about what my future holds.”
VJ Edgecombe might not be a Sixer without Buddy Hield
Inside the 76ers’ celebratory postgame locker room late Thursday, VJ Edgecombe received a phone call from Buddy Hield.
That would not normally occur between two players who had just faced off in a wild thriller. But it is not hyperbole to conclude that Edgecombe may never have made his game-winning plays against the Golden State Warriors — a steal, then a go-ahead putback in the final 8.2 seconds of a night that swung from Sixers blowout, to disastrous collapse, to chaotic 99-98 victory — without attending Hield’s basketball camps in their native Bahamas as a teenager.
» READ MORE: V.J. Edgecombe’s game-winning shot, Tyrese Maxey’s game-saving block helps Sixers beat Warriors, 99-98
Thursday’s crazy finish capped the first night that Hield, a respected 10-year sharpshooter, and Edgecombe, an electric two-way rookie, shared the floor as NBA peers. Edgecombe finished with 10 points, six rebounds, five assists, and three steals; Hield with 14 points, eight rebounds, and two steals. And as the postgame hubbub continued to swirl around them, Edgecombe and Hield met at center court to exchange jerseys.
“I love Buddy with all my heart,” Edgecombe later told The Inquirer. “ … He always had faith in me, and always was teaching me little points about the game.”
This Sixers-Warriors matchup was coincidentally full of reunions. Hield played 32 games for the Sixers after being acquired at the 2024 trade deadline. Tyrese Maxey’s game-saving block after Edgecombe’s bucket came against former teammate De’Anthony Melton, who spent a couple hours at Maxey’s home Wednesday to catch up as friends before making his season debut following knee surgery. Seth Curry and Al Horford are also former Sixers, and received drastically different receptions from the home crowd. So is Jimmy Butler, who sat out Thursday’s game with a knee injury.
But none of those players’ ties boast the roots of Edgecombe and Hield, who both described their relationship as little brother-big brother.
» READ MORE: Sixers takeaways: Tyrese Maxey is exceptional, Joel Embiid must play better, and more from win over Warriors
Edgecombe first attended Hield’s camp as a 13-year-old, aka the “smallest kid there” amongst a group of mostly high-school juniors and seniors. But Hield immediately noticed Edgecombe’s skill and eagerness to be good. Then, Edgecombe hit a growth spurt and added muscle to his frame.
“The next year, I see him on the rim dunking on people,” Hield recalled to The Inquirer before Thursday’s game. “I was like, ‘Oh, [expletive]. He’s going to be really good.’”
Throughout the years, Hield kept in touch with Edgecombe to “[make] sure I was always good,” the rookie said. Hield would emphasize staying confident and working hard.
Then, Edgecombe and Hield became Bahamas teammates for the 2024 Olympics Qualifiers. On a roster that also included fellow Sixer Eric Gordon and Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton, Edgecombe provided “an aggressive downhill energy that we didn’t have,” Hield said. The team would allow a pre-college Edgecombe to run pick-and-roll after pick-and-roll, trusting that he would either draw a foul while attacking the basket or kick out to an open Hield at the three-point arc.
Edgecombe’s performance in that high-pressure environment, while playing against grown men, helped ignite his ascension to coveted NBA Draft prospect. Then came his successful season at Baylor, an impressive pre-draft process, and becoming to the Sixers’ pick at third overall.
“I was like, ‘Man, I watched this kid grow up,’” Hield said. “That’s kind of dope, you know what I mean?”
Through the first quarter of the regular season, Edgecombe has been one of the league’s top rookies.
He scored 34 points in a historic NBA debut. He has been an impact player on both ends of the floor for a 12-9 Sixers team that is now guard-heavy and stressing a fast-paced style. He regularly ignites the crowd with his high-flying athleticism. He entered Thursday averaging 14.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.4 steals in 17 games, before some recent limitations due to a calf issue.
Before Thursday’s matchup, a grinning Hield vowed he would “go at [Edgecombe] and test that water.” But other than a 27-second stretch to close the first quarter, they were never on the floor at the same time until that wild final frame. They approached each other when they came back to the court following the quarter break. Edgecombe trash-talked Hield’s “fake defense,” before playfully shoving him to create space to receive the inbound pass.
And though Edgecombe struggled for much of Thursday’s game, coach Nick Nurse put the rookie back in for crunch time. Edgecombe has already earned the Sixers’ trust with his knack for clutch plays.
So while preparing for a defensive possession with his team trailing, 98-97, with 10.1 seconds remaining, Edgecombe knew the Warriors were out of timeouts. He tried to read Pat Spencer’s eyes, because “people tend to telegraph their passes a lot.”
“He had to throw the ball somewhere,” Edgecombe said. “Everyone was just in that one little spot, and I just dove on the ball, to be honest.”
That gave the Sixers an opportunity for a final-possession shot, with Edgecombe making the inbound pass. His plan was to “give the ball to Tyrese, and get out of the way.” But when Maxey’s fadeaway jumper was tipped by Melton and began to fall well short of the rim, Edgecombe darted in to secure the putback.
Then Edgecombe sprinted the opposite direction as Melton attempted his own breakaway game-winner, and flexed after Maxey swatted the ball away.
“It’s what he does,” Maxey said of Edgecombe. “ … Whatever it takes for us to win the game, I know he’s going to make a play.”
Hield, meanwhile, had already entered the day proud that Edgecombe had become the latest Bahamian who, by making the NBA, could take care of his family and bring joy to his community and home country.
But after that wild finish — which capped the first time Edgecombe and Hield shared the floor as NBA peers — Hield needed to call his little brother.
“It brings more life to the youth, to uplift them,” Hield said of Edgecombe’s success. “For them to be like, ‘Yo, VJ did it. I can do it, too.’ They’re trying to write their stories, too.
“So I just hope he keeps on inspiring young kids, like I did for him.”
NASCAR antitrust case: Michael Jordan and Joe Gibbs’ daughter-in-law to testify
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Michael Jordan and Joe Gibbs’ daughter-in-law were expected to testify Friday on the fifth day of the federal antitrust case the Basketball Hall of Famer filed against NASCAR over claims the series has acted as monopolistic bullies.
Heather Gibbs, the chief operating officer of Joe Gibbs Racing, wrote an impassioned letter to NASCAR chairman Jim France in May 2024 imploring him to make charters permanent for the sake of strengthening the family business.
Charters are the equivalent of the franchise model used in other sports and in NASCAR it guarantees every chartered car a spot in all 38 races, plus a defined payout from NASCAR. The system was created in 2016 and during the two-plus years of bitter negotiations on an extension teams begged for the renewable charters to become permanent.
When NASCAR refused to make them permanent and gave the teams six hours in September 2024 to sign the 112-page extension, 23XI and Front Row Motorsports were the only two organizations out of 15 to refuse and instead filed an antitrust suit.
23XI is owned by Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, and Front Row is owned by fast food franchiser Bob Jenkins.
The discovery phase of the trial revealed a letter Heather Gibbs sent to France, who is now chairman of the series his father founded 76 years ago.
“We’ve put 32 years into investing and building a dream, building careers, building families, and building NASCAR. If the financial model made sense, we would not have had to work with an outside investor,” she wrote. “If our teams were financially healthy and did not solely rely on sponsorship, I would sleep better at night, not worrying about when the torch is passed on.
“We have invested not only our time but our family in this sport. We have raised champions and buried their leaders, all while continuing to embrace the historical roots of NASCAR,” she continued in the two-page emotion-packed letter. “So, with all due respect, please understand that when you tell us it doesn’t make sense to partner with us after 7 years is dejecting and truly disappointing.”
The letter came up in Thursday in testimony by NASCAR President Steve O’Donnell, who was called as an adverse witness. O’Donnell in a text message told Ben Kennedy, nephew of Jim France, “Jim is now reading Heather’s letter out loud and swearing every other sentence.”
Pressed by plaintiffs attorney Jeffrey Kessler as to what France was saying as he read the letter, O’Donnell said the chairman never swore. Kessler tried to force O’Donnell to reconcile what he wrote to Kennedy, but O’Donnell maintained that his boss was not cursing.
“That’s what I wrote, but he was not doing that,” O’Donnell testified. “We were all taken aback by the letter. I think Jim was frustrated, as we all were.”
Joe Gibbs ultimately signed the charter agreement, but Jenkins testified his rival team owner apologized for doing so.
On Thursday, Kessler attempted to portray France as “a brick wall” in negotiations. The teams had made specific requests in an attempt to improve their financial position, but the deal ultimately given to them on the eve of the start of the 2024 playoffs lacked most of their asks.
NASCAR was founded in 1948 by the late Bill France Sr. and to this day is privately owned by the Florida-based family. Jim France is his youngest son.
Kessler had a contentious session over more than three hours with O’Donnell and at times was shouting at the executive. He used internal communications among NASCAR executives to demonstrate frustration among non-France family members over the slow pace of negotiations and Jim France’s refusal to grant the teams permanent charters.
The internal communications among executives showed the mounting frustration over the prolonged negotiations. As O’Donnell, Commissioner Steve Phelps and others tried to find concessions for the teams, they all indicated they were met by resistance time and again by France and his niece, vice chair Lesa France Kennedy.
“Mr. France was the brick wall in the negotiations,” Kessler said to O’Donnell.
“Those are your words, not mine,” the executive replied.
Teams told NASCAR they were fighting for financial survival
Earlier Thursday, O’Donnell testified that teams approached the sanctioning body in early 2022 asking for an improved revenue model, arguing the system was unsustainable.
O’Donnell was at the meeting with representatives from four teams, who asked that the negotiating window on a new charter agreement open early because they were fighting for their financial survival. The negotiating window was not supposed to open until July 2023.
O’Donnell testified that in that first meeting, four-time series champion Jeff Gordon, now vice chair of Hendrick Motorsports, asked specifically if the France family was “open to a new model.”
Kennedy, great-grandson of NASCAR’s founder, told Gordon yes.
But O’Donnell testified that chairman France was opposed to a new revenue model.
Both sides speak of financial difficulties
The extensions that began this year upped the guaranteed money for every chartered car to $12.5 million in annual revenue, from $9 million. Hamlin and Jenkins have both testified it costs $20 million to bring a single car to the track for all 38 races. That figure does not include any overhead, operating costs or a driver’s salary, and Jenkins admitted he doesn’t spend that much.
NASCAR has argued it has made huge improvements for the teams as it works to grow the sport. O’Donnell testified that NASCAR lost $55 million in the three years it held a race on the downtown streets of Chicago, and $6 million when it raced in June in Mexico City. But he said those events were critical in widening viewership and signing Amazon as a media partner.
“It was a strategic investment because if not for that, Amazon would not have become a broadcast partner,” he testified.
Odds and ends
Judge Kenneth Bell admonished both sides over the slow pace of the trial, which was initially expected to take two weeks. Kessler said he didn’t anticipate wrapping up the teams’ side until the middle of next week.
NASCAR plans to call Roger Penske as a witness. Penske, who is reluctant to testify, has said he’s only available next Monday. Christopher Yates, lead attorney for NASCAR, asked that Penske be allowed to testify that day but Kessler objected because it would disrupt the flow of his presentation.
Bell sided with Kessler and told NASCAR to figure it out with Penske because “federal trials are an inconvenience.”
The judge also said stretching the trial to three weeks is not acceptable, and while he’s hesitant to step in to push the pace along, he urged both sides to counsel their witnesses to stop being “reluctant to answer even the most harmless questions.”
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MLB Notebook: Depth in rotation may allow Red Sox to bypass pricey free agent market in hunt for offense
Almost from the start, the free agent market has been a model of inefficiency. Bidding furiously against one another, teams pay exorbitant prices for past performance.
The players win, but in the long run, teams often lose — especially on long-term deals which especially tend to not age well.
Sometimes, free agency represents the only option as that’s where the talent lies. Also, the obsession with retaining prospects often steers clubs away from trading them to fill needs.
But this winter, the Red Sox, through two early offseason trades, may have found a way around this conundrum. After adding Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo, the Red Sox have close to 10 legitimate starting pitching candidates and/or well-regarded prospects: Garrett Crochet, Gray, Oviedo, Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford, Patrick Sandoval, Hunter Dobbins, Kyle Harrison, Payton Tolle and Connelly Early.
This accounting doesn’t begin to take into account the next tier of pitching prospects, including David Sandlin, Luis Perales and last year’s No. 1 pick, Kyson Witherspoon — all of whom have trade value, too.
Not every pitcher, of course, is proven at the big league level and some — notably Sandoval — are coming off major physical setbacks.
But still, that’s far more than most organizations and could put them in deals to address their lack of pop in the lineup.
What if, say, the Red Sox succeeded in re-signing Alex Bregman, then packaged Jarren Duan and a young pitcher to land another power bat? That would upgrade the lineup considerably and would enable them to keep their CBT number in the $250 million or so range.
(Keeping the payroll in that area remains an organizational priority, as has previously been reported).
Instead of spending, say, $35 million per season on a seven-year deal for Pete Alonso to add muscle to the offense, the Red Sox could find a bat on the trade market, using Duran (or Wilyer Abreu) and a young starter as bait.
The bidding for the likes of Alonso and Kyle Schwarber has yet to even get underway, but it’s easy to anticipate those deals spiraling ever upward with the interest from a handful of big market teams (Phillies, Mets and others) all positioning themselves for one of the sluggers.
If the Red Sox were to land a run-producing first baseman in such a trade and bring back Bregman, they could use Marcelo Mayer at second, and then turn their attention to upgrading their DH spot.
With the money saved in largely staying out of the free agent market and freed from the long-term Rafael Devers deal, they could perhaps find a creative way to unload Masataka Yoshida’s remaining salary and fill the DH spot with other options.
By jumping the line early — no other team in the game has struck so quickly for two impact pitchers — the Red Sox have gotten the potentially costly part of their offseason agenda already out of the way.
Now, as they move on to address the offense and the need for more slug, they’re positioned to give themselves plenty of options, with an exit route available if they don’t want to get into bidding wars for the bat they need.
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Just nine months after he signed an eight-year, $60 million deal with the Red Sox, it’s uncertain how Kristian Campbell fits with the organization going forward.
He spent the entire second half of 2025 at Worcester and for now, it’s impossible to know what the team has planned for the future.
One thing is certain: he’s going to play for Caguas, Puerto Rico in winter ball starting soon.
“I think going into the offseason, getting some of his strength back was a priority,” said Brian Abraham, the director of player development for the Sox. “We feel like he’s in a really good spot physically. He’s been working out, spending some time in Fort Myers, which is great. I think a balance of the physical side but also the game-play side (is important this winter), giving him an opportunity to utilize some of the adjustments he’s made – physically and mechanically — in some game action would be to his benefit.
What trade chips do Rangers have left in farm system heading into MLB’s Winter Meetings?
It’s not just cash where the Rangers are a bit short-handed.
As they prepare to tackle a winter to-do-list that is still as lengthy as a Dear Santa letter, the Rangers are also a bit hamstrung when it comes to the barter market. They are thinner than they have been in a while when it comes to tradeable talent. They ended the season with the No. 26 ranked farm system in baseball, according to Baseball America.
The Rangers have one of baseball’s top prospects in Sebastian Walcott, sixth overall, according to MLB Pipeline, but he is the only player they have in the top 100. And he’s as close to untouchable as there is in the system. There is a great dropoff between Walcott and everybody else.
Bottom line: It’s going to create another challenge when it comes to cobbling together deals for major league help. They are short on guys capable of fronting a deal for major league talent. That said, here’s a look at names beyond Walcott the Rangers are likely to get asked about over the next week for any trade conversations to progress.
Alejandro Osuna
The left-handed hitting outfielder impressed scouts last spring with his energetic approach to the game and his disciplined approach to the strike zone. With Wyatt Langford, Evan Carter and Brandon Nimmo, the Rangers seem to have a regular outfield. Carter and Nimmo are both left-handed hitters, which potentially blocks Osuna’s playing time further. Then again, can the Rangers rely on Carter to stay healthy?
A.J. Russell
The second-round pick in the July draft, Russell is now more than a year out from internal-brace elbow surgery, which could put him on a track to make a big leap in 2026. He has first-round talent and could see a jump in fastball velocity his second year out that would make him a tantalizing prospect to bet on.
Caden Scarborough
The lean, lanky 20-year-old right-hander was a breakout star this past season. He’s still a work in progress, but has the ability to be a top-of-the-rotation starter, especially if the changeup he’s started to develop, matures.
Devin Fitz-Gerald
A switch-hitting, heady middle infielder who slashed .302/.428/.482/.910 in the Arizona Complex League and low Class A over 41 games last year due to an injury, Fitz-Gerald draws raves for his enthusiasm, hustle and comprehension of the game. He’s a product of Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, where both Roman Anthony and Colby Mayo played. His father is the coach there. In other words: A great pedigree.
Josh Owens
The Rangers’ third-round pack this past July has two-way ability as a pitcher and a shortstop. He doesn’t turn 19 until January and hasn’t played above low Class A, where he hit .083 in 24 plate appearances and allowed one run over four innings on the mound. So anybody trading for him would be doing a lot of projecting.
Find more Rangers coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
MLB winter meetings: Free agency intel from Olney and Passan
MLB’s winter meetings begin Monday in Orlando, Florida, signaling the time when baseball’s offseason activity is likely to take off.
br/>What’s the latest on free agent hitters, including coveted sluggers Kyle Schwarber and Kyle Tucker? Will Framber Valdez find a new home now that fellow top free agent pitcher Dylan Cease is off the board? What’s the latest on a trade market featuring stars such asKetel Marte and Steven Kwan? And which teams could surprise the sport by making a big splash in Florida?
Here is the latest intel Buster Olney and Jeff Passan are hearing on the players, teams and themes that will rule this year’s meetings.
Last year’s winter meetings were all about Juan Soto — is there one free agent or theme on everyone’s mind going into the meetings this year?
Olney: Some agents and execs are saying the money for free agents is generally locked down. There are outliers, of course — the Toronto Blue Jays are doing their thing, and the Pittsburgh Pirates, A’s and Miami Marlins are all angling for a We Are Trying posture.
The very elite guys, such as Kyle Schwarber, will get their money. But there are early indications that a lot of the teams that are traditionally aggressive might be more conservative this winter, perhaps because of the looming labor situation — and that could lead to more trades, rather than investments in free agents, as teams look to plug holes.
Passan: When does the Kyle Schwarber dam break? Several teams’ fortunes — from Philadelphia to Cincinnati to Pittsburgh to Boston to Baltimore to the New York Mets — depend on where Schwarber goes. The belief among teams is that it will take five years to secure the 32-year-old, and once that happens — perhaps sometime during the meetings — teams will start pivoting, and the action will pick up demonstrably.
Which top free agent hitter is most likely to sign during the winter meetings?
Olney: In recent winters, the Blue Jays wanted to spend big and couldn’t entice Shohei Ohtani or Juan Soto to take their money. Now, some free agents could need Toronto, if some of the big-money teams pass on pricey moves. Kyle Tucker has been projected as a $400 million-plus player, but it might behoove him to move quickly if he gets an early, aggressive bid from the Jays (or some other team).
This is not a winter in which you want to be waiting for the big offers to materialize, as they did for Bryce Harper and Manny Machado in past offseasons.
Passan: Schwarber is the best bet. Tucker isn’t close to done yet. Cody Bellinger has a healthy market but is biding his time. Alex Bregman and Bo Bichette are world-class infielders with ample, moneyed suitors. Pete Alonso’ssigning could go down after Schwarber.
What’s clear is that there’s a group of teams that will spend on a big bat (Phillies, Red Sox, Blue Jays), a number surveying multiple options (Yankees, Mets, Cubs) and a handful that would do so opportunistically (Orioles, Tigers, Reds, Pirates). Others could emerge depending on how the market plays out and what trade possibilities emerge.
Which other hitters could move quickly at the meetings?
Olney: Cedric Mullins’ choice to sign for a one-year, $7 million, with the Tampa Bay Rays could be a warning sign for this free agent class. Mullins was not a perfect free agent by any measure, after his struggles with the Mets, but the rapidity with which he agreed to a deal could reflect the general feeling that this market could play out like a game of musical chairs — if you’ve got offers in hand, it’d be best to move fast and grab a spot (and money). Jorge Polanco could be among those who sign sooner rather than later — he’s coveted by the Mariners and some other teams. Harrison Bader set himself up well with a strong performance in Philadelphia.
Passan: If Schwarber goes early, everyone is in play. Otherwise, the second tier of hitters includes infielder Jorge Polanco, catcher J.T. Realmuto and Japanese corner infielder Kazuma Okamoto, and teams believe there could be momentum toward deals with them. Another popular hitter: infielder Ha-Seong Kim, who could return to Atlanta — which still needs a shortstop — on a shorter-term deal or seek longer-term security elsewhere.
Now that Dylan Cease has signed, which big-name aces could move next?
Olney: It depends on your definition of ‘big-name.’ Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, future Hall of Famers, will find landing spots, but they are on the downslopes of their remarkable careers; they can wait, and there is a presumption that Scherzer could pitch for his good friend and new San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello.
If you’re talking about the guys who will be getting paid the most, Framber Valdez and Ranger Suarez are next up, and there are clearly teams with which they could fit. The Mets need an ace; the Orioles need an ace. But the perceived expectations for Valdez’s next deal are high early in this offseason, evaluators say, and any team that bids on Suarez has to get comfortable with investing in a guy who doesn’t throw hard — which is not common in this era./p>
br/>Passan: Teams in the mix for Suarez believe he’s the next big-time starter off the board. Though the 30-year-old won’t fetch a Dylan Cease-level deal, he long has been a target for Houston, which balks at deals beyond six years, and Baltimore, which is seeking a top-end rotation piece. Right-hander Michael King has widespread interest because of his frontline potential with a willingness to sign for a shorter term than the top starters. Also worth watching: right-hander Merrill Kelly, who at 37 is in line for a multiyear deal. Arguably the best starter in the class, Valdez is often among the league leaders in innings with a playoff résumé, and his market will unfold alongside the best hitters’.
Will we see a run of reliever signings following Devin Williams and Ryan Helsley getting deals?
Olney: Not necessarily, because there are so many relievers available — more than 100 unsigned free agents. Pete Fairbanks could be among the next to sign, and the 35-year-old Robert Suarez. Edwin Diaz’s free agency is fascinating because he’s the best available pitcher in an offseason in which there are few teams seemingly prepared to invest a nine-figure contract on a short reliever. He has been linked to the Mets, of course, and the Blue Jays, but each of those teams has been filling other holes, so far./p>
br/>Passan: The run on relievers is slowing slightly, though Fairbanks and Kyle Finnegan are the closers who could be had sooner than later. Tyler Rogers is primed to get a three-year deal, as is Brad Keller, who could transition to be a starter. Luke Weaver will get multiple years. The left-handed market is thin and led by Steven Matz, Caleb Ferguson, Taylor Rogers, Gregory Soto and Sean Newcomb. Diaz and Robert Suarez are the two best relievers left, and they are likely to wait for the larger market to shake out.
Which players will be mentioned most in winter meetings trade discussions?
Olney: It makes sense for teams that have trade candidates under team control into 2027 to weigh offers now because they might struggle to get proper value for those players next July, given the labor uncertainty after the season. That means players such as Mackenzie Gore of the Nationals — and Paul Toboni, Washington’s president of baseball operations, said in a
Frances Tiafoe Makes Feelings Clear About Taylor Fritz After Brutal Clash: “Can’t Stand Him”
The crowd at the Charlotte Invitational had barely settled after the final point when Frances Tiafoe threw his head back, a victorious grin spreading across his face. It had been a chaotic, nerve-shredding match – the kind only he and Taylor Fritz seem capable of producing when they’re on opposite sides of the net. Tiafoe’s 4-6, 6-4, 10-8 comeback win wasn’t just another addition to their long rivalry; it was another chapter in a story that began many years before stadium lights and TV cameras.
As he walked toward the net, sweat running down his face, Tiafoe wrapped Fritz in the kind of hug that only comes from years of shared battles. They exchanged a quick laugh, a shrug. Almost like two brothers who’d just fought in the backyard for the hundredth time. Minutes later, standing with a mic in hand and emotions still raw, Tiafoe let the world in on their unfiltered dynamic. “I mean, it’s been amazing… to be honest, I can’t stand him. But truly, it’s been amazing. We’ve played against each other since we were 15. We’re both 30 in a few years. It’s incredible to see the matches we have played against each other from juniors to now.”
But Frances Tifoe didn’t stop there. He dove into their story, one that began long before ATP points and big-stage pressure. “From being great juniors to now being great pros. We’re enjoying our tennis and the year we’ve lot of stories to tell and a lot of memories, all the battles over the years. Yeah, I’m super proud of him and happy to be along the journey for sure.”
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On the ATP Tour, together they’ve faced each other eight times, and guess what? Fritz has gotten the better of Tiafoe 7 times. If we go back a dozen years, a couple of 14-year-old boys arrived in Boca Raton, Fla. They were there for the USTA camp as promising youngsters. One was a Black kid from suburban Washington, D.C, son of refugees from Sierra Leone, while the other was a White kid from Southern California, whose parents were former tennis pros. Two different backgrounds, but still their bond grew stronger with every year.
Even during the press conference, Frances Tiafoe spoke about how respectful they have been with each other’s journey despite a bit of trash talk and fun. On this night, ‘Big Foe’ walked away with the win. But what truly stole the show was the honesty – and the affection -behind his playful admission.
But this wasn’t the first time that we’ve seen him speaking about Taylor Fritz. In September 2024, ahead of their US Open semifinal showdown, Tiafoe recalled a few moments of their incredible friendship.
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“When I first met him (Fritz), Taylor was an odd cat, a different cat. I definitely wasn’t thinking he was going to do what he’s done. He’s changed his body, like, unbelievable. He’s really talented. He was like a part-time player. He played a couple of times a week, and of course, he’ll tell you, he went to a normal high school. He was a normal kid. Then he started putting more time into it.”
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Frances Tiafoe also highlighted the difference in their personalities. “He (Fritz) is like a video gamer, never leaves the room. He’s a goofball. And I’m like, loud, obnoxious at times, but he’s also very funny. He’s got that dry humor, smartass, but at the same time, that’s why we like each other, because we’re so different. That’s why we get along so well. And then, as competitors, we’re very alike. Hate to lose. And we battle hard,”
Their rivalry may have delivered another dramatic finish in Charlotte, but what lingered after the match was the relationship behind it: two American stars who grew up chasing the same future and somehow carved it out side by side. What did Taylor Fritz say about their friendship after the match, though?
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Taylor Fritz reflects on his close bond with Frances Tiafoe
While Frances Tiafoe’s thoughts about their friendship made the headlines, Taylor Fritz’s similar response afterward was more subtle but equally meaningful. The American number one has often spoken about the shared experiences that shaped them – Laver Cup locker rooms, national team pressure, exhibition runs, endless training blocks. Their careers have run parallel, pushing each other to raise the ceiling of American tennis. What did he say about their incredible bond after his recent defeat to Tiafoe at the 2025 Charlotte Invitational?
“I mean, Frances (Tiafoe) is one of my closest friends. We’ve known each other for… well over 10 years, as he said. We’ve got a lot of good times, a lot of memories, and yeah, I don’t know, we always kind of get along the way we can both… joke with each other.”
Now, if we shift our focus back to tennis. Frances Tiafoe didn’t have a great outing in 2025. Currently ranked 30th in the world, Tiafoe failed to win even a single title this season. He had a win-loss record of 26-23. So, the 27-year-old tennis star will be keen to bounce back strongly in 2026. Guess what? He has already signed up for the Kooyong Classic exhibition, which will be held a week prior to the 2026 AO.
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On the other side, the world number 6, Taylor Fritz, had a win-loss record of 53-23, and he won 2 titles in 2025. Fritz will be seen in action alongside Coco Gauff at the United Cup. Both these players will be keen to gain some momentum before heading to the Australian Open. In Melbourne, they could possibly face each other once again; who knows…
As the 2026 season draws near, one thing feels certain – whether they’re facing each other across the net or standing side by side, Tiafoe and Fritz are writing one of American tennis’s most compelling stories.
Russian-born tennis player Anastasia Potapova switches nationality to Austrian
VIENNA (AP) — Russian-born Anastasia Potapova has switched allegiance to Austria, clearing a path for the 51st-ranked player to compete in the Billie Jean King Cup.
Potapova will become Austria’s highest-ranked women’s player, ahead of No. 94 Julia Grabher, with the nationality switch, which she announced on social media.
“Welcome to the team,” the Austrian tennis federation said in a statement that also confirmed her move.
The 24-year-old Potapova played at the Billie Jean King Cup in 2018 and 2019, but Russia has been banned from team competitions since the invasion of Ukraine.
“Austria is a place I love, is incredibly welcoming and a place where I feel totally at home,” Potapova wrote on Instagram on Thursday. “I love being in Wien and look forward to making my second home there. As part of this, I am proud to announce that starting from 2026 I will be representing my new homeland Austria in my professional tennis career from this point onwards.”
Potapova’s highest ranking was No. 21 in June 2023. Her best Grand Slam result is reaching the fourth round at the 2024 French Open. She has won three singles titles.
As a youth player, she was the 2016 girls champion at Wimbledon.
Potapova was criticized in 2023 for wearing a Spartak Moscow soccer club T-shirt during a warmup at Indian Wells.
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born Anastasia Potapova switches nationality to Austrian
VIENNA — Russian-born Anastasia Potapova has switched allegiance to Austria, clearing a path for the 51st-ranked player to compete in the Billie Jean King Cup.
Potapova will become Austria’s highest-ranked women’s player, ahead of No. 94 Julia Grabher, with the nationality switch, which she announced on social media.
Serving up an idea for the PGA Tour’s competitive future that everyone could love
There seems to be conflicting messages.
On one hand, PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp argues that 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,” Rolapp said last month during a CNBC leadership forum.
On the other, Rolapp and Tiger Woods, head of the PGA Tour’s new Future Competition Committee, preach the need for scarcity in the league’s competitive model, along with simplicity and parity, the latter of which, Rolapp says, the PGA Tour already has in abundance.
But for how long? How does parity coexist with scarcity? How does the PGA Tour, which just trimmed its number of fully exempt members, scale back and simplify its season without also further reducing the number of playing opportunities?
The answers could be found on the tennis court.
This is by no means an endorsement of the Association of Tennis Professionals. I watch four tournaments per year, the Grand Slam events, and maybe the ATP Finals – and I’m surely not alone. Still, I can’t help but find the ATP’s competitive model intriguing when applying it to the PGA Tour.
Here’s the idea I’m serving up:
One tour, six levels of tournaments
The ATP has four levels of tournaments, six if you count the Challenger and Futures events. The Grand Slam events award 2,000 ranking points to the winner, followed by the Masters 1,000 events, 500 events and 250 events. The Challenger and Futures events vary in points, between 50 and 175 for Challenger and 15 to 25 for Futures.
The PGA Tour example would shake out something like this:
Majors and The Players (5 events) – 2,000 points to winner
PGA Tour signature events (10) and playoff events (3) – 1,000
PGA Tour open events (~15) – 500
PGA Tour alternate events (~10) – 250
Korn Ferry events (~25) – 125-175
Americas events (~15) – 50-100
In tennis, there are usually several events per week across all levels, even multiple of the same level, though an emphasis is placed on showcasing the Grand Slam and Masters 1,000 events. Grand Slam and eight of nine Masters 1,000 events are mandatory for top players who qualify. For the PGA Tour, its signature events would be spaced out to about two per month for a total of 10, and there would be a requirement for top players to compete in at least nine of them. This creates a model of scarcity in which there are 18 tournaments that matter most – four majors, The Players, 10 signature events and then three playoff events.
All other events are considered pathways to the levels above.
Seven-month calendar
All tournaments would be played between early February, after the Super Bowl, and early September, before the start of the NFL season. Theoretically, some lower-level tournaments could start earlier, and the fall would feature a playoff series for the lower levels along with Q-School.
There could be scenarios, too, where there are multiple tournaments of the same level in the same week, even as high as the 500-point events. In that scenario, fields would likely split up the exempt membership, but if the PGA Tour truly believes that the gap between the 100th best player in the world and the 300th best player in the world is razor thin, then these fields shouldn’t be too different from what we’d normally see at events such as the Cognizant Classic and CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
More on the fall and Q-School later.
Varied field sizes
Like tennis, field sizes for most of these tournaments can vary. For the signature events, however, fields will be 90 players with a cut. The playoff fields would keep existing structure of 70-50-30.
Rolling ranking that factors only top performances
A new PGA Tour ranking would determine status and would resemble the ATP’s 52-week rolling ranking where players are ranked based on a cumulative point total that factors in only a certain number of top performances. On the ATP, a player’s ranking includes his best 19 performances, 20 if that player qualified for the ATP Finals, the ATP’s playoffs. All mandatory events must be included in the ranking. The PGA Tour’s number could be slightly higher; I’ll go with the best 18 performances plus three playoff starts for a potential total of 21.
Here’s what could factor into a PGA Tour player’s ranking, assuming that player is qualified for all events:
Four majors and The Players (5)
Nine mandatory signature events (9)
Playoff events (3)
Best four other performances (4)
For players who don’t qualify for all the mandatory events, they will count additional performances from other events to reach their 18-event threshold. But if a player skips a mandatory event without reason, like on the ATP, they will have zero points applied to their ranking; for someone like Rory McIlroy, it may matter very little.
Like the ATP, players who miss a cut will still receive points for qualifying for that tournament. For example, any player who qualifies for the main draw of a Grand Slam event receives 30 points automatically. These qualifying points are scaled down by level.
The reason this ranking works is because you can’t game it based on playing too much or too little, like a true cumulative ranking or average-points ranking.
Constant promotion and relegation
One way to think of this new PGA Tour ranking is a form of universal points that can effectively rank players across all PGA Tour levels. Players would earn exempt status for each level based on their end-of-postseason ranking (after the Tour Championship) though unlike the current points races, the ranking will not reset to zero between seasons.
This is a quick thought of who would be exempt for each level for the following season via the ranking, though this could be tweaked upon closer examination:
Majors – existing criteria, though the new PGA Tour ranking could potentially be included
The Players – playoff qualifiers (top 70)
Signature events – top 50
Open events – top 100
Alternate events – top 135
Korn Ferry events – top 200
Americas events – top 300
The rest of the fields will be filled via the current ranking, qualifiers and sponsor exemptions, which creates a system of constant promotion and relegation that will reward players who play well, regardless of what level they’re at. With this model, Johnny Keefer would not have been stuck playing on the Korn Ferry Tour all year; he would’ve likely earned his way into the signature tournaments by the end of the season and the playoffs. This creates parity unlike anything the PGA Tour has seen.
Here’s how a signature event field could be constructed:
Exempt players (50)
Sponsor exemptions (2)
Top available players in rankings (38)
Rankings determine alternate list
Players would be able to play down level at any time should they need the points. I could see the open events getting a handful of top players competing, much like the non-signature events now. But with the ranking only taking your best 18-21 finishes, there won’t be many top-100 players playing a ton of KFT and lower events.
For Year 1, previous season’s performance will determine exempt status and initial ranking.
One more thing: Using a universal ranking to fill out fields could be complicated with players constantly moving up and down, but there is technology to handle the logistics of it. Players can be locked into fields a week in advance should they fall out of eligibility right before a start, while players who play their way into a higher-level event on a Sunday will have the option to change plans and play up right away. With most of these events in the U.S., travel shouldn’t be a hindrance. Players will adapt for the chance to climb the rankings.
Filling out fields is confusing, but it’s not the fans’ jobs to do that – and this still might be easier to comprehend than the current priority lists. Simplicity can be found, however, in the ranking. The better the play, the better the ranking.
Fall schedule and Q-School keep identities, with a twist
Even with football going on, there will still be a demand for golf tournaments in the fall. The PGA Tour season will technically end with the Tour Championship in late August or early September, but there will be a fall slate that includes a lower-level playoff and Q-School.
The lower-level playoff would be series of events each that offer players chances to improve their ranking for the following season. Point values for these events would be 250 winner’s points each. Remember, fields at all levels are filled based on the ranking, and with signature events including a handful of non-exempt players via the ranking, the best performers in these events could play themselves into signature territory in the ranking. Unlike the current fall, this series would be closed to players who are already exempt into the signature events for the next year, so Nos. 51 and beyond in the rankings after the main playoffs are eligible to compete.
Q-School would be unranked and would function as is, offering exempt spots in the 250 events and lower for those who make it to final stage. Once exempt, these players would build their ranking during their rookie season.
DP Word Tour involvement? Potentially
There could still be a pathway from the DP World Tour to exempt status in the 500 events or lower, while co-sanctioned tournaments could still offer ranking points.
Confused yet? Hopefully not.
Moving to this model might not be as simple a concept as Rolapp and Co. would like, but it would not only likely satisfy the goals and desires of much of the membership, but it would allow for an easy transition for existing sponsors and partners. Truncating the schedule within the existing structures would mean some tournaments would be squeezed out. Having essentially one tour with varying levels of tournaments would allow for flexibility with scheduling. And the cumulative ranking will not only accommodate more events, but it will help alleviate the extreme advantages created by the current signature model.
There is so much more to think about with this idea, but considering the current outlook, it’s an idea that, at the very least, holds serve.
Megan Moroney Sets First Arena Tour, Hitting 43 Cities in 2026
Fans will have a chance to further determine just how “okay” Megan Moroney is when the country star embarks on her first headlining tour of arenas, beginning in late May of 2026 in the U.S. and wrapping up in early October in Europe.
The singer is poised to move on from her “Am I Okay?” album era to touring behind a third album, “Cloud 9,” that is due out Feb. 9. Moroney recently stopped by the Variety CMA Awards Lounge in Nashville and talked about what is different about the forthcoming record — including a visual and thematic shift from blue to pink that will surely be reflected in audiences attending the tour.
The “Cloud 9” tour will kick off May 29 at Columbus’ Schottenstein Center, with North American dates running through a hometown capper at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Aug. 21. Other stops in the U.S. along the way include an Aug. 7 date at L.A.’s Kia Forum — the inevitable follow-up to the two sold-out shows she just did at the Greek — and east coast appearances at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on July 9 and a July 10 gig at Newark’s Prudential Center.
After the North American run wraps up in late August, Moroney will reappear across the pond in mid-September, with nine European dates that include shows in London, Glasgow, Paris, Stockholm and Oslo. The tour is slated to conclude Oct. 1 in Belfast.
All tickets for the tour go on sale Dec. 12 at 10 a.m. local time at meganmoroney.com.
Well prior to all this, Moroney will be in Los Angeles this weekend at Variety’s annual Hitmakers event to receive the Storyteller of the Year award, given for her series of outstanding singles — like “6 Months Later,” the first teaser song from “Cloud 9” — as well as the strength of the songwriting on the “Am I Okay?” and “Lucky” albums that has pushed her to the top tier of country singer-songwriters.
For Variety‘s account of Moroney’s recent scream-along shows at the Greek, click here.
The full itinerary for Moroney’s tour:
MAY
29 | Columbus, OH – Schottenstein Center
30 | Indianapolis, IN – Gainbridge Fieldhouse
JUNE
2 | Chicago, IL – United Center
5 | Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena
6 | Greensboro, NC – First Horizon Coliseum
8 | Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
12 | Louisville, KY – KFC Yum! Center
13 | St. Louis, MO – Enterprise Center
16 | Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena
18 | Milwaukee, WI – Summerfest
19 | Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena
20 | Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
JULY
7 | Boston, MA – TD Garden
9 | Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
10 | Newark, NJ – Prudential Center
11 | Philadelphia, PA – Xfinity Mobile Arena
14 | Charlotte, NC – Spectrum Center
16 | Orlando, FL – Kia Center
17 | Tampa, FL – Benchmark International Arena
18 | Sunrise, FL – Amerant Bank Arena
24 | Monticello, IA – Great Jones County Fair
25 | Minneapolis, MN – Target Center
26 | Lincoln, NE – Pinnacle Bank Arena
28 | Denver, CO – Ball Arena
AUGUST
1 | Portland, OR – Moda Center
2 | Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
5 | Sacramento, CA – Golden 1 Center
7 | Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena
11 | Glendale, AZ – Desert Diamond Arena
14 | Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center
15 | Tulsa, OK – BOK Center
16 | Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center
18 | Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
21 | Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
SEPTEMBER
13 | Oslo, NO – Sentrum Scene
15 | Stockholm, SE – Annexet
18 | Cologne, DE – Carlswerk Victoria
19 | Tilburg, NL – 013 Poppodium
21 | Paris, FR – Le Trianon
23 | London, UK – Eventim Apollo
26 | Manchester, UK – O2 Apollo
27 | Glasgow, UK – O2 Academy
Rosalia Announces ‘Lux’ World Tour
Rosalía already surprised a lot of the world with her baroque, classically inspired masterwork Lux but now she’s going even further by bringing it to her fans live. The Spanish pop star has announced a global tour that will take her through Europe, the U.S., and Latin America as she performs the boundary-breaking album in major arenas.
She’ll kick the tour off March 16 in Lyon, France, and then she’ll make her way through places like Spain, Portugal, and Germany before landing in Miami’s Kaseya Center on June 4. She’ll also play Madison Square Garden in New York and the Kia Center in Los Angeles.
Fans are already waiting to see how Rosalía interprets the baroque inspirations on the album, which was originally recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Daníel Bjarnason. She’s already brought string musicians and other classical players for short performances on LOS40 Music Awards and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Rosalía’s other collaborators include Björk, Carminho, Estrella Morente, Silvia Pérez Cruz, Yahritza, and Yves Tumor, as well as choral groups like the Escolania de Montserrat i Cor Cambra Palau de la Música Catalana.
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After it’s release in November, the critically acclaimed project broke the record for the most streams in the first 24 hours by a female Spanish-language artist on Spotify. Lux is Rosalía’s first LP since 2022’s Motomami, and it sees her sing in 14 different languages. See Rosalía’s tour dates below.
USC freshman Alijah Arenas could return to action as soon as January
After surviving a fiery car wreck last spring, then injuring his knee last summer, USC star freshman Alijah Arenas could finally return to the court as soon as January, according to Trojans coach Eric Musselman.
Musselman said Thursday that Arenas’ rehab from knee surgery was “going phenomenally.”
The five-star freshman’s return would be significant news for USC, which has started the season 8-0 for its best start since 2022. The Trojans are off to that strong start despite also being without point guard Rodney Rice, who had been leading the team in scoring.
Rice remains “day to day,” but is expected to miss some time. USC has also been without forward Amarion Dickerson due to injury.
But Arenas’ return would immediately change the trajectory of a Trojans season that already looks pretty good through its first eight games.
MLB players union gathers to prepare for potentially contentious labor negotiations in 2026
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Roughly a month after the Los Angeles Dodgers finished a scintillating seven-game World Series triumph over the Toronto Blue Jays, the Major League Baseball Players’ Association gathered in Arizona this week to discuss the future of the game and look ahead to a possible lockout next December.
Japanese stars headed by Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto have sparked record international interest, in-game attendance was up in 2025 for the third straight season, and a set of rule changes that began in 2023 has produced a faster-paced game that’s been widely lauded.
MLB work stoppage on the horizon? What MLBPA chief had to say
SCOTTSDALE, AZ – The storm clouds are hovering, with the dire forecast of a work stoppage coming a year from now, but Tony Clark, executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, refuses to sweat.
He spent four days meeting with players at their executive board meeting this week, with the hottest topic the upcoming collective bargaining agreement. He told them to be fully prepared for a potential work stoppage, but to also ignore the noise that the game will be shut down when the CBA expires Dec. 1, 2026.
“Our interest is getting in the room and hammering out a fair and equitable deal,’’ Clark told USA TODAY Sports and the Associated Press on Thursday. “Our commitment is in the room, at the table and getting to an agreement that is fair and equitable. Other stuff is just noise.’’
Is it possible the game will be shut down and disrupt the 2027 season?
Certainly.
This is why the players voted to have their licensing checks withheld since 2024, which is expected to happen again this year and next.
But will the game definitely be shut down?
No.
“We never go into a negotiation trying to miss games,’’ Clark said. “I can’t speak for the other side, but we don’t go into a negotiation trying to miss games. But in our history, we’ve missed games. We go into a negotiation looking to move the industry forward, protect and advance player rights, as a part of that. We’re going to negotiate in that fashion here.
“But we’re going to be prepared for what the other side is telling us they’re interested in doing. We don’t go into the conversation looking to damage the game, particularly in a world where the game is moving in a very good direction.
“We should be celebrating our guys and the game and what we’re seeing. Our guys are doing that, and they’re performing night in and night out, but the noise is suggesting that the sky is falling. We’ll see once we start formal bargaining what that looks like, but our players are ready for whatever that is going to look like.’’
There’s no need for a union fan council, no need to tell the world that teams are making more money than they let on, and no need to join the chorus and predict a lockout.
Really, Clark and the executive board reiterated, they hear the same complaints of the fans and share the same interests.
The players would love to see greater competitive balance, too, among teams, but don’t believe for a second that a salary cap is the way to accomplish the goal.
While no team shares their financial statements except Atlanta, which is a publicly traded company, the union receives private financial information from Major League Baseball that reveals exactly how much money each team generates in revenues each year.
So, the union is just as frustrated as the fans in some of the small markets who have low payrolls, believing that if they really wanted to compete for a World Series, or simply a division title, they would spend more money on their team instead of pocketing profits.
It will be the primary issue when Major League Baseball and the players union begin their formal negotiations, which is expected to commence in spring training, and was emphasized this week. The last time a small-market team won the World Series was in 2015 with the Kansas City Royals, but the Milwaukee Brewers, who reside in the smallest market in baseball, reached the NLCS this year despite a payroll $300 million less than the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“There are teams who have the wherewithal to compete that are choosing not to … that we don’t believe are putting their best foot forward,’’ Clark said. “Competition is central to what happens in our industry and the excitement that is built around it, much like you’ve seen over the course of the last four or five years. The excitement around it has caused a growth in eyeballs and people with butts in the seats. … But in a world, regardless of whether you’re on the left coast or the East Coast, or whether you’re anywhere in between, and independent of the size of your market, you have the wherewithal to compete.’’
There were strides made in the last CBA that assured that teams aren’t rewarded by consistently losing with the draft lottery and other mechanisms. The Chicago White Sox, who set a modern-day record in 2024 with 121 losses, weren’t eligible to have a draft pick higher than 10th in the following amateur draft.
“Teams were benefiting from losing in a way that incentivized losing,’’ Clark said. “That’s not what we wanted to have. It didn’t quite get as far as we would have liked to in some areas, but we were able to do some things that that changed that value proposition a little, or at least put some uncertainty in the equation whereby just losing the highest number of games doesn’t ensure the No. 1 draft picks.’’
The union made great strides in the last CBA with increased salaries for players not yet eligible for salary arbitration with increased minimum salaries, an incentive program that provided bonuses for player performance, and helping severely curtail service time manipulation with teams being rewarded with a draft pick if their rookies on opening-day rosters won individual awards.
There surely will be modifications and proposed minimum salary increases in this CBA, and at the same time, the players want to see changes in the MLB rule competition committee.
The committee, constructed in 2022, consists of six team owners, four players and one umpire. It was responsible for the introduction of the pitch clock, shift restrictions and the automated ball-strike challenge system that will go into effect in 2026. Yet, no matter how the players voted, MLB had the final say with the six owners all voting in favor of the commissioner’s office recommendation.
“The players have a concern about the well-being of the game,’’ Clark said. “They love it. They’ve dedicated their lives to it, and they recognize the window for them to play it is remarkably small. So they want the game to be the best version of itself.
“When you represent that as a part of the committee, even if you have less votes, and it’s either considered … it tells players that their value, their voice, isn’t being valued. So I remain hopeful, with less votes, will at some point in time yield more substantive responses to the input that players are offering. …. It hasn’t manifested itself the way players had expected.’’
While there isn’t a current player who has been part of a major work stoppage, with many not even born the last time the players went on strike in 1994-1995, Clark reiterated that the players’ solidarity is as strong as ever. When the executive subcommittee voted 8-0 against a proposed CBA deal from the owners in 2022, and the full union membership voted overwhelmingly to instead end the 99-day lockout, Clark called it a sign of strength, not a weakness.
There’s also no need to remind the players to be cautious in publicly addressing a potential work stoppage, believing they are much more media savvy than in 1994-95 when popular players like Tom Glavine and David Cone drew the wrath from fans for their stances.
“It’s different now,’’ Clark said. “These young players are equipped and have functioned in a world that’s much different than the one that we came up. In having said that, you standing on principle, there are always people that are going to challenge your principles. … It’s hard to make everybody happy all the time, but I firmly believe that our players and our fans connect better with our players than they ever have before. They can relate to our guys in ways that they couldn’t, and didn’t relate back then.’’
Now, the hope is that the common goal of competitive balance, when the Milwaukees of the world have the same chance as the Dodgers to play deep into October, can bring everyone together without bringing the game to a halt.
“I will tell you that with some of the issues, particularly as those as they relate to competition,’’ Clark said, “there’s a number of moving pieces in there that can be beneficial to everyone involved, and thus move our game forward.
“We’re looking forward to having those conversations.’’
Red Sox trade for Johan Oviedo from Pirates (source)
Outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia (MLB’s No. 85 prospect) and right-hander Jesus Travieso are going to Pittsburgh in the deal, while the Pirates are also sending a pair of prospects — left-hander Tyler Samaniego and catcher Adonys Guzman — to Boston.
The clubs have not confirmed the trade, which comes a couple weeks after the Red Sox acquired veteran starter Sonny Gray from the Cardinals.
Oviedo, who is under club control through the 2027 season, has been effective when healthy, posting a career 4.24 ERA across 81 big league appearances (57 starts). The 27-year-old missed the entire 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, then suffered a lat strain that limited him to nine starts in 2025, when he logged a 3.57 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 40 1/3 innings.
MLB players union meets to prepare for potentially contentious labor negotiations in 2026
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Roughly a month after the Los Angeles Dodgers finished a scintillating seven-game World Series triumph over the Toronto Blue Jays, the Major League Baseball Players Association gathered in Arizona this week to discuss the future of the game and look ahead to a possible lockout next December.
Japanese stars headed by Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto have sparked record international interest, in-game attendance was up in 2025 for the third straight season, and a set of rule changes that began in 2023 has produced a faster-paced game that’s been widely lauded.
But the big-spending nature of the $500 million Dodgers — who were led by high-priced stars Ohtani, Yamamoto, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman — highlighted baseball’s payroll disparity as the MLBPA prepares for a potentially contentious round of labor negotiations leading to the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement Dec. 1.
Union head Tony Clark said formal bargaining will likely begin in the spring, consistent with previous negotiations.
“As an organization, you start preparing for the next round of bargaining as soon as the ink is dry on the previous one,” Clark said Thursday. “You’re constantly assessing the system, you’re assessing how it is that teams and players are responding to the system.
“A year away, you’re really drilling down on what that looks like.”
The eight-person executive subcommittee consists of 2025 Cy Young Award winners Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal, along with veterans Chris Bassitt, Jake Cronenworth, Pete Fairbanks, Cedric Mullins, Marcus Semien and Brent Suter.
There are also 30 player reps — one for each team.
“We have an outstanding group of player leaders,” Clark said. “We are better and stronger as an organization when players engage one another and are educated on the issues. We have that. It’s something we’re grateful for and something historically our organization has always had.”
Clark said the MLBPA’s main focus continues to be centered on a few large issues heading into bargaining. One is finding more ways to encourage all 30 teams to spend on the free-agent market to make teams as competitive as possible.
While the Dodgers have spent roughly $890 million over the last two years building back-to-back World Series champions, the Athletics have committed than $150 million over the same period. MLB is the only major U.S.-based professional sports league without a salary cap.
The players association is bracing to resist a renewed push for a cap. Demand for a cap from owners is what led to a 7½-month strike in 1994-95 and the first cancellation of the World Series in 90 years.
Thirty years later, scars from that experience still remain. Clark made his MLB debut with the Detroit Tigers in 1995.
“Knowing that there are teams who have the wherewithal to compete, that choose not to and how that affects the industry,” Clark said. “In an industry where not all 30 teams are committed to that, what does that mean? Are there things that we can do to address those concerns? There are.”
The other major issue is that the MLBPA would like to see more ways for younger players to be paid in a way that’s more consistent with their on-field value. Most players are eligible for salary arbitration after three years of MLB service time and can be free agents after six years.
The union made some gains in compensating younger players in the last round of bargaining. The minimum salary jumped to $700,000 in 2022 and will be $780,000 next year. And a $50 million annual pool was established for prearbitration-eligible players.
Associated Press reporter Ronald Blum contributed.
Analyzing Cubs’ right field options entering 2026
The simplest solution to the outfield situation is to bring Tucker back. But it won’t be easy or cheap, as he’s perhaps the most coveted player in this year’s free-agent class. Consider this: Though injuries limited Tucker’s availability and production (by his standards) each of the past two seasons, he still had a combined 156 OPS+. His 22 homers last season were his fewest in a full season, but he still had an .841 OPS and a 143 OPS+. He also swiped 25 bases for his third 20-20 season. Those are
Ken Rosenthal Doesn’t Hold Back on Kyle Tucker Visiting Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays have already made one big splash, signing Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million contract after coming off their American League Pennant. Nonetheless, could another major signing be on the way?
On December 3, The Athletic reported, citing a league source, that free-agent hitter Kyle Tucker toured the Blue Jays’ player development complex in Dunedin, Fla.
As a corner outfielder, Tucker offers a blend of speed, power, and reliable contact. With a career OPS of .865, he has topped 20 homers and reached double figures in steals in each of the past five seasons.
“What’s interesting about this is that prior to last night, the Jays’ interest in Kyle Tucker was rumored, but it was never really confirmed or even seemed to be something that the club was prioritizing,” Rosenthal said on the December 4 edition of “Fair Territory.” “We know that they signed the two starting pitchers, Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce.
“We didn’t know exactly what they were doing on the position side, but they had interest, perhaps in Tucker and certainly in resigning Bo Bichette. So this is a clear indication of their interest. Whether it indicates they’re going to sign Tucker remains to be seen.
“And let’s not get carried away with that idea. You remember Shohei Ohtani, a couple of years ago, visiting the Jays Training Complex in Dunedin, didn’t sign. This is a normal thing for players to do. And Kyle Tucker does live in Tampa, which is a short drive from Dunedin. So really for him, hop, skip, and a jump, no big deal to go there. But at the same time, I don’t want to underplay this.”
Blue Jays Send a Message to Bo Bichette
Whether Toronto signs Tucker remains to be seen, but Rosenthal stated that the reported meeting with the all-star outfielder is a message to the Blue Jays‘ homegrown product and free-agent hitter, Bo Bichette.
“The Jays are acting like behemoths in this market, and this meeting with Tucker that took place last night or yesterday, whenever exactly it was, is an indication that they are thinking big,” Rosenthal added.
“It also might be a message to Bo Bichette: ‘Hey, come down a little bit in your price.’ There are all kinds of possibilities here. Fact of the matter is, he was in Dunedin at their complex, and that is news.”
Blue Jays Will Need to Shell Out Significant Money
Despite this visit from Tucker, the sticking point is money. Toronto already pushed out two of the biggest contracts of the offseason, and signing Tucker would take an even heavier financial leap.
Tucker’s bat would be a welcome addition to the Blue Jays’ lineup, considering he’s a four-time All-Star with two Silver Sluggers and a Gold Glove. A move pushes Toronto even higher atop the teams that are the favorites to win the AL in 2026.
Moreover, while any team would welcome Tucker, he fills a real need for Toronto because of his left-handed bat. Last season, the Jays tried a few left-handed options in front of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., giving turns to Nathan Lukes and Addison Barger.
Meet Georgios Frangulis: Aryna Sabalenka’s Gorgeous Spiritual Boyfriend Who Does Motorsports And Owns A Successful Business
As Aryna Sabalenka continues her ascent through the top ranks of women’s tennis, her boyfriend Georgios Frangulis has become a steady presence in her player’s box and a central figure in her personal life.
Sabalenka said in an interview with People that Frangulis supported her during some of the most challenging moments of her career. She described how he helped her step away from tennis mentally when necessary and focus on enjoying life beyond the court. His encouragement, she said, allowed her to stay grounded during difficult stretches.
Their relationship became public in April 2024 when they were first photographed together. Since then, Frangulis has attended major tournaments and celebrated Sabalenka’s victories, including her semifinal win at the Australian Open. A detailed profile in Town & Country described him as a key stabilising force in her life.
A Deeply Spiritual Approach to Life
Frangulis embraces spirituality as one of his defining traits. Speaking to Forbes Brazil, he said that visiting church frequently and maintaining a connection with faith are central to his daily routine. He described spirituality and intuition as values rooted in his family, and he continues to rely on both as guiding principles.
This aspect of his personality has also influenced the way he supports Sabalenka during competition. Frangulis admitted that watching her matches from the player’s box is stressful. He explained that he tries to remain calm and composed because Sabalenka notices every movement from her support team. He chooses to remain quiet during play, clapping only at crucial moments, and focuses on helping her recover emotionally after matches.
A Competitive Side: Frangulis Races in the Porsche GT3 Cup
Beyond spirituality and business, Frangulis is an active competitor in motorsports. He participates in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, a demanding racing series that often overlaps with his responsibilities as CEO of Oakberry. He said the races usually take place on weekends, which allows him to maintain a structured training schedule during the week. Physical preparation and therapy sessions help him manage pressure and stay ready for race days.
Frangulis said that racing offers him moments of complete focus, where everything outside the car disappears. He described those moments as rare and valuable given the intensity of his professional life. Motorsport enthusiasts have noted his steady improvement and discipline within the series.
A Global Entrepreneur With a Growing Sports Network
Frangulis is best known as the founder and CEO of Oakberry, a popular global açaí and smoothie brand. He has expanded the company rapidly across multiple continents, creating a strong international presence. His business success has also connected him to significant figures in the sports world.
His growing friendship with former men’s tennis world number one Novak Djokovic is one example. Frangulis and Sabalenka recently met up in with Djokovic and his wife Jelena in Athens, where Sabalenka and Djokovic trained together at the Tatoi Club before their post–US Open events. The outing was documented by Tennis.com.
Djokovic and Frangulis are also business partners. They invested together in the French football club Le Mans, joining a group that includes racing stars Felipe Massa and Kevin Magnussen. Frangulis has said that Djokovic inspired him long before they met personally and that their friendship is now built on mutual curiosity about sport, business and global culture.
How Frangulis Became a Quiet Yet Influential Force in Tennis Circles
The new angle emerging from Frangulis’ growing visibility is the influence he now holds within tennis culture despite not being an athlete in the sport. His support for Sabalenka, combined with his business ties and his connection to Djokovic, has placed him in a unique position. He has become part of the inner circle that shapes conversations around elite tennis players while maintaining strong ties to motorsports and entrepreneurship.
Frangulis’ combination of spirituality, discipline and business intellect allows him to move between these worlds smoothly. He brings calm to Sabalenka’s team, business insight to Djokovic’s ventures and competitive energy through his racing career. This blend of roles reflects a modern type of tennis partner: supportive, influential and deeply connected to the global sports ecosystem.
A Partner Who Adds Stability and Ambition to Sabalenka’s Life
For Sabalenka, Frangulis offers both emotional stability and a sense of shared ambition. His presence during her matches, his encouragement during setbacks and his ability to balance demanding responsibilities have strengthened their relationship. Together, they have become one of tennis’ most visible and dynamic couples.
As Sabalenka competes for more major titles and Frangulis expands his influence in business and sport, their connection remains a key part of her personal and professional journey.
Alfredo Tapped to Drive No. 96 for Two
Viking Motorsports is set to expand its operations in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series for the upcoming campaign, fielding a second entry in what will mark the team’s sophomore year in the second-tier series.
In addition to the team’s flagship No. 99 Chevrolet, which the organization announced in November would be driven by Parker Retzlaff in 2026, the Don Sackett-owned operation will break out the No. 96 for the complete 33-race campaign, starting at Daytona on February 14.
The driver? Long-time NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series pilot Anthony Alfredo.
The 26-year-old moves to the team’s newly-formed second entry after a year working with Young’s Motorsports – the latest in a line of Chevrolet-backed teams that Alfredo has worked with throughout his 151-race O’Reilly Auto Parts Series tenure (which includes former series champions Richard Childress Racing).
Joshua Graham, who previously worked with Alfredo at Our Motorsports in 2024, will be paired with the Ridgefield, Connecticut-native as the team looks to use their past chemistry to get a kickstart on things with its second entry.
Graham spent last season working in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series as a crew chief for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing – working with both Daniel Hemric and Jack Wood.
Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins ‘hurt’ by NASCAR’s ‘take-it-or-leave-it’ charter offer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins testified Wednesday in the federal antitrust case against NASCAR that 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.
Front Row, alongside 23XI Motorsports, is suing NASCAR over antitrust claims for the charter agreement that was presented on the eve of the 2024 playoffs and went into effect this year. He said he was out to dinner with his parents and had no cell signal when the charter offer came in.
Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins, left, and 23XI co-owner Denny Hamlin arrive in the Western District of North Carolina on Monday Dec 1, 2025 in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jenna Fryer)
When he finally got phone service, he had dozens of missed calls and texts about the charter agreement and reached out to several rival owners.
“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. on a 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.”
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.”
Jenkins, a fast-food franchise owner, plans to hand Front Row Motorsports down to his four sons so he testified he spoke to the two eldest about the charter offer. He explained that 13 of 15 organizations had signed — Jenkins said he felt NASCAR believed he would cave to the pressure of the other teams having already committed — but that he really did not believe the charter offer was a good deal and did not want to sign.
When they agreed with him, he joined Basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, the owners of 23XI, in suing NASCAR.
Front Row was one of the teams that received original charter agreements in 2016 when the system was created. He didn’t love the deal then but felt it was a step in the right direction in bolstering the health of the top stock car racing series in the United States.
He felt the 2025 agreement went “virtually backward in so many ways.
“It was insulting, it went so far backward. NASCAR wanted to run the governance with an iron fist, it was like taxation without representation,” he testified. “NASCAR has the right to do whatever it wants.”
Front Row and 23XI have accused NASCAR of being a monopolistic bully in violation of federal antitrust laws in this landmark antitrust case that could rewrite the framework of the sport. The teams contend NASCAR is a monopoly that has handcuffed them 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. 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.
Jenkins has never turned a profit since launching his NASCAR team in the early 2000’s and estimates he’s lost $100 million even while winning the Daytona 500 in 2021. But he said he grew up a NASCAR fan, was a charter member of the Dale Earnhardt fan club beginning with Earnhardt’s rookie season and lived out a dream in becoming a team owner.
He testified he’s fighting for NASCAR to be healthy and stable — for the Florida-based France family that owns it and all the participants.
“This is not about bashing the France family,” Jenkins testified. “They’ve made a lot of great decisions. This charter is not one of them.”
Michael Jordan, co-owner of 23XI Racing, sits in his pit box during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Talladega Superspeedway, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Talladega, Ala. (AP Photo/ Butch Dill, File)
He said his fellow owners agree.
“100% of the owners think the charter system is good,” Jenkins said. “The charter agreement is not.”
NASCAR executive takes stand over alleged illegal monopoly abuses
Scott Prime, NASCAR executive vice president in charge of strategy, testified for a second day to his role in shaping the Cup Series’ charter system when he worked outside the series for a consulting firm.
Prime compiled a 2014 report for the McKinsey firm that stated concerns over the longevity of the sport if NASCAR didn’t act to improve the health of their race teams. One of the suggestions was issuing taxi-like “medallions,” which was the genesis for the charter system.
Jeffrey Kessler, attorney for 23XI and Front Row, said even with charters, NASCAR teams remain stuck in a weakened negotiating state and with unfavorable terms because there are no other legitimate stock car series options.
“You’re a monopoly,” Kessler told Prime. “There’s no place else to compete. There was no place else for them to go, correct?”
“NASCAR is the premier stock car racing series today, yes,” Prime said.
Prime said NASCAR became concerned about the threat of a breakaway stock car series during 2024 charter negotiations. He said at the time NASCAR considered several options that included offering charters to team owners on a “first come, first served” basis and as drastic an option as taking cars in-house for the France family to run and essentially eliminating race teams.
“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,’” Kessler said.
NASCAR would present the take-it-or-leave it offer that left Jenkins hurt.
How it got here
The trial is expected to last two weeks.
NASCAR is owned and operated by the France family, which founded the series in 1948.
Kessler told the jury Monday that 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.
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.
The new charter agreement upped the guaranteed money for every chartered car to $12.5 million in annual revenue, from $9 million. But Hamlin and Jenkins have both 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.
Both testified they don’t have the ability to slash costs and teams are too reliant on outside sponsorship to survive.
“It’s offensive to say I’ve overspent. We have a model that works for us,” Jenkins testified. “I have never turned a profit. And it’s not from malpractice. The level we compete at is just so expensive.”
Prime testified as much and noted in his consulting role he discovered in 2014 that teams lost a combined $85 million, or an average of $1.3 million a car. He also learned that under the system before charters, when cars had to qualify for a race based on speed, a team would lose $700,000 if it failed to make the field.
Behind the scenes
NASCAR’s lawyers were admonished by Judge Kenneth Bell after the jurors were dismissed for the day for violating rulings on what could be introduced in court. The lawyers had been told they could not use text exchanges between Spire co-owner Jeff Dickerson and Prime because Dickerson is not a witness, and they could not discuss Jenkins’ income stream from non-NASCAR businesses.
“These will not happen again,” Bell warned the defense.
Christopher Yates, who has been lead attorney in the year since the case began, has through three days let his associates handle all the in-court action.
Meanwhile, as the two sides left court at the end of the day, a spectator waited for Jordan and played the introduction music that always played before Jordan began an NBA game. Jordan, during a break in court, told a reporter he did not watch North Carolina’s win over Kentucky on Tuesday night.
NASCAR antitrust trial: Bob Jenkins testifies about $100M loss and ‘insulting’ charter deal
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins was back on the stand Thursday to testify on the fourth day of the explosive antitrust case that accuses NASCAR of being a monopolistic bully in violation of federal antitrust laws.
Jenkins began his testimony Wednesday and the fast-food franchiser said he was a passionate NASCAR fan who fulfilled a longtime dream when he was finally able to own a car in the top motorsports series in the United States.
But he said he has lost $100 million since becoming a team owner in the early 2000s and that’s even with a 2001 victory in the Daytona 500. His love of the sport and belief that it can be profitable have kept him going, but what he believes is a no-win revenue model led Front Row to join 23XI Racing in a federal lawsuit against NASCAR.
23XI is owned by Basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin. Jordan has the funding to fight NASCAR and Jenkins joined the battle when he became offended by NASCAR’s “take-it-or-leave-it” offer on charter agreements.
A charter is the equivalent of the franchise model used by other sports leagues, but in NASCAR it guarantees a team a spot in the field for all 38 races plus a designated percentage of revenue. Front Row was one of the teams that received two charters for free when NASCAR created the system in 2016 and Jenkins thought the agreements were lousy then — but a step in the right direction.
All 15 Sprint Cup organizations fought for more than two years for better terms on the charter extensions that began this year. But when NASCAR’s final offer was presented at 6 p.m. on a Friday last year with six hours to sign the 112-page document, Jenkins balked because it went “virtually backward in so many ways.
“It was insulting, it went so far backward,” he testified Wednesday. “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.”
He said he was “honestly very hurt” by the sequence of events and believed 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 testified that Joe Gibbs personally apologized to Jenkins for signing the deal, and most owners reluctantly signed the agreement.
“Not a single owner said, ‘I was happy to sign it.’ Not a single one,” he testified. “100% of the owners think the charter system is good,” Jenkins said. “The charter agreement is not.”
Front Row and 23XI were the only two organizations out of 15 that refused to sign and instead went to court in a trial that could completely rework NASCAR’s framework.
The extensions ended more than two years of bitter negotiations in which neither NASCAR or the teams budged.
Team losses
NASCAR executive vice president in charge of strategy Scott Prime testified Wednesday that a study he worked on as a consultant found the longevity of the sport was in danger if NASCAR didn’t act to improve the health of their race teams.
Prime said NASCAR became concerned about the threat of a breakaway stock car series during 2024 charter negotiations.
Jeffrey Kessler, attorney for the teams, told the jury Monday that 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.
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.
The new charter agreement upped the guaranteed money for every chartered car to $12.5 million in annual revenue, from $9 million. But Hamlin and Jenkins have both 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.
Both testified they don’t have the ability to slash costs and teams are too reliant on outside sponsorship to survive.
“It’s offensive to say I’ve overspent. We have a model that works for us,” Jenkins testified. “I have never turned a profit. And it’s not from malpractice. The level we compete at is just so expensive.”
Prime testified as much and noted in his consulting role he discovered in 2014 that teams lost a combined $85 million, or an average of $1.3 million a car. He also learned that under the system before charters, when cars had to qualify for a race based on speed, a team would lose $700,000 if it failed to make the field.
The trial is expected to last two weeks with Jordan, Rick Hendrick and Roger Penske still set to testify. Jordan has been in court each day and is occasionally demonstrative, either laughing at funny remarks or shaking his head at testimony he disagrees with.
NASCAR is owned and operated by the France family, which founded the series in 1948.
Olsen, Barker go full-time for Ford Multimatic IMSA GTD PRO team
Ford Multimatic Motorsports has announced a realignment of its two-car GTD PRO effort in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, with Rolex 24 At Daytona winner Dennis Olsen and Ben Barker move into full-time driving roles in 2026.
Olsen, who partnered with Christopher Mies and Frédéric Vervisch in the Ford Mustang GT3’s first global racing victory at Daytona last season, will go from Michelin Endurance Cup specialist to drive the No. 64 Ford Mustang GT3 for all 10 GTD PRO rounds. Barker, who was the Endurance Cup driver for the No. 64 car last season, will be his full-season co-driver.
Mies and Vervisch will continue to drive the No. 65 car, after finishing eighth in the 2026 GTD PRO standings.
Mike Rockenfeller and Sebastian Priaulx, who finished third in points, will become the new Endurance Cup drivers for Ford Multimatic Motorsports. Rockenfeller will join Olsen and Barker in the No. 64, while Priaulx will move to the No. 65 crew to join Mies and Vervisch.
Ford will introduce a new Evo version of the Mustang GT3 in 2026, which ran at the November IMSA Sanctioned Test at Daytona and will make its race debut in the Rolex 24 – featuring bodywork and platform updates.
Today’s announcement was made in an open letter written by Olsen, who will begin his first full season of IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship racing in 2026.
“Driving under the Daytona Beach welcome sign this time around brought back so many emotions. Last time I was here, I was standing on the roof of a Ford Mustang GT3 in victory lane having achieved a lifetime’s ambition. Daytona International Speedway holds so many special memories, but it also is our next challenge as we prepare for the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship,” Olsen wrote.
“I am looking forward to building on our successes – with Ben Barker and Mike Rockenfeller by my side, joined by Christopher Mies, Frédéric Vervisch and Sebastian Priaulx in the sister car to complete a strong Mustang GT3 roster in the GTD PRO class. Our first target is to leave Daytona with another Rolex watch!
“While last year’s Rolex 24 At Daytona was very emotional – filled with immense pressure and intensity to the final lap – there was a sense of calm returning for November’s IMSA-sanctioned test. For 2026, we will introduce the next evolution of the Mustang GT3, to kick-off the 125th anniversary of Ford Racing, and I will get to do that with some of my closest friends and teammates – our Ford family.
“It’s an honor to be representing Ford Racing and Multimatic Motorsports as a full-time driver in the No. 64 Mustang GT3 this season,” he continued. “While this will be my first complete season in IMSA, I know what to expect. I’ve been to most of the tracks already, except for Virginia International Raceway and the streets of Detroit.
“It is important to show that ‘America’s Race Team’ can win its home series. It’s also one of the most important markets for the brand, as the birthplace of more than 10 million Mustangs that have been delivered to customers globally.”
About the change in driver line-ups, Olsen added: “Some might ask, ‘Why change the formula?’ Here, we have a line-up of true championship contenders – united in maximizing the Mustang GT3. It’s not only for us, but also for everyone included in this project. We are here to showcase the updated Mustang GT3 and reward everyone’s hard work.
“Bringing the Mustang GT3 home to its first global victory was both an incredible experience and journey to get there. I became a father less than one month before the race; my wife and I welcomed Ellie into the world. Many people said that I’d lose a couple tenths of a second as a new father. I sure proved them wrong that weekend and rest assured, I aim to do that this season as a full-timer.
“We are going into January’s Rolex 24 At Daytona confident, because we have all the right pieces to build on our successes in the third year of the Mustang GT3. The target is – and always is – winning the championship.”
Why Did Chris Gabehart Leave Denny Hamlin & JGR? What His Exit Means to Joe Gibbs & Spire Motorsports?
Late on December 3, 2025, the motorsport world got confirmation that Chris Gabehart has departed Joe Gibbs Racing. That is not just a personnel change. It is a seismic shift. Gabehart had worn many hats, from being Hamlin’s long-time crew chief to serving as JGR’s Competition Director. Rumors are already swirling that he is heading to Spire Motorsports for 2026. His exit raises a lot of questions.
Why leave right after JGR had re-established itself at the top of the sport? What does it mean for Hamlin, and for a team like Spire, which seems to be building quietly but aggressively behind the scenes?
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How Chris Gabehart’s exit affects Denny Hamlin’s 2026 outlook
Chris Gabehart and Denny Hamlin were one of NASCAR’s most feared pairings. From 2019 through 2024, they scored 22 wins together, including back-to-back Daytona 500 victories, and brought the No. 11 team to multiple Championship 4 appearances. That consistency was not just about speed. It was chemistry, trust, and a shared language built over hundreds of races.
Even after Chris Gabehart moved into the Competition Director role and was replaced by Chris Gayle on the pit box in 2025, many expected his influence would still be felt across JGR’s cars. Having him leave entirely now leaves a noticeable void.
For 2026, Hamlin loses a person who knows exactly how he thinks, how he drives, and how to extract speed and stability from a car under pressure. No matter how strong Chris Gayle is, that familiarity and rhythm matter. It changes expectations from “contender” to “re-learning each other.”
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In a sport measured in tenths of a second, that loss could be the difference between winning and coming close. But how does it look for Spire?
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Why Spire Motorsports still gains even after Rodney Childers’ departure
Spire recently parted ways with veteran crew chief Rodney Childers. For many teams, losing someone with his resume would signal trouble. Instead, Spire looks like a team thinking long-term. The potential addition of Gabehart signals they are building for structure, depth, and competitive evolution.
Chris Gabehart brings experience, leadership, and a strong engineering mindset. While Childers is known for bold strategic calls, Gabehart is respected for methodical precision, data-driven car development, and long-term competitive planning. For a building team like Spire, that may mean deeper progress than simply replacing one crew chief with another.
In short, Spire is not just replacing what it lost. It may be upgrading.
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How Chris Gabehart’s NASCAR experience could elevate Spire’s driver pipeline
Chris Gabehart began his career at Joe Gibbs Racing as a race engineer, progressed through the Xfinity ranks, and eventually became a Cup-winning crew chief for Hamlin. His rise proves he understands development at every rung of the NASCAR ladder.
Spire has been reshaping its driver lineup with young talent and developing names. Gabehart’s arrival could accelerate their growth. He knows how to translate engineering data into real performance feedback that young drivers can understand. He also knows how to build drivers mentally, not just mechanically.
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That type of environment can turn potential into results much faster than teams that rely on quick fixes or constant lineup changes. For young drivers without access to legacy powerhouses, Spire might quietly become the most desirable landing spot.
Is Spire becoming the new destination for top crew chiefs after the 2025 shakeup?
Gabehart’s departure from JGR might not be an isolated career move. Spire’s recent changes, including the exit of Childers and the arrival of new drivers like Daniel Suárez for 2026, suggest the organization is prioritizing sustainability over short-term panic.
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At a time when crew chiefs juggle heavy demands, sponsor expectations, and constant travel, the appeal of a stable organization investing in infrastructure is growing. Chris Gabehart likely recognized that opportunity.
NASCAR Trial Day 4: NASCAR President Steve O’Donnell Testifies
NASCAR President Steve O’Donnell, one of the top executives of the organization, took the stand on Thursday, December 4 in the NASCAR Trial over anti-trust practices in Federal Court in Charlotte, North Carolina.
O’Donnell revealed during his testimony that the France Family that owns NASCAR were against any changes to a new revenue model that was sought by the teams, Jenna Fryer of the Associated Press reported.
A charter is the equivalent of the franchise model used by other sports leagues, but in NASCAR it guarantees a team a spot in the field for all 38 races plus a designated percentage of revenue.
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. Bob 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.
NASCAR Triall Details On Day 4
According to the AP report, NASCAR teams went to the sanctioning body in early 2022 asking for an improved revenue model and argued the system at the time was unsustainable, the president of the series testified Thursday.
O’Donnell, who was named president of NASCAR earlier this year, was at that March meeting when representatives of four teams asked that the negotiating window on a new charter agreement open early because they were fighting for their financial survival, according to AP. The negotiating window was not supposed to open until July 2023.
O’Donnell revealed the first meeting included Hendrick Motorsports Vice Chairman Jeff Gordon, a four-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion. Gordon asked if the France family would consider a new business model.
According to O’Donnell, Ben Kennedy, the great grandson of NASCAR founder Bill France told Gordon they were open to a new model.
O’Donnell, an adverse witness by the plaintiffs of the lawsuit, testified on Thursday that NASCAR chairman Jim France was opposed to a new revenue model, according to the AP.
That began a bitter negotiation period for a new charter agreement that was final in September 2024. The teams wanted a deal to be concluded by July 2022. NASCAR presented the new charter agreement on the weekend when the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs began in 2024 and had a six-hour deadline to sign the agreement.
Thirteen of 15 organizations signed with Front Row Motorsports and Michael Jordan-owned 23XI Racing refusing to the deal. That has led to the lawsuit that is being here in the first week of what could be a two-week trial.
O’Donnell Gives Additional Details On Team Requests In Current Charter Negotiations
During testimony, O’Donnell said team representatives had very specific requests: maximized television revenue, the creation of a more competitive landscape, a new cost model and a potential cost cap, the AP reported.
That began an internal discussion at NASCAR on the approach to the charter renewal, O’Donnell said.
Although NASCAR acknowledged the teams were financially struggling, the main concern was the possibility of breakaway series similar to the LIV golf league. O’Donnell had various options that he told the board at NASCAR including possible race boycotts by teams, building their own race cars instead of the customer-based Next Gen model and competed at tracks that are not owned by NASCAR. He also believed teams could potentially sell their charters to Liberty Media, which owns the commercial rights to Formula 1.
O’Donnell advised the board to lock down an exclusivity agreement with tracks not owned by NASCAR, dissolve the charter system, or partner directly with the drivers.
The extensions that began this year upped the guaranteed money for every chartered car to $12.5 million in annual revenue, from $9 million, according to AP from documents revealed in the trial.
NASCAR Trial Plaintiffs Reveal Financial Details Of Competition
Earlier this week, Denny Hamlin, co-owner of 23XI, and Front Row owner Bob Jenkins said it costs $20 million to bring a single car to the track for all 38 races, no including overhead, operating costs and driver’s salary.
Jenkins continued his testimony when the trial reconvened on December 4. He revealed he has lost $100 million since becoming a NASCAR team owner in 2004 and “held his nose” when he signed the original charter agreement in 2016, according to The AP.
He stated in court that the current charter agreement was “virtually backward in so many ways.” He refused to sign and joined 23XI in filing a lawsuit.
“I’d reached my tipping point,” Jenkins said in court. “Our voice was not being heard. They did put a gun to our head and got a domino effect — teams that said they would never sign saw their neighbor sign.”
Later, Jenkins said, “To add $150,000 to $200,000 to the cost of the car — I don’t think any of the teams anticipated that,” Jenkins testified. “What’s anti-competitive is I don’t own that car. I can’t use that car anywhere else.”
The current Next Gen car was introduced in 2022 and was supposed to cost $205,000 but parts must be purchased from specified NASCAR vendors and teams cannot make any repairs themselves, so the actual cost is now closer to double the price, according to AP.
NASCAR Trial Has Other Interesting Financial Findings
Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports reported that O’Donnell’s testing revealed his salary of $1.2 million plus bonuses, that NASCAR lost $6 million on the Mexico City race and lost $55 million in three years in the spectacular, but troubled race in downtown Chicago.
NASCAR stuck with the Chicago races because O’Donnell said Amazon would not have agreed to sign as a media right partner without those events.
The NASCAR trial continues on Friday, December 5.
Steve O’Donnell Recalls Tense 2022 Meeting in NASCAR Antitrust Case
Steve O’Donnell took the witness stand Thursday as the NASCAR antitrust case brought by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports moved into its fourth day in federal court in Charlotte. His testimony gave the jury a clearer look at the long-running money issues between NASCAR and its teams.
O’Donnell described a tense March 2022 meeting with Curtis Polk, Jeff Gordon, Dave Alpern, and Steve Newmark, where the team leaders warned that the current business system was breaking down. He said they believed the sport’s economics were failing.
According to Kelly Crandall of Racer.com, “O’Donnell acknowledged he had no basis to dispute their estimate that it cost about $20 million a year to run one car. He said he ‘took them at their word.”
Teams pushed for a new model in the NASCAR antitrust case
Kelly Crandall reported that Polk asked for “a fair model and more revenue” and said “he had driver support” for those goals. O’Donnell’s own notes from that meeting listed key priorities such as “maximizing TV revenue, creating a competitive landscape, and considering a cost cap.”
Jenna Fryer of AP News also described how teams told NASCAR the structure was “unsustainable” and that they were “fighting for their financial survival.”
A major exchange came when Jeff Gordon asked if the France family was willing to consider a new approach. “Ben Kennedy first told Gordon yes, but O’Donnell testified that chairman Jim France was opposed to a new revenue model.”
The Athletic’s Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi reported the same point, noting O’Donnell confirmed that “as it turned out, Jim France was not open to a new model.”
Tension grew as charter talks stalled
Jenna Fryer reporting said teams wanted a charter deal by July 2022, but the final offer did not arrive until September 2024. Teams were given six hours to sign. Only 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports refused, which led to the current lawsuit.
O’Donnell also faced questions about NASCAR’s concerns that the teams might consider forming a breakaway series. The Athletic said he “thought through a variety of options,” including the idea that teams could build their own cars with help from foreign partners. NASCAR worried teams could attempt something “similar to the LIV golf league.”
These details added to the growing picture of how deep the tension had become between the sanctioning body and its top teams as costs rose and talks dragged on.
Jenkins describes the financial strain on teams
Earlier Thursday, Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins finished his testimony. Gluck and Bianchi quoted him saying, “The median cost is $20 million; the fact I can do it for less helps me reduce my costs,” explaining why that number still matters in the case.
Jenkins told the court he has “lost $100 million” as a Cup owner. He said he “held his nose” when signing the 2016 charter agreements and felt the 2024 extension “went virtually backward in so many ways.” He described the short deadline to sign the new deal as a “domino effect” that pushed reluctant teams to agree. Jenkins also pointed to the rising price of the Next Gen car.
“He testified, To add $150,000 to $200,000 to the cost of the car, I don’t think any of the teams anticipated that,” and added, “What’s anti-competitive is I don’t own that car. I can’t use that car anywhere else.”
With more witnesses expected, the NASCAR antitrust case continues to reveal years of financial strain and disagreements between NASCAR and its teams, supported by detailed reporting from inside the courtroom.
Rick Hendrick’s Loyal NASCAR Star Announces Full-Time Ride
In 2025, the Viking Motorsports team fielded Matt DiBenedetto and Conor Mosack in the #99 Chevrolet. Matt DiBenedetto completed the bulk of the season, but parted ways with the team with immediate effect on October 13th. Mosack took over for the rest of the season, but didn’t find the level of success that DiBenedetto achieved. However, the two drivers will not be returning for the coming O’Reilly Auto Parts season, as the team has made a fresh announcement for their 2026 ride.
Viking Motorsports signs Hendrick’s sim driver
Rick Hendrick’s loyal full-time sim driver Anthony Alfredo will take over the No. 96 car for the new 2026 O’Reilly Auto Parts campaign.
Since a single full-time Cup campaign in 2021 for Front Row Motorsports, Alfredo hadn’t run full-time in the Cup Series. However, he did land a sweet gig at Hendrick Motorsports as a simulator test driver. Though that does not mean that he has been idle when it comes to real racing. At the Cup level, he has competed in a handful of races for the erstwhile Live Fast Motorsports and Beard Motorsports.
Other than that, he has competed full-time in the then Xfinity Series for Our Motorsports, BJ McLeod Motorsports, and Young’s Motorsports. However, for the 2026 O’Reilly Auto Parts season, he moves to Viking Motorsports, replacing DiBenedetto and Mosack. So far, neither Mosack nor DiBenedetto has a contract for the new season. However, both are talented drivers, and there are a few spots available in the O’Reilly Auto Parts driver market.
Alfredo said in his announcement video, “It means a lot to be part of the growing programme at Viking Motorsports. They’re really setting a precedence of being a competitive team and I’m proud to be a part of it. The expectations heading into 2026 is to certainly be competitive and make the Playoffs. That’s our ultimate goal and we’re going to need to win races and run up front to do that and I look forward to that challenge.”
Alfredo confirmed that he will reunite with crew chief Joshua Graham for the new campaign. They last worked together in 2024 at Our Motorsports, picking up two Top 5s and five Top 10s. With that said, ‘Fast Pasta’ is confident of reaching greater heights with Viking Motorsports with a familiar face in his corner. This will also be the second time he works in a team that has another car besides his own, and this time, his teammate is Parker Retzlaff.
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What happens to his duties at Hendrick Motorsports?
The great thing about NASCAR drivers is that they are great at multitasking. Alfredo will definitely be capable of juggling his full-time O’Reilly Auto Parts campaign with his simulator duties with HMS. After all, he was actively racing with Young’s Motorsports while also performing sim duties with the top Cup team. Any data that he gathered definitely proved to be invaluable and probably contributed to Kyle Larson’s 2025 title win.
For the moment, Anthony Alfredo will be eagerly awaiting his new challenge with Viking Motorsports.
Team owner Don Sackett said, “Expanding to a second full-time car is a major moment for our organization. Anthony [Alfredo] brings experience, professionalism, and a tremendous work ethic that aligns perfectly with where Viking Motorsports is heading. Reuniting him with Josh gives us a strong foundation for this new team. Their chemistry, trust, and history together will help accelerate our growth and elevate our entire program.”
The organization was founded in 2024, so it is a relatively young team. In fact, the 2026 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series will mark its third year in the competition.
NASCAR chairman Jim France called ‘a brick wall’ in contentious revenue-sharing negotiations
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The attorney for the two teams suing NASCAR portrayed series chairman Jim France as “a brick wall” in negotiations over the new revenue-sharing model that has triggered the Michael Jordan-backed federal antitrust case against the top form of motorsports in the United States.
23XI Racing, owned by Basketball Hall of Famer Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, and Front Row Motorsports, owned by fast food franchiser Bob Jenkins, were the only two organizations out of 15 that refused to sign extensions on new charter agreements in September of 2024.
NASCAR Trapped in $61M Financial Nightmare as Steve O’Donnell Admits Stripping Team Power to Force Mexico Agenda
Unraveling a multi-billion-dollar enterprise can give goosebumps. That is happening in the NASCAR lawsuit, as the federal court picks apart the stock car racing body’s financial assets. And as the charter trials progress, the more evidence of ‘monopolistic practices’, the primary basis of the lawsuit, we discover. The latest evidence concerns NASCAR’s crippling losses in twin experimental races and also the control of Cup teams.
NASCAR lawsuit exposes authoritarian dilemma
“Steve O’Donnell says NASCAR lost $55 million on the Chicago street race through three years and $6 million on the Mexico City race in one year, numbers Jeffrey Kessler appeared to ask for to suggest to the jury that it’d be hard for a competitor to exist given financial hurdles,” journalist Adam Stern wrote on X.
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NASCAR is owned by Jim France and his family. In the ongoing NASCAR lawsuit, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports have already divulged massive profits incurred by the sport. According to attorney Jeffrey Kessler, almost $400 million was paid to the France Family Trust over three years. A 2023 evaluation by Goldman Sachs exposed NASCAR’s worth as $5 billion. The pretrial discovery process revealed that NASCAR made more than $100 million in 2024.
Seemingly to protect these towering assets, NASCAR works hard to be a monopolistic entity. That involves prohibiting its chartered race teams from participating in rival series. According to NASCAR president Steve O’Donnell‘s testimony, partnering with Speedway Motorsports involved exclusivity clauses preventing other stock car series from racing at SMI’s venues. In fact, one of the demands that the Race Team Alliance presented to NASCAR in 2024 involved a more competitive landscape. However, NASCAR had other plans, as the NASCAR lawsuit revealed.
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“When reminded the Mexico City race came at additional costs to the teams, and that NASCAR removed the three-strike provision that allowed team owners to vote down changes they don’t agree to, O’Donnell said if teams could vote on it, they wouldn’t have went to Mexico and the media rights deal wouldn’t have been as big,” journalist Toby Christie wrote.
This evidence of curtailing the race teams’ power further axed the sport’s defense in the NASCAR lawsuit. As the case divulged more details, the federal judge also issued a warning.
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A call for a faster proceeding
After all, Michael Jordan launched the NASCAR lawsuit back in October 2024. So all the bitter exchanges, animosity, and revelation of jaw-dropping text messages that happened in one year and two months are unraveling slowly. However, the steady release of pent-up emotions is not helping the jury of the lawsuit, as federal judge Kenneth D. Bell pointed out. On the fourth day of the trial, Judge Bell waited for the jury to leave the courtroom. Once they did, he told both sides that they needed to hurry up because a third week of this trial would not work. And the jury would be very upset with everybody.
“Judge Bell has issued a warning to both sides to pick up the pace,” Toby Christie of Racing America reported. “The trial cannot drag to three weeks long, or the jury will revolt. He says both sides need to instruct their witnesses to just quickly answer hard questions instead of trying to deny obvious facts, and that exhibits need to stop beating horses past their death date.”
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The judge may not appreciate witnesses who refuse to answer questions. In response, Judge Bell could even intervene and get witnesses to answer more directly himself. Multiple reports from the courtroom say that he could also institute a clock for witnesses to speed things along.
Evidently, the NASCAR lawsuit is getting more intense by the day. As Judge Bell calls for a faster pace, more jaw-dropping revelations may come to us soon.
Roger Penske’s Testimony Gets Postponed as Judge Bell Bashes Snail-Paced NASCAR Charter Trials
When the NASCAR trials first kicked off, the sides received a warning. Judge Kenneth D. Bell warned NASCAR on one side and 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports on the other to refrain from excessive animosity. After Day 4 passed, however, Judge Bell had yet another instruction to the legal opponents. With their pent-up emotions releasing steadily, the lawsuit’s trial is dragging its feet. And that is delaying one of the key witnesses of the case – Roger Penske.
NASCAR trials postpone key witnesses
“Before dismissing, Judge Bell commented the trial was “not on the pace we’re hoping for.” – It was mentioned that Roger Penske will only be able to appear for witness testimony on Monday – Judge Bell also went on to comment that “some of the examinations are beating a dead horse” and “some witnesses aren’t answering even the most harmless of questions.” journalist Dalton Hopkins reported on X.
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The witnesses who already took the stand include 23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin, Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins, and NASCAR president Steve O’Donnell. Several jaw-dropping revelations have spilled out of these testimonies. Hamlin explained why signing the latest charter deal would be a ‘death sentence’ for his team. Jenkins exposed some dire figures that prove his financial struggles. Then, O’Donnell clarified a series of text messages among NASCAR’s executives.
However, the NASCAR trials would not progress without further testimonies from key witnesses. And they include not just Roger Penske. Others are Heather Gibbs from Joe Gibbs Racing, former RFK Racing president Steve Newmark, Legacy Motor Club CEO Cal Wells, and team owners Richard Childress and Rick Hendrick. Yet their attorneys have expressed concern over their organizations revealing their financials in court since they are not parties in the federal litigation.
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Nevertheless, Judge Bell has said, “I don’t like crucial pieces of evidence being excluded from the public.” Journalist Bob Pockrass wrote on X, “Judge also said case wasn’t being helped by witnesses who wouldn’t acknowledge or answer direct questions on the facts/intent of an email or text, which would result in more questioning. Judge Bell said he might get more forceful in telling witness to answer questions.”
Clearly, Roger Penske and others will need to gear up, as the NASCAR trials may speed up. In the meantime, a NASCAR executive took a meaningful stance.
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Admitting to the shortcomings
Whether it be blurry coverage of FOX Sports or a malfunctioning Next-Gen car on superspeedways, several issues have plagued NASCAR in recent years. Add the charter deals to these, and you have the cherry on top of the cake. Despite the vast financial advantage that race teams receive from charters, it is subject to the presence or absence of sponsors. So when NASCAR president Steve O’Donnell said that teams could compete as ‘open’ teams if they do not like the charter deal, Jeffrey Kessler hit back with the economic pitfalls. And O’Donnell agreed, “We knew the industry was challenged.”
The solution to such mounting economic problems was a change in the charter model. In a March 2022 meeting, NASCAR agreed with Curtis Polk’s demands. They involved maximising television revenue and implementing a potential cost cap. In the same meeting, four-time Cup Series champion and Hendrick Motorsports chairperson Jeff Gordon asked NASCAR a question. He asked Ben Kennedy, a member of the France family, if the Frances are open to a new model. And Kennedy said yes. However, O’Donnell recently admitted in the NASCAR trials that Jim France was not so encouraging.
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Clearly, multiple setbacks lined up for race teams to break even in finances. Let’s wait and see what further information comes out in the NASCAR trials.
One statistic tells sad story of Brad Keselowski’s 2025 season
Brad Keselowski didn’t have a great 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, but the veteran driver and 2012 champion did improve greatly from the first half of the campaign to the second.
Keselowski rose from 32nd in the Cup Series standings after the 16th race of the season in Mexico City to 16th by the end of the season finale at Phoenix.
But the way in which Keselowski clawed his way back to relevance was especially heartbreaking.
Per NASCAR Insights, Keselowski was the driver passed for the race win a record-breaking seven times in 2025, a record for a driver who failed to record a win during the season.
That includes a runner-up finish in the season finale at Phoenix that saw Keselowski lose the race to Ryan Blaney in the final corner.
Keselowski also finished runner-up to Christopher Bell in the Bristol Night Race after a late-race restart and runner-up to Chase Elliott at EchoPark Speedway in what was arguably Keselowski’s best drive of the season.
Keselowski, who will be 42 when the 2026 season officially begins on Feb. 15, is entering his 17th full-time season of Cup Series competition and his fourth as a co-owner of RFK Racing. The future Hall of Famer has won 36 Cup Series races and certainly wouldn’t mind getting off the schneid by winning his first Daytona 500 on Feb. 15.
NASCAR’s O’Donnell admits to concerns over SRX Series as antitrust case continues
NASCAR president Steve O’Donnell acknowledged to the court Thursday afternoon that there was concern within his organization over what the Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) was turning into.
O’Donnell, testifying in the antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR that was brought by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, admitted as much when he was specifically asked about the series because of text messages that had come to light before the trial started. The chain of messages featured NASCAR executives discussing their displeasure with their drivers and team owners competing in the series. One message from NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps expressed that NASCAR needed to put a knife through “this trash series.”
SRX (main image) only lasted three seasons after debuting in 2021. It was shuttered before its fourth season for what were described as market reasons.
“I recall we all became concerned at the look and feel of the series,” O’Donnell said under questioning from the team’s lead counsel, Jeffrey Kessler.
SRX was founded by Tony Stewart and Ray Evernham. Stewart was a NASCAR team owner at the time, and Kessler honed in on the fact that meant he was a charter holder with Stewart-Haas Racing. This was significant in that NASCAR had clauses in its agreement with the teams expressing that they could not compete or invest in other series.
At the heart of the lawsuit is 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, who are not only arguing that NASCAR’s business model is broken, but that it is anticompetitive. Meaning as a monopoly, which Judge Kenneth Bell has already ruled they are, NASCAR wields its power to keep drivers and teams from competing elsewhere.
As such, Kessler wanted to know how Stewart circumvented that clause. O’Donnell explained that he looked into it and found that, as former Stewart-Haas executive Brett Frood told him, the initial pitch for SRX was a series featuring retired and/or inactive drivers. It was not to be a competition for NASCAR. The series was often compared to IROC (International Race of Champions), which ran from 1973 through 2006, because it featured some of the greatest drivers from across motorsports in similarly prepared race cars.
In its first season, SRX featured Stewart, Tony Kanaan, Bobby Labonte, Helio Castroneves, Ernie Francis Jr., Paul Tracy, Bill Elliott, Willy T. Ribbs, Michael Waltrip, and Marco Andretti. But one active NASCAR Cup Series driver also competed that season: Chase Elliott.
SRX would feature more active NASCAR drivers and owners in its following two years. Denny Hamlin, who co-owns 23XI Racing, was among them, and Justin Marks was another. Kyle Busch, Daniel Suarez, Kevin Harvick, Ryan Blaney, Chase Briscoe, Brad Keselowski, Austin Dillon, and Ryan Preece all competed in the series before it folded.
“I thought this looked more and more like NASCAR,” O’Donnell testified.
Kessler drilled on the message about O’Donnell wanting NASCAR’s legal team to look at SRX. But O’Donnell would only admit that he wanted the legal team to see if they agreed with his stance. Included among the exhibits of text messages on the subject was a screenshot Phelps had shared of a fan comment on an SRX social media page, in which the fan noted that it was starting to resemble NASCAR, the way LIV Golf resembled the PGA Tour.
LIV Golf was founded in 2022 and, with significant funding from Saudi Arabia, signed some of the world’s top golfers. It was a concept that O’Donnell feared seeing repeated in NASCAR.
“I was concerned with what was happening on the racetrack,” O’Donnell testified about SRX.
O’Donnell also admitted that part of his frustration was that the race teams had stated the need to lock hands and be all together as the media rights deal was being put together and charter negotiations were underway, but then they were “out racing in another series.”
NASCAR invoked its exclusivity clause with Speedway Motorsports to keep SRX from racing at one of those facilities. O’Donnell said it was done because “we were in a major negotiation” for the new media rights deal and were focused on retaining the revenue for the teams.
O’Donnell will be back on the witness stand Friday to continue under cross-examination from NASCAR’s lead counsel Christopher Yates.
Kaulig Racing Maintains Wall of Silence as RAM Comeback Triggers Star-Studded NASCAR Line-Up
On June 8 this year, Ram announced its comeback to NASCAR. It officially left the sport earlier in 2012, but now it is leaving no stone unturned in hyping up its five-entry return. The car manufacturer will feature in the Craftsman Truck Series under the Kaulig Racing team banner. And this team unraveled its latest information in relation to this comeback – except for the most-awaited details.
No clue about NASCAR’s star-studded entry yet
“The announcement you’ve all been waiting for since August… 😏,” Kaulig Racing wrote on its post on X. The team has finally revealed its five numbers for its upcoming debut in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with returning manufacturer Ram Trucks. The three full-time drivers announced are Daniel Dye, Brenden ‘Butterbean’ Queen, and Justin Haley, piloting the No. 10, the No. 12, and the No. 16, respectively. However, the final two trucks, the No. 14 and No. 25, are still unknown to NASCAR fans.
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“The key to that is these fans love the teams, and they love the drivers; these larger-than-life personalities are who they’re attracted to,” Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis said about the Free Agent Driver Program of the No. 25 entry in mid-November. “You know, they can’t get in and drive the car, but they can live vicariously through these people. So we said, how do we expand that past these three drivers, and that’s where the idea of the free agent car came from.”
A pile of rumors has stacked up surrounding Kaulig Racing’s mystery entries. Prime among them are three-time Cup Series champion Tony Stewart and 18-time Cup race winner Kasey Kahne running a car. However, Kaulig officials claimed in November that none of these stars are under contract. Yet rumors also extend to the winner or winners of a reality TV show that has already wrapped filming. Many expect UFC President and CEO Dana White to be involved. Notably, he wore a Kaulig Racing shirt during face-offs for UFC 322.
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Meanwhile, Ty Dillon is coming back to Kaulig’s Cup Series line-up alongside AJ Allmendinger. “This means a lot to me, I’m very grateful, it’s been a wonderful winter, it’s been a little bit of a slow rollout of our announcement, but we’ve kind of all known about it for a couple of months now, and just excited to get it out on the table,” Dillon said.
While Kaulig prepares its line-up, the anticipation is rising. And one of the initially rumored stars, Tony Stewart, also caught attention with a revelation.
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The shiniest of them all
While Tony Stewart‘s appearance under Kaulig would have been a showstopper, the legend’s career keeps mesmerizing fans anyway. Stewart has won 49 races in NASCAR’s premier tier, besides collecting many more accolades in IndyCar, USAC, dirt racing, and NHRA. He also owns championships from multiple series. But of all the awards he owns, Stewart prizes one trophy above the rest. That is Goodyear’s trophy, gifted to the Cup Series champion every year. It is a replica of the champion’s car, with intricate details of every driver’s ride carved on it.
“It’s the one that Goodyear does for the Cup champion each year. They do a gold car, and I think it’s 18th scale. It’s a replica of your car. So, it’s gold-plated, and your number and your sponsor logos are all etched in it,” Tony Stewart said while describing the award. And he even has a trophy on his wish list – the Borg-Warner trophy for Indianapolis 500 winners. “Don’t have one of those yet. I’m not going to have one because I probably won’t ever race the new 500 again. But I think it’s a cooler trophy than that.”
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Tony Stewart’s star-studded career knows no limit. In the meantime, however, fans can only imagine which legend will wheel a Ram truck until Kaulig’s announcement.
2026 NFL Draft OL Rankings: Left Tackle Class Lacks a True No. 1 as Prospects Disappoint
Entering the 2025 season, the belief was that offensive tackle would be one of the strongest positions in the entire 2026 NFL Draft. And while the tackle position leads the offensive line, it’s been woefully inadequate compared to the expectations. Many of the prospects listed at tackle could eventually end up inside at guard on Sundays, which will enhance the strength of that position. As is often the case, center will be the weak link on the offensive line. Here’s a ranking of the top 130 offensive linemen with write-ups on the best 8.
Spencer Fano/T/Utah: Fano has been a terrific three-year starter for the Utes on both the left and right side. He’s strong, fluid, and athletic with the power to drive opponents off the line and enough mobility to block in motion. He’s terrific as a run blocker while holding his own in pass protection, yet the 21-year-old lacks great size, which has many believing a move into guard is inevitable.
Francis Mauigoa/T/Miami: Mauigoa, whose linebacker brother was drafted by the New York Jets last April, has been a starter at right tackle for the Hurricanes since he was a true freshman. He has better size and mobility than Fano and moves well enough to get consideration at left tackle. This offensive tackle moves incredibly well, shows a lot of ability blocking in motion, and shuts down opponents in pass protection. He has room to get bigger, which will only help improve his run blocking.
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Kadyn Proctor/T/Alabama: There’s a variety of opinions on Proctor, but I am of the mind that he’ll be a terrific right tackle on Sundays. Like many of the recent blockers coming from Alabama, Proctor is massive and displays great power that he uses to annihilate defenders, yet he is also very good at blocking on the second level. The 20-year-old struggles with his footwork off the edge and, in my opinion, is strictly a strong-side lineman.
Isaiah World/T/Oregon: While many of the top offensive tackles have disappointed scouts this season, World has done the opposite, elevating his game significantly. Coming to Oregon from Nevada, he’s an outstanding left tackle prospect with quick feet, long arms, and an agile frame. He stood out in an early-season contest against Penn State, shutting down their pesky pass rushers, and he has only gotten better since. He’s also developed a nasty streak in his game, something scouts love to see. World is the top left tackle on my board, and it would not be a surprise if he ended up in the first round.
Caleb Lomu/T/Utah: The two-year starter at left tackle for the Utes has a contrasting style to his teammate Fano. Lomu is slightly more athletic, more mobile, and better in pass protection. Yet he’s not nearly as effective as a run blocker and did not improve his game this season as I had anticipated. Still, he’s just a redshirt sophomore with a large upside who should get better in time.
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Olaivavega Ioane/G/Penn State: The top pure guard in the draft has been mocked in the first round by some, but I’m not so sure. Ioane is a power gap lineman who easily controls one-on-one blocking assignments and annihilates defenders at the point of attack. He’s a devastating run blocker, yet he shows a lot of stiffness and struggles blocking any distance from the line of scrimmage. The one-dimensionality of his game will limit the schemes Ioane can line up in on Sundays.
Evan Link/T/Michigan: Link really caught my eye over the summer and stood out in the early going this season until he went down with a knee injury in the middle of October. He’s a large and mobile left tackle who does a terrific job in pass protection while showing the ability to block in motion. If he returns to health and prior form in 2026, Link is a potential top-45 prospect.
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Xavier Chaplin/T/Auburn: If there’s one prospect who best exemplifies the disappointment at the offensive tackle position, it’s Chaplin. The Virginia Tech transfer entered the season graded as an early first-round prospect by scouts, and justifiably so. Chaplin was a dominant left tackle during the two years he played for the Hokies, showing tremendous ability in pass protection, effortlessly moving his 6-foot-6, 330-pound frame around the field and taking defenders out of the play run blocking.
Yet it was a completely different story this season at Auburn, as Chaplin was a human penalty flag, constantly setting the offense back with infractions. Even when he wasn’t flagged, Chaplin’s plays this season left a lot to be desired, and his game regressed. Who knows what will happen next with the coaching change at Auburn, but if Chaplin decides to enter the draft, he does so with multiple red flags.
Fantasy football Week 14: Four players who could smash projections
Whether you’re fighting for a playoff spot or battling for the No. 1 seed, Week 14 in the NFL is a crucial one for fantasy football managers. The good news is we’re here to help with four under-the-radar players who could smash their projections this week.
New Orleans Saints QB Tyler Shough vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Shough has quietly been a startable fantasy QB recently. The rookie signal-caller has scored 17.36 and 18.98 points in two of his last three games, and he’s thrown for at least 239 yards in three straight.
If you need a fill-in with Drake Maye, Jaxson Dart and Brock Purdy on bye, Shough is a decent option against a Bucs defense that ranks 27th in the NFL in fantasy points allowed to QBs and 29th in passing yards allowed per game (247.5).
Pittsburgh Steelers RB Kenneth Gainwell vs. Baltimore Ravens
Fantasy managers are hesitant to trust Gainwell because he’s behind Jaylen Warren on the depth chart, but this is much more of a one-two punch than a timeshare. Gainwell has actually out-snapped Warren in three of the last four games, so there’s no need to worry about usage. Gainwell has 17 catches on 20 targets over the last four games, while the Ravens give up the seventh-most receiving yards per game.
Washington Commanders WR Terry McLaurin vs. Minnesota Vikings
McLaurin has been a frustrating player to own this season. He’s missed seven games and has averaged only 12.4 points when he does play, but the arrow is finally pointing up. Last week, McLaurin recorded seven catches on 14 targets for 96 yards and a touchdown—all season-high marks in 2025. The Vikings present a tough matchup, but that usage can’t be ignored.
Jacksonville Jaguars TE Brenton Strange vs. Indianapolis Colts
Strange has emerged as Trevor Lawrence’s No. 2 target since returning from his five-game absence. The Penn State product has recorded eight catches on nine targets for 138 yards and a touchdown in the last two games, giving him back-to-back TE1 finishes. The Colts rank 28th in the NFL in fantasy points allowed to tight ends, so Strange should be ranked as a top-10 option at the position this week.
NFL Legend Leads Calls Against Officials After Jake Ferguson Punished for OPI vs Lions
A stunning officiating moment in the Dallas Cowboys vs Detroit Lions showdown has ignited league-wide backlash. With Detroit leading 44–30, Jake Ferguson faced a controversial call for offensive pass interference on a crucial play, which left the Dallas sideline furious and fans stunned.
Brian Schottenheimer erupted at officials, while Dak Prescott pleaded his case to no avail as the Lions declined the penalty.
The reaction across the NFL was immediate and fierce. Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe blasted the call: ”Not sure I’ve ever seen that called let alone in that situation. That’s some bulljive.”
Cowboys reporter Tommy Yarrish described the sideline chaos in real time, noting Schottenheimer was “hot” after the ruling.
”Brian Schottenheimer is hot on the #Cowboys sideline after pass interference is called against Jake Ferguson. Dak Prescott is also pleading his case to the officials, but to no avail. Dan Campbell declines the penalty, and Brandon Aubrey comes out to attempt the field goal,” he wrote on X.
Retired NFL DT Breiden Fehoko added, ”BRO WHAT IS THIS OFFICIATING??? Bro this is crazy man.”
And Pat McAfee summed up the growing frustration, stating, ”These refs are super dookie right now.”
The controversial call now looms large as Dallas fights in a game they might have already lost.
NFL playoff picture: What Lions win over Cowboys means in Week 14
The Detroit Lions beat the Dallas Cowboys in a 44-30 shootout on Thursday Night Football to open Week 14. The Lions took a 10-3 lead late in the first quarter on a Jahmyr Gibbs touchdown run, and that was the lowest scoring quarter of the game. Detroit took a 27-9 lead early in the third quarter, but the Cowboys fought back and had their chances. They cut the lead to as little as three points, but couldn’t get a stop when they needed it late.
Both teams entered this game on the outside looking in for the wild card race. The Lions improved to 8-5 with the win and sit a game back of the 49ers for the final wild card berth. They are 1.5 games back of the Bears for the NFC North lead. They entered the game with a 30% chance of making the playoffs, per The Athletic’s playoff simulator. The win improved those odds to 45%, whereas a loss would have dropped them to 12%.
Detroit likely would need help to reach the playoffs, although The Athletic suggests they have a 99% chance of making the playoffs if they win out and finish 12-5. They travel to face the Rams next week, and a win would certainly do wonders for their playoff chances. They’ll be keeping an eye on the Bears-Packers game on Sunday to boost their chances at the NFC North.
The loss did not eliminate the Cowboys from playoff contention, but they have a lot of work to do the rest of the way and will need considerable help. They entered the game with a 23% chance of making the playoffs and dropped to 8% with the loss.
Dallas hosts the Vikings and Chargers the next two weeks, and then closes the season on the road against the Commanders and Giants. If they win out, The Athletic projects them as having a 40% chance of making the playoffs. They would have a 10-6-1 record and would need the Eagles to lose three of their remaining five games to secure a playoff berth. Sitting in tenth place for the time-being means they need help from the 49ers, Lions and Panthers the rest of the way.
NFC playoff standings
Chicago Bears: 9-3
Los Angeles Rams: 9-3
Philadelphia Eagles: 8-4
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 7-5
Seattle Seahawks: 9-3
Green Bay Packers: 8-3-1
San Francisco 49ers: 9-4
Detroit Lions: 8-5
Carolina Panthers: 7-6
Dallas Cowboys: 6-6-1
Atlanta Falcons: 4-8
Minnesota Vikings: 4-8
NFC North standings
Chicago Bears: 9-3
Green Bay Packers: 8-3-1
Detroit Lions: 8-5
Minnesota Vikings: 4-8
NFC East standings
Philadelphia Eagles: 8-4
Dallas Cowboys: 6-6-1
Washington Commanders: 3-9
New York Giants: 2-11
Detroit Lions out-tough Cowboys 44-30 to boost NFL playoff odds
Don’t count the Detroit Lions out of the NFL playoffs yet.
Jahmyr Gibbs caught seven passes for 77 yards and ran for three touchdowns and the Lions forced three turnovers – one more than they had in their five previous games combined – to beat the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday Night Football in a virtual elimination game among NFC playoff contenders, 44-30, at Ford Field.
Al-Quadin Muhammad sacked Dak Prescott three times to help fend off a Cowboys rally despite Dallas losing No. 1 receiver CeeDee Lamb early in the third quarter to injury.
The Lions (8-5) remain just outside of the NFC’s final wild-card spot with four games to play, but they helped their postseason chances dramatically with the victory.
The Lions are eighth in the NFC playoff standings, the first team out with four games remaining, behind seventh-place San Francisco 49ers (9-4).
The Lions now have a 55% chance to make the playoffs, according to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats. It would have been 19% with a loss.
The Cowboys (6-6-1), who had won three straight, have a 9% chance to get to the playoffs, and likely need to win the NFC East to get in the postseason. They trail the Philadelphia Eagles (8-4).
The Lions led 27-9 in the third quarter before the Cowboys cut their deficit to three points in a high-scoring second half. Gibbs scored his second touchdown of the game to give the Lions a 37-27 lead with 7:17 to play, and three plays after Dallas answered with a field goal, he scored again on a 13-yard run.
Jared Goff finished 25 of 34 passing for 309 yards and Jameson Williams (seven catches, 96 yards) and Amon-Ra St. Brown (6-92) had big nights for the Lions, who have alternated wins and losses in their past nine games. Rookie Isaac TeSlaa caught a 12-yard touchdown early in the third quarter.
Here are three thoughts on Thursday’s game between the Lions and Cowboys:
Jahmyr Gibbs rules
Gibbs is the best running back in the NFL right now, and if he keeps this up he could down as one of the best in NFL history.
With three scores against Dallas, Gibbs now has 47 career TDs, tying Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders for the most TDs in NFL history by a player before his 24th birthday. Gibbs will turn 24 in March.
The Lions didn’t try running the ball much against the Cowboys’ big defensive tackles – their running backs had 10 carries through three quarters. But they didn’t need to the way they used Gibbs in the pass game.
Gibbs was a force on the perimeter, playing in packages on occasion with teammate David Montgomery, and showed his rare versatility in a five-play span in the third quarter.
On a third-and-8 play midway through the period, Gibbs ran an out route just short of the sticks and stopped in his tracks on a catch near the sideline. As Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland tried to halt his momentum to tackle Gibbs and tripped on the turf, Gibbs knifed forward for 4 extra yards and the first down.
Five plays later, Gibbs caught a pass in the right flat, stiff-armed Bland, knocking him to the ground, and lunged forward for a 4-yard gain.
Gibbs entered Thursday with 1,416 yards from scrimmage and 13 touchdowns. He has scored at least 10 rushing touchdowns in each of his first three NFL seasons, has two straight 1,000-yard rushing campaigns and is the most unique weapon in the NFL.
Amon-Ra St. Brown overcomes injury
St. Brown has missed two games in his career, one with an ankle injury in 2022 and one with an abdominal injury the following season. He wasn’t about to miss a third Thursday.
With the Lions’ season in jeopardy, St. Brown turned in a gutsy effort playing through a sprained ankle to help the Lions offense put on one of its best offensive displays of football this year.
St. Brown, initially expected to miss a week or two with his injury, had four catches for 46 yards in the first half, and drew a pass interference penalty to help stake the Lions to a 20-9 lead.
He had a 27-yard gain on a slant route that dug the Lions out of a first-and-15 situation and set up Gibbs’ first touchdown. He had two catches and drew that PI call on the Lions’ important two-minute drive just before halftime. He had a 37-yard catch-and-run with just under 3 minutes to play to set up Gibbs’ last score.
Lions coach Dan Campbell explained after St. Brown’s injury last week just how much he does in every facet of the game.
“Everybody knows the production and the versatility he has, but also all the dirty work he does in the run game. All the little things, man,” Campbell said. “The nuances of where you line up to where you go, to who you block if it’s this look, to now if they go here you need to slide back to do that. I mean, he’s so fricking smart, man, and he’s tough. And so there’s a million jobs he does and he does them at a high level.”
Let’s go streaking
The Lions simply don’t lose back-to-back games.
Including Thursday, the Lions have won 15 straight games after a loss, outscoring their opponents by an average of 16.1 points in their wins.
This season, they’ve beaten the Washington Commanders, 44-22, after a loss to the Minnesota Vikings, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 24-9, after a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, the Chicago Bears, 52-21, after a season-opening loss to the Green Bay Packers, and the New York Giants, 34-27 in overtime, after a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, and now the Cowboys.
The streak covers 57 games and dates to the middle of the 2022 season, Campbell’s second year.
The Lions can’t continue to alternate wins and losses and still make the playoffs, but with games to play – against the Los Angeles Rams next week on Dec. 14, and Pittsburgh Steelers (Dec. 21), Minnesota Vikings (Dec. 25) and Chicago Bears (Jan. 3 or 4) to close the season – there is a comfort in knowing they know how to avoid the ruts that often cost teams playoff spots.
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Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey sets multiple NFL records on ‘TNF’
Brandon Aubrey has had some impressive games in his career, but he might have outdone himself on Thursday night in Detroit. The Dallas Cowboys kicker broke two NFL records against the Lions and he did it all before the game even got to the fourth quarter.
During the first three quarters of action, Aubrey re-wrote the NFL record book when he hit four field goals that came from 42, 55, 57 and 63 yards. He then tacked on a fifth one in the fourth quarter when he hit from 29 yards out, marking just the second time in his career that he’s hit five field goals in a game.
With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the three NFL records that Aubrey either established or extended.
No. 1: Most field goals of 55 yards or more in a single game
After hitting a 57-yard field goal in the first quarter, Aubrey followed that up by nailing a 55-yard kick in the second quarter. He then added 63-yard field goal in the third quarter, which made him the first player in NFL history to hit three field goals of 55 yards or more in the same game. Several kickers had hit two field goals from 55 yards or longer, but no one had ever hit three until Aubrey came along on Thursday night.
No. 2: Most field goals of 60 yards or more in a single season
Back in 2019, Cowboys kicker Brett Maher became the first player in NFL history to hit two field goals of 60 yards or more in a single season. Aubrey tied that record in 2024, and now, he’s topped it. Aubrey’s 63-yard kick in the third quarter was his third field goal from 60 yards or more this year, giving him the record to himself.
Aubrey hit a 64-yarder back in Week 2 during a 40-37 win over the Giants. (The clutch kick actually sent the game to overtime.) The Cowboys kicker also hit a 61-yarder in Week 7 against the Commanders.
The kick against the Lions was his third career make from 63 yards or longer, which is absolutely absurd, when you consider that there have only been 15 total field goals from 63 yards or longer in NFL history. Unfortunately for the Lions, three of the 15 kicks have come against Detroit with Aubrey, Tom Dempsey and Justin Tucker all hitting from 63 or longer.
No. 3: Most career field goals of 60 yards or more
Going into the 2025 season, Brett Maher held the record for most career field goals of 60 yards or more with four. Aubrey broke that record back in Week 7 when he hit the fifth 60-yarder of his career. He extended that record to six with his 63-yarder against the Lions.
Aubrey has turned into the ultimate kicking weapon. The Cowboys are literally in field goal range as soon as they get to midfield. Although kickers are getting stronger and stronger, no one is hitting 60-yard kicks with regularity like Aubrey. There have only been nine field goals of 60 yards or more in the NFL this year and Aubrey has three of them. No other kicker in the NFL has more than one.
Cowboys Kicker Brandon Aubrey Makes NFL History Against Lions
Even on a night where the Dallas Cowboys may have seen the final nail go in the coffin for their playoff hopes, NFL All-Pro kicker Brandon Aubrey continued to perform at as high of a level as anyone who has ever played his position.
Aubrey became the first player in NFL history to kick 3 field goals of 55 yards or longer in a single game in a Week 14 loss to the Detroit Lions, hitting field goals from 63, 57 and 55 yards — 3 of 5 field goals he hit against the Lions.
Aubrey also became the first player in NFL history to make 100 field goals in their first 3 seasons. The Cowboys lost 44-30 and saw their record drop to 6-6-1 overall.
“Brandon Aubrey just casually knocking a 63-yarder thru,” Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer wrote on his official X account. “That was Tom Dempsey’s record distance that stood alone for 28 years.”
“Brandon Aubrey might be more valuable than many NFL QBs,” Kalshi Sports wrote on its official X account.
“In his 3 NFL seasons, Brandon Aubrey has as many career 60-yard field goals (6-for-9, 66.7%) as every NFL kicker from 1960 to 2008 (6-for-82, 7.3%),” Sports! writer Rodger Sherman wrote on his official X account.
Aubrey No Stranger to Making NFL History
It wasn’t the first time Aubrey has made NFL history this season.
Aubrey became the first player in NFL history with 5 career field goals of 60 or more yards after he made a 61-yard field goal in a 44-22 Week 7 win over the Washington Commanders.
“With this 61-yard field goal, Brandon Aubrey has now made the most field goals from 60+ of anyone in NFL history, at five,” Yahoo Sports NFL reporter Jori Epstein wrote on her official X account on October 19.
“We call (Aubrey) Stephen Curry, because his range is pretty much from anywhere,” Fox Sports color commentator and 7-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Tom Brady said during the broadcast.
Aubrey Former 1st Round Pick .. in MLS
Aubrey has become a sensation for his ability to make long kicks. He could very well end up breaking the NFL record for the longest field goal set by former Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker, who hit a 66-yard field goal in 2021.
Aubrey was an All-American soccer player at Notre Dame and a first round pick (No. 21 overall) by Toronto FC in the 2021 MLS Draft before switching sports in 2019 at his wife’s urging.
Aubrey spent 3 years training before he signed with the USFL’s Birmingham Stallions, where he played in 2022 and 2023 before catching on with the Cowboys in 2023.
“Brandon Aubrey is not a kicker,” Cowboys fan Cameron Magruder wrote on his official X account on October 19. “He is an offensive weapon.”
“How long until Brandon Aubrey is in conversations for the greatest kicker of all time,” Cowboys fan account FergSZN wrote.
There’s a good chance Aubrey could land on another, more pressing list after this season — highest paid NFL kickers. He’s currently in the final season of a 3-year, $2.7 million contract and could see his average annual salary leap to above $5 million.
NFLPA reiterates preference for
The NFL and NFL Players Association have agreed on new standards for playing surfaces. Although the new approach counts as progress in the effort to give football players the best possible workplaces, the NFLPA wants more.
“While our player members have been clear about their overwhelming preference for high-quality, natural grass surfaces, we’re encouraged that their demands for more consistent and safer fields across the board are taking a step in the right direction,” the NFLPA said Thursday, after the league announced the change during a media conference call. “We look forward to continuing this work with the NFL on behalf of our player members.”
The league clings to the notion that non-contact injury rates are not significantly different between grass and artificial turf. Players resort to the reality that they prefer the softer surface provided by the real stuff.
And the issue will continue to be tied up in collective bargaining.
It continues to be a strange way to do business for the NFL. Protection of the players, either as human beings or “investments,” takes a back seat to holding the rope when it comes to the concessions the two sides will make within the fuller universe of terms and conditions relative to the labor-management relationship.
But that’s where we are. The players won’t get high-quality grass surfaces unless they give up something else. Even if it’s part of the deal for expanding the regular season to 18 games, the players could have gotten some other benefit from the league, if the owners weren’t insistent on making what should be non-negotiable into a negotiating point.
Richard Sherman rips Cowboys’ George Pickens after Lions loss: ‘Just looked uninterested’
Former NFL cornerback Richard Sherman took aim at George Pickens after the Cowboys’ loss to the Lions on Thursday night.
Sherman, now an analyst for Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football coverage, said Pickens’ effort was the big story from Dallas’ 44-30 stumble. Pickens finished the game with five catches for 37 yards.
“George Pickens throughout the game, especially late in the game, just looked uninterested. Uninterested in playing football,” Sherman said. “That’s what you can’t have. If you’re going to be a superstar, if you want to be the best receiver in the National Football League, you can’t ever be disengaged. It doesn’t matter if the game’s going your way or not going your way.”
Sherman specifically pointed out Pickens’ effort on several routes. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was notably picked off early in the second half when he tried to target Pickens on a slant route.
Sherman said Pickens can’t disappear on cruising routes, especially when CeeDee Lamb is out of the game. Lamb left Thursday night’s matchup in the third quarter with a concussion. He finished the game with six catches for 121 yards.
“You can’t be the guy and half-a– it. It’s unacceptable and if you’re the Dallas Cowboys and you’re looking at it, and you’re looking to pay him big-time receiver money — $40 million — you gotta look at this tape and say, ‘Hey, is this a guy we can trust paying $40 million to show up regardless of circumstance?’
Cowboys’ playoff outlook: Ugly loss to Detroit a major blow to Dallas’ chances
The Dallas Cowboys kept their long-shot playoff hopes alive with wins over the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs.
But an uninspired performance in a loss against the Detroit Lions on Thursday night was a major blow to their chances of reaching the postseason.
According to The Athletic’s playoff simulator, a win against Detroit would’ve given the Cowboys more than a 40% chance of making the postseason. Now, after the 44-30 loss, they have a 9% chance of making the playoffs.
The Cowboys should be favored in their remaining four regular-season games, but once again, they are on the outside of the playoff picture.
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Here’s a look at the NFC playoff race and the Cowboys’ remaining schedule:
Division leaders
1. Chicago Bears, NFC North (9-3)
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2. LA Rams, NFC West (9-3)
3. Philadelphia Eagles, NFC East (8-4)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, NFC South (7-5)
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Wild card teams
5. Seattle Seahawks (9-3)
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6. Green Bay Packers (8-3-1)
7. San Francisco 49ers (9-4)
In the hunt
8. Detroit Lions (8-5)
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9. Carolina Panthers (7-6)
10. Dallas Cowboys (6-6-1)
Cowboys’ remaining schedule
Sunday, Dec. 14: vs. Minnesota Vikings (4-8)
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Sunday, Dec. 21: vs. LA Chargers (8-4)
Thursday, Dec. 25: at Washington Commanders (3-9)
Saturday/Sunday, Jan. 3/4: at NY Giants (2-11)
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Find more Cowboys coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
What’s wrong with ice hockey arena for Italy’s 2026 Olympics?
The problems just keep piling up for Italy’s 2026 Winter Games ice hockey arena that’s still under construction in Milan, raising questions about the participation of National Hockey League players.
Not only are there concerns about whether the arena will be finished in time for the Olympics, there are new reports that the ice surface is some 3-feet short of the NHL standards agreed to in a deal finalized in July.
But Utah Mammoth owner Ryan Smith posted Thursday on X that he’s “confident Italy will solve this ice problem by February.” He also said Utah’s 2034 Winter Games will do better.
Smith promised in the post that the “@nhl Utah Olympic experience will be next level!” Ice hockey will be held on the Mammoth’s home ice at the Delta Center in 2034. The arena, owned by Smith, is being retrofitted to accommodate hockey.
Italy is supposed to welcome NHL players back to the Olympics for the first time since the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. But an official has already said that players won’t be there if the arena isn’t completed.
That warning came Wednesday from the NHL’s deputy commissioner, Bill Daly, who was asked by a Daily Faceoff reporter about the chances that league players won’t go to the Games that begin in February.
“Depends on % you want to place on the possibility the rink doesn’t get completed. If there’s no rink completed, there’s no NHL players going to the Olympics,” Daly told the Toronto-based hockey news and betting information site, according to a post on X.
Organizers of the Milan-Cortina Games announced Wednesday the arena will host a pre-Games event next month. The key test event to “officially inaugurate” the 16,000-seat Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena is scheduled for Jan. 9-11.
A test event planned for December had to be moved to a smaller facility in Milan but the chief Games operations officer for the 2026 Winter Games, Andrea Francisi, told The Associated Press last month that if the new arena isn’t ready by Games-time, “there is no plan B.”
The decision to dismiss the possibility a rink in Switzerland could be “a standby venue” came at a mid-November meeting of International Olympic Committee and hockey representatives in Stockholm, The Athletic reported, citing unnamed league sources.
The size of the Milan arena’s ice apparently surprised hockey officials.
When the agreement for NHL player participation was signed in July, Daly confirmed the Olympic games would be played on the league’s standard-sized ice sheet, which is 200 feet long by 85 feet wide, in Milan and likely in the next Winter Games, in the French Alps in 2030.
“I know that’s been speculated on by others in the media that it would be some hybrid,” Daly was quoted as saying then in an article on NHL.com, the league’s official website. “No, it’s 200 by 85. I think that will be the case going forward as well.”
However, Team Canada assistant coach Pete DeBoer said in a radio interview Monday that the ice “looks like it’s going to be smaller than NHL rink standard by probably 3 or 4 feet. I don’t understand how that happened.”
Tuesday, The Athletic reported the International Ice Hockey Federation approved a 60-meter by 26-meter sheet of ice (196.85-foot by 85.3-foot) for the Milan arena, noting that NHL players have competed in past Olympics on ice that was 60 meters long but 4 meters wider.
Where to stream Connor Bedard, Blackhawks vs. Kings NHL game today
One of the best young guns in the NHL today hopes to lead his team to victory on Thursday night, as Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks head to Hollywood for a matchup with the Los Angeles Kings.
Watch the NHL on ESPN+
After many rough 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.
Bedard has 38 points so far this season, placing him third in the league behind San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini and 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.
Following a shootout loss at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday, the Hawks currently sit fourth in the Central Division, sitting just outside of the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.
While many around the NHL might not know, the Kings are looking like a tough team to beat once again. With this being Anze Kopitar’s final season, the team wants to make an honest run in the postseason. After losing to the Washington Capitals two days ago, L.A. is third in the Pacific Division.
NHL HOCKEY
Chicago Blackhawks (11-9-6) vs. Los Angeles Kings (12-7-7)
When: Thursday, December 4
Time: 10 p.m. ET
Where: Crypto.com Arena (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Stream: ESPN+
Check out the NHL standings and scores here
2026 Winter Classic taking shape as ‘quite the Florida celebration’ in Miami
The infield at loanDepot park in the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami was resplendent Thursday morning.
But in a few weeks, the baseball diamond at the home of Major League Baseball’s Miami Marlins will begin to disappear. The NHL will be transforming this ballpark in the tropics into a winter wonderland for the 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic on Jan. 2, when the Florida Panthers will face the New York Rangers in the first NHL outdoor game in Florida (8 p.m. ET; HBO MAX, truTV, TNT, SNW, SNO, SNE, TVAS).
“We feel like we are at a great stage to put on this year’s Winter Classic in Miami,” NHL president of content and events Steve Mayer said while sitting in the outfield Thursday. “It’s going to be great.”
As NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said at the Winter Classic last season at Chicago’s Wrigley Field, playing an outdoor game near downtown Miami is “a little unusual.” The Commissioner said this while on the TNT pregame show outside the ballpark, with everyone bundled up against the cold.
Parkas and ski caps do not figure to be the attire of choice for the game in Miami.
“This is an incredible opportunity. These outdoor games are so much fun,” Florida forward Brad Marchand said. “I have been lucky enough to have played in a few of them now.
“Those are some of the best memories that we will ever have as a team. We’re going to be the first teams to play an outdoor game in Florida. How cool is that? It’s going to be a really special time, and we’re going to have a lot of fun together, and there will be incredible memories, not just for us as a team, but for our families and the fans.”
The Winter Classic will be the first of two outdoor games in the Sunshine State within a month. On Feb. 1, the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins will face off at Raymond James Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in the 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union Stadium Series.
The two games will celebrate the massive growth of hockey in the state as well as the huge success of the NHL’s two Florida teams.
The Lightning have won the Stanley Cup three times (2004, 2020, 2021). The Panthers are the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions and have been to the Stanley Cup Final each of the past three seasons.
The past six Stanley Cup Finals have featured either the Lightning (2020-22) or the Panthers (2023-25).
“I remember when Florida came into the League (for the 1993-94 season), and where the game is right now in Florida,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. “Look at the sheer number of people who will be at these two games here in Florida. There will be a lot of Panthers fans, a lot of Lightning fans, and everyone is going to get a little taste of the growth of our game here.
“I think that’s awesome. There are four Stanley Cups in the last handful of years sitting down here.”
Mayer said both the Lightning and Panthers had been clamoring to play in an outdoor game, and the NHL figured this was a great time to allow both teams to hold one in the same season.
“This is a hotbed, in many different ways,” Mayer said. “Miami has become such a hockey town. … This is quite the Florida celebration for the NHL and outdoor games.”
As for how ice can be built in the tropical climate of Miami, loanDepot park is basically a very big arena. Its retractable roof, which is closed most of the time, will help enable the NHL to install the ice surface that will run across the infield and over the pitcher’s mound.
When the sun has set for the Winter Classic, the plan is for the roof to be open, with the large sliding windows that face Miami’s sparkling skyline to the east opened up as well.
“Over the years, we have refined the making of ice to the point where it is quite the science,” Mayer said. “We are comfortable building it in this climate. The game will be played in an open-air stadium. … There are zero plans not to open it.”
With the roof and windows closed, the building can get quite cold. Mayer said the NHL is taking no risks when it comes to lowering the temperature inside the ballpark.
It was 83 degrees in Miami on Thursday, and it could be that warm again for the Winter Classic, so extra air conditioning units are being brought in to help lower the temperature further.
The average low in Miami around New Year’s Day is in the 60s. Humidity, the biggest challenge to ice, is usually low in the region in the winter months.
“Right now, it’s 80 degrees, which probably isn’t good for ice,” Mayer said. “But at night? It’s good. This place deserves an outdoor game.”
Mayer said an announcement is coming soon regarding a major act performing an hourlong concert outside loanDepot park before the Winter Classic, and the 2026 Enterprise NHL Pregame will be a fan fest held just outside the ballpark.
“This is a sports bucket list experience,” Mayer said. “It starts from the second they park their car. The second they arrive, fans are going to be hit with a giant fan fest. … You could spend 10 minutes or two hours here. We have some really cool plans, and it will be an experience from the moment you get here.”
The field will be completely transformed. One half will represent Florida’s beach and water culture, with the other depicting a more traditional Winter Classic setting.
“It’s going to be winter meets summer, fire meets ice, hot meets cold,” Mayer said. “Imagine left field from third base to home plate, that’s summer. That’s the beach, that’s Miami. Everything from right field, first base to home plate, that’s winter. That’s the cold. There is going to be this cool dynamic. … With the mix of the two, we’re going to have some fun.”
A number of Panthers players have been to the ballpark for Marlins games and are looking forward to seeing how the venue is turned into a house of hockey.
“The stadium itself looks awesome, and when it’s dark, you can see the Miami skyline from the windows,” center Anton Lundell said. “It’s just a super-cool place.
“I was watching a baseball game there and could not picture a hockey game, but I know it is going to be great. This is going to be my first time playing in a Winter Classic, and it’s cool that we are going to make some history by doing so.”
Barzal’s goal, 2 assists help Islanders beat Avalanche 6-3
NEW YORK (AP) — Mathew Barzal had a goal and two assists, and the New York Islanders defeated the NHL-leading Colorado Avalanche 6-3 on Thursday night.
Kyle MacLean, Anders Lee, Bo Horvat and Adam Pelech also scored a goal for the Islanders, who won their second straight. Ilya Sorokin finished with 35 saves and Casey Cizikas added an empty-net goal.
Valeri Nichushkin, Martin Necas and Artturi Lehkonen scored for Colorado. Mackenzie Blackwood made 36 saves.
The Avalanche’s 17-game point streak was snapped and they lost in the first game of their four-game East Coast road trip.
Barzal scored with less than two minutes remaining in the second period to extend the Islanders’ lead to 5-2 when he converted a backhander on the power play.
The Avalanche scored two goals in 85 seconds to cut their deficit to 4-2 midway through the second period.
Nichushkin redirected a point shot, and Necas benefited from a fortuitous bounce off the skate of Islanders defenseman Travis Mitchell at 10:04 of the middle frame.
But Barzal’s highlight-reel goal helped New York regain control and hand Colorado just its second regulation loss in 27 games this season.
Lee buried a cross-ice pass from Barzal with 1:40 remaining in the opening period to make it 2-0 after MacLean opened the scoring at 5:56.
Horvat knocked in a Matthew Schaefer rebound for his team-leading 17th goal, pushing New York’s lead to 3-0 at 6:58 of the second.
Lee has 295 career goals for the Islanders, tied with Brock Nelson for fifth in franchise history.
Nelson, who returned to UBS Arena for his first game since being dealt last winter from the Islanders to the Avalanche, also received a video tribute during the first period.
Up next
Avalanche: Colorado remains in New York to play the Rangers on Saturday.
Islanders: New York visits the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.
___
Barzal’s goal, 2 assists help Islanders beat Avalanche 6
NEW YORK (AP) — Mathew Barzal had a goal and two assists, and the New York Islanders defeated the NHL-leading Colorado Avalanche 6-3 on Thursday night.
Kyle MacLean, Anders Lee, Bo Horvat and Adam Pelech also scored a goal for the Islanders, who won their second straight. Ilya Sorokin finished with 35 saves and Casey Cizikas added an empty-net goal.
Valeri Nichushkin, Martin Necas and Artturi Lehkonen scored for Colorado. Mackenzie Blackwood made 36 saves.
The Avalanche’s 17-game point streak was snapped and they lost in the first game of their four-game East Coast road trip.
Barzal scored with less than two minutes remaining in the second period to extend the Islanders’ lead to 5-2 when he converted a backhander on the power play.
The Avalanche scored two goals in 85 seconds to cut their deficit to 4-2 midway through the second period.
Nichushkin redirected a point shot, and Necas benefited from a fortuitous bounce off the skate of Islanders defenseman Travis Mitchell at 10:04 of the middle frame.
But Barzal’s highlight-reel goal helped New York regain control and hand Colorado just its second regulation loss in 27 games this season.
Lee buried a cross-ice pass from Barzal with 1:40 remaining in the opening period to make it 2-0 after MacLean opened the scoring at 5:56.
Horvat knocked in a Matthew Schaefer rebound for his team-leading 17th goal, pushing New York’s lead to 3-0 at 6:58 of the second.
Lee has 295 career goals for the Islanders, tied with Brock Nelson for fifth in franchise history.
Nelson, who returned to UBS Arena for his first game since being dealt last winter from the Islanders to the Avalanche, also received a video tribute during the first period.
Up next
Avalanche: Colorado remains in New York to play the Rangers on Saturday.
Islanders: New York visits the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.
___
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.
Panarin reaches 900 NHL points, Rangers beat Senators 4-2 for NHL-best 12th road victory
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Artemi Panarin reached 900 NHL points with a goal and an assist and the New York Rangers won for the league-leading 12th time on the road, beating the Ottawa Senators 4-2 on Thursday night.
The Rangers have won five of their past six to improve to 15-12-2. They are 12-4-1 on the road.
Panarin has 311 goals and 589 assists in 781 regular-season games.
Mika Zibanejad, Will Borgen and Vladislav Gavrikov also scored, and Igor Shesterkin made 25 saves. J.T. Miller had three assists.
Drake Batherson had a goal and an assist, and Dylan Cozens also scored for Ottawa. Leevi Merilainen stopped 24 shots.
The Senators are 13-10-4. They have three of four.
Up next
Rangers: Host Colorado on Saturday.
Senators: Host St. Louis on Saturday night.
___
Panarin reaches 900 NHL points, Rangers beat Senators 4
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Artemi Panarin reached 900 NHL points with a goal and an assist and the New York Rangers won for the league-leading 12th time on the road, beating the Ottawa Senators 4-2 on Thursday night.
The Rangers have won five of their past six to improve to 15-12-2. They are 12-4-1 on the road.
Panarin has 311 goals and 589 assists in 781 regular-season games.
Mika Zibanejad, Will Borgen and Vladislav Gavrikov also scored, and Igor Shesterkin made 25 saves. J.T. Miller had three assists.
Drake Batherson had a goal and an assist, and Dylan Cozens also scored for Ottawa. Leevi Merilainen stopped 24 shots.
The Senators are 13-10-4. They have three of four.
Up next
Rangers: Host Colorado on Saturday.
Senators: Host St. Louis on Saturday night.
___
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.
Artemi Panarin reaches 900 NHL points, Rangers beat Senators
OTTAWA — Artemi Panarin reached 900 NHL points with a goal and an assist and the New York Rangers won for the league-leading 12th time on the road, beating the Ottawa Senators 4-2 on Thursday night.
The Rangers have won five of their past six to improve to 15-12-2. They are 12-4-1 on the road.
Panarin has 311 goals and 589 assists in 781 regular-season games.
Mika Zibanejad, Will Borgen and Vladislav Gavrikov also scored, and Igor Shesterkin made 25 saves. J.T. Miller had three assists.
Drake Batherson had a goal and an assist, and Dylan Cozens also scored for Ottawa. Leevi Merilainen stopped 24 shots.
The Senators are 13-10-4. They have three of four.
UP NEXT
Rangers: Host Colorado on Saturday.
Senators: Host St. Louis on Saturday night.
Surprising Bruins player now one of NHL’s top goal-scorers
If you look at the goal-scoring leaders in the NHL through the first two months of the 2025-26 season you will see a lot of names who make sense there. Colorado Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon is at the top. Pittsburgh Penguins superstar and future Hall of Famer Sidney Crosby is high on the list. In-their-prime stars like Kirill Kaprizov (Minnesota Wild) and Jason Robertson (Dallas Stars) are in the top five. Connor Bedard (Chicago Blackhawks), one of the best young players in the world, is also lurking just outside of the top five.
Then you see one name who might make you do a double-take, and one name who does not seem like it would belong.
That name is Boston Bruins forward Morgan Geekie.
With his goal on Thursday night in the Bruins’ 5-2 win over the St. Louis Blues, he is now up to 21 goals on the season and has been one of the league’s best goal-scorers going back to the second half of the 2024-25 season.
It is totally unexpected and a very pleasant development for the Bruins.
Morgan Geekie keeps scoring goals for Bruins
What makes it so unexpected is that going into the 2024-25 season, he had never really shown any sign that he would be a top-line goal-scorer.
He was a third-round pick in by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2017 NHL Draft and spent time with both them and the Seattle Kraken before joining the Bruins at the start of the 2023-24 season. Through his first 256 games, he managed just 39 goals, which averages out to about 12 goals per 82 games. He never scored more than 17 goals in a single season.
Even going back to his junior hockey and minor league days, he was never really an elite goal-scorer at any level. He never scored more than 35 goals as a junior player, and was a 20- to 25-goal player in the American Hockey League.
Solid. Productive. Useful. But never really an elite finisher.
That all started to change for him during the 2024-25 season when he ended up scoring 33 goals for the Bruins in 77 games, earning a six-year, $33 million contract extension in the process. Given how much of an outlier that performance seemed to be, it was a huge risk for the Bruins. It is now looking like it might be a bargain.
Going back to Jan. 1, almost a full calendar year, no player in the NHL has scored more goals than Geekie’s 46, and he has done that in only 72 games.
The Bruins have been lacking impact offensive players for a couple of years now, becoming almost completely dependent on David Pastrnak to carry their offense. They may have stumbled on to a surprising complement to him in Geekie.
Finally given a shot, Steeves looks like impact player for Bruins
Alex Steeves’ belief in himself never wavered, even if that confidence wasn’t reflected on the scoresheet.
“I’ve always, as a player, told myself that if you are getting the chances, it’s going to come,” Steeves said on Long Island last week.
The 25-year-old forward — a Minnesota-born product who spent part of his childhood in New Hampshire — had accomplished plenty both in the collegiate ranks and in the AHL prior to this season.
But a legitimate shot at hockey’s highest level eluded Steeves after turning pro with Toronto in March 2021.
When Steeves put pen to paper on a one-year, $850,000 contract with Boston in July, he held court as the franchise leader in both goals (105) and points (216) for the Maple Leafs’ AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies.
For those efforts, he logged just 14 career games with the Maple Leafs spread across four seasons — scoring one goal and three points over that stretch.
Amid those several stalled treks to the NHL, Steeves remained resolute. His opportunity was coming.
And on a Bruins team in desperate need of legitimate scoring punch, Steeves has found a spot to thrive.
“When he didn’t like to go down [to Providence], I remember he said’, I will be back and I’m going to do everything I can to show [you],’” Marco Sturm said. “That’s what I like. And the way he said it, I believe that. I knew his time would come.”
An early-season call-up amid a string of injuries, Steeves has cemented himself as one of Sturm’s most reliable forwards in short order. Be it as a fourth-line sparkplug or top-six scorer, Steeves has settled into a groove as of late — scoring five goals and six points in his last five games.
He continued his scoring salvo on Thursday night against the St. Louis Blues — posting two first-period points as part of a 5-1 victory at TD Garden.
A top line of Steeves, Morgan Geekie, and Elias Lindholm carved up the Blues’ defensive structure throughout the night, with the trio combining for two goals and eight total points in the victory.
“Call-ups are fighting tooth and nail, and I feel like I’ve been fighting tooth and nail for four years to be here,” Steeves said. “And to be on a line with the top goalscorer in the NHL [in Geekie] and a world-class, two-way center like Lindy is really special for me, and I want to make good on it.”
Steeves’ emergence as a scoring winger has come at a critical time for the Bruins, especially with David Pastrnak still working his way back from a nagging lower-body injury.
After lighting the lamp twice in a critical road win over the Islanders last week, Steeves has scored another three goals in four games since Pastrnak has been on the shelf — often skating in a top-six spot on Sturm’s shorthanded depth chart.
“That’s the nice part about it, is he can play any line, he can play any side,” Sturm said of Steeves. “Maybe not a centerman, but overall, I can use him. And I think that’s what coaches really like and that’s what I like about him.
“I brought him up from the minors, and I put him in more like a checking rule and a fourth-liner, and now look at him. So good for him. He’s a guy I trust. … It’s tough to get him out of the lineup, I can tell you that.”
It was Steeves’ who jumpstarted Boston’s scoring surge against Jim Montgomery, Jordan Binnington, and the Blues on Thursday.
While Geekie has doled out most of his damage as a goal scorer this year, he played the role of distributor on Steeves’ tally — dishing a cross-slot feed that his linemate one-timed into twine for his sixth goal of the season.
Steeves rewarded the favor later in the period.
Seconds before Geekie snapped home his 21st goal of the season, it was a furious forechecking effort from Steeves that started the sequence — tenderizing both Philip Broberg and Colton Parayko on the end boards and knocking the puck loose.
That skittering puck was gathered by Lindholm and fed into the slot for Geekie, who knocked it home to give Boston a 2-0 lead at the time.
Steeves finished with a game-high six hits in the victory.
“I don’t think I’m an NHL player when I’m not playing physically,” Steeves said. “So I want to be physical every night. And good things usually happen when I do that.”
While Geekie’s shot and Lindholm’s two-way game are well-established at this point, Steeves’ motor and physicality have helped generate Grade-A chances with regularity during their shifts.
In the 42:54 of 5-on-5 ice time that the Steeves-Lindholm-Geekie line has logged so far this season, the Bruins are outscoring opponents, 4-2.
The Bruins are still treading water as they await the return of both Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy.
But amid a season where injuries have plagued Boston’s roster, the Bruins have found no shortage of unsung contributors who are keeping this team afloat — and are poised to pull on the rope even further once more bodies return to the ice.
“Obviously, it’s tough when you’re losing guys the way we seem to have lost them, but I think that’s just kind of where the league’s at right now with the schedule and everything like that,” Geekie said. “But, I mean, for [Victor Soderstrom] to step in tonight and get an assist and play well.
” And guys that have been doing it all year — [Jonathan Aspirot] coming up, and Steever. All these guys mean a ton to us. And to be able to step in to make a difference like they all do, is super important.”