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Grant Wahl, 48

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Former Sports Illustrated Reporter Passed Out at Lusail

QATAR – (Staff and Wire Services Report) – Grant Wahl, an American journalist who helped grow the popularity of soccer in the U.S. and reported on some of the biggest stories in the sport, died Saturday while in the press box covering a World Cup match between Argentina and the Netherlands. He was 48.

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Wahl fell back in his seat in a section of Lusail Stadium reserved for journalists during extra time of the game, and reporters adjacent to him called for assistance.

Emergency services workers responded very quickly, treated him for 20 or 30 minutes on site and then took him out on a stretcher, said Keir Radnedge, a British journalist who was working nearby at the time.

Wahl, who wrote for Sports Illustrated for more than two decades and then started his own website, was a major voice informing an American public of soccer during time of increased interest after the U.S. hosted the 1994 World Cup. He also brought a critical eye to the organizational bodies of the international sport.

Wahl attempted to run for FIFA president against Sepp Blatter and Mohamed bin Hammam in 2011. He promised to open FIFA to greater transparency and said he contacted 150 countries without winning support for a nomination.

He “really helped put soccer on the mainstream sports map in the States,” Radnedge said.

“Grant had a strong moral compass, on where sports should be and how sport … should help set standards for people,” he said. “There was never any doubt that Grant was on the side of the good guys in wanting soccer to make the best of itself.”

Wahl was covering his eighth World Cup. He wrote Monday on his website that he had visited a medical clinic while in Qatar.

“My body finally broke down on me. Three weeks of little sleep, high stress and lots of work can do that to you,” Wahl wrote. “What had been a cold over the last 10 days turned into something more severe on the night of the USA-Netherlands game, and I could feel my upper chest take on a new level of pressure and discomfort.”

Sources: Sox to Sign Kenley Jansen

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SAN DIEGO – (Staff and Media Reports via ESPN) – The Boston Red Sox are reportedly signing free-agent reliever Kenley Jansen to a two-year, $32 million deal, ESPN reported Wednesday.

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The closer of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Jansen spent the 2022 season in the bullpen role with the Atlanta Braves, posted a 5-2 record with a 3.38 ERA and a National League-leading 41 saves in 64 innings pitched. He signed a one-year, $16 million contract with the Braves as a free agent for 2022..

Jansen, 35, spent his first 12 seasons with the Dodgers, where he was a three-time All-Star and won the Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year Award twice (2016 and ’17). In his career, Jansen has a 42-28 record and a 2.46 ERA with 391 saves. His 573 games finished are most among active players.

NFL Desk: Unlucky Week 13

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CINCINNATI – (Staff and Field Level Media Report) – Bengals QB Joe Burrow passed for 286 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for a score to lead the Cincinnati Bengals to a 27-24 victory over the visiting Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

Chris Evans caught the go-ahead 8-yard touchdown pass with 8:54 remaining as Burrow outdueled Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes for the third time in 11-plus months. Cincinnati beat Kansas City 34-31 in the regular season last January and notched a 27-24 overtime victory in the AFC Championship Game four weeks later.

Samaje Perine rushed for 106 yards while Tee Higgins also caught a touchdown pass for the Bengals (8-4), who won their fourth straight game and eighth in their past 10. Ja’Marr Chase had seven receptions for 97 yards after missing the previous four games due to a hip injury. Running back Joe Mixon (concussion) missed his second straight game.

Mahomes was 16-of-27 passing for 223 yards and one touchdown for the Chiefs (9-3), who had a five-game winning streak halted. Travis Kelce had just four receptions for 56 yards and lost a fumble prior to the Bengals’ decisive score.

49ers 33, Dolphins 17

Rookie quarterback Brock Purdy came to the rescue in his first extended NFL action, passing for 210 yards and two touchdowns to push San Francisco’s winning streak to five games with a victory over Miami at Santa Clara, Calif.

Purdy, who was 25 of 37 with an interception, took over in the first quarter for an injured Jimmy Garoppolo and delivered a touchdown on his first drive. The 49ers’ defense added three interceptions and a fumble return for a score by Dre Greenlaw, all in the second half. Christian McCaffrey caught eight passes for 80 yards and a touchdown for the 49ers (8-4), while also rushing for 66 yards on 17 carries. Garoppolo will miss the remainder of the season with a broken foot.

Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa was 18-of-33 passing for 295 yards and two touchdowns, but his two third-quarter interceptions were his first in a span of six games. Tyreek Hill had nine receptions for 146 yards and a touchdown for the Dolphins (8-4), who saw their five-game winning streak come to an end.

Ravens 10, Broncos 9

Tyler Huntley relieved an injured Lamar Jackson and scored on a 2-yard touchdown run with 28 seconds remaining as host Baltimore rallied for a victory over Denver.

The Ravens (8-4) escaped with a dramatic win after Jackson was injured while being sacked for a 6-yard loss by Denver’s Jonathon Cooper on the final play of the first quarter. The Ravens initially said Jackson was questionable to return and then ruled him out before the second half started.

Denver (3-9) lost its fourth straight and was held to 16 points or fewer for the 10th time this season. Russell Wilson completed 17 of 22 passes for 189 yards.

Cowboys 54, Colts 19

Dak Prescott threw for three touchdowns and Dallas scored five fourth-quarter touchdowns to rout Indianapolis in Arlington, Texas.

Ahead 21-19 as the fourth started, Dallas (9-3) exploded. Prescott (20-for-30, 170 yards) found Michael Gallup for a 3-yard score, followed by Malik Hooker’s 38-yard fumble return. Tony Pollard peeled off a 30-yard TD run, Ezekiel Elliott tacked on a 4-yard scoring jaunt and Malik Davis finished the outburst with a 23-yard TD run.

Matt Ryan hit on 21 of 37 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns, but tossed three interceptions and lost a fumble, giving him 13 picks and five lost fumbles for the year. The Colts (4-8-1) fell to 1-3 under interim coach Jeff Saturday.

Steelers 19, Falcons 16

Matthew Wright kicked four field goals, rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett threw a touchdown pass and Pittsburgh held off host Atlanta.

Pickett was 16 of 28 for 197 yards and didn’t commit a turnover for the fourth straight game after tossing eight interceptions in his first five games. Pittsburgh (5-7) sealed the game with Minkah Fitzpatrick’s interception of Marcus Mariota with 35 seconds left.

Mariota completed 13 of 24 passes for 167 yards with a touchdown, finding MyCole Pruitt with a 7-yard strike with 43 seconds remaining in the third quarter to cut Pittsburgh’s advantage to 19-13. Atlanta (5-8) never got closer.

Packers 28, Bears 19

Mason Crosby kicked a go-ahead 32-yard field goal with 4:49 remaining and Christian Watson had rushing and receiving touchdowns to boost visiting Green Bay past Chicago.

The Packers (5-8) defeated the Bears for the eighth straight time, while Chicago (3-10) lost its sixth straight overall. Green Bay’s Jaire Alexander intercepted Justin Fields at the Packers 28-yard line with 2:52 remaining to thwart a comeback attempt after Crosby’s field goal put the team ahead 20-19.

Chicago’s Justin Fields was 20-of-25 passing for 254 yards and two interceptions while rushing six times for 71 yards and a score. A.J. Dillon had 119 yards of total offense for Green Bay, including 93 rushing yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.

Lions 40, Jaguars 14

Jared Goff passed for 340 yards, including two touchdown strikes to Amon-Ra St. Brown, as host Detroit won for the fourth time in five games by romping Jacksonville.

Goff completed 31 of 41 pass attempts. St. Brown caught 11 passes for 114 yards, while D’Andre Swift had 62 rushing yards on 14 carries and a touchdown. Jamaal Williams scored his league-leading 14th touchdown and DJ Chark made five receptions for 98 yards for the Lions (5-7).

Trevor Lawrence completed 17 of 31 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown for the Jaguars (4-8). Travis Etienne Jr. rushed for 54 yards on 13 carries. Christian Kirk led the receiving corps with six catches for 104 yards.

Browns 27, Texans 14

Propelled by three non-offensive touchdowns, Cleveland overcame a rusty effort from Deshaun Watson in his anticipated return to defeat Houston.

Following his offseason trade from Houston to Cleveland (5-7), Watson delivered an erratic showing, completing 12 of 22 attempts for 131 yards plus a red-zone interception.

Houston (1-10-1) suffered its seventh consecutive loss as a byproduct of critical errors and offensive ineptitude. The Texans accrued 162 yards in the first half, with 73 coming on one drive.

Vikings 27, Jets 22

Kirk Cousins went 21-of-35 passing for 173 yards and a touchdown to lead Minnesota to a win over the New York Jets in Minneapolis.

Minnesota (10-2) took a 27-15 lead with 8:33 remaining on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Cousins to Justin Jefferson. New York (7-5) cut its deficit to 27-22 with 6:48 remaining on a 1-yard touchdown run by Mike White that finished off a five-play, 75-yard drive.

White went 31-of-57 passing for 369 yards and two interceptions in defeat for the Jets. The Jets outgained the Vikings in yards, 486-287, but settled for five Greg Zuerlein field goals and scored one touchdown on six trips to the red zone.

Commanders 20, Giants 20 (OT)

Taylor Heinicke threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Jahan Dotson with 1:45 left in regulation and neither squad scored in overtime as Washington played to a tie with New York in East Rutherford, N.J.

In the 10-minute overtime session, both teams punted twice. The Giants had a chance to win on the final play but Graham Gano’s 58-yard field goal attempt came up short. Washington (7-5-1) kept pace with New York (7-4-1) in their battle to reach the playoffs.

The Giants were up 20-13 in the closing minutes of regulation before Heinicke directed a 90-yard scoring drive. Heinicke completed 27 of 41 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns, and Terry McLaurin caught eight passes for 105 yards and a touchdown. For the Giants, Daniel Jones completed 25 of 31 passes for 200 yards and a touchdown. He also ran 12 times for 71 yards.

Eagles 35, Titans 10

Jalen Hurts threw three touchdown passes and rushed for another, and host Philadelphia defeated Tennessee.

Hurts was 29 of 39 for 380 yards and tossed two touchdowns to A.J. Brown, a former member of the Titans (7-5). Brown had eight receptions for 119 yards and DeVonta Smith added five catches for 102 yards and a score for the Eagles (11-1).

Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill was 14 of 22 for 141 yards and one touchdown and looked to be limping with soreness in both ankles. Stellar running back Derrick Henry was held in check with 11 carries for 30 yards.

Seahawks 27, Rams 23

Geno Smith threw three touchdown passes, including an 8-yarder to DK Metcalf with 36 seconds remaining, as Seattle defeated Los Angeles in Inglewood, Calif.

Smith completed 28 of 39 passes for 367 yards as the Seahawks (7-5) snapped a two-game losing streak. Tyler Lockett made nine receptions for 128 yards and a TD and Metcalf had eight catches for 127 yards.

Cam Akers rushed for two touchdowns for the injury-plagued Rams (3-9), who suffered their sixth consecutive defeat. Akers’ second TD, from 6 yards, gave the Rams a 23-20 lead with 2:56 left.

Raiders 27, Chargers 20

Derek Carr and Davante Adams connected on two long scoring passes in the third quarter to help Las Vegas rally for a win against visiting Los Angeles.

Adams caught eight passes for 177 yards and the two third-quarter touchdowns. Carr completed 16 of 30 passes for 250 yards, two touchdowns and an interception for the Raiders (5-7).

Justin Herbert completed 28 of 47 passes for 335 yards and a touchdown for the Chargers (6-6). Herbert found Keenan Allen on fourth-and-12 for a 35-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 27-20 with 8:34 left in the game.

–Field Level Media

 

49ers’ Garoppolo Out for Season

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SANTA CLARA – (Staff and Wire Service Report by Field Level Media) – San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was carted to the locker room after the team’s opening drive Sunday with a foot injury.

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Garoppolo was initially listed as questionable to return, but the Niners downgraded him to out during the second quarter.

The injury adds to the quarterback concerns for the 49ers, who lost Trey Lance for the season during San Francisco’s second game. Lance subsequently underwent surgery for an ankle injury.

Garoppolo was 2-of-4 passing for 56 yards on San Francisco’s opening drive when he was sacked by a pair of Miami defensive players. The knee of Dolphins linebacker Jaelan Phillips appeared to land on the side of Garoppolo’s left foot.

On the following play, the 49ers’ Robbie Gould kicked a 47-yard field goal as San Francisco answered an opening-drive touchdown by the Dolphins.

 

The 49ers turned to rookie Brock Purdy at quarterback and the seventh-round pick out of Iowa State in April’s NFL draft led San Francisco to a TD on his first drive. Purdy hit Kyle Juszczyk on a 3-yard TD pass to cap the 54-yard drive, for his first career scoring pass.

 

–Field Level Media

TL’s Sunday Sports Notebook | Dec 4

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By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – USC lost and TCU lost!

USC is OUT while TCU is in.

The Georgia Bulldogs smoked LSU, 50- 30, to take the SEC championship and lock the No. 1 seed in the upcoming College Football Playoffs while the Purdue Boilermakers vs. Michigan Wolverines Big Ten Championship game was underway as this missive posted its “Bulldog” edition, the Wolverines with a 14-13 lead at the half.

There will be tons of speculation and reasoning for the CFP committee to toss-around the virtues of Ohio State, Alabama, and TCU to decide the final two teams to qualify. Ohio State and Alabama are probably the best two teams of the five, but TCU’s season-long resume might qualify the Horned Frogs to No. 3 as ‘Bama, Tennessee, Clemson and Penn State seem to blend into one, as in one short. USC finished 11-2 in the Pac-12, but lost to Utah twice in the season, once on October 16th, and again in the conference championship game Friday night, thumped 47-24. That places USC as a solid No. 8 or No. 9 at best.

Taking it all in, it might be easier to assign TCU and USC to the January 2nd Rose Bowl and let Georgia and Michigan play the final on January 9 and call it a season. That would make either the Fiesta Bowl or the Peach Bowl pretty annoyed.

By Sunday morning, the decisions were made:

College Football Playoffs 2022-23:

  1. Georgia
  2. Michigan
  3. TCU
  4. Ohio St.

Outside looking in?

  1. Alabama
  2. Tennessee

On the flip-side, let’s all celebrate the fact Miami (Ohio) and the University ofAlabama-Birmingham – their friends call ‘em UAB – will kick-off Bowl season with berths in the Bahamas Bowl on December 16th – just 12 days away. On Christmas Eve, Middle Tennessee and San Diego State will travel to Honolulu for the annual Hawaii Bowl on December 24th and enjoy a “Mele Kalikimaka” on a bright, Hawaiian Christmas Day, December 25th.

HERE NOW THE NOTES: The Boston Celtics are 18-5 to date, 11-2 at the TD Boston Garden. That amazing start was good enough for the NBA to recognize head coach Joe Mazzulla as the NBA Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for games played in October and November. It marked the Celtics 16th overall NBA Coach of the Month honor since the award’s inception during the 1982-83 season. Boston leads the league in points per game (121.9), field goal percentage (49.8), three-point field goal percentage (40.8), free throw percentage (85.3), while also ranking sixth in assists (27.5). … For the first time in franchise history, the Celtics averaged at least 123.0 points and shot over 50.0 percent from the field during one calendar month (min. 10 games) for games played in November when they posted a 14-2 record.

Not to be forgotten, Celtics forward Jayson Tatum was named the Kia NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month for October/November. Tatum earned his second career NBA Player of the Month award and now holds the third-most monthly honors in Celtics history behind Larry Bird (7) and Paul Pierce (3). This season, Tatum has appeared in 21 games (all starts) and is averaging career-highs of 31.6 points on 48.8 percent shooting from the field and 87.3 percent from the line, along with 7.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in 36.7 minutes per game.

BOSTON BREWIN’ – The Boston Bruins, the Celtics’ neighbors at TD Garden and their respective practice sites, are 20-3 for the season and 14-0 at home after Saturday night’s victory over the highly competitive Colorado Avalanche by the score of 5-1. … The Bruins and the red hot New Jersey Devils are 1 and 1A in the NHL power rankings. This column will delve into that full list in depth next weekend.

KNAPP MEMORIAL FUND: Eight NFL teams and up to 50 NFL coaches will participate in different ways to support the first-ever Coach Knapp fundraiser this December, which will benefit The Coach Knapp Memorial Fund. The fund was created this year to educate drivers on the dangers of distracted driving, reduce the number of distracted driving-related deaths, and promote distracted driving awareness reform in the United States. … Knapp’s wife, Charlotte, and his close friend and agent, Jeff Sperbeck, created the fund to honor the legacy of Greg Knapp who was killed after being hit by a distracted driver while he was bicycling in July 2021. Coach Knapp was known for climbing the stadium stairs before every single NFL game he coached over his 25 season career…. Stadium stair climbs and other fundraising activities will play a part of the tribute. … At the time of his passing, Knapp was previously named Passing Game Coordinator for the New York Jets under head coach Robert Saleh.

PGA TOUR BRUNCH: The six-days a week missive, known to you all as PGA TOURBRUNCH is right around the corner with the first issue of 2023 planned for Wednesday, January 4 with the Sentry Tournament of Champions scheduled to take place January 5-8 in Kapalua, on The Valley Isle of Maui in Hawai‘i. … After a wrap-up column on January 9th, PGA Tour Brunch returns January 11th with a preview of the first full-field event of 2023 when the PGA Tour pros tee-off for the SONY Open in Honolulu. You might’ve read it before, but PGA TOUR BRUNCH is the perfect gift for your favorite golf fan (maybe fans). It’s a gift that keeps on giving all season long, and up to the Tour Championship in late August 2023. … Why Brunch? Well, it is sent in advance of each round of golf and – with the tournaments played in different time zones throughout the season, the time can change a bit. Ideally, it pops-up in your inbox at 12 Noon (ET), at a time when you have a minute – over LUNCH or BRUNCH to relax, grab your mobile device and take-in a screen or two or three of the most important information on the tournament being played each week. Some basic stuff, yes! Tee Times, Leaderboard, what time the TV and Radio broadcasts will be for the day/week and just a few links to surf to get deeper information. … It saves time, as we’ve done the groundwork to put forth what you NEED to read to follow the Tour. For a limited time (Today through Dec 31, 2022), we’re offering a 20% discount as a Special Holiday Greetings and Gift idea. Click HERE

PGA TOUR BRUNCH is the “sister publication” to the missive you’re reading now – While We’re Young (Ideas) aka TL’s Sunday Sports Notes. Both are available for subscription via Substack and both are sent to your device by email and they’re archived on the Substack App and our home sites. Similar to PGA TOUR BRUNCH, you can gift a subscription to WHILE WE’RE YOUNG (Ideas) – before Dec. 31, 2022 by visiting HERE.

WORLD CUP: The hopes of the United States advancing in the 2022 World Cup soccer tournament came to an abrupt end Saturday, much to the 3-1 ear-slapping at the hands of The Netherlands. Although the FOX, USA-loving broadcast teams and studio commentators made excuses of “what an experience” and “too much youth,” stating, “we should be proud” cliches, and emphasizing on the incredibly un-professional use of the word “we,” the truth be told, the USA got their asses kicked.

Maybe some Kipling – from his Poem, “If” might fit the sitch:

“If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;

If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim,

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster.

And treat those two impostors just the same.”

See you in: (USA sites) – New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, Boston, Atlanta, Miami, Houston, Dallas, Kansas City, Seattle, San Francisco/Bay Area, Los Angeles; Vancouver and Toronto for Canada and Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey for Mexico in the truly North American World Cup of 2026.

  • The Triumph* clip is NOT for office consumption and it dates back to a Conan show during the Rio World Cup.

WORLD CUP TID-BITS: Jennie Taft made the FOX and FOX Sports 1 studio shows work. Why, oh, why did they mover her to pitch-side reporter? … Has anyone ever seen NBA/ABA great Rick Barry at the same phone booth as former USA soccer player turned broadcaster Alexi Lalas? … Buried in the personal memory bank was a 1990 trip to London to see the likes of Tears for Fears, Elton John, Eric Clapton, a Genesisreunion with Tony Banks (piano), Mike Rutherford (guitar) and Phil Collins (drums, vocals) at Knebworth. The trip coincided with a World Cup quarterfinal win for England over Cameroon (3-2, on the 1st of July) and a (1-1) tie vs Germany which resulted in England losing 4-3 in the shoot-out on the 4th of July. England had several chances to win and a goal recalled for being off-sides to further the disappointment. The image embedded was a gentleman, sitting on the curb just outside an upscale pub near the JW Marriott Grosvenor House. He had his head in his hands for 10+ minutes, not moving a muscle otherwise. It was then, and only then, I could understand the meaning of World Cup soccer to the English, the Europeans and the world as a whole. Of course, I was thinking about MLB scores back home and the fact Pink Floyd headlined Knebworth, a notch above Paul McCartney and Wings. … Sadly, I think the excitement of the USA qualifying and advancing to the Round of 16 in this, the 2022 World Cup, will mean little to NOTHING for the MLS or television coverage for the sport of soccer in the USA. … FOX Sports commentators admitted to the lack of size, strength and depth for the USA team. Excuse the basketball reference, here, but the USA needs to develop a more “Jordan Rules” mentality and to utilize the Chuck Daly/Isiah Thomas invented strategy to bang, crack and hit anything that moved as it made its way in front of the rim (USA goal and especially the goal-keeper). I’m not talking about drawing yellow cards or penalties (allowing shots at point blank range), but I am very much aware of what the Detroit Pistons – via Bill Laimbeer, RickMahorn, Dennis Rodman and the rest of the “Bad Boys” – did to the mighty Chicago Bulls and its stars who took it to the rim. Additionally, the Hall of Fame coach Pat Riley did the same in the 1991-95 era of New York Knicks/NBA basketball. Riley convinced the Knicks that they were capable of winning and advancing in the playoffs if they played rough and tough. He convinced the likes of Charles Oakley, Anthony Mason and John Starks that they could win if they played very physical basketball. Team USA needs to hit the weight room or do some recruiting.

In closing, there’s one other important detail, call it another fact. The Netherlands was a better Futbol team. They out-played the USA, fair and square. In addition to The Netherlands, there are at least xx other teams better than the USA team and they include: Argentina, Brazil, England, France, Spain and Portugal, for sure. Add to the probably better teams of Switzerland, Poland, S. Korea, Japan, and Croatia. In other words, if you ranked the Round of 16, the USA was arguably 16th, maybe 15th or 14th.

NFL Desk: 49ers Defeat Cards, 38-10

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MEXICO CITY – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Former New England reserve QB Jimmy Garoppolo tied a career high with four touchdown passes as the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 38-10 Monday night in the NFL’s fourth regular season game in Mexico.

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The 49ers (6-4) won their third consecutive game to move into a tie with idle Seattle for first place in the NFC West.

Garoppolo completed 20 of 29 passes for 228 yards and threw two TD passes apiece to Brandon Aiyuk and George Kittle. San Francisco’s other touchdown came on a 39-yard run by wide receiver Deebo Samuel.

The Cardinals (4-7) played without starting quarterback Kyler Murray for the second straight game because of a hamstring injury.

Veteran Colt McCoy, who guided Arizona to a victory against the defending Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams last week, had no such luck at Estadio Azteca. McCoy was 24-of-34 passing for 218 yards with one interception. The Cardinals held a 3-0 lead after one quarter on a 40-yard field goal by Matt Prater before the 49ers got acclimated to the elevation change and the slippery turf from a downpour that began just before the opening kickoff. San Francisco outscored the Cardinals 31-7 over the next two quarters to pull away.

Garoppolo threw TD passes of 7 yards to Aiyuk and 39 yards to Kittle before Arizona scored its lone touchdown on a 2-yard run by James Conner. The 49ers’ Robbie Gould converted a 39-yard field goal with 43 seconds left in the half to make it 17-10. Samuel scored on an end-around on San Francisco’s opening drive of the second half, then Garoppolo threw two more scoring strikes, hitting Aiyuk from 13 yards and Kittle from 32, the latter early in the fourth quarter.

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Elijah Mitchell led the 49ers with 59 yards rushing on nine attempts. Christian McCaffrey added 39 yards on seven carries and made seven receptions for 67 yards, matching Samuel for the team lead in receptions.

Conner carried 14 times for 42 yards for the Cardinals. DeAndre Hopkins and Greg Dortch each had nine catches, racking up 91 and 103 yards, respectively.

It was a rematch of a 2005 contest at the same stadium that was the NFL’s first regular-season game played outside the United States.

–Field Level Media

St. John’s Takes Temple; Will Meet ‘Cuse

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BROOKLYN – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – Creighton and St. John’s won the opening games of their Thanksgiving week tournaments while Marquette lost a close one.

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Creighton, ranked 10th in this week’s Associated Press poll, survived some strong defensive pressure by No. 21 Texas Tech in the first half before a second-half turnaround produced a 76-65 victory at the Maui Invitational. The Red Raiders forced the Bluejays into 13 turnovers in the opening 20 minutes, but Creighton responded by not committing a turnover in the second half and outscoring the Red Raiders 45-34. All five CU starters reached double figures led by Arthur Kaluma’s 18 points.

Creighton meets No. 9 Arkansas Tuesday at 8 p.m. on ESPN.

St. John’s scored the last eight points of the game to nail down a 78-72 victory over Temple in the Empire Classic at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Montez Mathis scored a team-high 16 points and Joel Soriano produced his fourth double-double of the season with 15 points and 12 rebounds.

The undefeated Johnnies (5-0) will play former BIG EAST rival Syracuse for the tourney title at 9:30 p.m. on ESPN2. The two teams have not met since Dec. 21, 2016 when St. John’s won 93-60 in the Carrier Dome.

Marquette overcame an early 10-point deficit and led by four in the second half before dropping a 58-55 decision to Mississippi State in the Ft. Myers Tipoff. Tyler Kolek led the Golden Eagles (3-2) with 16 points and backcourt partner Kam Jones added 14. The Golden Eagles will play Georgia Tech on Wednesday in the third-place game.

While We’re Young (Ideas) and Notes

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NEW YORK – As the 2022 Holiday Season begins this week with Thanksgiving Day, this November 24, 2022, there’s no better time to STOP and THINK about the important things in our lives and to be thankful for each and every one of them, each and every day.

When Santa Claus rides into the official MACY*S Thanksgiving Day Parade, it’s open season for Christmas, complete with seasonal music, decorations, shopping and (hopefully) tidings of comfort and joy.

For starters, I’m thankful for my family. My two daughters are the definition of 1,000 Points of Light and Joy. Surprisingly, it’s been quite a challenge for me and my wife to be the parents of adult children as we miss them as they carry-out their lives. As an empty nester, I’ve sought advice from experienced parents and some of the smartest people on the planet. Everyone says the same thing, “Let them go and grow.” I’ve been a big believer in that tactic ever since our family decision to enroll each of my daughters in CITYterm – a program run from The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, NY. So sadly, CITYterm no longer exists but it was the single most important experience of my two daughter’s lives and a monumental step forward for our family and their maturation process to help prepare them for college. I knew that between their education in NYC/Boston and the CITYterm experience, they were ready.

A wonderful holiday tradition we should all be thankful for each year is the lighting of the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center. From 1981 through 2008, the great Christmas Tree kept me company as my office overlooked St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue and the tree was just a block away. For the most part, I visited it daily on my commute and always stopped in wonder of its beauty, size and spirit. It was the best part about working in the Rock Center area, although the holiday crowds were a bit overwhelming. But, it beat sinking into the asphalt of 5th Ave on a 98-degree summer day. That’s for sure. This year, the tree will be lit on November 30th. It will measure 82 feet in height and is 50 feet wide, weighing 14 tons with over 50,000 lights to do the tree the major league status of a Rock Center tree. It hails from Queensbury, a town between Glens Falls and Lake George in Upstate New York.

In addition to my immediate family, I’m thankful for and deeply appreciative of my “original” immediate family, my mother, age 97, and my brother, Thomas, and his family, along with the whole gang – Tim, Christopher, Sean and Paul – and their terrific families. The Martin side of the coin is equally great and there’s FAR too many to name each and everyone, but they’re all so wonderful and have played such an important role in our Massachusetts-based life, among many other important aspects of growth and helping us all face the challenges of the many CH, CH, CH – Changes.

Some other reasons to be thankful – rapid fire – are: Brian, Matt, T Walsh, Josh, and Spy. Johnnie, Dave G, Dana, Higor, Dave Oh, and Arty, of course. Hundreds of Mass-based friends – John MacKinnon, Stephen Berger, Matt Hauber – now in Christchurch for goodness sake. I’m thankful for the Holy Trinity ‘77 and surrounding years “kids” and the Keswick Americans. The literary crew: Bob Delaney, Dave Scheiber, Philip Turner and his son Ewan who have all taught me so much. NO name dropping allowed, but I have to say thanks to Bill and Lori and to Bruce Hornsby and his son – my European basketball man, Keith, now playing in France’s Div. I LNB for Nanterre 92.

Thanks to my Red Sox Press Box family, headed up by attendant Kevin Doyle. I miss them already, but there’s only about 85 days to go until Pitchers and Catchers report.

Also, thanks to Howie for the intro to the wonderful world of Derek and Susan and the TTB. What a series of albums entitled, “I Am the Moon.” Brilliant and a new genre of music to enjoy. Buy it.

Column inches will make me stop here, but sincere thanks to everyone in my life. I’ll be back at New Year’s with an extended list.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: Ben Martin and Patrick Rodgers – both at (-14) – are tied for the lead at the RSM Classic, the final tournament of the PGA Tour’s Fall season. The next official tournament is the Sentry Tournament of Champions, scheduled January 5-8 in Maui, Hawaii.

That’s when PGA Tour Brunch will return and post mobile-friendly e-news six days a week. Fact-filled PGA Tour Brunch will take you all the way to the Tour Championship in August and is the PERFECT holiday gift for your favorite golf fan.

COUNTDOWN TO THE WORLD CUP: It’s here! The long-awaited World Cup begins today with home nation Qatar vs. Ecuador match on FS-1. This week, the focus wasn’t on the tournament but instead the banning of alcohol within WC venues. The decision will cost WC sponsor Budweiser millions but will be cause for hooligans from every nation to attempt to “sneak-in” their favorite spirits and beverages. … Budweiser was scheduled to sell beer within the event-ticketed perimeter surrounding each of the eight stadiums before and after each game. But, this week the last minute decision was made to ban alcohol and serve only Bud Zero. … The world famous beer brand, which is one of FIFA’s longtime partners, responded with a Tweet, “Well, this is awkward,” although the post was quickly deleted. … This is the first World Cup staged in an ultra-conservative, Muslim-based country with very strict controls on all alcohol consumption. Spectators can drink beer in the evenings in “the official FIFA Fan Festival,” a designated party area that also offers live music and activities, and in stadium hospitality suites for sponsors and VVIP guests, a policy similar to the NCAA Final Four in the USA.

Speaking of the USA, the USMNT opens-up play on Monday vs. Wales.

What’s WWYI favorite nation?

Dough-Nation! – Click HERE for PGA Tour Brunch or HERE for While We’re Young (Ideas).

TID-BITS: The Gavitt Games were played this week and BIG EAST rep Georgetown faced the Big Ten’s Northwestern Wildcats. With 4:52 remaining in the first half, Patrick Ewing’s Hoyas led by five, 28-23. But with :48 left in the game, Northwestern led 75-60 – a mere 20-point swing. A bad beat for Ewing, Georgetown and the BIG EAST. … On the other hand, Nebraska was leading St. John’s 22-12 with 5:07 left in the first half of a rough and tough defensive battle. In the second half, two different teams showed up, as St. John’s outscored the Cornhuskers 50-23 to take a 70-50 lead at the final buzzer. … Milwaukee Bucks star and former NBA MVP Giannis  Antetokounmpo created quite a stir on Friday night after his 4-for-15 debacle from the free throw line in a 110-102 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. After the game, Antetokounmpo took to the court to get some free throw shots up as the 76ers’ home court was being cleared and maintenance and media were attending to their post-game tasks. Philadelphia 76ers forward Montrezl Harrell claimed he was doing a post game workout and snatched the basketball away from the Bucks’ star who then went to the other end where technicians were dis-assembling their remote cameras. Antetokounmpo wanted no part of waiting as the workers were mounting a ladder next to the rim and backboard area. Antetokounmpo promptly asked them to move the ladder, but then took it upon himself to do so, tipping the top-heavy 10-foot ladder over only to have it crash to the court. … Not a good look for the former MVP who has struggled with his free throws since his rookie year.

Willets Point, Queens, site of proposed soccer stadium

WILLETS POINT: (Continuing in a New York State of Mind, rather than Boston-themed column) … The City of New York, Queens County and the NYFC soccer club announced plans to build a brand new soccer stadium as part of a Willets Point redevelopment plan. The new stadium, as news reports put it, would be located “directly across the street from the right field foul pole” near CitiField, the home field of the New York Mets.

Please tell me if I’m wrong, but since I first set foot in the old Shea Stadium (1964) to watch the Mets, the area designated for the new stadium and development has been nothing but an auto mechanic shop destination of the worst degree. Oil changes, Mufflers, Tires, Engine re-builds, Transmissions – you name it. Can you imagine what the earth under these shops and quonset huts has endured since the 1960s?

There is zero chance the oil, transmission fluid, and other mechanical waste was properly disposed of during the many years. I wouldn’t walk 100 feet into that zoning nightmare if you gave me $100 a step. At one point, I was told by a very reliable source that the New York Islanders of the NHL looked at the mess before they settled on their current, new site by Belmont Raceway, and guess what the Islanders found?

Disgusting? Un-healthy? Dangerous?

The word is that they’ll clean it all up. Yeah right! It would be similar to cleaning up Deepwater Horizon and the Piper Alpha, Beta and Santa Maria, along with the Gulf War oil spill of 1991 which left a 101 x 41 mile trail of oil in the Persian Gulf. The effort to clean-up in the outer limits of Citi Field started in 2021 when then-NYC Mayor Bill De Blasio participated in the announcement of a clean-up. I’d rather clean-up Chernobyl.

It’s so bad out there, it makes Camp Lejeune look like the beaches of Turks and Caicos.

It’s bad. Real bad. So bad the lawyers tell me I don’t have to write allegedly, but might try a-sledgedly.

It’s really bad out there. How bad?

It’s so bad, if they could remediate all 23 acres of Willets Point, and re-harvest the oil, the price of a gallon of gasoline would drop to 59.9-cents and there’d be enough oil left over to heat the Northwest Territories all year long.

It’s bad.

So bad the restaurants will simply serve salads with Vinegar and patrons will drag their salads along the floor. It’s so bad, an Australian rock band will play every game and hit the stage at Midnight.

It’s so bad, it’s alleged the New York City FC is going to market every season ticket with an oil change, tire rotation and a lube job.

You get the picture. Good luck to the fans of NYFC.

80 FOR BRADY: Every now and then you have to wonder how a film possibly sees the light of day. How did it get funded and produced? This week, “80 for Brady” broke the mold, as it was executive produced by former New England Patriots (current Tampa Bay Bucs) quarterback Tom Brady. The movie is scheduled to be in theatres this February 3rd. While there’s no grace in piling on Brady for his venture to produce a movie with a plot of the “Golden Girls meet Tom Brady,” you can’t help but wonder how bad a year it’s been for TB12 when he went from Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bündchen to Lily Tomlin.

Take a look at the (much too long) trailer and decide for yourself:

NFL Desk: Patriots Edge J-E-T-S, 10-3

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FOXBORO – (Staff and Wire Service/Field Level Media Report) – New England’s Marcus Jones returned a punt 84 yards for a touchdown with five seconds remaining as the Patriots picked up their 14th consecutive win over the New York Jets, escaping with a 10-3 victory on Sunday afternoon in chilly and gusty Massachusetts.

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In a game that featured 17 punts, Jones provided the only touchdown to lead the Patriots (6-4) to their third straight win. New England’s defense was suffocating, holding New York (6-4) to just 2 yards of total offense in the second half and 103 for the entire game.

Patriots quarterback Mac Jones completed 23 of 27 passes for 246 yards, while Damien Harris finished with 65 yards on eight carries. Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for just 26 yards but added another 56 on six catches.

Zach Wilson threw for just 77 yards on 9-for-22 passing. He also ran for a team-high 26 yards, while Michael Carter went for 19 yards on eight carries. New York’s defense stood strong as well, sacking Jones six times.

New England appeared to score the game’s first touchdown with 10:27 remaining in the fourth when Kyle Dugger sacked Wilson, Wilson fumbled and Davon Godchaux scooped up the loose ball at the Jets 10 and walked into the end zone.

However, Wilson ended up being ruled down, keeping things knotted at 3-all.

Both teams punted on their first two drives, but Nick Folk broke the scoreless tie at the beginning of the second quarter with a 24-yard field goal to punctuate a 14-play, 74-yard drive. New York quickly evened the score, though, thanks to Greg Zuerlein’s 45-yarder on the ensuing possession.

Folk had a chance to give the Patriots a lead before the break, but his kick clanked off the crossbar from 44 yards out with 2:49 left in the first half.

New England totaled seven first downs through the first 30 minutes of action, while the Jets managed just four as the teams combined for 252 total yards of offense.

Folk also missed from 43 yards out with 9:08 left in the third.

–Field Level Media

Buffalo Gets the Job Done in Detroit

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Bills Defeat Browns, 31-23,  in Neutral Site Game

DETROIT – (Staff and Wire Service/Field Level Media Report) – Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen passed for 197 yards and one touchdown and Tyler Bass matched his career best with six field goals to help the host Bills record a 31-23 victory over the Cleveland Browns in a game played in Detroit due to the historic snowfall in the Buffalo area.

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James Cook rushed for a career-high 86 yards and Devin Singletary also rushed for 86 yards and tacked on a score for the Bills (7-3), who halted a two-game losing streak. Stefon Diggs caught a touchdown pass for Buffalo.

Jacoby Brissett passed for 324 yards and three touchdowns for Cleveland (3-7), which lost for the sixth time in the past seven games. Amari Cooper caught eight receptions for 113 yards and two touchdowns, but Nick Chubb was held to 19 yards on 14 carries for the Browns.

The game was moved to Detroit due to the epic snowstorm that hit the Buffalo area. On Saturday upon leaving their complex for the airport, the Bills said there were 77 inches of snow on the ground at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y.

Bass matched the franchise record of six field goals for the second time in his career. The original mark was set in 1996 by Steve Christie.

Diggs had four receptions for 48 yards to top 1,000 yards for the fifth straight season. He has 1,033 this year.

The Bills led by three at halftime before Bass expanded the lead to 16-10 with a season-long 56-yard field goal with 9:42 left in the third quarter.

The Browns went for it on fourth-and-1 from the Buffalo 27 on their next drive but Brissett’s quarterback sneak was stopped for no gain. Buffalo took over and went 73 yards on four plays with Singletary scoring from the 5. A two-point conversion run failed.

Bass kicked fourth-quarter field goals of 49 and 28 yards to make it 28-10. Brissett pulled Cleveland within 12 by hitting Cooper on a 7-yard aerial with 4:11 left in the game before Bass tacked on a 39-yarder with 1:56 remaining.

Brissett tossed a 2-yard touchdown pass to Donovan Peoples-Jones with 19 seconds left.

Buffalo took its first lead of the game at 13-10 on Allen’s 5-yard scoring pass to Diggs with 14 seconds left in the half.

The Browns struck on the opening drive of the game on Brissett’s 25-yard touchdown pass to Cooper. Bass got the Bills on the board with a 42-yard field goal with 3:32 left in the first quarter before Cleveland’s Cade York restored the seven-point margin with a 32-yard field goal early in the second quarter.

Buffalo started slow and recorded its initial first down nearly 22 minutes into the game. That drive culminated in Bass’ 36-yard field goal with 4:54 left in the half.

–Field Level Media