NBA:
In the NBA, Charlotte bested Brooklyn 116-111, Dallas won against Boston 106-102, Indiana topped Philadelphia 112-85, Orlando beat Minnesota in overtime 104-101, Oklahoma City won against New Orleans 110-103, Houston squeaked by Portland in overtime 108-103, Atlanta defeated Sacramento 103-97, San Antonio bested Denver 109-98, Utah beat Toronto 93-89, and it was Chicago over Phoenix 103-97.
NHL:
In the NHL, Winnipeg beat Vancouver 41, Washington edged Detroit in overtime 2-1, and it was Chicago over Edmonton in overtime 4-3.
The NHL has revamped its All-Star game format for the Sunday, Jan. 31 midwinter classic in Nashville. The league has announced that it will hold a 3-on-3 tournament in which players will be grouped according to their team's division. Players will represent the Pacific, Central, Atlantic and Metropolitan divisions in the $1 million winner-take-all tournament that will have three 20-minute games. The Central will open against the Pacific, and the Atlantic will face the Metropolitan in the semifinals, with the winners advancing to the championship game.
A Los Angeles Kings goaltending prospect has been accused in New Hampshire of 12 domestic-related charges involving his girlfriend, including a felony assault charge alleging that he tried to strangle her at an apartment. Patrik Bartosak played for the American Hockey League's Manchester Monarchs for two seasons. He moved with the Kings farm team, now called the Ontario Reign, to California. He was re-assigned Friday to the East Coast Hockey League's Manchester Monarchs.
NFL:
On Thursday Night Football, Tennessee is in Jacksonville at 8:25.
The New York Giants have re-signed safety Cooper Taylor to the active roster. The Giants announced the move yesterday, filling the spot that opened up when linebacker James Morris was waived on Tuesday. The Giants' 2013 fifth-round draft choice, Taylor was waived on October 20th and signed to the practice squad on November 3rd. He had played in three games.
New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick expects to start at Houston on Sunday despite not practicing and his thumb being in a bit more pain after having surgery. Fitzpatrick had a torn ligament on his left — non-throwing — hand repaired last Friday after he was injured during a game at Oakland on November 1st.
Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan doesn't believe the team's success this season will be measured by whether or not it makes the playoffs. Maccagnan says reaching the postseason is not a "benchmark," but he also says that the team is building to try to make the playoffs.
Former NFL and CFL quarterback Doug Flutie says both of his parents died of heart attacks within an hour of each other. Flutie did not elaborate on the circumstances of their deaths, but called them "incredible parents and grandparents" who had been married for 56 years and were always there for their children.
MLB:
The Chicago Cubs have won three major league baseball awards this season.
Staff ace Jake Arrieta has captured the National League Cy Young Award in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Arrieta led the majors in wins this year, going 22-6 with a 1.77 ERA and 236 strikeouts to help the Cubs reach the postseason for the first time since 2008. He was unbeaten in his last 12 starts, going 11-0 with a microscopic 0.41 earned run average and a .182 batting average against.
Arrieta received 17 first-place votes for 169 points, while runner-up Zack Greinke of the Dodgers drew 10 first-place votes and 147 points. Los Angeles lefty Clayton Kershaw had the other three first-place votes.
Arrieta's Cy Young snare comes after Chicago third baseman Kris Bryant was named the NL Rookie of the Year and Cubs skipper Joe Maddon captured the Manager of the Year honor, both announced this week.
The American League Cy Young Award winner is Houston lefty Dallas Keuchel, who compiled a 20-8 mark with a 2.48 ERA with 216 strikeouts in a league-leading 232 innings. Keuchel paced the league in victories, was second in earned run average and fifth in strikeouts.
Keuchel helped the Astros earn their first playoff berth in 10 years before he beat the Yankees in the wild-card game. He picked up 22 first-place votes and 186 points.
Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz is planning to retire after the 2016 season. The Dominican slugger said in a video posted yesterday on The Players' Tribune that he will play one more season. It was Ortiz's 40th birthday, and the post was titled "40."
Tigers have bolstered their bullpen with the acquisition of closer Francisco Rodriguez from Milwaukee for minor league infielder Javier Betancourt and a player to be named. Rodriguez turns 34 in January and converted 38 of 40 save opportunities with the Brewers this year. He finished 1-3 with a 2.21 earned run average.
NCAA:
In college men's basketball, Vermont kept Quinnipiac at bay for an 83-70 win last night. Trae Bell-Haynes scored 21 points, and Ethan O'Day had 19. Vermont used a 10-2 first-half run to make the score 33-23. Quinnipiac later cut the deficit to five but could get no closer. The Catamounts shot 58.3 percent to 38.2 for Quinnipiac.
Massachusetts-Lowell beat Sacred Heart 87-84 last night. Isaac White converted a 3-point play in the final five seconds. White finished with 17 points. Jahad Thomas scored 20, and Ryan Jones had 12 and for the River Hawks. Cane Broome had 20 points and added 10 rebounds to lead Sacred Heart. Jordan Allen and Chris Robinson had 16 points apiece.
FIFA:
Transparency International says too many FIFA member federations are secretive about what they do and how they spend money. The anti-corruption monitoring group says 168 of the 209 FIFA members fail to make financial reports publicly available. Each got at least $2.05 million from FIFA's 2014 World Cup revenues.
TI managing director Cobus de Swardt says: "The risk of corruption at too many football associations around the world is high." Research published Thursday follows U.S. and Swiss criminal investigations of FIFA and senior officials.
The 16-page document says one in five national soccer bodies has no website to explain its work, and 178 do not publish annual activity reports. TI says just 14 of the 209 members passed its transparency test by publishing accounts, statutes, activity report and code of conduct.
PGA:
Although he may not play, Tiger Woods will be at the Ryder Cup next year. U.S. captain Davis Love III says that Woods, Jim Furyk and Steve Stricker will be vice captains for the 2016 matches in Minnesota. Woods had back surgery in September and a follow-up procedure, leaving his ability to play next season undetermined.
Cycling:
Lance Armstrong's former physician, Michele Ferrari, has been ordered to stand trial for allegedly providing doping assistance to a biathlete.
Italian biathlete Daniel Taschler and his father Gottlieb — a vice president of the international federation — were also indicted by a preliminary judge in Bolzano.
The older Taschler is accused of recommending that his son use Ferrari for doping, and contacting the doctor.
Ferrari was banned for life by the Italian Cycling Federation in 2002. He recently appealed to a regional court to have the ban lifted, with a decision expected in the coming months.
Ferrari was also banned for life by the United States Anti-Doping Agency in the 2012 case that led to Armstrong being stripped of his seven Tour de France titles.
All three deny wrongdoing.
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