The NFL has confirmed that Bad Bunny will perform at the Super Bowl halftime show. The decision has faced criticism from President Donald Trump, but NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell defended the choice. Goodell emphasized Bad Bunny's popularity and said there might be more artists added to the show.
Key Facts
The NFL is keeping Bad Bunny as the Super Bowl halftime performer.
Commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed this decision during a news conference.
President Trump criticized the decision and mentioned he hadn't heard of Bad Bunny.
Bad Bunny is known for his support of Puerto Rican culture and has criticized some of Trump's policies.
The Super Bowl will take place on February 8 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
The "tush push" quarterback sneak remains allowed in the NFL for now, with no current plans to ban it.
Goodell noted that game times are down this season despite more kick returns due to rule adjustments.
A traditional Native American game that influenced modern lacrosse is being revived. This game was important for many Native American communities for healing and culture, but it almost vanished.
Key Facts
The game is a predecessor to modern-day lacrosse.
It was traditionally played by many Native American communities.
The game was known for its cultural and healing significance.
Efforts are underway to revive the game in Native American communities.
It had largely disappeared over time but is gaining interest again.
Pete Alonso, a baseball player for the New York Mets, is likely to become a free agent again after his current contract ends. He is expected to seek a long-term deal, but the Mets might hesitate due to concerns about his age and future performance. Alonso is turning 31 and players who rely heavily on power often decline as they get older.
Key Facts
Pete Alonso re-signed with the Mets last offseason for a two-year, $54 million contract.
His current contract allows him to opt out after this season.
Alonso led the National League with 41 doubles and achieved a career-high batting average.
He turns 31 this December, which raises concerns about his long-term performance.
Alonso is expected to seek a five-year deal, but the Mets may not want to commit to that term.
The Mets did not sign him to a long-term contract last year when it might have been cheaper.
The team's management might prefer a short-term deal due to concerns about Alonso's future performance.
The Los Angeles Lakers lost their first game of the season to the Golden State Warriors, partly because LeBron James did not play. James is recovering from a nerve condition called sciatica and will be out for a few weeks. During the game, he was seen on the bench but didn’t seem very engaged, according to some reports.
Key Facts
The Los Angeles Lakers lost 119-109 to the Golden State Warriors in their season opener.
LeBron James did not play in the game because he is recovering from sciatica on his right side.
Sciatica is a condition that causes pain along the sciatic nerve, which runs down each leg.
James is 40 years old and expected to miss several weeks while he recovers.
He was present at the game, sitting on the Lakers' bench but appeared less enthusiastic than usual.
There are reports that the atmosphere around James' situation isn't as positive as it usually is.
During his recovery, James is reportedly evaluating the Lakers' team roster.
James is preparing to start his 23rd season in the NBA and aims to win his fifth NBA title.
The World Chess Federation is investigating comments made by former world champion Vladimir Kramnik about U.S. grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky before his death. Kramnik accused Naroditsky of cheating, which Naroditsky denied, and the situation has drawn criticism from the chess community. Naroditsky, who passed away recently at age 29, was a well-known player and online chess personality.
Key Facts
The World Chess Federation (FIDE) is looking into comments by Vladimir Kramnik about Daniel Naroditsky.
Kramnik made accusations of cheating against Naroditsky, which Naroditsky denied.
Daniel Naroditsky passed away at the age of 29; no cause of death has been announced.
Naroditsky was popular online as "Danya" and had a large following on Twitch and YouTube.
Kramnik has stated he might pursue legal action against those he claims are falsely accusing him.
Prominent chess figures, including Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura, have criticized Kramnik's comments.
FIDE expressed sympathy to Naroditsky's family and plans to honor him with a special award.
Naroditsky's family called his death "unexpected" in their announcement.
San Antonio Spurs player Victor Wembanyama addressed rumors about his height, which reportedly ranges from 7-foot-3 to 7-foot-7. He emphasized that he focuses on his performance rather than his height. The Spurs hope to improve this season under new coach Mitch Johnson.
Key Facts
Victor Wembanyama's height has been reported to range from 7-foot-3 to 7-foot-7.
ESPN's Brian Windhorst speculated that Wembanyama might be closer to 7-foot-7.
Wembanyama stated that the height discussion does not bother him and he focuses more on his game.
Wembanyama avoids reading online content that may distract him from his performance.
Mitch Johnson is the new coach for the San Antonio Spurs, taking over from Gregg Popovich.
Last season, the Spurs finished with a 34-48 record and did not make the playoffs.
Wembanyama aims for the team to reach the playoffs as at least the sixth seed.
The Spurs face strong competition in the Western Conference, starting with a game against the Dallas Mavericks.
New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor had minor elbow surgery after the baseball season ended. Lindor is expected to be ready to play by the time spring training starts. He previously played through injuries, including during the 2023 season, when he played with bone spurs in his elbow.
Key Facts
Francisco Lindor, a shortstop for the New York Mets, had surgery on his right elbow.
The surgery was a "minor cleanup" to remove bone spurs.
Lindor is expected to be fully ready for the next baseball season's spring training.
In 2023, Lindor played 160 games while dealing with bone spurs.
Lindor had a .267 batting average, hit 31 home runs, and had 86 RBIs in the 2023 season.
He is signed to a 10-year, $341 million contract with the Mets.
The Mets' offseason plans might involve changes, but they expect Lindor to be a key player.
The Colorado Rockies are looking for a new head of baseball operations after firing their general manager. James Click, currently with the Toronto Blue Jays, was considered for the job but is no longer in the running. The Rockies are now focusing on other candidates as they aim to improve their team.
Key Facts
The Colorado Rockies fired their general manager, Bill Schmidt, earlier in October.
The team is searching for a new head of baseball operations and wants to hire someone from outside the organization.
James Click, a Toronto Blue Jays executive, was initially considered for the role but has been removed from the list of candidates.
Click previously worked as the general manager for the Houston Astros and helped them win the World Series in 2022.
Other candidates for the Rockies' position include Amiel Sawdaye from Arizona and Matt Forman from Cleveland.
The only other available major league front office position, with the Washington Nationals, has been filled by Paul Toboni.
The NFL is sticking with its decision to have Bad Bunny perform at the Super Bowl halftime show, despite some negative reactions from President Trump and supporters. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stated that choosing Bad Bunny reflects the league's goal to reach a global audience. The Super Bowl will be held in California on February 8, 2024.
Key Facts
Bad Bunny, a Grammy-winning artist from Puerto Rico, will headline the Super Bowl halftime show.
President Trump and some supporters criticized the choice of Bad Bunny.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the decision aims to connect with a global audience.
Bad Bunny is known for his music and outspoken political views, including criticism of Trump.
The Super Bowl will take place at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, hosted by the San Francisco 49ers.
Bad Bunny is expected to perform mainly in Spanish, continuing a trend of diverse halftime shows.
Goodell noted the NFL might include additional performers in the halftime show.
President Trump expressed that he was unfamiliar with Bad Bunny and dismissed the choice.
The San Francisco Giants have hired Tony Vitello, a college baseball coach from Tennessee, as their new manager. He is the first to move directly from college coaching to a major league manager role. Vitello helped the Tennessee Volunteers win a national championship and aims to guide the Giants back to the playoffs.
Key Facts
Tony Vitello is the new manager for the San Francisco Giants.
Vitello was coaching at the University of Tennessee before this role.
He is the first college coach to become a major league manager without prior professional experience.
The Tennessee Volunteers, under Vitello, won the 2024 National Championship.
The Giants are looking for stability as they have changed managers frequently after Bruce Bochy's retirement.
Former Giants manager Bob Melvin was dismissed in September after the team missed two consecutive playoff seasons.
The Giants aim to return to the playoffs with Vitello, who will start with a roster that includes his former college player, Gavin Kilen.
The San Francisco Giants are hiring Tony Vitello, a college baseball coach from Tennessee, to be their new manager. This is notable because Vitello will be the first college coach to manage a Major League Baseball (MLB) team without previous professional experience. Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer, who knows Vitello from college, supports this decision and believes Vitello will succeed.
Key Facts
The San Francisco Giants are hiring Tony Vitello as their new manager.
Vitello coached the Tennessee baseball team and won a national championship.
He is the first college coach to become an MLB manager without professional experience.
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer supports Vitello, having worked with him in college.
The Giants traded for several former Tennessee players, which could help Vitello in his new role.
There is some concern about Vitello's ability to manage professional players without prior MLB experience.
The Baltimore Orioles are not planning a reunion with All-Star first baseman Ryan O'Hearn because they have multiple players available to fill that position. The team has a stronger focus on addressing gaps in their pitching staff. O'Hearn is advised to seek consistent playing time with another team.
Key Facts
The Baltimore Orioles had a difficult season, partly due to losing pitcher Corbin Burnes.
The team has several young players that could help improve their future performance.
All-Star first baseman Ryan O'Hearn was traded at the deadline.
Orioles insider Roch Kubatko explained there is no available spot for O'Hearn at first base.
The Orioles have four potential players for the first base position.
Other main options for first base include Coby Mayo, Samuel Basallo, and Adley Rustschman.
Orioles need to improve their pitching staff, which is a higher priority than first base.
O'Hearn is likely to find a more consistent role with another team.
WWE's tag team Fraxiom, consisting of Nathan Frazer and Axiom, almost split before gaining momentum on the main roster. The team convinced WWE creative, led by Shawn Michaels, to keep them together despite initial plans for individual storylines. Their teamwork paid off, leading to continued success and a call-up to WWE's main roster.
Key Facts
Fraxiom is a tag team in WWE consisting of Nathan Frazer and Axiom.
They have been part of the main WWE roster since April 2025.
Initial plans were to split the team, but they successfully argued to stay together.
Nathan Frazer originally wanted to play a "heel," or villain character.
Creative lead Shawn Michaels initially planned for their split.
Fraxiom pushed back against these plans when they gained momentum in late 2024.
Their plea was successful, allowing them to remain as a team and earn a call-up.
The Philadelphia Phillies are facing changes as veteran outfielder Harrison Bader is expected to enter free agency. Bader played well after being traded to the Phillies, but he is likely to decline a $10 million option and seek a new contract elsewhere. The team must decide whether to try to re-sign him or let him go.
Key Facts
The Phillies had a strong season record of 96-66 but lost to the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.
Harrison Bader, a 9-year MLB player, joined the Phillies midway through the season.
Bader's batting average improved to .305 after joining the Phillies.
He suffered a hamstring injury in the first game of the National League Division Series (NLDS).
Bader has a $10 million mutual option to stay with the Phillies, which he is expected to decline.
The team must decide if they will negotiate a new contract with Bader or let him enter free agency.
The Chicago Cubs have three players who are finalists for the Silver Slugger award in Major League Baseball's National League. The award recognizes the best offensive players at each position. The finalists from the Cubs are outfielders Kyle Tucker and Pete Crow-Armstrong, and second baseman Nico Hoerner.
Key Facts
The Silver Slugger awards are given to top offensive players in Major League Baseball.
The Chicago Cubs won 92 games this season.
The three Cubs finalists for the Silver Slugger are Kyle Tucker, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Nico Hoerner.
This is the second time in the Cubs' history they have three finalists for this award.
Pete Crow-Armstrong hit 31 home runs, tied for ninth among all outfielders in the league.
Nico Hoerner hit seven home runs and is competing for the award with Ketel Marte from the Diamondbacks.
Some notable Cubs players, Michael Busch and Seiya Suzuki, are not finalists despite strong performances.
The New York Mets need to decide if they will keep Pete Alonso, who has chosen not to continue his two-year, $54 million contract. Alonso's potential departure opens the door for the Mets to consider Kazuma Okamoto, a Japanese player from the Yomiuri Giants, as a possible replacement.
Key Facts
Pete Alonso, a Mets player, is going to be a free agent after opting out of his current contract.
Alonso is 30 years old and has been selected as an All-Star five times.
He hit 38 home runs and had 126 RBIs in his last season.
The Mets might look at Kazuma Okamoto from Japan as a cheaper option if Alonso leaves.
Okamoto plays first base but has also played third base and outfield.
Okamoto has a career batting line of .274/.355/.501 in Japan with 248 home runs.
He played 130 games as a first baseman in the 2024 season.
Okamoto missed many games in 2025 due to an injury but still hit 15 home runs.
Newsweek offers a promotion for NBA games through the Underdog app. By using the promo code NEWSWEEK, participants can receive a $100 bonus when they make an initial $5 entry. The NBA games highlighted include matchups like Cavaliers-Knicks and Spurs-Mavericks.
Key Facts
Newsweek has a promotion for NBA games with the Underdog app.
People who use the promo code NEWSWEEK can get a $100 bonus after a $5 entry.
Two NBA games highlighted are Cavaliers-Knicks and Spurs-Mavericks.
Users need to select 2-8 players for their ticket entries in the games.
The Underdog app offers profit boosts for certain game picks.
Promotions include a 50% profit boost for entries with 3-8 picks.
Creating a new Underdog account involves entering personal details and using a secure payment method.
Bayern Munich will face Club Brugge in a UEFA Champions League match at the Allianz Arena. The game will take place on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at 3:00 PM EDT. Bayern aims to continue their strong performance in the tournament, while Club Brugge hopes to improve their standing in the group.
Key Facts
Bayern Munich will play Club Brugge at the Allianz Arena in a Champions League match.
The match is scheduled for Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at 3:00 PM EDT.
The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network and streamed on Fubo.
Bayern Munich has won their first two matches in the tournament.
Key Bayern players include Harry Kane, Jamal Musiala, and Leroy Sané.
Bayern Munich is led by manager Thomas Tuchel.
Club Brugge is struggling in their group and aims to improve their position.
Club Brugge's key players include Hans Vanaken and Andreas Skov Olsen.
The article discusses a promotional offer from Betr for NBA betting. New users can receive up to $210 in bonus funds using a special promo code. The offer includes an instant bonus and a deposit match for NBA games.
Key Facts
A promo code from Betr can give new users up to $210 in bonus funds.
The offer consists of a $10 instant bonus and a 50% deposit match up to $200.
NBA games featured include Cavaliers vs. Knicks and Spurs vs. Mavericks.
The Cavaliers and Knicks are highlighted as top Eastern Conference contenders.
Victor Wembanyama and Cooper Flagg are highlighted players in the Spurs-Mavericks game.
Special picks are available for players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jalen Brunson.
Users must register with basic personal information to claim the offer.
A new promo code, NEWSWEEKXL, offers bonuses for using the Sleeper app during the NBA's opening week. Users can receive up to $100 in bonuses by signing up and meeting the offer's requirements. The promotion coincides with several televised NBA games, including Cavaliers-Knicks and Spurs-Mavericks.
Key Facts
The promo code NEWSWEEKXL is linked with the Sleeper app for NBA games.
New users get $20 as a non-deposit bonus plus up to $100 from a 100% deposit match.
To participate, users must sign up before the NBA games start.
Key NBA games during this promotion are Cavaliers vs. Knicks and Spurs vs. Mavericks.
Participants must choose at least two players from different teams for their first entry.
The promo allows for potential earnings through max or flex play options.
Additional bonuses and special picks are available, like a Justin Jefferson receiving yards pick.
Newsweek may earn an affiliate commission for sign-ups through their article links.
