🏀 Basketball
Durant blasts All-Star game format
The league announced the new format on Tuesday, which will have the 24 All-Stars chosen split up into three teams of eight players. A fourth team will also compete, which will be the winning team from the Rising Stars Challenge, which follows a similar mini-tournament style.
Instead of NBA players drafting their teams as the league has done the past several years to drum up some excitement and break away from the traditional Western vs. Eastern Conference format, the three All-Star teams will be drafted by "NBA on TNT" analysts Shaquille O'Neal, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith. The draft will take place on Feb. 6.
Spurs' Gregg Popovich Shares Recovery Update After Stroke
As Gregg Popovich continues his recovery from a mild stroke suffered on Nov. 2, the legendary San Antonio Spurs head coach shared an update.
In a statement shared by the Spurs on social media, Popovich thanked fans for the support he has received while also making a quip towards himself for being "uncoachable" in his rehab.
“This has certainly been an unexpected six weeks for my family and me. As we work together on my recovery, I want to take a moment to share that the outpouring of support we've received during this time has been truly overwhelming in the best way possible. While I wish I could get back to each one of you, for now, let me say that my family and I are forever grateful. We're thankful for our wonderful community, the entire Spurs organization, and our family and friends. No one is more excited to see me return to the bench than the talented individuals who have been leading my rehabilitation process. They've quickly learned that I'm less than coachable."
🏈 Football
De’Vondre Campbell suspended by San Francisco 49ers until end of season after refusing to play
The San Francisco 49ers have suspended linebacker De’Vondre Campbell for three games – the rest of the regular season – after he refused to enter his team’s game in the third quarter of a 12-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport was first to report the 49ers were planning to suspend Campbell.
“We have suspended De’Vondre Campbell for three games due to conduct detrimental to the team,” 49ers president of football operations and general manager John Lynch said in a statement issued Monday. “We will have no further comment on the matter.”
Campbell was summoned to enter the game to replace Dre Greenlaw, who was making his return from the Achilles injury he sustained in last year’s Super Bowl, but told head coach Kyle Shanahan that he would not play, before walking to the locker room before the end of the game.
Vikings clinch postseason berth after Seahawks loss
Minnesota is back in the playoffs following a one-year hiatus.
The Vikings clinched a postseason berth thanks to the Seattle Seahawks' loss on Sunday night to the Green Bay Packers.
Winners of seven straight, coach Kevin O'Connell's surprising bunch still has much on the agenda after clinching a postseason spot before even taking the field in Week 15. Despite avoiding defeat since Oct. 24, the 11-2 Vikings face an uphill climb from the NFC's No. 5 seed if they're to clinch their fourth division title of the past decade.
🏒 Hockey
NHL to select, celebrate Quarter-Century Teams
The NHL will honor its best players from the past 25 years in a multi-phased Quarter-Century Team selection and celebration, the League announced today.
The campaign will be rolled out in three phases, with each accompanied by a robust content campaign across all NHL platforms to reflect selections and encourage fans to participate in the debate.
Starting at the Discover NHL Winter Classic later this month and continuing daily through January, the NHL will reveal each Club’s First and Second Quarter-Century Teams. Both the First Team and Second Team will consist of three forwards, two defensemen and one goaltender. Each Club’s First and Second Quarter-Century Teams will be selected by a panel of media, retired players and executives specific to that Club.
Jets' He becomes first Chinese-born player to sign NHL deal
Kevin He became the first Chinese-born player to sign a deal with an NHL club when the 18-year-old forward inked an entry-level contract with the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday.
Beijing-born He became the highest Chinese-born player taken in the NHL Draft when he was selected 109th overall in the fourth round this year by the Jets, who made a trade with Buffalo to jump 14 spots in the draft to take him.
"It's a dream come true," He said of being drafted by the Jets. "It's incredible, a huge honor."
He now plays in the junior ranks for Niagara of the Ontario Hockey League, where he has 23 goals and 20 assists over 29 games.
⚾️ Baseball
Giants predicted to land Corbin Burnes with $232 million, eight-year blockbuster
The San Francisco Giants have already landed one premier free agent and now they could be looking to pair him with an old teammate.
After new president of baseball operations Buster Posey kicked off his tenure by signing star infielder Willy Adames to a $182 million deal, it seems the Giants are looking to build a team that can contend in 2025 and for years to come. Now, Just Baseball’s Ryan Finkelstein has predicted that the team will also add the best pitcher on the market, Corbin Burnes, with an eight-year, $232 million contract.
