"He is recovering and thankful to his medical team, teammates, and Colorado fans for their prayers and support," T. Carlton Lewis wrote. "Please respect Julian and the Lewis family’s privacy. We will have no further comment at this time."
The Buffaloes responded to OutKick’s request for comment.
"Colorado Athletics extends our full support to JuJu and his family through this medical emergency. He remains in the thoughts of every CU player, coach, and staff member and we will continue to assist in any way we can in his full recovery. His health and well-being remain our top priority during this time," the statement said.
Lewis, a 19-year-old sophomore with the Buffaloes, began the season as the team’s starting quarterback. However, head coach Deion Sanders made the decision to bench him after four games.
His last appearance came on Sept. 26, a loss to the Baylor Bears, before the ball was turned over to junior Isaac Wilson.
It hasn’t been much better for Wilson, though, as the Buffaloes are 0-3 since he took over on offense. The Buffaloes are now 2-5 on the year and dead last in the Big 12 with an 0-4 conference record.
The day before Lewis suffered his medical emergency, Sanders was asked by the media if he’d turn back to his sophomore signal caller because of the skid for his team.
"That’s on him," Sanders responded, via BuffsTV. "I don’t think you could find a player in this program — or you may could find some bitter players that have left and didn’t want to leave, but life is what it is — but I don’t treat people unfairly. I don’t play games with young men and their careers and hate on folks.
"If I’m anything, I’m too forgiving and very, very kind. …You’ve got to always understand that we may know a little more than you do, because we’re inside the locker room. We’re there. We understand what happens."
'Nightcaps' is a daily column that catches you up on the biggest sports, news and culture stories you may have missed while pretending to do work at your desk. It runs Monday-Friday on OutKick.com.
Over the hump and safely onto the other side of the week. Is this the biggest weekend of the year to date?
I think it might be.
We've got football all weekend long, obviously. Duh. More importantly, we also have Halloween, which lands on a Saturday. I did some big J digging, and it's the last time that'll happen until 2037. True story. Eleven years! Lord knows what this place will look like in 11 years, but I assume if this column is somehow still alive, it'll be run by a robot. That's almost a guarantee.
Beyond all of that, we also get an extra hour of Halloween this weekend! That's right. The dreaded "fall back" weekend is upon us. I loved this time of year in college, but that was, admittedly, a long time ago. Nothing hit better than being at a party and seeing the iPhone 4 clock switch back to 1 a.m.
It was the best.
But I have kids now, and they do not care what the clock says. So, come Sunday morning when it says 5:30, they'll be up and ready to roll.
"Just put them to bed later!"
Doesn't work for a 2-year-old, folks. They don't care. Hard hats on, parents. We're all in this together.
On that note, welcome to a Thursday Nightcaps — the one where Lane Kiffin, somehow, finds something else to complain about. College football fans ain't having it.
Nor should they.
What else? I've got Paige Spiranac teasing her Halloween costume ahead of the big day, another subdued baseball celebration last night, and where did this MLB postseason rank for you?
I gotta be honest ... it wasn't great. And now we're going into a lockout.
The vibes aren't the best right now! But we'll get into it.
Grab you a tiny violin for Lane Kiffin and the LSU Tigers, and settle in for a Thursday 'Cap!
LSU-'Bama takes an afternoon seat
Let's get this ball rolling, because the rain has finally stopped here in Florida for the first time since Sunday and I've got a pumpkin patch to get to before it starts back up.
Big weekend of college football, as I said earlier. Now, I hate to jump ahead a week, but Lane Kiffin has left me no choice.
For about six months now, fans have had Nov. 7 circled on their calendars. It's shaping up to be, arguably, the greatest weekend of college football ever.
And, of course, Alabama-LSU. That's the big one, right?
... Right?
...... RIGHT?!
Fans aren't buying it this time
"If someone thinks the SEC wants us to win this year after what’s been going on, they must have just been on Mars the last four months. So I guess when I look at it that way, I’m not surprised."
So, Lane Kiffin sent shots at the SEC for next weekend's big game not being in primetime, which is hilarious for a couple different reasons.
The SEC doesn't make those decisions, ESPN does. Sure, I'd imagine the SEC has plenty of input, but it's still an ESPN call to make.
LSU has already played more home games under the lights than any other SEC teams this season. The Tigers have had four night games. Texas has had three. Everyone else has no more than two.
Miami-Notre Dame on NBC will be a juggernaut. ESPN putting its best game in a standalone(ish) time makes sense. Some will say they're scared to go up against that game. Perhaps. But there was no reason to fight that battle when 3:30 on ABC is a perfectly fine time.
Totally unrelated, of course, but here's Lane Kiffin on LSU ... just two short years ago:
So, when Lane was at Ole Miss, everyone was out to get him. Now, he's at LSU and ... everyone's out to get him?
See a pattern? It's silly. I used to love Lane Kiffin, by the way. He was a content machine. He was fun, and likable, and somewhat relatable.
Wrapping up the World Series & Paige's Halloween tease!
For what it's worth, LSU is 1-7 since 2012 against Alabama in night games in Baton Rouge. Perhaps Lane should be thanking ESPN/SEC for this one?
OK, let's rapid-fire this Thursday class into a big night of FOOTBALL!
PS: I know there's an NFL game on tonight, but don't forget about college. Did you know there's a game on ESPN tonight with an OVER/UNDER set at 76.5?!
That's right. North Texas and FAU. A biggie. Does anyone here have the stones to take the over when it's at that number? I think I'll dabble.
Speaking of stones ... how about the Milwaukee Brewers just quietly completing one of the most dominant postseason runs of all time? Think about it.
They manhandles the Padres, swept the Dodgers, and then pretty much had their way with Tampa ...
And then treated winning it all like they'd just polished off a three-game sweep of the Marlins in June:
Thoughts? I've honestly thought all the celebrations this postseason have been pretty t(l)ame. There's certainly something to be said about "acting like you've been there before."
I get that ...
Except this was Milwaukee's first ever World Series title! And that's what we got? I don't know. Just seemed a bit off.
Frankly, this whole postseason did:
I love baseball. I watch every Red Sox game all year long. I'm a 162-er. I'm not trying to knock it here ... but yeah, it was a bad postseason. Sometimes it just happens, right?
The best part was watching the Dodgers lose. I think we can all agree on that, right? But otherwise, there really weren't any moments. I guess you could point to Milwaukee's walk-off against Mason Miller a month ago as a pivotal moment. That was fun.
But you just never really felt it, right? Again, sometimes that's just the way it goes. You're not gonna bat a thousand every year.
The Bears acquired All-Pro defensive tackle Jefferey Simmons and a 2028 fifth-round pick from the Tennessee Titans in exchange for Chicago's 2027 and 2028 first-round picks and 2027 fourth-round pick, the Titans announced Thursday.
The cost is steep, as Simmons is the first defensive tackle since 1967 to be traded for multiple first-round picks, according to ESPN. Since the Titans drafted Simmons with the No. 19 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, he has been one of the best defensive tackles in football.
The four-time Pro Bowler has recorded 414 tackles and 46.5 sacks in 106 career games. Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk said the organization is forever grateful for Simmons.
"There are few people like Jeff Simmons. We are forever grateful for all he has given this team and this city. His formidable presence on the field was surpassed only by what he did off it. He gave Nashville more than football. The Give ’Em A Reason Foundation has changed lives in Middle Tennessee and in Mississippi, and I have no doubt it will continue to wherever he goes," Strunk said in a statement.
"Jeff — thank you. For how you played, how you led, and how you represented our team."
The Bears are 5-2, and the acquisition of Simmons will help shore up a questionable defensive line. While the Bears are still generating plenty of sacks, those have largely come from blitzing linebackers and defensive backs rather than defensive linemen.
Simmons, who led the Titans with four sacks, six tackles for loss and four passes defended, is a major upgrade to a defensive front that has ranked near the bottom of the NFL in pressure rate since Dennis Allen took over as defensive coordinator in 2025. The Bears' 28.8% pressure rate is tied for 20th in the NFL, according to StatRankings.
Not only are the Bears adding Simmons to their defensive line, but star defensive end Montez Sweat is also set to return on Monday night against the Seattle Seahawks after a two-game suspension.
At 5-2, the Bears are second in the NFC North behind the undefeated Minnesota Vikings (6-0). The Bears hope adding Simmons can help them overtake the Vikings atop the standings and earn a home playoff game in January.
Simmons will help the Bears not only this season but also for the next several years after signing a three-year, $105.8 million contract extension that keeps him under contract through the 2030 season.
The Titans, on the other hand, are 1-6 and have traded away one of their franchise cornerstones. Entering the season, they hoped to contend in the AFC South with new coach Robert Saleh and quarterback Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, entering his second season.
Instead, they are in the AFC’s basement and appear further away from contention than ever, as Ward has struggled mightily this season.
Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream kept their championship hopes alive Thursday. Perhaps more importantly, they spared the WNBA a title celebration in the middle of a workday.
The Dream beat the Golden State Valkyries 80-69 at State Farm Arena, evening the best-of-seven Finals at 3-3 and forcing a deciding game Saturday at 8 p.m. ET at Chase Center in San Francisco.
Reese struggled to shoot the ball for a third consecutive game, finishing with 15 points on 5-for-18 shooting. She grabbed 14 rebounds and dished out six assists but also committed six turnovers.
That made it three straight games with more turnovers than made field goals for the Dream star. Across Games 4, 5 and 6, Reese shot 9-for-38 from the floor (24%) and turned the ball over 15 times.
This time, Atlanta had enough offense around her. Allisha Gray scored 23 points and Rhyne Howard added 21, combining to make nine of their 13 three-point attempts.
Their shooting also ensured that the WNBA’s championship would be decided in prime time.
The league moved Game 6 from its originally scheduled 8 p.m. start to 12:30 p.m. Thursday to accommodate an arena doubleheader with the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, who were hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers that night. Golden State fans back home had to tune in at 9:30 a.m. to watch their team try to win its first title.
There had also been questions about where the Valkyries would celebrate if they won.
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported that a championship celebration could be moved to a practice court to accommodate preparations for the Hawks game. She later clarified that there was "a resolve" to make sure any championship won Thursday was celebrated on the court.
But that sounded an awful lot like damage control from the WNBA. Winning a championship and then moving the celebration to a practice court because the NBA needed the floor would have been a terrible look for the league.
Atlanta’s win made the issue moot.
The crowd deserved credit for showing up under the circumstances. State Farm Arena was largely filled for a Thursday afternoon, although there were more empty seats and the building was quieter at the start than it had been for Games 3 and 4.
Fans who spoke with OutKick outside the arena described taking time off work, pulling children out of school and difficult travel times to attend. Tiffany Hayes’ father, Renard Hayes, blamed the league and Atlanta for the scheduling predicament.
Before tipoff, both teams again left the court for the national anthem, this time performed by rapper T.I.’s 10-year-old daughter, Heiress Harris. It was their sixth consecutive absence during the Finals.
Once the game began, Atlanta quickly took control.
The Dream made six of their eight first-quarter three-point attempts and built a 32-15 lead. Reese made only one of her four shots in the period, but contributed four assists, including passes that set up three of Atlanta’s threes.
Atlanta pushed its advantage to 25 points in the second quarter and took a 46-26 lead into halftime.
Golden State narrowed the deficit in the third, but Atlanta still led 63-47 entering the fourth.
Reese scored five points in the final period, making a driving layup and a three-pointer with Atlanta already leading by double digits. She finished 2-for-8 from beyond the arc.
The Valkyries eventually got within eight. Gabby Williams completed a three-point play with 1:15 remaining, cutting Atlanta’s lead to 77-69 and fouling Howard out of the game.
Gray answered on the next possession, making a three-pointer off a Reese assist with 56 seconds left. That restored Atlanta’s double-digit lead and provided the final points of the afternoon.
Gray finished 8-for-12 from the field and 5-for-7 from three. Howard made four of her six three-point attempts, while Atlanta went 13-for-30 as a team.
Williams led Golden State with 26 points but shot 8-for-22. The Valkyries made just 22 of their 70 field-goal attempts.
Kiah Stokes, whose defense had been a major factor throughout the series, went scoreless and failed to block a shot in 20 minutes. That ended her streak of six consecutive playoff games with at least three blocks.
Reese and the Dream head to San Francisco for Game 7, with both franchises one win from their first championship.
William Contreras is on top of the world right now.
The Milwaukee Brewers star catcher was named World Series MVP for his outstanding performance at the plate and behind the dish. During the process of the Brewers’ 4-1 series victory over the Tampa Bay Rays, Contreras also made history.
During the series, he stole a base and threw out four runners attempting to steal, including American League stolen base leader Chandler Simpson. He became the first catcher since Bill Dickey of the New York Yankees in 1938 to steal a base and throw out the opposing team's leading base stealer in a World Series victory, according to OptaSTATS.
"I don’t want to offend any of the other catchers in the league. The last thing I want to do is offend any of them," Contreras said, speaking through a translator. "But sitting up here today, champion of the world, I feel like I’m the best catcher in the league. Again, that’s no disrespect to any of them. That’s the last thing I want to do. But today I feel like I’m the best catcher in the world."
Throwing out Simpson is no easy feat, as he stole 46 bases during the regular season and five more in the postseason.
The 28-year-old catcher was omnipresent during the World Series, hitting .381 with four RBI while anchoring the Brewers’ elite pitching staff, which held the Rays to just 11 runs in five games. Contreras also excelled with the automated ball-strike (ABS) system, winning 10 of his 13 challenges.
"He's our pit bull. You don’t just walk up and pet him. There’s a chance you get nipped," manager Pat Murphy said.
Contreras became the eighth catcher to be named World Series MVP, joining Gene Tenace (1972), Johnny Bench (1976), Steve Yeager (1981 co-winner), Darrell Porter (1982), Rick Dempsey (1983), Pat Borders (1992) and Salvador Perez (2015) as catchers to win the award.
Contreras has been a linchpin in the Brewers' lineup since they acquired him from the Atlanta Braves in 2022. This season, Contreras hit .270 with 18 home runs and 94 RBI in 147 games before elevating his performance in the postseason.
If you're a fan of a team that's struggling, it's easy to feel like your home stadium or arena is haunted, and a new survey just crowned the most haunted sports venue in North America.
Arlington, Texas' AT&T Stadium takes the top spot, which makes sense because on more than one occasion we've seen expressions on the faces of Dallas Cowboys players as if they had just seen a ghost.
This info comes to us from The Sports Geek, which employed a more scientific approach to this than I've ever seen in an episode of "Ghost Hunters."
They scored 47 venues across the US and Canada based on their haunted lore, age, proximity to burial sites, and, finally, an "other" category for the rest of each one's ghoulish attributes.
In a shocker, Jerry's World — which opened in only 2009 — out-ghosted Dodger Stadium and 112-year-old Wrigley Field for the top spot.
Man, this really puts my long-running argument of there being no new ghosts to shame...
Former stadium employee Selena Sixtos wrote an article in 2018 for Dallas Sports Fanatics in which she cites several odd occurrences. These included some poltergeist-like activity in a kitchen, a chill around a room named after legendary coach Tom Landry, and an incident in which she heard someone in a bathroom stall, only for it to be unoccupied.
Which, in fairness, is actually way down the list of scary things to find in a stadium restroom, but creepy nonetheless.
The stadium is also built next to a graveyard, per The Dallas Observer, and a worker was killed in an accident during its construction. That helps account for why it was able to overcome its comparatively young age.
The most shocking thing of all is that the stadium might be the first to top a "most haunted" list with no sightings of Civil War soldiers or early or 20th-century widows.
College basketball season is almost here, and it is one of my favorite times of the year. I love basketball in general, and getting more of it is even better. When the season starts, we usually see a lot of mismatches because many teams start their season against inferior opponents. However, we also see a lot of softer lines as the books try to figure out how the teams are playing. Before the games start, it makes sense to look at some future bets because we can hold onto them and hedge later on.
As with many seasons, Duke comes in as one of the betting favorites. Duke is +550 to win the national championship right now. I think that is mostly because they do have one of the best recruiting classes in basketball, but they also are a public team. You typically either love or hate the team. I am not expecting them to win every game, but they shouldn't have more than three or four losses in the regular season. I don't think there is much value in betting on them at +500.
Florida is the next favorite in the market at +600. That's mostly because of their returning players rather than a recruiting class. They don't even rank in the top 100 this season. The Gators went 27-8 last year, and they won the Championship two years ago. Considering they have three of their top four leading scorers returning from last year, they should be in a strong position. They have a lot of upperclassmen as well, which usually means they are a bit more poised and should be ready to go. I like them better than Duke, but I think there are better options overall.
UConn has won two of the past four national championships. They were in contention to win again last year. They return Braylon Mullins and Solo Ball this season, which gives them a strong backcourt. Their recruiting class ranks 18th overall in the nation. They also added some really good players in the transfer portal, including Nikolas Khamenia and Najai Hines. I am an open Dan Hurley hater, but he's good at his job. I will grab UConn at +1250 to win the title, as I think this team will make at least an Elite 8 appearance.
Texas has the top-ranked recruiting class in the nation for this season. The big key for the Longhorns will be seeing how everyone can gel together. Most of the transfers are four-star recruits, but I don't really think any of them had super impressive seasons last year. They have two forwards coming from high school who already played together at Dynamic Prep in Dallas, Texas. That could provide some familiarity right away. Texas at +1900 is worth a look, but I don't think they win the national title, so this is mostly a hedge ticket.
Kansas hasn't quite been the elite team we've seen in previous years. However, they have a good recruiting class coming into their program this year. Tyran Stokes, the top incoming freshman, is going to lead the squad. He comes to a Kansas team that was 24-11 last year. The Jayhawks lost Darryn Peterson, but they also lost the other three leading scorers. The Jayhawks have a good coach, and I do think there will be some struggles early, but they have the potential to come together and win the championship. I'll grab them at +3000 as well.
Charles Barkley did not appreciate seeing LeBron James practicing his golf swing on the court during the middle of the national anthem ahead of his Philadelphia 76ers debut earlier this month.
President Donald Trump blasted James after the incident, calling him a "total disgrace," and while Barkley made it a point to say he doesn't care what the President has to say about anything, the two see eye to eye when it comes to James disrespecting the anthem.
"I don’t pay what President Trump says any attention, first and foremost, at all," Barkley began when asked about the moment on SiriusXM NBA Radio. "But I thought that was very disrespectful, practicing your golf swing in the middle of the anthem. I always stand for the anthem. I just think it’s important. We live in the greatest country ever where you can always protest, but I think you have to be very careful with the anthem."
While Barkley mentioned always being allowed to protest, it doesn't appear that James was protesting anything in this instance, but instead simply not being able to stand still and disrespecting the anthem in the process.
"I look at it, I'm supporting the troops when I stand for the national anthem," Barkley continued. "I'm standing there for free speech, so even though I believe in free speech, I think you have to be very careful with the anthem. I always stand for the anthem. I think it's important, and I think it's significant."
James' faux golf swings in the middle of the anthem have understandably drawn attention and criticism, but perhaps the most disrespectful stunt he's pulled during 'The Star-Spangled Banner' came back in 2023.
As a late arrival to his courtside seats at USC to watch his son, Bronny James, play for the Trojans, LeBron made his entrance during the middle of the anthem, with a hat on, and sat in his seat while the rest of the arena was standing and showing respect to the United States.
Heiress Harris, the 10-year-old daughter of rapper T.I., sang the national anthem before Thursday's Game 6 of the WNBA Finals at State Farm Arena. But, as has been the case all series, the players weren't on the court for the performance.
Both the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries left the floor just before the young Black singer began "The Star-Spangled Banner," marking their sixth straight absence for the anthem in this series.
OutKick interviewed fans outside State Farm Arena prior to Game 6. They offered different views on the practice, with some wanting players on the floor and others defending their choice to leave.
One defender of the practice was the father of Golden State guard Tiffany Hayes.
"This is America, by the way, and I’ve served this country, so they can choose what they want," Renard Hayes told OutKick.
Asked whether, as a veteran, he had an issue with the absences, he said he did not.
"I don’t have an issue with it because it’s not a disrespect of the flag," he said.
Hayes’ father, who said he lives in Florida, had criticized the game’s 12:30 p.m. start, blaming the league and Atlanta organization for the scheduling situation. On the anthem, however, he defended the players’ freedom to decide.
The game was moved from its originally scheduled 8 p.m. start to accommodate a doubleheader with the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena. Golden State entered Thursday leading the best-of-seven series 3–2 after winning Monday’s Game 5, 64–55, with a chance to clinch its first championship.
Some fans want players on the court, while others defend their choice
One Dream fan told OutKick she believed everyone should stand for the national anthem.
A male Valkyries fan said he respected the players’ opinions and beliefs but wanted them on the floor.
"They’ve been doing it for years," another Dream fan said. "And that’s their choice. It is what it is."
A woman who said she represents Valkyries center Kiah Stokes offered a similar view.
"I think it’s their decision," the representative said.
For one man attending with a female Dream fan, the question was more complicated. Asked whether he considered the absences disrespectful, he said, "Me personally, maybe a little bit."
"But it doesn’t concern me that much either," he added. "Not particularly bothered by it."
Another Dream fan attending with his family said he respected the anthem and the players’ ability to decide whether to participate.
"But we live in a country where you have a choice, so I gotta respect it," he said.
Players and coaches say skipping anthem is a pregame routine
During media availability in Atlanta on Oct. 23, Golden State coach Natalie Nakase described the absences as part of the team’s pregame routine.
Those interviews were OutKick’s first opportunity to ask the anthem questions directly after attending all 13 formal press conferences during the first three games without being called on.
"We’re two years in," Nakase said. "That’s been part of our pregame."
Asked who established the routine and why, she said, "I really don’t know."
OutKick followed up: "What do you do during those 90 seconds that you’re off the court?"
"I’m with my staff, so I’m focused on my plays," Nakase said.
Golden State’s public relations staff then moved to the next reporter. OutKick did not get an opportunity to ask why those preparations needed to happen during the anthem rather than before or afterward.
Valkyries forward Gabby Williams denied that the team’s absence was a protest.
"No," she said.
Asked why the team was off the floor, Williams responded: "That’s been the routine for like, seven years now."
An Atlanta public relations representative moved to the next question after Dream coach Karl Smesko declined to explain his team’s absences.
"We’re just kind of focused on the Finals," Smesko said.
Asked whether he had any further comment about the anthem and his team’s absences, he said, "No."
Howard said she did not think she had been on the court for the anthem at any point during her tenure in Atlanta. She also defended her commitment to representing the United States internationally.
"When I go put on USA jersey I’m out for the national anthem every time, there’s no doubt about it," Howard said.
OutKick asked Howard why she was not on the court for the anthem with the Dream.
Howard and an Atlanta public relations representative both responded, "Next question."
The WNBA’s 2026 official rulebook says players, coaches and trainers are to "stand and line up in a dignified posture" along the sidelines or on the foul line during the national anthem.
The Associated Press reported Oct. 20 that the league suspended its anthem protocols in 2017. The provision remains in the 2026 rulebook.
OutKick has asked the WNBA to clarify its current requirements and enforcement, whether discipline is planned or under consideration, and whether teams have received instructions about being on the floor.
The inquiries to the WNBA and both teams began after Game 1 on Oct. 17, with follow-ups Oct. 18 and Oct. 20. OutKick also contacted the NBA league office on Oct. 20 about its role in the matter.
OutKick has also asked Atlanta to confirm an arena employee’s account that Dream players stand in a hallway after leaving the floor before games, including whether they remain there during the anthem.
During Game 4, I attempted to observe what Atlanta’s players do after leaving the court. Arena staff said my credential did not grant access to that area and escorted me to my assigned media seat.
The WNBA, NBA and both teams’ front offices have not responded to OutKick’s emailed requests for comment about the anthem absences. The player and coach responses came during media availability.
Six games into the Finals, fans disagree about whether the players should be on the court for the anthem. The teams still haven’t explained why their preparations require leaving it.
The Bronx Bombers were obliterated in the postseason, getting swept in the American League Division Series and tying their longest World Series drought since winning their first in 1923.
When the Milwaukee Brewers won their first-ever Fall Classic, the Yankees continued to be a topic of conversation.
National League Championship Series MVP Jake Bauers handed manager Pat Murphy the ball from the final out, and the two shared a hug. Murphy then shared some words with Bauers.
"You're going to be a rich f---er. Just remember when you were on that horses--- Yankees team and you guys were all playing for yourself? Just remember, say, 'This is the way we used to do it,'" Murphy appeared to tell his first baseman.
Bauers spent one season with the Yankees, and it was the only time since 2016 they missed the postseason after going 82-80 in 2023. Bauers hit .202 with New York and was traded in the ensuing offseason.
In any case, the Yankees have been criticized a decent amount since their elimination by executives, media, and even their own legends.
Alex Rodriguez said the team's "philosophy" has to change, and Derek Jeter hinted that the Yankees don't do the "little things."
CC Sabathia, Anthony Rizzo and Jorge Posada, two of whom have their numbers retired in Monument Park, have also lambasted the organization for their postseason failures since 2010.
Bauers had the best season of his career this year, as his .266/.389/.484 slash line represented all the best marks of his career. He also hit 26 homers and drove in 86 runs, both career highs.
A recent study found that roughly 75% of deceased NFL players had at least some case of CTE.
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive, degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head impacts rather than a single injury, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The study from Boston University researchers consisted of more than 2,300 deceased former players aged 80 or older who died between 2008 and 2023, nearly 400 of whom were donors.
Out of the 396 who donated their brains to research, 93.5% of them were diagnosed. Researchers estimated that former NFL players with clear cognitive symptoms were roughly five times more likely to donate their brains than those without such symptoms.
Donors also died younger on average - 67 years old compared to almost 75.
CTE can only be diagnosed after death and is identified in four stages, with stage 4 being the worst.
"Many cases may have been early stage at the time of death and possibly symptom free," the study noted.
The study also estimated that 27.2% of the players had a history of all-cause dementia during life, but it did not conclude whether dementia was caused by CTE.
A study released in August found that at least 1 in 4 people who have played in the NFL might expect to end up with CTE at some point in their lives.
The symptoms found in those with CTE include memory loss, mood swings, erratic behavioral actions and more.
While the disease was first found in boxers, it has become associated with football players in this modern era due to the repeated blows to the head sustained on every snap of the ball. It has, however, also been found in athletes participating in hockey, rugby and other sports.
But its connection to football became public when beloved players like Junior Seau, Mike Webster, Frank Gifford and others were diagnosed with CTE after their deaths. Webster was dubbed "Patient Zero" after Dr. Bennet Omalu examined his brain and became the first to diagnose an NFL player with CTE, jump-starting a concussion crisis within the game.
There were 168 documented in-game concussions during the 2025 NFL season, which was a 30% increase from the 129 recorded during the 2024 campaign. There were a total of 538 evaluations and 26 medical timeouts as well.
OutKick's Scott Thompson contributed to this report.
Ernie Johnson will retire as host of "Inside the NBA" after the season, the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer announced in a social media video on Wednesday.
Johnson, 70, will continue covering the NCAA men’s basketball tournament for CBS and Turner Sports.
The announcement generated two separate discussions across the industry. One about Johnson’s legacy. The other concerns the obvious. His departure creates an opening on one of the most prestigious and popular shows in sports media.
Speaking to sources Wednesday, no one was confident in who would succeed Johnson just yet. For one, "Inside the NBA" remains a TNT production, despite moving to ESPN airwaves last season. Skydance Corporation, which owns TNT and CBS, controls the show. ESPN does not.
That said, ESPN will likely influence the decision. Malika Andrews, ESPN’s current NBA host, is a plausible candidate.
Andrews hosted the network’s NBA Finals coverage before the deal with "Inside the NBA." She currently hosts ESPN’s daily basketball show, "NBA Today," and its pregame show, "NBA Countdown."
The question is whether Andrews can preserve the show’s signature off-the-cuff identity. She has struggled in the past when covering topics involving serious issues.
She previously teared up on set while discussing the Supreme Court’s decision to return abortion laws to the states and falsely claimed that the Constitution prohibits doing so. It does not. Andrews also made false claims about Kyle Rittenhouse carrying weapons across state lines. Not ideal.
Adam Lefkoe is the other candidate frequently mentioned by sources. Lefkoe is a TNT employee who previously hosted a Tuesday edition of "Inside the NBA" and has filled in for Johnson in recent years. He also has a rapport with Shaquille O’Neal, who will remain an analyst on the show. Lefkoe and O’Neal co-host "The Big Podcast."
After Lefkoe and Andrews, opinions were mixed regarding other candidates. Qualified NBA hosts are not simply waiting for an opportunity.
Most of ESPN’s top hosts are occupied elsewhere. Mike Greenberg and Scott Van Pelt host NFL pregame shows. Rece Davis hosts both the football and basketball editions of "GameDay."
Laura Rutledge works across the NFL and college football and should be in line to succeed Van Pelt in the coming years. Each would be a quality replacement for Johnson, but for one reason or another, they may not want the job.
Another potential factor is Charles Barkley.
Barkley has said this will also be his final season on the show. However, he has made that claim many times before, only to return the following year. Barkley’s departure could dramatically change the show’s style.
Former ESPN commentator Jalen Rose is reportedly his likely replacement, as disappointing as that may be.
LIV Golf is in shambles, and another one has bitten the dust.
Sergio Garcia said on social media that he will be playing in the DP World Tour, formerly the European Tour, and is "keeping my options open for a return to the PGA Tour."
The DP World Tour announced earlier this month that it was no longer allowing LIV players to participate in its tournaments.
"This tour has been a huge part of my career from the very beginning, and I’m proud to call it home again," Garcia said in his statement.
The 2017 Masters winner also said it is a "goal" to play for Team Europe in the Ryder Cup in Ireland — European golfers must be a member of the DP World Tour in order to be eligible. Thus, with the DP World Tour's new stipulations, Garcia's already-slim chances were essentially put to zero.
Garcia last played in the Ryder Cup in 2021, several months before jumping to LIV. He has won six times in his 10 appearances.
Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, both Team Europe staples, have already said they are leaving LIV Golf. Louis Oosthuizen is also leaving, and Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed departed months ago.
The PIF halted funding in April to redirect money toward domestic projects and manage financial pressures from the regional war with Iran. Following the decision, PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan resigned from LIV’s board.
LIV filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in New Jersey last month. Between 2021 and 2026, LIV spent an estimated $5 billion to $8 billion. Bankruptcy filings show the league owes millions of dollars in unpaid compensation to top players, including Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson and Cam Smith.
The league’s future depends on a proposed restructuring plan called "LIV 2.0," but Rahm said the terms of "2.0" are "unacceptable" and he won't be participating in it. Rahm and Hatton were perhaps the two biggest LIV names to play in DP World Tour events.
Under the proposal, London-based private equity firm BC Partners, which has financial ties to player agency GSE Worldwide, would fund a 2027 relaunch. The plan would also give the players majority ownership of the league.
LIV has laid off most of its operational staff, left event contractors waiting for payment and faces a lawsuit from the Premier Golf League alleging breach of confidence and conspiracy.
Shortly after the PIF pulled its funding, LIV CEO Scott O'Neil said the LIV calendar would not be altered, but that did not occur. The league's originally-scheduled championship weekend was cancelled, forcing it to be played a week earlier.
The father of Golden State Valkyries star Tiffany Hayes wasn't shy about blaming the WNBA for playing a potential championship-clinching game at 12:30 p.m. on a Thursday.
"I think it’s the league’s fault," Renard Hayes told OutKick outside State Farm Arena before Game 6 between his daughter’s Golden State Valkyries and the Atlanta Dream.
"It’s the league’s fault. And pretty much the Atlanta organization."
He wasn’t alone in questioning the arrangement. Fans outside the arena described taking time off work, pulling children out of school and traveling hours to attend a game originally scheduled for 8 p.m.
The WNBA moved Game 6 to the afternoon to accommodate a doubleheader at State Farm Arena, where the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks were scheduled to host the Cleveland Cavaliers that night. Golden State entered Thursday with a 3-2 series lead and a chance to win its first championship.
Hayes, who said he lives in Florida, could make the early start work, but he expressed concern for the people who couldn’t.
"It’s kind of a shame about how they couldn’t handle the situation better or couldn’t be more prepared," he said.
For Golden State fans watching in California, the game’s start time was 9:30 a.m.
"Probably have to take a break off work, take the day off or whatever like that," Hayes said. "But for me, I’m good with it. I’m okay with it."
He pointed to Golden State’s experience relocating a playoff game to San Jose last season as an example of having an alternative ready. He also questioned whether the Dream’s roughly 3,500-seat regular home, Gateway Center Arena, could have accommodated the demand for a Finals game.
Moving to State Farm Arena created room for more fans, but moving the start time created another obstacle to getting them there.
"We came from four hours away, so we’re not too thrilled. But we’re here," one Dream fan told OutKick, adding that the child accompanying her was out of school for the game.
Another Atlanta fan said she had been able to get off work, but recognized that others wouldn’t have that flexibility.
"For all of the other Dream fans, it’s not ideal," she said. "We would have rather played at nighttime."
Another fan declined to appear on camera, telling OutKick she had called out sick and didn’t want her boss to see her at the game.
A father attending with his wife and two children offered a clarification after his interview: "We’re responsible parents, we swear!"
He said the children had attended school for two hours before leaving and completed all their work.
Several fans questioned why the NBA’s regular-season game received the evening slot while the WNBA’s potential championship clincher was played during the workday.
"We should have been prime time," one Dream fan said.
The father who brought his family called the arrangement "kind of disrespectful to the Dream," pointing out that the Hawks were only beginning their season.
The Hawks agreed to move their game to 8 p.m. to accommodate the doubleheader. But fans who spoke with OutKick argued that the Finals should have received priority.
One Valkyries supporter said the women deserved more respect and should have gotten the prime-time slot. Still, he welcomed the opportunity to play in a much larger arena.
"It’s awesome that it’s being played at State Farm Arena rather than a 3,500-seat arena," he said. "So with that being in mind, I think that’s a win regardless."
Not everyone objected to the early start.
One Dream fan said she was fine with it and encouraged people who couldn’t attend to support the team wherever they were. A Valkyries fan who had arrived from San Francisco at 6 a.m. dismissed the suggestion that she might be tired.
"No. We’re ready," she said.
The league announced the scheduling change Monday, three days before Game 6, with tickets going on sale that afternoon.
Commissioner Cathy Engelbert praised the sellout crowds at State Farm Arena for Games 3 and 4 and emphasized the opportunity to accommodate thousands more fans. The league also announced plans for a coordinated promotional push with its broadcast partners to build awareness of the new start time.
OutKick asked the WNBA why it chose the afternoon start, what alternatives it considered and whether it was concerned about the potential impact on viewership. The league has not responded.
USA Sports, which is airing the game on USA Network, acknowledged that the afternoon start wasn’t ideal for attracting a television audience.
"The daytime window isn’t perfect from a TV audience perspective, but the league had to make a really difficult decision taking a lot into account across multiple stakeholders," a USA Sports spokesperson told OutKick in a statement.
"What was important to us was to ultimately be a good partner and to be part of the solution here."
The fans outside State Farm Arena found ways to make Thursday work. Some took time off, and others brought children who otherwise would have been in school.
Hayes was happy to be there for his daughter, but that didn’t mean he thought the league had handled the situation well.
Global soccer star Kylian Mbappe laughing at a meme involving China's late dictator Mao Zedong has resulted in days of backlash, TV blackouts, lost sponsors, and what is at least being presented as utter hysteria around the country. One woman who grew up in China during Mao's Cultural Revolution is not only pushing back against her home country's reaction, but also calling out how blatantly ridiculous the situation is.
Xi Van Fleet, a Chinese-American author and anti-communist activist, joined Fox Business on Thursday, and when asked about Mbappe's practically immediate apology, she laid out the reality of the situation.
"This is really interesting, because most of the people in China have no idea what Mbappe said," she began. "They were told that he insulted China. You have no freedom of speech, you have no freedom of press, you don't know what really happened. You just do what the government tells you to do.
"Is Mao not a dictator? I lived my entire youth under Mao, and there is no one who doesn't know anyone else who died because of Mao's rule. He killed up to 80 million Chinese. Calling him a dictator is not even appropriate. He is a tyrant, and he is a mass murderer."
The controversy involving China and Mbappe started after a recent interview on The Bridge, a French talk show hosted by Mbappe's Real Madrid teammate Aurelien Tchouameni, when the 27-year-old Frenchman laughed about a meme with his face imposed on an image resembling Mao. One of Mbappe's most popular nicknames is "The Dictator," hence the meme and joking around.
China's rulers did not find anything funny about Mbappe's interaction with the meme. Several Chinese sponsors severed ties with him, and state-run CCTV stopped airing La Liga matches in China, the top-flight league in Spain that features Real Madrid and 19 other clubs.
La Liga issued the first public apology, which was then followed by Mbappe, and eventually an apology came from Real Madrid. The Spanish club initially expressed that Mbappe's "personal expression" would not affect commercial connections in China, nor did he intend to offend the Chinese people. CCTV responded by demanding a formal apology from the club, which it obliged to on Wednesday.
For Xi, the swift apologies from Mbappe and all involved are frustrating, and as she explained, she would have advised the soccer star to go a different route.
"The truth will set you free; know who Mao was and then you should stand by what you said," she explained.
It's wild to think that we're under two years away from the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, and with the clock ticking, organizers have been forced to call in the big guns for the opening and closing ceremonies.
And by big guns, I mean the Hollywood producer often credited with ruining "Star Wars."
According to The New York Post, organizers had to make a switch when their original choice to lead the ceremony charge, Peter Rice, took a job as Chief Content Officer at Netflix.
While he'll stay on as an executive producer, Kennedy — who led Lucasfilm after George Lucas sold the company to Disney and rode off into the double Tatooine sunsets with his billions and flannel shirts — will cobble together a team of producers for both ceremonies.
The opening ceremony is set to take place on July 14 at the Los Angeles Coliseum and SoFi Stadium at the same time.
"This appointment reinforces LA28’s commitment to harness the unparalleled creativity, cultural influence and storytelling power of the entertainment capital of the world," a statement from organizers reads. "Ceremonies that are distinctly Los Angeles and leave a lasting impression on the global stage."
Okay. Kennedy is without a doubt a legend in Hollywood and produced massive movies like "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial," "Back to the Future" and "Jurassic Park."
It's wild for an Olympics in a city packed with creative people to go with someone whose stock might be at its lowest after her time leading Lucasfilm.
If this was the '84, '96, or '02 Games, solid choice.
Of course, the opening and closing ceremonies aren't likely to taint the entire Games. Then again, I didn't think the sequel trilogy could taint "Star Wars" for me.
Welcome to Screencaps, "America's Best Daily Column," as named by the readers. Screencaps, which publishes seven-days-a-week, is a mix of sports, pop culture, and emails from sane readers from around the world. This column isn't for the coastal elites. Give us a week to steal your heart. Our track record is pretty good. Let's have some fun.
Kylie Cantrall is back and she's hinting that the Brewers might want to bring her back for future anthems
You might remember Kylie from Monday Screencaps where I asked you guys if Kylie's Game 2 anthem performance in Milwaukee was the best anthem since Whitney Houston at the Super Bowl. It was Kylie's big breakout performance and it felt like that would be the end of the story.
Nope. There was Los Angeles-native Kylie, 21, Wednesday night leaning right into her relationship with Milwaukee as the franchise was on its way to winning Game 5 and the World Series. "@brewers happy i could b your good luck charm for game 2 ;) thx for having meee," she wrote.
This IG post now has nearly 40k likes.
Kylie's going to mess around and sell out Miller Park one of these days over a simple gesture of a pop singer showing she cares about the people of Milwaukee. This woman is wise beyond her years.
For those of you who don't know what COSM is, it's like going to a massive movie theater with a MASSIVE wraparound IMAX screen that broadcasts the game as an immersive experience where the camera angles make it feel like you're inside the venue.
Last night, it felt like we were sitting on the field behind home plate at Tropicana Field.
Quick hitters:
IT'S EXPENSIVE. UNLESS YOU'RE LOADED, YOU'RE NOT GOING THERE AS A FAMILY VERY OFTEN. You're probably never taking your family there, to be honest. It WILL get expensive very, very fast. Just so we're all clear this is #NOTSPONSORED. I paid my own money.
Price: We paid $77 per person to sit on a three-person couch dead-center on the lowest level they offer in the dome. There were high-top tables on the floor below us, but I highly don't recommend those because you're going to be sitting at a high top for three hours. There are cheaper options to sit in other parts of the building where there are massive screens that will remind you guys of ESPN Zone, but on steroids.
Food prices: Barbacoa nachos were $16 and easily shared between three people. The Bavarian pretzel was $14 and easily shared between at least two people. The pretzel came with pimento cheese, Stroh's beer cheese and mustards. I thought it was wonderful.
Beer prices: I looked, but didn't really look. I think they were $16 for 22 oz or something like that. Again, not cheap.
Atmosphere: Let me repeat, it's expensive. You're not getting many dirtbags at this place. That doesn't mean it's not possible, but the clientele last night was like sitting in an expensive suite at a sporting event. There were a group of kids with their dads, but we're not talking about kids raising hell like they're at Chuck E. Cheese. You have to buy a ticket to even get into COSM. People aren't just walking in like old sports bars.
Cool Factor: Off the charts. Guys, at our age, we've all lived through Damon's Steakhouse (RIP) with its four 100" screens and speakers on the tables that mesmerized all of us. ESPN Zone (RIP) was life-changing. Dave & Busters has great screens to watch games, but the cool factor isn't even close to COSM.
Would I pay $300 to sit in the COSM dome to watch NFL games? No chance. A $300 ticket (yes, Lions fans are paying that) is going to turn into a $600 day at the bar. I'll say it again, the common man should not go here thinking he's at ESPN Zone grabbing a beer and a table. You might be able to sit in one of the other rooms and enjoy yourself, but then you're paying to watch games at a bar.
Yes, I highly recommend it if you need to take a client out for a night: The client is going to have a blast on your company credit card and you're probably going to make the sale because he'll want more trips to COSM. Just make sure you get chair seating along one of the rails in the five lowest levels. A couch with a client is going to be awkward.
Conclusion: Go see it. Don't complain about it being expensive. Let yourself be transported for a few hours and then go back to watching games in your man cave with dollar beers from Costco.
It's no wonder we have a ref shortage in youth sports
Did you guys see this out of Ohio? Watch what happens at midfield. And some people wonder why I'd be so happy that Screencaps Jr. selected cross country as one of his sports. I've never seen a runner snap on the official timing clock at the finishing line.
• Jake in Charlottesville, VA emails on the state of youth soccer:Sports is the one place where 'socialism' is actually required, especially at the youth level. If you let one kid take all of the reps from the other kids, the other kids' parents are going to pull their kids out and you're not going to have a league.
Either suck it up and know that your prodigy child isn't going to be allowed to take all of the reps from the other kids, or move the kid up a level. We had a case in our soccer rec league where a girl was completely dominating her rec league, so they moved her up with the boys.
Needless to say, her domination stopped. The thing was, this girl had become so accustomed to dominating, she had become a spoiled little brat, and couldn't emotionally deal with the fact that she was now very average when she played amongst the boys (this was U8). But hey, there are life lessons for all involved, kids and parents alike.
• Lee D. in Tampa asks: Two questions: Is this the Gators girl that was "discovered" at a Gators game by ABC? Is this AI?
Kinsey: Yes. I don't think so, but I'm positive. That's definitely Peyton Bloomquist or whatever her name is. As for the video, I've seen the Amalfi Jets guy do content for probably 18 months or so. I think this is the same guy.
Keep in mind that right now, sororities are teaming with major brands on content marketing. Massive corporations like Nike are working with sororities to push clothing. I could see Amalfi throwing Peyton a free flight for appearing in a video.
• Chris A. emails:Really, it took this long for a cereal box to have a liner that actually keeps the cereal fresh? It's almost impossible to open the plastic bags inside the boxes without tearing them halfway down the side, but trying to open the aluminum foil-like bags in a box of Sugar Smacks without tearing it all the way to the bottom was futile. I've been wondering when this day would come.
And BTW, I would NEVER have someone else pick out my groceries, even the canned stuff. But when I go to Walmart for groceries, the aisles are filled with grocery pickers who outnumber the pick-your-own shoppers. Unless you're really old or really handicapped, put down the phone and get your lazy behind to the grocery store. But those same people would park in the fire lane to shop, so maybe they should stay home.
Video work calls and beer cans
• 'Sheriff' John in Houston checks in:1) I hate it intensely, but the age of "conference calls" and "dial-ins" is coming to an end. Everything is a zoom or teams meeting now. I much prefer sitting and listening on my headset while farting around doing something else. Hate having the camera on. At least I don't have a boss telling me that I MUST turn on my camera as a matter of POLICY, that would really suck.
Nonetheless, I've lately had contractors and counterparties make comments during meetings lately that they prefer to have the cameras on and they don't trust people who just do audio only. ARRRGGH. You don't need to see me for me to tell you your proposal costs 20% too much. I feel like the guy who insists on using a paper ticket at the airport. Just old and out of date.
Cameras are so prevalent now, I've procured a green screen to pull down behind my desk so that I can just project an image of my office cleaned up behind me and not show the pile of papers and junk and extension cords that accumulates behind me. It's literally a picture of my own office during my zoom calls, but it's cleaned up.
2) My older son isn't quite as old as Rick's sons, just a sophomore in college, but he too makes a mess with beer cans and bottles when he's home. Drives me and my wife crazy. We ask him to clean up after himself and he gets about 90-95% of the way there, but still a mess. He needs to find a woman of his own to snap him into gear and be less of a slob. I think that's just part of normal male growing up. I think back to my bachelor days and I was pretty terrible, too, until I met my wife.
That's it this morning. The sun is out & it's going to be 76 today. I'm dragging after getting five hours of sleep, but there's work to do and a yard to mow tonight. It's time to get after it before a critical Halloween weekend and Mrs. Screencaps' birthday.
Austin Smotherman earned his first win on the PGA Tour in early October at the Bank of Utah Championship, checking the box of fulfilling a lifelong dream. He needed all of 22 days to get back into the winner's circle at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship. Earning two wins in consecutive starts is not only career-changing, but it also brings new goals to the forefront, and the 32-year-old is by no means keeping the top one on his list a secret.
With his two wins this fall, Smotherman has earned a spot on the PGA Tour's Championship Series debuting in 2028, exemptions into the 2027 PGA Championship and 2027 U.S. Open, and a touch more than $1.1 million. He also moved to No. 54 in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), and now, moving up at least four spots and inside the Top 50 by year's end has understandably become the focus.
"No doubt, no doubt," Smotherman began when asked if getting inside the Top 50 was now the top priority. "Everything for next year is already pretty firm as far as where things are going to be, but I still have majors that need to be put on the schedule. That’s the one thing that’s really shifted."
Players inside the Top 50 in the final edition of the world rankings in 2026 earn a spot in next year's Masters. Smotherman's lone major championship start in his career is a missed cut at the 2026 PGA Championship.
"That’s why we wanted to go play Bermuda," Smotherman explained. "I got asked that question a lot last week, and my caddie did as well. From Monday through Friday, people were asking, 'What are you doing here? Why do you want to go to Bermuda? Why do you want to do this?'
"My wife and I talked about it, and she’s got things handled at home. We’re in a good routine, and I didn’t go to Japan, so I got that extra week off. That’s what we were playing for. I’m going to play Austin and the RSM Classic to try to move inside the top 50.
"If we’re 51st, we’re 51st. It’s not necessarily the end of the cutoff, because there are still other ways to get in and a little bit of time left, but having that certainty before taking time off would be nice."
Nice would be an understatement. Knowing a letter from Augusta National is on the way to your mailbox for next April's event before the calendar flips to 2027 would not only come with a sense of relief, but be a dream come true, which is a feeling Smotherman has managed to achieve on quite a consistent basis this fall.
Smotherman, a former standout at SMU, defeated Seamus Power in a three-hole playoff in what was among the more unique finishes seen on the PGA Tour in quite some time.
Due to extreme winds ahead of the final round, the event was officially cut to just 54 holes, but with Smotherman and Power tied atop the leaderboard, the pair dueled it out on the tricky Par 3 16th hole on Monday morning until Smotherman's third consecutive par was enough to get the job done.
Smotherman will enjoy the dad life at home in Dallas over the next couple of weeks while gearing up for his next start at the Austin Championship beginning on Nov. 12.
The Week 10 SEC football schedule will feature a mid-afternoon kickoff when Alabama visits LSU. Both conference rivals are on a bye this week, having entered the break ranked in the top 25.
The 3:30 p.m. kickoff was apparently less than ideal for LSU head coach Lane Kiffin. "I never even considered that it wouldn't be at night," Kiffin said when asked Wednesday about next week's game.
Alabama-LSU has become a nighttime staple in recent years. The rivalry game has been played at night in each of the past six seasons, while the last non-night meeting in Baton Rouge came in 2010.
"I didn't even think to think about the time," Kiffin said. "I just assumed, especially since the last 16 years, this game has been at night here all the time. I guess that's probably naive of me."
Ole Miss, where Kiffin coached for six seasons, is scheduled to play Georgia in a Primetime game on November 7. Against the backdrop of legal disputes involving Kiffin, LSU and the SEC, the LSU coach suggested the league office may have viewed the scheduling decision as an opportunity to punish him.
"I was joking to [LSU SID Michael Bonnette] earlier, saying obviously the SEC wanted to change it from how it's been to give LSU less of an advantage because of how well LSU plays at night and how intimidating it is to play here," Kiffin said. "I was like, 'If someone thinks the SEC wants us to win this year after what's been going on, they must've just been on Mars the last four months.'"
LSU is 1-6 in its last seven home games against Alabama under the lights at Tiger Stadium, also known as Death Valley. Many of those losses have come by wide margins.
Since narrowly losing to Kentucky on Oct. 10, Kiffin has guided LSU to consecutive victories over SEC opponents. LSU and Alabama will enter next week’s game with identical 6-2 records.
Billionaire Mark Cuban had no fear when he stepped in between the ropes and entered a WWE ring in the early 2000s, but he exited with two things: a sore back and more respect for what professional wrestlers do on a weekly basis.
Cuban appeared on "Build or Break" and talked about his pro wrestling moments. He was on the final part of his conversation where he was asked, "build or break." If he thought something was good, he would say "build," and "break" if he thought the opposite.
Host Daniel Lubetzky asked, "build or break," WWE. It led Cuban to recall the two times the Mavericks minority owner made cameo appearances for the company. He talked about getting an RKO from Randy Orton and being slammed through a table by Sheamus.
"I did it twice. I loved it," he said. "So they reached out to me in 2003 after I just bought the Mavs. And they said, ‘We have WWE coming to Dallas. And would you like to participate because we'll get celebrities come in and do cameos?’ I'm like, ‘I'm happy to do it, but I have two rules. One, I get hit and two I get to hit somebody.’ So, I got RKO’d by Randy Orton and so we have to practice it and do this stuff and it was still hard. It still hurt but that was my rule in 2003 when I did it the first time.
"Then, I did it again in 2009 and I did this whole thing, it was WWE Live, and I did this whole thing with John Cena and everything and there’s this guy, a wrestler named Sheamus. And they were like, ‘OK, Sheamus has never hit the canvas. We know your rules. You get to put him down so he hits the canvas, but on the flip side, he’s going to put you through a table."
Cuban was cool with going through a table because he knew it would "look cool on video forever."
"So, it was a real table, a regular table. … And they told me, ‘He’s going to put you right in the center of the table. It’ll just crack in half but keep your head down because if your head is up and you hit, you’ll break your neck.’ I’m like, ‘My head will be down.’ And so, he puts me through and I guess I ate too much that day because he got me a little bit high and we broke the table. I did my whole pretend I’m dead thing and got out of the ring and all that stuff.
"I was sore for two weeks. My back hurt so bad. Those guys deserve so much respect. It may be orchestrated, but it’s still athletic and it’s still painful."
He hasn’t been on WWE programming in a hot minute, but those moments were highly talked about at the time. It’s rare for a sports team owner to get involved in the ring – you probably would have never seen Jerry Jones or George Steinbrenner take an RKO or be driven through a table the way Cuban did.
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