Baseball – MLB: Astros GM and manager charged with cheating and fired. Pitching prospect dies in car accident. Scherzer on the mend. Shuffling around.
Basketball – NBA: Irving scored 20 in 20. Lakers’ 2 new stars. Harden gets 20,000. Drummond ejected.
Football – College: National Championship tonight at 7pm.
Football – NFL: Divisional Championship games are set for Saturday. Crazy games of the weekend.
Golf: Smith gets 1st PGA title. Dye died. Chamblee served. Tiger caddying?
Olympic Sports: Iran medalist defects. Brignone wins a tricky combo. Kiprotich suspended.
Tennis: Williams first title since motherhood! Djokovic wins.
Baseball – MLB:
- Astros GM Jeff Luhnow and manager AJ Hinch are suspended for 1 season after the team was charged with cheating during the World Series in 2017. The Astros were caught using a camera-based sign stealing system during their 2017 season. The team will also lose 1st and 2nd round draft picks and will be fined $5MM. Red Sox manager, Alex Cora was also found guilty of using a video replay system (he was with the 2017 Astros coaches) the next season but was not punished.
- While writing this blog post, the Astros announced that they have fired AJ Hinch and Jeff Luhnow.
- Nationals pitching prospect Fausto Segura died at age 23 of a traffic accident in the DR.
- Max Scherzer announced that he is feeling food and strong as the 2020 season starts with the Nationals.
- Its shuffling around time in the MLB.
- Twins extended 3B Miguel Sano for 3 years for $30MM.
- Rangers agreed to 1-year deal with 3B Todd Frazier for $5MM.
- LHP Alex Wood signed a 1-year deal for $4MM with the Dodgers.
Basketball – NBA:
- Kyrie Irving is finally back for the Nets and it showed when he scored 20 points in 20 minutes. That was the only 20 minutes he played but it was enough for the Nets to beat the Hawks 108-86.
- The Lakers may have a new big 2 players with LeBron and Anthony Davis still out, Rajon Rondo and Kyle Kuzma helped the team win 125-10 on Saturday. Those 2 guys combined for 57 points. The Lakers have won their last 11 of 13 games (8 in a row).
- James Harden has surpassed 20,000 points after scoring 32 points on Saturday’s win over the Timberwolves 139-109.
- Andre Drummond was ejected after a replay showed him throwing the ball off the back of the head of Daniel Gafford, the Bull’s Center.
Football – College:
- Catch the National Championship game between the reigning national champs Clemson and #1 LSU with the Heisman trophy winner tonight at 7pm on ESPN. Its going to be a good one! LSU is currently favored by 5.
- CFP Executive director Bill Hancock has been offered a contract extension. Guess everyone is happy with how he’s doing. The CFP replaced the BCS after the 2-14-2015 season. The contract expires in 2026.
Football – NFL:
- Browns hire Vikings OC Kevin Stefanski as their new HC after firing their last HC Kitchens after just 1 season. Stefanski coached the Vikings to be the #8 offense in the league.
- Chiefs are currently the Super Bowl favorites at 11-10 followed by the 49ers 7-5.
- We have our final 4 teams! And this weekend is the Division Championship games
- The game between the Texans and the Chiefs was not be missed! The Texans were leading 21-0 at the end of the 1st quarter after a quick score, blocked punt and flubbed punt. After some of the Chiefs fans left, the team decided not to give up and scored 41 unanswered points. The Chiefs’ TE, Travis Kelce, was on fire catching 3 of Mahomes’ TD passes. The Chiefs won 51-31.
- Titans upset the NFL MVP, Lamar Jackson, and the Ravens by winning 28-12 after never trailing in the game on Saturday.
- Packers hold off the Seahawks with their 28-23 win after leading by 18 points.
- The 49ers beat the Vikings 27-10 on Saturday.
Golf:
- Cameron Smith won the Sony Open in a playoff versus Brandan Steele after Steele hit a bad shot on 18 and missed a 6-foot putt for par on 17. Smith was 2 shots behind with 2 holes to play. This is Smith’s first win on the PGA Tour (technically he and his partner Jonas Blixt won the Zurich Classic on the PGA Tour in 2017) but he had won 2xs at the Australian PGA Championship.
- World Golf Hall of Famer, Pete Dye, died on Thursday at the age of 94. Dye was known as one of the greatest golf course architects, designing more than 100 public and private courses. 3 that you might recognize are the Harbour Town Golf Links, Whistling Straits and TPC Sawgrass (home to the Island Green 17th).
- Golf Channel analyst, Brandel Chamblee, has received a cease-and-desist letter from Patrick Reed’s lawyers to stop calling Patrick Reed a cheat after the Hero World Golf Challenge. Someone is getting a little upset with the comments, ehh?
- Imagine showing up to your son’s junior golf tournament and seeing Tiger as a caddie… ya that happened.
Olympic Sports:
- Iran’s only female Olympic medalist, Kimia Alizadeh has fled to the Netherlands and defected after she posted an online letter that stated she was ‘one of the millions of oppressed women in Iran.’ She won the bronze medal in Taekwondo at the 2016 Rio Games.
- Federica Brignone won the World Cup Alpine combined event this past weekend after most of the world’s top racers, including Mikaela Shiffrin did not complete the opening Super-G run.
- Kenyan Wilson Kiprotich has been suspended for doping violations. He is the former WR holder of the men’s marathon. Kiprotich has the bronze medal for the marathon at the 2012 London games and broke the WR in 2013 in Berlin by running a time of 2:03.23.
- Kneeling during the medal podium ceremony will be prohibited at the Olympics according to the IOC President. ‘The Olympics is not a platform to advance political ends.’ Athletes who demonstrate a politically charged gesture on the podium could be sent home.
Tennis:
- Serena Williams took home her first title since becoming a mom at the Australian Open. Nadal and Djokovic had another epic showdown for the men’s final where Djokovic came out victorious.
What to watch this week
Basketball – NBA:
- Wed 1/15
- Nets at 76ers @ 6pm on ESPN
- Trail Blazers at Rockets @ 8:30pm on ESPN
- Thurs 1/16
- Celtics at Bucks @ 7pm on TNT
- Nuggets at Warriors @ 9:30pm on TNT
- Fri 1/17
- Bulls at 76ers @ 6:15pm on ESPN
- Trail Blazers at Mavericks @ 8:30pm on ESPN
- Sat 1/18
- Clippers at Pelicans @ 2:30pm on ABC
- Lakers at Rockets @ 7:30pm on ABC
Basketball – NCAA:
- Tues 1/14
- Nebraska at 21. Ohio St @ 5:30pm on FS1
- Duke at Clemson @ 6pm on ESPN
- Louisville at Pitt @ 6pm on ACC
- VCU at 13. Dayton @ 7ppm on CBSSN
- DePaul at 14. Villanova @ 7:30pm on FS1
- Kansas at Oklahoma @ 8pm on ESPN
- TCU at 12. West Virginia @ 8pm on ESPNU
- Maryland at Wisconsin @ 8pm on ESPN2
- San Diego St at Fresno St @ 10pm on ESPN2
- Wed 1/15
- Seton Hall at 5. Butler @ 5:30pm on FS1
- Kentucky at South Carolina @ 5:30pm on SEC
- UVA at Florida St at 6pm on ESPN2
- Creighton at Georgetown @ 6pm on CBSSN
- Auburn at Alabama @ 8pm on ESPN2
- Wichita St at Temple @ 8pm on ESPNU
- Thurs 1/16
- Cincinnati at 22. Memphis @ 6pm on ESPN
- Colorado at Arizona St @ 8pm on ESPN2
- Santa Clara at 1. Gonzaga @ 10pm on ESPN2
- Fri 1/17
- Dayton at Saint Louis @ 6pm on ESPN2
- Wisconsin at 15. Michigan St @ 6pm on FS1
- Michigan at Iowa @ 8pm on FS1
- Sat 1/18
- UConn at 14. Villanova @ 11am on FS1
- Seton Hall at St. John’s @ 11am on FOX
- Florida St at Miami @ 12pm on ACC
- Auburn at Florida at 12:30pm on CBS
- West Virginia at Kansas St @ 1pm on ESPNU
- Oregon at Washington @ 2:45pm on CBS
- Kentucky at Arkansas @ 3pm on ESPN
- Providence at 25. Creighton @ 3:30pm on FS1
- Northwestern at 24. Illinois @ 4pm on BTN
- Louisville at 3. Duke @ 5pm on ESPN
- Nevada at 7. San Diego St @ 7pm on CBSSN
- BYU at 1. Gonzaga @ 9pm on ESPN2
Football – NCAA:
Football – NFL:
- Sat 1/19
- AFC Championship – Titans at Chiefs @ 2:05pm on CBS
- NFC Championship – Packers at 49ers @ 5:40pm on FOX
Hockey:
- Mon 1/13 – Bruins at Flyers @ 6pm on RSN
- Tues 1/14 – Wild at Penguins @ 6pm on NBCSN
- Wed 1/15
- Blackhawks at Canadiens @ 6:30pm on RSN
- Flyers at Blues @ 7pm on NBCSN
- Thurs 1/16 – Lightening at Wild @ 7pm on NBCSN
- Fri 1/17 – Penguins at Red Wings @ 8pm on RSN
- Sat 1/18 – Sharks at Canucks @ 9pm on RSN
- Sun 1/19
- Bruins at Penguins at 11:30am on NBC
- Jets at Blackhawks @ 6pm on RSN
Olympic Sports:
- Mon 1/13 – Luge: FIL World Cup: Women’s Singles @ 11pm on NBCSN
- Tues 1/14
- Bobsled: IBSF World Cup: 4-man Bobsleigh @ 12am on NBCSN
- Biathlon World Cup: Men’s 15km Mass Start @ 1am on NBCSN
- Thurs 1/16 – Biathlon: World Cup: Women’s 7.5km Sprint @ 12am on NBCSN
- Fri 1/17
- Swimming: TYR Pro Series Day 1 @ 6:30pm on NBCSN
- Snowboarding World Cup: Slopestyle @ 8pm on NBCSN
- Curling: USA vs SCO @ 9pm on NBCSN
- Biathlon World Cup: Women’s 4x6km Relay @ 11pm on NBCSN
- Sat 1/18
- Swimming: TYR Pro Series Day 2 @ 6:30pm on NBCSN
- FIS World Cup: Men’s Downhill @ 8pm on NBCSN
- FIS World Cup: Women’s Giant Slalom @ 9pm on NBCSN
- Sun 1/19
- Luge World Cup: Women’s Singles @ 6pm on NCBSN
- Biathlon World Cup: Men’s 12.5km Pursuit @ 7pm on NBCSN
- FIS World Cup: Women’s Parallel Slalom @ 8pm on NBCSN
- FIS World Cup: Men’s Slalom @ 9pm on NBCSN
- Bobsled: IBSF World Cup: 4-man Bobsleigh @ 10pm on NBCSN
Soccer:
- Sat 1/18
- Premier League: Watford vs Tottenham Hotspur @ 7:25am on NBCSN
- Premier League: Arsenal vs Sheffield United @ 9:55am on NBCSN
- Sun 1/19
- Italian Serie A: AC Milan at Udinese @ 5:30am on ESPN2
- Premier League: Burnley vs Leicester City @ 8:55am on NBCSN
- Premier League: Liverpool vs ManU @ 11:25am on NBCSN
