Former NASCAR star Danica Patrick gave her seal of approval to President Donald Trump's decision to revoke Dr. Anthony Fauci's security detail. 

In an Instagram story Friday night, Patrick shared a news story about Fauci losing the security detail with a quote from Trump, adding the caption "Damn right." 

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) requested security for Fauci in 2020 to protect him from threats he received as the top health official and public spokesperson during the COVID-19 pandemic. But that detail was pulled Thursday night.

"I think, you know, when you work for government, at some point your security detail comes off and, you know, you can't have them forever," Trump said of the decision. "We took some off other people, too, but you can't have a security detail for the rest of your life because you work for government."

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When asked if he would feel partially responsible if something were to happen to Fauci, Trump said he would not.

"No. You know, they all made a lot of money. They can hire their own security," Trump said. "Certainly, I would not take responsibility."

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Patrick has been one of the more outspoken figures in her sport in support of Trump and Republicans over the last year. She most recently suggested it must be difficult for California residents to accept how their state is managed after the government response to the LA wildfires. 

After Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) CEO and Chief Engineer Janisse Quiñones said Wednesday teams have struggled to maintain water pressure on the system, which allows water to be pushed into fire hydrants, Patrick responded with a post on X. 

"California has 840 miles of coast line and 3,000 lakes and reservoirs. Why don’t they have enough water to fix any and all fires?" she wrote on X.

"At some point I have to imagine it’s getting difficult for hardcore Cali lovers to accept the state of their state and how it’s managed."

She then wrote that it's time for Gov. Gavin Newsom to resign, using the term "Newscum."

In October, Patrick confirmed in an interview on "Jesse Watters Primetime" she would be casting her first-ever vote for president in 2024, and it would be for Trump. 

"It feels like voting for Donald Trump is like the vote of reason. It’s like the rational, reasonable choice," Patrick told Watters. 

Patrick added she doesn't understand why "MAGA," or Trump's slogan of "Make America Great Again," is considered an "insult" to some. 

"I feel like, most of all, though, what this country could be if he gets into office, with all the amazing, brilliant people who are supporting him, I feel like it can not only make America great again, but make America greater than it’s ever been," she said.

In that same interview, she expressed her belief that transgender athletes should not be allowed to compete in women's sports, which became a key campaign issue for Trump and Republicans in 2024. 

"It’s completely wrong," Patrick said of transgender athletes being allowed to compete as women. "And this is coming from someone who was a woman who was basically in a man’s sport. A man is just different. Their hormones are different. Their body is different."

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Bronny James is NBA great LeBron James' son, placing a spotlight on the 20-year-old rookie. 

In October, Bronny was part of history when he checked into the Los Angeles Lakers' season opener and played alongside his father. 

They became the first active father-son duo to play in league history. Shortly after Bronny's NBA debut, the Lakers announced he would split time between the NBA franchise and their G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers.

Bronny does not travel with the team for road games, but he was on hand for South Bay's game against Rip City Remix, the Portland Trail Blazers' G League affiliate, in El Segundo, California, Jan. 24. James had a game to remember Friday, finishing South Bay's 122-110 win with a career-best 31 points. 

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His strong performance on the offensive end was highlighted by a monster slam dunk. James also made five of eleven 3-point attempts. 

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A screen from center Christian Koloko allowed James to pick up his dribble and throw down the highlight-reel dunk over Rip City’s Sterling Manley. The dunk also tied the game and sparked a 9-4 South Bay run.

"I’m just trying to get my confidence back," James told a reporter during an on-court interview. "I’m just trying to play my game. Learn from every game. 

"While I’m not playing in the G League, learn from the Lakers, learning from my vets and just keep trying to be myself. That’s been working recently. I’m happy with my results.

"I am having fun," James added when asked about the spotlight that's been placed on him. "Any time I'm playing basketball, any time I'm out here breathing, any time I'm out here walking ... I'm grateful for everything."

The win improved South Bay's record to 2-7.

Bronny’s four-time NBA champion father took notice of his son’s heroics. 

"GRATEFUL OF YOU KID!!" the elder James wrote on X after the game.

Bronny will probably not get the call to rejoin the NBA team until next month. The Lakers are on a road trip and return to Southern California for a game against the Los Angeles Clippers Feb. 4.

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WNBA player DiJonai Carrington invited a flurry of backlash for wearing a shirt that said "The F--- Donald Trump Tour," and conservative influencer Riley Gaines was quick to jump in. 

Carrington showed off the shirt Friday, while walking into Wayfair Arena in Miami, Florida. Carrington is most known for her interactions with women's basketball phenom Caitlin Clark during Clark's rookie WNBA season in 2024. 

Carrington infamously gave Clark a black eye by poking her with her fingernails during a game between Clark's Indiana Fever and Carrington's Connecticut Sun in the first round of the playoffs in September. Carrington laughed with Fever teammate Marina Mabrey after the incident.

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Gaines made light of this in her first critique of Carrington Saturday. 

"So, you’re telling me the same girl who deliberately gouged Caitlin Clark in the eye then laughed about it also wore a hoodie that said, "The F--- Donald Trump Tour"?! I'm shocked," Gaines wrote in a post on X. 

Carrington has said she didn't intentionally poke Clark in the eye and that she wasn't laughing about the incident. But Gaines felt no reservations about implying Carrington's poke at Clark was intentional and that she laughed about it afterward.

Gaines followed up with another critique of the Sun player and even brought LeBron James into the conversation. 

"What has Donald Trump done to make your life worse? Keep LeBron off the court," Gaines wrote on X in response to a photo of Carrington wearing the shirt. 

Carrington provoked Clark fans prior to the eye-poking incident with multiple statements berating Clark and her fan base. 

During a game in June, Carrington fouled Clark after Clark received an inbound pass from teammate Kristy Wallace. Clark caught the pass and started toward the basket. Carrington was late getting to Clark due to a screen by Aliyah Boston, and she bumped into Clark.

Later that month, Carrington posted on X, saying Clark should do more to speak out about people using her name for "racism" and other forms of prejudice. She also called the Fever fans the "nastiest" in the league.

Carrington even made light of the controversy over Clark's black eye in an Instagram Live video in October. In the video, Carrington and her girlfriend, NaLyssa Smith, who plays on the Indiana Fever with Clark, were in their kitchen when Smith poked Carrington in the eye.

"Ow, you poked me in the eye," Carrington said. Smith apologized, and the two laughed.

"Did you do it on purpose?" Carrington asked.

Carrington isn't the first target of Gaines' wrath when it comes to conversations about Clark's presence in the WNBA either. 

After Clark made a comment about benefiting from White privilege in the WNBA during her interview for Time magazine Athlete of The Year, Gaines got into a heated back-and-forth with journalist Jemele Hill. 

After Gaines posted on X criticizing Clark for making the comments, Hill started the debate and even ended up making it personal. 

"You holler all the time about supporting and ‘protecting’ women, and yet the moment that Caitlin Clark expresses appreciation and respect for the Black women in the WNBA (many of whom she grew up watching and idolizing), suddenly you’re acting like a disappointed parent," Hill wrote. 

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Gaines quickly clapped back, responding to Hill's post by mocking the idea of "White privilege" in the WNBA. 

"'White privilege' in the WNBA is literally hilarious. Maybe you're like Sunny Hostin & think CC also has tall privilege, pretty privilege, and straight privilege," Gaines wrote. "Theres lots of Black players in the WNBA I love [and] respect too, but I don't admire them because they're Black. I admire them for their game. That's the difference." 

Gaines then doubled down by sharing Hill's initial post with a screenshot of comments the journalist made in an interview with the Los Angeles Times in May. In that article, Hill insisted it was "naive" to say Clark's race and sexuality as a straight woman did not play into her popularity in the WNBA, where the majority of players are Black and many are lesbian. 

"Being a long-standing professional race baiter must be SO exhausting," Gaines told Hill in response. 

After Gaines' comment about Hill being a professional race baiter, Hill responded with a message mocking the former swimmer for an incident when she tied with trans athlete Lia Thomas at the 2022 NCAA women's swimming championships.

"Girl, you need to thank Lia Thomas every day of your life for helping you get famous, otherwise you would have been just a decent college swimmer that no one knew. You wrote the book on grifting — not me," Hill wrote.

Gaines responded by saying, "How deeply regressive [and] utterly misogynistic for Jemele Hill to tell me to thank a man for the platform I have. Thank him for what? Violating us in the locker room? Stealing a national title from a deserving woman? Indirectly stripping us of our 1A rights? Just say you hate women," Gaines wrote in her response.

That was the last message in the exchange. 

Gaines has also picked online fights with other liberal figures, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Dallas Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban. 

Each of Gaines' spats with the liberal figures has been met with roaring engagement from her followers. 

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Here’s something New York Mets fans might not have seen coming this offseason: Pete Alonso's contract talks are "worse" than Juan Soto’s, according to owner Steven Cohen. 

During an appearance at the Mets’ Amazin’ Day Saturday afternoon at Citi Field, Cohen was on a panel with his general manager, David Stearns, and manager Carlos Mendoza, while legendary broadcaster Gary Cohen (no relation) moderated the group. 

Before questions could be asked, though, the Mets’ faithful in the crowd burst into a "We want Pete!" chant, referring to Alonso, the free agent first baseman who has been a Met his entire career. 

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"Hold that for the end, OK?" Cohen told the crowd, smiling. 

The Mets and Alonso have had negotiations, but have not reached a deal after they signed Soto to his $765 million deal. New York has landed other players in free agency, but Alonso remains one of the top players on the market. 

Alonso was the team’s second-round pick out of the Florida Gators’ program in 2016, and he’s spent his first six seasons hitting home runs (226), including a rookie record 53 that aided his Rookie of the Year resume in 2019. He's also made four All-Star teams, including each of the last three, and has a career .854 OPS. 

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As a fan favorite, it’s easy to see why Mets fans are chanting for their first baseman to be back for a hopeful World Series run in 2025 with Soto added to a roster that also includes Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo and Mark Vientos. 

But Cohen, as he has been many times in the past, was transparent with the fan base about what’s been going on in negotiations with Alonso's agent, Scott Boras, who also represents Soto. 

"We’ve made a significant offer to Pete, and, you know, what David said is correct. He’s entitled to go out and explore his market," Cohen said. "That’s what he’s doing. Personally, this has been an exhausting conversation and negotiation. I mean, Soto was tough. This is worse."

The Soto sweepstakes were a roller coaster, and it seemed like he was going to stay with the New York Yankees until Cohen came swooping in at the eleventh hour with an offer of a lifetime, crushing Shohei Ohtani’s record contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

So, with a record-breaking deal done, how could Alonso’s negotiations possibly be worse?

"I don’t like the structures that are being presented back to us," Cohen explained. "I think it’s highly asymmetric against us, and I feel strongly about it. I will never say no. There’s always the possibility. But the reality is we’re moving forward, and we continue to bring in players. As we continue to bring in players, the reality is it becomes harder to fit Pete into what is a very expensive group of players that we already have. That’s where we are.

"I’m being brutally honest. I don’t like the negotiations, I don’t like what’s been presented to us, and maybe that changes. Certainly, I’ll always stay flexible. If it stays this way, I think we’re going to have to get used to the fact that we may have to go forward with the existing players that we have."

Mets fans appreciated the honesty from their owner, giving him a round of applause at the end. 

Stearns added, "We all love Pete. And we've said that many times. I think as we've gone through this process, we've continued to express that."

SNY reported this week the Mets have a $68-70 million offer in "present day money" on the table. Alonso turned down a deal for more than $70 million when taking deferred money into account. 

The Toronto Blue Jays have also been linked to Alonso, but no deal appears imminent.

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U.S. Olympian Suni Lee may want to stick to gymnastics. 

The gold medalist tried her hand at skiing for the first time this week, as seen in her Instagram story, but wound up face-down on the snow. 

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During a trip to Montreal in Canada, Lee showed off her failed skiing attempt with photo and video of her laying down on her front in skis after falling down right in front of the slope entrance. She claims it will be the last time she tries to ski. 

"First time skiing," she wrote. "Omg never again." 

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A video of her laying on the snow, which was taken by her friend Samira Ahmed and re-shared to Lee's own story, showed the gymnast laughing as she squirmed on the snow. A caption on that video read, "This is why I stay off the slopes." 

While fans can certainly expect not to see Lee compete in the upcoming 2026 Milan Olympics, her struggles in skiing certainly isn't for lack of athleticism or coordination. 

Lee is the 2020 Olympic all-around gold medalist and uneven bars bronze medalist and the 2024 Olympic all-around and uneven bars bronze medalist. She also helped contribute to the U.S.'s team gold medal in 2024 and silver in 2020.

She has also received many prominent sports honors and awards, including in 2021, when she was named Female Athlete of the Year by Sports Illustrated and Sportswoman of the Year by the Women's Sports Foundation. She was even included in Time Magazine 100, which is the publication's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. 

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ESPN host Stephen A. Smith admitted that he and others who voted for Kamala Harris in November's election feel like "d--- fools," during an appearance on Real Time With Bill Maher on Friday. 

Smith made this declaration when discussing comparisons between Harris' campaign and Barack Obama's campaign in 2008. The sports pundit argued that the fact that Harris was not nominated via a legitimate primary, and the fact that she performed so poorly during her short stint in the 2020 Democratic primary, made her undesirable to voters.

Harris dropped out of the 2020 primary in 2019, before even reaching the Iowa caucus. She never received a single primary vote before being anointed the nominee in 2024.

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"Kamala Harris, who didn't resonate during the primaries in 2020, couldn't even get to Iowa, suddenly is the Democratic nominee, then you roll up to the convention in Chicago and everybody is like ‘She’s a rockstar!' So it's like ‘How’d that happen?" Smith said. 

"Yes I voted for her, a lot of people voted for her, but in the end, we end up feeling like d--- fools, because we supported it, we fell for the okiedoke as they say. If you had a primary, the likelihood is she would not have been the Democratic nominee." 

Smith has been a harsh internal critic of the Democratic Party during and after the 2020 election. 

During Friday's appearance on Maher's show, he scolded liberals for choosing not to campaign on issues that the American people were most concerned about, while admitting that Trump did, and was the closer candidate to the center of the political spectrum. 

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"Here’s the deal: the man was impeached twice, he was convicted on 34 felony counts, and the American people still said, ‘He’s closer to normal than what we see on the left,’" Smith said. 

During an interview with Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity days after Election Day, Smith insisted that the results were a referendum of the Democratic Party.

"I think that in light of those results we have to look at this election as a referendum on the Democratic Party. And America’s saying we’re not feeling where you are, we’re not feeling where you tried to go, we want no part of it, we’re not having it – and they made their choice and we all have to accept it," he said. 

During an interview on "The Will Cain Show" on the Thursday after the election, Smith delivered a scathing critique of the Democratic National Committee and its message ahead of Election Day and pointed to transgender issues as one of its weak points. 

"It’s such a strong tilt to the progressive left where we are talking about transgender issues and culture wars and identity politics and all of this stuff. We are sick of all of that. That makes total, total sense to me, and I’m good with it, even though I didn’t vote for [Trump]. I’m not as taken aback and feeling like nothing but gloom and doom and the world is coming to an end because the person I voted for didn’t win," Smith said. 

Smith has said multiple times that he would consider running for public office. After the results of the election, he has been one of the few figures in the liberal media to embrace the outcome of Trump's victory and has been heavily critical of left-wing figures like Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey and Jimmy Kimmel in their portrayal of Trump. 

Smith also did not rule out a possible presidential run for himself during an interview on "The View" the week after the election.

"I have no desire to be a congressional figure or a senator. But if you came to me and you told me I had a legitimate shot to win the presidency of the United States of America, I would definitely consider it," he said.

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Vice President JD Vance cast the tiebreaking vote to confirm Pete Hegseth as the next U.S. Secretary of Defense late Friday and might feel a bit like Ohio State quarterback Will Howard. 

Vance, an Ohio State alum, celebrated Hegseth's confirmation with an anecdote that referenced his alma mater's recent 34-23 national championship victory over Notre Dame. 

"As I learned with the Buckeyes just a week ago, when you win the championship, it doesn't matter what the score was. We won the championship on this one. We've got a great Secretary of Defense. We're proud of him, and he's going to do a great job," Vance said. 

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Vance has been on a roll with sports analogies lately. 

After former President Joe Biden falsely insisted the Constitution had been amended to include the the Equal Rights Amendment as the 28th amendment, Vance mocked that notion with a baseball comparison.

Vance responded to Biden's declaration in a post on X, joking that Biden should put the late disgraced MLB icon Pete Rose in the Baseball Hall of Fame. 

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"Hey Joe if we’re doing fake s--- on the way out can you declare Pete Rose into the Hall of Fame?" Vance wrote, in reference to an infamous baseball debate. Rose, MLB's all-time hit leader who died in September, was banned from the sport for life for illegally betting on games. 

Vance, meanwhile, got to witness the Buckeyes' first national title since 2014 the same day he and President Donald Trump were inaugurated. Vance has been a proud, vocal Ohio State football fan throughout his political career as a former senator from the state. 

Vance even joked about skipping Monday's inauguration to watch the Buckeyes take on Notre Dame in Atlanta. 

"Hopefully everyone is cool with me skipping the inauguration so I can go to the national title game," Vance joked in a post on social media. 

During the campaign, Vance revealed he told Trump his loyalty to the Buckeyes might affect Trump's chances of winning the key battleground state of Michigan.

"When he first asked me to be a VP, I was like, 'Well, you know, hopefully we don't lose Michigan by like 900 votes, because you're going to regret it. 'Cause it's probably just a thousand p---ed-off Wolverine fans who wouldn't vote for a Buckeye," Vance said during an appearance on OutKick's "The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show." 

"But I think that most Michiganders are going to be able to put sports rivalries aside and put the country first, which is what, of course, all of us believe is the most important thing."

The Democratic National Committee attempted to exploit Vance's connection to Ohio State with a campaign strategy in Michigan in early September. The DNC flew a plane over a Michigan football game Sept. 7 with a banner that said, "J.D. Vance [loves] Ohio State [plus] Project 2025." 

However, the Trump-Vance ticket ended up easily carrying Michigan.

Hegseth, 44, a former Minnesota National Guard officer who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, secured the role to lead the Pentagon after weeks of intense political drama over his nomination and public scrutiny of his personal life. 

The Senate was deadlocked at 50-50 with three Republicans — Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska; Susan Collins, R-Maine; and Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. — joining the Democrats in opposing Hegseth's confirmation.

The stalemate forced Vance to cast the tiebreaking vote, securing his confirmation.

"It's not the first time the headline reads, ‘Junior enlisted Marine bails out junior Army officer,'" Hegseth, a former Fox News host joked, referencing Vance's previous service in the U.S. Marine Corps. 

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Czech skier Tereza Nova, who competed for her country in four Olympic races in 2022, was placed in a medically induced coma after she needed brain surgery on Saturday following a downhill crash in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.

Nova was in her final training session on Friday when she crashed on the Kandahar course. 

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The Czech ski federation said that Nova required surgery to reduce brain swelling, and she "will remain in the medically induced coma as long as deemed necessary by the medical team."

"We are all thinking of Tereza and wish her a speedy recovery and lots of strength," the ski federation said on Saturday.

Nova, 26, participated in four races during the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

Her best finish was 14th place during the women’s alpine combined event. She also competed in mixed team parallel, where she finished 14th as well, women’s downhill (28th) and women’s Super-G (33rd).

Nova has also competed in World Cup races since 2019, where she made her debut in November, though she didn’t qualify for the second round of the slalom event in Levi. 

Nova’s international debut came in December 2014, and she would compete in the Junior World Championships in Val di Fassa five years later. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Liam Coen texted Baker Mayfield that he was staying with the Buccaneers as offensive coordinator on Tuesday, according to ESPN.

On Friday, the Jacksonville Jaguars officially announced Coen as their new head coach, which came after a roller coaster of a week. 

Coen also texted head coach Todd Bowles and general manager Jason Licht on Tuesday that he would be staying with the Bucs, according to the report.

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After texting the Bucs' brass, Coen then withdrew himself from consideration from the Jaguars head coaching job on Wednesday.

The Buccaneers were prepared to make Coen the highest-paid offensive coordinator in the NFL.

However, the Jaguars then parted ways with their general manager, Trent Baalke, on Wednesday afternoon. Jaguars owner Shad Khan then directly reached out to Coen to see whether he would reconsider taking the head coaching job.

On Thursday, Coen was in Jacksonville for an in-person interview and was eventually hired.

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While Coen was in Jacksonville interviewing, the Bucs were waiting for him to come into the building and sign his new contract to stay with the team. 

But the Bucs couldn’t get in touch with Coen or his agent, and they began to realize that he was unreachable because he was in Jacksonville interviewing for the job, the report said. 

The Jaguars hope that Coen can help Trevor Lawrence have a career year in the same way he did for Mayfield last season. 

The Bucs averaged 29.5 points per game in the regular season, and Mayfield threw a career-high 41 touchdowns en route to winning the NFC South.

The Jaguars went 4-13 last season, with Lawrence missing time due to injury, leading Khan to fire head coach Doug Pederson and eventually Baalke after the season.

Coen will have the No. 5 overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft to try and begin the Jaguars' turnaround. 

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A thriller at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne saw American Madison Keys upset No. 1-ranked women’s singles player Aryna Sabalenka to win the Australian Open on Saturday. 

After shaking hands with the victor, Sabalenka let out her emotions on her racket. 

Sabalenka, who was looking to become the first player since Martina Hingis to win three straight Australian Opens, fell to Keys, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, in the match, which gave her opponent her first-ever Grand Slam title. 

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Sabalenka shook Keys’ hand at the net, followed by the chair umpire, but she was seen slamming her racket and throwing it at the bench once the niceties were finished. 

Sabalenka then covered her face in a towel before storming off into the locker room. 

The heat of competition not going your way in the end can be tough to swallow in the moment, and Sabalenka said as much during his post-match press conference. 

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"There definitely was a bit of frustration, because I was so close to achieve something crazy," she said, per The New York Post. "When you’re out there, you’re fighting, but it seems like everything (is not) going the way you really want (it) to go."

Sabalenka added that she "just needed to throw those negative emotions at the end," and she did so literally to her Wilson racket. She said she needed to do that "so I could give a speech (and) not stand there being disrespectful."

"I was just trying to let it go and be a good person," Sabalenka said. 

Getting the raw emotion out appeared to work, as Sabalenka was seen joking with her team after the loss. 

"As always, that’s your fault guys," she said, laughing. "I don’t wanna see you for the next week. I really hate you. No thank you for everything you are doing for me and blah, blah, blah."

Sabalenka got back to a serious note, though, addressing Keys. 

"I think we did our best," Sabalenka said. "Just Madison was playing incredible. I just couldn’t do anything in this match. Next time I play against Madison, I bring better tennis." 

As for Keys, she also showed love to Sabalenka, saying it was "unbelievable playing" on her part. She also noted, at age 29, that she never thought she’d win a Grand Slam despite coming close in the past. 

"From a pretty young age, I felt like if I never won a Grand Slam, then I wouldn’t have lived up to what people thought I should have been. That was a pretty heavy burden to kind of carry around," Keys said. 

"So, I finally got to the point where I was proud of myself and proud of my career, with or without a Grand Slam. I finally got to the point where I was OK if it didn’t happen. I didn’t need it, to feel like I had a good career or that I deserved to be talked about as a great tennis player.

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American tennis star Madison Keys upset No. 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka to win the Australian Open on Saturday.

Keys, 29, won 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 in the tightly contested match to win her first-ever Grand Slam tournament. 

Keys finished with just one more point won than Sabalenka overall, winning 92 points, compared to Sabalenka's 91. 

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Sabalenka was seeking to win her third consecutive Australian Open, something that was last achieved — by Martina Hingis — from 1997 through 1999. 

This was the second time in Keys’ career that she had a chance at a major title, her last being a 6-3, 6-0 loss to fellow countrywoman Sloane Stephens in the 2017 US Open. 

Keys had high expectations for herself in her tennis career, but began to accept the fact that she might never win a Grand Slam title. 

"From a pretty young age, I felt like if I never won a Grand Slam, then I wouldn’t have lived up to what people thought I should have been. That was a pretty heavy burden to kind of carry around," Keys said. 

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"So I finally got to the point where I was proud of myself and proud of my career, with or without a Grand Slam. I finally got to the point where I was OK if it didn’t happen. I didn’t need it to feel like I had a good career or that I deserved to be talked about as a great tennis player.

"I feel like finally letting go of that kind of internal talk that I had just gave me the ability to actually go out and play some really good tennis to actually win a Grand Slam."

Not only did Keys upset the No.1 ranked Sabalenka, but she also took down No. 2 ranked Iga Świątek in the semifinals en route to her Australian Open title victory.

Keys was the first woman since Serena Williams in 2005 to defeat both of the WTA’s top two players at Melbourne Park. She said that beating Swiatek gave her the confidence she could win against Sabalenka.

"Winning that match the other night against Iga was really kind of a big hurdle," Keys said. "I always believed that I could do it, but to do it that way — really I thought to myself after the match that I can absolutely win on Saturday."

This was Keys 46th Slam appearance, the third most before winning a women’s major title, being only Flavia Pennetta’s 49 and Marion Bartoli’s 47 appearances before they won. 

"I didn’t always believe that I could get back to this point. But to be able to do it and win, it means the world to me."

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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The Washington Commanders are just a win away from reaching Super Bowl LIX, as they head to Philadelphia to face their NFC East-rival Eagles in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday. 

It’s been more than a quick turnaround for this franchise, as quarterback Jayden Daniels, the team’s No. 2 overall selection, and the new coaching staff headed by Dan Quinn have completely revitalized the Commanders to the point where they could be competing for the Vince Lombardi Trophy in New Orleans next month.

But one person in particular doesn’t seem to like watching this incredible NFL storyline unfold. That’s because he used to own the team. 

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ESPN reports Dan Snyder, the disgraced former owner of the Commanders, doesn’t like seeing the franchise succeeding without him. 

The report states that, during a dinner with associates in London, where he mostly lives now, the Commanders were naturally brought up in the conversation. When one of those associates returned to the States, a colleague of theirs asked what Snyder thought about the team, which also had a first-year GM in Adam Peters build out a roster that was playing well at that time during the regular season. 

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"He f---ing hates it," the associate of Snyder’s said to the colleague.

Snyder sold the Commanders under duress, as significant scandals regarding workplace culture, including sexual harassment and a toxic work environment, were on public display. An NFL investigation was conducted which resulted in findings that supported the allegations, leading to pressure from all directions to sell. 

Snyder eventually sold the franchise that he controlled since May 1999 for a record $6 billion to Josh Harris and a group of limited partners, which includes David Blitzer, who together own the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and the NHL’s New Jersey Devils. Magic Johnson is also in the ownership group. 

While he didn’t want to sell the franchise, Snyder was pressured by his fellow owners, whom he wasn’t in good standing with in the first place. There were even reports in 2022 stating that Snyder had told some close associates that he had dirt on commissioner Roger Goodell and fellow owners, including Dallas Cowboys’ Jerry Jones. 

"They can’t f--- with me," Snyder reportedly said, accordig to ESPN. 

But the sale went through after Harris got around 20 partners to put up the capital, and the experienced sports team owner set out to change the culture within the team on all fronts. And that seems to be going faster than expected on the performance aspect. 

It seems that Peters and the rest of the organization hit the nail on the head, with Daniels, the Heisman Trophy winner out of LSU, who has shown poise, leadership and clutch play to go along with what can clearly be seen on the gridiron: A dual-threat quarterback who has quickly become a star. 

The Commanders didn’t just go 12-5 during the regular season to earn a wild card spot, and they didn’t just take down the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road to win their first playoff game since 1999 – the year Snyder bought the team. They had the upset of the year, dropping 45 points on the Detroit Lions to beat the NFC’s No. 1 seed on the road at Ford Field, shocking a team that many believed to be destined for New Orleans. 

Washington are searching for its first Super Bowl appearance since 1991, a game in which they won after going 14-2 during the regular season. While the Commanders are focused on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field in a third meeting with the Eagles this season, the future is certainly bright, with this only being the first year of a whole new regime. 

Meanwhile, ESPN reports that Snyder has been selling off his U.S. real estate holdings and conducts most of his business from the United Kingdom. They also have sources saying he wants to buy into a Premier League soccer club, but he’s not expected to own a sports team anytime soon. 

ESPN adds that Snyder is "in denial" about what led to the pressure to sell, and a person close to him says he has "sadness – for himself."

"It’s killing him . . . It’s devastating him," the person said. 

Commanders kick off against Saquon Barkley and the Eagles on Sunday at 3 p.m. to determine who will represent the NFC in Super Bowl LIX. 

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The Dallas Cowboys hired Brian Schottenheimer, their offensive coordinator, as the team’s next head coach, announcing the move on Friday with a Jerry Jones message attached to it. 

"Brian Schottenheimer is known as a career assistant," Jones said, per ESPN. "He ain’t Brian no more. He is now known as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys."

The hire comes at a shock to some and a surprise to many, as the Cowboys’ process this offseason has been a head-scratcher. 

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Cowboys fans voiced their opinions on social media, and they weren’t too happy with their team’s choice. 

"Hiring Brian Schottenheimer as head coach without even trying to talk to Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn or other top candidates is 1000% the same thing as not calling Derrick Henry and just signing Zeke," one fan said on X. "Same. Exact. Thing."

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To understand where Cowboys fans may be coming from, one must understand the odd process the team went through since the offseason began. 

First, the dilemma for Jones and the rest of the organization was what to do with Mike McCarthy, the veteran head coach who went 7-10 on the final year of his deal without quarterback Dak Prescott for a good chunk of the season. 

Players like Prescott and others publicly voiced their support for McCarthy, but the Cowboys moved on. 

In doing so, though, they were already behind the 8 ball, as other head coach-needy squads were already out conducting interviews and getting their candidates in order. 

When Dallas got their list together, it was an interesting group. Robert Saleh, the ex-New York Jets head coach who was fired midseason in 2024, came in despite not being high on anyone’s list except for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He eventually returned to the Bay Area to assume his old job as defensive coordinator under Kyle Shanahan. 

There was also Pete Carroll, who ended up returning to the NFL by taking the Las Vegas Raiders job. Kellen Moore, the former Cowboys offensive coordinator who is now with the Eagles, came in for an interview, as did Leslie Frazier, who serves as assistant head coach of the Seattle Seahawks. 

While these candidates all have their credentials, fans were not happy that top candidates like the ones mentioned above, who have all landed elsewhere, never came into the building. 

Fox Sports’ David Helman broke down the situation from a Cowboys process perspective.

"We don’t know Brian Schottenheimer will be a failure any more than we know Ben Johnson will be a success," he posted on X. "Coaching hires are weird & hard to predict. 

"We do know that it REEKS of bad process to fart around for eight days with a head coach who needs a new contract, fail to retain him after missing an interview window for coveted candidates, bring in two former head coaches who are not in high demand, one outside assistant you already have a relationship with and *then* choose the guy down the hall who a) is not drawing interest elsewhere b) has not been a head coach c) has not called plays for you and d) has had mixed results when he has called an offense in the past."

Finally, some feel Schottenheimer is similar to Jason Garrett, who took over the job after Wade Phillips, whom he worked under, was fired. 

"Quick, easy, CHEAP, and the Jones’ retain control just the way they like it," one disgruntled fan wrote. "This team doesn’t want to win. It’s about attention. It’s about egos. Cowboys fans are exhausted with this clown show."

Schottenheimer joined McCarthy’s Cowboys staff in 2022 as a coaching analyst before replacing Moore as offensive coordinator in 2023. His first year in the position was also Prescott’s best season, as the team went on to win the NFC East before flopping in the Wild Card Round to the Green Bay Packers. The team had the fifth-ranked offense that season. 

Schottenheimer, the son of decorated NFL head coach Marty Schottenheimer, has almost three decades worth of coaching under his belt, spending time with the Jets, Rams and Seahawks before joining the Cowboys. He served in an offensive coordinator role for each of those teams. 

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For the third consecutive year, the Manning brothers will return as head coaches and go head-to-head in an action-packed Pro Bowl weekend, featuring star offensive and defensive players from the AFC and NFC.

Peyton Manning, two-time Super Bowl champion and arguably one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, will coach the AFC. Eli Manning, two-time Super Bowl champion who infamously beat Tom Brady to win both games, will coach the 2025 Pro Bowl’s NFC team.

"Peyton kind of keeps trying to steal my strategies," Eli told Fox News Digital. "He keeps trying to steal my playbook."

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Last year, Eli’s NFC squad triumphed against Peyton’s AFC roundup in a final 64-59.

In 2023, Eli beat Peyton 35-33.

"It's been a lot of fun coaching the Pro Bowl these last two years," Eli said. "Especially beating Peyton these last two years."

The sibling rivalry is clearly alive and well in the Manning family, as Eli pointed the finger at Peyton for lacking the necessary skills to beat him, especially with regard to the game's skills challenges.

"He didn't think about, and he didn't really worry about, the skill challenges last year," Eli told Fox News Digital. "He was all worried about the playbook and the X’s and O’s on the field where we just dominated him in the skills.

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"Peyton’s not good at dodgeball. Peyton’s not good at ping pong. He’s not good at pool," Eli said. "All he did was play football growing up, so he never learned any other skill. He didn’t know how to coach the players in some of those skills."

Eli touted his superior past of playing tug-of-war as one of his many advantages against his brother.

"I almost went pro in tug-of-war years ago," Eli said.

The youngest Manning brother added that Peyton’s preparation includes studying and consulting with experts for the skills challenges, a relay race and dodgeball, among others.

"I’ve just got to really rely on my instincts and, in my experience, playing flag football," Eli said of his own strategy.

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Above all else, Eli said he is excited to arrive in Orlando, Florida, and celebrate a season of successful football.

"That's what this is all about," he said. "All of these guys had unbelievable seasons."

Travis Kelce, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Myles Garrett, Cameron Heyward and Joe Thuney are among the AFC team’s headliners who earned their spot on the roster.

Jared Goff, Kyle Juszczyk, George Kittle, Lane Johnson, Nick Bosa and Justin Jefferson are among the NFC athletes set to deliver a riveting flag-football performance on Sunday, Feb. 2, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.

"I watch these guys every Sunday competing on the AFC and NFC side," Eli said. "To get to know them a bit, to get to hang out with them and see their personalities off the field is what I look forward to the most."

In partnership with Knob Creek, Eli launched a single barrel bourbon, Eli Manning’s 2025 Bold Pick, just in time for the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl LIX.

"I got to go down to Kentucky and hand pick this bourbon," Eli told Fox News Digital.

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Jimmy Butler's sixth season with the Miami Heat has been turbulent.

The team recently suspended the six-time All-Star for the second time in three weeks — a decision that further fueled the belief that Butler has already played his final game for the franchise.

Butler drew the latest suspension for what the team in a statement Wednesday called a "continued pattern of disregard of team rules, insubordinate conduct and conduct detrimental to the team," including missing the Heat’s flight to Milwaukee earlier in the day. The Heat were scheduled to play the Bucks on Thursday, before traveling to New York for a matchup with the Brooklyn Nets on Jan. 25.

During Thursday's edition of TNT's long-running "Inside the NBA," Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal, Charles Barkley, and Kenny Smith discussed the drama surrounding Butler.

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O'Neal argued it is "human nature" for Butler to want to land with another team when his contract situation is taken into consideration. 

"I just think in this situation, it's more about human nature," O'Neal noted. "I know exactly how Jimmy feels, I've been in this situation many times. All that I've done for you, and you don't want to give me what I want, so human nature kicks in. . . . The part I hate about this business of basketball thing, it always has to be somebody's fault." 

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Butler, 34, has one year remaining on his deal and has a $52 million player option for the 2025–26 season. He is eligible for a two-year, $113 million extension. However, it does not appear that the Heat extended such an offer to Butler, largely because he’s missed about 25 percent of the team’s games since he arrived in 2019.

Nevertheless, Johnson, Barkley and Smith all expressed view points that opposed O'Neal's thoughts.

"You can't just not show up to work," Barkley responded.

"You took the $50 [million] for this year and next year," Smith added.

While Johnson typically acts as a referee when the trio of NBA players engage in spirited exchanges on the show, he challenged O'Neal after the four-time NBA player doubled down on his position.

"You don't feel a responsibility when you are under contract this season to play this season?" Johnson asked.

Barkley also suggested that Butler owed it to the fans and his teammates to put his feelings about the contract situation aside and do his part to help the Heat win games.

"You can get mad at the Miami Heat organization, but the fans of Miami and those guys in that locker room have nothing to do with you wanting a contract extension."

Butler was banished for seven games earlier this month, costing him about $2.4 million in salary.

Money may not be the only factor contributing to Butler's unhappiness. Butler has made it no secret that he’s not pleased with what he says is his new role within the Heat offense. He didn't participate in his usual way during the introduction of the Heat starters in a recent game, and he has sat by himself at times during timeouts while not engaging in the huddle.

Butler told the Heat in recent weeks that he wants a trade, according to multiple reports. The demand has not been made publicly, because NBA rules do not allow players to do so. The NBA’s trade deadline is Feb. 6.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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WNBA star DiJonai Carrington sparked some controversy before her Friday night Unrivaled game due to her pre-game outfit selection.

Carrington was spotted walking into Wayfair Arena in Miami, Florida, wearing a sweatshirt with rapper YG on the front with the name of his old 2016 tour: "The F—Donald Trump Tour."

The message, written in red letters with the rapper in the background flipping the middle finger, was clear as Carrington stopped to pose for a photo. 

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Carrington, whose X page around the election showed pro-Kamala Harris messaging, appears to make it clear how she feels about President Trump with her outfit choice.

Carrington is a part of the new 3-on-3 Unrivaled league, playing for the Mist, which is one of six clubs within the organization co-founded by fellow WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier. 

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Carrington was named the WNBA’s Most Improved Player during the 2024 season, receiving 28 of the 67 votes from a national media panel after posting career highs in points (12.7), rebounds (5.0) and assists (1.6).

But the 2024 season didn’t come without some controversy on the court for Carrington, who was accused of purposefully poking Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, the WNBA’s new superstar and Rookie of the Year, in the eye during a game. 

Carrington pleaded her innocence after the incident. 

"I don’t even know why I would intent to hit anybody in the eye," she said. "That doesn’t even make sense to me."

Clark also downplayed the situation when asked about, saying it "wasn’t intentional by any means."

Carrington was already not in the good graces of Fever fans, as she provoked them by posting a tweet in late August, which read, "the Indiana fever have the nastiest fans in the W. ew." The eye-poking incident occurred during Game 1 of the WNBA playoffs match-up between Carrington’s Connecticut Sun and Clark’s Fever.

Carrington’s girlfriend, NaLyssa Smith, whom she met after transferring to Baylor, plays alongside Clark on the Fever. 

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The Washington Commanders have been the surprise team of the 2024 season.

Behind rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, the Commanders earned a wild-card spot in the playoffs and defeated the NFC South division winner in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the best team in the NFC in the Detroit Lions.

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All the Commanders have to do now is top their NFC East rival Philadelphia Eagles to reach the Super Bowl for the first time since the 1991 season.

Champ Bailey, who starred for the organization when they were called the Washington Redskins, told Fox News Digital he’s a big fan of the quarterback, but the team’s recent success started when ownership changed hands.

"(Jayden Daniels) is the real deal. I think you can give him a lot of credit for what that franchise is doing right now, but it all starts at the top," he said. "Once Josh Harris took over the team, and you bring on the ownership team that he has … these dudes, first of all, they love the Commanders because they’re all sort of D.C. guys. And then you have Magic Johnson, who’s the winner of all winners added to that. 

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"So, the culture changes pretty much overnight. And now you draft the right quarterback, which we all know if you can draft the right quarterback, the sky’s the limit for your franchise. The fan base is probably one of the best in the world. I mean, I tell people all the time when I’m out and about, I get just as many Commanders fans come up to me than Broncos fans, and I played in Denver 10 years after I played in Washington. So, it’s been 20 years since I’ve been there and people still remember my career like it happened yesterday."

Harris’ group bought the Commanders from Daniel Snyder in 2023 for more than $6 billion. The team started a little rocky in the first season with Harris and Co. as the owners. Washington was 4-13 in 2023 and were awarded the No. 2 pick in the draft.

Washington selected Daniels, the Heisman Trophy winner in 2023 from LSU, and his poise and collectiveness along with his innate talent at throwing the football helped the Commanders to a 12-6 record and their first playoff appearance since 2020.

"I’m just happy that they have a team that they can be proud of, they can root for," said Bailey, who spoke to Fox News Digital on behalf of Trulieve. "But it all starts with great ownership, great leadership, and now you’re able to insert a great player like Jayden Daniels. Give them a lot of credit. The kid’s talent is amazing – the things he’s doing now. But it all starts at the top."

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The Dallas Cowboys are hiring offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer as the team's next head coach, the organization announced Friday. 

Schottenheimer will take over as the team's head coach after two seasons as the team's offensive coordinator, replacing Mike McCarthy, who agreed to part ways with the team after a disappointing 7-10 season. 

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Since the Cowboys parted ways with McCarthy a week after the season ended, the organization missed out on the chance to interview candidates like Mike Vrabel, Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn earlier in the process. 

Schottenheimer joined the organization in 2022 as a coaching analyst, before replacing Kellen Moore as offensive coordinator in 2023. Schottenheimer's first year as offensive coordinator coincided with quarterback Dak Prescott's best season, as the team won the NFC East and had the fifth-ranked offense in the entire league. 

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However, 2024 was a different story. The team finished 16th in total offense after Prescott suffered a season-ending injury. 

Still, Schottenheimer's work as offensive coordinator was enough to prompt Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to choose him as head coach, bypassing other potential options including Deion Sanders and Jason Witten. 

Schottenheimer, 51, brings nearly three decades of experience as an offensive assistant coach to the table. He served as an offensive coordinator for a few other teams before joining the Cowboys in 2022, working in that role for the Jets (2006-11), Rams (2012-14) and Seahawks (2018-20).

Schottenheimer is also the son of decorated former NFL head coach Marty Schottenheimer. The elder Schottenheimer was a head coach for four teams, recording the ninth-most wins (205) for a coach in NFL history. 

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Earlier this week, a young collector pulled the coveted autographed MLB debut patch card of Paul Skenes from the market. 

An 11-year-old collector from Southern California, who nabbed a one-of-kind baseball card featuring the Pittsburgh Pirates star pitcher, decided to turn down a trade offer from the MLB franchise.

The card was featured in the 2024 Topps Chrome Update set. On Friday, the trading card and collectible manufacturer confirmed the collector had "chosen to send the card to auction with @FanaticsCollect instead," Topps wrote in an Instagram post.

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The Pirates offered a package of perks in exchange for the card. A pair of premium Pirates season tickets for three decades, an opportunity to play a softball game on the field, a meet and greet with Skenes and autographed jerseys were among offerings from the team.

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LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne, who is dating Skenes, also offered an incentive to the owner of the card.

"Let's raise the stakes…the person who finds this card can sit with me at a Pirates game in my suite," Dunne wrote in a post to her Instagram story.

While the collector wrote in a journal entry shared by Topps that nabbing the card was a "dream come true," apparently that dream did not include spending time over the next 30 years attending games at PNC Park.

The Pirates admitted they were "bummed" after learning of the collector's decision but offered to have the fan at a game sometime during the 2025 season.

"Well…we’re bummed that we won’t be seeing you behind home plate for 30 seasons. But we’d still love to bring you to Pittsburgh for a special day at PNC Park this season," the team posted on X.

Fanatics Collect, which will handle the auctioning of the card in March, said it will donate its proceeds from the sale to fire relief funds in the Los Angeles area.

Skenes delivered a season to remember in 2024, finishing 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA and 170 strikeouts. Before winning the National League Rookie of the Year Award, he was named to the MLB All-Star team. Skenes was the top pick in the 2023 MLB Draft and made his big league debut in May 2024. 

Rookies have worn MLB debut patches on their jerseys since 2023. Topps acquired the patches and created the unique cards. The card could hold pretty high value considering the potentially bright future ahead for the 22-year-old, who finished third in NL Cy Young Award voting.

Skenes said over the weekend he hasn’t thought about the potential of signing a long-term contract to remain with the Pirates, saying instead his focus is on helping the Pirates take a step toward contending in 2025. He is eligible for free agency after the 2029 season.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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NFL Hall of Famer Brett Favre was once a target of a bounty hunting scheme by the New Orleans Saints and opened up 15 years later about that experience in a thread on X Friday.

In 2009, the Saints offered their players cash incentives to injure certain players. Favre, quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings at that time, was on that list. 

The Vikings were considered the top obstacle in the NFC for the Saints to reach the Super Bowl that year. 

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The Saints beat Favre and the Vikings in the NFC championship game that year, a 31-28 overtime thriller. Favre was never injured, but he took multiple hard hits and ended up throwing a costly interception in overtime. 

Favre said he held no "ill will" toward the Saints for the scandal and wished he played better in the game. 

"I played the game with the mindset to be prepared for anything: big hits, injuries, and players trying to knock my head off. I never made excuses for the times I wasn’t successful and played the game within the ruleset. In fact, losing just made me want to work harder and fueled my drive to win next time," Favre wrote. 

"I don’t have any ill-will towards those involved in Bounty Gate. After we lost to the Saints, I rooted for Drew Brees and Sean Payton to win the Super Bowl. Looking back 15 years later, my opinion hasn’t changed. If I could have some of those plays back and done my part, maybe we would have been the ones celebrating a championship victory in 2010." 

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The Saints won the Super Bowl that year against the Indianapolis Colts. 

But once the scandal was uncovered, the Saints received some of the harshest sanctions in NFL history. Former head coach Sean Payton was suspended a year without pay. 

Defensive coordinator Greg Williams, identified as the brains of the plan, was suspended indefinitely but was later reinstated. Former general manager Mickey Loomis was suspended for the first eight games of the 2012 season, and assistant head coach Joe Vitt was suspended for the first six games of that year. 

Former Saints players Scott Fujita, Anthony Hargrove, Will Smith and Jonathan Vilma were all suspended for their roles. 

The Saints also had to pay a $500,000 fine and forfeit their second-round picks in the 2012 and 2013 drafts

The team's bounty hunting plan involved as many as 27 players and at least one assistant coach, the league found in its investigation. Players even contributed to a cash pool. 

The players were paid $1,500 for a "knockout," when a targeted player couldn't return to the game, and $1,000 for a "cart-off," when a player had to be carried off the field.

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