🏈 Axios Sports: Prayer, then practice

Plus: Prison for "Varsity Blues" kingpin. | Thursday, January 05, 2023

Open in app View in browser   Presented By SiriusXM   Axios Sports By Kendall Baker · Jan 05, 2023 👋 Good morning! Hi, hello. ⚽️ Developing story: The Berhalter-Reyna public feud is wild — and quite sad. We'll dive into the details of the U.S. Soccer scandal tomorrow. Today's word count: 1,947 words (7 minutes). Let's sports...     1 big thing: 🏈 Making the transition Fans show their support for Damar Hamlin outside the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Photo: Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images   As the sports world awaits news on Damar Hamlin, the NFL's 32 teams are back at work, preparing for the final week of the regular season. State of play: The emotional fallout from Monday night has put things like playoff seeds and fantasy football — important in NFL circles, but relatively unimportant in life — into perspective. At practice facilities across the league on Wednesday, some teams began meetings with a prayer. Others talked to players about mental health resources available to them. "Hey, listen, there's no way that you should feel," Dolphins coach Mike McDaniels said he told his team. "How you feel is how you feel. And it can affect people in totally different ways." Yes, but: The shift from "humanity" to "football" still happened for players and coaches on Wednesday — just as it will happen for fans on Saturday and Sunday. The show must go on. "You just ... go from one to the next. ... You talk about the tough things that are happening and you have that conversation. And then you transition. It's not easy." — Eagles coach Nick Sirianni, via WashPost 💔 So here are, making that transition. From Damar to Week 18. From hospital updates to point spreads. From human beings to professional athletes. From the uncertainty of life to the certainty of football on Sundays. 💔 Playoff picture: Entering Week 18, 11 teams have clinched postseason berths and 13 have been eliminated, leaving eight teams fighting for the final three spots. Note: *Week 17 Bills-Bengals game was postponed; Table: Axios Visuals Clinched: Chiefs, Bills, Bengals, Chargers, Ravens, Eagles, 49ers, Vikings, Buccaneers, Cowboys, Giants Still alive: Jaguars, Patriots, Dolphins, Steelers, Titans, Seahawks, Lions, Packers Eliminated: Jets, Browns, Raiders, Colts, Broncos, Texans, Commanders, Saints, Panthers, Falcons, Rams, Cardinals, Bears Scenarios: Three spots are up for grabs in Week 18, including one that will be determined in a head-to-head clash for the AFC South. AFC No. 4: The Jaguars and Titans will play on Saturday night for the division and the No. 4 seed. Tennessee is eliminated with a loss, while Jacksonville could still squeak in. AFC No. 7: The Patriots clinch with a win over the Bills or with losses by the Dolphins and Steelers and a win by the Jags; the Dolphins clinch with a win over the Jets and a Patriots loss; the Steelers clinch with a win over the Browns and losses by the Dolphins and Jets; the Jaguars clinch with a loss if the Patriots, Dolphins and Steelers all lose. NFC No. 7: The Packers clinch with a win over the Lions; the Lions clinch with a win over the Packers and a Seahawks loss or tie; the Seahawks clinch with a win over the Rams and a Packers loss or tie. Week 18 slate: Chiefs at Raiders, Sat. 4:30pm (ABC/ESPN) Titans at Jaguars, Sat. 8:15pm (ABC/ESPN) Buccaneers at Falcons, 1pm (FOX) Patriots at Bills, 1pm (CBS) Vikings at Bears, 1pm (FOX) Ravens at Bengals, 1pm (CBS) Texas at Colts, 1pm (CBS) Jets at Dolphins, 1pm (FOX) Panthers at Saints, 1pm (FOX) Browns at Steelers, 1pm (CBS) Giants at Eagles, 4:25pm (CBS) Chargers at Broncos, 4:25pm (CBS) Cowboys at Commanders, 4:25pm (FOX) Rams at Seahawks, 4:25pm (FOX) Cardinals at 49ers, 4:25pm (FOX) Lions at Packers, 8:20pm (NBC) Go deeper: NFL considering two options for Bills-Bengals (SI)     2. 🎓 "Varsity Blues" mastermind sentenced William "Rick" Singer leaves the Moakley Courthouse in Boston after being sentenced on Wednesday. Photo: Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald via Getty Images   William "Rick" Singer, the mastermind behind the "Operation Varsity Blues" college admissions scandal, was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison on Wednesday at a federal court in Boston, Axios' Jeff Tracy writes. Why it matters: This marks the final chapter in the years-long cheating scheme that has seen over 50 parents and college athletics officials convicted of bribery and fraud. "I embraced [my father's] belief that embellishing or even lying to win was acceptable as long as there was victory. I should have known better. It's all my fault." — William "Rick" Singer Between the lines: In addition to the prison term, the judge imposed three years of supervised release and ordered Singer to pay more than $10 million in restitution to the IRS. He must also forfeit millions in assets. Catch up quick: In March 2019, charges were brought on 50 people for their roles in Singer's scheme, in which wealthy parents paid him $25 million from 2011-18 to get their children accepted into elite institutions. Singer pled guilty to racketeering, money laundering and conspiracy charges, providing testimony against former clients in exchange for a lighter punishment. Those clients included actresses Felicity Huffman ("Desperate Housewives") and Lori Loughlin ("Full House"). Huffman served 11 days in prison. Loughlin served two months. How it worked: Payments went to Singer through his college counseling service and a nonprofit. He then bribed exam administrators to help kids cheat on entrance tests and bribed athletics officials to give them preferential recruiting treatment, even if they didn't play the sport. The big picture: Though this scandal is a cautionary tale — showing it is indeed illegal to bribe your way into college through the "side door," as Singer called it — it also highlights a flawed system that provides outsized advantages to the wealthy. To wit, a rich businessman accused of giving $180,000 in cash to a tennis coach to get his daughter into Georgetown was found not guilty of bribery in June. His defense largely hinged on the argument that college admissions are not a pure meritocracy, and that Georgetown "cultivated applicants from families that could afford to make generous donations," per NYT. 🍿 Now streaming: "Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal" (Netflix)     3. 🏒 The next big thing: Tanking for Connor? Connor Bedard. Photo: Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images   There's been lots of talk about NBA teams tanking for French phenom Victor Wembanyama. Connor Bedard, the likely top pick in this year's NHL draft, is beginning to garner similar attention. What they're saying: "At this age, best prospect since [Sidney] Crosby," one longtime NHL team executive told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun ($). Driving the news: Bedard, 17, is playing so well for Team Canada at the 2023 World Junior Championships that he "could put NHL tanking in hyperdrive," notes LeBrun. He has nine goals and 14 assists in six games, including a gorgeous OT winner that made our "Top 10" plays on Tuesday. The generational talent had a goal and an assist on Wednesday night to lead Canada past Team USA, 6-2, in the semifinals. What's next: Bedard and Canada will play Czechia in tonight's final. Canada won last year's title in August; the Czechs, who stunned Sweden on Wednesday, are playing in their first final since 2001. Go deeper: Bedard mania is sweeping the nation (CBC)     A message from SiriusXM Get free access to music, sports, news and more     Subscribe to SiriusXM Streaming and get access to 3 months of free: Expertly curated ad-free music. Pandora artist stations. Live sports. Celebrity hosts, comedians and newscasters. Howard Stern and more. More info: Listen on your phone, at home and more with the SXM App. See offer details.     4. ⚡️ Lightning round Darrelle Revis and Bill Belichick celebrate winning Super Bowl XLIX. Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images   🏈 HOF finalists: Cornerback Darrelle Revis, tackle Joe Thomas and defensive end Dwight Freeney headline the 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's class of 2023. 🎾 Martina's diagnosis: Tennis legend Martina Navratilova, 66, has been diagnosed with throat cancer and breast cancer, a "double whammy" she says she hopes to overcome through treatment. ⚾️ Devers deal: Rafael Devers and the Red Sox are finalizing an 11-year, $331 million extension to keep the star 3B in Boston. If completed, it would be the richest contract in Red Sox history by $114 million. 🏈 Sign stealing: Roughly 75% of college football teams are stealing signals — or, "getting skunked" — Ohio State DC Jim Knowles tells ESPN. "It's bigger than most people know." 🏀 Brain fart: Wednesday's Texas A&M-Florida men's college basketball game was delayed after the Aggies ... forgot their jerseys at the hotel.     5. ⛳️ The PGA Tour's "elevated" era Data: Golfweek, Axios Research; Table: Axios Visuals The Sentry Tournament of Champions begins today at Maui's Kapalua Plantation Course, marking the PGA Tour's resumption after seven weeks off and the beginning of a new era for the Tour, Jeff writes. State of play: The TOC is the first of 13 "elevated" events this season, which feature increased prize money and the Tour's best golfers and biggest names, as determined by the Player Impact Program (PIP). The big picture: The PGA Tour is doing what it can to fend off LIV Golf as the lucrative breakaway tour enters year two. These events will see the best golfers on tour go head-to-head more often — for huge prizes. The combined purse for this year's 13 elevated events is $315 million, up 47% from the $214.7 million they paid out last year. Overall, this season's 44-event schedule will have a record $415 million in prize money — slightly more than the $405 million LIV will pay out for its 14-event season. How it works: The PIP rewards the 20 golfers who drive the most engagement each season with a $100 million bonus pool, which they split. PIP bonus recipients must play in every elevated event they qualify for the following season. The field: 39 players are competing at the TOC, including 17 PIP winners from last season, headlined by Jordan Spieth ($9 million in PIP bonus money for finishing third) and Justin Thomas ($7.5 million for fourth). Tiger Woods won the PIP's $15 million grand prize for driving the most engagement, but didn't qualify for this week's TOC (must either win a tournament or qualify for the Tour Championship). Rory McIlroy received a $12 million PIP bonus for finishing second, but he opted out* this week — somewhat surprising given he was integral in pushing for these exact changes. *Each PIP winner is allowed one opt-out per year. Any more and they risk losing 75% of their bonus. Shane Lowry (12th place in PIP) also opted out of the TOC.     6. 🍺 SoFi Stadium: No tailgating! SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. Photo: Qian Weizhong/VCG via Getty Images   SoFi Stadium made an unpopular announcement ahead of Monday's CFP National Championship: no tailgating allowed in the parking lot.     7. 🌎 The world in photos Mikaela Shiffrin (center) celebrates with the other medalists. Photo: Jurica Galoic/MB Media/Getty Images ZAGREB, Croatia — Mikaela Shiffrin won her 81st skiing World Cup event on Wednesday, putting her just one win shy of Lindsey Vonn's all-time women's record, which she can match today. Photo: Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images TORONTO — Giannis Antetokounmpo followed up his career-high 55 points with a 30-21-10 triple-double in the Bucks' 104-101 overtime win over the Raptors. Seems good. Check out his game-winning assist. London Irish and Bath Rugby battle for the ball during a Premiership Rugby Cup match. Photo: Andrew Redington/Getty Images BRENTFORD, England — Rugby, man.     8. 📺 Watchlist: Dončić and Jokić Photos: Glenn James/Getty Images; Bart Young/Getty Images   Tonight's NBA doubleheader on TNT features two MVP favorites — one from Slovenia, one from Serbia — who are playing some of the best basketball of their lives. Celtics at Mavericks (7:30pm ET): Over Luka Dončić's last six games, he's averaging 44.5 points, 11.3 rebounds and 9.8 assists with two 50-point games and a 60-point triple-double. Clippers at Nuggets (10pm): Nikola Jokić — the two-time reigning MVP — has six triple-doubles in his last 12 games, averaging 29.6 points, 12.3 rebounds and 10.8 assists in that time. More to watch: 🏒 World Juniors: Canada vs. Czechia (6:30pm, NHL) ... Canada beat USA and Czechia beat Sweden to advance to tonight's final. 🏒 NHL: Capitals at Blue Jackets (7pm, ESPN) ... Alex Ovechkin has six goals in his last three games and 28 on the season (third-most). ⚽️ Premier League: Chelsea vs. Man City (3pm, Peacock) ... With just one win in their last seven matches, Chelsea have slipped to 10th place. 🏀 NCAAM: No. 1 Purdue at No. 24 Ohio State (7pm, FS1); USC at No. 10 UCLA (9:30pm, ESPN); No. 9 Gonzaga at San Francisco (11pm, ESPN2) ⛳️ PGA: Sentry Tournament of Champions (2:15pm, ESPN+; 6pm, Golf) 🎾 Tennis: Adelaide International (7:30pm, DAZN)     9. 🏈 College football trivia A general view of the crowd during October's Penn State-Michigan game at "The Big House." Photo: Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images   Nine of the 10 schools with the highest average attendance this year are from either the Big Ten (Michigan, Penn State, Ohio State) or SEC (LSU, Tennessee, Alabama, Texas A&M, Georgia, Florida). Question: Who's the 10th school? Hint: They lost their bowl game. Answer at the bottom.     10. ⛳️ 1 new course: Pinehurst No. 10 The site of the new Pinehurst course. Photo: Courtesy of Pinehurst Resort   Pinehurst, the famous North Carolina resort with nine legendary golf courses, is adding No. 10. Details: Tom Doak, best known for Oregon's Pacific Dunes, will design Pinehurst's first new 18-hole track in decades. They break ground soon and plan to open around the 2024 U.S. Open, which is at Pinehurst No. 2.     A message from SiriusXM Stream SiriusXM now and get 3 months for free     Stream more than 425 channels on your devices for free on the SXM App, including expertly curated ad-free music, live sports, personalized stations and more. Next steps: Sign up now to get 3 months free. Cancel anytime. Learn more about the offer and start streaming. See offer details.   Talk tomorrow, Kendall "Saddiq Bey!!!" Baker Trivia answer: Texas 🙏 Have a great day! Follow us for more (@kendallbaker and @jeffreytracy). Friends can sign up here. Thanks to Bryan McBournie for copy edits. Are you a fan of this email format? Your essential communications — to staff, clients and other stakeholders — can have the same style. Axios HQ, a powerful platform, will help you do it.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. 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