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๐จ Headlines
๐ Heisman finalists: The Heisman Trophy finalists for this year include Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter, Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty, Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel, and Miami QB Cam Ward. The winner will be announced on Saturday.
โพ๏ธ Sasaki officially posted: Japanese standout Rลki Sasaki, 23, was posted on Monday, initiating a 45-day window for MLB teams to sign the talented right-handed pitcher.
๐ Bengals 27, Cowboys 20: Cincinnati emerged victorious in a thrilling matchup against Dallas on “MNF,” with standout performances from Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase.
๐ KAT stays hot: Karl-Anthony Towns continued his impressive form with his 13th consecutive double-double as the Knicks defeated the Raptors 113-108 in the only NBA game on Monday.
โฝ๏ธ Angel City sacks coach: Angel City FC parted ways with coach Becki Tweed, who was a finalist for NWSL Coach of the Year last year. Coaching vacancies also exist in Houston and San Diego.
๐ The most important AP poll of the season
It’s only December, but history tells us that one of the top 12 teams in this week’s men’s AP poll is likely to win the national championship.
Congratulations to Tennessee, Auburn, Iowa State, and Duke! Kentucky, Marquette, Alabama, and Gonzaga should start preparing for potential success as well!
โ Jeff Eisenberg, Yahoo Sports
The streak: The past 20 national champions were all ranked in the top 12 of the Week 6 AP poll, with an average ranking of 4.8.
By the numbers: The Week 6 AP poll has been a better predictor of the eventual champion than the final AP poll before the NCAA tournament.
The most recent outliers: The 2002-03 Syracuse team and the 1987-88 Kansas team, known as “Danny and the Miracles,” were champions despite not being ranked in the top 12 early in the season.
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Looking ahead, the current betting odds favor No. 18 UConn to potentially break this trend and win the championship.
*In a big week for the Vols, Tennessee secured the No. 1 spot in the men’s AP poll and returned to the women’s AP Top 25 after a long absence.
โพ๏ธ Soto makes Ohtani look like a bargain
In the aftermath of Juan Soto’s record-breaking $765 million deal with the Mets, Shohei Ohtani’s 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers seems like a bargain.
Comparison: Ohtani will earn $2 million annually during his playing career with additional deferred payments, making the present-day value of his contract around $460 million. In contrast, Soto’s deal includes no deferred money and is valued at $765 million.
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The advertising revenue generated by Ohtani essentially covers the cost of his contract, a benefit not seen in Soto’s deal.
According to Jake Mintz from Yahoo Sports:
A report from the L.A. Times revealed that the Dodgers made significant revenue from Ohtani in 2024, covering much of his contract through advertising. Soto, while popular, does not have the same revenue-generating potential.
Despite this, both deals highlight the value of top-tier talent in the MLB.
โฝ๏ธ UNC begins new era by winning it all… again
North Carolina clinched their 22nd women’s soccer national championship by defeating Wake Forest 1-0. This victory marks the first title for the Tar Heels without legendary head coach Anson Dorrance, who retired after 45 seasons.
New leadership: Interim coach Damon Nahas seems poised to continue the program’s winning tradition following Dorrance’s departure.
Continued success: UNC’s men’s basketball and field hockey teams also reached the championship game in their first seasons post-retirement of their respective legendary coaches.
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Men’s basketball: Hubert Davis led the Tar Heels to the title game in his debut season after Roy Williams’ retirement.
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Field hockey: Erin Matson guided UNC to a national title after Karen Shelton’s retirement.
*The dynasty: Anson Dorrance built a dominant program at UNC, producing numerous USWNT players and achieving remarkable success over his tenure.
๐ธ Photo gallery
Enjoy some of the best photos from the recent sports events…
Kansas City: Chiefs safety Justin Reid in action.
Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.: Lewis Hamilton celebrates his final race with Mercedes, with whom he won six titles, before moving to Ferrari.
Las Vegas: Michael Chiesa submits Max Griffin in a welterweight bout at UFC 310.
Porto Alegre, Brazil: Grรชmio captain Pedro Geromel is celebrated by his teammates after his final match before retirement.
๐ Dec. 10, 2002: MJ vs. Pippen
22 years ago today, Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen faced off as opponents for the first and only time in their careers.
Role reversal: The game saw Pippen lead the Trail Blazers to a victory over Jordan’s Wizards, with both players tallying 14 points.
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Pippen’s impressive stat line included 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block.
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Jordan, nearing 40, contributed 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block.
Post-game comments: Jordan expressed frustration with his team’s performance, highlighting the difference in effort between the two sides.
“My mules were sick,” Jordan remarked, referring to his disappointment in his team’s performance.
Outcome: Jordan retired after the season, while Pippen continued playing before retiring in 2004.
๐บ Watchlist: NBA Cup knockouts
The NBA Cup knockout round kicks off tonight on TNT, featuring exciting matchups between Magic and Bucks and Mavericks and Thunder.
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Players to watch: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Luka Donฤiฤ are among the top performers in the NBA Cup.
Additional games to look out for:
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๐ NCAAM: Tune in to No. 1 Tennessee vs. Miami and No. 14 Michigan vs. Arkansas in the 30th Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden.
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โฝ๏ธ Champions League: Catch the action from Matchday 6 with nine exciting games on Paramount+.
*Don’t miss Dan Devine’s breakdown of the thrilling quarterfinal matchups in the NBA Cup.
๐บ “The Simpsons” trivia
“The Simpsons” recently aired a special episode featuring a real-time animated broadcast of a “Monday Night Football” game set in Springfield.
Trivia question: What is the name of Springfield’s football team?
Hint: The team’s name is related to chemistry, much like the Isotopes, Springfield’s minor league baseball team.
Answer: Springfield Atoms
๐ College football NIT?
Consider the possibility of a college football NIT to provide additional postseason opportunities for teams outside the CFP top 12.
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