The best moment of the NBA season so far might just be a substitution
It's the holidays! You know what that means! Well, stress, mostly. But also time with family! Which can also be kind of stressful. But there's also the joy of the season, some good cheer, and, we hope, some good sports to get us through.
Before we dive into *the* stories of the week, here's a brief look at the best (and worst) over the last seven days:
- Drew Brees explains why he'll be haunted by his record-setting night Monday.
- Gerrit Cole breaks out childhood sign at Yankees introduction.
- Tom Herman has a weird way of celebrating Texas' signing day.
- This Josh Allen selfie is exactly where it belongs: a museum.
- Just playing the 'circle game', apparently. Nothing to see here.
- Joe Burrow's high school bestowed upon him its highest honor.
- Emmitt Smith had a great reaction to his son choosing Stanford.
- At last, the Jaguars know what time it is.
- Ja Morant tried to dunk Kevin Love into retirement.
- Even the Cowboys charter plane had a rough Sunday.
- Fallon Sherrock made darts history.
- A Red Sox minor leaguer had his waiver to postpone military service denied.
- Tom Brady: road grader.
- Well, he's @CantGuardMike for a reason.
- "The boos is just love" - The extremely unshakeable Kawhi Leonard
- Well, that's leaving in style, we guess.
THE BEST MOMENT OF THE NBA SEASON WAS A SUBSTITUTION
Sure there have been some cool dunks (and dunk attempts!) and big shots and blocks and so on, but the best moment of the NBA season was Celtics coach Brad Stevens pleading for more noise from the crowd before bringing in 7-foot-5 Tacko Fall for his home debut for the Boston Celtics.
He finished with five points and two boards, but honestly who cares. Just watch:
Check out the moment here if you can't see the embedded tweet.
AN EMOTIONAL VICTORY FOR 49ERS
"You guys go make sure you win this game."
That was the message San Francisco 49ers backup quarterback C.J. Beathard relayed through coach Kyle Shanahan as he left the team to deal with unthinkable tragedy: The death of his brother, who was fatally stabbed outside a Nashville bar early Saturday morning.
Saturday night, the team beat the Los Angeles Rams in a thriller, knocking the defending NFC champions out of playoff contention.
The emotion showed in the postgame locker room.
SUSPENSIONS AND EJECTIONS FOR FROSTY FLAP
Wizards guard Isaiah Thomas was ejected from Saturday's game in Philadelphia for confronting a fan in the stands. Why did he do that?
“I’m running back and a fan has both of his middle fingers up and said ‘(expletive) you (expletive)’ three times," Thomas told reporters. "Then timeout goes and I go into the stands to confront him. I go, ‘Don’t be disrespectful. I’m a man before anything and be fan.’ His response was, 'Sorry, I just wanted a Frosty.’ "
The Sixers, apparently, have a promotion that awards a Frosty from Wendy's if a player misses two consecutive free throws.
The fans have been banned one year for yelling obscenities and making obscene gestures while Thomas has been suspended two games by the league for his actions. The rest of us are just left shaking our heads.
IN A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY
Luke Skywalker on the bump. Rey at the hot corner. Obi-Wan Kenobi calling the shots. With 42 years of content to draw from, we built the ultimate baseball team made up entirely of Star Wars characters. A taste:
Catcher: C-3PO — "Fluent in over 6 million forms of communication," you know he's going to call a good game behind the plate.
We did likewise for football, and if you think we don't have Darth Vader setting the edge you've got another thing coming.
MORE MUST-SEE STORIES FROM OUR NETWORK
- Scott Gleeson has 10 sports-related presents for the last-minute shopper.
- Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee has a strange drink of choice on game days.
- Miami honors late linebacker Colby Singletary's memory with preferred walk-on offer on National Signing Day.
- Jerry Jones discussed the Cowboys' latest disappointing loss in an exclusive interview with Jarrett Bell.
- Bell on the NFL's decade to remember. But not in a good way.
- Kevin Allen pens a farewell column after 34 years with Paste BN.
- What if black people decided to move on from the NFL? Greg Moore on Roger Goodell and Colin Kaepernick.
- Nancy Armour on who in sports should be impeached.
- With early Signing Day in the past, we rank the 10 best 2021 football prospects.
- After locking up home-field advantage, there's nothing left for the Baltimore Ravens to prove, Tom Schad writes.
- Andy Nesbitt on why we should all be rooting for Josh Gordon.
- Paul George returned to Oklahoma City for the first time since his offseason trade request. His reception was somewhat surprising.
WE NEED MORE COWBELL NEWSLETTERS!
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