A new lawsuit in New York alleges Mariano Rivera and his wife, Clara, of ignoring the sexual abuse of a minor that occurred both at their home and a church.
The New York Yankees legend is the pastor of Refuge of Hope Church in New Rochelle, roughly 15 miles from where he played.
However, "Jane Doe" says she was sexually abused by an older girl, known as "MG," during a summer internship in 2018. MG was a minor at the time of the alleged incidents.
The internship took place at the Ignite Life Center in Gainesville, Florida, which was affiliated with Rivera's church.
The suit says that the victim's mother informed Clara of the abuse and that Clara promised to investigate the matter. But they allegedly covered it up.
"Rather than take sufficient action to end the sexual abuse of Jane Doe, the Riveras each separately isolated and intimidated Jane Doe to remain silent about her abuse by MG to avoid causing trouble for Refuge of Hope and the Ignite Life Summer Internship," the suit reads.
The suit also alleges that MG abused the victim at the Rivera residence that summer during a barbecue.
"At all times relevant, [the Riveras] knew or should have known that MG was a risk to sexually abuse children… before and during the time of the barbecue," the suit reads.
"In order to avoid the potential scandal of child sexual abuse in its programs and otherwise protect [themselves] above all else, the Riveras… assured [Doe's mother] that [Doe] was safe and in no danger at Ignite Life Center, despite actual or constructive knowledge that Doe remained vulnerable to additional acts of sexual abuse by MG."
Several months later, in January 2019, Rivera became the first, and still only, player to be unanimously elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Later that year, President Donald Trump, during his first presidency, awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Rivera, widely known as the greatest closer in the history of baseball, is the sport's all-time saves leader with 652. His 2.21 ERA is also the lowest by any pitcher with at least 500 innings since the live-ball era began in 1920.
COOPERSTOWN– A leadoff hitter, Ichiro Suzuki, an ace starting pitcher, CC Sabathia, and a lockdown closer, Billy Wagner, were revealed as the three members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame's Class of 2025.Continue reading …
BUCKEYES ON TOP – For the first time in a decade, the Ohio State Buckeyes are champions. Ohio State took down Notre Dame, 34-23, to win the College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Continue reading …
‘A PERFECT STORM’ – ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit revealed his wife's private cancer diagnosis, along with his son's medical condition, prompted his visibly emotional reaction after seeing his alma mater — Ohio State Buckeyes — win the national championship. Continue reading …
GEAR UP – Whether you're a die-hard supporter of one of the four teams remaining in the playoffs or rooting for an underdog to make it to the Super Bowl, here is a guide to landing some merch. Continue reading …
BIPARTISAN? – Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., told Fox News Digital that multiple senators from across the aisle have expressed support for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which was previously passed in the U.S. House of Representatives. Continue reading …
SPEAKING OUT – Wyoming women's volleyball player Macey Boggs testified at a state senate hearing about her team forfeiting matches against San Jose State last year amid controversy related to transgender athlete Blaire Fleming. Continue reading …
UNDER SCRUTINY – Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker faced some ridicule after she chanted 'E-L-G-S-E-S' during her attempt to show support for the city's NFL team. Continue reading …
FOR A GOOD CAUSE – Amid scrutiny over his dropped pass during a two-point attempt in the Baltimore Ravens divisional playoff loss, Buffalo Bills fans are showing support to a charity close to Mark Andrews' heart. Continue reading …
‘THE BEST COACH’ – Danny Hurley's latest heated exchange with an official was caught on camera, with the UConn coach reminding the referee of just how great of a coach he is.Continue reading …
SPECIAL MESSAGE – ESPN aired a message from President Trump during halftime of the college football national championship between Ohio State and Notre Dame, which sparked some strong reactions across social media. Continue reading …
FROM FOX SPORTS – Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels asked Tom Brady to expound on his infamous "LFG" acronym after being awarded the "LFG Player of the Game." Continue reading …
FROM OUTKICK – As the NFL's hiring carousel continues to go round and round, the Jacksonville Jaguars made headlines by jettisoning Trent Baalke from his general manager post. Continue reading …
WATCH NOW – Patrick Mahomes said "a lot of other plays decided the outcome" after the Chiefs' controversial win over the Texans. Colin Cowherd and Tom Brady discuss whether officiating in the NFL is an issue. Watch here …
For Ohio State Buckeyes standout linebacker Jack Sawyer, the last 48 hours have been quite a "whirlwind" if you ask him.
On Monday night, he helped the Buckeyes cap a resilient College Football Playoff run with a national championship victory over Notre Dame. And you can expect what happened when the team returned to Columbus, Ohio.
"It’s been a lot of fun," Sawyer told Fox News Digital before his celebratory "shift" at Raising Cane’s in Columbus alongside his star quarterback teammate Will Howard. "Obviously, it’s been a whirlwind after the game when we first got back to Columbus. Now, it’s maybe even more of a whirlwind, but we’ve had a lot of fun with it and so happy we were able to get the job done for Coach Day and the city of Columbus."
Sawyer pulled up to Raising Cane’s early Wednesday morning with "already 100 people outside," all of whom were waiting to praise the two Buckeyes for their contributions to a championship season.
But while the Buckeyes’ celebrations continue, the end of the season means both Sawyer and Howard are set to become NFL Draft prospects, as they aim for their transition to pro football.
Sawyer’s draft stock skyrocketed as he had a tremendous CFP run, including the strip-sack, scoop-and-score against his former Ohio State roommate, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, to seal the Buckeyes’ victory in the Cotton Bowl to cement a spot in the national title game.
While his motor on the field, and work ethic off it, are qualities that teams will be looking at during the scouting process, Sawyer knows that his faith will continue to play a large role in what happens next.
"It’s everything to us," Sawyer said about his faith, bringing Howard into the fold as well. "It’s a number in our lives when you put God first like that and truly seek to grow with him and follow his plan. He’s going to open so many doors for you that you would never think you could achieve otherwise.
"For me and Will, and really everyone on the team, our faith’s been the biggest thing keeping us up and keeping us moving forward after a couple tough losses in the season."
One of those losses was a massive upset by the Michigan Wolverines, the Buckeyes’ bitter rival whom Sawyer naturally refers to as the "Team Up North," on Nov. 30. It was a loss in Columbus that led to a brawl on the field between the two teams, where Sawyer was seen ripping a Michigan flag away from midfield after the Wolverines wanted to celebrate their win even more.
At the time, it was a disaster for head coach Ryan Day and the Buckeyes. They weren’t able to get a shot at the Big Ten title, and many questioned if they had what it took to make that CFP run.
But Ohio State showed what resiliency looks like in the face of adversity, especially with a load of naysayers believing the Buckeyes once again wouldn’t be able to take their talented team to the title game.
"We knew we had to get to work and fix the things we needed to fix and attack it as hard as we could," he said. "That’s exactly what we did. No one saw the work we were putting in behind the scenes."
For Sawyer personally, he went into his next game after losing to Michigan and racked up 1.5 sacks with two passes defended and five total tackles in the rout against Tennessee in the first round of the CFP. Then, he had two sacks and three passes defended in the Rose Bowl against Oregon, followed by his 83-yard return for a touchdown against the Longhorns.
"I think it’s just taught me a lot about life," Sawyer said of this title run. "It’s taught me about how everything is not always going to go your way, but if you keep trusting in God and fight and keep getting up every day swinging, eventually you’re going to come out the other end.
"I think that is something I’m going to take with me to the next level, and it’s something I hope teams see in me. No matter what, I’m going to give it my all, keep fighting and continue to grow every day."
Again, this is time for celebration after a long, hard season for Sawyer, his teammates and his coaches. But the NFL Scouting Combine is right around the corner, and pretty soon, Sawyer will likely be hearing his name called in April when the NFL Draft kicks off.
Whichever team writes his name on their card, he knows he’ll be giving his all to make an impact like he has in Columbus. But he won’t stress any step moving forward, as his faith will remain a constant as he looks ahead to his next major life moment.
"Anything’s possible with God, and I’m going to keep trusting his plan," Sawyer concluded. "Like I said, he blessed us far more than we could ever thank him enough for."
National outrage over questionable penalties called during the Kansas City Chiefs' playoff game against the Houston Texans made its way to Travis Kelce's podcast Wednesday, but he stayed on the sidelines of the debate.
After NFL referees called two roughing the passer penalties after hits on Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes during Saturday's divisional round game, Texans players and head coach DeMeco Ryans suggested officials sided with Kansas City. Many fans expressed grievances about the questionable penalties on social media.
Kelce and his brother Jason read some of the outraged tweets during Wendesday's episode of their podcast, "New Heights," but Travis refused to speak about the issue.
"I'd like to plead the Fifth," the tight end said, jokingly referring to his constitutional right to remain silent.
"I don't feel that way,'' Mahomes answered. "At the end of the day, the referees are doing their best to call the game as fair and as proper as they possibly can. And all you can do is go out there and play the game that you love as hard as you can and live with the results. ... I think that's what we preach here in Kansas City.
"You get new referees every year, you get new circumstances and you never can really tell because every play's different. And that's what makes the NFL so special. I feel like I've just continued to play the game, and I just try to win. And whatever happens kind of happens.''
Mahomes defended the referees Tuesday during a radio interview on 96.5 The Fan.
"I‘ve kind of learned that no matter what happens during the game, something’s going to come out about it if you win and you continue to win. So, I don’t really pay attention to it," Mahomes said.
"I mean, obviously, I’ve been on both sides of it as far as how I felt the calls were made, but, at the end of the day, man, those guys are doing their best to make the best calls and keep it to where the players are making the plays in the game.
"And that’s what decides the outcome. And obviously there was a call here or there that people didn’t agree with, but, at the same time, I think there was a lot of other plays that really decided the outcome of that football game."
Head referee Clay Martin explained the calls to a pool reporter after the game, saying one of the controversial calls was a result of "forcible contact to the face mask area," which warranted a flag. He said there was forcible contact to Mahomes’ "hairline" on another unnecessary roughness call.
But with temperatures remaining in the 30s on Wednesday, many main highways in the metro areas were closed by authorities and surface roads throughout town were still coated in ice.
Schools and businesses throughout the area remained closed on Wednesday, along with Louis Armstrong International Airport canceling all commercial departures due to the weather. With those factors taken into consideration, the NBA postponed the game, with no date currently set for the game to be made up.
Schools and businesses throughout the area remained closed on Wednesday.
The Bucks’ next game is against the Miami Heat back in Milwaukee on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Following that game against the Heat, the Bucks go on a West Coast road trip, beginning on Saturday, and don’t have another home game until Feb. 2.
The Bucks are scheduled to next play the Pelicans toward the end of the regular season at home on April 9.
The Pelicans, on the other hand, are scheduled to play on both Friday and Saturday, making it difficult for the NBA to schedule the postponed game soon.
The Pelicans have struggled this season as they are 12-32, the second-worst team in the Western Conference.
The Bucks have enjoyed much more success than the Pelicans, and are 24-17, good for fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford played hurt in the team’s 28-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday.
Stafford’s wife, Kelly, revealed the star quarterback had been playing through an injury since Week 15.
"It was against San Fran. We all know how tough Matthew is, and people don’t realize just how tough he is because he doesn’t really tell anyone what’s going on.
"He got hit in San Fran … (and) that night came home and was like, ‘Yeah I think I cracked my ribs,’" Kelly said during a recent episode of "The Morning After with Kelly Stafford and Hank."
"And he did. He cracked four ribs but just didn’t really let anyone in to know really much about it. Continued his everyday process like nothing was wrong, would come home and be miserable."
Despite the four cracked ribs and less than ideal weather conditions, Stafford completed nearly 60% of his passes while throwing for 324 yards and two touchdowns.
Kelly said her brother, Chad, hugged Matthew after the loss, and the quarterback wheezed and bent over in pain due to his cracked ribs.
Stafford started 16 games this season for the Rams, sitting out Week 18 when head coach Sean McVay decided to rest the team’s starters with a playoff spot clinched.
The Rams were 10-6 in his starts, and Stafford completed nearly 66% of his passes for 3,762 yards, while throwing 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Stafford, 36, has two more years remaining on his contract with the Rams.
Stafford has been with the Rams for four seasons after spending the first 12 seasons of his career with the Detroit Lions.
Kelly said Matthew will take time to figure out whether he wants to retire or play another season.
For now, the Rams quarterback will enjoy the time off to let his ribs heal.
Former Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is reportedly heading to the New York Jets, a team he played for during his NFL career, to become their next head coach.
It’s a move that many Jets legends, including "Broadway Joe" himself, loves to see.
"I’m hoping all [Jets] fans are as thrilled as my family and I are that Aaron Glenn is our new Head Coach," Jets legendary quarterback Joe Namath posted on X. "I wish the season would start next week."
NFL.com’s Judy Battista also reported that Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells, who led Glenn with the Jets and Dallas Cowboys as a player, was fired up to see his former pupil get his due as head coach.
"He’s not afraid to be contentious," Parcells told Battista. "He’s just feisty. Not rude or impolite. He’s just willing to get his point across."
DJ Reed, who spent the past three seasons with the Jets and is a free agent this offseason, also sent out a post on X.
Glenn’s departure from Detroit marks the second coordinator under Dan Campbell that found their own head coaching gig elsewhere. While Glenn went to another conference, offensive coordinator Ben Johnson landed with the Chicago Bears, a rival of the Lions in the NFC North.
Glenn’s return to the Jets heated up on Tuesday when he met with team brass. The initial thought was they weren’t going to let him leave the building, as well as GM candidate Lance Newark of the Washington Commanders, to make sure they got the candidates they wanted.
While that didn’t come to fruition, the belief that Glenn wanted the Jets job swirled around social media, and it landed on Wednesday.
Glenn also beat out more than a dozen other coaches in the Jets’ extensive search, including Brian Flores, Jeff Hafley, Ron Rivera and Rex Ryan.
A three-time Pro Bowler, Glenn was drafted 12th overall by the Jets in the 1994 NFL Draft. He spent eight seasons with the franchise before being acquired by the Houston Texans in the 2002 expansion draft.
Glenn takes over a Jets franchise desperately searching for the right man to lead a team back to the playoffs, where they haven’t been since 2010 – the longest drought in football.
One of the big questions for Glenn and whoever ownership brings in as the new GM is whether they want Aaron Rodgers to return to Gang Green in 2025. Of course, Rodgers has to decide if he wishes to play his 21st season in the league.
Either way, Glenn is getting signs of approval from valued members of the franchise outside ownership, which is always a good start.
Fox News' Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes answered questions about tight end Travis Kelce potentially retiring after this season during an interview on 96.5 The Fan on Tuesday.
Mahomes claimed he hasn't had any discussions whether the tight end plans to retire, but acknowledged that if he does, then Mahomes wants the team to send him out on a high note.
"I have no idea. He hasn’t said anything to me if he’s thinking that," Mahomes said, later adding, "If it is his last game, let’s go out there and get him a win. If it’s not his last game, let’s go out and get him a win anyway."
Mahomes also brought up the fact that Kelce is currently under contract through the end of next season, but that the tight end also has a lifestyle that he may enjoy in retirement.
"I know he signed a two-year extension before the season. It seems like he still loves football. But he also has a great life, as well," Mahomes said.
Kelce signed a $34.25 million contract back in April, after some speculation that the 2023 season would be his last.
Kelce has been Mahomes' favorite target since the quarterback took over as the full-time starter in 2018. The duo has won three Super Bowls together, and is currently on a mission to win a fourth and become the first team in NFL history to win three in a row.
Mahomes and Kelce have also helped make the Chiefs one of the most popular franchises in all of sports in recent years, as Kelce's relationship with Taylor Swift has grown the team's fan base by large margins among women.
"Either way, I just appreciate every time I step onto the field with that guy knowing that he’s a true legend of not only the Chiefs, but of the NFL," Mahomes said.
Kelce himself opened up on the possibility of retiring after this season during an interview on "The Stephen A. Smith Show" on Jan. 15.
"I love everything that I'm doing in this building, but at the end of the day I'm not having that extreme success on the field as I have individually," Kelce said.
"I'll re-evaluate it like I always do, and I'll probably tell myself how much I love this thing, and I'll come back next year. I still love coming into the building every day. Does it get hard? Yeah, but I'm not doing it for the stats. I'm doing it for the greatness, the legacy that we've created here in Kansas City," he added "I can't fathom what it would feel like just being able to say I'm satisfied because I'm still hungry to go and get something right now."
After the Chiefs' most recent playoff victory against the Houston Texans last Saturday, Kelce sent a cryptic message on social media that fueled further speculation that the end of his career is near.
"Playoff football is the most meaningful football that you'll ever play in your life," he said in a video posted to the Chiefs’ Instagram account. "I cherish every single play, man. I really do. When you're in it, you're always trying to strive for greatness.
"Being greater than what you are. You know, obviously there's a historic run and something that we can achieve that no other team has ever achieved. You know, that fuels you."
At 35 years old, Kelce finished the 2024 regular season with 97 catches for 823 yards and three touchdowns in 16 games, and didn't miss a single game due to injury.
Kelce has also said he has support from Swift to keep playing if he wants to.
The Chiefs will face the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship game on Sunday for the right to advance to the Super Bowl.
Two-time Olympic gold medalist Klete Keller was among the 1,500 defendants charged in connection to the Jan. 6, 2021, riots at the U.S. Capital pardoned by President Donald Trump on Monday.
"It didn’t feel real," Keller told The Washington Post in his first interview since being arrested.
"And waking up this morning, I was like, ‘My gosh. Wow, this is over. I don’t have to check in with my probation officer anymore."
Keller was one of approximately 1,500 defendants pardoned after Trump signed an executive order granting clemency to those who stormed the Capitol. He pleaded guilty in September 2021 to a felony charge and was sentenced to six months house arrest and three years of probation.
"I really regret the actions I took that day. I love this country," Keller said in the interview published Tuesday. "I’m just so grateful that I have the opportunity now to move forward."
Keller acknowledged in court records that he tried to obstruct Congress’ certification of former President Biden’s Electoral College victory and that he brushed away officers who tried to remove him from the Capitol Rotunda. He also admitted to yelling profane comments about former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Keller, a three-time Olympic swimmer, also admitted to tossing his U.S. Olympic team jacket that he wore that day and destroying his phone.
He told The Washington Post that he struggled under "the weight of the justice system," but he accepted the consequences of his decisions. While never expecting a pardon, Keller expressed his appreciation for Trump’s intervention.
"I’m still trying to comprehend it. I feel like something has been restored to me," he told the outlet. "You know, I’m not angry. I’m not a victim. I feel blessed to have this opportunity of life again. I’ve learned a lot of lessons. And I’m going to take these lessons forward."
Keller, 42, competed in three Games, winning five medals. He won his second gold in the men’s 4x200 meter freestyle relay alongside Michael Phelps in the 2008 Beijing Games.
With the season ending over two weeks ago, the team announced Wednesday it has parted ways with general manager Trent Baalke.
"Following several discussions with Trent Baalke this week, we both arrived at the conclusion that it is in our mutual best interests to respectfully separate, effective immediately," owner Shad Khan wrote in a statement.
"Trent leaves us with my deepest appreciation for his efforts over the past five seasons. … I am deeply committed to building a winner here in Jacksonville and look forward to introducing a new head coach who will make that happen for our players and fans alike."
After winning the AFC South in 2022, it's been a tough couple of seasons for the organization. The Jags choked what would have been a second-straight division win in 2023. This season, in Trevor Lawrence's first year of one of the most lucrative contract extensions of all time, he took a step backward, and the team finished 4-13.
Baalke joined the Jags in 2020 as their director of player personnel but was quickly promoted to general manager the following year. His first selection in the draft was Lawrence.
Jacksonville went 25-43 in his tenure.
The separation comes after the Titans and Raiders hired new general managers.
Reports say that, after the Jags fired Doug Pederson, potential head coaching candidates did not want to work under Baalke. Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson chose the Bears, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn went with the Jets and Bucs OC Liam Coen decided to return to Tampa Bay instead of going to Jacksonville.
Jacksonville holds the fifth selection in the NFL Draft.
The Chiefs are looking to get into their fifth Super Bowl since the turn of the decade, but they have to get through the Buffalo Bills first. But history is on Kansas City's side entering Sunday's AFC Championship Game: They are 4-0 against Buffalo in the playoffs in that span.
And if there's one person who knows what the Chiefs are capable of, it's Kayla Nicole, the ex-girlfriend of star tight end Travis Kelce.
On the "I Am Athlete Daily" podcast, host Brandon Marshall admitted he didn't want to get "messy" by bringing up the Chiefs with Nicole, but the two shared some analysis.
"I think there is nothing like that environment. That’s the loudest stadium in the league," she said. "The energy is crazy. I think [quarterback] Patrick [Mahomes], too, is just a seasoned vet at this point. There is no panic, there is no sudden decisions. This is a well-thought-out offense. [Mahomes] studies the game like nobody else. Oh my God, yeah, that’s all he does. He’s a student of the game.
"Then you got [Chiefs coach] Andy Reid, and I think his playbook is crazy. That’s a known fact about him. Their offense is OD. They have guys they can throw the ball to that’s not going to drop it in the end zone."
"Travis Kelce, that’s a tight end that’s not going to do it. They got the threats. So as much as I would love to see somebody else in the Super Bowl, just to see something new, it’s not going to happen."
But despite the positive words, she made her rooting interest clear.
"As much as I’d love to see [Bills quarterback] Josh [Allen] pull it off, I don’t know if that’s going to happen. … [It’s] something new. I’m bored," she quipped.
Nicole and Kelce dated for five years and even attended Mahomes' wedding together. Kelce has since been dating Taylor Swift.
Scrums after the whistle are common in the NHL. What isn’t common is when you see a superstar goalie join the fracas after the whistle.
During the New York Rangers' 5-0 win over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday in New York, star goalie Igor Shesterkin charged right into the middle of the fight and was ready to swing.
The Rangers were up 3-0 with 12:51 left in the third period over the Senators when things got crazy in Madison Square Garden.
Senators captain Brady Tkachuk went after a loose puck around the neck and ran into Rangers’ star goalie Igor Shesterkin, sending the goalie back into his own net.
The five Rangers players on the ice immediately came to their goalie’s defense as they swarmed Tkachuk.
Then the rest of the Senators’ players on the ice came to their captain’s defense, and eventually each Rangers and Senators skater paired off with one another in a shoving match.
While all the chaos unfolded, Shesterkin hunched over in the crease, gathering himself.
Then suddenly, as the chaos started winding down, Shesterkin got up and charged straight into the melee and went after Tkachuk.
Tkachuk saw Shesterkin coming and punched at the goalie’s helmet, knocking Shesterkin down, while Shesterkin threw a blocker toward Tkachuk.
Then Tkachuk, whose right arm was being held by Rangers forward Matt Rempe, jostled with Shesterkin before the referees intervened and removed Shesterkin from the scrum.
As Shesterkin was being pulled away, Rempe, who is known for fighting in his short time in the NHL, went after Tkachuk.
But a referee got between the two, not letting them fight, despite Rempe and Tkachuk throwing punches at each other around the referee.
Once order was restored on the ice, the referees convened and doled out a lot of penalties.
Shesterkin was penalized two minutes for leaving the goalie's crease. Rempe was given a double-minor penalty for roughing.
Tkachuk was also given a double-minor penalty for roughing, and he was also penalized for goalie interference.
Shane Pinto, the Senators' center, was also given a minor penalty for roughing Rangers’ defenseman Ryan Lindgren.
The Rangers ended up on the power play after all the penalties, and Artemi Panarin cashed in to make it 4-0.
Alexis Lafrenière, Arthur Kaliyev, Rempe, Panarin and Will Cuylle all scored in the win for the Rangers.
The Rangers are 7-1-3 in their last 11 games and have surged back into the wild-card race after a dreadful stretch in which they won just four of 19 games in December.
For Shesterkin, it was his second straight game with a shutout, saving all 20 of the Senators’ shots on net.
The Rangers look to continue their winning ways when they take on the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET.
The Senators next face the Boston Bruins on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker responded to widespread mockery that was directed at her when she misspelled the name of the hometown Eagles during a speech on Sunday.
During a chant to celebrate the team's playoff run, the Democratic mayor attempted to do the fan base's signature chant of spelling out the team name. However, she spelled it "E-L-G-S-E-S."
The Democrat's misspelling has already been turned into a T-shirt by the independent Philadelphia sports apparel business "Philly Goat."
Parker is in her first term as the city's mayor after winning the mayoral election in 2023, becoming the first woman mayor in the city's history when she defeated Republican Joe Rockey.
Parker served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 2005-15, and then on the Philadelphia city council from 2015-22.
The Eagles will face the rival Washington Commanders in Philadelphia on Sunday in the NFC Championship game for the right to advance to the Super Bowl.
Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is returning to his roots for his first head coaching job in the NFL.
Glenn, one of the top coaching candidates this offseason, accepted the role of the New York Jets head coach on Wednesday, becoming the first former player to return as head coach in nearly 50 years, according to ESPN.
Multiple outlets reported the news a day after Glenn met with Jets brass on Tuesday.
The New Orleans Saints, who parted ways with Dennis Allen in November, were reportedly also in competition to land Glenn.
A three-time Pro Bowler, Glenn got his start in the NFL as a cornerback when he was selected by the Jets with the No. 12 overall pick in the 1994 Draft. He spent eight seasons in New York before being acquired by the Houston Texans in the 2002 NFL expansion draft.
Glenn turned to coaching not long after his playing career ended in 2008. He most notably spent the last four seasons overseeing the Lions’ defense and interviewed with several teams before accepting the job in New York.
Glenn also beat out more than a dozen other coaches in the Jets’ extensive search, which included Brian Flores, Jeff Hafley, Ron Rivera and Rex Ryan, among others.
According to The Associated Press, Glenn was the only candidate to receive a second interview.
Glenn takes over with fans desperate for change. He replaces Robert Saleh, who was fired just five games into the season.
The Jets’ struggles looked like they were coming to an end when four-time league MVP Aaron Rodgers was brought on in 2023. But a season-ending injury in his debut in New York derailed those plans.
The 2024 season wasn’t much of an improvement – not even the addition of Rodgers’ favorite target could change the outcome and the Jets extended their historic playoff drought.
Spytek, 44, has an extensive track record in NFL front offices, and it all began as a Detroit Lions operations intern in 2004.
He moved on to the Philadelphia Eagles, serving as a college and pro scout from 2005-09, and then to the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos in similar scouting roles before eventually landing in Tampa Bay in 2016.
He joined the Bucs as their director of player personnel, working alongside GM Jason Licht to build a Tampa Bay squad that won the Super Bowl during the 2021 season.
One of the main reasons for that Vince Lombardi Trophy heading back to Tampa Bay was the Bucs' acquisition of Tom Brady, which Spytek played a role in after their time together as Michigan Wolverines.
That connection continues with the Raiders. Brady is a minority owner of the franchise.
Spytek worked his way through the Bucs’ front office, getting promoted to vice president of player personnel in 2021 and then moving to assistant GM in 2023.
With Spytek expected to assume his role soon, the next big hire will be head coach for the Raiders after the firing of Antonio Pierce one season after the team named him full-time head coach after an interim stint in 2023.
Then Spytek will aim to build a roster in desperate need of a franchise quarterback and some more playmakers on both sides of the ball. Las Vegas owns the sixth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and some view the Raiders as a team that may trade up to get a quarterback like Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward.
Edmonton Oilers star Corey Perry likely had one of the most unusual assists of his career during the third period of Tuesday night’s game against the league-leading Washington Capitals.
The Oilers were trailing 3-1 to start the third period when center Leon Draisaitl skated into Washington’s zone, making a quick pass to Perry, who beat Capitals netminder Logan Thompson to cut the lead to a one-goal deficit.
However, Thompson appeared to take issue with the sequence of events, pleading to officials that something had been thrown onto the ice before the pass was made.
What was it that distracted one of the NHL’s top goalies? A platter of nachos.
"That's a first," Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said after the game, via ESPN.
"We just talked about that in the coaches' office. I don't think I've ever seen a nachos-on-the-ice National Hockey League game. Did they save them? Maybe we can bring them into the locker room."
A replay of the play showed Perry skating around the concession stand favorite to find the back of the net. Thompson admitted after the game that he should have played until the whistle.
"I've never seen that before. Obviously, I've got to play to the whistle. That one's on me," Thompson said, adding that he saw the fan that threw the plate of nachos.
"Wasn't too happy. But credit to him. He got them a goal," he said, suggesting the fan was an Oilers supporter.
For his part, Perry admitted to not even noticing the platter.
Despite the setback, the Capitals were able to hold on to the 3-2 lead for the win as they extended their win streak to five straight. The Oilers have now dropped two in a row and their first since star forward Connor McDavid was issued a three-game suspension for cross-checking.
American tennis star Ben Shelton called out the TV interviewers at the Australian Open on Tuesday following his quarterfinal victory, saying that he believes several of the post-match interviews throughout the tournament have crossed a line.
Speaking to the media following his hard-fought victory over Lorenzo Sonego, Shelton closed his press conference with an unprompted remark about player interviews, which have come under the spotlight this week after Novak Djokovic refused to do an interview following comments made about him and his fan base.
"I’ve been a little shocked this week with how players have been treated by the broadcasters," Shelton, 22, said. "I don’t think that guy who mocked Novak – I don’t think that was just a single event. I’ve noticed it with different people, not just myself."
Shelton named a number of incidents, including his on-court interview following his fourth round victory over 38-year-old French veteran Gael Monfils. The interviewer, Roger Rasheed, noted that Monfils is "almost your dad."
Shelton responded, "Was that a Black joke?" Both players are Black.
Shelton also spoke about his interview after the quarterfinal match, in which the interviewer commented that he likely would not have many fans in his semifinal match against reigning champ Jannik Sinner.
"I just don’t think that comment [is] respectful from a guy I’ve never met before in my life," Shelton said.
"I feel like broadcasters should be helping us grow our sport and help these athletes who just won matches on the biggest stage enjoy one of their biggest moments. I just feel like there’s been a lot of negativity and I think that’s something that needs to change."
Broadcasters at this year’s Grand Slam came under fire after Australian Channel 9 journalist Tony Jones called Djokovic "overrated" and "a has-been" while mocking Serbian fans. Djokvic refused an on-court interview after the incident until he received an apology.
On Monday, the network said in a statement it apologized "for any offense caused from comments made" while live on air.
"No harm was intended towards Novak or his fans," the statement continued. "We look forward to further showcasing his Australian Open campaign at Melbourne Park."
Edmonton Oilers star Corey Perry likely had one of the most unusual assists of his career during the third period of Tuesday night’s game against the league-leading Washington Capitals.
The Oilers were trailing 3-1 to start the third period when center Leon Draisaitl skated into Washington’s zone, making a quick pass to Perry, who beat Capitals netminder Logan Thompson to cut the lead to a one-goal deficit.
However, Thompson appeared to take issue with the sequence of events, pleading to officials that something had been thrown onto the ice before the pass was made.
What was it that distracted one of the NHL’s top goalies? A platter of nachos.
"That's a first," Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said after the game, via ESPN.
"We just talked about that in the coaches' office. I don't think I've ever seen a nachos-on-the-ice National Hockey League game. Did they save them? Maybe we can bring them into the locker room."
A replay of the play showed Perry skating around the concession stand favorite to find the back of the net. Thompson admitted after the game that he should have played until the whistle.
"I've never seen that before. Obviously, I've got to play to the whistle. That one's on me," Thompson said, adding that he saw the fan that threw the plate of nachos.
"Wasn't too happy. But credit to him. He got them a goal," he said, suggesting the fan was an Oilers supporter.
For his part, Perry admitted to not even noticing the platter.
Despite the setback, the Capitals were able to hold on to the 3-2 lead for the win as they extended their win streak to five straight. The Oilers have now dropped two in a row and their first since star forward Connor McDavid was issued a three-game suspension for cross-checking.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2025 has been announced, as CC Sabathia, Ichiro Suzuki and Billy Wagner will be heading to Cooperstown to be enshrined forever alongside the game’s greats.
While the baseball world celebrates these three amazing ballplayers, there are some who have real cases for the Hall of Fame that saw another year go by without getting a shot at entering the Hall.
One of them is Kenny Lofton, the six-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glover who spent 17 seasons in MLB racking up 2,428 hits and a 68.4 WAR over 2,103 games.
Now, when the day comes like Tuesday, when the Hall of Fame ballots are counted and results come in, Lofton isn’t rubbed the wrong way. He knows that after not securing at least 5% of the ballot in 2013, he’s no longer eligible to be voted on regularly.
But there’s no doubting that Lofton still feels hurt that he didn’t get what he believes is a fair shot at being in Cooperstown.
"I didn’t get credit for what I did. It’s kinda sad. I still don’t get credit," Lofton told Fox News Digital while discussing his role as an advisor with Sluggball, a reimagined approach to the game of baseball.
"I can only say all the time that, from my era and my time, I did what I was supposed to do. I thought at that time, it was very important for me to do my job as a teammate, and that was an important part of the game. Now you look at it as me doing my job and me being a team player, it kinda hurt me. Instead of me being selfish like other guys, the three and four hitters, it was all about them eating. I was serving, and they were eating, but I didn’t get the credit for serving the food to them."
Lofton’s first year on the Hall of Fame ballot was perhaps one of the most stacked ballots of all time, though no living inductees were had for the first time since 1965. There were 10 players, including Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell, Mike Piazza and Edgar Martinez, who eventually got the 75% of votes needed to get in, but guys like Lofton and Bernie Williams were left off the ballot the next year because at least 5% of votes is required to move on.
And like Lofton mentioned, the era of baseball he played in, infamously known as the Steroid Era, had players like Barry Bonds (36.2%), Mark McGwire (16.9%), Sammy Sosa (12.5%) and Rafael Palmeiro (8.8%) also on the ballot with him.
Ichiro also played in that era, entering MLB at the late age of 27 in 2001 and still putting up 3,089 hits over 19 seasons. Only one Hall of Fame voter left him off their ballot despite, much like Derek Jeter, there being a very strong case for a unanimous vote.
Lofton loves that Ichiro got his due, and the same goes for Tim Raines, whose 23-year career saw a speedy outfielder hitting for average rather than home runs. But he feels he’s in the same conversation.
"That’s what hurts me to see this and seeing Ichiro with the opportunity to show, OK, here’s some smaller guys who are not all about home runs can get in the game and then you compare my numbers to Ichiro, we’re not too far off," Lofton explained.
Making that case, Wins Above Replacement (WAR) is a mark many voters use to see if a player should be in the Hall of Fame. Ichiro had a 60.0 WAR, while Lofton was at 68.4 over his career.
And when you view their career season averages side by side, Lofton was better with stolen bases (48 to 31), home runs (10 to 7), RBI (60 to 48), and runs (118 to 87). Ichiro beats Lofton in batting average (.311 to .299), but only by two in hits (189 to 187).
Then, there is sabermetrician Jay Jaffe’s "The Cooperstown Casebook," which outlines the JAWS metric to determine who should and shouldn’t be in the Hall of Fame. JAWS is a player’s WAR averaged with their 7-year peak WAR.
Lofton is 10th all-time for center fielders with a 55.9 JAWS mark. Every player above him is in the Hall of Fame except for Mike Trout (fifth), who still plays, and Carlos Beltran (ninth), who remains on the ballot and just missed getting in this year with 70.3% of votes.
Richie Ashburn, Andrew Dawson, Billy Hamilton, Larry Doby, Earl Averill, Max Carey and Kirby Puckett are all players with a lesser JAWS rating that are in the Hall.
Finally, Lofton's ability to steal bases – he's 15th all-time with 622 stolen bags – made him a menace when he got on base. In fact, he's one of only nine players with 600 career steals and 600 extra-base hits, yet he's the only one not in Cooperstown.
"All I’m asking from people is look at my numbers a little bit more," Lofton said. "… That was all I wanted because when you look at the stats and what people say, I have one of the highest WARs in history, especially for center fielders."
If the numbers are not enough, Lofton spoke of his peers reminiscing about his time in the league.
"I talked to [Hall of Famer] Barry Larkin and he says, ‘During the era of when you played, Kenny, you were the best thing out there,’" Lofton said. "He said, ‘No one wanted to deal with you when you stepped at the plate or when you were in the outfield.’ That made me feel good for another player to say that about me.
"When David Justice during the World Series, he said, ‘Kenny, our main thing was keeping you off the bases.’ He said, ‘We didn’t have a big meeting. We had a meeting that said keep that damn Kenny Lofton off the bases and we will win this series.’ So, that made me feel good to hear that kind of stuff from the players you played with."
There is still a way for Lofton to get into the Hall, as the Contemporary Committee votes in December 2025. But the ballot is only eight candidates, where 75% of votes must also be tallied to enter the Hall.
Lofton already went through that, though, in 2022 when Fred McGriff was elected by the committee. McGriff finished his 19-year career with 493 homers and a 52.6 WAR.
Again, Lofton isn’t knocking any of these players for getting their plaque in the Hall. All he wants is the consideration he feels he deserves.
Because it’s gotten to the point where he questions if his efforts were worth it.
"Sometimes, I look back at it like, ‘Dude, did I play the game the right way?’" Lofton questioned. "People are getting all these accolades for what they’re doing now. I’m like, wait a minute, what I did I guess was nothing at this point looking at how they perceive the game and how they look at it. How they look at it is leadoff hitter means nothing. I thought leadoff guy, that’s what you wanted your guy to do because he was helping the team. RBI means run batted in, so all these big guys getting all these accolades because of their runs batted in and they get praise from runs batted in. But how would that happen if a guy didn’t get on base for him to get that RBI? And he didn’t get credit, it’s sad.
"All I want people to do is look at my numbers and compare. And when they say during your era in your position or whatever, were you the best? At this point, they’re looking around that. I just want the committee to look at it and say, ‘He’s the best at it.’ But I don’t know. That’s not on me, but look at my numbers and compare me to people who are already in the Hall of Fame."
EXCLUSIVE: As the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act heads to the Senate after passing in the House of Representatives, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn, believes it will continue to get bipartisan support there, just as it did in the House.
Blackburn told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview that she has spoken to multiple Democrats across the aisle who are in support of restricting trans inclusion in women's sports.
"Many of my friends who are Democrats will tell you that they think Title IX is a thing and to have biological males competing against women is inappropriate, and they want opportunities for their daughters or nieces or granddaughters, and it's frustrating to them when they hear or about or witness a transgender male playing in a women's or girls' league" Blackburn said.
When the bill passed through the House last Tuesday, Reps. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, and Vicente Gonzales, D-Texas, were the only two Democrats to vote in favor of it. Blackburn expects and hopes that there will be multiple Democratic senators who vote in favor of the bill when it hits the Senate floor.
"I would expect there would be, I would hope there would be," she said.
However, most Democrats have remained firmly opposed to the bill. Many have gone so far in their opposition to make unsubstantiated claims that the law would empower child predators to give genital examinations to young girls.
Many of the 206 Democratic house representatives, including Minority Rep. Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., presented that argument despite no language in the bill that indicates genital examinations would be used.
Republicans insisted that proof of birth sex can be determined simply by a birth certificate. The Democrats' attempt to tie the bill to child predator empowerment has driven many loyal voters away from the party, Fox News Digital previously reported.
Blackburn says she has "no idea" what those Democrats who argued it would result in child predator empowerment are thinking.
"I find it very difficult to believe that protecting girls in sports would have such an adverse effect," Blackburn said. "Looking at the content of the bill is the best way to argue against it and know that a vast majority of Americans support protecting girls in girls' sports."
A recent New York Times/Ipsos survey found the vast majority of Americans, including a majority of Democrats, do not think transgender athletes should be permitted to compete in women's sports.
Of the 2,128 people who participated, 79% said biological males who identify as women should not be allowed to participate in women's sports. Of the 1,025 people who identified as Democrats or leaning Democrat, 67% said transgender athletes should not be allowed to compete with women.
Controversies over trans athletes competing against women became a key election issue in 2024, as President Donald Trump and Republicans down ballot all vowed to take action to prevent it.
The GOP has indicated it will make good on its promise very early, as the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act was the very first bill introduced to the 119th Congress. Blackburn plans to advocate strongly for the bill once it reaches the Senate, where the Republican majority and some Democrats are expected to pass it on to the White House for Trump to sign it into law.
However, Blackburn is not stopping there. She is also introducing three other proposals to tackle the issue on both a legislative and cultural level.
The Tennessee Senator has introduced a resolution calling on the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to revoke its transgender student-athlete eligibility policy, alongside Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla.
NCAA President Charlie Baker faced questions and criticism from Republican lawmakers for these policies during a congressional hearing on Dec. 17. Baker repeatedly cited federal law and recent rulings of federal courts that have enabled it. Blackburn and Steube's resolution would force Baker and the NCAA to follow a new precedent instead.
Blackburn is also introducing a bill to assess and prevent violence against women in athletics. The Fair Play for Girls Act, which, in addition to keeping women's sports for females, would "require the U.S. Attorney General to submit an analysis of violence against women in athletics to Congress."
"We have talked with different women who have had adverse impacts," Blackburn said. "This would require the attorney general to do an analysis and look at what is happening in the world of sports with women and to women and then looking at where there are impediments to fair competition for the girls, where there are occurrences of girls losing opportunities because a girl has joined their team or is playing in their league, and then also to look at harassment against women and girls in athletics."
Blackburn is even looking to have a conscious protection of women and girls in sports ingrained into American culture with a resolution declaring Oct. 10 as "American Girls in Sports Day," which Senate Democrats blocked last Congress.
The date, Oct. 10, which translates to XX in Roman numerals, is meant to reference the XX chromosomes that determine female gender at birth.
"It would just be teams and schools celebrating their teams and treating it as a time for schools to give the opportunities to coaches to girls who have excelled in different sports, I think it would be a source of encouragement to more young girls to participate in sports," Blackburn said.
Blackburn's legislative proposals have been endorsed by Riley Gaines, Jennifer Sey, Caitlyn Jenner, Sage Steele, Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee, Parents Defending Education Action and Independent Women’s Forum.
