Lane Kiffin had a three-word response after his daughter appeared to announce a relationship with a rival player.
Mets 2025 MLB Wild Card Watch: Playoff odds, standings, matchups, and more for Sept. 23
With six games remaining in the regular season, the Mets are looking to nab the third and final Wild Card spot in the National League.
The Reds hold tiebreaker over the Mets due to winning the season series. The tiebreaker between the Mets and Diamondbacks is TBD, and will likely be based on intradivision record since the two clubs split the season series.
Here's everything you need to know ahead of play on Sept. 22...
Reds: 80-76, tied with Mets for third Wild Card
Next up: vs. Pirates, Tuesday at 6:40 p.m. (Brady Singer vs. Johan Oviedo)
Latest result: 1-0 win over Cubs on Sunday
Remaining schedule: 3 vs. PIT, 3 @ MIL
Odds to make playoffs: 42.4 percent
Mets: 80-76, tied with Reds for third Wild Card (Reds hold tiebreaker)
Next up: @ Cubs, Tuesday at 7:40 p.m. on SNY (David Peterson vs. Cade Horton)
Latest result: 3-2 loss to Nationals on Sunday
Remaining schedule: 3 @ CHC, 3 @ MIA
Odds to make playoffs: 51.7 percent
Diamondbacks: 79-77, 1.0 game back of Reds and Mets
Next up: vs. Dodgers, Tuesday at 9:40 p.m. (Brandon Pfaadt vs. Shohei Ohtani)
Latest result: 9-2 win over Phillies on Sunday
Remaining schedule: 3 vs. LAD, 3 @ SD
Odds to make playoffs: 6.4 percent
Prime Video hires Swin Cash for a unique position — NBA front office analyst
That basketball resume was attractive to Amazon Prime Video. Starting this fall, Cash will appear on air in a front office insider role for Prime Video’s NBA studio show during the NBA season. She’ll then transition to a studio analyst for Prime Video’s WNBA coverage. Prime Video is expected to make a formal announcement on Tuesday.
“This role is still pretty new, and I’ve got a lot of respect for those who’ve paved the way, especially my girl, Amy Trask,” Cash said, referring to the CBS analyst and former CEO of the Oakland Raiders. “I’m excited to contribute to an already stacked broadcast team and bring a perspective shaped by my time as a player, analyst and executive. My goal is to give fans more than the box score, showing how teams think, why decisions get made, and what the process really looks like.”
The NBA will begin its new 11-year, $76 billion arrangements with incumbent ABC/ESPN, NBC/Peacock and Amazon Prime Video this fall. There has been a flurry of NBA on-air hires between Amazon Prime Video and NBC/Peacock. Among those added by Amazon Prime Video are play-by-play announcers Ian Eagle, Kevin Harlan and Michael Grady. The network’s analysts include Brent Barry, Blake Griffin, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Candace Parker, Stan Van Gundy and Dwyane Wade. Cassidy Hubbarth will be Amazon’s No. 1 sideline reporter when it begins NBA coverage next season. Taylor Rooks will host the studio show.
Cash, whose decorated career includes three titles over 15 WNBA seasons, two NCAA titles at the University of Connecticut, and two Olympic gold medals, said her role on Prime Video’s WNBA coverage remains a work in progress. She said what she hopes for Prime Video’s coverage, and WNBA coverage overall, is an increase in storytelling. She said she loved the attention “Stud Budz” — the popular Twitch show featuring Lynx players Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman — received during the WNBA All-Star Weekend.
“I’d love for us to go deeper with the coverage,” Cash said. “Storytelling is so important to bring fans on the journey. Not just with the superstars, but across the league. Fans don’t just fall in love with a player’s game; they fall in love with the person, the personas. When we let people see who these women are, their stories, their grind, their humanity that’s how you build connection and grow the audience in a real way.”
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
NBA, WNBA, Sports Business
2025 The Athletic Media Company
Could Tatum return this season? Here's what he told the TODAY show
Could Tatum return this season? Here's what he told the TODAY show originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
For the past few months, Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum has faced one of his toughest challenges yet as he works to recover from a torn right Achilles suffered in a playoff game against the New York Knicks back in May.
The six-time NBA All-Star and 2024 NBA champion was back in New York on Tuesday for his first interview on TODAY With Jenna & Friends, exactly 19 weeks from the day he was injured.
“I’m feeling better than I did yesterday,” he said when asked about his recovery. “It’s been a long, long journey. I tell people all the time, I’m getting there.”
Tatum was also asked about his mindset when the injury originally happened.
“I think just kind of going back to that day, so many things ran through my mind, especially on the ground, you just have this idea, right, I’m in New York, we’re trying to compete for our second championship, and just like that, it all changes.
“You know, for me, when I was a kid, I’ve had the same passion since I was 3. I always wanted to be kind of who I am, I could envision it, and it just kind of felt like it was taken away from me, and that was a hard pill to swallow. I was devastated, I was sad, I was emotional, and I did kind of feel betrayed by the game of basketball. Something I love so much that I gave my all to, that was just kind of like taken away. That was tough.”
Watch the full interview below:
Asked when he expects to be back on the court, Tatum was a little less open.
“That is the million dollar question,” he said. “I think for me and my team — the doctor, the organization — the most important thing is making a full recovery, being back 100 percent, not rushing it. But I haven’t said, like, ‘Yo, I’m not playing,’ or anything like that.”
“I have a goal in mind,” Tatum added. “What I will say is I’m not working out, rehabbing six days a week for no reason.”
He was also asked about his family, especially his oldest son Deuce and his mom Brandy Cole, and how much they’ve helped him during his long road to recovery.
“It’s been tremendous,” Tatum said. “Going through something none of us expected or thought would happen, having my mom, having Deuce and my youngest son Dylan, having my friends around when they didn’t know they were helping me just being around, being joyful, uplifting my spirits. Everyone knows my mom and Deuce are my best friends in the world.”
He said he actually lived with his mother for 10 weeks while rehabilitating, because he wasn’t able to go up stairs and his house doesn’t have a bedroom on the first floor.
“It was kind of like being in high school again,” Tatum said.
Tatum appeared on TODAY With Jenna & Friends to promote his partnership with Boston-based Vertex Pharmaceuticals. He is a paid spokesperson for the company and used Journavx, a non-opioid pain medication they manufacture, during his recovery.
Morning Skate: Everything you need to know ahead of Nashville Predators preseason matchup vs. Lightning
After a sweep of the Florida Panthers in Sunday's double header, the Nashville Predators face another Sunshine State foe on Tuesday at Bridgestone Arena.
It's one of three preseason games the Predators will play over the next week, the only one of which will be at home.
Here's everything you need to know ahead of Tuesday's matchup.
Roster cuts
The Predators' preseason roster has been trimmed down from 60 players to 54 going into the game against the Lightning.
Forwards Hiroki Gojsic (Kelowna/WHL) and Viktor Norringer (Muskegon/USHL), defenseman Alex Huang (Chicoutimi/QMJHL) and goaltender Jakub Milota (Blainville-Boisbriand/QMJHL) have all been reassigned to their junior clubs.
Forward Alex Kostov and defenseman Hayden Barch have been released following the amateur tryout agreements.
Nashville Predators trim roster down to 54 players following preseason gamesJun 27, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announces Brady Martin is selected as the fifth overall pick to the Nashville Predators in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft at Peacock Theater. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Player status updates
Following Sunday's game, there was no update to defenseman Nicolas Hague's status. He exited the game early after taking a hit and did not return. It was his first non-official game as a Predator after being traded to Nashville in June. He recorded an assist on a Matthew Wood goal.
Zachary L'Heureux did not play in Sunday's game after taking a maintenance day on Saturday. He left training camp practice early on Friday.
Tanner Molendyk is still absent from the Predators' game day roster after suffering an injury during Prospect Tournament practice on Sept. 11. He missed the entirety of the tournament and has not been at training camp.
On Sunday, it was reported that Luke Evangelista had traveled back to Toronto as contract negotiations between the Predators and Evangelista continued. The 23-year-old forward was extended a qualifying offer in July, but has yet to sign a new deal.
Hague, L'Heureux, Molendyk and Evangelista were all absent from the Predators game day roster.
Luke Evangelista, Nashville Predators reportedly 'far apart' from agreeing on new contractThe offseason is ending the same way it started for forward Luke Evangelista and the Nashville Predators, as both parties have not agreed on a new contract.
4 big moments from wins over Panthers
- Matthew Wood (1 goal, 2 assists) and Filip Forsberg (1 goal, 2 assists) had three points each in the 5-3 game 2 victory. Wood logged minutes on the second line and the Predators' top power play unit.
- In game 2, the Predators' power play unit of Wood, Forsberg, Roman Josi, Brady Skjei and Steven Stamkos was 2-of-2, taking less than 35 seconds to find the back of the net.
- Erik Haula scored twice in the Predators' 5-0 Game 1 win over the Panthers. It was his first game in a Predators uniform since May 27, 2021. He skated with Jonathan Marchessault and Michael Bunting on the first line.
- Joakim Kemell was a priority player in Game 1, playing on the second line with Michael McCarron and Reid Schaefer, the first power play unit and the penalty kill.
4 things we saw in Nashville Predators preseason games against Florida Panthers Hockey is back in Smashville!
Scouting the Lightning
Tampa Bay played its first preseason game on Monday against the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, walking away with a 2-1 victory.
Conor Geekie recorded two assists and a fight. There were no lack of penalties in the game as a combined 66 minutes were handed out. Steven Santini led the Lightning with 12 penalty minutes as he was called for boarding and given a misconduct in the third period.
Tampa Bay also delivered 27 hits and blocked 16 shots.
This will also be defenseman Nick Perbix's first game against his former team since he signed as a free agent with the Predators in July.
5 observations from the Lightning’s preseason opener in Carolina In the first of seven exhibition games, Mitchell Chaffee, Conor Geekie and Emil Lilleberg are among the night’s standouts. Gametime
Puck-drop: 7 p.m. CST
Where: Bridgestone Arena, 501 Broadway Ave., Nashville, Tennessee
Streaming: NashvillePredators.com
Radio: ESPN 102.5 The Game and the Preds Radio Network
Tickets starting at $5 can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com
MLB to implement Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System for entire 2026 season
MLB to implement Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System for entire 2026 season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
MLB made a major announcement about the future of the game on Tuesday.
The league announced that it will use the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge system for the entire 2026 MLB season.
The system, which was fully implemented across the Triple-A level in 2024 and used throughout spring training in 2025 and again during the MLB All-Star Game this summer, was expected to be added to the major league level soon, and it appears that will be in 2026.
With the ABS Challenge System, each team will get to challenge two ball or strike calls per game and will keep their challenge if the call is overturned. The challenges only can be initiated by pitchers, catchers and batters right after the pitch, and they must tap their hat or helmet to initiate one.
The players are not allowed to receive any help or feedback from any other players on the field or anyone in the dugout.
A team will be rewarded an additional challenge in each extra inning if they are out of challenges entering the inning.
According to MLB, the ABS Challenge System is “powered by a T-Mobile 5G network that uses cameras set up around the perimeter of the field to track the location of each pitch and a graphic on the scoreboard shows the result of the challenge.”
Here is an example from this summer’s MLB All-Star Game for how the system will work:
Flyers Stock Up, Stock Down Heading into Training Camp Week 2
Heading into the second week of Philadelphia Flyers training camp, a number of key players have boosted their stocks and chances of making the NHL roster. Others? Not so much.
Predictably, newer players like Nikita Grebenkin, Trevor Zegras, and Matvei Michkov have been all the rage in training camp, and they've earned the hype.
Michkov looks every bit the dangerous, chippy playmaker he was last season, while the other two figure to give him a better supporting cast than he had last year.
The trio combined to form a line in the first preseason game against the New York Islanders, and while they did not produce a goal or an assist, their chemistry grew as the game went on, and each player made some pretty special plays throughout.
Stock Up: Trevor Zegras and Nikita Grebenkin
I wrote about this after the game as well, but I am fully convinced that Trevor Zegras is an NHL center. It's only preseason, but his details looked to be fully there against the Islanders on Sunday night.
Flyers Training Camp: Potential Defensive Changes Could Be for the BestIf the first few days of training camp are anything to go by, the Philadelphia Flyers could have a new-look defense under first-year head coach Rick Tocchet.
He, Michkov, and Grebenkin weren't exactly making magic happen out there, but they were surprisingly menacing in puck possession.
I was particularly impressed by Zegras's willingness to get in on the forecheck, chip and chase, come low to support in his own zone, and insert himself right into the middle of puck battles along the walls.
The same is true for Grebenkin, who has proven to be a surprisingly effective zone entry player using his legs, too.
Grebenkin, for me, has enough soft skills, size, and snarl to play up and down the lineup, which is going to work in his favor come October.
He'll get a long look as training camp progresses further, but I'd be stunned if he winds up missing out on this Flyers roster.
Stock Down: Noah Juulsen
In training camp so far, defenseman Noah Juulsen has very much looked like a guy who is coming off a season-ending hernia.
That's not necessarily his fault as he shakes off rust, but the poor skating has stood out so far. Juulsen did help his cause by laying a crushing hit on Islanders youngster Kashawn Aitcheson in the first preseason game, but that was about all he did on the night.
The rugged right-shot defenseman didn't pick up a point in 35 games with the Vancouver Canucks last year, and was basically never an NHLer before playing for Rick Tocchet there; 89 of his 157 career games have come in the last two seasons, and he's now 28 years old.
Flyers Training Camp: Healthy Jett Luchanko Focused on the PresentWith an uncertain future ahead, top Philadelphia Flyers prospect Jett Luchanko is keeping everything in perspective in front of him during training camp.
I think Juulsen will be a valuable veteran presence to have, especially as someone who knows Tocchet's systems, but I have a hard time believing he'll beat out players like Emil Andrae and Helge Grans.
The Flyers have too much competition at this position with options with far greater upside looking for opportunities, and Juulsen has so far been more negative than a neutral or positive impact.
Stock Up: Aleksei Kolosov
The last year and a half has seen nearly everyone throw in the towel on Aleksei Kolosov, but the Flyers brought him back and effectively made him the No. 3 goalie after the Ivan Fedotov trade.
Fighting for an NHL future, Kolosov delivered an inspired performance against the Islanders on Sunday night, making a number of spectacular saves that really showed off his trademark athleticism.
A final statline of 15 saves on 17 shots (.882) isn't the greatest ever, but Kolosov was let down by his teammates on the two goals he did concede. I felt this was often the case last season, but Kolosov had his share of bloopers that contributed to the overwhelmingly negative sentiment around the Flyers' goaltending, too.
I suspect Kolosov will see plenty of action in the preseason and in the AHL this year, but if he wants to turn the page on the last year, he's off to a good start.
It'll be interesting to see if the Belarusian can really develop and put himself back in the picture for the Flyers, who also have Carson Bjarnason and Egor Zavragin in the mix long-term.
Stock Down: Devin Kaplan and Samu Tuomaala
Neither Devin Kaplan nor Samu Tuomaala stood out against the Islanders the way I hoped they would.
Kaplan, who made his NHL debut for the Flyers in Game 82 against Buffalo last season, finished the game with no points, no penalties, and no shots on goal in 11:13.
The lines were out of whack due to the Lane Pederson injury, but Kaplan was kind of just there in that game and didn't do much of anything, which is a shame.
I really liked Kaplan's game during rookie camp, but the drawback for him right now seems to be consistency. Sometimes he pulls some crazy stickhandles and creative passes out of nowhere, and other times he can't get on the puck.
Tuomaala, too, didn't find a way to make much of an impact against the Islanders, and he might need a strong preseason more than anyone not named Adam Ginning.
The Finn did at least record a shot on goal and was chosen to shoot in the shootout, though his attempt against old Lehigh Valley Phantoms teammate Parker Gahagen was unsuccessful.
These two players should get plenty of run in the preseason as we move along, but the uneventful start to proceedings won't help them in their quest to make the Flyers' NHL roster this fall.
Strong Goaltending Display Leads To Shootout Win
For the first time this season, the Bell Center was opening its doors for a Montreal Canadiens’ game (let’s face it, the Prospect Showdown just isn’t the same), and fans were ready, despite the STM strike making it tricky to get to the game.
While Martin St-Louis likes to say that he wants to feel the edge and the intensity right away, it’s normal to have to shake some rust in the preseason, and the Canadiens’ five-on-three power play was a perfect example of that. The synchronism just wasn’t there, but it’s important to remember that this new power play unit had never played together before (there were no power plays in team scrimmages).
Ex-Canadiens Defender Lands Big Hit On Islanders Prospect
Canadiens: Lineup Shows St-Louis Means Business
Former Canadiens’ Coach Helped Zack Bolduc
While the Pittsburgh Penguins’ lineup was nothing to write home about, it still managed to take a 1-0 lead back to the dressing room after 20 minutes, with a 12-7 edge in shots in a period that saw more than its fair share of penalties. There was one bright side for the Habs, however, whenever an opponent tried to take liberties with Ivan Demidov, there was a teammate ready to step up. First, it was Noah Dobson, and then it was Josh Anderson.
Speaking after the game, the coach said:
We want to be a pack; we’re all in this together. We want to be a pack, and I’m not surprised he [Anderson] did that. It’s not the first time, and it’s not going to be the last.- St-Louis on his players standing up for Demidov
Speaking of Anderson, he picked up right where he left off last season, finishing his checks and trying to be a nuisance on the forecheck, but he ended up being assessed two penalties. The power forward felt hard done by, having looked to the referees several times for penalties he believed should have been called for infractions against him. The six penalties awarded in the first frame made it tough for the teams to establish any rhythm.
If Raphael Harvey-Pinard was expecting a warm reception from his former teammates, Mike Matheson reminded him that he had changed teams by obliterating him as he was trying to poke the puck free from Samuel Montembeault’s grip.
Things went from bad to worse for the Canadiens in the second frame. They were stuck in their own zone for much of the period and only managed to create some opportunities towards the end of the 20 minutes. Jake Evans, Brendan Gallagher, and Anderson created three chances in a single sequence, but only one of those chances led to a shot on goal. Gallagher shot above the net, while Evans got the puck between the goalie’s legs but wide.
A last-minute power play also produced a few opportunities in the last minute, but Montreal was once more unable to convert. After 40 minutes, the Penguins had tested the Habs' goaltenders 26 times while the Tricolore only had 15 shots. Jacob Fowler took over halfway through the game, and while he only faced five shots, he was solid and had good puck tracking.
At the other end of the ice, Sergei Murashov performed well in the Pens’ net in relief of Joel Blomqvist, showcasing his potential as a promising prospect. He was also very effective in the shootout, not biting at all on Demidov’s deke. Jared Davidson got the crowd to its feet when he dropped his gloves against Samuel Poulin after the Quebecer had hit Alex Belzile with a questionable hit. The purpose seemed to be twofold: retaliation and attempting to wake up his side. The fifth-round pick at the 2022 draft made a lasting impression on St-Louis:
I thought it was a great fight. There was no hesitation. I think he’s a gamer, Davidson. Ever since I’ve seen him play, I feel he’s a gamer. He’ll do whatever the game needs him to do. I think he’s hungry, he wants to play at this level, he’ll do whatever, and he actually has a scoring touch too. […] I feel as a team, I love our skill level, and the way we play together, I love that, but we need to add some sandpaper to our game a little bit.- St-Louis on Davidson
It took some time, but the Canadiens eventually got it together, playing a much stronger third period, with rookies leading the charge. The power play failed to convert on its second two-man advantage, but the Habs built up momentum, and Owen Beck finally broke the ice a couple of minutes into the final frame. It wasn’t a pretty goal; Murashov had already made a couple of saves on the play, and the Canadiens’ center picked up the garbage on the doorstep, but that doesn’t happen without his persistence and dedication.
Montreal took 14 shots on net during that frame, but Murashov stopped the 13 others while Fowler stopped everything that was thrown his way, including a game-saving effort that resulted in the crowd loudly chanting his name.
Overall, it wasn’t a pretty game for the Canadiens, but they stuck with it. It was definitely a good warm-up for their goalkeepers, though, and Fowler’s brilliance in the shootout allowed them to skate away with the win, although they were outplayed for much of the game. Demidov didn’t make much of an impact at even strength, but the way he was able to thread the needle on some cross-ice passes on the man-advantage was nothing short of spectacular; had his target had a better finish, overtime wouldn’t have been necessary. While Oliver Kapanen didn't have a brilliant game, he came up big in the shootout with the win clinching goal.
The goalie doesn’t bite on Demidov’s deke #GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/hseom7ZHA4
— Karine Hains (@KarineHains) September 23, 2025
Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.
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‘Just a fine human being.’ Son Heung-min providing more than just goals for LAFC
With his positive attitude and game-changing abilities on the pitch, Son Heung-min could be the catalyst that turns LAFC into MLS Cup contenders.
Giants getting early look at potential 2026 catching option Jesús Rodríguez
Giants getting early look at potential 2026 catching option Jesús Rodríguez originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO — Buster Posey once played all nine positions in a college game, but he was drafted as a catcher, retired as a catcher and will go into the Hall of Fame as a catcher. That means that for as long as he is running baseball operations for the Giants, any catcher who is acquired will merit a bit more attention.
The most notable newcomer to the position arrived at Oracle Park on Monday afternoon, although Jesús Rodríguez might not get into a game this week. Acquired at the deadline in the Camilo Doval trade, Rodríguez was brought to San Francisco to be on the taxi squad and gain experience with a big league staff that he might be catching next season.
The 23-year-old said he was excited for the opportunity to get a look at life in a big league clubhouse. He hopes to make a good impression, and team executives certainly will be watching him closely. Rodríguez was the main piece in the deal that sent Doval to the New York Yankees.
“We wanted to take a hard look at him in spring training,” manager Bob Melvin said. “That was the key guy in the trade. Buster really wanted him. Yeah, he’s definitely in the plans.”
The Giants will reevaluate their catching group over the winter, but there’s a good chance Rodríguez enters next spring as the favorite to back up starter Patrick Bailey, and possibly carve out a hefty role given that he’s right-handed and Bailey has struggled against left-handed pitching.
Backup catchers are usually glove-first, but it’s the opposite with Rodríguez. He played every position but shortstop in four minor league seasons with the Yankees, and while the Giants view him as a catcher long-term, his development has been slowed by shoulder discomfort that led to plenty of DH duty when he joined the Sacramento River Cats.
What never has been in question, though, is the bat. Rodríguez is a career .309 hitter in the minors, and has batted at least .294 in every one of his professional seasons. He never has flashed much power, but he has the kind of approach that is needed for a swing-happy Giants lineup, and it showed after the trade. In 39 games with the River Cats, Rodriguez hit .322 with two homers. He struck out just 17 times and drew 18 walks.
Asked about the reports he has gotten from the player developments staff, Melvin had a quick answer.
“The reports are that this guy can really hit,” he said. “He has been catching but (did not catch) a ton in the Yankees organization. The bat is ahead of (the glove), of course. But from what I’ve heard, it’s a real hard-working kid and he’s doing everything he can, catching bullpens and doing as much as he can to speed up the process. The bat is just a little bit ahead right now.”
With Tom Murphy injured all season, the Giants have used Andrew Knizner, Sam Huff and Logan Porter as backups. Knizner has been the best of the bunch, but has a .561 OPS. There aren’t any top catching prospects in the organization, either.
Rodríguez still might be relatively new to the position, but he said he loves it. His shoulder is healed, he said, and he’s looking forward to soaking up as much as he can over the next week. In particular, he wants to learn better ways to protect against passed balls and wild pitches.
Rodríguez spent plenty of time with Giants catching coach Alex Burg on Monday and because he’s serving as the team’s “emergency catcher,” he can do pretty much everything that his teammates do. He’ll take BP all week, catch bullpens and warm up pitchers between innings so he can become familiar with their pitch shapes. On Monday, he took part in his first big league hitters’ meeting.
Rodríguez already is on the 40-man roster because he had been added by the Yankees long before the trade, but the current plan is to go with Bailey and Knizner over the final week. Still, Rodríguez will be eyed closely. Like Posey, Melvin is a former big league catcher. He has watched plenty of Rodríguez’s at-bats on video the last couple months.
“Up close and in person, you get a little better idea,” he said. “It’s good we have him here.”
CFP field gets shakeup in college football bowl projections after Week 4
Results from Week 4 have shaken up the College Football Playoff picture in this week's bowl projections with Indiana and Texas Tech joining field.
CFP field gets shakeup in college football bowl projections after Week 4
Results from Week 4 have shaken up the College Football Playoff picture in this week's bowl projections with Indiana and Texas Tech joining field.
'A good message.' Why celebrating Clayton Kershaw's retirement gave Dodgers mental 'reset'
As Dodgers players packed in for Clayton Kershaw’s retirement news conference last Thursday, Freddie Freeman waved the Kershaw family to a row of seats at the front of the room.
He wanted Kershaw's wife, Ellen, and their four kids in front of the pitcher right when he sat down at the dais at Dodger Stadium.
How else, Freeman joked, could they get the future Hall of Famer to cry?
Turned out, in a 14-minute address announcing his retirement from baseball at the end of this season, Kershaw did get choked up from behind the mic. But, it happened first when he addressed his teammates. They, he told him, were who he was going to miss most.
Read more:Hernández: Roki Sasaki a playoff reliever? Don't put it past desperate Dodgers
“The hardest one is the teammates, so I'm not even going to look at you guys in the eye,” Kershaw said, his eyes quickly turning red. “Just you guys sitting in this room, you mean so much to me. We have so much fun. I'm going to miss it.”
“The game in and of itself, I'm going to miss a lot, but I'll be OK without that,” he later added. “I think the hard part is the feeling after a win, celebrating with you guys. That's pretty special.”
Days later, that message continues to reverberate.
For the Dodgers, it served as a reminder and a reset.
Ever since early July, the team had lived in a world blanketed by frustration and wracked with repeated misery. Many players were hurt or uncharacteristically slumping. The team as a whole endured an extended sub-.500 skid. Behind inconsistent offense and unreliable bullpen pitching, a big division lead dwindled. Visions of 120-win grandeur were meekly dashed.
Amid that slump, the club’s focus drifted. From team production to individual mechanics. From collective urgency to internal dissatisfaction.
Read more:Dodgers fall to Giants in regular-season home finale, plan to return in the playoffs
“Everyone on this team has been so busy this year trying to perfect their craft,” third baseman Max Muncy said, “that sometimes we forget about that moment of just hanging out and enjoying what we’re going through. “
Or, as Kershaw put it after his final regular-season Dodger Stadium start on Friday, “the collective effort to do something hard together.”
“All that stuff is just so impactful, so meaningful,” Kershaw explained.
And if it had gone missing during the depths of mostly difficult summer months, Kershaw’s retirement has thrust it back to the forefront.
“I do think it helps reset,” Muncy said. “Over the course of seven, eight months, you see each other every day and sometimes you take that a little bit for granted … It’s not something that anyone forgot. But sometimes you need a refresher. I think that was a good moment for it.”
Don’t mistake this as a “Win one for Kersh!” attitude. The Dodgers insisted they needed no extra motivation to defend their title, even after what’s been a turbulent repeat campaign.
But, both players and coaches have noted recently, their efforts this year have sometimes felt misplaced. The togetherness they lauded during last year’s championship march hadn’t always been replicated. A pall was cast over much of the second half.
“When you’re not winning games, it’s not fun,” veteran infielder Miguel Rojas said earlier this month. “But at the end of the day, we gotta put all that aside. … We have to come here and enjoy ourselves around the clubhouse, regardless of the situation.”
The Dodgers did that and more this past weekend, when a celebration of Kershaw — which included nearly team-wide attendance at his Thursday news conference, several on-field ovations Friday, and Kershaw’s address to Dodger Stadium on Sunday — was accompanied by three wins out of four against the San Francisco Giants.
“Watching him get choked up when he started talking about the teammates — it was just a crazy feeling in that room,” pitcher Tyler Glasnow recounted from Thursday’s announcement.
Added Muncy: “You hear when he talks about the stuff he’s gonna miss the most, the stuff that he enjoys the most: It’s being a part of the team. It’s being with the guys. It’s being in the clubhouse.
“To hear a guy like him just reinforce that, I think it’s a good message for a lot of people to hear.”
Read more:Dodgers defeat Giants, but Will Smith's playoff availability remains a concern
In Muncy’s estimation, the Dodgers have “seen a reflection of that out on the field” of late, having moved to the verge of a division title (their magic number entering play Monday was three with a 10-4 record over the last two weeks.
“There’s been more of an effort to try and enjoy the moments,” Muncy said. “Make sure we’re still getting our work in, but try to enjoy the moments.”
The Dodgers made a similar transformation last October, when they used their first-round bye week to build the kind of cohesion they had lacked in previous postseason failures — one the team credited constantly in its eventual run to the World Series.
Kershaw's retirement might’ve provided a similar spark, highlighting the significance of such intangible dynamics while lifting the gloom that had clouded the team's last two months.
“There's obviously been a lot of things to point [to this season], as far as adversities, which all teams go through,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “But I think that as we've gotten to the other side of it … guys have stuck together and they've come out of it stronger, which a lot of the times, that's what adversity does.”
More adversity, of course, figures to lie ahead.
The Dodgers ended the weekend on a sour note, with Blake Treinen suffering the latest bullpen implosion in a 3-1 loss on Sunday. They’ll still enter the playoffs in a somewhat unsettled place, needing to navigate around a struggling relief corps and overcome a hand injury to catcher Will Smith.
Read more:Shaikin: Clayton Kershaw was always at the heart of the Dodgers' franchise revival
It means, like last year, their path through October is unlikely to be smooth.
That, after a second half full of frustrations, they’ll have to lean on a culture Kershaw emphasized, and praised, repeatedly over the weekend.
“To have a group of guys in it together, and kind of understanding that and being together, being able to have a ton of fun all the time, is really important,” Kershaw said. “The older I’ve gotten, the more important [I’ve realized] it is. Like, you can’t just go through your day every day and go through the emotions. You just can’t. It’s too hard, too long to do that.”
“You gotta have Miggy doing the mic on the bus. You gotta have Kiké. You gotta have all these guys that are able to keep us having fun and energized every single day. That’s what this group is, and it’s been a blast.”
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Sporticast 486: Dodgers Hit a Sales Milestone Only They Can
On the latest Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams discuss some of the biggest sports business stories of the week, including the Los Angeles Dodgers reaching 4 million fans over the course of the MLB regular season.
The Dodgers are the first baseball team to reach that milestone since the New York Yankees and New York Mets in 2008. The only other teams to do it were the Toronto Blue Jays (1991-93) and Colorado Rockies (1993). It’s an average of 49,537 fans per game, and strong show of ticket sales for MLB’s highest-revenue club. The Dodgers made $855 million in revenue in 2024, according to Sportico’sMLB valuations, more than the Yankees’ $799 million.
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Here’s the catch: No other MLB team could hit that 4 million fan milestone currently. Dodger Stadium’s 56,000-seat capacity is the largest in MLB. The Yankees, Mets and Rockies are all in new stadiums, and the Blue Jays downsized their building last year. The second largest stadium in the league is in Arizona with a max capacity of about 48,300.
Next the hosts talk about the Sphere, the MSG-backed entertainment venue in Las Vegas. While sporting events like UFC and concert acts like U2 get a lot of attention, it’s the non-live shows that deliver most of the economics for the venue. The latest is an adaptation of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, which has generated more than $65 million in ticket sales through June. Plans for a Sphere in London have been scrapped, but the group plans to open one in UAE via a franchise model in the coming years.
The hosts close by discussing upheaval in college and junior hockey, where better development and new rules have changed recruiting and career paths for young prospects.
(You can subscribe to Sporticast through Apple, Spotify, or wherever else you get your podcasts.)
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Ramp to Camp: Predicting Jayson Tatum's return date for Celtics
Ramp to Camp: Predicting Jayson Tatum's return date for Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Better days ahead.
That’s the mantra Jayson Tatum delivered over the summer while detailing the early stages of his rehabilitation from Achilles surgery. We can’t help but think it might be a bit of slogan for the 2025-26 Celtics, too.
Because regardless of how the season plays out — and we still believe this team is going to surprise some pundits out of the gates — every day is one step closer to Tatum being back on the court. And that means even better days are ahead.
But when exactly do we think Tatum might be back in an NBA game?
For Day 17 of our Ramp to Camp series, we asked our panel to predict the date that Tatum will return to game action for the Celtics.
First, all the necessary disclaimers: None of our prognosticators are doctors. No one can possibly know how Tatum’s rehab will progress from this moment. But using glimpses from his first 17 weeks of recovery as a guide, we’re tossing some darts at the calendar.
The Celtics have intentionally put no timeline on Tatum’s rehab. All we know is that he’s attacked his recovery with relentless energy, and every indication suggests he’s making encouraging progress. Boston’s brass did all it could to set Tatum up for success, including getting him into surgery almost immediately after the injury with the hope of giving him every opportunity to make an expedited recovery.
When Tatum initially ruptured his Achilles in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, we simply assumed we wouldn’t see him again until October, 2026. Why would the team rush him back? And operating with an abundance of caution might ultimately be the best plan of attack.
But we also know how hard it’s going to be for members of the Celtics organization to keep Tatum on the sidelines once he starts checking the final boxes in his rehab. He’s going to be itching to play in October, let alone March or April.
Tatum sure appears to be doing all he can to force the team to ponder whether a return this season is the best path.
As Celtics president Rich Gotham noted over the summer: “What I know about JT is that he’s gonna do everything he can to put us in a position to make a decision [about when he plays again].”
Tatum celebrates his 28th birthday on March 3, 2026. That would be slightly more than nine months removed from his injury. If doctors are certain he wouldn’t be putting himself at risk by using late-season games to shake some rust — all while pacing himself in the early stages of that return — we could see Wednesday, March 4 being a belated birthday gift to himself.
The Hornets might not necessarily be a circle-the-date matchup on the surface, but Tatum would have a bunch of Duke fans watching the Hornets broadcast back in North Carolina.
The month of March is overflowing with intriguing matchups. If Tatum is healthy enough by that point, there’s no shortage of opportunities to make a glitzy return.
But here’s the bottom line: If we’re even simply pondering Tatum being close to a return before the end of the 2025-26 season, then that’s a win on its own. And there are most certainly better days are ahead.
Let’s see what dates our panel predicted for Tatum’s return:
Darren Hartwell, Managing Editor
March 14 vs. Washington.
Yes, there’s a case for holding Tatum out the entire season and ensuring he’s fully healthy for 2026-27. But based on how he’s been attacking his rehab, we could absolutely see him being cleared to play 10 months and one day after his surgery.
After weeks of lobbying, Tatum finally convinces the Celtics to let him play limited minutes against the lowly Wizards on the first game of a three-game homestand.
Michael Hurley, Web Producer
Late October, 2026.
I know everybody is getting excited, and that’s a good thing. Maybe I’m a worrywart, but the idea of Tatum rushing back to “save the day” sounds like a recipe for re-injury, sadness, dismay, and the like.
Even with Tatum, the Celtics were going to lose to the Knicks last postseason. I think he’d be better served letting Brad Stevens cook next summer and build a behemoth for 2026-27, and then help that team go on a championship run. I see minimal reward to the risk of rushing him back.
Josh Canu, Media Editor
March 22 vs. Minnesota.
I think the noise will start to get loud during the All-Star break and he could come back even sooner, but I’ll play a little more conservative than that and pick a homestand against Minnesota and Oklahoma City. Tatum is entering his physical prime and we know he hates to miss games, so I think he is going to surprise a lot of people.
Kevin Miller, VP, Content
October 2026.
I want it to be this season, but if there’s a one percent chance that he’s not 100 percent, then you have to be patient.
Adam Hart, EP, Content Strategy
March 27 vs. Atlanta.
A Friday night at TD Garden could be a rocking welcome for Tatum. He then gets at least one of the next two games off with the back-to-back on the road. Ease him in, but give him a huge ovation from the fans.
Kayla Burton, Celtics Pregame Live host
February 27 vs. Brooklyn.
I would hate to see him rush back, but he’s already rehabbing so well and working incredibly hard to get back out there. Plus he hates sitting out. He’ll be too antsy to sit out the whole season, and he will be back soon after the All-Star break.