Worldwide Sports News

December 10, 2025

Report: Orioles agree to 5-year, $155 million deal with slugger Pete Alonso

BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Orioles agreed to a $155 million, five-year deal with slugger Pete Alonso, a person with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a physical.

It’s a major move for a Baltimore team that vowed to be aggressive following a last-place finish. Alonso hit .272 with 38 home runs and 126 RBIs this year for the New York Mets, posting an .871 OPS that was his highest since he hit 53 home runs as a rookie in 2019.

Alonso, who turned 31 on Sunday, hit 264 homers over seven seasons with the Mets. He’s earned All-Star honors five times, including each of the past four years.

Nicknamed the Polar Bear, Alonso became a Citi Field fan favorite as a home-grown member of the Mets. He was NL Rookie of the Year in 2019, when he hit .260 with a major league-high 53 homers — a rookie record — and 120 RBIs. He had a career-high 131 RBIs in 2022.

Alonso batted a career-low .217 in 2023 while hitting 46 homers and driving in 118 runs and hit .240 with 34 homers and 88 RBIs in 2024.

After a slow free agent market last winter, Alonso signed a $54 million, two-year contract to stay with the Mets, but he opted out of the final year of the deal.

Alonso met with teams at the winter meetings in Orlando, Florida.

“Pete lives in Tampa, it’s rather warm there,” his agent, Scott Boras, said Tuesday. “So the polar vortex of last year has kind of thawed. So the prior market — that prior bear market is exhausted.”

December 10, 2025December 10, 2025

Real Madrid 1-2 Manchester City: Champions League – live reaction

⚽ Updates from the 8pm GMT kick-off at the Bernabéu
⚽ Live scores | Football Daily | Clockwatch | Email Scott

1 min: A fierce old atmosphere in the Bernabéu. It’s Real Madrid in the Champions League after all. It’s Real Madrid versus a Pep team. And then …

Hats off to Erling Haaland, who goes out of his way to say hello to a couple of the tiny mascots and give them a high five. Once he goes off down the line, the little lads embrace each other with excitement, their day made. So sweet. Then City get the ball rolling.

December 10, 2025

2025-26 NBA MVP ladder, race: Odds, power rankings, frontrunners including Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokic, Doncic

The three-man race for MVP continues in the NBA, but we have a new odds on leader at a few sports books. For the majority of the past four weeks, Nikola Jokic has led in terms of odds, but not anymore!

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & team props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!

Vaughn Dalzell‘s Week 8 MVP Rankings

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder (+160)

Points Per Game: 32.8 (2nd)
Assists Per Game: 6.4 (15th)
Rebounds Per Game: 4.7 RPG (95th)

Oklahoma City is an NBA best 23-1 and riding a 14-game winning streak. The Thunder are in contention to break the 2015-16 Warriors regular season record of 73 wins and 9 losses. If that happens, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander would be a shoe-in to win the MVP like Steph Curry was that year.

During the Thunder's 14-game winning streak, SGA averaged 32.4 points per game during that span and ranks sixth in offensive efficiency out of qualified players. SGA has scored 30 or more points in 11 of those 14 games and played 30 or fewer minutes in eight contests.

SGA is averaging a career-high in points (32.8), assists (6.4), field goal percentage (55.6%),three point percentage (44.3%) despite playing his second-lowest minutes per game (33.2) of his career (rookie year was the lowest).

2. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets (+160)

Points Per Game: 29.2 (5th)
Rebounds Per Game: 12.3 (1st)
Assists Per Game: 11.0 (1st)

To start December, Nikola Jokic is on a tear with 30.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 11.3 assists for a triple double average. Denver is 3-1 in that span as Jokic has double-doubled twice and triple-doubled once. In the lone game he didn't double-double at the least in that span, Jokic exploded for 40 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists.

The Nuggets are tied for the third-best record in the NBA (17-6) with the Lakers as they trail the Thunder and Pistons. With the pace the Thunder are at (23-1 record), Jokic will need more than a 30-point triple-double average to overthrow Gilgeous-Alexander.

3. Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers (+270)

Points Per Game: 35.0 (1st)
Assists Per Game: 9.1 (3rd)
Rebounds Per Game: 9.2 (T-13th)

In the Lakers' last four games, Luka Doncic has missed two of those which didn't impact his odds negatively at all. In the two games he did play, Doncic erupted for 38 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists in a loss to the Suns, then posted a monster triple-double of 31 points, 15 rebounds, and 11 assists in a win over the 76ers.

When Doncic has taken the floor this season, he's showcased his MVP caliber. The problem has been taking the floor. Doncic's missed six games this year and played a combined 50 games last season for Dallas and Los Angeles, which was a career-low. From 2018-19 to 2023-24, Doncic played between 61 and 72 games. To be eligible for MVP, he must play at least 65 games, which he's accomplished in five of seven seasons.

4. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons (+5000)

Points Per Game: 27.5 (11th)
Rebounds Per Game: 6.4 (45th)
Assists Per Game: 9.3 (2nd)

Cade Cunningham's MVP chatter has started to quiet down, but his odds remain the same. To start December, Detroit is 3-1 and Cunningham averages 21.3 points, 9.0 assists, and 6.3 rebounds over four contests.

Cunningham's scoring (21.3 ppg) and shooting efficiency's have dropped to 42.9% from the field and 24% from three in that span compared to 47.7% and 34.2% in November. Cunningham ranks 11th in points per game on the year (27.5), second in assists (9.3), and the Pistons lead the East with a 19-5 record ranking second-best overall in the NBA behind the Thunder (23-1)

Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers (+10000)

Points Per Game: 31.7 (3rd)
Rebounds Per Game: 4.7 (T-100th)
Assists Per Game: 7.5 (8th)

Tyrese Maxey is still cooking. The 76ers' star guard has scored 44, 35, 35, 12, and 28 points over the last five contests. Maxey's attempted at least 24 field goal attempts in four of those five games as Philadelphia continues to work Joel Embiid back into the mix. Since Embiid's return on November 30, Maxey's MVP odds have dropped from +5000 to +7000 to +10000.

Stock Up

Not one player saw their stock increase by more than $20 for every $100 spent, so no one is included in the stock up market. Now, the question becomes, who will enter the power rankings next or see their stock rise?

Well, Alperen Sengun (+50000) made a short appearance on the list and dropped off, while Jaylen Brown (+50000), Jalen Brunson (+30000), and Donovan Mitchell (+20000) have all straddled the tier two list this season. Anthony Edwards (+25000) is the likely frontrunner to be in contention for the fourth or fifth spot in the MVP poll over the next few weeks, but it's really just a three-man race for MVP this season after injuries wiped out some of the competition.

Stock Down

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks (Off The Board)

Points Per Game: 30.9 (4th)
Rebounds Per Game: 10.9 (5th)
Assists Per Game: 6.6 (17th)

Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to miss up the next three weeks at a minimum from a calf injury, which will make him ineligible to win the MVP. Antetokounmpo has already missed eight games and was having a terrific start to the season, especially in the first four games with averages of 36.3 points, 14.0 rebound, and 7.0 assists per game.

Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs (+15000)

Points Per Game: 26.2 (14th)
Rebounds Per Game: 12.9 (2nd)
Blocks Per Game: 3.6 (1st)

Victor Wembanyama has been out since November 14th and missed 11 game overall. To win MVP, the individual must play at least 65 games. That means Wemby could miss only six more contests for the whole year and that is unlikely. His start to the season was MVP worthy, but the Spurs' goal will be for Wembanyama to be healthy for the playoffs. It looks like an MVP or Defensive Player of the Year trophy will have to wait another year for Wembanyama.

Follow my plays for the season on X @VmoneySports, Instagram @VmoneySports_ and Action App @vaughndalzell.

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & team props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!

How to Watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones. Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

How to sign up for Peacock:

Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You’ll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.

NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule

Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.

What devices does Peacock support?

You can enjoy Peacock on a variety of devices. View the full list of supported devices here.

December 10, 2025

Robby Fabbri's Panthers AHL PTO Concludes; Signs Two-Way Deal With Blues

Just nine days ago, the Florida Panthers' AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, signed Robby Fabbri to a professional try-out, and after three games, he's turned the PTO into a two-way contract with the St. Louis Blues.

The contract pays $775,000 in the NHL and $300,000 in the AHL.

In his brief stint with the Checkers, Fabbri notched a goal and an assist in three games, helping the Checkers win one of those three games. The 29-year-old surprisingly was unable to find a contract following his pre-season PTO with the Pittsburgh Penguins, but now, past the quarter mark of the season, he'll return to where his career began.

Fabbri was originally drafted by the Blues in the first round (21st overall) in the 2014 NHL draft. He went on to play 164 games with the Blues, scoring 32 goals and 73 points. Fabbri played his first three-plus seasons with the Blues before being traded to the Detroit Red Wings on Nov. 6, 2019, for Jacob de la Rose. Fabbri played in the NHL last season with the Anaheim Ducks and had 16 points (eight goals, eight assists) in 44 games.

The Blues are dealing with several injuries. They are currently dealing with injuries to Jordan Kyrou (lower-body), Nathan Walker (upper-body), Jimmy Snuggerud (wrist), Alexey Toropchenko (leg burns) and most recently Nick Bjugstad (upper-body).

With all the injuries they are facing, Fabbri could get an extended run on the Blues' NHL roster. If he is sent down to the AHL, he'd likely play in the top six as several players from the Springfield Thunderbirds have been called up to the NHL.

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December 10, 2025

Reflecting On A Controversial Goal Against The Rangers

Because hockey is so fast and so tough, it spawns more controversy than any other major sport.

This was evident after the last Rangers home game in which Vegas beat the Blueshirts late in the overtime period on a breakaway by Golden Knights center Jack Eichel.

No sooner had the red goal light flashed then the following arguments emerged:

1. THE GOALIE: Should Jonathan Quick have stopped Eichel's point blank backhander?

2. RANGERS DEFENDERS: How did the three New York defenders fail to stop the Vegas' breakout? And which one was the real culprit?

3. OFFICIATING: Did the referee' double-minor call late in the third period lead to the Rangers eventually demise?

Each question inspired differing opinions on all three issues and to put an end to all the feudin' a fussin' and a fightin' over these issues, I hereby turn the column over to author, goalie Jerry Hack, co-star with The Maven and moderator Alena Sychova on the hit podcast "Bottle Rocket."

Jerry Hack: "Ask any goalie – like me, for instance – about Nathan MacKinnon's shot and I'll tell you this: The backhand is the toughest shot to stop simply because there's no way to read where the shot is going – up, down, left, right, five-hole.

"All options are open. When a player of MacKinnon's skill is eight feet away and roofs one over your shoulder, it may appear to be a 'bad' goal. Trust me, it is not. On the forehand you can read most guys like a book. Shesterkin's ability for this is almost unmatched."

Hack, like Pal Jess Rubenstein, wonders why the true culprits – the trio of Blueshirts on the ice – were not more helpful, especially #17, defenseman Will Borgen.

How The Rangers Can Beat The Blackhawks HOW THE RANGERS CAN BEAT THE BLACKHAWKS IN CHICAGO

"What the heck was Borgen doing?" Hack wonders. "He had MacKinnon defended perfectly and then just about augers himself into the ice trying to block a pass. That allowed the NHL's leading scorer free access to a prime scoring area.

"Look closely at the goal and you'll see MacKinnon is about eight or nine feet from Shesterkin when he lets the shot go. It goes straight over the goalie's shoulder and under the crossbar.

While it may look like a bad goal to some, but not if you ask a goalie like me.

"Borgen is the one to blame here!"

And so he is; but NOT the referees. The sides were three-on-three – that's EVEN – when Eichel scored. Case closed!

December 10, 2025

After playoff exclusion, Notre Dame bookstore briefly cancels event with CFP committee member who authored book on ex-ND coach

Longtime sportswriter Ivan Maisel's "American Coach" came out in September and he was not allowed to vote on anything involving Notre Dame in CFP discussions.

December 10, 2025

Pete Alonso leaving Mets to sign five-year deal with Orioles

The Mets are losing Pete Alonso to the Orioles, who are signing him to a five-year deal worth $155 million, per multiple reports. There are no opt-outs in the contract.

The move comes a day after the Mets lost Edwin Diaz to the Dodgers on a three-year deal worth $69 million.

With Alonso and Diaz gone, they join former franchise cornerstone Brandon Nimmo as ex-Mets.

Nimmo was traded to the Rangers earlier this offseason for Marcus Semien.

The Mets had reportedly been unwilling to go beyond three years for Alonso, who gets the long-term deal he desired and couldn't get last offseason, when he returned to the Mets on a two-year deal that contained an option after the first season -- which he exercised upon the completion of the 2025 campaign.

With Alonso gone, the Mets have a massive hole to fill in a lineup that has already downgraded this offseason by dealing Nimmo for Semien.

Alonso served as vital protection for Juan Soto last season, with the burly right-hander slashing .272/.347/.524 with 38 home runs, a career-high 41 doubles, and 126 RBI.

During his seven-year career in New York, Alonso -- who broke the Mets' all-time home run record last season -- hit .253/.341/.516 with 264 home runs, 183 doubles, and 712 RBI over 1,008 games.

Aug 12, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (20) runs after hitting a two run home run to become the all time Mets franchise home run leader in the third inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field. / Wendell Cruz - Imagn Images

Like Diaz, Alonso had repeatedly expressed a desire to stay.

But the Mets, under head of baseball operations David Stearns, are going in a different direction.

It is unclear how the Mets will attempt to fill the power void left by Alonso's departure.

They made a run at Kyle Schwarber, but he re-signed on a five-year deal with the Phillies on Tuesday.

The two biggest names remaining on the free agent market are Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger, but neither possess anything close to the game-changing power Alonso has. And they're both left-handed hitters.

Another option on the free agent market is Eugenio Suarez, who blasted 49 home runs last season. Suarez, a third baseman, could theoretically be used as a designated hitter.

When it comes to free agent first baseman, the Mets could conceivably turn to Japanese stars Munetaka Murakami or Kazuma Okamoto. Murakami has huge power but tons of swing and miss in his game, and is viewed as a poor defender. Okamoto is a strong defender, but does not provide nearly as much power potential as Okamoto.

The Mets' main in-house first base option is Mark Vientos, who is coming off a down offensive season and is relatively untested at the position.

December 10, 2025

Dallas center Dereck Lively II to have season-ending surgery on right foot

Dallas starting center Dereck Lively II is going to miss the remainder of this NBA season as he undergoes surgery on his right foot, the Mavericks announced Wednesday.

Dereck Lively II injury update:

Dereck Lively II will undergo season-ending surgery on his right foot. Lively is expected to make a full recovery and be available for the start of training camp.

Get well soon, big fella. The comeback will be better than ever #MFFL pic.twitter.com/Zzr3IfOMLP
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) December 10, 2025

This is the same foot Lively had surgery on during the offseason, one he fractured last January. He reportedly sought out second and third opinions, trying to avoid surgery, but in the end, that was the best option.

Lively will have played in just seven games this season, missing the bulk of that time due to a right knee sprain. Even when he did play Lively was limited, averaging 16 minutes a night and 4.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game. Injuries have been an issue for Lively throughout his three-season NBA career, having played in just 36 games last season due to foot issues and 55 games in his rookie year.

When healthy, the 21-year-old big man out of Duke has played like a future starting five next to Cooper Flagg, in whatever the Mavericks are building long term. He was a key part of the Mavericks' 2024 run to the NBA Finals, averaging 7.9 points and 7.4 rebounds off the bench that postseason.

With Lively out, expect a lot more minutes at center for Daniel Gafford and Anthony Davis (two players mentioned in trade rumors heading toward the February deadline).

December 10, 2025

Etzebeth accepts 12-week ban but claims eye-gouge ‘was never intentional’

‘I would never do something like this on purpose’
South Africa lock accepts 12-week suspension

Eben Etzebeth, the Springboks lock serving a 12-week ban for eye-gouging Alex Mann of Wales, has claimed it was “never intentional”, contradicting the verdict of an independent disciplinary committee announced last week.

In an Instagram post on Wednesday the Sharks second row accepted guilt and apologised, saying “unfortunately mistakes happen”. The 34-year-old double Rugby World Cup winner also appeared to distance himself from the act by drawing attention to “other factors”. Along with three videos accompanying the post, Etzebeth claimed two Welsh players involved in the fracas, along with Mann, changed “the dynamic of the entire picture”.

December 10, 2025

Blues Bringing Back First-Round Pick On One-Year, Two-Way Contract

ST. LOUIS -- Robby Fabbri is coming home.

A first-round pick by the St. Louis Blues in the 2014 NHL Draft (No. 21 overall), the 29-year-old signed a one-year, two-way contract on Wednesday morning amid the Blues' ever-growing list of injured forwards.

The contract pays $775,000 NHL, $300,000 AHL.

Fabbri was with the Pittsburgh Penguins during training camp on a PTO but was released.

In a corresponding move, the team put Jordan Kyrou (lower-body injury), who is listed as week to week, on injured reserve.

The Blues announced earlier in the morning Wednesday that they've signed Dillon Dube to an AHL professional tryout because both the Blues and Thunderbirds are short on bodies.

The Blues currently have Kyrou, Jimmy Snuggerud (wrist), Alexey Toropchenko (leg burns), Nathan Walker and Nick Bjugstad (upper body) left Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Boston Bruins in the second period.

And Springfield has been skirted as a result due to call-ups of Aleksanteri Kaskimaki, Matt Luff and Hugh McGing.

In Fabbri, who played his first three-plus seasons with the Blues before being traded to the Detroit Red Wings on Nov. 6, 2019 for Jacob de la Rose, last played in the NHL last season with the Anaheim Ducks and had 16 points (eight goals, eight assists) in 44 games.

He has 216 points (101 goals, 115 assists) in 442 NHL regular-season games, including 73 points (32 goals, 41 assists) in 164 games with the Blues. Fabbri also spent nearly five seasons with the Red Wings before joining the Ducks last season.

December 10, 2025

Ex-Penguins PTO Addition Finds New Home

Back in September, the Pittsburgh Penguins signed forward Robby Fabbri to a professional tryout (PTO). Fabbri participated in their training camp and preseason, but the Penguins released him from his PTO without offering him a contract.

Earlier this month, Fabbri then landed a PTO with the Florida Panthers' AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers. Now, after posting one goal and one assist with Charlotte, Fabbri has landed an NHL contract, but not with Florida.

The St. Louis Blues have announced that they have signed Fabbri to a one-year, two-way contract for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. With this, Fabbri is back with the organization he kicked off his NHL career with.

Fabbri will now be looking to have a bounce-back season with the Blues after a tough 2024-25 campaign with the Anaheim Ducks. In 44 games with the Ducks this past season, he recorded eight goals, eight assists, and 16 points. This was after he had 18 goals and 32 points in 68 games for the Detroit Red Wings in 2023-24.

In 442 career NHL games split between the Blues, Red Wings, and Ducks, Fabbri has posted 106 goals, 110 assists, and 216 points.

December 10, 2025

NHL Rumors: Could Sabres Defender Become Good Trade Chip?

The Buffalo Sabres are currently at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. Due to this, it would not be surprising in the slightest if they made changes to their roster if they do not improve quickly.

One Sabres defenseman who could be worth keeping an eye on as a potential trade candidate this season is blueliner Mattias Samuelsson.

Samuelsson has been in the rumor mill before, and with the Sabres having so many left-shot defensemen, he could be worth parting ways if it helps improve their roster elsewhere. There would likely be interest in Samuelsson, as he is a big defenseman who has shown that he can play top-four minutes.

Samuelsson could be a solid trade chip for the Sabres to use to land an impactful forward or even a top-four, right-shot defenseman. This is especially so when noting that the 6-foot-4 defenseman has had a strong year, as he has recorded five goals, 12 points, 38 hits, 59 blocks, and a plus-6 rating in 28 games.

The one thing that may complicate a potential Samuelsson trade is his contract, however. This is because he would be far more than a rental for any potential suitors, as he has a $4,285,714 cap hit until the end of the 2029-30 season.

December 10, 2025

Starz picks up drama on gambling scandal involving Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter

Shohei Ohtani attends an NFL football game with his interpreter Ippei Mizuhara — Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani, right, with his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Ashley Landis / Associated Press)

After 18 months of shopping the script, the proposed Lionsgate Television series based on the gambling scandal involving Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter is in development at Starz.

The project will spotlight the audacious theft by Ippei Mizuhara of $16 million from Ohtani to pay off staggering gambling debts. Mizuhara was fired by the Dodgers after the crimes came to light in March 2024. A year later, he was convicted of defrauding Ohtani in federal court and sentenced to 57 months in prison.

The series will be produced by Tony Award winner Scott Delman, known for “The Book of Mormon” and “A Raisin in the Sun,” and sports journalist Albert Chen. Alex Convery, who wrote "Air," is on board as showrunner and screenwriter while Justin Lin (the  “Fast and Furious” franchise) will direct, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

“This is Major League Baseball’s biggest sports gambling scandal since Pete Rose — and at its center is its biggest star, one that MLB has hitched its wagon on,” Chen said in a statement to The Times. “We’ll get to the heart of the story — a story of trust, betrayal and the trappings of wealth and fame.”

Lionsgate was having trouble selling the project to companies with media rights agreements with Major League Baseball — Disney, Warner Bros., Discovery, Apple, Netflix and Comcast — because the companies didn't want to jeopardize their relationships with the league, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Lionsgate is the former parent company of Starz, but the two formally separated in May.

The story unquestionably is compelling. Mizuhara befriended Ohtani in Japan when the player who would become the most accomplished hitting and pitching combination in baseball history was an 18-year-old rookie with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.

Ohtani came to the United States in 2018 at age 23, signing with the Angels. Mizuhara soon became his most trusted friend and interpreter, serving as an intermediary between Ohtani and nearly everyone who spoke English, including the media, his agent and Angels officials.

Mizuhara arranged wire transfers from Ohtani’s bank account without the player's knowledge or permission and impersonated him during more than two dozen phone calls with bank employees, all to feed a gambling habit that accumulated $40 million in losses across thousands of bets.

Mizuhara allegedly collected $142 million in winnings but lost about $183 million.

Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700-million contract with the Dodgers in December 2023 and the scandal came to light three months later. Ohtani was absolved of wrongdoing and described as a victim by federal authorities.

“Ippei has been stealing money from my account and has told lies,” Ohtani said through his new interpreter, Will Ireton, shortly after Mizuhara was arrested. “I never agreed to pay off the debt or make payments to the bookmaker.

“I’m just beyond shocked. It’s really hard to verbalize how I am feeling at this point.”

Ohtani quickly put the episode behind him, leading the Dodgers to World Series championships in 2024 and 2025. He was named National League Most Valuable Player both years.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

December 10, 2025

Chris Paul: 'I'm actually at peace with everything,' reportedly working with Clippers on trade

Chris Paul says he is in a good place.

He also wants to end his NBA career in a new place.

Less than two weeks after the LA Clippers sent him home from a road trip and parted ways with the future Hall of Famer — and arguably the best Clipper ever to wear the jersey — Paul told People’s Jordan Greene he is looking on the positive side of what happened.

"But honestly, I'm home. My daughter had tryouts yesterday. My nephew had a basketball game. My son has a game coming up on the 12th. I have never seen my son play a game in person. Not a middle school game, not a high school game. So I'm excited about seeing him play...

"I'm actually at peace with everything. More than anything, I'm excited about being around and getting a chance to play a small role in whatever anything looks like next."

What comes next is five days from now, Dec. 15, when Paul becomes eligible to be traded, and the Clippers are working with Paul and his agent to find him a new home. While there are teams looking for point guard depth, finding a new home for CP3 may not be that easy because league sources told NBC Sports that teams interested in him are just willing to wait the Clippers out, wait for them to waive him, and then sign Paul as a free agent.

However it comes to pass, Chris Paul will finish his career on an NBA roster somewhere, and he seems more open to those final months being farther away from his family in Southern California than he might have previously preferred.

Also on the Paul front, his coach with the Clippers, Tyronn Lue, denied the reports that he and CP3 were not on speaking terms in the run-up to Paul being sent away from the team. Here is what Lue said, via Law Murray of The Athletic.

"We were talking," Lue said when asked if he was on speaking terms with Paul throughout November. "How you gonna play if I'm not talking to him? There was a stretch where we said he wasn't gonna play, he was gonna be out of the rotation, that was tough for him, because he's a competitor and what the game means to him and what he brings every single day. But after that, it wasn't really much."

December 10, 2025

Canadiens: Home Sweet Home?

The Bell Center is one of the noisiest buildings in the NHL. Opponents love to play there because it gets absolutely electric. So far this season, however, it seems the Montreal Canadiens do not like to play there. When you compare the team’s record on the road and at home, you realize that Martin St-Louis’ men are much better when they are the visiting side.

The Habs are 7-8-1 at home, while they are 8-3-2 on the road. In other words, they’ve won 62% of their games when playing away from the Bell Centre and just 44% of their tilts in Montreal. Worst still, on the road they’ve allowed 40 goals and scored 42, giving them a plus-2 differential, but at home they have allowed 63 goals (the most in the league) and scored only 49, for a minus-14 differential.

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Those numbers are troubling. Playing at home is meant to give you an advantage, not just because of how electric the building is, but also because you control the matchups with the last change. Is St-Louis struggling to find the right matchups? Or are the players struggling with the man-to-man defensive system? It seems to be a bit of both, but if it’s the defensive system, how can they apply it on the road but not at home?

There is no better proof of the team’s inability to play the system than Nikita Kutcherov’s goal in Tuesday evening’s game. Ivan Demidov, Joe Veleno, Jared Davidson, and Mike Matheson are all standing in a perfect line in front of Jakub Dobes. At the same time, Maxwell Crozier feeds the puck to the Lightning sniper, who is all alone on the wing, as if Tampa was on the man-advantage, but they weren’t. He unleashed a cannon of a shot and, of course, found the back of the net.

Nikita Kucherov gives Tampa a 3-0 lead in the 1st period. pic.twitter.com/HDvA8kRQI4
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 10, 2025

St-Louis said last night that what worries him the most is his team’s tendency to give up goals early in periods, and he’s right to be concerned about that, but the man-to-man defensive system should also be right up there on his list of concerns.

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