(Photo credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports) The Atlanta Hawks' Trae Young and the Sacramento Kings' De'Aaron Fox will square off in a backcourt duel Friday night when the teams meet in Atlanta. Young averages 28.1 points a game, seventh best in the NBA entering play Thursday, and ranks second with 11.3 assists. Fox is the league's fifth-best scorer at 30.2 points and averages 6.1 assists. A festival of points could be
One of the best things about summer for the book-lovers among us is a beach towel by a strip of water ... and time to lose yourself in another world. That might be a traditional beach read - typically a genre paperback with a propulsive plot - or an opportunity to catch up on the c
(Photo credit: Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports) New Texas AM football coach Mike Elko officially filled key staff positions on Thursday, announcing the hiring of Collin Klein as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach and Jay Bateman as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Klein, 34, was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at his alma mater, Kansas State, the past two seasons. Prior to that, h
(Photo credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports) The New York Knicks stumbled out of the gate to start their three-game trip and struggled to keep pace before absorbing a defeat. The Knicks will look to regain their footing on Friday night against the Orlando Magic when they continue with the middle game of their trek. New York fell behind by as many as 15 points in the first quarter and 17 early in the second of a 1
(Photo credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports) Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle will miss Sunday's showdown with the Baltimore Ravens with an ankle injury, ESPN reported Thursday. He sustained the injury during Miami's Christmas Eve victory against the Dallas Cowboys and did not participate in practice on Wednesday. Waddle, who also got poked in the eye in that contest, played only 28 snaps and caught just one
(Photo credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports) The Brooklyn Nets hope their defensive dominance of the Washington Wizards carries over to the road when the clubs duel in the nation's capital Friday night. The Nets have allowed just 94 and 97 points in a pair of home wins over Washington, limiting the guests to 37.5-percent shooting in an eight-point victory on Nov. 12, then 41.8 percent in a 27-point drubbing on Dec. 8. W
(Photo credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports) Dallas Mavericks star guard Luka Doncic has been ruled out of Thursday's game against the host Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis due to left quadriceps soreness. Doncic, 24, collected 39 points, seven rebounds, six assists, two blocks and two steals in Dallas' 113-110 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. It was his third straight game scoring at least 39 points,
(Photo credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports) No. 11 Illinois suspended senior guard Terrence Shannon Jr. on Thursday and tries to focus on a home encounter with Fairleigh Dickinson on Friday. Shannon is suspended indefinitely from all team activities. A warrant for his arrest was issued Wednesday. He is facing a rape charge in Lawrence, Kan., and the alleged incident took place during Shannon's visit to the Illinois-Kan
(Photo credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports) The Chicago White Sox strengthened their bullpen by agreeing to a one-year, $1.8 million contract with left-handed reliever Tim Hill, multiple media outlets reported Thursday. Hill, 33, posted a 1-4 record with a career-worst 5.48 ERA in 48 relief appearances with the San Diego Padres last season. He owns a 16-14 mark with four saves and a 4.16 ERA in 320 career relief appe
Bob Labriola
Let's get to it:
CHUCK MILLER FROM GREEN ISLAND, NY: I've got a lunch bet on this question. My friend says that the Steelers are one of the few teams that have NEVER had a cheerleading team, but I would have sworn that there was a cheer team for the Steelers in the 1960s. Who's right?
ANSWER: Your friend is buying you lunch.
The Steelerettes were the cheerleaders f
(Photo credit: Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports) The Detroit Red Wings share an arena with the NBA's Pistons, who just broke the single-season league record for most consecutive losses. The Red Wings aren't close to matching that run of futility, however it's been a rough December for them as well. They are 2-8-1 over their last 11 games, including a 6-3 road loss to the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday. Detroit will try to tur
(Photo credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports) The Minnesota Vikings will start rookie quarterback Jaren Hall in Sunday night's must-win game against the visiting Green Bay Packers. Coach Kevin O'Connell announced Thursday that Hall will make his second start of the season and Nick Mullens will head back to the bench after two straight losses. The Vikings (7-8) are one game behind the Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle S
(Photo credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports) Catcher Mitch Garver signed a two-year contract with the Seattle Mariners on Thursday. The deal includes an option for the 2026 season. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed by the Mariners, however multiple media outlets reported it was worth $24 million. "Mitch is a hitter we had targeted from the start of the offseason," said Jerry Dipoto, Mariners president o
(Photo credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports) We hit our headliner with the Lions in Week 16 but dropped our Cowboys bet when the Dallas defense gave up a last-second field goal to the Miami Dolphins. This week, we dare to fade the new MVP favorite and sprinkle in some California flavor for a tasty three-leg parlay. See how this primary parlay wager developed, along with a bonus play and a player prop below. THE HEAD
(Photo credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports) The Detroit Lions designated pass-rusher James Houston to return from injured reserve on Thursday. The second-year outside linebacker has been out since fracturing his right ankle in Week 2. Houston, 25, recorded eight sacks in seven games (two starts) last season after being drafted in the sixth round. The Lions (11-4) opened Houston's 21-day practice window and he partic
(Photo credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports) All the New York Jets wanted in 2023 was one healthy and productive quarterback. Looking back, they might wish they had answered when Joe Flacco knocked in September. Flacco instead played catch with his brother an hour away from the Jets' facility and waited three more months for the Cleveland Browns to call. And did he ever answer. Flacco has the Browns (10-5) on the doo
(Photo credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports) Minnesota United FC is lending defender Ethan Bristow to England's Stockport County FC for the 2024 season. Bristow, 22, can be recalled at any time during the loan under terms of the deal announced Thursday. He made his MLS debut in 2023 and appeared in nine matches (six starts) for the Loons. Stockport County competes in EFL League Two, the fourth tier in English football.
(Photo credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports) If the season ended today, fifth-year senior guard Terrence Shannon Jr. almost certainly would have achieved enough to become No. 11 Illinois' third Associated Press first-team All-American in the past four seasons. Shannon, who ranks third in KenPom.com's Player of the Year standings, enters Friday's non-conference game between Illinois (9-2) and Fairleigh Dickinson (6-7) av
(Photo credit: Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports) Los Angeles FC reportedly are in talks to bring World Cup-winning goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to MLS. Current club Tottenham Hotspur already gave the green light and the decision is now up to the 37-year-old French star, Italian soccer journalist Fabrizio Romano reported Thursday. Lloris has been with the Premier League's Spurs since 2012 after playing for Lyon (2008-12) and
(Photo credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports) The Buffalo Sabres placed forward Tage Thompson on the non-roster list Thursday for personal reasons. Thompson, 26, was a late scratch prior to Wednesday night's 4-1 home loss to the Boston Bruins. Following a breakout year in 2022-23, Thompson has 19 points (nine goals, 10 assists) in 26 games this season. Thompson set career highs in goals (47) and assists (47) last sea
(Photo credit: Kevin R. Wexler / USA TODAY NETWORK) The Washington Commanders placed running back Chris Rodriguez on injured reserve Thursday, ending his rookie season with two games remaining. He had an MRI on his right ankle earlier this week after rushing for a season-high 58 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 30-28 loss to the New York Jets. Rodriguez, 23, finishes the campaign with 51 carries for 247 yards (4.8-y
(Photo credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports) No. 21 Texas will look to continue to build momentum for the upcoming Big 12 Conference campaign and stay on the winning track when it hosts UNC Greensboro on Friday in Austin, Texas. The Longhorns (9-2) return from the Christmas break after a workmanlike 71-55 home win over Texas AM-Corpus Christi on Dec. 22. Max Abmas scored 17 points and Dillon Mitchell added 14 points an
Melbourne [Australia], December 28 (ANI): Mir Hamza, a left-arm pacer for Pakistan, had a stellar performance in the second Test against Australia at the MCG on Thursday. Hamza's bowling spell kept Pakistan in the game. The hosts found themselves at 16/4 following a memorable spell from the Pakistan pacers. However, Steve Smith and Mitchell Marsh pulled Australia back into the game by stitching up a partnership of 153 run
Centurion [South Africa], December 28 (ANI): Nandre Burger's sensational spell combined with South Africa's all-rounded performance secured a win by an innings and 32 runs for the Proteas against India in the first Test on Thursday at the SuperSport Park. Burger with his lethal bouncers and precise line and length pushed India batters back against the wall. A game that seemed to be headed for the fourth day was concluded
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], December 28 (ANI): Actor Kareena Kapoor Khan on Thursday shared new pictures from her Swiss vacation. Taking to Instagram, Kareena shared a picture in which she could be seen with her back to the camera and clicking a picture of a scenic location with the phone. She captioned the pic, "Chasing the lights...4 days to 2024."In the pic, Bebo is seen donning her night suit. In another story, she