Eric Montross, who starred at North Carolina under legendary coach Dean Smith in the early 1990s before an eight year NBA career, died Sunday after being diagnosed with cancer earlier this year. He was 52.
His death sparked an outpouring of tributes and support from around the college basketball world, who recognized him for both his skill on the floor and the type of human he was off of it.
Author: Michael
Welcome to the third week of December, also known in the NASCAR garage as the annual put a ring on it week.
It could be an an engagement ring, wedding ring, promise ring (they still exist?) — doesn’t matter. But it’s ring week in NASCAR and, right on cue, the sport’s most recent champion finally listened to me and put one on a Hooters Hall of Famer.
What a year for Ryan damn Blaney!
In the least surprising twist since the Titanic did, indeed, hit the iceberg in James Cameron’s 1997 film, Blaney and Gianna Tulio hit the mountains last week and got engaged.
The family of former North Carolina great Eric Montross announced Monday that the former Tar Heels center and NBA veteran died Sunday after a battle with cancer. He was 52.
He was surrounded by loved ones at his home at the time of his death. Montross was diagnosed with cancer in March 2023.
“Carolina Athletics, the Tar Heel basketball family and the entire University community are profoundly saddened and stunned by the loss of Eric Montross, one of our most beloved former student-athletes, at far too young an age,” a statement from the North Carolina athletic department read.
Last week, we told you about one of the most lopsided college basketball games you’ll ever see. But one college hoops fan just compiled the highlights (and lowlights) from the game, and you’d have to see them to believe it.
The matchup took place on Dec. 10 between North Dakota State and non-Division I Oak Hills Christian, a tiny school in Bemidji, Minn. with a listed enrollment of just 100 students and a coach who doubles as a faculty member for the school’s business program. The final score of 108–14 is pretty ugly, but somehow, the video makes it so much worse.
NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay felt that the officials missed a call that would have given the Jaguars, who lost to the Ravens 23—7 on Sunday night, a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
Jacksonville drove 55 yards down the field into the red zone, where quarterback Trevor Lawrence fired a pass intended for Calvin Ridley to the back of the end zone. Ridley bobbled the ball as he was heading out of bounds, and officials ruled it an incomplete pass.
Jaguars coach Doug Pederson challenged the call—and ultimately lost.
One of the few aspects that has been made public about the proposed merger between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF) is that the two sides plan on creating a yet-to-be-named for-profit entity.
This has raised red flags regarding the Tour’s current non-profit tax-exempt status, and some in Congress are calling on the Tour to start paying their share.
Congressmen Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and Mike Thompson (D-CA) have introduced legislation to revoke the PGA Tour’s tax-exempt status as a 501 (c)(6) nonprofit.
Another day, more Jordan Poole moments.
Jordan Poole is the gift that keeps on giving. The undisputed NBA king of “dgaf,” Poole had himself a night on Sunday against the Suns.
First he slipped on the floor in the funniest way possible.
DID JORDAN POOLE JUST SLIP ON A BANANA PEEL??? LMAOO WTF IS THIS pic.twitter.com/5joLcA3dFN
— De ️ressed Warriors Fan (@GoIdenState) December 18, 2023
This we can probably give him a pass for … maybe.
New York Giants quarterback Tommy Devito had a rather bad day at the office on Sunday.
In addition to losing to the New Orleans Saints and suffering an injury, Devito lost a marketing opportunity with a New Jersey pizzeria.
Initially, Devito and Coniglio’s pizzeria in Morristown, NJ, had an agreement that the quarterback would take part in an appearance on behalf of the restaurant.
However, owner Nino Coniglio posted on Instagram he terminated his agreement with Devito and his agent, Sean Stellato.
Ahead of the Cowboys’ matchup against the Bills on Sunday, Dallas clinched a playoff spot thanks to how the early slate of games played out. But Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott had no idea. Playoffs or not, his squad had its eyes on Buffalo—but the Cowboys still got punched in the mouth.
The Bills dominated the Cowboys from start to finish and won 31–10, keeping their own playoff hopes alive. After the game, Prescott was asked if he knew about his team’s clinching a postseason spot or whether it meant anything in light of the brutal loss.
The internet has found its new enemy of the day: Patriots linebacker Matthew Judon.
The Chiefs beat the Patriots 27-17 Sunday afternoon, and Judon hopped on X to quote tweet a fake image of Kansas City star QB Patrick Mahomes kissing a ref with the caption, “I see no lies.”
He was definitely leaning into the perception – real or not – that NFL refs protect Mahomes.
I see no lies https://t.co/ZiKCfSsNIS
— Matthew Judon (@man_dammn) December 17, 2023
Naturally, the internet did its thing by overreacting. Honestly, any other reaction probably would have been a surprise.