v Page 1302 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

If it’s not good news, let’s just not talk about Zion Williamson
It’s open season on Zion Williamson. The New Orleans Pelicans big man was the subject of various takedowns Friday after his team’s woeful showing in the semifinals of the In-Season Tournament to the Lakers, 133-89. J.J. Redick, Shaquille O’Neal, the Times-Picayune, and even an X account dedicated to...

Notoriously cheap owner has to pay for A's to leave Oakland
The Oakland Athletics are about to pay more than their entire 2022 payroll just to leave Oakland....

It's almost 2024 and the Yankees still won't allow beards
Earlier this year, the New York Yankees added sponsored sleeve patches to player jerseys, but as one ex-player pointed out, still won’t let go of its outdated facial hair policy that’s likely still costing the Bronx Bombers from signing certain players....

Giannis and Zion sure sounded like they, too, didn’t take the In-Season Tournament seriously
The biggest questions facing the NBA’s In-Season Tournament were: Would people care? Would fans care? Would players care? Because if no one cares, then we’re back to square one of the Association’s conundrum and watching effortless (not the good kind) December basketball. ...

Arsenal can thank Jesus and a late Declan Rice goal to stay on top
The English are pretty fascinated with their midweek evening fixtures. There are only a few per season, when the whole league trots out under the lights Tuesday-Thursday (instead of under the lights on Saturday and Sunday because the sun never actually appears in the UK between Halloween and St. Pat...

USMNT gets an OK Copa America draw
Every tournament draw show is just about the biggest, “This could have been an email” event on the planet. Yes, the World Cup, Copa America or the Euros only come around every four years so they want to stress their significance by having as much pomp as they can. But anyone watching the Copa Americ...

Does Colorado's No. 1 recruit beef up Buffs' biggest vulnerability?
During his inaugural season at Colorado, Deion Sanders coached a Gucci-wearin’, finesse football team that palled around with celebrities, flashed luxury watches and piled up obscene passing numbers in a series of offensive shootouts. They also couldn’t protect their quarterback or their jewelry. ...

Wait, are those the Rams knocking on the NFL playoff door?
If not for the Green Bay Packers’ Sunday night surprise win against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Los Angeles Rams would currently have the final playoff spot in the NFC. They are on a three-game winning streak since their bye week and the offense is humming even with Cooper Kupp sidelined with an inj...

Jim Harbaugh will be even richer if he promises not to pursue an NFL head coaching gig
Cheating scandals, suspensions, NFL interest, doesn’t matter. Jim Harbaugh might still get a bag from Michigan. ...

If you're trying to reach the College Football Playoff committee...
The wrath of Florida State football fans continues to be felt after being snubbed by the College Football Playoff Committee for a shot at the National Title. ...

Amazon can't be happy with another episode of <i>Thursday Night Football</i> Comedy Hour
Thursday is upon us, which means the end of the work week is near. It also means another installment of Thursday Night Football featuring another lousy matchup. This one could be the trailer for a Hollywood comedy: Bad Backups. That’s the general consensus about tonight’s TNG game between the New En...

If NBA teams can raise division-title banners, they should be able to raise a banner for the In-Season Cup
The inaugural In-Season Tournament is nearing its conclusion, which can only mean one thing: How can we find a new way to dump on it? Fortunately, a contrived controversy has been delivered on cue. The winner of this weekend’s In-Season Tournament will have to navigate the thorny situation over how ...

Why is no one screaming about the NBA’s MVP race yet?
There’s one unquestioned upside to the NBA’s In-Season Tournament. The endless promos and exhausting exposure to promote Adam Silver’s baby — and debate over if it’s working or if it matters — has overshadowed the usual topic de jour as we hit the quarter-season mark: The MVP race....

At least 1 person thinks Joe Flacco should start for Cleveland
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has yet to name a starting quarterback for Cleveland’s upcoming game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. With Deshaun Watson sidelined for the season, the Browns have started three different signal-callers — rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson, journeyman backup P.J. W...

As if Notre Dame wasn't annoying enough
Notre Dame football doesn’t plan on losing its independence anytime soon, in terms of a conference or its broadcasting deal with NBC....

How did Ron DeSantis get to be so weird?
If you thought Ron DeSantis stumbling around debate stages in what looked like a pair of high heels, attempting and failing to resemble a human being when he smiles, and being hyper-focused on other people’s genitals is weird, wait until you find out how DeSantis wants to spend a million dollars of ...

The dog whistles around Jalen Hurts are subtle, yet deafening
It’s not just what you say, it’s also about what you don’t say — and how you say it. Right now, there are some peculiar things being uttered about Jalen Hurts, and it would be easier if those people would just . . . say it....
![Hayden Hurst's season is over after concussion, amnesia diagnosis [Updated]](https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/0424e740e8669133d2e22f6aecc9acaf.jpg)
Hayden Hurst's season is over after concussion, amnesia diagnosis [Updated]
Updated Dec. 15: The Carolina Panthers are putting Hayden Hurst on injured reserve, ending the tight end’s season....

Paul Pogba's career could be done after 4-year doping ban
Juventus midfielder and French National team player Paul Pogba’s future career remains uncertain after Italy’s national anti-doping prosecutors requested a four-year ban from soccer after testing positive for testosterone in September. ...

Ms. 3,000: Iowa's Caitlin Clark in pursuit of Plum
Iowa basketball phenom Caitlin Clark continues to do things that will put her on the Mount Rushmore of women’s college basketball. ...