Jaylen Brown comes clean on ‘negative’ Scottie Barnes description
Jaylen Brown finally set the record straight on a comment he made about Scottie Barnes following a Dec. 7 encounter between the Boston Celtics and the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
It can be recalled that Brown praised Barnes after that contest, saying that the Toronto forward “got that extra chromosome.”
Although Brown meant that positively, many fans thought it was not the best way to describe Barnes.
During an appearance on an episode of “White Noise Podcast w/Derrick & Welsh” podcast that was uploaded on Saturday, Brown took time to clarify what he said.
“For Scottie, I didn’t know people were teasing him about it, as transcribed by X account @MrBuckBuckNBA.
“So I apologize. I was trying to give him a compliment on how strong he was. When I said extra chr*mosome people looked at it as negative, but I was thinking Superman, Incredible Hulk… An extra chr*mosome would be a benefit.”
Jaylen Brown: “For Scottie, I didn’t know people were teasing him about it. So I apologize…I was trying to give him a compliment on how strong he was. When I said extra chr*mosome people looked at it as negative but I was thinking Superman, Incredible Hulk… An extra chr*mosome… pic.twitter.com/JWrtcYhUl8
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) December 20, 2025
Brown is widely considered one of the smartest players in the league, on and off the court, so he likely knew what he was talking about when he expressed his admiration for Barnes, who had 18 points on 6-for-12 shooting and 11 rebounds in the Raptors’ 121–113 win in the first meeting of the 2025–26 campaign between Toronto and Boston.
He probably just did not expect his comment to go viral.
Eagles hit with unfortunate news on key defender during Commanders game
The Philadelphia Eagles just lost a key piece of their defense to injury in Saturday night’s Week 16 game against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md.
Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean left the field amid the team’s second defensive drive of the contest with an apparent lower-body injury. Philadelphia initially labeled him questionable to return with a hamstring issue before announcing that he would be done for the rest of the evening.
Dean concluded his night with a total of 2 tackles (1 solo), as he leaves the rest of Philadelphia’s stop unit to weather Washington’s attack.
Losing Dean is a big blow for the Eagles, considering what he’s capable of when healthy. He entered Week 16 with a 92.3 pass rush grade, good for second-best overall in the league among 88 linebackers.
The former Georgia Bulldogs star had a delayed start to his 2025 season, as he missed the Eagles’ first five games, as he recovered from a torn patellar tendon in his left knee that he suffered in a playoff game against the Green Bay Packers in a 2025 NFL playoff game against the Green Bay Packers.
The Eagles can clinch a playoff spot with a win over Washington, though they will still have to hope for the best regarding Dean’s status.
Eagles fans all said the same thing about kicker Jake Elliott
The Philadelphia Eagles had another rough first half on offense during Saturday’s game against the Washington Commanders, but nobody had it worse than kicker Jake Elliott.
Elliott missed three field goals in the first half of the game at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md., all of them off to the left. One of the misses was nullified by a penalty, but Elliott missed the kick again from even closer.
The kick is NO GOOD as Washington keeps their lead in tact
— NFL (@NFL) December 20, 2025
PHIvsWAS on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXnxV pic.twitter.com/IDy3K7NR2v
With his two official misses on Saturday, Elliott has now missed six of his last ten field goal attempts. That had Eagles fans ready to say farewell to him despite his status as a franchise legend.
That wasn’t real close.
— Les Bowen (@LesBowen) December 20, 2025
Jake Elliott has had an amazing Eagles career but you can’t keep giving away points.
Kickers are hitting 40-50 yard field goals at an unprecedented rate this year and then there’s Jake Elliott.
— | myke | 🦅 (@PhillyTruthr) December 20, 2025
Yeah it’s time to move on from Jake Elliott. Thank you for your past contributions.
— Victor Williams (@ThePhillyPod) December 20, 2025
In the season of the kicker, Jake Elliott really misses makeable kicks.
— Kevin Negandhi (@KevinNegandhi) December 20, 2025
I love Jake Elliott for everything he did for Philly, but he is a major liability that is going to cost the Eagles in the playoffs if they don’t figure something out. Kicking has never been easier than it is this year and he is among the worst kickers in the league.
— Shane Haff (@ShaneHaffNFL) December 20, 2025
You cannot go into another game with Jake Elliott as your kicker. He has to go. Legend or not, this dude is awful right now
— Jordie (@jordiebarstool) December 20, 2025
Elliott has spent his entire career with the Eagles and was part of both of the franchise’s Super Bowl wins. He is also one of the most highly-paid kickers in the NFL at $6 million a year, which might present a significant issue if the Eagles decide it is time to move on.
This is not the first time Elliott has gone through a spell of bad kicking. In the past, he has managed to stabilize himself, but the Eagles have to be at least a little concerned about what has happened to him over the last few weeks.
North Carolina beats Ohio State on stunning lucky play
The No. 12 North Carolina Tar Heels can thank Henri Veesaar for escaping Saturday’s game against the Ohio State Buckeyes with a 71-70 victory at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Ga.
With the Tar Heels down by a point with just seconds left in the second half, North Carolina star guard Seth Trimble tried to attack the basket but lost possession of the ball while trying to execute a spin move.
Fortunately for North Carolina, junior center Veesaar was there to recover the leather before seeing a wide-open opportunity to score. Veesaar rose for an uncontested and emphatic two-handed throwdown to give the Tar Heels a one-point lead, with 7.2 ticks left in regulation.
You can watch Veesaar’s heroic bucket here:
Clutch Player, Clutch Play 😮💨
— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) December 20, 2025
Henri Veesaar slams it for the game-winning dunk with less than 10 seconds left
📺 @CBSSportsCBB x @UNC_Basketball
pic.twitter.com/dzaDMRrB78
Although Ohio State still had ample time to find a way to get the lead back, the Buckeyes failed to capitalize on the opportunity, as they missed both desperation shots down the stretch.
Veesaar finished the game with 17 points on 7-for-12 shooting with 10 rebounds, 5 assists and a block. The Tar Heels were led on offense by Caleb Wilson, who came up with 20 points on 9-for-16 shooting to go along with 15 boards, 3 blocks and 2 assists in an all-around performance that helped North Carolina notch its 11th win against a loss in the 2025-26 college basketball season.
Looking ahead, North Carolina will face the East Carolina Pirates on Monday at Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Report: Dolphins plan to move on from Tua Tagovailoa
Tua Tagovailoa’s time with the Miami Dolphins appears to be over.
The Dolphins decided to bench the former Alabama Crimson Tide star quarterback for the remainder of the 2025 NFL season, following Miami’s 28-15 loss in Week 15 to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The loss eliminated Miami from NFL playoff contention and was seemingly the final straw for the Fins on Tagovailoa, who threw his 15th interception of the season in that contest.
It will be rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers handling the QB1 chores for the Dolphins the rest of the way, as the team looks to address their situation with Tagovailoa.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Dolphins “are prepared to move on” from Tagovailoa in the coming offseason.
However, getting rid of Tagovailoa is going to be easier said than done.
As noted by Schefter, the Dolphins still owe Tagovailoa $54 million guaranteed in the 2026 NFL season. In addition, $3 million of the signal-caller’s salary in 2026 will become guaranteed money on March 15.
If the Dolphins cut Tagovailoa, that would incur a historic dead money salary cap charge of $99 million for the team. Meanwhile, trading Tagovailoa would also require Miami to find a team willing to take on his salary, while also likely parting ways with significant draft capital.
Whatever the Dolphins end up doing with Tagovailoa, it will surely send shockwaves across the league.
Top candidate emerges for Titans head coach job
The Tennessee Titans have had a head coach opening for months now, and their list of targets appears to be made up already.
Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy is seen as a “serious candidate” to land the job, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic. Nagy previously spent four seasons coaching the Chicago Bears.
Nagy is far from the Titans’ only choice. They also plan to speak to a number of defensive coordinators, including Lou Anarumo of the Colts, Jeff Hafley of the Packers, and Jesse Minter of the Chargers.
Russini notes that the Titans are hopeful of hiring a coach who can rebuild the team’s culture and identity. That may be a big reason for the attraction to Nagy, who won plaudits for his leadership while coaching the Bears. He went 12-4 in his first season with Chicago, but never reached those same heights again.
Another thing working in Nagy’s favor could be Titans GM Mike Borgonzi. Borgonzi was previously part of the Chiefs’ front office and knows Nagy well from their shared time there.
Nagy’s name has consistently come up in relation to the Titans since Brian Callahan was fired in October, though there are some other names to watch as well.
Veteran head coach has reportedly expressed interest in the Michigan job
A somewhat surprising name has emerged as a potential candidate for the Michigan Wolverines’ head coach job.
Kyle Whittingham, who is stepping down as Utah head coach at the end of the season, has expressed interest in the Michigan job, according to Andrew Birkle, Marlowe Alter, and Tony Garcia of the Detroit Free Press.
Notably, the report does not explicitly say the interest is mutual. While Whittingham has immense experience, he would seem to be a longshot for the job. The 66-year-old would not really be a long-term option, and given the turmoil the program is in right now, the school might want someone who is not necessarily nearing retirement.
Whittingham went 177-88 in 22 seasons with Utah, including an undefeated season in 2008. His teams have not been quite as successful since, but the Utes are coming off a 10-win campaign this season. There are questions, however, about whether he stepped down by choice or whether the school nudged him out the door.
Michigan is looking for a replacement for Sherrone Moore, who was fired on Dec. 10. One coach is rumored to be the Wolverines’ preferred candidate, but so far, he has yet to give any indication that he wants the job.
Rams fire 1 coach following their latest loss
The Los Angeles Rams are taking the rare step of making a staff change in the middle of the season.
The Rams fired special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn in the wake of Thursday’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. It marks the first time during coach Sean McVay’s entire tenure that he has made a change during the season.
ESPN sources: Rams fired special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 20, 2025
The Rams’ special teams played a role in three of the team’s four losses this season, including Thursday night’s defeat in Seattle, and now changes are being made. pic.twitter.com/m6KVuQpMim
Blackburn had been the Rams’ special teams coach since 2023. He previously held the same position with the Carolina Panthers, and worked as an assistant special teams coach with the Tennessee Titans.
Special teams has been an issue for the Rams all season, and it came to a head on Thursday. In a Week 3 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Rams had two kicks blocked, including a game-winning field goal try that was returned for a touchdown. They had another field goal blocked in a 26-23 overtime loss to San Francisco in Week 5. On Thursday, Seattle’s Rashid Shaheed returned a punt 58 yards for a touchdown in what was largely viewed as a turning point in a game the Rams had led comfortably.
The Rams rank in the bottom five of NFL teams in net punt yardage for the season. They also have the second-worst field goal percentage in the league, as their kickers are just 18/24 on field goal tries this year.
It is highly unusual for a playoff-bound team to make a midseason coaching change of any kind. The Rams’ special teams issues have been so common that they appear to have felt that this was a necessary move to avoid more issues in the postseason.
Despite Thursday’s loss, the Rams are still 11-4 and have already clinched a playoff spot. The defeat means they will need outside help in order to win the NFC West, though.
Michael Irvin was going nuts during Miami’s playoff game
Michael Irvin was going through it during the Miami Hurricanes’ playoff win over Texas A&M on Saturday.
The former Miami star was in attendance at Kyle Field in College Station, Tex. on Saturday to watch the Hurricanes grind out a 10-3 win over Texas A&M. The game was close and low-scoring, which really put Irvin through some emotional turmoil.
At one point late in the second half, Irvin could be seen hunched over on all fours on the sideline.
— no context college football (@nocontextcfb) December 20, 2025
When the Hurricanes scored the go-ahead touchdown with 1:44 left, he went out of his mind.
— no context college football (@nocontextcfb) December 20, 2025
Irvin celebrated just as hard after the game. He even crashed coach Mario Cristobal’s postgame interview with ESPN to kiss the coach on the cheek.
THAT FEELING WHEN THE @CanesFootball MOVE ON pic.twitter.com/EJOvhLTPyz
— Michael Irvin (@michaelirvin88) December 20, 2025
Michael Irvin interview cameo 😂 pic.twitter.com/yGoacUPLZX
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 20, 2025
This was Miami’s first playoff win, and they pulled it off in a hostile environment despite some serious hindrances. They certainly earned the right to celebrate.
For Irvin, this is nothing new, and he has done this around the team before. Naturally, the tension of this game brought some extra tension for the 59-year-old, who was a three-time All-American selection and national championship with Miami in 1987.
Tom Brady posts a notable message after ex-wife Gisele gets remarried
Tom Brady’s latest Instagram post may not have been a coincidence.
News broke on Friday that Brady’s ex-wife Gisele got married to Joaquim Valente. TMZ reports that Gisele, 45, married Valente, 38, earlier this month in a small ceremony at their home in Surfside, Fla.
In apparent response to the news, Brady took to social media on Saturday with a notable cryptic message. Brady, 48, posted a selfie to his Instagram Story and zoomed in on his hoodie which read, “Forever Young.”
The seven-time Super Bowl champion also included the caption, “Yuppppppp” along with a “100” emoji. Take a look at a screenshot of the post.
Tom Brady reacts … pic.twitter.com/WE2nYwZrj5
— Jason Squilliams (@JasonSquilliams) December 20, 2025
Brady and Gisele married in 2008 and share two children together. But the couple divorced in 2022, and Gisele began her relationship with Valente, her Jiu-Jitsu instructor, the next year. Gisele gave birth to her first child with Valente in February of this year.
After the news broke last year of Gisele’s pregnancy, Brady also promptly reacted with a cryptic post to his Instagram page. Now it appears that the 15-time NFL Pro Bowler has done so again in response to the news that Gisele has officially gotten remarried.
Ja Morant makes an interesting business move
Ja Morant is officially going global.
The Memphis Grizzlies star point guard Morant announced this week through Catch12, Inc., the media and investment company founded by the Morant family, a new investment into the United States-based company EuroStep Ventures. EuroStep Ventures is the parent company of France professional basketball club Levallois Metropolitans, and the investment is intended to tap into the French basketball market.
“Basketball in Paris is capturing worldwide attention,” Catch12 COO Berry Winn was quoted as saying in the official release. “This partnership allows us to take part in something that is shaping the future of both the men’s and women’s game on an international scale. Our team brings athlete perspective, media and broadcast technology, and a cultural lens that will help expand EuroStep’s vision.”
You can read the release in full at the link here.
Also known as Metropolitans 92, Levallois Metropolitans is the club that San Antonio Spurs star big man Victor Wembanyama used to play for professionally before coming to the NBA. They were founded in 2007 and have won two titles in their history up to this point (one French Federation Cup and once French Supercup). Metropolitans did notably go bankrupt last year but moved down to the third division of French professional basketball as a result and are now back on the upswing.
As for Morant, the 26-year-old former All-Star, he is having a down year this season for the 13-14 Grizzlies, Morant is averaging a career-low 17.7 points per game and has been limited to 14 games played overall because of various injuries. But he is at least making some proactive moves off the court right now, which line up with a few of the major changes that Morant has made in recent months.
Marcus Smart fined $35,000 by the NBA
Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart was hit with a $35,000 fine by the NBA for his actions toward referees during Thursday’s game.
Smart was fined for making an “obscene gesture” at halftime of Thursday’s game against the Utah Jazz, the league said in a statement. Dave McMenamin of ESPN clarified that Smart flipped off the referees at halftime.
Marcus Smart was fined $35,000 for flipping off the refs at halftime in Utah pic.twitter.com/ONsGtzD0SY
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) December 20, 2025
Nobody caught Smart in the act live, either on video or in a photo. The officials clearly noticed it, however, and that was all it took for the veteran guard to be hit with the fine.
It was not entirely clear what Smart was so upset about, though LeBron James and Luka Doncic were both whistled for shooting fouls in the final minute of the half. James’ foul actually led to a four-point play, and the Jazz went to the locker room up 78-73.
Smart is no stranger to confrontation and altercations. Still, this is not the most demonstrative thing we have seen a Lakers player do to an official during a game.
1 key Nuggets player is expected to leave the team in offseason
The Denver Nuggets may soon be losing another member of their 2023 NBA championship team.
Nuggets forward Peyton Watson is expected to leave the team as a free agent in the summer, Bennett Durando of the Denver Post reported on Saturday. Durando writes that it is seen as increasingly unlikely that Watson will be in the Nuggets’ price range for a new contract as he is currently enjoying a career year.
Watson, still only 23, was Denver’s first-round pick out of UCLA in 2022 (No. 30 overall). He won a title with the Nuggets in 2023 and has steadily developed as an all-around player ever since then.
This season, Watson is averaging 10.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game on 50/39/71 shooting splits, every single one of which is a career-high. Defense has long been known as Watson’s calling card as well with his athletic 6-foot-8 frame and his 7-foot-1 wingspan.
Watson will be a restricted free agent this offseason, meaning that the Nuggets will be able to match any offer sheet for him. But with sizable money already tied up in their core quartet of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, and Christian Braun (all of whom are signed through at least 2028), Denver seems doubtful to hand out another sizable contract such as that one in the midst of the NBA’s second apron era.
The Nuggets currently sit at 20-6 this season, which ranks second in the Western Conference. They already parted ways with one mainstay over the summer, and now Watson’s impressive contract-year performance thus far means that he could be next.
Everyone said the same thing about Miami’s kicker
The first half of Saturday’s College Football Playoff game between Texas A&M and Miami will be best remembered for the kicking woes both teams were suffering. One attempt in particular, however, will go down in infamy.
The Hurricanes and Aggies were tied 0-0 at halftime at Kyle Field in College Station, Tex., with both teams missing field goals in the first half. Miami, however, missed twice, with a strong wind wreaking havoc on both of Carter Davis’ attempts.
The second kick, a 40-yard try, went wide right and was not even close.
WIDE RIGHT
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 20, 2025
0-0 AT THE HALF FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF #PMSCFP pic.twitter.com/28EJrwHR96
Naturally, an attempt that bad brought out the memes. Most fans chalked the miss up to a combination of wind and nerves, but social media still was not terribly forgiving.
Miami's kicker: pic.twitter.com/jfsv7h0bWU
— Caesars Sportsbook (@CaesarsSports) December 20, 2025
Miami kicker pic.twitter.com/MOrFGeO4sG
— World Champions x2 🦅🦅 (@Nevers_Failures) December 20, 2025
Miami gave 3 million to Carson beck and only had $12 left to pay a kicker
— John (@iam_johnw) December 20, 2025
Miami’s kicker with a chance to take the lead pic.twitter.com/KYVJ5jpRuz
— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) December 20, 2025
Miami definitely has something to think about if their drives stall out in Texas A&M territory now. Davis looked incredibly shaky, especially after the second miss.
This has not been the norm this season for Davis, who made 87.5 percent of his field goal attempts coming into Saturday. That included a mark of 5/7 on attempts between 40 and 49 yards.
Michigan State hiring ex-Michigan QB as their new OC
The Michigan State Spartans are turning to a former Michigan quarterback to run their offense.
The Spartans are planning to hire Alabama co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Nick Sheridan as their offensive coordinator, according to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports.
Michigan State is expected to hire Alabama co-offensive coordinator and QB coach Nick Sheridan as its new offensive coordinator, sources tell me, @C_Robinson247 and @JustinThind.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) December 20, 2025
The ex-Michigan QB has worked under Kalen DeBoer the last four seasons at Alabama and Washington. pic.twitter.com/hJAvHE4dJx
Sheridan is a fairly significant get for Michigan State given his role at Alabama. He also has experience in the Big Ten, having worked in various roles on Indiana’s staff from 2017-2021.
For Spartans fans, the most notable bit here may be where Sheridan played collegiately. Sheridan played from Michigan between 2006 and 2009, and started four games for the team in 2008. He even started the game against Ohio State in 2008, a 42-7 Michigan loss.
Michigan State is clearly looking to establish itself again as a prominent Big Ten program, and their hire of Pat Fitzgerald was a major move in that regard. They are certainly going what they can to get him a top-notch staff, too.
Mike Elko fired back at Nick Saban’s claim about Texas A&M
Texas A&M coach Mike Elko could not resist firing back at Nick Saban after Saban made claims about the crowd noise at Kyle Field.
Saban has claimed twice in the last week that Kyle Field pipes in crowd noise to make their environment even more intimidating for opponents. He repeated the claim on “College GameDay” Saturday.
“I think it’s real. But y’all still pipe in noise to make it difficult. I don’t give a s–t what you say,” Saban said.
Elko was well aware of Saban’s comments when the panel interviewed him prior to Saturday’s game against Miami.
“We’ve always had the crowd noise. We’ve always had the fanbase. None of that is actually piped in. I want to make sure I throw that out there real quick, coach,” Elko said.
Coach Mike Elko had to set the record straight on Texas A&M's crowd noise 🤣 pic.twitter.com/2gKT1pjcIY
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) December 20, 2025
Saban has genuinely praised the Kyle Field atmosphere as the toughest in the SEC to play in, and did so again on Saturday. He just isn’t backing off his claim that the school makes it even worse for opponents by adding artificial noise on top of the real stuff.
There are a number of NFL teams that have been accused of piping in crowd noise, but it’s an uncommon claim at the college level. Part of that is because the allegations are much more common for teams that play in domed stadiums, where the effect would be more pronounced. There are not nearly as many domes at the college level, and that includes Kyle Field, which is fully open-air.
Diego Pavia made a prominent media member regret their Heisman vote
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia made at least one of his voters regret casting a ballot for him in the Heisman Trophy race.
ESPN’s Rece Davis revealed this week that he had voted for Pavia to win the Heisman. However, after seeing the Vanderbilt quarterback’s behavior after finishing second to Fernando Mendoza of Indiana, he was actually relieved that his choice did not win.
“The one thing that his behavior, even with the apology included and accepted, did for me was that it made me regret my Heisman vote,” Davis said on the “College GameDay” podcast, via Daniel Hager of On3. “I voted for Diego Pavia because I know what the history of Vanderbilt is. I thought he was the most dynamic player. I’m predisposed in Heisman voting to vote for guys who create ‘wow’ moments.
“I’ve voted for the Heisman for 20-something years. I’ve only regretted my vote two times: one time it was because of on the field and I was unfair in my judgment toward a person. In my effort to be fair, I ended up being unfair to the person I should have voted for. This one was different. I regretted the vote because after Pavia’s behavior in the aftermath, I was like ‘man, I’m glad he didn’t win.’ I’m glad he didn’t win. That’s not the way you should feel about a player as great as Pavia is on the field.”
Pavia drew criticism for blasting Heisman voters after finishing second to Mendoza last Saturday. He also insulted Indiana. The Vanderbilt quarterback apologized for his behavior, but the damage was done.
Davis may not be the only Pavia voter who saw the quarterback’s behavior and felt relieved his choice hadn’t won. As Davis said, that is not how anyone should feel about a Heisman candidate, but Pavia has no one to blame but himself.
Pavia threw for 3,192 yards with 27 touchdowns and eight interceptions on the season and led the Commodores to a 10-2 campaign.
NBA informs teams ‘tanking’ policies will be reviewed
Tanking, the controversial practice of teams deliberately losing games to gain advantageous draft positioning, continues to challenge the NBA’s competitive integrity, and it’s something commissioner Adam Silver wants to curb.
On Friday, ESPN insider Shams Charania reported that the league notified all 30 franchises of a renewed review into anti-tanking policies.
This initiative aims to address persistent issues, potentially modifying draft pick protections, revising lottery odds, and exploring other deterrents to discourage deliberate losses.
The review echoes earlier concerns, which led to changes to the lottery format in 2017. The new rules were implemented ahead of the 2019 NBA draft.
Silver has expressed frustration with tanking’s impact on fan engagement and league parity, though specific details from related announcements remain limited.
Fan reactions on X vary: Some fear it could trap bad teams in mediocrity, while others criticize the league for prioritizing this over officiating inconsistencies. Critics argue that without tanking, rebuilding franchises might struggle longer, but proponents see it as essential for maintaining excitement.
As the NBA evolves, these changes could reshape team strategies, ensuring a more level playing field amid growing scrutiny, especially in the face of various gambling scandals.
Flyers issue statement about radio announcer’s hot mic moment
The Philadelphia Flyers swiftly responded to a controversial hot mic incident involving veteran radio play-by-play announcer Tim Saunders during Thursday night’s 5-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.
In the third period, during a TV timeout, Saunders believed the broadcast on 97.5 The Fanatic had gone to a commercial. After a brief silence, he made a sexually suggestive remark to someone off-mic.
“While you’re down there, would you mind blowing me?” he said.
His color analyst, Todd Fedoruk, immediately warned, “I think we’re still on the air, Tim,” prompting laughter and realization from Saunders.
The clip quickly went viral, amplified by a popular breakdown video from Jomboy Media, shown above, that dubbed it an “all-time great hot mic moment.”
On Friday, the Flyers issued a statement condemning the comment as inappropriate and not reflective of organizational standards. Together with radio partner 97.5 The Fanatic, they announced an immediate two-game suspension for Saunders, who is in his 29th season with the team.
“We are aware of the inappropriate comment made during last night’s radio broadcast in the TV timeout of the Flyers-Sabres game.
“These remarks do not reflect the standards of conduct or values we expect from anyone associated with our organization,” the statement read.
“Effective immediately, the Flyers, along with our radio partners, 97.5 The Fanatic, have issued a two-game suspension while we address this matter with all parties involved.
“We take this matter very seriously, and sincerely apologize to our listeners, fans and all those affected by these comments.”
The organization apologized sincerely to listeners, fans, and those affected. Saunders, through the Flyers Broadcast Network, also issued an apology.
Randy Moss rings bell after completing his cancer treatment
NFL Hall of Famer Randy Moss celebrated a monumental victory this September, ringing the traditional bell at Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute in Charlotte to mark the end of his Stage 2 bile duct cancer treatment.
The legendary wide receiver, aged 48, was diagnosed in late 2024 after noticing symptoms like jaundice and dark urine. He underwent a stent placement on Thanksgiving, followed by a six-hour Whipple procedure in December to remove the tumor — affecting parts of his pancreas, gallbladder, and bile duct.
Moss then completed rounds of chemotherapy and radiation while stepping away from his ESPN “Sunday NFL Countdown” role.
Throughout his journey, Moss embodied resilience, coining the phrase “Let’s Moss cancer” and drawing immense support from fans, family, and the NFL community.
In the uplifting video shared by Atrium Health, a smiling Moss, wearing a “Team Moss” hoodie, rang the bell enthusiastically.
He declared, “I ring this bell and know the future begins today,” before thanking staff: “I want to thank everybody here at this hospital for welcoming me to be a part of their extended family… Y’all do a great job of taking care of people.”
Moss returned to ESPN for the 2025 season, proving his unbreakable spirit both on and off the field.
