Oct 8, 2022; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Oregon coach Dan Lanning and Georgia coach Kirby Smart worked together for years, but they are pulling no punches now that they are recruiting rivals.
Smart dropped a casual comment about Oregon’s ties to Nike founder Phil Knight — and Knight’s extensive riches — at SEC Media Days last week. The Georgia coach mentioned that he had the opportunity to meet Knight in the offseason, and dropped in a comment that he “wish(ed) I could get some of that NIL money he’s sharing with Dan Lanning.”
The remarks made their way back to Lanning, who fired off his own broadside at Smart in a Thursday appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
“I think it’s impressive that guys like Kirby have been signing the number one class in the nation without any NIL money this entire time,” Lanning said.
Lanning made it pretty clear that his commentary was in good fun, and that he saw Smart’s original remark the same way. On the other hand, Lanning has shown previously that he is definitely the type to seize on little things to fire up his team.
For what it’s worth, Georgia does have the top recruiting class of 2024, according to 247 Sports, with Oregon hot on their heels at No. 3. It is safe to say NIL money is not exactly a problem for either program.
Oct 19, 2022; San Diego, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies interim manager Rob Thomson (59) speaks to the media before the game against the San Diego Padres on game two of the NLCS for the 2022 MLB Playoffs at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports
The Philadelphia Phillies have found an unlikely trade partner.
The Phillies announced Friday that they have acquired outfielder Austin Hays in a trade with the Baltimore Orioles. Philadelphia is sending righty pitcher Seranthony Dominguez and outfielder Cristian Pache back to Baltimore in return.
Hays, an All-Star in 2023 with the Orioles, is a nice pre-trade deadline pickup. A 29-year-old righty hitter, he has reached the 15-homer, 60-RBI mark in each of the last three MLB seasons. While calf and adductor injuries have slowed Hays’ production this season, he also still has another year of arbitration eligibility remaining.
It is a surprise that the NL-leading Phillies were able to link up on a trade with the Orioles, who are tied for the best record in the AL this season and could very well face Philadelphia in the World Series. But both teams felt that it was worth pulling the trigger on, and the Orioles continue to eye additions themselves ahead of the July 30 trade deadline.
Feb 28, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Texas defensive lineman Byron Murphy (DL18) speaks at a press conference at the NFL Scouting Combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Seattle Seahawks rookie defensive tackle Byron Murphy was the victim of an extortion attempt by an Instagram model, according to his agent.
Murphy became the subject of social media speculation on Friday when purported messages between him and an OnlyFans model surfaced on X. The model claimed that Murphy owed her $15,000 and had blocked her on social media after recently becoming engaged. The model’s original post has since been deleted.
In a statement, Murphy’s agent, Ron Slavin, said Murphy was the victim of an extortion attempt in the form of “a text conversation that began and ended online.” Slavin added that other young NFL players were targeted with the same scheme, and that both the NFL and FBI had been informed.
The Seahawks made Murphy a first-round pick in April’s draft. He had previously been a star defensive lineman at Texas, and received first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2023. Provided his version of events is accurate, it appears unlikely he will face any further problems from this as he prepares to begin his NFL career.
Aug 23, 2011; Arlington, TX, USA; Hats and gloves from the Boston Red Sox team near the edge of the dugout before the game against the Texas Rangers at Rangers Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ loss is the Boston Red Sox’s gain.
The Red Sox on Friday acquired James Paxton in a trade with the Dodgers.
The trade came four days after the Dodgers designated Paxton for assignment. Paxton has a 4.43 ERA through 18 starts. His 48 walks in 89.1 innings are the worst in the league.
This will be a reunion for Paxton and Boston. The 35-year-old southpaw spent last season with the Red Sox and went 7-5 with a 4.50 ERA in 19 starts.
Red Sox reporter Chris Cotillo speculates that this will be Boston’s only starting pitching addition at the deadline.
The Sox enter play on Friday 54-47 on the season.
Mar 3, 2023; Sacramento, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers point guard Russell Westbrook (0) looks on during halftime against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Russell Westbrook is officially landing with a new team after being bought out of his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Westbrook is signing a two-year deal with the Denver Nuggets, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. The deal is worth $6.8 million, and the second year is a player option.
Westbrook has long been linked to the Nuggets, and when he was waived a week ago, the Nuggets were named as his likely landing spot. His primary role will be as backcourt depth, though the departure of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope from the Nuggets might entitle him to a decent complement of minutes.
Westbrook averaged 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game in 68 games with the Clippers last year. The Nuggets will be the 35-year-old’s sixth NBA team.
May 20, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Former NBA player and current TNT television personality Charles Barkley prior to game one of the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs between the Atlanta Hawks and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Charles Barkley said during the NBA Finals that he would retire from television work following the 2024-25 season if TNT lost the broadcast rights to the NBA. The latter has happened, but Barkley is suddenly keeping the door open to working elsewhere.
Barkley told Andrew Marchand of The Athletic that he will retire if Turner guarantees his entire 10-year, $210 million contract. If they do not do so, he said he is willing to consider offers from ESPN, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video.
“My deal is 10 years, $210 million,” Barkley said. “Turner has to come to me ASAP and they have to guarantee my whole thing or they can offer me a pay cut, which there is no chance of that happening and I’ll be (a) free agent.
“My thing was, ‘Wait, y’all f—ed up, I didn’t f— up, why do I have to take a pay cut?”
Barkley is only in the third year of that deal, so he is essentially asking Turner to continue paying him $21 million a year for over half a decade, even though they will not have NBA rights. That seems unlikely to appeal to Turner, increasing the odds that Barkley could become a broadcasting free agent. He did make clear that, for now, he still sees retirement in his future, but that he would be “stupid” not to at least listen to what other networks might propose.
“Right now, I’m planning on retiring,” Barkley said. “I’m not trying to do anything.”
Barkley added that he remains reluctant to broadcast elsewhere without the rest of the “Inside the NBA” crew of Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal, as well as the behind-the-scenes crew. Marchand noted in his article that a scenario has been floated in which a different network might allow the entire crew to continue doing the show from Atlanta, albeit on a different network.
Earlier Friday, Barkley criticized the NBA and its owners for perceived greed in the new TV deal. Despite that, he may not be done with the league just yet.
Sep 11, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
It’s only training camp, but the Las Vegas Raiders have already poked the bear.
In a viral video that began circulating on Thursday, Raiders players and fans can be seen playing with — and laughing at — a Kermit the Frog puppet wearing a Patrick Mahomes jersey, adorned with a wig meant to replicate Mahomes’ hair. The puppet, which appeared to have been brought by a fan, generated a lot of laughter and mockery, with someone in the background mocking Mahomes’ “I’m here” trash talk directed at the Raiders’ Maxx Crosby in a 2022 game.
The video has since been deleted, but not before Mahomes saw it. Asked about it Friday, the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback did not have much to say, but made clear he had made a mental note about it.
“It’ll get handled when it gets handled,” Mahomes said.
This seems like a convenient spot to note that the Chiefs face the Raiders on the road in Week 8, then host them at Arrowhead Stadium on Black Friday.
This is a division rivalry that seems to be heating up. The Raiders want to knock the Chiefs off the top of the AFC West, and are not hiding from the desire to take Mahomes down a few pegs. Mahomes, of course, will be taking notes about the trash talk.
May 27, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) during the fourth quarter during game four of the eastern conference finals for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
For years, the relationship between Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown has been plagued by rumors of discord and tension. Tatum maintains that was never the case, but admitted in a new interview that he is part of the reason those rumors were able to take hold.
The Boston Celtics star admitted to Chris Mannix of SI that, in the past, he could have done a better job of publicly asserting Brown’s importance to the team. Tatum confessed that he has never been the type to go to the front office and make demands about players, which has been interpreted by many as passiveness regarding Brown’s status.
“I’ve always told him that maybe I could have done a better job of voicing my feelings in the public eye,” Tatum admitted. “He always knew that I wanted him here. I would always tell him like, ‘Man, I don’t get involved with any of those talks.’ I never went to Brad [Stevens] or went to any player like, ‘Yo, I want this guy in, I want this guy out of here.’ I show up and I want to do my job and play basketball. And looking back on in those moments, I didn’t know how that could affect somebody, because I was never in that situation. I feel like maybe I could have done a better job of publicly saying, ‘No, we don’t want anybody, we want JB.’ I just was always like, ‘I want to stay out of it.'”
Tatum’s stance was certainly well-intentioned, but it allowed rumors to fill the void. It got to the point that rival coaches were trying to exploit some perceived feud during the 2024 playoffs.
Presumably, Tatum and Brown will not have to deal with this chatter now that they have won a championship together. Then again, it’s already clear that the doubters will not go away completely.
November 23, 2018; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Turner Sports sportscaster Charles Barkley before The Match: Tiger vs Phil golf match at Shadow Creek Golf Course. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Charles Barkley has issued his first public statement since it was confirmed that TNT would lose the rights to NBA broadcasts after next season.
In characteristically blunt fashion, Barkley suggested the NBA had never been interested in keeping TNT as one of its television partners. He blamed commissioner Adam Silver and team owners for choosing money over fans, and promised to give viewers “everything we have” during their final season of coverage.
“Clearly the NBA has wanted to break up with us from the beginning. I’m not sure TNT ever had a chance,” Barkley said. “TNT matched the money, but the league knows Amazon and these tech companies are the only ones willing to pay for the rights when they double in the future. The NBA didn’t want to piss them off.
“It’s a sad day when owners and commissioners choose money over the fans. It just sucks.
“I just want to thank everyone who has been at Turner for the last 24 years. They are the best people and the most talented and they deserve better. I also want to thank the NBA and its fans — the best fans in sports. We’re going to give you everything we have next season.”
Barkley has been critical of the league throughout the entire bidding process, suggesting they are putting money over the interest of the fans by prioritizing streaming deals as part of the new contract. In that sense, Barkley’s statement is nothing new.
Barkley has said he will retire once TNT officially loses the rights, thus bringing “Inside the NBA” to an end. It sounds like he will go out in a particularly unfiltered way since he will not have to worry about keeping the NBA happy with the rights about to go elsewhere.
Sep 15, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; General view of a San Francisco Giants cap and glove during the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The San Francisco Giants appear ready to give up on contending in 2024, and it could see them put a fairly big name on the trade market.
Two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell is receiving trade interest and the Giants appear willing to listen to offers, according to Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic. Interest in Snell is said to be “significant,” as the left-hander has begun to show flashes of the form that won NL Cy Young honors in 2023.
The Giants could use some financial relief, though trading Snell would not provide much. Snell’s contract is structured in such a way that trading him would only save the Giants about $5 million against the competitive balance tax, and they would need to clear closer to $16 million to get under the tax threshold. However, Snell has an opt-out that he can use after this season that he presumably will exercise, giving the Giants non-financial incentive to move him now and get something for him.
Snell signed with the Giants late, as his free agent market did not develop as he hoped it would. His season has been beset by injuries, and it has not been a perfect marriage so far. He has looked much more like himself since returning from his most recent injury, however, and has allowed just two runs and six hits in his last 18 innings of work.
