Finally with the Minnesota Vikings last season the maturation process kicked in for Sam Darnold and he met his talent expectations - (You Tube screen shot photo)

As the saying goes, if it doesn't kill you it will make you stronger. Sam Darnold's career is proof of that - (NFL photo)

Travis Kelce on the move - (All Pro Reels photo) TRAVIS KELCE... THE BIGGEST CATCH HE EVER MADE

At 37 Lionel Messi continues to amaze - (Hossein Zohrevand photo) MESSI MAGIC - BUILDING A FRANCHISE

Luka Doncic rocks in LA while Antonio Davis takes time off in Dallas with an injury. In this trade the PLUS is in LA, the MINUS in Dallas - (NBA photo) LA WINS BIG TIME in Luka Doncic trade

Azzi Fudd   Page Bueckers - (WNBA photo)

Shohei Ohtani continues as in hitting his 55th HR (home run) for his career best regular season total. It also set a Dodger franchise record - (All Pro Reels - Photo) SHOHEI OHTANI'S BLESSINGS in DISGUISE

Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics ALL TIME NBA 1st TEAM - BREAKING IT DOWN

SPORTS NOTES - NFL's Sam Darnold Stands Out

James Loving/National Radio Text Service

Being the New York Jets 1st round, 3rd overall pick in 2018 Sam Darnold stands out as a player that experienced cruel bashings by the New York media. Darnold sucked it up and took it but with his life, he moved on - WNBA DALLAS WINGS - WINGING IT? - NBA's BAD BOYS - NBA's ALL TIME BEST PLAYERS 1st and 2nd TEAMS

Sunday December 7, 2025

NFL

BEATEN DOWN BUT NOT OUT

Much is expected from first round selected players in their first season in the league. As being the New York Jets 1st round, 3rd overall pick in 2018 Sam Darnold stands out as a player that experienced cruel bashings by the New York media.

Darnold sucked it up and took it but his life move on. After being with four teams in seven seasons' things started to click and go right for the quarterback.

It was an injury to the Minnesota Vikings top draft pick J. J. McCarthy who he was originally expected to compete against for the starting job. A season-ending injury to McCarthy in the preseason enabled Darnold to be named the starting quarterback to begin the season. He was also named an offensive captain.

Finally with the Vikings last season the maturation process kicked in and he met his talent expectations. He led the team to a 14-3 record for the 2nd best overall record in the league. His statistics were an impressive 35 touchdowns to only 12 interceptions.

The changed enabled them to finish second in their division. He was selected for his first Pro Bowl and finished second to Joe Burrow as Comeback Player of the Year.

The Vikings failed to sign him for this season preferring to put all of their eggs in one basket, that being McCarthy. Darnold moved on to the Seattle Seahawks where he again, he is experiencing a solid season.

Thus far, he's led the team to a 10-3 record for a first place tie with the LA Rams in the NFC West Division.

As it turned out the Vikings bad luck bit them again and all of the eggs in their McCarthy basket came crashing down as he again suffered another injury. The bad karma it produced is Darnold continues to fly high with the Seahawks and the Vikings are dwelling at the bottom of the NFC North Division with a 5-8 record.

As the saying goes, if it doesn't kill you it will make you stronger. Darnold's career is proof of that.

NBA

BAD BOYS

Cleveland Cavaliers fined $250,000

December 4, 2025 NEW YORK

The NBA announced today that the Cleveland Cavaliers have been fined $250,000 for violating the league's Player Participation Policy. The league's investigation confirmed that Darius Garland, a star player under the Policy, was able to play in one of the team's two games on Nov. 23 against the LA Clippers and Nov. 24 against the Toronto Raptors.

The violation occurred when the Cavaliers failed to make Garland available for the team's nationally-televised game on Nov. 24 and instead made him available on Nov. 23 which was not a nationally-televised game.

&

76ers fined

December 3, 2025 NEW YORK

The NBA announced today that the Philadelphia 76ers have been fined $100,000 for violating league injury reporting rules.

The 76ers failed to accurately disclose the game availability status of Joel Embiid prior to their game against the Atlanta Hawks on Nov. 30. Embiid was listed as "Out" in Philadelphia's initial injury report and subsequently played in the game.

The fine takes into account the 76ers' prior history of fines for violating injury reporting rules.

&

Suns' Dillon Brooks fined

November 22, 2025 NEW YORK

Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks has been fined $35,000 for confronting and directing inappropriate language toward game officials, it was announced today by James Jones, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred following the conclusion of the Suns' 114-113 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Nov. 21 at Mortgage Matchup Center.

WNBA

DALLAS WINGS - WINGING IT?

Go figure, the Dallas Wings won the WNBA lottery for the second year in a row. The question is will they go out on a limb in their choice.

The sentiment is that they will choose Connecticut University star Azzi Fudd. Should this occur, it would bring together the Wings first overall pick last season, Page Bueckers and Fudd together again as teammates.

The irony is that Fudd and Bueckers are girlfriends. Speculators have made this an issue. The question arises can, at the pro level, they be quality teammates and leaders without having personal or family matters be an issue. Would the pairing be productive for the franchise.

Should the Wings select Fudd, the dynamic that presents is it is another interesting attraction for the league to draw more fan interest and attendance. That aspect, could produce an interesting result.

One thing the Wings most take into consideration is Fudd has a history of serious leg injuries. The pro level travel demands and players having to deal with playing more games in a season must be taken into consideration.

NBA THIS DAY

December 7, 1948 The Indianapolis Jets beat the Washington Capitols 94-78, snapping the Capitols’ NBA-record streak at 15 consecutive games won at the start of the season. The mark was tied by the 1993-94 Houston Rockets.

December 7, 1956 Larry Bird is born in West Baden, Indiana.

December 7, 1982 The Utah Jazz, in a 137-121 loss at Portland, set an NBA record for free throw percentage in a game, connecting on all 39 of their attempts from the line.

December 7, 1986 The Los Angeles Lakers beat Golden State 132-100 for Coach Pat Riley’s 300th career victory. He reached that plateau in 416 games, faster than any other coach in NBA history, beating Billy Cunningham’s previous record of 430 games.

December 7, 1990 The New Jersey Nets retired jersey #23 in honor of “Super John” Williamson, who played three years in the ABA and four years in the NBA with the Nets. Williamson owned the second-highest NBA scoring average (22.5 ppg) in team history.

December 7, 1993 The Orlando Magic established an NBA record by holding the visiting Detroit Pistons to only six points in the fourth quarter of a 91-89 victory. The Pistons broke the previous NBA low of seven fourth-quarter points, set by Houston against the Los Angeles Lakers on November 15, 1991.

December 7, 1994 The Philadelphia 76ers, behind Jeff Malone’s game-high 34 points, posted a 111-102 road win at Miami to become the third NBA franchise (joining Boston and the Los Angeles Lakers) to reach 2,000 victories.

December 7, 1995 Veteran NBA referee Jake O’Donnell announces his retirement after officiating more than 2,100 regular-season and 279 playoff and 39 NBA Finals games in 28 seasons in the league.

December 7, 1995 The NBA and the National Basketball Referees Association sign a five-year labor agreement, through the 1999-2000 season, ending a lockout of referees that began on October 1.

December 7, 1996 Detroit’s Terry Mills tied an NBA record for the most consecutive three-point field goals made, with 13, after connecting on his first attempt during the Pistons’ 95-69 win at New Jersey. Mills’ streak, which stretched over three games, tied the mark set by Brent Price during the 1995-96 season.