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This week in the NBA: Ime Udoka wrong to jaw with Lebron James; top 3 rookies are off to rough starts
Everyone who works for the NBA or one of its franchises should always behave in a professional manner. That being said, the head coach is supposed to be the person in charge of the team. A head coach is like the general manager of a store. That person may not own the place, but the person does need ...

This week in football: Aaron Rodgers finally sees the end; FSU boycotting the Orange Bowl?; Oregon hit with Title IX suit
Injured New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers had a lot going on over this first weekend in December. He turned 40 on Saturday, then stood on the sideline Sunday and watched the Jets lose to the Atlanta Falcons while scoring eight points. That could be when it dawned on Mr. Rodgers that suiting up...

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. ...

The Orioles should be stocking up for a World Series run, but opt to torture their fanbase instead
Baltimore Oriole fans looking to cleanse their palates of a bitter end to the team’s 101-win season will have to seek out a charcuterie board because the franchise’s big splash at the Winter Meetings is . . . Craig Kimbrel? ...

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....
![Ex-Jags employee used stolen funds to bet on football [Update]](https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/dfacd306c85d365fa63d708299bdb923.jpg)
Ex-Jags employee used stolen funds to bet on football [Update]
Update Dec. 8: The former employee’s attorney said his client has a “serious gambling addiction” and will plead guilty to wire fraud and an illegal monetary transaction...

Why is Juan Soto such a burden?
Juan Soto might be the best hitter of his generation. In the past 53 years, only six players have accumulated more fWAR than Soto has before hitting age 25. They are Mike Trout, Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols, Ken Griffey Jr, and Andruw Jones. All of them Hall of Famers except for Jones. And the othe...

Juan Soto is finally a New York Yankee. Took long enough
The New York Yankees have finally acquired outfielder Juan Soto from the San Diego Padres, according to New York Post columnist Joel Sherman, and ESPN’s Jeff Passan. ...

Despite Deion Sanders' success, worthy HBCU coaches still aren't getting advancement opportunities
One year ago, Deion Sanders’ swift exit from Jackson State’s sideline brought a swell of attention to HBCU football that hadn’t existed in decades. What it didn’t bring were more opportunities for the coaches who are essentially lifers, no matter how much they’ve proven themselves. Before Sanders to...

Every trade ever made between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox
Amidst slow winter meetings, two of baseball’s biggest rivals broke the ice by making a rare trade. The New York Yankees acquired Boston Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo in exchange for Richard Fitts, Greg Weissert, and Nicholas Judice. ...

Go ahead Jerry Reinsdorf, make everyone’s day
As has often been stated on these pages, Jerry Reinsdorf hates Chicago White Sox fans. And White Sox fans hate him. That’s the only fundamental anyone has to understand to get what’s going on the Southside. Or in this case, Nashville (insert Steve Harvey voice, “Takin’ his punk ass to Nashville…”)...

The NBA’s top 3 rookies are tough to watch (for reasons outside of their control)
The 2023 NBA Draft was supposedly a three-team draft. The main prize was Victor Wembanyama, with Brandon Miller and Scoot Henderson in the trail positions. Regardless of which guard, wing, or big you got, each could be a franchise cornerstone. The caveat is what exactly would they be holding up? ...

Since 2013, 45 percent of Heisman finalists have been QBs of color. That’s progress
You know progress is taking place when things that used to be groundbreaking become the norm. Thankfully, it’s been a long time since Andre Ware was the only one....

Spongebob to co-host Nickelodeon's Super Bowl LVIII broadcast
The folks that gifted us Slimed Mike McCarthy, Patrick Star’s commentary of a Russell Wilson interception, and the Mitchell Trubisky NVP are coming back for the Super Bowl....

Patrick Kane reveals why he chose to sign with Red Wings
Three-time Stanley Cup Champion Patrick Kane signed with the Detroit Red Wings last month and is eying a return to the ice this week against San Jose after having hip resurfacing surgery this past summer....

Tyrese Haliburton has the Pacers skipping the NBA waiting line
There are three tiers of NBA existence: Teams stuck in the mud, teams trying to fit through a championship window and future contenders waiting their turn. Prior to Tyrese Haliburton’s first full season as a Pacer, Indiana was rudderless and stuck on a road to nowhere. Aside from Haliburton, there w...

The Maple Leafs are in their own heads
The Toronto Maple Leafs fixated on the wrong things? I know, it’s a crazy time and we’ll have to get through it together, with intellect and a savoir-faire. ...

Refs defend controversial LeBron timeout call
Officials from last night’s Los Angeles Lakers-Phoenix Suns game have confirmed the controversial timeout call that helped punch L.A.’s ticket to the In-Season Tournament semifinal....

Yankees trade for outfielder — no, not that one
We all know the New York Yankees were in the market for a left fielder. But while linked to San Diego Padres slugger Juan Soto, the Bronx Bombers instead swung a trade with the rival Red Sox for Alex Verdugo — a right fielder. ...

Tate Rodemaker was robbed of an opportunity to join the pantheon of iconic backup quarterbacks
If anyone should be feeling the price of inflation today, it should be backup quarterbacks, whose stock just skyrocketed. Last week, Matt Rhule made headlines in his press conference by announcing that the (NIL) cost for “a good quarterback in the portal costs $1 million to $1.5 million to $2 millio...