The worst thing that can happen in sports is predictability. There’s a malaise that falls over a league when there’s such a clear delineation between the good and bad that the best we can do is pray for an upset, before fatalistically accepting that the Dodgers will win another World Series. It saps the joy out of contest and makes everything regress to the point where a season might as well be scripted television, and hell, there are entire message boards of conspiracy theorists who already think sports are predetermined.
This year in the NFL has been buck wild.

The Dodgers have reached a deal with former Mets closer Edwin Diaz, a source told ESPN’s Jorge Castillo.

Slugger Kyle Schwarber, who led the NL with 56 home runs last season, and the Phillies are finalizing a five-year, $150 million contract, sources told ESPN.

Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi has been voted the 2025 MLS MVP, becoming the first player in league history to win the award in two consecutive seasons.

Robbie Earle picks out Tyrick Mitchell as his u

With the 2026 World Cup coming to North America and the majority of the games being hosted in the United States, it’s only right that the event gets Americanized. 
Given that the tournament will run from June 11–July 19, temperatures in most host cities will be scorching. Therefore, FIFA announced earlier this week that every match during the World Cup will feature three-minute hydration breaks in each half.

Robbie Mustoe explains why Xavi Simons is his u

Arsenal attacker Max Dowman picked up an ankle injury playing for the under-21s this weekend

Arsenal have been dealt a fresh injury blow as the Gunners have announced that Max Dowman picked up an ankle injury while playing for the under-21s this weekend. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta did not include the 15-year-old in the squad that travelled to Aston Villa on Saturday when the Emirates Stadium club suffered a 2-1 defeat.

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Confirmed: Bittencourt to leave Bremen in summer
Sky Germany have confirmed that Leo Bittencourt will leave Werder Bremen in summer when the 2025-26 campaign ends. 
Both the club and player have reached an agreement and the 31-year-old midfielder will not extend his contract. 
After spending 7 years at Bremen, he wants a new challenge at the end of the season and will leave on a free transfer.
The move isn’t entirely surprising, given Bittencourt has barely featured under new coach Horst Steffen who arrived in summer.

Tonight on Peacock, the No. 13 Illinois Fighting Illini take on the Ohio State Buckeyes in a Big Ten men’s college basketball thriller at 7:30 PM. Tonight’s game marks the 195th meeting between the two programs whose storied rivalry dates back to 1915. Illinois leads the all-time series 112-82, including the last three meetings against the Buckeyes.
See below for additional information on tonight’s Illinois vs Ohio State matchup and find out how you can follow all of the college basketball excitement this season on Peacock.

Man City injury latest: Rodri and Mateo Kovacic
Man City injury latest as Champions League tension rises

Man City’s 3-0 victory over Sunderland at the Etihad finally delivered a first clean sheet since early November, yet the afternoon came with an unavoidable sense of incompleteness. Even as confidence began to resurface through fluent attacking play, the persistent absence of key midfield figures continued to frame the wider conversation.

Frantzdy Pierrot led the Haiti Men’s National Soccer Team to a spot in the World Cup next summer in North America. This is only the second time the Caribbean nation has ever qualified for the world’s largest soccer tournament.
Pierrot is a forward for Haiti and led the team in scoring during the Gold Cup last fall. He now plays in the professional soccer league in Greece, for a team named AEK Athens. Pierrot has come a long way since he was a freshman playing soccer at Melrose High School.
“What I remember most about Frantzdy was just how determined he was.

Stephen A.

Get your G+G Merch here: https://rippasend.

One of the more commanding figures in the Formula 1 paddock is departing the sport
Red Bull confirmed rumors on Tuesday that Helmut Marko’s time as a senior advisor was coming to an end. Framed as a “departure,” the team announced that after more than two decades, Marko decided to step away from the team.
“Helmut approached me with the wish to end his role as motorsport advisor at the end of the year.

Rich Eisen joins Dan Graziano, Jason McCourty,

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Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, even after back-to-back Cy Young Awards, is not “untouchable” when it comes to trade offers, president of baseball operations Scott Harris said.

An appeals court in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday ordered a new trial for Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who was convicted earlier this year of sexually abusing a minor.

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts became the first player since 1978 — as far back as research goes — to commit two turnovers on the same play during Monday night’s overtime loss to the Chargers.

Montana State star running back Julius Davis will be on the field Friday in the FCS playoffs after a wild moment unfolded over the weekend.
Davis is one of the best players in the FCS, and he’s a major part of the Bobcats. The former Wisconsin RB will have to play at a very high level down the stretch in order for MSU to win the FCS national title.
That’s why there was some serious concern over the weekend when Davis got into a heated altercation with head coach Brent Vigen following a win over Yale in the playoffs.

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For weeks, those of us in the NFL media space have been debating which version of the Philadelphia Eagles the 2025 squad most parallels.

We unveil our latest rankings and also look at the most surprising statistical rankings for each team.

Ben Solak lays out ways to improve the Chiefs’ struggling offense, makes his case for the Jaguars’ legitimacy and more.

Japanese club Vissel Kobe remained atop the eastern zone of the AFC Champions League with a 2-2 draw at home against Chengdu Rongcheng of China on Tuesday.
Kobe needs just a point from its final two games to advance to the round of 16, with the top eight of each 12-team group advancing.
Yoshinori Muto opened the scoring in the 18th minute, but two goals from Felipe Silva put the Chinese club in front.

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (C) tops my Week 15 fantasy football rankings. File Photo by Jon Soohoo/UPI
MIAMI, Dec. 9 (UPI) — Puka Nacua and Ja’Marr Chase lead my Top-50 fantasy football wide receiver rankings for Week 15, which marks the start of the playoffs for most leagues.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Nico Collins and Amon-Ra St. Brown join Nacua and Chase in my Top 5. George Pickens, A.J. Brown, Jaylen Waddle, Davante Adams and Rashee Rice are among my other Top-10 options.
All of my positional rankings will be updated until Week 15 kickoffs.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts committed two turnovers on the same play as part of a five-turnover night that included a game-ending interception in Monday’s 22-19 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Midway through the second quarter, Hurts threw an interception over the middle to Chargers defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand, who fumbled during the return. Hurts recovered the ball but fumbled it back to the Chargers as he was hit.

Good morning, Chargers fans!
You know what to do!
And now for today’s links.
Chargers News:
Five takeaways from the Chargers’ win over the Eagles in primetime (Chargers.com)
Tony Jefferson had visions of his game-winning interception (Chargers.com)
What we learned from the Chargers’ win over the Eagles on Monday night (NFL.

Atalanta vs Chelsea: Match Preview, Latest Team News and How to Watch
Atalanta vs Chelsea Champions League preview

Chelsea’s Champions League return arrives at an awkward domestic moment, with form in the Premier League offering little reassurance yet performances in Europe presenting a striking contrast.

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Every offseason since LIV Golf’s inaugural season in 2022, it has felt like there have been rumors about players looking to leave the Saudi-backed circuit to return to the PGA Tour. This offseason is no exception, and this time around, the rumor involves five-time major winner Brooks Koepka.
Koepka, who was among the first group of players to sign with LIV Golf, is reportedly coming up on the final year of his contract. While some players, including Dustin Johnson, have been open about re-upping their deals, Koepka hasn’t exactly been as transparent.

Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker went 5-for-5 on field goals in Monday night’s win over the Eagles, and he’s extending his lead over everyone else in NFL history as the most accurate kicker the league has ever seen.
With 122 field goals in 130 attempts, Dicker has now made 93.8 percent of his career field goal attempts, by far the best in NFL history.
Second place belongs to Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey, who is 103-for-114 for a career mark of 90.4 percent. Aubrey’s mark is great, but he’s already missed one more field goal than Dicker, while making 19 fewer.

When the North Carolina Tar Heels play basketball, there’s a strong chance star freshman Caleb Wilson enjoys a big game.
Wilson, who is Georgia’s reigning Gatorade Boys Basketball Player of the Year, quickly took the college basketball world by storm in his first game. Now nine games in, Wilson is averaging a double-double and UNC’s go-to guy in closing moments.
During North Carolina’s 81-61 win over Georgetown on Sunday, Wilson impressed again with a 20-point, 14-rebound double-double.
Wilson played so well that he drew praise from Hoyas (6-3) head coach Ed Cooley.

Vision, a brand new original song from Grammy-w

Charley Hull never went to college but found herself grinding on campus recently at Florida State University. After the LPGA’s regular season came to an end at the CME Group Tour Championship, 29-year-old Hull headed north from Naples, Florida, to Tallahassee to join Seminole sensation Lottie Woad for an England Golf training camp.
Woad, 21, said it was at England Golf camps she first learned how to properly practice. The time spent with national coaches set the baseline for how she’d grow as a player and now, as a newly-minted LPGA professional, she’s already giving back.

Vision, a brand new original song from Grammy-w

The Minnesota Vikings picked up a massive home victory on Sunday, defeating the Washington Commanders 31-0. The offense had arguably its best showing of the year, and the defense limited the returning Jayden Daniels to a minimal impact before he departed with an elbow injury.
With week 14 wrapped up, we take a peek toward the future and bring you another mock draft. The Vikings’ draft spot has not changed, but the board has, resulting in different picks?
Round One, Pick 11: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
Last week, we mocked Peter Woods out of Clemson in this spot.

Kron Gracie joins us in-studio today!Mike Ehrmann via Getty Images

Join “The Ariel Helwani Show” live on Uncrowned and YouTube at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT/6 p.m. UK time as Ariel and the Boys In The Back keep the week rolling with another loaded combat sports lineup.
Tuesday’s rundown can be seen below.
1 p.m. ET: Ariel and the gang kick off the show by answering all your questions in the latest On The Nose.
2 p.m. ET: Maycee Barber stops by following her big UFC 323 win over Natalia Silva.
2:30 p.m.

Dan Graziano, Jason McCourty, Domonique Foxwort

It was only a matter of time before the Anthony Davis trade sweepstakes began after the Dallas Mavericks mercifully fired Nico Harrison for the disgraced trade that brought the veteran big man to the franchise. Now three teams are emerging as trade suitors for Davis ahead of the Feb. 5 deadline according to ESPN, and all of them are in the Eastern Conference.
The Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks, and Toronto Raptors are expected to bid on Davis this season, according to ESPN insider Shams Charania. Trade rumors could start heating up this week with Dec.

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On SportsCenter, Gary Striewski and Randy Scott

The NBA Cup is in its third year as the in-season tournament dreamt up by commissioner Adam Silver. The league places the qualifying round tournament games into the regular season schedule, but pauses play for “island games” for the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals. The quarterfinals are now set with eight of the best teams in basketball still standing for what should be a dramatic conclusion with high stakes.
The Los Angeles Lakers won the inaugural Cup in 2023, and the Milwaukee Bucks upset the Oklahoma City Thunder in the championship game to claim the trophy in 2024.

The NFL world was hit with some wild news on Monday: In the face of the Indianapolis Colts needing help at QB — Daniel Jones is done for the year, Anthony Richardson is still out and Riley Leonard has a knee injury — the franchise will work out 44-year-old retiree Philip Rivers on Tuesday.
Although he won’t be the oldest QB in NFL history if he signs, there is a fun fact: He recently became a grandfather. Remember, he has 10 children, and one of them gave birth recently.

Bristol City head coach Gerhard Struber believes the Championship should have VAR brought in to create “more fairness”.
The Robins saw a late equaliser disallowed for offside in their 1-0 defeat by Millwall on Saturday, resulting in a huge post-match melee involving staff and players from both sides.
Video assistant referees were brought into the Premier League at the start of the 2019-20 season, but in the Championship the technology has only been used in play-off finals since 2022.

Saracens have confirmed the signing of George Martin from Leicester Tigers.
The lock will join the north London club at the end of the season after rising through the academy at Welford Road in a significant switch for the England rugby international.
Martin had been the subject of significant interest with his contract with Tigers due to expire. The 24-year-old missed England’s autumn fixtures due to a shoulder injury, and is yet to feature for his club in this campaign having made just 15 appearances for Leicester over the last two seasons.

Legendary AC Milan, Juventus & Roma Coach Impressed By Inter Milan Performance Vs Como: “Looked Like A Men’s Team Playing A Youth Team”
Fabio Capello delivered his verdict on Saturday’s Serie A match between Inter Milan and Como at Stadio San Siro.
Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport via FCInter1908, Capello hailed the Nerazzurri’s dominant performance against the Lariani.
Inter halted Como’s 12-game unbeaten league streak in formidable fashion, cruising to a stunning 4-0 victory.

Club Brugge vs Arsenal: Match Preview, Latest Team News and How to Watch
Club Brugge vs Arsenal Champions League preview

Arsenal return to the European stage with unfinished domestic business still ringing in their ears. Saturday’s late defeat at Aston Villa, settled by Emiliano Buendia’s 95th minute intervention, represented the Gunners’ first setback since August and only their second defeat of the season. Yet within the broader picture, it has barely dented the authority of Mikel Arteta’s campaign, particularly in the Champions League where their record remains flawless.