When Lane Kiffin chose LSU over staying at Ole Miss and coach the Rebels in the CFP, he signaled he doesn’t think this team can win the grand prize.
Will Sherrone Moore get a second chance like other disgraced coaches?
Was the Sherrone Moore scandal at Michigan worse than those of Bobby Petrino, Rick Pitino and Art Briles? Those coaches came back. Will Moore?
ICC rates MCG pitch ‘unsatisfactory’ after two-day Ashes Test
Match referee says pitch ‘too much in favour of bowlers’
Shortened Test could cost Cricket Australia up to $10m
The MCG pitch where England beat Australia inside two days in the fourth Ashes Test has been rated ‘unsatisfactory’ by the International Cricket Council.
Head curator Matthew Page admitted he was in a “state of shock” at how the penultimate match of the series unfolded on a surface that had 10mm grass left on, producing lavish movement for seam bowlers.
Continue reading...Tom Jenkins’s best sport photographs of 2025
The Guardian sport photographer selects his favourite images he has taken this year and recalls the stories behind them
This is a selection of some of my favourite pictures taken at events I’ve covered this year, quite a few of which haven’t been published before. Several have been chosen for their news value, others purely for their aesthetic value, while some are here just because there’s a nice story behind them.
Continue reading...I was there: Europe’s dramatic Ryder Cup win signed off a strange week
Some extraordinary golf was often overshadowed by the Donald, colourful fans, crazy MCs and tempers flaring
I was out by the practice green late afternoon on the Monday of the Ryder Cup, and so was Bryson DeChambeau. He was on his own, signing autographs for the handful of people on the other side of the railings, and there was this one woman leaning over towards him, a bottle blonde, late middle-aged, in a tight white dress. She was only a couple of feet away from him but she was screaming in his ear like she was trying to reach someone across the far side of the golf course. “We love you Bryson! Bryson! We love you! We love you for everything you’ve done for the Donald! We love you for everything you’ve done for the Donald!”
It was a long, strange week, and when I think back on it now the golf is entirely overwhelmed by technicolour memories of the weird scenes around the grounds of Bethpage Black and in the surrounding town of Farmingdale. I wish I could say that the things I remember best are that approach shot Scottie Scheffler hit from 180 yards at the 10th, or the 40ft putt Rory McIlroy made on the 6th, or Jon Rahm’s chip-in from the rough at the 8th. But they’re not.
Continue reading...NHL Hockey News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games 2025-12-29 06:53:24
‘We should have pulled the Big Sam ripcord’: Premier League fans assess the season so far
The Guardian’s fans’ network on 2025-26 at the half-way stage: best games, worst setbacks, and their January window wish lists
Story so far It would be pretty churlish to be anything other than super-chuffed, with those displays over Bayern Munich and our neighbours among the highlights. But, as we know, there are no prizes for being top at Christmas. Our success so far has largely been due to our defensive resilience; it’s the most talented squad we’ve had in many a moon but we’ve only shone going forward in fits and spurts. Find that spark on a consistent basis and we really will be firing.
Bernard Azulay onlinegooner.com; @GoonerN5
Continue reading...After talking through problems, Lakers find unexpected third scorer to end losing streak
The Lakers underwent some soul-searching at practice Saturday, with coach JJ Redick starting the conversation before allowing players to speak freely about the team's issues.
It was an attempt by Redick and the team to prevent things from spiraling out of control after three consecutive losses.
When the Lakers faced the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night at Crypto.com Arena, Redick wanted to see players executing on defense and playing harder.
The Lakers did exactly that, with Luka Doncic and LeBron James combining for 58 points and 12 assists in a 125-101 win.
Read more:Lakers 'recalibrate' after Austin Reaves injury, three-game losing streak
“I think it definitely starts with us,” said Doncic, who had 34 points, seven assists and five rebounds. “And when AR (Austin Reaves) is back, it’s going to be all three of us. ... We need to show what we can do and if we are going to do it, we both are going to do it. The group is going to follow. ... I think today just shows that everybody was locked in.”
For the Lakers, it was more than Doncic finishing with 34 points, seven assists and five rebounds. It was Doncic playing defense, illustrated best when he blocked a shot by DeMar DeRozan. It was Doncic hustling, such as when he dove to the floor for a loose ball.
Asked how the Lakers responded to Redick’s message, Doncic responded, “very well.”
“I think our effort was very high starting the game like that, getting deflections, getting steals, being physical,” Doncic said.
The win was more than James scoring 24 points and handing out five assists. It was James throwing down a reverse dunk and offering words of wisdom to teammates while also shooting 11 for 13 from the field.
Like Doncic, James was pleased with how things turned out.
“I thought it was a good response,” James said. “I think no matter who is coming into your building, no matter the record of whoever, you have to go out and play the game. The game is won between the four lines. So, I thought we executed that and it was one of the better games we had this year.”
And it also was reserve Nick Smith Jr. finding a role in the rotation and producing, one of the six Lakers scoring in double figures. Smith had 21 points on eight-for-14 shooting, making five of 10 threes.
Rui Hachimura had 12 points, Deandre Ayton had 11 points and 11 rebounds, and Jake LaRavia had 11 points.
“We played together. We played for each other,” Redick said. “We had probably one of our most consistent games, in terms of 48 minutes of just competitive spirit. A couple possessions there towards the end of the third that we tried to be the Harlem Globetrotters.
"But this is the first game ... we've had all year that we've won all four quarters. So I think that just says a lot about the approach and the consistent mentality that we played with tonight.”
The Lakers (20-10) took control from the start of the third quarter, going on a 13-2 run to give them a 26-point lead that reached as high as 30 in the fourth quarter.
Granted, the Kings (8-24) have the second-worst record in the West and were missing injured stars Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis and Keegan Bradley, three of their top four scorers.
But the Lakers lost three straight games because of poor defense and an overall effort that Redick described as "terrible."
And with Austin Reaves out for at least a month because of a calf strain, getting the chance to talk through their issues might end up changing the team's fortunes.
“It's the very first thing that we all sat down yesterday and graded ourselves on — was our habits, our communication and our shape,” Redick said. “And the guys all echoed the same thoughts that we haven't been good.
"For whatever reason, we lost our way a little bit. ... But I thought the communication tonight was excellent, particularly on the defensive end.”
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Takeaways: Big Forward Registers Hat Trick In Scoring Frenzy As Penguins Beat Blackhawks, 7-3
Heading into the holiday break, the Pittsburgh Penguins were 3-5-4 in the month of December and 1-5-4 in their last 10 games. In other words, they were long overdue for not only a win, but a comfortable one.
And they got just what the doctor ordered on Sunday against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Forward Justin Brazeau recorded his first career hat trick, and Bryan Rust scored twice, to lead the Penguins to a 7-3 victory over the Blackhawks. Pittsburgh tallied four goals in the first period and never surrendered their lead, which is something that the team has struggled mightily with during their tough stretch in December.
Penguins' goaltender Arturs Silovs made several tough saves throughout the game and stopped 21 of 24 Chicago shots on goal. He did surrender a goal to Tyler Bertuzzi with 0.8 seconds left on the clock, but Pittsburgh still came away with the win quite comfortably.
The scoring started early on for the Penguins - in fact, just a minute and a half in - when Anthony Mantha got his stick on a loose puck at the bottom of the right circle and steered it toward the net, where it got behind Blackhawks' goaltender Spencer Knight to put the Penguins up, 1-0.
Then, when the midway point of the first was approaching, that's when the onslaught began. Rust registered his first of the game off the rush - and after a nice pass by Sidney Crosby to get the puck to him - from the left circle a little more than seven minutes in, and Brazeau also scored his first goal just a minute later.
Penguins Place Veteran Forward On WaiversThe Penguins have placed one of their forwards on waivers. And less than four minutes after that, Rust chased Knight from the game with a shot from the right circle, which was Pittsburgh's fourth goal on seven shots. The Penguins were rolling, and they looked much like the team that dominated the league in the month of October.
However, the Blackhawks began to push back a bit in the second period, as they had controlled much of the momentum for the early part of the middle frame until Nick Foligno finally broke through midway through the period to cut the Penguins' lead to 4-1. They were starting to really put some pressure on the Penguins - who have blown a number of multi-goal leads this season - but they took a bench penalty for too many men not long after the goal.
And the Penguins took advantage right away. The second power play unit went out first, and Ben Kindel made a nice play to get the puck to Brazeau at the net-front, and he buried it to put the Penguins back up by four.
Brazeau wasted no time getting his hat trick, either, as he tipped a shot by Connor Dewar less than a minute later to secure the first hat trick of his NHL career and his 11th of the season.
JUSTIN BRAZEAU, FOLKS 👏 pic.twitter.com/6fvJBSaG86
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 29, 2025
The Blackhawks responded with a quick goal of their own by Wyatt Kaiser just 13 seconds after Brazeau's third goal. But the Penguins got another insurance goal at the end of the period courtesy of Noel Acciari, who registered his third goal of the season to make it 7-2.
And that's where the score remained until the end of the third, when Bertuzzi scored his last-second goal.
The game certainly wasn't a perfect one, and the Penguins made their fair share of defensive mistakes. Still, they took advantage of an injury-depleted Blackhawks team and won a game they should have won - and in convincing fashion.
Here are a few takeaways from this one:
- Man, it was noticeable having Blake Lizotte back in this lineup.
Not only did Lizotte record two assists in the game, but the fourth line of Dewar, Lizotte, and Acciari picked up right where it left off prior to Lizotte's injury. They were counted on for defensive zone starts and did a good job with those, they were shifting momentum and sparking energy on the forecheck, and they were displaying the chemistry that they've had all season.
Having Lizotte back makes a big difference. He is a big part of the penalty kill, which was 3-for-3 against Chicago, and he is the Penguins' most reliable and effective defensive forward. He elevates both Dewar and Acciari, too.
The Penguins are a better team with him centering the fourth line. Period.
Blake Lizotte's Impending Return Can't Be Understated Enough Blake Lizotte's return will go under the radar to some, but it shouldn't. - What a revelation Brazeau has been for the Penguins this season.
Yes, he is shooting at 28.2 percent right now, which is not a sustainable mark. But the crazy thing about Brazeau's scoring is that it hasn't really been "lucky scoring," either.
He's finding the net front and going to the right areas to make plays. He has silky-smooth hands and a talent for getting his stick on pucks for deflections. He can also rip it when presented with the right opportunity.
Brazeau is scoring in all kinds of ways this season, but - for the most part - he's very much earning these tallies. He uses his size and reach to his advantage, and he - again - makes himself available around the net-front.
So, no, 28.2 percent isn't sustainable. But I don't expect his scoring to just diminish somwhere down the line, either. His scoring touch this season is legitimate, and the Penguins may have found themselves a two-year steal of a deal who also happens to stand at 6-foot-6, 232 pounds.
I really like this guy, and he has played a major role for the Penguins this season.
THE BOYS ARE BUZZIN' pic.twitter.com/wvrO8p6zwJ
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 29, 2025
- After a rough stretch of games over the past month, Silovs has looked much, much better in his last two outings.
Yes, the stat line may not suggest that. Against Montreal, he had an .880 save percentage, and against Chicago, an .875.
But those are also the only two games that the Penguins have won in their last 11. And it's actually, in large part, thanks to Silovs, who has made some big saves in key moments - including on breakaways and in the shootout win against Montreal on the 21st.
Of course, the raw stat line is going to have to improve in order for Silovs to make any kind of legitimate case to be the Penguins' starting goaltender over Stuart Skinner or one of the other two goaltending prospects tearing it up in the AHL. But he is trending in the right direction after a disastrous string of starts from late November into early December.
Takeaways: In Storybook Fashion, Penguins Snap Eight-Game Skid On Crosby's Historic NightThe Pittsburgh Penguins earned a much-needed win over the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday night - and Sidney Crosby made some history along the way.- Even though the Penguins won this game, they still need to tighten up defensively. By a lot.
Luckily, Pittsburgh caught the Blackhawks at the right time, since they are without Connor Bedard. But against a better team - a more stingy one - like the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday? They won't be so lucky.
They still had costly lapses in this one, but they scored so much early on that the lapses weren't consquential. Foligno was left wide-open at the net-front on his goal, which was a blown assignment by Erik Karlsson. They gave away the puck with frequency in the neutral zone. Kaiser's goal resulted from another misplay at the net-front by Karlsson. Bertuzzi didn't face much pushback at all on his goal in the waning seconds of the game, even if he got a lucky bounce off a broken stick.
If the Penguins are going to get back on track, they have to reduce these errors. Better teams will make them pay, and better teams won't surrender seven goals to them.
- I'll be the first to tell you that I've been a bit hard on Rust this season. While I do think his defensive game is still a problem, it's hard to deny the remarkably consistent production.
Rust now has 15 goals and 32 points in 35 games on the season, and he's well on his way to not only his seventh consecutive 20-goal season, but also his second consecutive 30-goal season. At the end of the day, production - and goal-scoring - is paramount, and Rust is getting the job done in that department.
But it will definitely be something to keep an eye on if Rust continues to produce and if the Penguins continue their free fall.
I still think it will take a lot for Kyle Dubas to pull the trigger on a deal involving Rust. But at the end of the day, a team will pay up for him, and he should be available for the right price if the Penguins fall out of playoff contention.
So, in other words, the next month will probably be critical in terms of Rust's future as a Penguin. If they can start winning hockey games again, it will take a lot for him to go anywhere since he is a critical part of their offensive attack. If not, things should get a bit interesting.
5 Things The Penguins Should Ask For This Holiday SeasonThe Pittsburgh Penguins could use a boost right now - and there are some things that they should add to their holiday wishlist to help them get back in the thick of the playoff raceBookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!
Red Wings Stay Unbeaten vs. Leafs with Dramatic 3-2 Overtime Win
The Detroit Red Wings rebounded in a major way from their 5-2 setback on Saturday evening against the Carolina Hurricanes, taking down the Toronto Maple Leafs by a 3-2 final score in overtime thanks to some heroics from defenseman Simon Edvinsson.
HEY, HEY! #REDWINGS WIN!!! #LGRWpic.twitter.com/hA0bRc07ud
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 29, 2025
Edvinsson intercepted a clearing attempt by Maple Leafs goaltender Dennis Hildeby just inside the blue line, and proceeded to skate around Leafs forward Matias Maccelli before eventually dangling around a sprawled Hildeby and deposit a backhand shot into the open net for the winning tally.
ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?! pic.twitter.com/Iu64tklF1I
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 29, 2025
It was especially meaningful for Edvinsson, who was badly hobbled during the second period after blocking a shot from Maple Leafs team captain Auston Matthews and needed assistance getting off the ice.
With the victory, the Red Wings improved their record to 23-14-3 and moved two points ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning for the division lead.
Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features.
It was the Maple Leafs who struck first in the second period following a scoreless opening 20 minutes of play, as Matthew Knies beat goaltender Cam Talbot through the five hole.
Moritz Seider knotted the score with just under a minute left in the period, as his shot from the point beat a screened Hildeby.
The Maple Leafs restored the one-goal lead in the third period after Nic Robertson blasted a shot through Talbot, but their lead was short lived thanks to the first goal since Oct. 15 by Red Wings forward Mason Appleton.
Appleton had tallied the game-winning goal against the Maple Leafs in Toronto on Oct. 13, scoring with under a minute left in regulation to break a 2-2 tie.
Talbot won his second consecutive start for the Red Wings, making 25 saves. Hildeby countered with 33 saves.
The Red Wings will be off until New Year's Eve when they'll host the Winnipeg Jets at Little Caesars Arena.
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No. 7 Gonzaga begins final WCC season with 96-56 win over Pepperdine
Reserve Tyon Grant-Foster had 18 points and four blocks, and Braeden Smith and Davis Fogle scored 15 points apiece to lead No. 7 Gonzaga to a 96-56 win over Pepperdine in the West Coast Conference opener for both teams Sunday night. Gonzaga (13-1), in its last West Coast Conference season before moving to the Pac-12 next season, displayed the same dominance that helped it win 26 WCC titles. The Bulldogs seemingly dunked and scored at will in winning their sixth straight game since their only loss of the season, against Michigan on Nov. 26.
Penguins Skate Out Of Chicago With 7-3 Victory Over Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks played through the second half of a back-to-back on Sunday night, as they hosted the Pittsburgh Penguins at the United Center.
After a big win on Saturday night over the Dallas Stars ended a six-game losing streak, the Blackhawks had to feel good about their chances to put forth a good effort against the Penguins.
Before the game started, the Hawks announced that Nick Foligno would return from injury. To make room for him, Frank Nazar was put on injured reserve, retroactive to December 20th. Ilya Mikheyev remained out due to the birth of his child.
Spencer Knight was given the nod after Arvid Soderblom's big win one night prior, but it didn't go well for him. He looked leaky from the start. After allowing four goals on seven shots to open the game, Jeff Blashill decided to pull him. Soderblom made his second appearance in as many nights.
When down 4-0, Foligno scored his first of the season after missing all of that time with an injury. The good vibes created from that didn't last, however, as Justin Brazeau scored two goals in under a minute shortly after Foligno's marker. By the end of the second period, it was 7-2 Penguins.
In the third period, Spencer Knight returned to the net for Chicago. After it failed to create a spark, there was no reason to continue letting Soderblom play for a second night in a row. Both goalies will be available in their next game, which is the best-case scenario after a weekend like this one.
With less than one second remaining in the game, down 7-2, Tyler Bertuzzi shot one past Arturs Silovs before the buzzer. No matter what the score was, Bertuzzi was giving it his best effort until the very end. That kind of leadership and “never say die” attitude is just what this young group needs from their veterans right now.
The score of 7-3 would be the final. This is the fourth back-to-back situation that the Hawks have had this season. They have lost by four or more goals in every one. It's an issue that the team is working to fix.
Losses like this are going to happen for Chicago, especially with the injuries that they are dealing with. However, it is about the process of turning this franchise into a winner again. Moving on from this one quickly is incredibly important to bouncing back in their next match.
Watch Every Chicago Goal
welcome back, Captain‼️🫡 pic.twitter.com/Pf6XcmpIwa
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) December 29, 2025
we know #wkfc is going to love this👏 pic.twitter.com/OpcJzX3FMR
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) December 29, 2025
Tyler Bertuzzi scores with 0.7 seconds left in regulation for his 19th goal of the season, which ties Connor Bedard for the team lead. #Blackhawkspic.twitter.com/912I2tknbu
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) December 29, 2025
What’s Next For The Blackhawks?
The Blackhawks are back in action on Tuesday night. They will remain in Chicago as they will host the New York Islanders at the United Center. This will be Chicago's first-ever look at the 2025 first-overall pick, Matthew Schaefer.
Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
No. 7 Gonzaga routs Pepperdine 96-56 in the West Coast Conference opener for both teams
Reserve Tyon Grant-Foster had 18 points and four blocks, and Braeden Smith and Davis Fogle scored 15 points apiece to lead No. 7 Gonzaga to a 96-56 win over Pepperdine in the West Coast Conference opener for both teams Sunday night. Gonzaga (13-1), in its last West Coast Conference season before moving to the Pac-12 next season, displayed the same dominance that helped it win 26 WCC titles. The Bulldogs seemingly dunked and scored at will in winning their sixth straight game since their only loss of the season, against Michigan on Nov. 26.
Pelicans' Jose Alvarado suspended two games, Suns' Mark Williams one for fight
The expected suspensions have been handed down.
New Orleans' Jose Alvarado has been suspended for two games and Phoenix's Mark Williams one, all without pay, for a fight during Saturday night's game that saw both men ejected.
FIGHT BREAKS OUT IN SUNS-PELICANS pic.twitter.com/yEjd0pha5z
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 28, 2025
The incident started with the 6'0" Alvarado trying to fight around a screen from the 7'1" Williams. After the play was stopped, Alvarado took exception with the screen and pushed Williams — Alvarado got two games because he initiated the fight — and Williams shoved back and that led to a fight where punches were thrown. This is going to hit both men in the wallet.
Suspension amounts
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) December 29, 2025
Jose Alvarado (NOP): $62,069
Mark Williams (PHX): $36,072
Alvarado will serve his suspension on Dec. 29 vs. the Knicks and Dec. 31 vs. the Bulls, while Williams will serve his suspension on Dec. 29 against the Wizards.
Guard Zaide Lowery no longer part of Marquette men’s basketball program
Marquette announced Sunday that the junior guard wouldn’t be returning to the team. The 6-foot-5 guard had averaged 8.1 points and 2.9 rebounds this season.