AP Sports Summary for December 8th, 2023.
Bailey Zappe throws for 3 TDs, Patriots damage Steelers' playoff hopes with 21-18 win
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Bailey Zappe threw three first-half touchdown passes, and the New England Patriots snapped a five-game skid while damaging the playoff hopes of the Pittsburgh Steelers with a 21-18 victory. Zappe passed for 240 yards in his second start for the Patriots, who became the second two-win team in five days to hand the Steelers a potentially season-altering loss at home. Hunter Henry had two touchdown catches for New England. Ezekiel Elliott had 140 yards from scrimmage and caught a TD for the NFL's lowest-scoring offense. Mitch Trubisky had a touchdown pass and a rushing TD for Pittsburgh but made some questionable throws in place of the injured Kenny Pickett.
Jon Rahm bolts for LIV Golf in a stunning blow to the PGA Tour
Jon Rahm is now part of Saudi-funded LIV Golf. The shocking news was confirmed when Rahm donned a black LIV Golf jacket during an appearance on Fox News. Rahm leaves right as the PGA Tour and the Saudi backers of LIV Golf are racing to finalize an agreement to become commercial partners. Those talks now are in jeopardy. One of golf's best players and the current Masters champion going to the rival league is certain to deepen the divide in golf. The deal is reported to be in the $500 million range, which likely includes equity in his new team.
The Yankees made a vintage Steinbrenner move to land Juan Soto after a lousy 2023
NEW YORK (AP) — Juan Soto's arrival is a sign the New York Yankees want stars to help them rebound from their worst season in three decades. Acquiring the three-time All-Star outfielder from San Diego was a vintage George Steinbrenner move. The Yankees got Soto and Gold Glove center fielder Trent Grisham for right-handed pitchers Michael King, Jhony Brito, Randy Vásquez and Drew Thorpe along with catcher Kyle Higashioka. General manager Brian Cashman says "we certainly want to try under the Steinbrenner leadership to make this the mecca of baseball."
LeBron James scores 30 points, Lakers rout Pelicans 133-89 to reach tournament final
LAS VEGAS (AP) — LeBron James scored 30 points in less than three quarters and the Los Angeles Lakers steamrolled the New Orleans Pelicans 133-89 on Thursday night to reach the championship game in the NBA In-Season Tournament. The Lakers will play the surprising Indiana Pacers on Saturday night for the inaugural NBA Cup. Indiana advanced with a 128-119 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks in the other semifinal. Unlike the other tournament games, that one will not count in the regular-season standings. Austin Reaves scored 17 points for Los Angeles, Anthony Davis had 16 points and 15 rebounds and Taurean Prince finished with 15 points. Trey Murphy III led the Pelicans with 14 points. Zion Williamson had 13 points and Herbert Jones 10.
Jayden Daniels, the dazzling quarterback for LSU, is the AP college football player of the year
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels is The Associated Press college football player of the year. Daniels received 35 of the 51 first-place votes and 130 total points from AP Top 25 poll voters. Washington quarterback Michael Penix was second with 15 first-place votes and 97 points. Oregon QB Bo Nix was third ahead of Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison and Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon II. Daniels is the second LSU player in five seasons to win the award; Joe Burrow won in 2019, when he also won the Heisman Trophy.
Duke hires Penn State DC and ex-Miami coach Manny Diaz to lead Blue Devils
Duke has hired Penn State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz as its head coach. The school announced Diaz's hiring on Thursday night and is finalizing plans for a news conference Saturday. Diaz replaces Mike Elko, who was hired as coach by Texas A&M. Diaz spent three seasons as Miami's coach before being fired in 2021. He has spent the past two seasons at Penn State and led some of the nation's top defensive units. He also had stops as an assistant at Mississippi State, Louisiana Tech, Texas, Middle Tennessee and North Carolina State.
Bills coach Sean McDermott apologizes for referencing 9/11 hijackers in team meeting 4 years ago
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott has acknowledged regret for crediting the 9/11 hijackers for their coordination during a team meeting four years ago. McDermott had cited the hijackers while stressing the importance of communication. Upon realizing how his message was being interpreted, McDermott said he called a second team meeting an hour later to apologize to his players. He says he plans to do so again with his current team. McDermott's comments during the meeting were revealed in an article posted on the Substack page of NFL writer Tyler Dunne. The article cited numerous unnamed sources and McDermott did not dispute the reporting.
Lawsuit accuses NCAA of antitrust violation in college athlete transfer rule
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A federal lawsuit filed by a group of states alleges the NCAA's transfer rule for college athletes violates antitrust law. The lawsuit filed in West Virginia challenges the NCAA's authority to impose a one-year delay in the eligibility of certain athletes who transfer. The suit says the rule "unjustifiably" restrains these athletes' ability to engage in the market for their labor. NCAA rules allow underclassmen to transfer once without having to sit out a year. Any additional transfer as an undergraduate would require a waiver from the NCAA for the athlete to compete immediately. The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order against the NCAA from enforcing the transfer rule.
Pacers beat Bucks 128-119 to advance to face Lakers in NBA In-Season Tournament final
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Tyrese Haliburton had 27 points and 13 assists and the Indiana Pacers beat the Milwaukee Bucks 128-119 on Thursday to advance to the championship game int the NBA's inaugural In-Season Tournament. On Saturday night, the Pacers will face the Los Angeles Lakers, a 133-89 winner over New Orleans in the second semifinal. Myles Turner added 26 points for the Pacers. Obi Toppin had 14 on 6-of-8 shooting, Isaiah Jackson chipped in 11 and Bruce Brown had 10. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 37 points and 10 rebounds for Milwaukee. Damian Lillard added 24 points, Khris Middleton had 20 and Brook Lopez 18.
Kings blank Canadiens 4-0, set the NHL record with their 11th straight road win to open season
MONTREAL (AP) — Quinton Byfield had two goals and an assist, Cam Talbot earned a shutout and the Los Angeles Kings beat the Montreal Canadiens 4-0 Thursday night for their NHL record 11th road victory to open the season. The Kings (16-4-3) are one road win away from matching the NHL record of 12 consecutive road victories at any point during the season. Drew Doughty had a goal and an assist and Trevor Moore also scored for Los Angeles. Anze Kopitar had three assists and Talbot made 24 saves. Montreal was shut out by Los Angeles for the second time this season. The Kings earned a 4-0 win in Los Angeles on Nov. 25. Samuel Montembeault stopped 38 shots for Montreal.
AP-Scorecard
Here are the scores from yesterday's sports events:
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NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Indiana 128 Milwaukee 119
Final L.A. Lakers 133 New Orleans 89
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NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final Toronto 4 Ottawa 3
Final Buffalo 3 Boston 1
Final OT San Jose 6 Detroit 5
Final Los Angeles 4 Montreal 0
Final N-Y Islanders 7 Columbus 3
Final Nashville 5 Tampa Bay 1
Final SO Dallas 5 Washington 4
Final Chicago 1 Anaheim 0
Final Winnipeg 4 Colorado 2
Final Philadelphia 4 Arizona 1
Final Calgary 3 Carolina 2
Final Vancouver 2 Minnesota 0
Final New Jersey 2 Seattle 1
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NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Final New England 21 Pittsburgh 18
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TODAY'S SPORTS SCHEDULE
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NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Atlanta at Philadelphia 7 p.m.
Detroit at Orlando 7 p.m.
Toronto at Charlotte 7 p.m.
New York at Boston 7:30 p.m.
Washington at Brooklyn 7:30 p.m.
Cleveland at Miami 8 p.m.
Golden State at Oklahoma City 8 p.m.
Minnesota at Memphis 8 p.m.
Chicago at San Antonio 8:30 p.m.
Houston at Denver 9 p.m.
Sacramento at Phoenix 9 p.m.
Dallas at Portland 10 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Utah 10 p.m.
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NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Pittsburgh at Florida 7 p.m.
St. Louis at Columbus 7 p.m.
Minnesota at Edmonton 9 p.m.
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