🧨 NFL Season Kicks Off

Belichick bans NFL Scouts, Ben Simmons Rumor, Phillies Fan Drama, Koch family buys stake in team, and more!

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Sportie Newsletter
September 09, 2025

🏈 Football

Bill Belichick Confirms Patriots Scouts Are Banned From North Carolina

The saga that is the relationship between Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots took yet another turn on Saturday night.

Following his North Carolina Tar Heels' 20-3 win over the Charlotte 49ers, the head coach confirmed recent reporting that he had banned the Patriots and their scouts from attending his team's practices.

"It's clear that I'm not welcome there, around their facility," Belichick explained when asked about the ban. "And so they're not welcome at ours. It's pretty simple."

Koch family to buy stake in Giants at $10B valuation

The Koch family reportedly has agreed to purchase a 10% stake in the New York Giants.

The deal, which was first reported by Bloomberg, is pending approval by league owners, which could come as soon as their next meeting in October.

It would come at a valuation of $10 billion, which would surpass the then-North American professional record of $6.05 billion that Josh Harris' group paid to buy the Washington Commanders from former owner Dan Snyder in 2023.

🏒 Hockey

Toughest goalies to score on, according to NHL players

Andrei Vasilevskiy did not win the Vezina Trophy as the best goalie in the NHL last season, but according to several players in the game today, there is no one in the League more difficult to score against than the Tampa Bay Lightning veteran.

Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets, who beat out Vasilevskiy for the Vezina last season, had nine players name his as the toughest, while seven named Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers.

⚾️ Baseball

Aroldis Chapman records 4-strikeout ninth for Red Sox as his hitless streak continues

Aroldis Chapman is having one dominant season for the Boston Red Sox, which continued Sunday night with a four-strikeout ninth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Though the Boston closer didn't record another 1-2-3 save, Chapman's incredible hitless streak continued.

Chapman was called upon to close out a 7-4 win for the Red Sox in Phoenix on Sunday, as Boston was able to squander the final game of a three-game set with the Diamondbacks. He logged his 29th save of the season.

Davey Johnson, manager of '86 world champion Mets, dies at 82

Davey Johnson, the manager of the 1986 world champion New York Mets, has died. He was 82.

Longtime Mets public relations representative Jay Horwitz said Johnson's wife, Susan, informed him of his death after a long illness.

Johnson was a power-hitting second baseman who played 13 years in the majors, sharing in World Series titles with the Baltimore Orioles in 1966 and 1970 and hitting 43 homers for the Atlanta Braves in 1973 while serving as an offensive wingman for teammate Henry Aaron.

🏀 Basketball

NBA player’s sister fatally shot at New Jersey apartment

he sister of Minnesota Timberwolves player Naz Reid was fatally shot at a New Jersey apartment complex by her boyfriend, who was charged with murder, authorities said Monday.

Police went to the Paragon apartment complex in Jackson around 11 a.m. Saturday, after receiving reports of shots fired. They soon found Toraya Reid, 28, unresponsive near the complex’s exit, and she apparently had been shot multiple times, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said.

Ben Simmons reportedly turned down offer from Knicks, remains free agent

Mere weeks before NBA teams reconvene for training camp, Ben Simmons remains among the ranks of unsigned free agents. That’s not, however, because he hasn’t had opportunities to catch on.

In fact, according to longtime NBA journalist Marc Stein, the 29-year-old former No. 1 overall draft pick and three-time All-Star had an offer to join a championship contender … but turned it down: