In the best of times, Michigan would be one of college football's hottest jobs. These aren’t the best of times for Michigan.
Kenny Dillingham drama with Michigan proves college football now all about money
Coaches are getting paid, players are getting paid. But college football programs are still financially unwell, forcing schools to beg for money.
2025 All-USA Southeast Football Team revealed
Ezavier Crowell and David Gabriel-Georges headline the 2025 All-USA Southeast Football Team.
2025 ALL-USA Southwest Football Team revealed
Keisean Henderson and Jermaine Bishop headline the 2025 ALL-USA Southwest Football Team.
What to get Lane Kiffin, Nick Saban for Christmas? Our college football shopping list
I’ve put off my college football Christmas shopping long enough. Let’s take care of this so I can get to the eggnog.
The life of a rugby league referee: fit, fanatical and fuelled by self-belief
A new documentary film shows elite referees are dedicated, passionate and desperate to get decisions right
Fifteen teams are currently grinding their way through pre-season training before the new Super League season. No, the Rugby Football League has not suddenly decided to promote London to the big time. The people who will make the decisions on the pitch without touching the ball are also preparing for the season by hitting the treadmills, pushing weights and running laps at their base in the Etihad Campus in Manchester.
You can get a good idea what that looks like in a new documentary called Beyond the Whistle, which follows the highest-profile British referees through the 2024 season. The 40-minute film focuses on the battle between Liam Moore and Chris Kendall to be the league’s top referee, how the group copes when new rules are foisted upon them, and the work done by head of match officials, Phil Bentham.
Continue reading...What college football bowl games are on today? Full schedule and how to watch for December 23 bowl games
The college football postseason trudges on with three bowl games.
Bowl game schedule today: Previewing the college football bowl matchups on Dec. 23
The college football bowl schedule two days before Christmas features three matchups that will hope to distract last-minute holiday shoppers.
Oxford sack manager Gary Rowett with club in Championship relegation zone
Rowett leaves after a year with club two points from safety
Oxford have one win from their past 10 matches
Oxford have sacked Gary Rowett with the club 22nd in the Championship, two points from safety. The former Birmingham, Derby, Stoke and Millwall manager was appointed on 20 December 2024 and kept the club in the second tier last season.
Oxford’s chairman, Grant Ferguson, told the club’s website: “Gary joined during a challenging period and deserves immense credit for the hard work and leadership that saw us retain our Championship status last season. However, following a disappointing run of results, we have had to take this difficult decision in the best interests of the club.”
Continue reading...Warriors' Draymond Green must stay true to his word that problem won't linger
Warriors' Draymond Green must stay true to his word that problem won't linger originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – Instead of focusing on the first-half performance of Jimmy Butler, the second-half showing of Steph Curry, the overall impact Brandin Podziemski and a long list of players had contributing to a 23-point Warriors win Monday night, all talk has been consumed by Draymond Green and coach Steve Kerr’s public heated argument during a third-quarter timeout.
The voice that stood out the most following the incident wasn’t Green or Kerr. A dejected Curry spoke to the bigger picture at hand, a problem that can grow if not taken care of immediately.
“It’s unfortunate that we’re up here after considering where we’ve been, two-game win streak and protecting our home court, that the vibes of the questions are a little bit more negative than they should be,” Curry said. “I get why you’re asking them.”
Curry did not want to answer questions about the incident. He knew he’d have to. Curry was looking at the box score when first asked about it and requested the reporter to repeat the question.
“Just having a good conversation,” he sarcastically answered.
“That’s kind of for them to talk about, not me,” Curry continued.
There lies the problem. Curry was a perfect 6 of 6 from the field and 3 of 3 from 3-point range in the third quarter after missing all six of his threes in the first half to help him get to 26 points while also leading the team with six assists. Butler was aggressively in control in the first half as Curry struggled and efficiently reached 21 points on 7-of-9 shooting with six free throws. Moses Moody gave the Warriors three 20-point scorers in a game where he was 8 of 11 from the field and went 3 of 6 on threes.
Off the bench, Podziemski was one of the best players on the floor for either team as a plus-36 that met the eye test. Gary Payton II provided constant energy in 10 minutes, as did Gui Santos in his 10.
And then for Green himself, he was mostly solid in his 18 minutes with nine points, seven rebounds, two assists and one turnover. But he also was one of two Warriors (Will Richard) with a negative plus/minus. None of those numbers will be remembered. Him going back and forth at Kerr and eventually deciding on his own to leave the bench and go to the Warriors’ locker room is all that will be remembered.
The decision to leave the bench solely was on Green. Once he decided to do so, Kerr wasn’t going to let him play again, beginning at the 8:31 mark of the third quarter.
Both of Green and Kerr, as well others who spoke after the game, said the issue won’t linger.
“We’re good. We’ll move forward. We’ll be all right,” Green said.
History is why Green is confident this won’t spill over to a larger problem.
“Because none of the other ones ever have,” Green said. “We still keep winning, so we’ll be all right.”
But is this just a blip in the road, or an insight into something bigger?
Green was ejected the previous game, a 119-116 win against the Phoenix Suns, for giving a profanity-laced argument at a referee. Moody, 23, was the one trying to hold Green back during his ejection. Moody also was the one physically holding onto Green on the bench Monday night and got in between Green and Kerr before assistant coach Anthony Vereen escorted him down the tunnel.
The decision to remove himself from the situation can be taken multiple ways. Some might feel like Green quit on his team out of selfish emotions in the middle of a game while trailing. There also can be some maturity seen in Green feeling like the smartest decision was to cool himself down away from Kerr.
“I just felt like it was best for me, and everybody,” Green said. “You stay in a hot situation, there’s no way to stop it. So I just wanted to remove myself.”
The basketball of all this also has to be spoken about. The Warriors were a plus-16 after Green’s ejection Saturday night. They were even better without him Monday, outscoring the Magic 54-26 the rest of the game.
“It means we’ve got guys on the bench who are dying to play,” Kerr said. “This is the NBA, and all these guys have their careers at stake. They want to win, they want to play. So when their opportunity comes up, they’re ready to play.”
Green is turning the ball over more than ever before, and the Warriors still are at their best when he’s at his best – physically and emotionally.
On a night where there was so much positive to focus on from a game where the Warriors earned their second straight win to get back to .500 (15-15), and the entire Chase Center crowd sang “Happy Birthday” for Draymond’s son DJ on his ninth birthday, the lasting image can’t be him losing his cool and having to take himself out.
Even if this isn’t the last clash between Green and Kerr – and it likely won’t be – the problem can’t become public, and it can’t linger. Not now, not again. These Warriors can’t afford it, and neither can Green.
Bruins have backup goalie problem that's costing them in standings
Bruins have backup goalie problem that's costing them in standings originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
For the Boston Bruins to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2026 after finishing with the NHL’s fifth-worst record last season, they needed Jeremy Swayman to have a bounce-back campaign.
And Swayman has actually played quite well through the first 37 games of the season.
He has a 14-9-1 record with a .906 save percentage and a 2.78 GAA. Those stats don’t jump off the page, but context is important: The Bruins rank 30th or worse in shot attempts allowed, shots on net allowed, scoring chances allowed and high-danger chances allowed, per Natural Stat Trick.
The Bruins are defending poorly, and Swayman is bailing them out more often than not. For proof: Swayman ranks No. 4 among all goalies with 16.5 goals saved above expected, per MoneyPuck.
Swayman performance hasn’t been a problem, even if his December stats have regressed a bit from his stellar November numbers.
The backup goalie situation is an actual concern for the Bruins — one that has already cost them a bunch of points in a tightly contested Atlantic Division race.
Joonas Korpisalo has played poorly this season. There’s no other way to describe it. He is 6-7-0 with a .880 save percentage and a 3.63 GAA. The Finnish netminder ranks 77th out of 83 goalies with minus-4.5 goals saved above expected. He has allowed four or more goals in four of his last six starts, including Sunday night’s 6-2 defeat to the Ottawa Senators during which he gave up five goals on 17 shots in just 26:31 of ice time.
The best-case scenario for the Bruins is that Korpisalo turns it around and plays better. But his on-ice performance would suggest the chances of that scenario unfolding are not high. He has yet to put together back-to-back starts allowing two or fewer goals this season. He’s also on pace to tally a sub-.900 save percentage for the third straight year, so it’s not like his disappointing play is a new trend.
What if Korpisalo’s struggles continue?
There aren’t a ton of great options. Trading him would be difficult given his lackluster performance and his burdensome contract that doesn’t run out until after the 2027-28 season and carries a $3 million salary cap hit.
The Bruins could promote one of the two Providence Bruins goalies — Michael DiPietro and Simon Zajicek — to the backup role. DiPietro, who was the AHL’s top goalie last season, is more NHL-ready than Zajicek. He’s also having another strong season for Providence with a 10-4-0 record, a .933 save percentage and a 1.97 GAA.
DiPietro, who’s currently dealing with an injury and hasn’t played in more than a week, has earned a chance to prove himself in the NHL, so it wouldn’t be a bad idea to give him a couple opportunities if Korpisalo doesn’t improve.
The bottom line is the Bruins cannot expect to remain in the playoff race deep into the season if their backup goalie has a 3.63 GAA, especially when a couple losses in a row can drop you several spots in the standings.
Korpisalo’s inability to consistently give the B’s quality starts doesn’t just impact the team’s place in the standings, it also forces Swayman to take on a larger workload, which obviously isn’t ideal.
The Bruins have largely exceeded expectations so far this season. They are firmly in the mix for a playoff spot, and finishing top three in the division is certainly not out of the question.
But they need to solve this backup goalie nightmare ASAP, because it does have the potential to cost them dearly if it persists.
A brutal schedule, merciless crowds and always on the road: is professional darts all it’s cracked up to be?
For many of the performers in the 12-month circus, the tour can be soul-destroying and lonely with only the promise of untold wealth to keep them chasing the dream
“It’s a lonely place,” Stephen Bunting reflected as he sat quietly in Alexandra Palace on Saturday night, the tears welling in his eyes. “If things don’t go right, you can look at your family, your management, you can look at your sponsors. But it’s down to you. And yeah, I’m getting a bit emotional, but … ”
These are stories darts is less keen on telling. Ever since this sport burst out of the smoky pubs and on to our television screens, it has possessed a kind of hedonistic, hyperreal quality, a game in which normal guys slip on their superhero suits and take a shot at unimaginable riches, unimaginable fame. The crowds dress up, get the drinks in and chase the ultimate high. The winners are brought into the press conference room to be feted; the losers slip out through the back door. From its start, darts has been conceived as a vehicle for joy and transformation.
Continue reading...Knueppel the fastest player to 100 three-pointers
Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel became the fastest player to score 100 three-pointers in the NBA during a 139-132 defeat at the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The 20-year-old, the fourth pick at the 2025 draft, reached the landmark in only 29 games when he scored in the first quarter at Rocket Arena.
Utah Jazz's Lauri Markkanen held the previous record of 41 games, while playing for the Chicago Bulls in 2017-18.
Knueppel scored five of the nine three-pointers he attempted against the Cavaliers to finish with 20 points, while LaMelo Ball contributed 23 and Brandon Miller 20 for the Hornets.
But Donovan Mitchell racked up 30 points, DeAndre Hunter 27 and Darius Garland 27 with 10 assists for the Cavaliers.
The Cavaliers are seventh in the Eastern Conference and the Hornets 12th.
How the Mamba stole Christmas: The origins of Kobe's ‘Grinch' sneakers
How the Mamba stole Christmas: The origins of Kobe's ‘Grinch' sneakers originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Black Mamba went green for Christmas and changed the sneaker game forever.
Kobe Bryant’s Nike partnership produced some of the most iconic signature shoes of all time, but nothing compares to the heat he brought to Staples Center on Dec. 25, 2010. The Los Angeles Lakers legend stepped onto the floor and introduced bright green shoes that are seen to this day.
The Lakers will be back on the Christmas stage this year when they face the Houston Rockets, and Bryant’s kicks are sure to be seen across the five-game NBA slate on Thursday. What exactly are the green shoes, and how are they attainable?
Here’s a look back at the quintessential Christmas kicks:
Nike Kobe 6 Grinch origin
Originally dubbed “Green Mamba,” both the name and design played off Bryant’s nickname, as the shoe featured two-toned green scales.
The red logo on the tongue gave the shoe a Christmas look. That holiday combo, along with the particular shade of green, led people to nickname the shoe after the Grinch.
When did Kobe Bryant first wear Grinch sneakers?
Bryant sported the Grinch kicks for the first time on a fitting occasion.
The defending NBA champion Lakers welcomed the newly formed Miami Heat Big 3 of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to Staples Center for a Christmas Day showdown in 2010. Between the Lakers wearing their white uniforms, the Heat going with road red and the green sneakers worn by Bryant and other Lakers, the colors on the court matched the holiday spirit.
While the game is remembered for the shoe’s debut, it was an underwhelming afternoon for Bryant and the Lakers. He was held to 17 points as the Heat picked up a 96-80 win.
The Heat weren’t the only ones to leave Staples Center happy. Fans who had courtside seats for the game received a gift bag that included the now-iconic shoes.
How much did Kobe 6 Grinch sneakers cost?
The kicks were sold for an initial price of $130 and hit retail the same day as the game.
When did Nike relaunch Kobe 6 Grinch?
Nike relaunched the Kobe 6 Protro Grinch on Dec. 24, 2020, at $180.
The Grinch wasn’t the only Kobe 6 colorway to get a re-release. The Kobe 6 All-Star got a Protro re-launch in March 2021 at $190, the Kobe 6 White Del Sol got a Protro re-launch in June 2021 at $180 and the Kobe 6 Protro Reverse — which inverted the color scheme of the original Grinch shoes — released in December 2023 at $190.
In 2024, Nike released Kobe Grinch football cleats and a mismatched set — one green and one red — at $230.
How much do Kobe 6 Grinch sneakers cost now?
The kicks have more than tripled in price over the last five years, with a pair fetching an asking price between $600-$1,500 on most retail sites.
Does Nike still sell Kobe sneakers?
Kobe’s wife, Vanessa Bryant, announced a new partnership with Nike in March 2022 after she previously called out the company for a tribute shoe for Kobe and their daughter, Gigi, that went online without her permission. As part of the deal, all proceeds for Gigi’s shoes will be donated to the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation.
Conference seasons kick into gear following light AP Top 25 holiday week
The week of Christmas is typically a slow time on the college basketball, with a handful of games before and after the holiday. This week is no different with nine ranked teams playing, most against lower-tier programs. The marquee game over the next two weeks will come on Jan. 2, when No. 2 Michigan hosts No. 24 Southern California.