In the ongoing Ashes cricket series, Australia has already taken a 3-0 lead over England, securing their victory in the series. This has dampened the hopes of England's fans, including the Ryding siblings, who planned to attend the final matches in Australia to support their team.
Key Facts
Australia leads the Ashes series 3-0 after winning the third Test match.
England supporters, including 3,000 members of the Barmy Army, are traveling to Australia for the final two Tests.
The Ryding siblings from Lancashire had planned their trip a year in advance to see England play.
England has not won a series in Australia for 15 years.
Fans are concerned that England might lose all five matches in the series.
Head coach Brendon McCullum's style, known as 'Bazball,' is seen as not suited for five-day matches.
Despite the series outcome, fans like Katie Ryding are determined to enjoy their trip to Australia.
Paul Lim, at age 71, became the oldest player to win a match at the PDC World Championship in darts. He is preparing for a second-round match against world champion Luke Humphries. Lim, who has a long career in darts, is known for a historic nine-dart finish in 1990.
Key Facts
Paul Lim is 71 years old and recently won a first-round match at the PDC World Championship.
He is the oldest player to achieve a match win at this competition.
Lim's next match is against Luke Humphries, the world number two and 2024 world champion.
In 1990, Lim hit a historic nine-dart finish, earning significant prize money.
The prize money from the nine-dart finish helped him start a business.
Lim has been playing in World Championships since 1982.
He sees darts as a sport that allows for longer careers due to its nature.
Lim believes the popularity of darts is growing in Asia and predicts an Asian winner in the PDC World Championship in the next decade.
Wayne Rooney praised Arsenal's Declan Rice, saying he could be a future England captain after Rice's strong performance against Everton. Rooney also discussed Dominic Calvert-Lewin's recent success at Leeds United, suggesting he could join the England squad for the upcoming World Cup. Additionally, Rooney commented on Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres, noting his contributions beyond scoring goals.
Key Facts
Wayne Rooney called Declan Rice a "future captain" of the England football team.
Declan Rice helped Arsenal move to the top of the Premier League with a win over Everton.
Rice has played 72 games for England and has been acting captain twice.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has scored in his last five games for Leeds United.
Rooney believes Calvert-Lewin could join the England team for the World Cup.
Calvert-Lewin had injury issues at Everton but is now performing well at Leeds.
Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres scored the winning goal against Everton, his seventh goal this season.
Rooney said Gyokeres offers more to the team than just goals.
Alex Iwobi, a Fulham footballer, describes the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) as a special tournament that showcases different African cultures. Iwobi will play for Nigeria in the competition, aiming to win after a previous loss to Ivory Coast. Nigeria has won Afcon three times, and Iwobi hopes to succeed in this year's tournament in Morocco.
Key Facts
Alex Iwobi is a Fulham midfielder representing Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).
Afcon features 24 teams competing for the continental championship.
Nigeria previously lost the final to Ivory Coast and hopes to win this year's tournament.
The competition is held every two years and is currently hosted by Morocco.
Iwobi made his debut for Nigeria's national team in 2015.
Nigeria has won the Afcon tournament three times, last winning in 2013.
There is ongoing debate about Afcon's recognition compared to other major football tournaments.
Morocco won their opening Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) match against Comoros 2-0. Brahim Diaz and Ayoub El Kaabi scored in the second half, securing the victory for the host nation. Morocco extended their record of consecutive wins to 19 games.
Key Facts
Morocco hosted and won a 2-0 match against Comoros in the 2025 AFCON opening game.
Brahim Diaz scored the first goal in the 55th minute, followed by Ayoub El Kaabi in the 74th minute.
Morocco missed an early penalty, with Soufiane Rahimi's shot saved by the Comoros goalkeeper.
The game was played at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
Morocco's current winning streak of 19 games is a new record for a national team.
Captain Romain Saiss left the game injured after 18 minutes.
Comoros had one major chance to equalize, which Morocco's goalkeeper saved.
The Baltimore Ravens lost to the New England Patriots after quarterback Lamar Jackson was injured. Jackson suffered a back injury and was unable to return to the game, which affected the Ravens' performance and playoff chances. Head coach John Harbaugh mentioned it's unclear how serious the injury is, and the Ravens face the Green Bay Packers next.
Key Facts
The Ravens played against the New England Patriots on "Sunday Night Football."
Lamar Jackson, the Ravens' quarterback, was injured during the game with a knee to his back.
Jackson did not return to the game after the injury.
The Ravens had a substantial lead that they lost in the fourth quarter.
The game ended with the Ravens requiring other teams to lose for a playoff chance.
Coach John Harbaugh said Jackson's injury was a bruise, but it's unclear how severe it is.
The Ravens will next play the Green Bay Packers.
A loss to the Packers or a Steelers win over the Browns would eliminate the Ravens from playoffs.
The Green Bay Packers lost a critical game against the Chicago Bears after failing to recover an onside kick, leading to a touchdown by the Bears and a loss in overtime. This defeat has made it harder for the Packers to win their division, but they still have a chance at a playoff spot with upcoming games. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur expressed his frustration with the outcome, and the team faces uncertainty with injuries to key players.
Key Facts
The Packers were leading 16-9 with less than 2 minutes left in the game.
The Bears recovered an onside kick and scored to force overtime.
In overtime, the Bears won with a 46-yard touchdown pass from Caleb Williams to D.J. Moore.
Packers' star quarterback Jordan Love suffered a concussion during the game.
Despite the loss, the Packers can still make the playoffs if they win one of their next two games.
The Bears' win positions them as the No. 2 seed in the conference, while the Packers aim to secure a No. 7 seed.
Aaron Rodgers helped the Packers' playoff chances by leading the Steelers to a win over the Lions.
Manchester City will weigh their players to check fitness levels when they return from a short holiday break. The team, led by coach Pep Guardiola, plans to assess players’ readiness for their upcoming match against Nottingham Forest.
Key Facts
Manchester City players will be weighed when they return to training after a holiday break.
Coach Pep Guardiola wants to ensure players remain fit for the game on December 27 against Nottingham Forest.
The team recently defeated West Ham with a score of 3-0.
Guardiola is strict about players' fitness and has set specific weight targets for them.
In 2016, Guardiola required players to meet certain weight targets before participating in first-team training.
Manchester City is currently two points behind league leaders Arsenal in the Premier League standings.
Guardiola emphasized the importance of fitness but noted players also need to improve performance.
Players will have a few days off for Christmas, but Guardiola is focused on preparing them for the upcoming match.
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson left a game against the New England Patriots due to an injury. He was reported to have a back injury and struggled to move around. Tyler Huntley replaced him in the game.
Key Facts
Lamar Jackson, the Baltimore Ravens quarterback, left a game against the Patriots because he was hurt.
NBC's Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth suggested Jackson might have a chest injury, but it was later reported as a back injury.
The injury happened late in the second quarter of the game.
Tyler Huntley, a backup quarterback who played in the Pro Bowl, took over for Jackson.
Huntley previously won a game as a starter this season against the Chicago Bears.
Details about Jackson's condition and future availability are still being developed.
Aston Villa forward Morgan Rogers played a key role in his team's recent victory over Manchester United, scoring both goals in a 2-1 win. This win is part of Villa's 10-match winning streak, their best in over a century. Rogers is currently being considered for England's national team, aiming to play in a key tournament.
Key Facts
Morgan Rogers scored two goals in Aston Villa's 2-1 win over Manchester United.
This victory marks Aston Villa's 10th consecutive win, a record since 1914.
Rogers has netted 21 goals in all competitions since the start of last season.
At 23, Rogers is the youngest player to score 20 or more goals for a top-flight team during this period.
Rogers is Aston Villa's top scorer in the Premier League this season with seven goals.
He scored two or more goals in consecutive Premier League games, a Villa first since 1998.
Rogers has played for England at various youth levels and recently for the senior team.
Aston Villa is now third in the Premier League standings, three points behind the leaders.
The Pittsburgh Steelers won against the Detroit Lions with a final score of 29-24. During the game, Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf had a minor altercation with a Lions fan, which caught media attention. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin stated he was aware of the incident but hadn't seen the video footage.
Key Facts
The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Detroit Lions 29-24.
The incident between DK Metcalf and a Lions fan involved Metcalf appearing to throw a quick, light punch.
The altercation happened during the first half, but referees did not see it, so no penalty was called.
DK Metcalf caught four passes for 42 yards during the game.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said he had heard about the incident but had not seen the video.
The game win improves the Steelers to a 9-6 record and keeps them leading the AFC North division.
The Boston Red Sox made a trade to get Willson Contreras from the St. Louis Cardinals. Due to financial commitments with Contreras, they are ending trade talks with the Arizona Diamondbacks for Ketel Marte. Instead, the Red Sox may look for other players like Alex Bregman in free agency to strengthen their team.
Key Facts
The Red Sox acquired first baseman Willson Contreras from the St. Louis Cardinals.
The team will pay $33.5 million of the $41.5 million owed to Contreras.
The Red Sox decided to end trade talks with the Arizona Diamondbacks for Ketel Marte.
The team has traded with the Cardinals twice recently.
The Red Sox are looking for new players, potentially in free agency, to fill positions like third base.
Alex Bregman and Eugenio Suárez are potential options for the Red Sox.
The NBA is facing a possible disruption to its broadcasting during the 2025-26 season. The FanDuel networks, which show games for 13 NBA teams, may close. The NBA is preparing to use its League Pass app if FanDuel shuts down, but this is considered a worst-case scenario by officials.
Key Facts
The FanDuel regional sports networks broadcast games for 13 NBA teams.
Main Street Sports Group owns these networks and may shut them down by the end of the year.
Main Street needs a purchase from sports streamer DAZN before January to avoid closing.
Main Street failed to pay for some broadcast rights this month, affecting multiple sports teams.
If networks close midseason, the NBA plans to use its League Pass app for affected games.
The potential closure mainly affects teams that don't already have strong local agreements like the Lakers and Knicks.
Teams could regain their local broadcast rights if Main Street cannot make necessary payments.
This situation is part of a broader trend of cord-cutting and may lead to new broadcasting solutions in the future.
LSU has hired Kevin Smith, a coach previously with Ole Miss, to be their new running backs coach. Smith is recognized for his strong coaching skills, and he will be among the highest-paid coaches in his position in the country. LSU hopes Smith can help improve their running game performance.
Key Facts
Kevin Smith, Ole Miss's running backs coach, is moving to LSU to take on the same role.
Smith will earn nearly $1 million per year, making him one of the highest-paid running backs coaches in the U.S.
Lane Kiffin, LSU's head coach, previously worked at Ole Miss and has brought several former colleagues to LSU.
Under Smith's guidance, Ole Miss running back Kewan Lacy had a standout season with 1,366 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns.
Smith also coached Quinshon Judkins, who had significant success with both Ole Miss and the Cleveland Browns.
LSU struggled with their running game last year, managing only 1,275 total rushing yards and nine touchdowns across the team.
Manchester United is facing challenges due to an injury to key player Bruno Fernandes. Fernandes had to leave a match against Aston Villa at halftime because of a hamstring injury and will miss upcoming games. This injury comes at a difficult time for the team as they are already dealing with several other player absences.
Key Facts
Bruno Fernandes, a key Manchester United player, was injured and did not return after halftime in a match against Aston Villa.
Diogo Dalot described Fernandes' absence as a "massive" loss for the team.
Fernandes has been an important player for Manchester United, contributing to goals in almost every match he has played this season.
The injury will keep Fernandes out of the Boxing Day match against Newcastle.
Manchester United has upcoming matches against strong teams like Manchester City and Arsenal.
Other players such as Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo, and Noussair Mazraoui are also absent due to the Africa Cup of Nations.
Several key defenders are currently injured, including Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire.
The team welcomed Casemiro back from a ban but has struggled in their last few league matches when certain midfielders played.
Glenn Otto, a former New York Yankees prospect, retired from professional baseball at 29 due to ongoing shoulder injuries. Otto played for the Texas Rangers from 2021 to 2023 and had signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros but couldn't play due to his injury. He announced his retirement on Instagram, reflecting on his baseball journey and future.
Key Facts
Glenn Otto announced his retirement from professional baseball via Instagram.
He was a New York Yankees prospect traded to the Texas Rangers in 2021.
Otto played for the Rangers from 2021 to 2023, with a 7-13 win-loss record and a 5.62 earned run average (ERA).
He signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros in 2024 but did not play due to a shoulder injury.
Otto first encountered the shoulder injury in 2023, which affected his playing time in 2024.
He spent the 2024 season on the injured list and was in the minor league camp.
Otto graduated from Rice University and expressed gratitude for his baseball career.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy injured his hand during a game against the New York Giants, leading to his exit from the match. Head coach Kevin O'Connell confirmed that McCarthy underwent X-rays, and the team is evaluating his injury to decide his availability for the upcoming game against the Detroit Lions. Backup quarterback Max Brosmer replaced McCarthy, helping the Vikings secure a 16-13 win.
Key Facts
J.J. McCarthy, quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings, injured his hand in a game against the New York Giants.
The injury occurred after a defender tackled McCarthy, causing him to fumble.
McCarthy did not return to the game after sustaining the injury.
Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell stated that McCarthy had X-rays, but the injury's severity was still unknown.
McCarthy was unable to grip the football after the incident.
Max Brosmer stepped in for McCarthy and led the Vikings to a 16-13 victory.
The team will assess McCarthy's injury to determine if he can play in the next game against the Detroit Lions.
Despite their win, the Vikings are no longer in the NFL Playoffs race but have won three consecutive games.
The Oregon Ducks won their recent College Football Playoff game but will continue without player Sione Laulea. Laulea is leaving the team to enter the transfer portal and possibly switch schools.
Key Facts
The Oregon Ducks beat the James Madison Dukes to advance in the College Football Playoff.
They will play the Texas Tech Red Raiders on New Year’s Day in the Orange Bowl.
Sione Laulea, a cornerback for Oregon, is leaving the team and entering the transfer portal.
The transfer portal allows college athletes to change schools.
Laulea played in six games for Oregon in the 2025 season.
He was ranked as a top junior college player before joining Oregon.
Laulea may consider transferring to a school in Northern California like Stanford or California.
The Denver Nuggets' coach, David Adelman, was fined $35,000 after being ejected during a game against the Houston Rockets. Adelman used inappropriate language regarding a missed call and delayed leaving the court, prompting the NBA to issue the fine.
Key Facts
The incident happened during a game between the Denver Nuggets and the Houston Rockets.
Coach David Adelman received a second technical foul, leading to his ejection.
The ejection occurred three minutes into the fourth quarter with Denver trailing 89-72.
Adelman was penalized for using inappropriate language towards game officials.
He did not leave the court quickly after being ejected.
The New England Patriots will play the Baltimore Ravens in a Sunday Night Football game on December 21, 2025. The Patriots aim to secure a playoff spot, while the Ravens need a win to keep their chances alive in the AFC North. The game will be broadcast on NBC and available for live streaming on Peacock.
Key Facts
The game is on Sunday, December 21, 2025, at 8:20 PM ET.
It will be held at M&T Bank Stadium.
The New England Patriots have an 11-3 record.
The Baltimore Ravens have a 7-7 record.
The Patriots are undefeated on the road this season.
Both teams have players dealing with injuries, which could impact the game.
The game will be shown on NBC and can be streamed on Peacock.
Both teams have different playing styles and storylines, adding interest to the matchup.
