The New York Mets have signed Trey McGough, a left-handed pitcher, to a minor-league contract. McGough, who is returning from retirement, previously played in various minor-league teams and has a history of successful pitching. The Mets aim to strengthen their pitching options for the upcoming season.
Key Facts
The New York Mets signed Trey McGough on January 15.
McGough is a 6-foot-3, 200-pound left-handed pitcher.
He retired in May while with the Triple-A Charlotte Knights linked to the Chicago White Sox.
The contract with the Mets is a two-year minor-league deal.
McGough started his professional career with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
He has a 3.21 ERA over 280 2/3 innings in his minor-league career.
McGough was mainly a reliever and provides depth for the Mets' pitching staff.
Adam Schefter, a well-known NFL insider, incorrectly stated that Christian McCaffrey was the first NFL player to be a finalist for three major awards in the same season. This mistake led to significant backlash on social media, with users criticizing Schefter for his error.
Key Facts
Adam Schefter is recognized as a top insider for NFL news.
He mistakenly reported that Christian McCaffrey was a finalist for MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, and Comeback Player of the Year all in the same season.
The incorrect report attracted criticism and corrections from social media users.
Fans expressed dissatisfaction with Schefter’s factual error, noting it damaged his credibility.
This incident references a past controversy where Schefter had his reporting methods questioned.
Schefter's mistake was publicly noted and criticized, contrasting with his reputation for breaking accurate NFL news.
Fernando Mendoza, a college football player, announced he will enter the upcoming NFL draft after a successful season with the Indiana Hoosiers. Mendoza led his team to a national championship and won the Heisman Trophy, positioning himself as the top candidate for the NFL draft. The Las Vegas Raiders, who hold the top draft pick, are interested in selecting Mendoza.
Key Facts
Fernando Mendoza played college football for Indiana.
He transferred to Indiana to improve his chances of making it to the NFL.
Mendoza helped Indiana win the national championship.
He received the Heisman Trophy for his performance in college football.
Mendoza completed 72% of his passes, threw for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns, and made six interceptions.
The Las Vegas Raiders, with Tom Brady as a minority owner, have the first pick in the NFL draft and are interested in Mendoza.
The Raiders are looking for a new head coach and a key player like a franchise quarterback.
LSU head coach Lane Kiffin claims his 2026 transfer portal class is the best in college football history. He has added over 40 players to the team, many of whom are highly ranked. LSU is still trying to recruit one more top player, offensive lineman Jordan Seaton.
Key Facts
Lane Kiffin is the head coach of LSU's football team.
LSU recruited more than 40 new players through the transfer portal.
The team’s class is ranked as the best in the nation by all ranking systems.
Kiffin considers himself the "portal king" for his recruiting success.
The transfer portal helps teams quickly improve by adding experienced players.
LSU is still trying to recruit top offensive lineman Jordan Seaton.
Seaton is interested in a $4 million deal to join a new team.
Oregon, Miami, and LSU are competing to recruit Seaton.
The New England Patriots and Denver Broncos will compete in the AFC Championship Game. The Broncos lost their star quarterback Bo Nix due to injury, and head coach Sean Payton expressed confidence in his backup quarterback, Jarrett Stidham. Patriots' player Kayshon Boutte responded humorously to Payton's remarks about the Broncos' Super Bowl chances, suggesting the loser can vacation in Cancun.
Key Facts
The Patriots and Broncos will face off in the AFC Championship Game.
The Patriots have experienced success under head coach Mike Vrabel and quarterback Drake Maye.
The Broncos will not have their star quarterback Bo Nix, who is injured with a broken ankle.
Broncos coach Sean Payton is confident in backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham.
Sean Payton joked about the Broncos getting plenty of rest after the game, implying they would reach the Super Bowl.
Patriots' player Kayshon Boutte humorously suggested that the losing team could vacation in Cancun.
The Patriots defeated the Houston Texans 28-16 in their previous playoff game.
The Patriots are favored to win the upcoming game, with a point spread of 4.5 in their favor.
The Williams Formula One team has announced that it will not join the private testing in Barcelona next week due to delays in their car development. Instead, they will carry out their own tests to prepare for the 2026 season. The 2026 Formula One season will begin with a pre-season test in Bahrain and the first race in Australia in March.
Key Facts
Williams F1 team will skip a private test in Barcelona next week.
The team is facing delays with the development of their FW48 car.
Williams plans to conduct its own tests, including a VTT program.
The 2026 season will feature new rules, including a mix of engine types and active aerodynamics.
Williams plans to reveal their new car design on February 3, 2026.
The season's first official pre-season testing will be in Bahrain in February.
The first race of the 2026 season is scheduled for March 6-8 in Australia.
Erin Cuthbert, a football player for Chelsea and Scotland, talked with BBC Sport about learning to be more straightforward in her playing style. She mentioned learning this approach from her former coach, Emma Hayes, and shared a personal story about learning to use a tumble dryer from her mother.
Key Facts
Erin Cuthbert plays for Chelsea and the Scotland national team.
She emphasized the importance of being "direct" in her playing style.
Cuthbert credited her former coach, Emma Hayes, for teaching her to be more direct.
She shared a personal story about learning to use a tumble dryer from her mom.
The interview was conducted by Emma Sanders of BBC Sport.
The discussion is part of a broader conversation related to women's football.
The New York Mets made significant player moves by acquiring infielder Bo Bichette, pitcher Freddy Peralta, and outfielder Luis Robert. The team is still considering signing pitcher Chris Bassitt to strengthen their lineup, as he is known for his reliability. Bassitt's addition could push the Mets' payroll to over $400 million.
Key Facts
The Mets added Bo Bichette from the Blue Jays and traded for Freddy Peralta and Luis Robert.
These moves aim to make the Mets contenders for the World Series.
Chris Bassitt is a free agent and could be signed to boost the Mets' pitching staff.
Bassitt is valued for his consistent performance and ability to pitch regularly.
Last season, Bassitt made 31 starts for the Blue Jays, continuing his streak of seasons with at least 30 starts.
The Mets' payroll is currently $385.7 million and could exceed $400 million if Bassitt is signed.
Bassitt's potential contract is estimated at $15.6 million per year for two years.
Max Scherzer, a well-known baseball pitcher, is currently a free agent. At 41, he is waiting for the right opportunity to sign with a team, possibly even after the baseball season starts. Scherzer has an impressive career history but has not yet decided which team he will join next.
Key Facts
Max Scherzer helped the Toronto Blue Jays in the postseason but is still a free agent.
Scherzer had a 5.19 ERA during the regular season but improved to a 3.77 ERA in the postseason.
He is 41 years old and a three-time Cy Young award winner.
Reports suggest Scherzer might wait until the season begins to sign with a team he prefers.
Scherzer is compared to Roger Clemens, who signed with a team mid-season late in his career.
Scherzer has not specified which teams he is interested in joining.
His future with the Toronto Blue Jays is uncertain due to new additions to their pitching staff.
The Detroit Tigers are looking to add a new starting pitcher for their team. They are interested in free agent pitchers, including Chris Bassitt from the Toronto Blue Jays, to strengthen their rotation.
Key Facts
The Detroit Tigers want a new starting pitcher to improve their team.
They have used 15 different pitchers as starters this past season.
The Tigers are interested in mid-tier free agent pitchers.
Chris Bassitt, a 36-year-old free agent from the Toronto Blue Jays, is one of their targets.
Other potential targets include Nick Martinez, José Quintana, and Lucas Giolito.
Chris Bassitt had 27 or more starts in each of the past five seasons.
Bassitt had 166 strikeouts and a 3.96 ERA in the last season.
It is not clear if the Blue Jays will re-sign Bassitt, which might allow him to join a team like the Tigers.
The New York Mets traded for Freddy Peralta, a pitcher from the Milwaukee Brewers. Sports writers project that Peralta might sign a new contract with the Mets worth $120 million over five years. This new deal would extend his stay with the team until 2030.
Key Facts
The Mets acquired Freddy Peralta in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Peralta's current contract with the Mets ends after the 2026 season.
Writers from The Athletic predict Peralta might sign a five-year contract extension worth $120 million.
The proposed deal would keep Peralta with the Mets through the 2030 season.
The contract would pay Peralta an average of $24 million per year.
If the Mets sign Peralta to this deal, it could increase their luxury tax.
The Mets might need to adjust the contract to avoid immediate financial penalties.
Aaron Sanchez, a former top prospect for the Toronto Blue Jays, is working on a comeback to Major League Baseball after not playing for three seasons. Sanchez recently performed well in the Dominican Winter League and is attracting interest from MLB teams. He may sign a minor league deal with a chance to prove himself during spring training.
Key Facts
Aaron Sanchez was a top prospect for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Sanchez won the Dominican Winter League's Pitcher of the Year award.
He had a 1.55 ERA in 46 1/3 innings over eight starts this winter.
Sanchez last played in MLB in 2022.
He was an All-Star in 2016 with a 15-2 record and a 3.00 ERA.
Sanchez is 33 years old and looking to return to MLB.
Teams might consider Sanchez for a minor league deal with a chance to join the main team if he performs well.
Aston Villa's manager, Unai Emery, had a minor incident with player Youri Tielemans during their Europa League win against Fenerbahce. Despite the situation, Emery described the interaction as friendly, saying, "He's my son." Aston Villa's victory secured them a spot in the tournament's last 16, with Jadon Sancho scoring his first goal for the club.
Key Facts
Unai Emery is the manager of Aston Villa.
Youri Tielemans was substituted in the 92nd minute during a 1-0 win over Fenerbahce.
Emery pushed Tielemans in the chest, but called him "my son," suggesting a light-hearted interaction.
Aston Villa's win secured their place in the last 16 of the Europa League.
Jadon Sancho scored his first goal for Aston Villa in this match.
Emery has won the Europa League four times as a manager.
This match marked Emery’s 100th game managing in the Europa League.
Paddy Pimblett, a mixed martial arts fighter from Liverpool, is preparing to compete for the interim lightweight title at UFC 324. Known for his confident personality, Pimblett has evolved from a young athlete with unshakeable self-belief to a respected figure in his gym, where he also inspires and coaches others.
Key Facts
Paddy Pimblett first visited Paul Rimmer's gym in Liverpool in 2010 as a 15-year-old.
As of 2023, Pimblett is a prominent figure among fighters at the Next Generation Gym.
He is set to fight Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight title at UFC 324 in Las Vegas.
Pimblett joined the UFC in 2021 and has won all seven of his fights since then.
In his early career, Pimblett experienced notable losses that contributed to his development.
His unshakeable confidence, once seen as a weakness, is now a key strength due to improved attentiveness to coaching.
Pimblett acts as a mentor and leader at his gym, similar to Liverpool football icon Jordan Henderson.
Aryna Sabalenka, the world number one tennis player, advanced to the fourth round of the Australian Open after defeating Anastasia Potapova. Despite initially leading, Sabalenka had to overcome a strong challenge from Potapova, ultimately winning with scores of 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (9-7). Sabalenka, who has been successful in recent Grand Slams, highlighted her mental strength as key to her victory.
Key Facts
Aryna Sabalenka is the current world number one in women's tennis.
She won the Australian Open in 2023 and 2024.
Sabalenka defeated Anastasia Potapova to reach the fourth round of the 2025 Australian Open.
The match ended with scores of 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (9-7) in Sabalenka's favor.
Sabalenka has won 19 Grand Slam tie-breaks in a row, a record for female players in the Open era.
She has worked on controlling her emotions with a psychologist to improve her game.
Sabalenka has reached at least the semi-finals in 13 of her last 16 Grand Slam tournaments.
She will face 19-year-old Victoria Mboko from Canada in the next round.
The third round of the 2026 Australian Open tennis tournament is taking place, featuring both well-known and up-and-coming players. Matches will be broadcast on ESPN2, and fans can watch online through Fubo with a free trial available.
Key Facts
The 2026 Australian Open's third round occurs on January 22 and January 23.
ESPN2 will air the matches starting at 3:00 AM Eastern Time.
Fubo offers a live stream option for viewers who do not have cable, with a free trial available.
Notable players include Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, Aryna Sabalenka, and Coco Gauff.
Local interest in Australia focuses on Alex de Minaur and Maddison Inglis.
The tournament features a mix of seasoned players and emerging talents.
Matches promise intense physical exchanges and strategy.
Some regional restrictions may apply for the live stream.
A member of Bad Bunny's style team mentioned that the singer may wear a dress for his 2026 Super Bowl halftime show as a tribute to queer Puerto Rican icons. The possible costume has sparked debate and criticism online, particularly from conservative figures. The NFL and Bad Bunny have not confirmed the outfit.
Key Facts
Bad Bunny might wear a dress during his 2026 Super Bowl halftime performance.
The dress is intended to honor Puerto Rican queer icons and make a political statement.
The NFL and Bad Bunny have not confirmed the outfit.
Some conservatives and MAGA supporters have criticized the potential costume choice.
President Donald Trump and other conservatives criticized the NFL's choice to have Bad Bunny perform.
Bad Bunny's potential wardrobe choice has become a topic of heated online debate.
Bad Bunny is a successful music artist with multiple awards, including Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards.
The 2026 Super Bowl will be held on February 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Harry Styles announced a 2026 world tour called "Together, Together," featuring 50 dates in seven major cities worldwide. The U.S. leg includes 30 consecutive nights at Madison Square Garden in New York City from August to October. Tickets for these events will be available through various presale options in January and February.
Key Facts
Harry Styles' 2026 world tour is called "Together, Together."
The tour includes 50 dates across seven cities globally.
In the U.S., all concerts will be held at New York's Madison Square Garden.
The U.S. shows run from August 28 to October 31, 2026.
Tickets are available through American Express Presale, Artist Presale, and General On Sale.
Presale dates for ticket purchases are staggered throughout January and February 2026.
Special guest performers in New York include Jamie xx.
Styles' new single "Aperture" was released on January 22, 2026.
Alex Honnold, a climber known for scaling without safety gear, will climb Taipei 101 live without ropes. A 2016 brain scan suggested he experiences fear differently because his brain shows less activity in areas that trigger fear responses.
Key Facts
Alex Honnold is famous for free solo climbing, which means climbing without safety ropes.
He will climb Taipei 101, a skyscraper about 1,667 feet tall, without any safety equipment.
A 2016 fMRI scan showed that Honnold's amygdala, a brain part involved in fear, reacts less than that of a typical person.
The research explored how Honnold could manage fear during high-risk climbs.
The study found that when shown fear-inducing images, Honnold's brain showed little response.
Honnold mentioned that his experiences have helped him get used to fear over the years.
Scientists believe genetic factors and experience influence how the amygdala responds to fear.
The brain scan results suggest that Honnold is a high-sensation seeker, meaning he seeks out thrilling experiences.
The Golden State Warriors are considering trade options as they deal with roster changes following Jimmy Butler's injury. Discussions suggest a potential reunion with Andrew Wiggins to strengthen the team. Wiggins previously played for the Warriors and could address their current needs.
Key Facts
The Golden State Warriors are exploring trade options before the February 5 deadline.
Jimmy Butler is out for the season due to a torn ACL.
The team is considering bringing back Andrew Wiggins, who last played with them in the 2022 NBA Finals.
Wiggins currently plays for the Miami Heat and performed well recently against the Warriors.
Wiggins is averaging 15.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, and shooting nearly 40% from three-point range this season.
Financial considerations include Wiggins being on an expiring contract with a $30 million option for next season.
The Warriors aim to balance immediate competitiveness with future viability in the Western Conference.
