Russell Westbrook airballs wide-open dunk
Russell Westbrook has clearly lost a step since his early days with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Westbrook, who now plays for the Sacramento Kings, resembled a demigod dealing with the sudden loss of his powers Friday in his team’s matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. The former league MVP got a pass in the left corner and completely faked out Cavs big man Larry Nance Jr., clearing the runway for Russ to take off.
Westbrook took off outside the restricted area and cocked back in what looked like one of his signature tomahawk jams. Instead, Westbrook fell well short of the rim and lost possession at the apex of his jump.
Westbrook airballed a dunk 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/3Qvi5Bqm6m
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) January 24, 2026
Fortunately for the Kings, the ball landed in the hands of Domantas Sabonis. The All-Star big man got fouled on his putback attempt and sank both free throws, giving Sacramento the two points they were hoping for from Westbrook’s dunk.
Russ is just a few years away from turning 40. The fact that folks still expect him to rock the rim on such plays is a testament to how much of his athletic ability has stayed with him into his late thirties.
Friday’s contest was not one of Westbrook’s better outings in his first season with the Kings. He went 3/12 from the field for 11 points in what turned into a 123-118 loss to the Cavaliers.
Brian Windhorst reveals LeBron James’ 3 options for next season
LeBron James may only be able to proceed down one of three paths after this season.
The Los Angeles Lakers superstar James appears to have just three options following the 2025-26 campaign, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said Friday during an appearance on “Get Up!” Windhorst said that James can remain with the Lakers but at a pay cut, he can sign with another team as a free agent, or he can retire.
Most notably, that means one particular option is no longer on the table. James will, according to Windhorst, not be able to remain with the Lakers at a salary close to the $52.6 million that he is making this season.
Additionally, another option may be off the table according to Windhorst’s reporting — the possibility of a sign-and-trade. James could hypothetically head elsewhere as part of a sign-and-trade that would send assets back to the Lakers in return. But that would require a level of cooperation and goodwill between the two sides that may not be there right now.
Earlier this week, we saw a report alleging that Lakers governor Jeanie Buss had grown fed up with James and his behavior over the years. The Lakers also notably failed to give James a new contract extension over the offseason, leading to James’ agent Rich Paul going public with some frustrations.
As the Lakers look to fully build around Luka Doncic, it seems very unlikely that their partnership with James will extend beyond this season (unless James takes an extremely uncharacteristic paycut). Last week, Reggie Miller revealed exactly who James’ potential team after the Lakers might be.
Alabama judge who granted G League player college eligibility got exposed for being team booster
An Alabama judge is under fire for a conflict of interest in his recent ruling that granted former G League player Charles Bediako’s college eligibility.
Tuscaloosa County Circuit Judge James Roberts Jr. granted Bediako temporary eligibility on Wednesday, allowing the 23-year-old to suit up for Alabama as soon as this weekend. The ruling comes despite Bediako playing in the G League over the last three seasons and even previously signing a two-way contract with the San Antonio Spurs.
A report published Friday by Front Office Sports’ Alex Schiffer shed light on Roberts’ ties to the Crimson Tide program. Roberts and his wife Mary are on record as six-figure donors to the Crimson Tide Foundation, with their contributions ranging between $100,000 and $249,999.
That’s not the couple’s only tie to the Crimson Tide basketball program. Per the report, Mary Turner Roberts is also on the legal team defending former Alabama player Darius Miles against a murder charge. Miles and Bediako were teammates from 2021 to 2023.
Bediako went undrafted in 2023 but landed on the Spurs’ NBA Summer League roster. San Antonio waived Bediako after he suffered a torn meniscus, parting ways with the Canadian center before he ever played for the Spurs’ main squad.
Bediako played in the G League as recently as last week. He scored four points and grabbed three rebounds in the Motor City Cruise’s 127-103 win over the Birmingham Squadron.
Tyrese Haliburton pulls an unusual move amid Pacers-Thunder rematch
Tyrese Haliburton is apparently not quite ready to return to the site of his devastating injury.
The Indiana Pacers faced off against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla. The game marked a rematch between the two sides who met in the 2025 NBA Finals (with the Thunder ultimately prevailing in seven games).
Haliburton, who is out for the season with an Achilles tear suffered in Game 7 of that Finals series, has been with his team in street clothes on the bench for every single game thus far. However, Haliburton notably decided not to accompany the Pacers for Friday’s trip to OKC. Indiana writer Scott Agness noted that it was Haliburton’s very first absence of the season.
That is completely understandable for the two-time All-Star Haliburton. His Achilles tear (which you can see the video of here) only occurred seven months ago. On top of that, the injury cost Haliburton and the Pacers perhaps the best chance that they will ever get to win an NBA title (not to mention costing Haliburton all of this season as well).
Fortunately for Haliburton though, the Pacers managed to defeat the Thunder on Friday in perhaps the biggest upset of the year. Entering play Friday at an NBA-worst 10-35, Indiana was somehow able to beat the NBA-best Thunder (who came in at 37-8) by a final score of 117-114.
Haliburton won’t play at all again until the start of next season in Oct. 2026. But after not attending Friday’s NBA Finals rematch against OKC, Haliburton will likely be back on the Pacers’ bench for their next game (where he has already produced some fantastic troll moments this year).
Report reveals Keon Coleman’s reaction to Bills owner throwing him under the bus
Keon Coleman was reportedly just as stunned as everyone else amid the latest drama surrounding his name.
Buffalo Bills team owner Terry Pegula made headlines earlier this week when he very publicly threw Coleman under the bus during the press conference discussing the team’s decision to fire longtime head coach Sean McDermott.
Pegula claimed that the Bills’ general manager, Brandon Beane, did not want to select Coleman when Buffalo was on the clock to open the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. According to Pegula, Beane was urged by the coaching staff to take the Florida State product against his wishes.
The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia published a report Friday that shed light on Coleman’s reaction to Pegula’s public callout. Coleman reportedly “didn’t understand” where Pegula’s comments came from but “quickly shook them off.”
Despite getting dragged by the man who signs his checks, Coleman has reportedly yet to submit a trade request and “is proceeding as though he will play for the Bills in 2026.” Coleman heard about Pegula’s comments while visiting an injured teammate in the Dallas area.
The Bills bet big on Coleman to be the team’s next star wide receiver heading into the 2024 season. The team had parted ways with Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, setting Coleman up to have a big role in the offense from the moment he set foot in Buffalo.
Coleman, however, has so far failed to live up to the team’s lofty expectations. He tallied 29 catches for 556 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns across 13 games during his rookie campaign. His numbers did not improve in Year 2, when he caught 38 passes for 404 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Giannis Antetokounmpo curiously leaves game amid drama with Bucks
The Giannis Antetokounmpo situation in Milwaukee may be reaching critical mass.
The Milwaukee Bucks star Antetokounmpo had a very curious moment during Friday’s game against the Denver Nuggets. During the first quarter at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisc., Antetokounmpo left the contest to head to the locker room.
Antetokounmpo did not appear to have suffered an injury and walked back up the tunnel with seemingly no issues at all. Here is the odd video.
Giannis has just left the game for no reason at all? pic.twitter.com/OGyIs84Q4w
— BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) January 24, 2026
The former NBA MVP Antetokounmpo ended up missing over eight total minutes of game action. He exited with just under four minutes left in the first quarter and did not return until the 7:30 mark of the second quarter.
This episode comes as Antetokounmpo is in the middle of some heavy drama with the Bucks right now. With Milwaukee sitting 11th in the Eastern Conference at 18-25, noise is growing that they could potentially even consider moving Antetokounmpo ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
We also heard a report earlier this week claiming Antetokounmpo’s frustration with the Bucks was an all-time high. With Antetokounmpo having publicly ripped his teammates after Milwaukee’s latest loss as well, everything that happens with The Greek Freak from here will assuredly be under a heavy microscope.
Warriors considering Jonathan Kuminga trade for former Golden State All-Star
The Golden State Warriors are reportedly interested in reuniting with an old friend.
Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga became eligible to be traded last week and wasted little time submitting a formal trade request. According to NBA reporter Marc Stein, one of the options Golden State is weighing with Kuminga on the trade block revolves around bringing back Andrew Wiggins, whom Golden State traded to the Miami Heat last February.
With a serious need for perimeter scoring next to Curry, the Warriors may look to Wiggins to help fill some of the void left by the injured Jimmy Butler. The Warriors are keenly familiar with what Wiggins can do on the offensive end.
The former No. 1 overall pick earned his lone All-Star nod in 2021-22, when he helped lead Golden State to its fourth and arguably most improbable championship run of the Steph Curry era. Wiggins averaged 16.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in his six seasons with the Warriors.
It’s worth noting that the Warriors’ plans for Kuminga have changed since Butler went down with a season-ending torn ACL. Kuminga went from getting little to no burn in Steve Kerr’s rotation to becoming a featured player in Golden State’s offense. There’s a world wherein Kuminga plays himself back into the team’s good graces.
However, it’s also possible that the Warriors are only looking to showcase the former lottery pick to resuscitate his trade value, whether to acquire Wiggins or otherwise.
Sean McVay has violent warning for anyone who greets him on his 40th birthday
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay does not exactly sound thrilled ahead of his latest age milestone.
McVay spoke to reporters on Friday on the eve of his 40th birthday. The Rams coach threatened violence against any reporter who would dare greet him during the occasion.
“I’m not a big birthday guy and if you guys say happy 40th, I’ll slap the s–t out of you,” McVay told reporters, via Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio.
While McVay wasn’t welcoming any greetings, he did identify one gift he clearly wants after turning the big 4-0.
“Here’s what I will say,” McVay continued. “What is a good birthday is when I’m working on my birthday and if I’m working next week. That’d be a hell of a birthday. That’s the only present I want.”
McVay already has a coaching resume few can match before turning 40. It helps that the Rams made him the youngest NFL head coach ever in 2017, when he was just 30.
At 33, McVay became the youngest head coach ever to reach the Super Bowl. He became the youngest to hoist the Lombardi Trophy three years later and is two wins away from being the youngest two-time winner in history. To put that into perspective, Bill Belichick was 48 when he first began coaching for the New England Patriots.
For a coaching wunderkind like McVay, age really is just a number.
Mike Vrabel fielded awkward question about Patriots player he just released
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel dryly dealt with an awkward question Friday about a player he had just made the decision to release.
The Patriots on Jan. 14 added veteran defensive end Darrell Taylor to their practice squad, seemingly for depth and experience. On Friday, the Patriots opted to release Taylor, but that transaction had not yet been made public when a reporter asked Vrabel how Taylor was acclimating to the team.
“Yeah. We released Darrell Taylor. We’ll put that out here at 4:00. So not very well,” Vrabel said.
Reporter: “How's Darrell Taylor gotten acclimated so far?”
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 23, 2026
Mike Vrabel: "Uhhhh. Yeah. We released Darrell Taylor. We’ll put that out here at 4:00. So not very well.” 😬 pic.twitter.com/hR9ysMWzQz
Presumably, Vrabel meant no harm. The reporter could not have known about Taylor’s release, and the coach had to be brutally honest to a fault. On the other hand, Vrabel has never been afraid to be critical of former players even after releasing them, so maybe he really did want to send a message.
Ultimately, Vrabel’s primary focus is on preparing for Sunday’s AFC Championship game against Denver. Taylor was unlikely to heavily feature in those preparations whether he was on the team or not, so the question was likely always going to get a brisk response from Vrabel.
Dabo Swinney threatens Ole Miss coaches with tampering allegations
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney called out Ole Miss coach Pete Golding by name over allegations that the Rebels tampered with one of his players.
Swinney accused Ole Miss of tampering with transfer linebacker Luke Ferrelli, who had committed to join Clemson from Cal in early January. On Jan. 22, however, Ferrelli re-entered the portal and joined Ole Miss.
Swinney made clear that Clemson intends to complain to the NCAA about tampering. The Clemson coach then provided evidence that Ole Miss coach Pete Golding personally texted Ferrelli to ask the linebacker about his buyout after Ferrelli had already signed with Clemson.
Dabo Swinney calls out Ole Miss coach Pete Golding directly, saying that Golding texted Luke Ferrelli during his 8 a.m. class at Clemson.
— Grace Raynor (@gmraynor) January 23, 2026
"I know you're signed, what's the buyout?"
Swinney said Ferrelli informed Clemson of the contact, and that Clemson GM Jordan Sorrells reached out to Ole Miss counterpart Austin Thomas threatening to turn Ole Miss in if the contact did not stop. While Thomas apparently was willing to do so, Swinney alleged that Golding kept it up anyway.
Per Dabo Swinney, Clemson talked to Ole Miss GM Austin Thomas and made it clear that if Ole Miss didn't stop communicating with Ferrelli, Clemson was going to turn them in. Austin Thomas reportedly said he wanted no part of this but that "Pete Golding just 'does what he does.'"
— Grace Raynor (@gmraynor) January 23, 2026
Swinney offered up a whole accounting of the situation. He claimed that Golding had both Trinidad Chambliss and Jaxson Dart reach out to Ferrelli about a transfer, and compared the situation to “having an affair on your honeymoon.”
Tampering fears and complaints are not necessarily uncommon in the current era of college football, but it is certainly unusual for one coach to call out a counterpart by name. Swinney obviously wants something to be done about Golding and is willing to air his complaints publicly as well as privately.
As Swinney noted, there is some irony in Ole Miss facing these accusations, as they were very worried about former coach Lane Kiffin tampering with their players during the College Football Playoff. It is widely acknowledged that these things happen, but actually proving it and getting offenders punished is very difficult.
Swinney has long been opposed to using the transfer portal heavily, though he has started to compromise on that recently. This is a big reason why he hates it.
Warriors are eyeing a trade for a controversial friend of Draymond Green
The Golden State Warriors might soon have both Draymond Green and Draymond Green’s buddy on their roster.
Golden State has interest in a trade for Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges before the Feb. 5 deadline, Sam Amick of The Athletic reported this week. Amick notes that the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns are also interested in Bridges but that Charlotte could want up to two first-round picks in order to part ways with him.
Bridges, 27, is an unquestioned talent on the court. He is averaging 18.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game this season in a slightly lower usage role for the Hornets. Bridges is also signed for $25 million this season and $22.8 million next season.
But Bridges is also notorious for his history of off-court troubles. Bridges was arrested in 2022 on a charge of felony domestic violence after allegedly assaulting his then-girlfriend in front of their two children. He was then arrested again in 2023 for allegedly violating a protective order stemming from the original arrest. During that incident, Bridges was said to have thrown billiard balls at the same woman’s vehicle while their children were inside the car (read the full details here).
Bridges was suspended for 30 games by the NBA for the original domestic violence arrest. He ended up pleading no contest to a felony charge in that case and was sentenced to three years of probation. Bridges also later caught a break in the case of his protective order arrest.
Notably, Bridges is close friends with the Warriors star Green as both are Michigan natives who both attended Michigan State for college (though at different times). Green sparked controversy by working out with Bridges right after his 2022 arrest and later caused more backlash by publicly defending Bridges after the 2023 arrest.
The basketball need for the Warriors is obviously there as they are clinging for dear life to a playoff spot at 25-21 and also just lost Jimmy Butler for the season to a torn ACL. Time will tell if they are desperate enough to hold their noses and make a trade for Green’s controversial friend Bridges before the deadline.
Aaron Rodgers might return to Steelers for 1 head coach
The Pittsburgh Steelers may have lost any chance of bringing back Aaron Rodgers when Mike Tomlin decided to step down as coach, but they may have one path to convincing him to return with one hire.
Tom Pelissero of NFL Network said on “The Rich Eisen Show” Friday that Mike McCarthy is a “serious candidate” for the Steelers job, and that the team might be intrigued by his history of developing young quarterbacks. He added, however, that McCarthy might be the only candidate who could tempt Rodgers into playing for one more season in Pittsburgh.
“I do believe that if Aaron Rodgers were coming back to play for one coach in 2026, it would be Mike McCarthy,” Pelissero said. “I think that people may have misconstrued that as, this is the Steelers trying to lure back Aaron Rodgers. That’s not it at all. If they hire Mike McCarthy, they are doing it for the totality of what direction they think that they can go right now. … The potential of an Aaron Rodgers return is kind of a bonus.”
💻 @TomPelissero
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) January 23, 2026
What's the latest on the #HereWeGo head coach search? Could Mike McCarthy be their man?#NFL pic.twitter.com/dp8k2RpT3Z
Pelissero acknowledged the claims about Rodgers’ past relationship with McCarthy, but suggested that the issues were overblown and that the two are on good terms now. Rodgers did congratulate McCarthy when his former coach landed the Dallas Cowboys job in 2020.
The Steelers have suggested that they would welcome Rodgers back in 2026 if he wanted to continue playing. Rodgers himself has been mum about his future, though it was quickly suggested that Tomlin’s departure made the quarterback’s potential return much less likely.
McCarthy, a Pittsburgh native, has already interviewed with the Steelers and appears to be on their short list of candidates for the job. He has a 174-112-2 record as an NFL head coach with the Packers and Cowboys.
Notable update emerges on Max Scherzer’s future
Mad Max does not appear to be in any hurry to secure his 19th season in the big leagues.
Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer is content with waiting until after Opening Day to sign with a new team, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports this week. While Scherzer is said to be healthy and ready to sign at any moment if the right team calls, he is reportedly willing to wait for an opening to emerge with one of his preferred clubs.
Now 41 years old, Scherzer spent last season with the Toronto Blue Jays. He was not particularly effective during the regular season, posting a 5.19 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP over 17 starts (spanning just 85.0 total innings pitched).
But Scherzer was much more effective in the postseason for Toronto. He trimmed his numbers down to a 3.77 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP and was also the winning pitcher in the crucial Game 4 of the ALCS against the Seattle Mariners (a game in which Scherzer memorably screamed at manager John Schneider to keep him in the contest).
On top of that, Scherzer became a well-liked figure in the Blue Jays clubhouse as the team made it all the way to the World Series. In Game 5 of the World Series versus the Los Angeles Dodgers, Scherzer even had a very memorable moment while in the dugout.
Scherzer does already have two World Series rings in his career (with the Washington Nationals in 2019 and the Texas Rangers in 2023). But at his age, Scherzer, who was also brilliant during his start in Game 7 of the World Series against the Dodgers, is more than willing to wait for the right opportunity to materialize for him in 2026.
Dolphins owner Stephen Ross seemingly forgot his new coach’s name
Miami Dolphins head coach Stephen Ross had a very awkward moment Thursday when introducing Jeff Hafley as the team’s new head coach.
Ross spoke during Thursday’s press conference to unveil Hafley, the former Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator, as the new Dolphins coach. While speaking about how impressed he had been with Hafley during the job interview, Ross seemingly froze up and forgot the coach’s name. He paused for several seconds and seemingly had to look down at his notes to remind himself who he had hired.
🎥 Stephen Ross on hiring Jeff Hafley as the new head coach: "Jeff stood out amongst them all. We were really fortunate that he was available, we made our decision early… we got who we wanted." (@MiamiDolphins) #PhinsUp pic.twitter.com/YnODrVr9Bn
— FinsXtra (@FinsXtra) January 22, 2026
“Jeff stood out amongst them all,” Ross finally managed.
Ross, 85, infamously saw his team stripped of a first-round pick after an NFL investigation found that he had illegally tampered with both Tom Brady and Sean Payton while they were under contract with other teams. He has owned the franchise since 2008, and Hafley is the fifth head coach hired on his watch. Of the previous four, only Mike McDaniel departed the organization with a winning record.
The general consensus is that the Dolphins made a strong hire with Hafley, so it is not as if Ross has no idea what he is doing. He certainly froze up at an awkward time, though.
Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube shows off giant cut on his head
When Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube goes behind the bench for Friday’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights, he will do so looking like he just came from a huge fight.
Berube showed off a black eye and a huge gash on his forehead Friday, admitting he had been involved in a “stupid” gym accident that was all his fault. He downplayed the issue and joked that “the other guy looks way worse.”
Leafs HC Craig Berube reveals a massive gash on his head as the result of an accident in the gym. 🫢🤕 pic.twitter.com/zVQ25tDGVi
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 23, 2026
Berube wore a hat to his media availability, which hid the worst of it. He will have no such luxury on the bench, where his injuries are likely going to get a lot more attention than he would prefer.
Hockey players are, of course, no stranger to gashes like this. They usually come from on-ice action instead of gym incidents, though, so Berube is essentially switching things up a bit.
Berube’s Maple Leafs sit a disappointing sixth in the NHL’s Atlantic Division this season and are three points out of a playoff spot. The gaping head wound might be the least of the coach’s concerns at this stage of the season.
Fernando Mendoza gets warning about being drafted by Raiders
Fernando Mendoza is playing nice when it comes to the possibility of landing with the Las Vegas Raiders, even when not everyone else is.
Mendoza appeared on “Today” Friday less than a week after winning the national championship with the Indiana Hoosiers. The likely No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft had his interview crashed by “Today” co-host and Raiders fan Carson Daly, who had something of a warning for the Indiana quarterback.
“On behalf of Las Vegas, I just want to say, should you end up with us, I’m sorry,” Daly joked. “If you win more than three games, you’re a hero.”
NEWS: Fernando Mendoza spoke on being drafted as the number one pick by the #Raiders.
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) January 23, 2026
“The Raiders have a great culture, have a great coaching staff, great ownership group. It’s all around. Those are legit guys. I’d be happy to end anywhere”
(Via Today)pic.twitter.com/U7Rw1stfVR
Mendoza played it cool and praised the Raiders’ ownership, coaches, and culture. He diplomatically added that he’d be “happy to end up anywhere.”
Nobody would have expected anything less from Mendoza, who is extremely polished and says basically everything one would want to hear from a franchise quarterback. He’s also smart enough not to trash his likely NFL landing spot on national television.
While Mendoza prepares for the NFL and a likely landing spot in Vegas, his younger brother will also be playing somewhere other than Indiana next season.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s frustration with Bucks at ‘all-time high’
The situation between Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks is not great right now.
Antetokounmpo experienced a tumultuous offseason full of talks and rumors about him wanting to be traded. The Bucks kept him to start the season, and they are 18-25 entering play on Friday, which would have them missing the playoffs.
On Friday, ESPN NBA reporter Shams Charania was a guest on “The Pat McAfee Show,” and talked about Antetokounmpo. Charania said that the frustrations within the team are at an “all-time high.”
“The frustration that Giannis Antetokounmpo has is at an all-time high,” Charania said. “He’s frustrated with the losing, he’s frustrated with the situation. … The tension that’s in the air within that organization, in that locker room, it’s at an all-time high. There’s somewhat of a splintering environment that we’re seeing going on there.”
Charania added that the sides need to move forward with a trade.
“What I’ve been hearing over and over for months now is that the writing is on the wall for Giannis and the Bucks. It’s just how do they get there, when do they get there, and when is either side ready to step up to the plate and have that level of understanding, or will it continue to live in this nebulus state. And that has a direct impact on the team and how the performance is.”
When Antetokounmpo was asked this week about a potential trade, he said he was taking things “day-by-day.”
Antetokounmpo is in his 13th NBA season, all spent with the Bucks. He is averaging 28.2 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game this season. He is a 9-time All-Star, 2-time NBA MVP, and he won a championship in 2021. There are several teams that are said to have interest in him.
Molly Qerim lands her first job since her exit from ESPN
Molly Qerim is officially headed back to the airwaves.
The former ESPN host Qerim is set to serve as the host for Zuffa Boxing, Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports reported this week. Zuffa Boxing, a promotion company that was co-founded by UFC CEO Dana White this past summer, will be having their first event (under a new partnership with Paramount Skydance) on Friday at the META Apex in Las Vegas, Nev.
Qerim is slated to host the desk for the event along with Antonio Tarver, Mike Coppinger, and Mark Kriegel. Additionally, Qerim will be reunited on the Zuffa Boxing broadcast with her ex-ESPN colleague Max Kellerman, who is part of the announcing team with Joe Tessitore and Andre Ward.
The 41-year-old Qerim began at ESPN back in 2006 and eventually became something of a household name thanks to her role as the host and moderator of the popular TV show “First Take” with Stephen A. Smith. Qerim became a permanent fixture on “First Take” in 2015 and also did more specialized coverage for ESPN in areas such as the Super Bowl and the NBA and MLB All-Star Games.
But Qerim abruptly decided to resign from ESPN last September (with an interesting theory having since emerged as to why Qerim chose to quit). Weeks after Qerim’s departure, ESPN moved to name a different female anchor as the new full-time host of “First Take.”
We heard at one point that Qerim supposedly had a multi-million-dollar offer on the table from an ESPN rival. But she will be starting small with Zuffa Boxing as she gets back into the game after leaving The Worldwide Leader.
Arch Manning undergoes minor surgery
Arch Manning has undergone a minor surgery, the Texas Longhorns football program announced on Friday.
Texas shared an injury update with the media on Friday that addressed Manning’s surgery.
“Arch Manning underwent minor foot surgery this week as a preventative measure to address a previous injury. He will be limited during off-season workouts but is expeced back during spring football,” the update said.
A handful of other Texas players underwent off-season surgery.
“Additionally, the following players had off-season surgery and all are expected back 100 percent healthy by the season: Xavier Filsaime (shoulder), Trevor Goosby (shoulder), Emmett Mosley V (ankle), Ty’Anthony Smith (shoulder), Ryan Wingo (wrist).”
Manning experienced his first full season as a starter this season. He passed for 3,163 yards, 26 touchdowns and 7 interceptions, and he rushed for 399 yards and 10 touchdowns.
A redshirt sophomore, Arch really started to get going late in the season. He closed with three straight wins, including a 5-touchdown performance against Arkansas; two touchdowns against Texas A&M; and four touchdowns in a bowl win over Michigan. Manning really showed off his athleticism during that game, as well as the skills that will make him a Heisman Trophy contender in 2026.
JJ Redick took a shot at the Lakers’ roster
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick seemingly took a shot at the team’s roster following the team’s 112-104 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday.
Redick suggested that some Lakers players were pressing, particularly on offense, and trying to do too much at times. One reason for that, in his view, is that a lot of the team’s players are playing for their futures.
“Guys are worried about their futures. That’s what happens when you’ve got a team full of free agents and player options,” Redick said. “It’s just natural that you’re going to worry about the offense. I’ve been there. It can get in your head a little bit. ‘Ah, I’ve played five minutes, haven’t hit a shot yet.’ That’s a human thing. It’s not anybody’s fault.”
JJ Redick: “Trust the pass, and you know that starts with Luka. He’s gonna have the ball the most of everyone. He’s gotta trust the pass… guys are worried about their futures, and that’s what happens when you’ve got a team full of free agents and player options.” pic.twitter.com/CqjfGC262z
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) January 23, 2026
This could be viewed as a shot at how GM Rob Pelinka has built the Lakers, though Redick likely does not intend it as such. The team’s win-now mentality leads to them signing a lot of experienced veterans to short-term deals in order to maximize the chances of immediate success.
The likes of Gabe Vincent and Rui Hachimura are due to become free agents this offseason. LeBron James is as well, though his job security is not exactly a concern.
After a bright start to the season, the Lakers are now 26-17, and there are legitimate questions about whether they have a roster constructed to a championship standard. Luka Doncic and James will always give them a chance, but in Redick’s eyes, this is yet another issue they have to deal with. It won’t stop them from aggressively trying to improve, though.
