Datasets:

Kevinger

/

hub-report-raw

like 0

b650f0b9fb67c4c049d4be140ccf4625

science

In the battle to build more housing, Massachusetts is making gains

The law was controversial because it diluted home rule, something legislators have treated as sacrosanct despite a century’s worth of evidence that towns have used that authority to limit growth, promote segregation, and harm the state’s overall economic well-being . This year began with a lot of anxiety about housing — and, in particular, whether Boston’s suburbs would comply with a controversial new state law that requires them to allow more of the kind of apartment and condo buildings that many of them have a well-earned reputation for resisting. A few local politicians made noise about resisting the law. But so far, municipalities have largely complied, often with an enthusiasm that belies their histories as hotbeds of NIMBYism. Advertisement In one suburb after another, towns adopted new zoning that in some cases went even beyond the law’s requirements. In town meetings, the vote was often lopsided in favor of change: Lexington, 107 to 63; Arlington, 189 to 35; Brookline, 207 to 33. Those actions will make building new construction easier and more predictable, hopefully leading to more of it. Get The Primary Source Globe Opinion's weekly take on politics, delivered every Wednesday. Enter Email Sign Up A view of construction underway in Everett. A new state law has prompted communities to loosen their zoning regulations for multifamily housing, which should lead to more of it over time. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff It hasn’t all been smooth sailing: Newton’s City Council ended up doing just about the bare minimum to comply. Milton’s Town Meeting approved its plan, but citizens appear to have gathered enough signatures to force a referendum seeking to overturn the vote. But the bottom line is that, so far, each of the 12 communities with a deadline this year has at least tried to meet it. To a certain extent, the local votes show just how bad the housing shortage and resulting price inflation in Massachusetts has become. When even voters in places like Lexington and Brookline are willing to allow the kind of multifamily housing that they and their ancestors fought so hard against, you know it’s gotten bad in the market. The price of housing rose more than 10 percent in Greater Boston in 2023, and the median single-family home went for $829,950, according to the Greater Boston Association of Realtors. Rents are similarly stratospheric. Suburban homeowners may like those rising property values, but they don’t like seeing their kids move far away because they can’t afford to live here. There is also far more public attention on the damaging environmental and social consequences of exclusionary zoning, which may be shifting public opinion in a more altruistic direction. Advertisement Still, there’s no reason to imagine so many large suburbs would have rezoned in a single year without prompting. Which is why legislators should view the law’s early success as vindication for state intervention — and proof that a stronger state hand in housing is not only the right thing to do but also might even be welcome. Indeed, the strong margins in town meetings are enough to make you wonder if the hostility to housing in the suburbs was never more than just a bugaboo for the small minority that happened to show up at meetings. State pressure is necessary because Boston's suburbs have a well-earned reputation for resisting new housing. In 2004, a sign protested proposed construction of a proposed development in Bedford. By giving localities the legal tools to thwart housing, the state let them create the housing shortage Massachusetts finds itself in now. Pat Greenhouse Regardless, the next step should be for the state to build on this law and extend the state’s role. In her first year in office, Governor Maura Healey has taken several notable steps on housing, including appointing a housing czar and championing funds for market-rate housing. Her most important decision, though, may have been a provision in her proposed housing bond bill that requires communities to allow “in-law” apartments, which would build on the precedent of the MBTA law by again forcing communities’ hands. It is projected to add 8,000 new housing units statewide. Advertisement Defenders of home rule oppose that proposal. But the positive results of the MBTA law so far are a strong argument that the state can and should exert more power over housing — and not just over zoning but also over the whole gamut of financial, logistical, and environmental policies that determine how much is built, where, and for whom. The Globe editorial page has made the case this year for some of the ways the state could step up. It could, for instance, put more teeth in the Community Preservation Act, to force towns that accept state funds for the program to spend more of it on housing. It could standardize applications for income-restricted housing. It could change the way it awards tax credits to pressure developers to build subsidized housing for families, not just senior citizens. People waited in line for an income-restricted housing lottery in Boston in 2017. Housing set aside for low-income people is hard to find and hard to apply for. Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff For the Healey administration, it should mean continuing to hold towns to account if they violate either the letter or the spirit of the law. In 2024, scores more municipalities will be required to zone areas for denser housing. Healey’s housing czar, Edward Augustus, sent a good message when he implicitly threatened that the administration would yank funding for a commuter rail station in Newton if the city didn’t include its vicinity in the rezoning plan. The city ended up including it, and other communities hopefully got the message that the state really means business. Advertisement Sustained pressure and leadership from the state is essential, because the truth is that the state’s housing deficit will take years to overcome. Massachusetts needs up to 200,000 new housing units by 2030, which would require it to produce housing at a much faster rate. The state only approved 18,940 private housing units in 2022, according to the St. Louis Fed, and the numbers for 2023 are shaping up to be even worse. The zoning changes approved in towns this year are only a first step at fixing the imbalance; now developers have to actually take advantage of those loosened regulations. A view of a condo development in Danvers. Massachusetts is still not building nearly enough new housing to meet its needs. Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff Until those numbers rise, house hunters will continue to suffer from rising housing prices. Businesses will find it harder to attract employees. Renters will crowd into unsafe living conditions. Homelessness will linger. For a place that proudly insists on calling itself a commonwealth instead of merely a state, Massachusetts has tiptoed around the sacred cow of local control for far too long. That is finally starting to change. If there’s one important takeaway from 2023, it’s that the state’s role in housing can’t be merely to ask politely for more. It’s time to use all the powers at the state’s disposal to insist on it. Advertisement Editorials represent the views of the Boston Globe Editorial Board. Follow us @GlobeOpinion.

b4bc5cf1f5e2fe9ed1ce9d2aebf5cc36

science

Day 2: Move for 3 Minutes to Refresh Your Mind

This is Day 2 of the 6-Day Energy Challenge. To start at the beginning, click here. When you’re wiped out, getting up and moving might sound like a real drag. But the less active we are during the day, the more fatigued we feel. Today’s challenge is a playful, slightly silly three-minute exercise. Why is this a crucial part of an energy challenge? Because short bursts of movement can help reduce fatigue, relieve stress and improve your mood. As soon as you start, your heart rate goes up, increasing the supply of oxygen to your muscles and brain, said Margaret Rice, a professor of neurosurgery, neuroscience and physiology at the N.Y.U. Grossman School of Medicine. This rush, she said, might “help you feel more alert for at least a little while afterward.” She also said that dopamine — a hormone involved in pleasure, alertness and motivation — likely increases within those three minutes of movement. Which might explain why you may feel more focused and fired up when you’re finished.

c0b4a50acef6f05c2b8dceb5ca958809

science

Longmeadow wrestling escapes Westfield with narrow victory, 42-39

WESTFIELD – The Westfield High School wrestling team finally met its match. In an emotionally-charged matchup, Longmeadow escaped Westfield with a narrow 42-39 victory. Although it was the first league loss of the season for the Bombers, they still managed to clinch a share of the Valley Wheel league title. Ludlow won the league title a year ago.

63fc1c0bed4612981e1cc9e907a5a2e9

science

Cockpit Recordings Erasure Hampers Boeing 737 Max 9 Investigation

Officials investigating why a panel on a Boeing 737 Max 9 blew open during an Alaska Airlines flight last week say they are struggling to piece together exactly what happened because the plane’s cockpit voice recorder overwrote itself before it could be retrieved. This is not a new problem. The National Transportation Safety Board, which is leading the investigation, has recommended for years that recorders be programmed to capture up to 25 hours of audio before automatically resetting themselves, but the Federal Aviation Administration has been reluctant to mandate longer recordings. The F.A.A. last month proposed 25-hour recorders on new planes but argued that adding them to the existing fleet of U.S. planes would be too expensive. In addition, a pilots’ union has opposed the move to 25-hour recordings unless Congress puts in place protections that would prohibit their release to the public. The chairwoman of the safety board, Jennifer Homendy, said the agency’s investigators had conducted 10 investigations since 2018 in which the cockpit voice recorder had been written over, with critical recordings lost forever. The voice recorders are among the key pieces of evidence that investigators use in reconstructing the events that led up to accidents as they work to establish a cause.

53849cdd0d15df73b0c7e48a4d91313d

science

Appeals Court Seems Skeptical of Trumps Immunity Claim

A federal appeals court expressed deep skepticism on Tuesday about former President Donald J. Trump’s claim that he is immune from charges of plotting to subvert the 2020 election, suggesting that it is unlikely to rule in his favor on a central element of his defense. As Mr. Trump looked on, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit peppered his lawyer D. John Sauer with tough questions about his assertion that his client could not be prosecuted for actions he took while in the White House. The judges seemed incredulous when Mr. Sauer said a president could use the military to assassinate a political rival and be shielded from prosecution unless the Senate first convicted him at an impeachment proceeding. At another point, Judge Karen L. Henderson, the panel’s sole Republican appointee, seemed to reject a central part of Mr. Trump’s argument: that his efforts to overturn his loss to Joseph R. Biden Jr. cannot be subject to prosecution because presidents have a constitutional duty to ensure that election laws are upheld. “I think it’s paradoxical to say that his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed allows him to violate the criminal law,” Judge Henderson said.

c82c836ed06ba3c145569f8a2da83baf

science

American Companys Spacecraft Malfunctions on Its Way to the Moon

The first NASA-financed commercial mission to send a robotic spacecraft to the surface of the moon will most likely not be able to make it there. The lunar lander, named Peregrine and built by Astrobotic Technology of Pittsburgh, encountered problems shortly after it lifted off early Monday morning from Cape Canaveral, Fla. The launch of the rocket, a brand-new design named Vulcan, was flawless, successfully sending Peregrine on its journey. But a failure in the lander’s propulsion system depleted its propellant and most likely ended the mission’s original lunar ambitions. “The team is working to try and stabilize the loss, but given the situation, we have prioritized maximizing the science and data we can capture,” Astrobotic said in a statement. “We are currently assessing what alternative mission profiles may be feasible at this time.”

fe80ccf42ef9d64c7abadd52ddec9f05

science

A Year of Unreal Fire and Warming in the Arctic

A sequence of “Diorama” photographs, begun shortly after Sugimoto arrived in New York in 1974, capture scenes from the American Museum of Natural History with otherworldly precision. Using an old, large-format camera, long exposure times and elaborately tuned lighting, Sugimoto enhanced both the artifice and the verisimilitude of the institution’s taxidermy wildlife tableaus behind glass. “Polar Bear” (1976) shows the majestic white animal roaring over a fresh kill: the bloodied body of a seal whose inert form is bulky and dark against an Arctic white background that stretches into the distance. Look closely and behind the bear — with its luscious coat of fur, its big paws so heavy in the snow you can almost hear it crunch — the line between two and three dimensions is just visible: a jagged crevasse in the ice floe beneath the two animals merges almost seamlessly with a painted backdrop of receding icy peaks.

9017f64ff5814afc395b489e3de7cd94

science

Vitamin D deficiency? How winter sunlight affects our health

Sign up for The Meltdown, a weekly newsletter highlighting the latest apocalyptic dramas, debunking climate myths, and sharing sustainability hacks, all while arming you with information to hold polluters and the government accountable. Enter your email to subscribe. The stifling heat inside some warehouses where workers might spend 10-hour days isn’t just a summer problem. In Southern California, it can feel like summer all year. It’s easy to break into a sweat and grow tired, workers say. The ventilation feels inconsistent, they say, and workers have testified in a public hearing about nosebleeds, nausea and dizziness. In some warehouses, the walk to find a place to cool down is at least half a mile. “We are in constant motion. Throughout the day, my shirt is soaked in sweat three to four times,” said Sara Fee, a former worker at an Amazon warehouse in San Bernardino, California, who testified before a state workplace safety board in May. “I have been nauseous, dizzy.” As the climate warms and the threat of extreme heat spreads, California is poised to protect people who work in poorly ventilated warehouses, steamy restaurant kitchens and other indoor job sites where temperatures can soar to potentially dangerous levels. The state has had heat standards on the books for outdoor workers since 2005 and indoor workplaces are next. Only two other states — Minnesota and Oregon — have adopted heat rules for indoor workers, according to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Nationally, legislation has stalled in Congress and, even though the Biden administration has initiated the long process of establishing national heat standards for outdoor and indoor work, the rules are likely to take years to finalize. If California adopts its proposal in the spring, businesses would be required to cool worksites below 87 degrees Fahrenheit when employees are present and below 82 degrees in places where workers wear protective clothing or are exposed to radiant heat, such as furnaces. If businesses are unable to lower the temperatures, they must provide workers with water, breaks, areas where they can cool down, cooling vests or other means to keep employees from overheating. “It is only getting hotter every year,” said Alice Berliner, director of the Worker Health & Safety Program at the University of California-Merced. “Having protections for both indoor and outdoor workers, it empowers someone to feel like they can ask for access to drinking water and access to a break when they feel like they’re hot.” Neither workers nor businesses are satisfied with the plan. Some businesses fear they won’t be able to meet the requirements, even with the flexibility the regulation offers. Workers argue buildings should be kept even cooler. Heat stress can lead to heat exhaustion, heatstroke, cardiac arrest and kidney failure. In 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 1,600 heat-related deaths, which is likely an undercount because health care providers are not required to report them. It’s not clear how many of these deaths are related to work, either indoors or outdoors. In California, 20 workers died from heat between 2010 and 2017, seven of them because of indoor heat, according to the Rand Corp., which analyzed the state’s proposed indoor heat rules. After a record-breaking heat wave in the Pacific Northwest in 2021, Oregon in 2022 adopted protections for indoor workers that trigger when temperatures hit 80 degrees. Minnesota’s threshold temperatures range from 77 degrees to 86 degrees, depending on the type of work. The sheer size of California’s workforce, estimated at about 18 million, could usher in changes for the rest of country, said Juanita Constible, senior climate and health advocate at the Natural Resources Defense Council. “As California goes, so goes the nation on so many things,” she said. California regulators have crafted the indoor rules to complement the state’s protections for outdoor workers. Those say that when temperatures exceed 80 degrees, employers must provide shade and observe workers for signs of heat illness. At or above 95 degrees, they must come up with ways to prevent heat illness, such as reducing work hours or providing additional breaks. Colorado, Oregon and Washington also have rules for outdoor workers. The California Occupational Safety and Standards Board, which is charged with setting worker protections, is weighing the regulation that would require employers to cool their buildings with air conditioning, fans, misters, and other methods when the temperature or the heat index hits 82 or 87. Some employees would be exempt from the rule, including employees who work remotely and those involved in emergency operations. The board is expected to vote on the rules in March and they would take effect by this summer, board Chief Counsel Autumn Gonzalez said. Workers say buildings should be cooler than the proposed temperatures, especially in warehouses, food-processing plants and other places where employees routinely move and lift. These temperature thresholds “are too high,” said Robert Moreno, a UPS driver in San Diego who told the board in May that he has spent most of his life working in warehouses. At the proposed temperatures, it’s too hot to sit outside and eat lunch, let alone work inside a building that’s been baking in the sun all day, he said. “Most of these warehouses are sheet metal, zero to no airflow.” At the Amazon facility in San Bernardino where Fee worked, company spokesperson Steve Kelly said the building is air-conditioned and outfitted with ceiling fans, and workers are encouraged to take cooldown breaks anytime they need to. “We’ve seen the positive impacts of an effective heat-mitigation program and believe all employers should be held to the same standard,” said Kelly, who declined to say whether the company supports the California proposal. The temperature inside the 658,000-square-foot building hasn’t risen above 78 degrees, Kelly said. Regulators have acknowledged that some businesses won’t be able to cool their workplaces, such as laundries or restaurant kitchens, where commercial boilers, ovens and fryers operate, and have offered them the option of giving workers cooldown areas and other relief. But those solutions aren’t always feasible, Katie Davey, former legislative director of the California Restaurant Association, told the board in May. For instance, there isn’t room for a cooldown area in many small restaurants, she said. And lowering temperatures in a kitchen could put restaurants in violation of food safety laws that require food to be heated to specific temperatures, she added. “We are concerned that the proposed indoor-heat illness regulations may conflict with regulations which affect our ability to heat and hold food to the necessary temperatures to protect the public health from foodborne illness,” Davey said. California regulators have spent years drafting their proposal and it appears unlikely they will lower the threshold temperatures of 82 degrees and 87 degrees. Doing so would increase the number of businesses that have to comply and the cost, triggering a new review that would delay the regulation’s release, said Eric Berg, deputy chief of health and research and standards at California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health, which would enforce the regulation. “I think that the threshold should be lowered, in general,” said board member Laura Stock, at the May meeting. “But equally, if not, more importantly, is that we don’t hold the process up so that we can get a standard in place as quickly as possible.” The urgency comes, in part, because of federal inaction. Legislation has stalled in Congress to require OSHA to publish an emergency rule to enact temporary standards for all workers while the agency pursues a permanent standard. The bill is unlikely to pass the Republican-controlled House, which hasn’t favored regulations on business. Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas), a co-sponsor of that bill, said the situation has become dire in his state. In June, Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed a law eliminating existing local ordinances in Austin, Dallas and other cities that required employers to give outdoor construction workers water breaks. “As the climate worsens and as summers get hotter, we should be doing more to protect workers, rather than taking their rights away,” Casar told KFF Health News. “Too often, worker protection rules have been allowed to die a slow death in a prolonged rulemaking process and we can’t let that happen here.” This article was produced by KFF Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation. KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF — the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism. This story also ran on CNN. It can be republished for free.

3d73af3458d7463e00fc3482df947a74

science

Health professionals warn of triple-demic in Westfield

WESTFIELD - Low vaccination rates and the holiday season are contributing to a “triple-demic,” an increase of cases of COVID-19, RSV, and the flu, in the Westfield community, according to local health professionals. Assistant Health Director Debra Mulvenna said the Westfield Health Department saw an average of 10-15 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 a week in November. That number doubled to 30 cases the week of Dec. 12. The increase has been more dramatic for the flu. In the month of November, there were 12 lab-confirmed cases. From Dec. 1 to Dec. 20, there have been 51. “That might not seem like a lot, but those people were sick enough to go get tested,” she said. “51 people were actually sick enough, that live in Westfield, to go get tested.”

d428c05041454b4cd7674fd073e45492

science

A Pilates Routine You Can Do Anywhere in Under 10 Minutes

Pilates has been hugely popular for the last 10 years, and for good reason. But joining a studio with a professional instructor or buying home equipment is expensive, especially if you have never even tried the workouts. Fortunately, you can get many of the same benefits of studio-based Pilates at home with nothing more than a mat and your body. Pilates, created during World War I under the name Contrology, is a method of exercise that involves low-impact movements done in a slow and controlled way, often using a wheeled platform called a reformer. The exercises can ease low back pain, build muscle and strengthen your core, especially as you recover from pregnancy. A few small studies even suggest Pilates can help with cardiovascular health, though it’s best to do it alongside other workouts like weight lifting, running or walking, said Benjamin Gordon, a professor of applied physiology and kinesiology at the University of Florida. But you don’t have to go to a studio or buy a Pilates machine to try it out. Studies suggest it’s possible to do it with just a mat and still see some benefits such as better posture, strength and flexibility along with lower blood pressure and reduced arthritis pain.

90dfa4c2540a2ae27b92ef5fb9b6b0c9

science

Vulcan Rocket Prepares for First Launch of Moon Lander Mission

Jude Bellingham is back in action on Saturday afternoon. His Real Madrid club (-425) is a heavy favorite as they square off against Villarreal (+800), with a draw (+550) on the table as well. The match will kick off at 3 p.m. EST and will be available to stream and watch on conventional cable via ESPN Deportes. How to watch Real Madrid vs. Villarreal (La Liga) Who: Real Madrid vs. Villarreal When: Saturday Dec. 16 at 3 p.m. EST Where: Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid, Spain How to watch Real Madrid vs. Villarreal - Barcelona’s match is limited to ESPN Deportes and ESPN+. How to watch La Liga matches online, live streaming: ESPN+ | DirecTV | fuboTV - Every match this season will be available to watch via ESPN+. Meanwhile, matches that air on ESPN Deportes, ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC will also be available to stream on conventional services. Fans can also watch those matches for free by signing up for a trial of DirecTV or fuboTV, both of which offer a free trial. How to watch matches in English and Spanish - Matches broadcast on ESPN+ will be available in both Spanish and English. What is ESPN+? How much does it cost? - ESPN+ is a standalone streaming service that carries exclusive live sports. It does not include events that are broadcast on ESPN TV channels. Instead, ESPN+ is designed to be a home for certain sports like Spanish League matches. Fans can sign up for ESPN+ starting at $9.99 a month. More coverage via Associated Press BERLIN (AP) — Dani Ceballos scored late for Real Madrid to come from behind to beat Union Berlin 3-2 and complete a perfect Champions League group stage on Tuesday. Ceballos grabbed the winner in the 89th minute, four minutes after Union substitute Alex Král equalized and kept alive Union’s hopes of clinching a Europa League place. The German team had needed a win and a favor from Napoli against Braga in the other group game to clinch a Europa League spot as the third-place finisher in the group. Instead, Madrid made it six wins from six games in Group C. It’s the third time Madrid achieved the feat after doing so 2011 and 2014. “Every time you pull on this jersey, you can’t give anything away,” said Joselu, who scored Madrid’s other two goals. “I think there’s a weight when you put on this shirt that means you never give up, every game is important.” The 14-time champion was already assured of topping the group, but coach Carlo Ancelotti said his team wanted to show its respect for the competition and named a strong starting lineup including Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo and Luka Modrić. They dominated the first half, but Union goalkeeper Frederik Rønnow saved Modrić's penalty in the 45th, then launched a huge kickout that Kevin Behrens headed on and David Alaba failed to control. Kevin Volland held off Lucas Vázquez’ challenge to give Union an unlikely lead before the break. Rønnow produced a brilliant reflex to stop Rodrygo’s header early in the second half when it seemed the Brazilian had to score, and Union’s fans sang as belief in a historic result began to grow — Union had never won a Champions League game in its competition debut. Then Rodrygo crossed from the right for Joselu to equalize in the 61st and Fran García set up his second from the other side in the 72nd. Joselu thought he’d sealed the result, but Madrid needed Ceballos to be sure after Král restored the home fans’ belief. Despite the late kickoff and early start for school the next morning, many had brought their children to the game, knowing it was a rare opportunity to see arguably Europe’s most storied club in person. They stayed long after the final whistle to celebrate the team’s effort despite its exit from European competition for this season. Union was only promoted to the Bundesliga for the first time in 2019 and few foresaw at the time that the club could be playing in the Champions League four years later. “When you need to score a third goal after making it 2-2, Real Madrid is too good not to use it for a counterattack,” Union coach Nenad Bjelica said. “In the end we didn’t win because Real were too strong for us, but we can still be very proud.”

26255757c4fdafbe1ac6e854aa173b81

science

Poison Gas Hints at Potential for Life on an Ocean Moon of Saturn

Scientists have detected a poison among the spray of molecules emanating from a small moon of Saturn. That adds to existing intrigue about the possibility of life there. The poison is hydrogen cyanide, a colorless, odorless gas that is deadly to many Earth creatures. But it could have played a key role in chemical reactions that created the ingredients that set the stage for the advent of life. “It’s the starting point for most theories on the origin of life,” said Jonah Peter, a biophysics graduate student at Harvard. “It’s sort of the Swiss Army knife of prebiotic chemistry.” Thus, Mr. Peter was excited when he found hydrogen cyanide at Enceladus, an icy moon of Saturn that is about 310 miles across. It has a subsurface ocean that makes it among the most promising places to look for life elsewhere in the solar system.

26255757c4fdafbe1ac6e854aa173b81

science

Poison Gas Hints at Potential for Life on an Ocean Moon of Saturn

Scientists have detected a poison among the spray of molecules emanating from a small moon of Saturn. That adds to existing intrigue about the possibility of life there. The poison is hydrogen cyanide, a colorless, odorless gas that is deadly to many Earth creatures. But it could have played a key role in chemical reactions that created the ingredients that set the stage for the advent of life. “It’s the starting point for most theories on the origin of life,” said Jonah Peter, a biophysics graduate student at Harvard. “It’s sort of the Swiss Army knife of prebiotic chemistry.” Thus, Mr. Peter was excited when he found hydrogen cyanide at Enceladus, an icy moon of Saturn that is about 310 miles across. It has a subsurface ocean that makes it among the most promising places to look for life elsewhere in the solar system.

4e5bdfa98c58a6f62c88ce371b9c2420

science

The Emerald Tutu: Using nature to fight climate change on Boston's coast

We got a first-hand look at some of the first threads in what Northeastern research scientists hope will weave into a vast array of green pods dancing around the Boston shore in a kind of emerald tutu that helps protect the shore from climate change. "Solutions like the Emerald Tutu are better designed for an uncertain climate future because they can adapt — because they're living organisms, they can adapt to conditions that we can't yet fully predict," said Julia Hopkins, a lead scientist on the project.

40f0212db10f0597953aeb2d8825f657

science

Deadly brain tumor responds positively to new therapy, Boston researchers say

BOSTON — It killed Senators Ted Kennedy and John McCain, as well as President Biden’s son, Beau. Glioblastoma, an aggressive and usually fatal brain tumor, kills some 10,000 Americans each year, according to the National Brain Tumor Society. The average survival after diagnosis is just eight months. While the outlook for glioblastoma patients is grim, researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital are reporting positive results on a new treatment. It’s a virus -- specially engineered to target glioblastoma cells without harming normal tissue. The treatment, CAN-3110, elicits a local immune response by infecting cancer cells with a modified form of the herpes simplex virus. The researchers tested this gene therapy in 41 patients with “high-grade” gliomas. They found that patients responding most favorably to the treatment had previously been infected with herpes simplex 1 (HSV1), a virus that causes cold sores. Those patients saw median survival rise to 14.2 months. It appears the therapy worked best in patients previously infected with HSV1 because they had pre-existing antibodies to the virus. Those antibodies rapidly activated and attacked the ‘infected’ tumor -- with the resulting inflammatory response attracting even more immune cells to the area of the cancer. The researchers found evidence that CAN-3110 treatment also induced a broad immune response -- possibly because glioblastoma cells killed by the treatment released cancer antigens. This also seemed to contribute to improved survival. This study of CAN-3110 was meant to establish its safety. Along those lines, two patients experienced seizures after administration. The researchers plan further studies to test whether more frequent dosing of the altered virus might be even more beneficial to glioblastoma patients. The research is published in the journal Nature. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW ©2023 Cox Media Group

f052481eb840cf5468aa4989ca665eb3

science

EEE found in more Mass. mosquitoes, risk levels raised

Eastern equine encephalitis virus found in more Massachusetts mosquitoes, raising levels Share Copy Link Copy WCVB NEWSCENTER 5 AT 530, OF COURSE, LABOR DAY MEANS SUMMER IS COMING TO A CLOSE. BUT ONE SUMMER PEST APPARENTLY IS JUST GETTING STARTED. AND WE’RE TALKING ABOUT MOSQUITOES. YEAH, THE STATE SAW ITS FIRST TWO HUMAN CASES OF WEST NILE VIRUS LAST WEEK AND TRIPLE E WAS DETECTED IN MOSQUITOES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MASSACHUSETTS IN THREE YEARS. HERE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS IS DOCTOR BRIAN CHOW. AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST AT TUFTS MEDICAL CENTER. DR. CHOW, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US. THANKS FOR HAVING ME. ALL RIGHT. LET’S START WITH WEST NILE VIRUS. MUCH OF THE AREA IS NOW AT MODERATE RISK FOR WEST NILE. AND WE ARE HEADED INTO REALLY THE PEAK TIME FOR THIS VIRUS, WHICH IS EARLY FALL. WE’VE BEEN LIVING WITH IT FOR YEARS NOW. BUT WHAT DO YOU WANT FOLKS TO KNOW ABOUT IT? WEST NILE IS A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS DISEASE SPREAD BY MOSQUITOES, INCLUDING SEVERAL TYPES HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS. WHILE THERE’S NO VACCINE OR SPECIFIC TREATMENT, YOU CAN KEEP YOURSELF SAFE BY AVOIDING MOSQUITO BITES, BY WEARING AN EFFECTIVE MOSQUITO REPELLENT SUCH AS ONE CONTAINING OIL OF LEMON EUCALYPTUS OR DEET. OKAY, SO FOR MOST PEOPLE, SYMPTOMS OF WEST NILE, THEY’RE SIMILAR TO FLU. OF COURSE, THAT SOUNDS A LOT LIKE OTHER VIRUSES THAT WE’VE COME TO KNOW ALL TOO WELL, INCLUDING COVID. SO. SO ARE THERE OTHER SPECIFIC THINGS TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR TO KIND OF DETERMINE WHAT IT IS SO UNLIKE COVID OR COLD VIRUSES. WEST NILE VIRUS DOES NOT CAUSE RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS LIKE COUGH OR RUNNY NOSE. A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE MAY DEVELOP SEVERE DISEASE LEADING TO LETHARGY, CONFUSION OR COMA. AND THOSE PEOPLE SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM FOR EXPERT CARE. AND OF COURSE, ONE OTHER BIG REASON TO AVOID THOSE MOSQUITO BITES, TRIPLE E IS A CONCERN. SIX COMMUNITIES NOW SAW THEIR RISK LEVEL IN WORCESTER COUNTY RAISED LAST WEEK AFTER IT WAS DETECTED IN MOSQUITOES FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2020. AND WE ALL REMEMBER THAT AWFUL FALL OF 2019 WHEN SIX PEOPLE DIED. SO AGAIN, WHAT DO YOU WANT FOLKS TO KNOW ABOUT TRIPLE E? AND WHAT’S YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR AVOIDING MOSQUITOES? SO SO DEFINITELY AVOID MOSQUITOES TO AVOID AND YOU’LL BE ABLE TO AVOID TRIPLE E MOSQUITOES FEED IN THE EVENING AND NIGHT HOURS. SO IN ADDITION TO MOSQUITO SPRAY WEAR, LONG SLEEVED, LOOSE CLOTHING WHILE OUTSIDE ED AND WHEN YOU’RE ASLEEP, MAKE SURE YOUR WINDOW SCREENS ARE IN GOOD CONDITION OR USE AIR CONDITIONING. AND ONCE A WEEK, MAKE SURE YOUR HOME IS CLEAR OF ANY STANDING WATER WHERE MOSQUITOES CAN LAY EGGS SUCH AS IN BUCKETS OR FLOWERPOTS OR GARBAGE CANS. OKAY, DOCTOR CHOW, THANK Y GET LOCAL BREAKING NEWS ALERTS The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. Your Email Address Submit Privacy Notice

8ca6bfa3644b4bc02c47606d1677f46d

science

Once They Were Pets. Now Giant Goldfish Are Menacing the Great Lakes.

Inside a fishbowl, the goldfish — a species of carp native to East Asia, bred for aesthetic delight and traditionally believed to bring good fortune — is hardly more than home décor. Usually just a few inches long, it is among the easiest of pets to keep. But released into the wild, the seemingly humble goldfish, freed from glass boundaries and no longer limited to meager meals of flakes, can grow to monstrous proportions. They can even kill off native marine wildlife and help destroy fragile and economically valuable ecosystems. “They can eat anything and everything,” said Christine Boston, an aquatic research biologist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Over the past several years, Ms. Boston and her colleagues have been tracking invasive goldfish in Hamilton Harbour, which is on the western tip of Lake Ontario, about 35 miles southwest of Toronto. The bay has been decimated by industrial and urban development as well as by invasive species — making it among the most environmentally degraded areas of the Great Lakes.

3b7de3fb5eb350d531a654670d1e9729

science

Before the Coronavirus Pandemic, Overlooked Clues From Chinese Scientists

In late December 2019, eight pages of genetic code were sent to computers at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md. Unbeknown to American officials at the time, the genetic map that had landed on their doorstep contained critical clues about the virus that would soon touch off a pandemic. The genetic code, submitted by Chinese scientists to a vast public repository of sequencing data run by the U.S. government, described a mysterious new virus that had infected a 65-year-old man weeks earlier in Wuhan. At the time the code was sent, Chinese officials had not yet warned of the unexplained pneumonia sickening patients in the central city of Wuhan. But the U.S. repository, which was designed to help scientists share run-of-the-mill research data, never added the submission it received on Dec. 28, 2019, to its database. Instead, it asked the Chinese scientists three days later to resubmit the genetic sequence with certain additional technical details. That request went unanswered.

aca181499106e5238f65a4bbf22f3873

science

How Menopause Changes the Brain

Across the U.S., roughly 6 million adults 65 and over have Alzheimer’s disease. Almost two thirds of them are women — a discrepancy that researchers have long attributed to genetics and women’s longer life spans, among other reasons. But there is growing consensus that menopause may also be an important risk factor for the development of dementia later in life. Women going through the life phase, which is clinically defined as the end of fertility, face as many changes in the brain as in the ovaries, said Dr. Lisa Mosconi, a neuroscientist and director of the Women’s Brain Initiative at Weill Cornell Medicine. While the vast majority of women will weather these changes without long-term health consequences, about 20 percent will develop dementia in the decades that follow. The female brain is rich in estrogen receptors, particularly in regions that control memory, mood, sleep and body temperature, all of which “work beautifully when estrogen is high and consistent,” Dr. Mosconi said. Estrogen is also vital for the brain’s ability to defend itself against aging and damage. The characteristic decline in estrogen during menopause not only alters the functioning in some brain regions, she said, it is also thought to change the brain’s structure; scans show reduced volume in menopausal brains compared to male brains of the same age and to those of pre-menopausal women.

b16a96e71d39872954da0341a51ff133

science

Californias Snowpack Is Far Below Normal Levels for Early January

“The dry fall and below-average conditions today shows how fast water conditions can change,” Sean de Guzman of California’s Department of Water Resources said in a statement. “It’s still far too early to say what kind of water year we will have, and it will be important for Californians to pay attention to their forecasts and conserve water, rain or shine.” The state’s reservoirs are still in good shape — all are near or above historical averages — because of California’s wildly wet 2023. But the snowpack is an essential part of how they will fare in the seasons to come: Snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada typically provides about 30 percent of the state’s water supply, filling rivers and reservoirs and propelling hydropower systems that provide the region’s electricity. Officials said the storms that are expected to move through the state in the next few days should deepen the snowpack, though perhaps not a lot. “Even if these next two storms come in and dump every ounce of precipitation they have, it’s probably not going to take us up to average,” Andrew Schwartz, the lead scientist and manager of the U.C. Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab, said on Tuesday. He said 32 inches of snow was on the ground at the lab, compared with 100 inches on Jan. 2 of an average year.

7dcf7307ab0a8528d4ade679e287ef97

science

Its Bill Nyes birthday. Lets celebrate his simple climate change explanations

Sign up for The Meltdown, a weekly newsletter highlighting the latest apocalyptic dramas, debunking climate myths, and sharing sustainability hacks, all while arming you with information to hold polluters and the government accountable. Enter your email to subscribe. Bill Nye has been the mainstay of widespread, reliable, easy-to-explain science for generations. He was catapulted to fame off the back of his popular science show, Bill Nye the Science Guy, gaining a sort of Mr. Rogers-level status as funny, affable and trustworthy. The Washington D.C.-born Cornell graduate, who will be 68 on Monday, hosted his science show from 1993 to 1999, but never relinquished his role as the nation’s favorite pop-scientist. He started out as a Boeing engineer before quitting in 1986 to pursue his burgeoning stand-up career. But it wasn’t long before he was able to marry both his passions: science and entertainment. In later years, he took off the science training wheels and publicly entered into the gritty and sordid world of climate science, often appearing on mainstream TV and even meeting presidents to discuss climate threats. He also had a Netflix show, Bill Nye Saves the World. There’s no doubt that climate change is already a complicated subject, further muddled by the various oppositional political narratives and the science community’s difficulty in explaining some of the more paradoxical and counterintuitive ways the Earth’s climate systems interact. Among them: why drought can make flash flooding more likely or why warmer weather can lead to increased snowfall in some regions. Bill Nye’s approach is even more straightforward, as he sticks to the basics. Here are some of his simple explanations that should help you decode the confusing world of climate change. 1. What is climate change? Climate change refers to the rapid increase in Earth’s temperature, primarily attributed to human activities since the Industrial Revolution. In the last century, the Earth has warmed by 1.2 to 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit, with significant changes not due to natural Earth’s orbit variations but to human-induced factors. This includes increased greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels, leading to trapped solar radiation and a warmer planet. 2. Why are oceans most at risk? Climate change’s profound impact on oceans includes warming temperatures, which have risen by over 23 degrees Fahrenheit since 1969. This warming leads to ocean acidification, with a 30% increase in surface acidification since the late 18th century, endangering marine life like oysters, clams, and corals. Over 1 billion people rely on the sea to find their primary source of protein. Additionally, climate change contributes to rising sea levels, which have increased by 6.7 inches in the last century but doubled over the last decade due to melting glaciers and ice sheets. This results in coastal flooding and disruptions to ecosystems and human settlements. 3. What does melting ice do? Since 1994, each year, on average, the Earth has lost 400 billion tons from its glaciers. That is the equivalent of an ice cube four miles on every side melting and flowing into the sea. When that ice melts, just like a bathtub, the shores can’t hold all that water and it overflows. 4. 4. How to stop global warming? Key actions include reducing carbon monoxide and methane emissions, primarily achieved by ceasing to burn fossil fuels. He advocates for transitioning to alternative energy sources like wind, solar, geothermal, and potentially nuclear fusion in the future. These sources would provide ample electricity globally, allowing us to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere eventually. He urges immediate action to begin this crucial process. While he does believe humans can make some changes through individual actions, he says voting for politicians who believe in climate change is the fastest and most effective way to make a change. 5. How does climate change affect humans and animals? Climate change has led to water restrictions in regions like California due to reduced mountain snowfall, which traditionally served as natural water storage. This decrease in available water affects agriculture, leading to potential food shortages and higher prices, disproportionately impacting poorer communities. For animals, climate change is altering their habitats and behaviors. Notably, insects, like certain beetles, thrive in warmer temperatures, causing widespread tree death. This, in turn, exacerbates forest fires fueled by dead trees and milder winters. These fires release more carbon dioxide, exacerbating climate change and destroying ecosystems and wildlife, creating a vicious cycle of environmental damage.

7dcf7307ab0a8528d4ade679e287ef97

science

Its Bill Nyes birthday. Lets celebrate his simple climate change explanations

Sign up for The Meltdown, a weekly newsletter highlighting the latest apocalyptic dramas, debunking climate myths, and sharing sustainability hacks, all while arming you with information to hold polluters and the government accountable. Enter your email to subscribe. Bill Nye has been the mainstay of widespread, reliable, easy-to-explain science for generations. He was catapulted to fame off the back of his popular science show, Bill Nye the Science Guy, gaining a sort of Mr. Rogers-level status as funny, affable and trustworthy. The Washington D.C.-born Cornell graduate, who will be 68 on Monday, hosted his science show from 1993 to 1999, but never relinquished his role as the nation’s favorite pop-scientist. He started out as a Boeing engineer before quitting in 1986 to pursue his burgeoning stand-up career. But it wasn’t long before he was able to marry both his passions: science and entertainment. In later years, he took off the science training wheels and publicly entered into the gritty and sordid world of climate science, often appearing on mainstream TV and even meeting presidents to discuss climate threats. He also had a Netflix show, Bill Nye Saves the World. There’s no doubt that climate change is already a complicated subject, further muddled by the various oppositional political narratives and the science community’s difficulty in explaining some of the more paradoxical and counterintuitive ways the Earth’s climate systems interact. Among them: why drought can make flash flooding more likely or why warmer weather can lead to increased snowfall in some regions. Bill Nye’s approach is even more straightforward, as he sticks to the basics. Here are some of his simple explanations that should help you decode the confusing world of climate change. 1. What is climate change? Climate change refers to the rapid increase in Earth’s temperature, primarily attributed to human activities since the Industrial Revolution. In the last century, the Earth has warmed by 1.2 to 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit, with significant changes not due to natural Earth’s orbit variations but to human-induced factors. This includes increased greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels, leading to trapped solar radiation and a warmer planet. 2. Why are oceans most at risk? Climate change’s profound impact on oceans includes warming temperatures, which have risen by over 23 degrees Fahrenheit since 1969. This warming leads to ocean acidification, with a 30% increase in surface acidification since the late 18th century, endangering marine life like oysters, clams, and corals. Over 1 billion people rely on the sea to find their primary source of protein. Additionally, climate change contributes to rising sea levels, which have increased by 6.7 inches in the last century but doubled over the last decade due to melting glaciers and ice sheets. This results in coastal flooding and disruptions to ecosystems and human settlements. 3. What does melting ice do? Since 1994, each year, on average, the Earth has lost 400 billion tons from its glaciers. That is the equivalent of an ice cube four miles on every side melting and flowing into the sea. When that ice melts, just like a bathtub, the shores can’t hold all that water and it overflows. 4. 4. How to stop global warming? Key actions include reducing carbon monoxide and methane emissions, primarily achieved by ceasing to burn fossil fuels. He advocates for transitioning to alternative energy sources like wind, solar, geothermal, and potentially nuclear fusion in the future. These sources would provide ample electricity globally, allowing us to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere eventually. He urges immediate action to begin this crucial process. While he does believe humans can make some changes through individual actions, he says voting for politicians who believe in climate change is the fastest and most effective way to make a change. 5. How does climate change affect humans and animals? Climate change has led to water restrictions in regions like California due to reduced mountain snowfall, which traditionally served as natural water storage. This decrease in available water affects agriculture, leading to potential food shortages and higher prices, disproportionately impacting poorer communities. For animals, climate change is altering their habitats and behaviors. Notably, insects, like certain beetles, thrive in warmer temperatures, causing widespread tree death. This, in turn, exacerbates forest fires fueled by dead trees and milder winters. These fires release more carbon dioxide, exacerbating climate change and destroying ecosystems and wildlife, creating a vicious cycle of environmental damage.

73bb2c742da4dbf1b42f36d84ea6849e

science

How Long Does It Take to Get Fit Again?

After just a few days of inactivity, the volume of blood plasma circulating in your body decreases, Dr. Coyle said, leading to a series of other cardiovascular changes. After 12 days, studies show that the total amount of blood the heart pumps every minute decreases, along with the amount of oxygenated blood available to muscles and other cells — measured as the VO2 max. If you return to the gym at this point, you will only notice slight differences in performance, Dr. Coyle said. Your heart rate may be a little faster and your breathing may be heavier as your body works harder to pump blood and oxygen to where they’re needed. Scientists have found that it is around the three-week mark that people experience the biggest changes in their ability to get through a workout, as energy produced by mitochondria for muscle cells drops off significantly. “That means that exercise will be more fatiguing,” Dr. Coyle said. Strength declines less rapidly than cardiovascular health. After eight weeks, inactivity finally starts to affect the size and strength of your muscles. For weight lifting or strength workouts, the maximum amount you are able to lift decreases, as does the number of repetitions you could manage, Dr. Coyle said. You are also more likely to experience muscle soreness a day or two after working out.

e1e71038264c0af343154f2766fa5f43

science

How Much Ice Is Greenland Losing? Researchers Found an Answer.

Greenland’s expansive ice sheet is known to be shrinking, especially since the 1990s, because of warming from climate change. It’s a fate shared by the Antarctic Ice Sheet as well as glaciers around the world. Now, a new study reveals that about 20 percent more of the Greenland ice sheet has disappeared than previous estimates show. The missing ice has been breaking and melting from the ends of glaciers around Greenland’s perimeter. The new research, published Wednesday in the journal Nature, provides a detailed accounting of a process that scientists knew was happening but had struggled to measure comprehensively. “Almost every glacier in Greenland is retreating. And that story is true no matter where you look,” said Chad Greene, a glaciologist at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the lead author of the study. “This retreat is happening everywhere and all at once.”

ebee5dcf06266810916ef8ad62d1c9d0

science

The Tissue That Connects Our Muscles May Be a Key to Better Health

“We’re still at the very, very beginning” of understanding fascia, said Helene Langevin, the director of the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health at the National Institutes of Health. “This is a part of the body which we have neglected for so long.” What is fascia? Your body has two forms of fascia: dense and loose. Each type is key to facilitating movement. Dense fascia, made of sturdy collagen fibers, helps give your body its shape. It holds muscles, organs, blood vessels and nerve fibers in place. It helps your muscles contract and stretch, and stabilizes your joints. The more slippery loose fascia allows your muscles, joints and organs to slide and glide against one another like a well-oiled machine. How does fascia get damaged? In 2007, an anatomy professor named Carla Stecco at the University of Padova in Italy found that fascia is alive with nerve endings. This means it can be a source of pain. The longer it is damaged or inflamed, the more sensitive it becomes. When you’re sedentary for a long time, fascia can shorten, become overly rigid and congeal into place, forming adhesions that limit mobility, said David Krause, a physical therapist at the Mayo Clinic. Over time, inactivity can also lead fascia to reshape itself. If you spend most days hunched over a computer, the fascia surrounding your neck and shoulder muscles may change so that your posture becomes curved. Fascia can also become damaged from repetitive movements, chronic stress, injury or surgery — becoming inflamed, overly rigid or stuck together. And it stiffens with age.

dd48df50cbcb429bf0f7e884905c127b

science

Flowers Are Evolving to Have Less Sex

Every spring, trillions of flowers mate with the help of bees and other animals. They lure the pollinators to their flowers with flashy colors and nectar. As the animals travel from flower to flower, they take pollen with them, which can fertilize the seeds of other plants. A new study suggests that humans are quickly altering this annual rite of spring. As toxic pesticides and vanishing habitats have driven down the populations of bees and other pollinators, some flowers have evolved to fertilize their own seeds more often, rather than those of other plants. Scientists said they were surprised by the speed of the changes, which occurred in just 20 generations. “That’s rapid evolution,” said Pierre-Olivier Cheptou, an evolutionary ecologist at the University of Montpellier in France who led the research. Dr. Cheptou was inspired to carry out the study when it became clear that bees and other pollinators were in a drastic decline. Would flowers that depend on pollinators for sex, he wondered, find another way to reproduce?

0ff0ad2b9031f1286305e143d2695d18

science

Mass General Brigham study finds multivitamins can improve memory

“[Multivitamin use] can preserve cognitive function, and we are seeing [that] it improves memory,” said Dr. Chirag Vyas, first author of the new study, published Thursday in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition . “Overall, it is slowing down the cognitive aging.” The researchers tested the cognitive function of more than 570 participants ages 60 and older before and after they took either a multivitamin/mineral supplement or a placebo for two years. The participants were randomly assigned to either the vitamin group, which took the common over-the-counter supplement Centrum Silver, or the placebo group. Daily multivitamin supplements can improve memory and slow cognitive aging in older adults, according to a new study by Mass General Brigham researchers that backs previous evidence about the benefits of multivitamins for some people as they age. Advertisement The findings come from a large national study led by MGB researchers that tracks the effects of multivitamins and cocoa supplements on more than 5,000 adults over 60. The new research focused on in-person cognitive assessments, which Vyas said can pick up smaller changes in brain function than the telephone- and web-based methods used in two previous papers the team published, which also found that multivitamins improved cognitive health. The new study showed that multivitamin supplements benefit both global cognition — which includes executive function, complex attention, and verbal memory — and episodic memory, which is the ability to learn, store, and retrieve detailed information throughout the day. Over the two-year duration of the study, these effects reduced cognitive aging by two years. “It’s really showing the consistency of the results,” said Howard Sesso, another co-author of the study, and a Harvard Medical School professor and associate epidemiologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “How can we make people more resilient to cognitive decline? This study really helps to reaffirm the importance, potentially, of multivitamin supplementation in this capacity.” Advertisement But the authors and other experts said more research was needed to confirm the new findings and make them applicable to a wider population. All of the study’s participants were first-language English speakers with limited diversity, said Regan Bailey, a professor of nutrition and associate director for precision nutrition at Texas A&M University, who was not involved in the study. And the two-year duration of the assessment was also limited, as cognitive health changes over a “much longer period of time,” she said. Dr. Michael Gaziano, a cardiologist and epidemiologist at Mass General Brigham and Veterans Affairs Boston, agreed that one question emerging from the study is whether multivitamins’ cognitive benefits would extend beyond two years. “It’s hard to know for sure whether this effect would be something that would plateau [over time],” Gaziano said, “or if it continues to provide a long-term benefit.” With that in mind, experts said it’s too early to run to Walgreens and strip the shelves of their supplements. Instead, Centrum Silver and similar multivitamins could become part of a broader approach to healthy aging, they said. “These are tools that might be good additions, perhaps, on top of the things that are a little bit better established on the behavioral front,” Sesso said. There are several other ways to preserve cognitive health, Sesso said, and many of them are typical lifestyle measures often recommended by doctors: Stay physically and socially active, eat a balanced and healthy diet, take care of mental health, and look for ways to minimize stress — all proven benefits to both cognitive and cardiovascular health. Advertisement “It’s worth considering multivitamins, but still, it’s not at a point yet of [being] an end all, be all,” he added. Vyas said that even with the benefits found in the study, multivitamin supplementation should be used as a “complementary approach,” not an alternative to other healthy habits. “Nothing can beat a healthy diet,” said Vyas, who is also an instructor at the Mass General Research Institute and Harvard Medical School. “The decision to start taking multivitamins on a daily basis depends on individual [needs].” Bailey, of Texas A&M, said she views cognitive health as a “puzzle” with many contributing pieces, from diet to stress to sleep habits. Bailey said she was “very excited” to see the results emerging from the study. Clinical trials are the strongest form of evidence, Bailey said, and there hasn’t been much of it in relation to multivitamin and mineral supplements, although they’re the most commonly used dietary supplement in the United States. The CDC reported in 2021 that over half of US adults use some sort of dietary supplement. Vyas and Sesso recommended consulting a primary care physician before starting multivitamins, as needs can vary person to person. Vitamin deficiencies are more likely to develop with age, doctors said, as dietary intake and variety decrease. And if you do choose to purchase supplements, “keep it simple, [and] keep it basic,” Sesso said. “Go with the tried-and-true brands that you might be familiar with.” Advertisement Many stores’ shelves are stacked with supplements devoted to specific vitamins or minerals — one bottle for calcium, one for Vitamin B-12, another for Manganese. Meanwhile, many websites tout supplement subscriptions targeting individualized needs. But Sesso said the best bet is usually a broad supplement that includes lower amounts of each of the most essential vitamins and minerals. Excessive levels of any one ingredient can lead to health problems. Multivitamin supplements should “ensure you’re meeting your basic daily needs and promoting the natural interactions that would hopefully take place between these different vitamins and minerals,” Sesso said. While the study suggests that multivitamin supplements are beneficial to cognitive health, researchers haven’t yet pinpointed exactly which micronutrients contribute most substantially. “We really are excited to be able to dig deeper into [the trials] to better understand which specific vitamins and minerals might be explaining the potential benefits that we’re seeing,” Sesso said. Madeline Khaw can be reached at maddie.khaw@globe.com. Follow her @maddiekhaw.

e07f4ea88921adc6cd435ffdcf32cd45

science

The F.D.A. Approved Gene Editing Therapy for Sickle Cell Disease

The Food and Drug Administration announced today that it had approved a gene editing treatment for sickle cell disease, the debilitating blood disorder caused by a single mutated gene. The therapy, called Casgevy, will become the first available treatment for humans in the U.S. to use the revolutionary gene editing tool CRISPR. The approval — which was announced alongside a second gene therapy that does not use gene editing — offers hope for the 100,000 Americans, most of them Black, who live with the disease. But the one-time treatments — so effective in clinical trials that they have been hailed as cures — come with both technical and financial obstacles that limit their reach. The sickle cell treatment will serve a test case for using CRISPR gene editing to treat other diseases. CRISPR Therapeutics, one of the developers of Casgevy, is now studying gene editing to treat cancer, diabetes, and A.L.S., among others. In sub-Saharan Africa, where a vast majority of people with sickle cell live, the new treatments will be effectively unavailable because of the price and lack of medical infrastructure to administer the treatment.

882fbb143d67b72e939c620623c061fc

science

Brain Study Suggests Traumatic Memories Are Processed as Present Experience

At the root of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a memory that cannot be controlled. It may intrude on everyday activity, thrusting a person into the middle of a horrifying event, or surface as night terrors or flashbacks. Decades of treatment of military veterans and sexual assault survivors have left little doubt that traumatic memories function differently from other memories. A group of researchers at Yale University and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai set out to find empirical evidence of those differences. The team conducted brain scans of 28 people with PTSD while they listened to recorded narrations of their own memories. Some of the recorded memories were neutral, some were simply “sad,” and some were traumatic. The brain scans found clear differences, the researchers reported in a paper published on Thursday in the journal Nature Neuroscience. The people listening to the sad memories, which often involved the death of a family member, showed consistently high engagement of the hippocampus, part of the brain that organizes and contextualizes memories.

0ab488db53b69ac886e344beb48c010a

science

New studies look at Springfield public health and growing good foods

Ten years after its first collaboration, the Conway School in Northampton and the Springfield Food Policy Council is teaming up to revisit food access, or the lack of access to quality foods in Springfield, and how food deliveries can be improved and where foods could be grown on public lands in the city. “What we understand about Springfield is that a food apartheid exists here,” said the council’s executive director and convener, Elizabeth O’Gilvie, on Friday. “You hear people talk about food deserts (access to a lack of nearby grocery stores and other food sources) and food insecurity, and usually that means hunger. But for us in Springfield and Hampden County, we have the highest rate of food-related health disparities in the commonwealth. It is not that we don’t have food, we don’t have healthy food.” The graduate students at the Conway School will be studying how Springfield residents access their food with an eye toward nutritionally valuable food as opposed to highly processed fast-food and convenience store meals.

135af2efb3f92eb53c49d0993c195912

science

Electric Car Owners Confront a Harsh Foe: Cold Weather

Video: Warming trend in Mass. heading into Christmas Day Share Copy Link Copy OF BOSTON. YEAH. WE’RE LOOKING AT COLD CONDITIONS TO KICK OFF EARLY SATURDAY MORNING. BUT WE ARE GOING TO START TO WARM THINGS UP, ESPECIALLY BY THE TIME WE GET TO CHRISTMAS. AND WE’RE TRACKING A SPOT SHOWER. CHANCE BY EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. BUT MOST OF US SHOULD REMAIN DRY TEMPERATURES OUTDOORS. YOU CAN SEE WE’VE ALREADY FALLEN INTO THE 20S AND SEVERAL GIVEN LOCATIONS, EXCEPT IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. YOU’RE SEEING A 33 DEGREE READING. BUT DON’T WORRY, YOU’RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO FALL INTO THE 20S. SO THIS HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM HAS KEPT US HIGH AND DRY OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS. AND IT’S GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO SO THROUGHOUT A GOOD PORTION OF OUR SATURDAY BEFORE IT STARTS TO BREAK DOWN AHEAD OF A STORM SYSTEM THAT ISN’T GOING TO IMPACT US ALL THAT MUCH. YOU CAN SEE ROLLING ITS WAY THROUGH ILLINOIS AND THAT’S WHAT’S GOING TO GIVE US OUR CHANCE OF A SPOT SHOWER HERE OR THERE BY YOUR EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. BUT A LIGHT WIND CHILL OUT THERE. YOU CAN SEE OUT OF THE SOUTH SOUTHEAST AT THREE MILES PER HOUR DEW POINT SITTING AT 11 DEGREES. SO DRY AIR IS HERE TO STAY. WAKING UP TOMORROW MORNING, SOME OF US WAKING UP TO SUNSHINE, OTHERS A FEW MORE CLOUDS. MAINLY CLEAR OVERNIGHT THOUGH, BUT FALLING INTO THE TEENS AND 20S. THE FARTHER WEST YOU HAVE TO BE, THE COLDER YOU HAPPEN TO BE. TEMPERATURES CLIMBING SLIGHTLY WARMER TOMORROW THAN WHAT WE EXPERIENCED FOR TODAY. THE LAST TWO DAYS WE’VE ONLY CLIMBED INTO THE 30S. COME TOMORROW, EVERYONE SHOULD CLIMB WELL INTO THE LOW TO MID 40S. SO CLOUDS REALLY START TO WORK THEIR WAY IN LATER IN THE DAY. CALL IT A MIXTURE OF SUNSHINE AND CLOUDS THROUGHOUT A GOOD PORTION OF YOUR SATURDAY. BY THE TIME WE GET TO OUR EVENING HOURS GOING INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS NOW WE’RE TRACKING OUR CHANCE FOR A SPOT SHOWER. MAYBE EVEN A BRIEF WINTRY MIX, ESPECIALLY NORTHWEST OF 495. SO THOSE AREAS THAT HAPPEN TO BE FLIRTING WITH THE FREEZING MARK OR JUST BELOW YOU MAY HAVE SOME SLICK SPOTS. WAKING UP EARLY SUNDAY MORNING ONCE AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE HOW SCATTERED IT IS IN NATURE, AND MOST OF US JUST WAKING UP TO CLOUDY SKIES. EXPECT A CLOUDY CHRISTMAS EVE UP AHEAD, BUT NORTHWEST OF 485. MAYBE A FEW PORCHES MAY HAVE A SLICK SPOT HERE OR THERE. A FEW ROADWAYS AS WELL. TAKE IT SLOW, BUT WE DO WARM UP FAIRLY QUICKLY. SPEAKING OF WARMING UP THOSE COLD CONDITIONS COMPLETELY OUT OF OUR HAIR. BY THE TIME WE GET TO TOMORROW MORNING AND BEYOND. SO A COLD START UP AHEAD TOMORROW MORNING. BY THE TIME WE GET TO SUNDAY, WE’RE LOOKING AT THE UPPER 40S. BY YOUR CHRISTMAS, WE’RE LOOKING AT TEMPERATURES IN THE 50S. SO STARTING OFF CHRISTMAS MORNING, WE’RE LOOKING AT THE 30S. BY CHRISTMAS AFTERNOON WE’RE WELL INTO THE LOWER 50S AND STILL HOLDING STEADY. WELL IN OUR EVENING HOURS. AND WE HOLD STEADY IN THE 50S. OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS PAST CHRISTMAS. SO TUESDAY, EVEN WEDNESDAY, WE’RE LOOKING AT THE LOWER 50S AND THEN WE’RE TRACKING A STORM. CHANCE BY THE TIME WE GET TO WEDNESDAY. SO THAT STORM SYSTEM THAT WE JUST SAW ON RADAR BREAKS DOWN AS IT MAKES ITS WAY CLOSER. STILL, WE DO HAVE THAT CHANCE FOR A SPOT SHOWER, BUT ONCE AGAIN, MOST OF US SHOULD REMAIN DRY. OUR NEXT IMPACTFUL STORM SYSTEM ISN’T TOO FAR BEHIND, THOUGH. BY THE TIME WE GET TO WEDNESDAY. LINGERING INTO THURSDAY NOW WE’RE TRACKING WIDESPREAD DOWNPOURS. SO MAYBE EXPECT THAT TO BE AN IMPACT WEATHER DAY AS WE GET CLOSER. BUT TOMORROW, JUST WAKING UP TO SUNSHINE A FEW CLOUDS A LITTLE BIT LATER ON, A FAIRLY CALM DAY. A LITTLE BIT WARMER ON SUNDAY FOR YOUR CHRISTMAS. IT’S MILD AND WE STAY MILD FOR SEVERAL GET LOCAL BREAKING NEWS ALERTS The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. Your Email Address Submit Privacy Notice

df673a98ab6e8d1bd78462b1b0ec6251

science

Seeking a Big Edge in A.I., South Korean Firms Think Smaller

ChatGPT, Bard, Claude. The world’s most popular and successful chatbots are trained on data scraped from vast swaths of the internet, mirroring the cultural and linguistic dominance of the English language and Western perspectives. This has raised alarms about the lack of diversity in artificial intelligence. There is also the worry that the technology will remain the province of a handful of American companies. In South Korea, a technological powerhouse, firms are taking advantage of the technology’s malleability to shape A.I. systems from the ground up to address local needs. Some have trained A.I. models with sets of data rich in Korean language and culture. South Korean companies say they’re building A.I. for Thai, Vietnamese and Malaysian audiences. Others are eyeing customers in Brazil, Saudi Arabia and the Philippines, and in industries like medicine and pharmacy. This has fueled hopes that A.I. can become more diverse, work in more languages, be customized to more cultures and be developed by more countries. “The more competition is out there, the more systems are going to be robust: socially acceptable, safer, more ethical,” said Byong-Tak Zhang, a computer science professor at Seoul National University.

e07f4ea88921adc6cd435ffdcf32cd45

science

The F.D.A. Approved Gene Editing Therapy for Sickle Cell Disease

The Food and Drug Administration announced today that it had approved a gene editing treatment for sickle cell disease, the debilitating blood disorder caused by a single mutated gene. The therapy, called Casgevy, will become the first available treatment for humans in the U.S. to use the revolutionary gene editing tool CRISPR. The approval — which was announced alongside a second gene therapy that does not use gene editing — offers hope for the 100,000 Americans, most of them Black, who live with the disease. But the one-time treatments — so effective in clinical trials that they have been hailed as cures — come with both technical and financial obstacles that limit their reach. The sickle cell treatment will serve a test case for using CRISPR gene editing to treat other diseases. CRISPR Therapeutics, one of the developers of Casgevy, is now studying gene editing to treat cancer, diabetes, and A.L.S., among others. In sub-Saharan Africa, where a vast majority of people with sickle cell live, the new treatments will be effectively unavailable because of the price and lack of medical infrastructure to administer the treatment.

8d04386c61023703a8cd2af441b60109

science

Drought Touches a Quarter of Humanity, U.N. Says, Disrupting Lives Globally

Spring training doesn’t officially start for another 4½ weeks, but that didn’t stop a group of Red Sox infielders from getting together this week to get some work in. As promised late in the season, shortstop Trevor Story hosted a handful of young infielders for a group training session near his home in Dallas over the last few days. According to pictures released by the Red Sox, who dubbed the event “Story Camp,” Story was joined by first baseman Triston Casas, middle infielder David Hamilton, new trade acquisition (and Story’s expected double play partner) Vaughn Grissom and second base prospect Nick Yorke. The group worked out in the weight room, played basketball and football, took infield and swung in the cage during their time in Texas. They worked out on the field at Dallas Baptist University and even took in Tuesday’s Mavericks-Grizzlies game at American Airlines Center. (A full photo gallery from the team is here.) Setting up a camp was important to Story, who benefited from a similar offseason event hosted by Troy Tulowitzki as a Rockies prospect before the 2014 season. Back then, Story — a supplemental (45th overall) draft pick who had just reached Double-A for the first time, traveled to Las Vegas to train with Tulowitzki, the five-time All-Star who manned shortstop for Colorado for 10 years. “It was a real long day,” Story told MLB.com’s Thomas Harding in 2015. “We worked out two or three times, then we hit in the batting cage at 11 that night. On the ride home, he asked me if he thought anybody else in baseball did anything more than we did. I said, ‘I don’t think anybody did anything close to what we did today.’ He said that’s how you work to be the best.” Now 31 with eight major league seasons under his belt, Story wanted to do something similar as he entered his third season with the Red Sox. By September, he was starting to put in place for an offseason camp in an effort to help out during the winter. “Just a camp to get some of the guys together, some of the young kids,” Story said during a September interview at Globe Life Field. “Tulo did it for me and it helped me so much. I learned so much from him, how to work and go about an offseason. I still use a pretty similar template to this day. I want to do that to pay back the game and entrench myself in this organization even more.” BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. Casas, who emerged as one of Boston’s best players in a strong first full major league season in 2023, has traveled all over this winter, going with team officials (and manager Alex Cora) for group meet-ups in Fort Myers, the Dominican Republic and now Dallas. Grissom, the team’s presumed starter at second base, quickly joined the plans after being traded from the Braves in exchange for Chris Sale at the end of December in an effort to build some chemistry with Story before camp opens in February. Hamilton and Yorke are two of many intriguing young prospects the Sox have in the middle infield positions; the best of the crop, Marcelo Mayer, reportedly skipped training with Story to continue his shoulder rehab in Fort Myers. At the Winter Meetings, manager Alex Cora — who was planning on being in Dallas but didn’t end up attending — said he was excited to see what Story’s efforts would bring. “He’s very structured with his workouts, with his team that helps him out,” Cora said. “It’s going to be a good opportunity for some kids to go there, work with him. Casas will be there too. Just trying to get everybody together in the same place. “Sometimes the word culture is overused, in a sense... We just want everybody together in the same place and to work and keep getting better. We finished last the last two years, so we just have to improve a lot.” Story, who struggled offensively but was one of the best defensive shortstops in his 43-game return from elbow injury at the end of last season, came away impressed with the young core of players who contributed to the Red Sox throughout the year. “It’s cool to see these young guys come up and have success right away,” he said in September. “They work hard, they have a hunger for the game that reignites you every day. They bring a lot of energy. That’s great, man. That’s what good organizations have. We’re gonna need those guys going forward to be the team we want to be.”

61c7c4558208a1e8cf6a1dbea4e875c3

science

UNH researchers find possible cause to mysterious dog illnesses

UNH researchers find possible cause to mysterious dog illnesses reported in New England There may now be a clue as to what's causing a mysterious illness in dogs nationwide.Researchers at the University of New Hampshire used genetic sequencing using samples from dozens of dogs in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island and found a piece of a previously uncharacterized bacteria.They said that bacterium may possibly already be part of a dog's microbiome and recently developed the capacity to cause disease in canines. The respiratory illness causes coughing and sneezing. Infected dogs are often lethargic.New Hampshire is just one of the at least 10 states across the country with reported cases. There may now be a clue as to what's causing a mysterious illness in dogs nationwide. Researchers at the University of New Hampshire used genetic sequencing using samples from dozens of dogs in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island and found a piece of a previously uncharacterized bacteria. Advertisement They said that bacterium may possibly already be part of a dog's microbiome and recently developed the capacity to cause disease in canines. The respiratory illness causes coughing and sneezing. Infected dogs are often lethargic. New Hampshire is just one of the at least 10 states across the country with reported cases.

a6d2a7f4632ddfe0d90c428300d81351

science

TikToks Influence on Young Voters Is No Simple Matter - The New York Times

We’re in a season of hand-wringing and scapegoating over social media, especially TikTok, with many Americans and politicians missing that two things can be true at once: Social media can have an outsized and sometimes pernicious influence on society, and lawmakers can unfairly use it as an excuse to deflect legitimate criticisms. Young people are overwhelmingly unhappy about U.S. policy on the war in Gaza? Must be because they get their “perspective on the world on TikTok” — at least according to Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat who holds a strong pro-Israel stance. This attitude is shared across the aisle. “It would not be surprising that the Chinese-owned TikTok is pushing pro-Hamas content,” Senator Marsha Blackburn said. Another Republican senator, Josh Hawley, called TikTok a “purveyor of virulent antisemitic lies.” Consumers are unhappy with the economy? Surely, that’s TikTok again, with some experts arguing that dismal consumer sentiment is a mere “vibecession” — feelings fueled by negativity on social media rather than by the actual effects of inflation, housing costs and more. Some blame online phenomena such as the viral TikTok “Silent Depression” videos that compare the economy today to that of the 1930s — falsely asserting things were easier then. It’s no secret that social media can spread misleading and even harmful content, given that its business model depends on increasing engagement, thus often amplifying inflammatory content (which is highly engaging!) with little to no guardrails for veracity. And, yes, TikTok, whose parent company is headquartered in Beijing and which is increasingly dominating global information flows, should generate additional concern. As far back as 2012, research published in Nature by Facebook scientists showed how companies can easily and stealthily alter real-life behavior, such as election turnout.

00d94353859d554b910df497b7285503

science

As Alzheimer's rates rise, Boston researchers find that a multivitamin may improve memory, slow cognitive aging

As the number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s grows, a new “exciting” study out of Mass General Brigham shows that taking a multivitamin could help prevent memory loss and slow down cognitive aging. The Boston researchers tested the effects of a daily multivitamin on cognitive changes in older adults, as part of the COSMOS trial (COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study). COSMOS is a large-scale trial testing cocoa extract and multivitamin supplements, run by researchers at Mass General Brigham. Two previous studies in COSMOS suggested that a daily multivitamin has a positive effect on cognition. COSMOS researchers are now reporting the results of a third study in COSMOS — which focused on participants who took in-person assessments. The results showed a statistically significant benefit for memory and cognition among participants taking a daily multivitamin compared to the placebo. The study suggests that taking a daily multivitamin may help prevent memory loss and slow cognitive aging in older adults. “Cognitive decline is among the top health concerns for most older adults, and a daily supplement of multivitamins has the potential as an appealing and accessible approach to slow cognitive aging,” said first author Chirag Vyas, instructor in investigation at the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital. “The meta-analysis of three separate cognition studies provides strong and consistent evidence that taking a daily multivitamin, containing more than 20 essential micronutrients, helps prevent memory loss and slow down cognitive aging,” Vyas said. The researchers for the study conducted in-person cognitive assessments among 573 participants in the subset of COSMOS known as COSMOS-Clinic. The scientists found that there was a modest benefit from the multivitamin on global cognition over two years. There was a statistically significant benefit from the multivitamin for change in episodic memory, but not in executive function/attention. The researchers estimated that the daily multivitamin slowed global cognitive aging by the equivalent of two years compared to the placebo. “These findings will garner attention among many older adults who are, understandably, very interested in ways to preserve brain health, as they provide evidence for the role of a daily multivitamin in supporting better cognitive aging,” said Olivia Okereke, senior author of the report and director of Geriatric Psychiatry at MGH. In 2020, an estimated 5.8 million Americans aged 65 years or older had Alzheimer’s disease. This number is projected to nearly triple to 14 million people by 2060, according to the CDC. JoAnn Manson, co-author of the research report and chief of the Division of Preventive Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said, “The finding that a daily multivitamin improved memory and slowed cognitive aging in three separate placebo-controlled studies in COSMOS is exciting and further supports the promise of multivitamins as a safe, accessible and affordable approach to protecting cognitive health in older adults.”

00d94353859d554b910df497b7285503

science

As Alzheimer's rates rise, Boston researchers find that a multivitamin may improve memory, slow cognitive aging

As the number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s grows, a new “exciting” study out of Mass General Brigham shows that taking a multivitamin could help prevent memory loss and slow down cognitive aging. The Boston researchers tested the effects of a daily multivitamin on cognitive changes in older adults, as part of the COSMOS trial (COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study). COSMOS is a large-scale trial testing cocoa extract and multivitamin supplements, run by researchers at Mass General Brigham. Two previous studies in COSMOS suggested that a daily multivitamin has a positive effect on cognition. COSMOS researchers are now reporting the results of a third study in COSMOS — which focused on participants who took in-person assessments. The results showed a statistically significant benefit for memory and cognition among participants taking a daily multivitamin compared to the placebo. The study suggests that taking a daily multivitamin may help prevent memory loss and slow cognitive aging in older adults. “Cognitive decline is among the top health concerns for most older adults, and a daily supplement of multivitamins has the potential as an appealing and accessible approach to slow cognitive aging,” said first author Chirag Vyas, instructor in investigation at the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital. “The meta-analysis of three separate cognition studies provides strong and consistent evidence that taking a daily multivitamin, containing more than 20 essential micronutrients, helps prevent memory loss and slow down cognitive aging,” Vyas said. The researchers for the study conducted in-person cognitive assessments among 573 participants in the subset of COSMOS known as COSMOS-Clinic. The scientists found that there was a modest benefit from the multivitamin on global cognition over two years. There was a statistically significant benefit from the multivitamin for change in episodic memory, but not in executive function/attention. The researchers estimated that the daily multivitamin slowed global cognitive aging by the equivalent of two years compared to the placebo. “These findings will garner attention among many older adults who are, understandably, very interested in ways to preserve brain health, as they provide evidence for the role of a daily multivitamin in supporting better cognitive aging,” said Olivia Okereke, senior author of the report and director of Geriatric Psychiatry at MGH. In 2020, an estimated 5.8 million Americans aged 65 years or older had Alzheimer’s disease. This number is projected to nearly triple to 14 million people by 2060, according to the CDC. JoAnn Manson, co-author of the research report and chief of the Division of Preventive Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said, “The finding that a daily multivitamin improved memory and slowed cognitive aging in three separate placebo-controlled studies in COSMOS is exciting and further supports the promise of multivitamins as a safe, accessible and affordable approach to protecting cognitive health in older adults.”

77f1147ae4942fc556b6bf84db54237d

science

For More Plant-Based Protein in Your Diet, Try These Legumes

This is Day 3 of Well’s Mediterranean Diet Week. Start at the beginning here. If I had to choose just one food to always have on hand, it probably would be lentils. They’re quick to cook and comforting; my mom’s lentil soup was a staple of my childhood. But I’d also take any of the other legumes — chickpeas, black-eyed peas, cannellini beans, kidney beans. Legumes are a key source of plant-based protein in the Mediterranean diet; one cup of cooked beans, lentils or peas contains about 15 grams of protein — just under a quarter of the daily needs of an average adult. And research suggests that people who get more of their protein from plant (rather than animal) sources tend to live longer, healthier lives. One cup of legumes also contains about 13 grams of fiber, or roughly half of your daily recommended amount. Fiber helps keep your digestive system running smoothly, feeds friendly gut microbes and is thought to trap cholesterol in the intestines, which may explain the research suggesting that eating legumes can lower your levels of LDL (or “bad”) cholesterol. Researchers have also linked legumes to improved blood sugar levels and reduced risks of coronary heart disease. Legumes supply several vitamins and minerals, including iron, which is necessary for oxygen delivery to cells; magnesium, which helps regulate blood pressure and blood sugar; folate, essential for pregnancy and cell function; and vitamin E, which supports the immune system and protects against cell damage.

dfa9ca08a7b9a771bf461a8868c3b53e

science

Canadas Logging Industry Devours Forests Crucial to Fighting Climate Change

Canada has long promoted itself globally as a model for protecting one of the country’s most vital natural resources: the world’s largest swath of boreal forest, which is crucial to fighting climate change. But a new study using nearly half a century of data from the provinces of Ontario and Quebec — two of the country’s main commercial logging regions — reveals that harvesting trees has inflicted severe damage on the boreal forest that will be difficult to reverse. Researchers led by a group from Griffith University in Australia found that since 1976 logging in the two provinces has caused the removal of 35.4 million acres of boreal forest, an area roughly the size of New York State. While nearly 56 million acres of well-established trees at least a century old remain in the region, logging has shattered this forest, leaving behind a patchwork of isolated stands of trees that has created a landscape less able to support wildlife, according to the study. And it has made the land more susceptible to wildfire, scientists say.

9acc032b3266293c80521026c852e3e7

science

How Astronomers Are Saving Astronomy From Satellites For Now

In December 2020, astronomers documented a burst of highly energetic light in one of the most distant galaxies ever observed. But less than a year later, the paper’s claims lay in limbo. Other scientists said it had merely been a passing satellite. “I was a bit sad that the gamma ray burst turned out to be just an artificial satellite,” said Krzysztof Kamiński, an astronomer at the Astronomical Observatory Institute in Poland who said he matched the position, time and brightness of the discovery to an orbiting spacecraft. Linhua Jiang, an astronomer at Peking University in Beijing who led the original finding, said his team stood by their work, adding that the probability of a satellite passing directly in front of the distant galaxy at exactly the right moment was minuscule at best. The dispute likely will not be the last time that scientists argue over whether a passing satellite is being mistaken for an astronomical discovery.

3f11e2744beee145b1e9f78efe6dfdd9

sports

Joe Mazzulla earns NBA award after strong Celtics start

As the Celtics have put together the league’s best record to start the season, they’ve earned some recognition in the process. C’s coach Joe Mazzulla was named the Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for December 2023, guiding his team to a 12-2 record over that time. It’s the second time in Mazzulla’s career he’s earned the honor. When the Celtics came out on fire last season, Mazzulla earned the Coach of the Month honor for games played in October and November 2022 to start the campaign. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. Of course, Mazzulla will likely shrug off the honor and instead defer to the team’s success. He has a point in that the C’s need to play well and win games in order for him to get the award. However, the second-year coach also gets credit as he looks significantly more comfortable at the helm this season. Those around the team and organization have also noted how Mazzulla looks, and he recently got some glowing words from Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck. The Celtics will look to continue to ride that recent momentum as they boast a league-best 26-7 record. “I think Joe’s done a great job out of the gate of saying, ‘This is how we need to be. This is what we need to do for each other to be the best that we can be. These are the strengths of your teammates. How can we get those out of them and make it a focal point?’” Boston president Brad Stevens said. “People use the word sacrifice a lot. It’s the idea of serving a team. Like, being there for the good of the group. And I think he’s done a great job of that all the way through.”

9bbd81f2b0d87bbbd46d04e84a778c14

sports

Oklahoma State vs. Texas A&M: Live stream, how to watch Texas Bowl

After not winning the Big 12 Championship, Oklahoma State will make its way to NRG Stadium to take on Texas A&M in the Texas Bowl on Wednesday night. The Cowboys and the Aggies met in the same bowl in 2019, with Texas A&M completing the comeback to earn a three-point win. The game will air on ESPN for those who have cable. Fans looking to watch this college football game can do so with ESPN+. ESPN+ plans are $9.99 a month or $12.99 a month if you bundle with Hulu and Disney+. Who: Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Texas A&M Aggies When: Wednesday, Dec. 27 at 9 p.m. EST Where: NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas Stream: ESPN+. ESPN+ plans are $9.99 a month or $12.99 a month if you bundle with Hulu and Disney+. Tickets: StubHub and *VividSeats *New customers who purchase tickets through VividSeats can get $20 off a $200+ ticket order by using the promo code MassLive20 at checkout.* Gear: Shop around at Fanatics for jerseys, hats, polos, sneakers, shirts and more Sports Betting Promos: Football fans can wager online on Massachusetts sports betting with enticing promo codes from top online sportsbooks. Use the FanDuel Massachusetts promo code and the DraftKings Massachusetts promo code for massive new user bonuses. RELATED CONTENT: SAN DIEGO (AP) — The rapidly changing college football landscape provided a moment of levity between Holiday Bowl coaches Jeff Brohm of the No. 16 Louisville Cardinals and Lincoln Riley of the staggering and depleted Southern California Trojans. Brohm’s Cardinals (10-3) are making a rare West Coast trip for Wednesday night’s game at Petco Park, the downtown home of baseball’s Padres. However, starting next year, flying to California won’t be so unusual. One of the Cardinals’ 2024 road trips will be to play Stanford, which will be in its first season in the ACC, along with California. “Obviously there’s a lot of change in college football in that regard, but for us I think it will be a great mix, two teams from out west that will provide some excitement and interest across the country,” Brohm said. To which Riley quipped: “We’ll pass each other in the air.” The Holiday Bowl will be the last Pac-12 football game for the Trojans (7-5). They’ll begin play in the Big Ten next season, along with fellow Pac-12 defectors UCLA, Washington and Oregon. It was USC and UCLA’s announcement in 2023 that they were leaving for the Big Ten that was the beginning of the end of the “Conference of Champions.” The Holiday Bowl also illustrates how rosters are dramatically affected by numerous players from both teams opting out to prepare for the NFL draft or entering the transfer portal. A marquee player who will be missing is USC quarterback Caleb Williams, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner and presumptive No. 1 overall pick in next spring’s NFL draft who has opted out. BETTER BUY A PROGRAM Other Trojans who have opted out are leading rusher MarShawn Lloyd and Brendan Rice, the son of Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, who led USC with 12 touchdown catches. Louisville will be missing Jawha Jordan, a 1,000-yard rusher, and leading receiver Jamari Thrash, both of whom have declared for the draft. QB DISPARITY USC redshirt sophomore quarterback Miller Moss will replace Williams and make his first college start. He has played in 11 games during the past three seasons, going 43 of 59 for 542 yards and three touchdowns, with no interceptions. His longest pass is a 71-yard TD pass to Duce Robinson against Nevada this season. The Cardinals will counter with experienced veteran Jack Plummer, a graduate senior who will be making his 39th career start. In his first year with Louisville, he completed 235 of 370 passes for 3,063 yards and 21 touchdowns, with 12 interceptions. He also played at Cal and Purdue. EGGNOG BATH Either Brohm or Riley will be getting an eggnog bath — nog on the noggin — instead of a Gatorade shower as the winning coach. Riley would no doubt welcome that after a disappointing season that began with national title hopes but ended with three straight losses and just one win in the final six games. Brohm would welcome it, too, to cap a season that saw the Cardinals play in their first ACC championship game, albeit a 16-6 loss to Florida State. A SUPER CHARGER Brohm signed with the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 1994 and was the third-string quarterback. He didn’t take a snap as the Bolts made it to their only Super Bowl, a 49-26 loss to San Francisco. “I have very fond memories because we were able to go to the Super Bowl that year, I didn’t have to play a down during the regular season, so I didn’t get hit, and I collected a paycheck,” Brohm said. “We had some great players, we had a great run and it was a lot of fun.” The Associated Press contributed to this article

1defa8f7e3b277037b21549ed9369e3f

sports

Cowboys vs. Dolphins game: How to watch week 16 NFL for free

After being dominated by the Buffalo Bills last week, the Dallas Cowboys will hope for a better outcome when they face another AFC East team, the Miami Dolphins, in week 16 on Sunday, December 24. The game is scheduled to start at 4:25 p.m. EST and will be broadcast on FOX. Fans looking to watch this NFL game can do so for free by using FuboTV or DirecTV Stream, which both offer a free trial and RedZone. SlingTV has promotional offers available, and NFL+ airs all local market games. Through the end of 2023, fuboTV is also offering $20 off the first two months of subscription (in addition to the 7-day free trial). Dak Prescott will enter a third consecutive high-profile QB matchup coming off a season-low 134 yards passing in the loss to the Bills. The Dolphins again will have a chance to prove themselves against tough competition when they face the Cowboys. Miami has not beaten a team that entered the matchup with a winning record. Miami can also clinch a playoff berth with a win. Who: Dallas Cowboys vs. Miami Dolphins When: Sunday, December 24 at 4:25 p.m. EST Where: Hard Rock Stadium Stream: fuboTV (free trial + $20 off your first 2 months); or Sling; DirecTV Stream or NFL+ Tickets: StubHub and *VividSeats *New customers who purchase tickets through VividSeats can get $20 off a $200+ ticket order by using the promo code MassLive20 at checkout.* Gear: Shop around for jerseys, shirts, hats, hoodies and more at Fanatics.com Sports Betting Promos: NFL fans can wager online on Massachusetts sports betting with enticing promo codes from top online sportsbooks. Use the FanDuel Massachusetts promo code and the DraftKings Massachusetts promo code for massive new user bonuses. RELATED CONTENT: DALLAS (10-4) AT MIAMI (10-4) Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST, Fox OPENING LINE: Dolphins by 1 1/2, according to FanDuel SportsBook. AGAINST THE SPREAD: Cowboys 9-5; Dolphins 9-5. SERIES RECORD: Series tied 7-7. LAST MEETING: Dallas beat Miami 31-6 at Dallas on Nov. 22, 2019. LAST WEEK: Dallas lost to Buffalo 31-10; Dolphins beat Jets 30-0. COWBOYS OFFENSE: OVERALL (6), RUSH (12), PASS (6), SCORING (2). COWBOYS DEFENSE: OVERALL (6), RUSH (19), PASS (4), SCORING (5). DOLPHINS OFFENSE: OVERALL (1), RUSH (4), PASS (1), SCORING (1). DOLPHINS DEFENSE: OVERALL (5), RUSH (4), PASS (10), SCORING (14). TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Cowboys plus-9; Dolphins plus-2. COWBOYS PLAYER TO WATCH: Dak Prescott enters a third consecutive high-profile QB matchup coming off a season-low 134 yards passing in the loss to the Bills. His career-best run of seven consecutive games with at least two touchdown passes ended. The ugly home/road splits for the Cowboys also apply to their quarterback. He’s averaging 304 yards passing per game with 20 touchdowns, two interceptions, a 74% completion rate and a 122.5 passer rating at AT&T Stadium. On the road, the numbers are 216 yards per game with eight touchdowns, five picks, 63% on completions and an 84.2 passer rating. DOLPHINS PLAYER TO WATCH: WR Jaylen Waddle had his best game of the season against the Jets in the absence of Tyreek Hill. He caught eight passes for a season-high 142 yards and had a 60-yard touchdown catch. The Dolphins’ third-year receiver is averaging 13.6 yards per receptions and has had at least 50 yards in each of the past five games. He has 964 yards receiving and is poised to become the first Dolphins player to have three straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons. KEY MATCHUP: Dolphins passing game vs. Cowboys secondary. Tua Tagovailoa is coming off his most productive game of the season by completing 87.5% of his passes against the Jets, who have one of the NFL’s stingiest secondaries. Now he will go up against the NFL’s leader in interceptions in DaRon Bland (8) and the Cowboys pass defense. The Dallas secondary is allowing 150.9 net passing yards per game on the road in 2023, second in the league. The Dolphins offense is averaging 285.1 passing yards per game at Hard Rock Stadium, the third-highest passing offense at home this season. KEY INJURIES: Six-time All-Pro RG Zack Martin of the Cowboys bruised his left quadriceps early against Buffalo and didn’t return. He sounded optimistic about being available this week. ... LT Tyron Smith was ruled out after injuring his back against the Bills. ... DT Johnathan Hankins sat out against Buffalo with a sprained ankle, and his status will be a question all week. The same goes for S Malik Hooker, who also missed the Buffalo game with an ankle injury. ... The status of Tyreek Hill (ankle) will be in question for the second straight week. The All-Pro receiver did not practice Wednesday. ... S Jevon Holland said he was close to a return last week after injuring both knees in Week 12 against the Jets. He ended up missing his third straight game last week and likely will be questionable entering Sunday. ... RT Austin Jackson is dealing with an oblique injury from last week’s game. ... CB Xavien Howard (hip) did not practice Wednesday after missing last week’s game. ... OL Liam Eichenberg played through a calf injury and was limited in practice. SERIES NOTES: Miami was 6-1 over the first seven meetings in the regular season. Dallas is 6-1 since, with four consecutive wins. The first meeting of the franchises was in Super Bowl 6, when the Cowboys won their first championship with a 24-3 victory. STATS AND STUFF: The Cowboys have lost consecutive games just once in what will be the third consecutive playoff season under coach Mike McCarthy. While Dallas has a 3-4 road record against its 7-0 home mark, one of the victories away from AT&T Stadium came at the Los Angeles Chargers (20-17) the week after the Cowboys were blown out in San Francisco (42-10). … The home/road splits are stark for Dallas. The Cowboys essentially have the best offense in the NFL at home. On the road, it’s middle of the pack or worse. … Prescott needs two touchdown passes for his third season with at least 30. Tony Romo, the only other Dallas QB to reach that mark, had four. … Cowboys RB Tony Pollard had his first career 100-yard game against Miami (103 yards with a touchdown) in the third game of his rookie season in 2019. … WR CeeDee Lamb is the first player in franchise history with multiple 100-catch seasons. He has 103 after getting 107 last season. Lamb is eight catches shy of Michael Irvin’s franchise record from 1995, the most recent of the club’s five Super Bowl-winning seasons. Lamb is third in the NFL in yards receiving with 1,306 and needs 54 for a career high. He has an NFL-best six-game streak with at least one touchdown after getting a rushing TD against the Bills. … Pass-rushing star Micah Parsons has seven sacks in seven road games this season. ... The Dolphins again will have a chance to prove themselves against tough competition when they face the Cowboys. Miami has not beaten a team that entered the matchup with a winning record. All but one of its losses have been to teams above .500. ... Miami can clinch its second straight playoff berth with a win Sunday. ... The Dolphins right now are one of two NFL teams (Kansas City) that have winning records in the past four seasons. Buffalo and Pittsburgh can join them if they finish with a winning mark. ... Tua Tagovailoa needs just 79 passing yards to become the third Dolphins quarterback to pass for 4,000 yards in a season, joining Dan Marino and Ryan Tannehill. ... RB Raheem Mostert is 34 rushing yards away from becoming Miami’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Jay Ajayi in 2016. The 31-year-old Mostert would be the second-oldest player in NFL history to have a 1,000-yard season. ... LB Bradley Chubb was the AFC defensive player of the week after getting three sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Chubb leads the Dolphins with 9 1/2 sacks and leads the NFL with six forced fumbles. FANTASY TIP: RB Raheem Mostert has multiple touchdowns in three of his past four games, and he’s scored at least once in six of the past seven. The current rushing touchdown leader is going up against a Cowboys defense that was dominated in the run game against the Bills last week, giving up more than 200 combined yards and two TDs to RB James Cook. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL The Associated Press contributed to this article

a6accba85d546aeac6af38539359c064

sports

Packers vs. Panthers: How to watch NFL week 16 for free

The Green Bay Packers will try and bounce back from their two previous losses when they face the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, December 24 in a week 16 matchup. The game is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. EST and will be broadcast on FOX. Fans looking to watch this NFL game can do so for free by using FuboTV or DirecTV Stream, which both offer a free trial and RedZone. SlingTV has promotional offers available, and NFL+ airs all local market games. Through the end of 2023, fuboTV is also offering $20 off the first two months of subscription (in addition to the 7-day free trial). The Carolina Panthers’ third-ranked defense only allowed seven points last week in a 9-7 win over the Atlanta Falcons. Green Bay’s Jordan Love has thrown 11 touchdown passes and only one interception over his past four games, although Green Bay is just 2-2 in those games. The Packers are 6-8 and facing an uphill battle to make the NFC playoffs after back-to-back losses to the Giants and Buccaneers. Carolina is 2-12 and was eliminated from playoff contention weeks ago. Green Bay may rely on running back Aaron Jones, who has rushed for 238 yards and four touchdowns on 33 carries over his past two matchups with the Panthers. Who: Green Bay Packers vs. Carolina Panthers When: Sunday, December 24 at 1 p.m. EST Where:Bank of America Stadium Stream: fuboTV (free trial + $20 off your first 2 months); or Sling; DirecTV Stream or NFL+ Tickets: StubHub and *VividSeats *New customers who purchase tickets through VividSeats can get $20 off a $200+ ticket order by using the promo code MassLive20 at checkout.* Gear: Shop around for jerseys, shirts, hats, hoodies and more at Fanatics.com Sports Betting Promos: NFL fans can wager online on Massachusetts sports betting with enticing promo codes from top online sportsbooks. Use the FanDuel Massachusetts promo code and the DraftKings Massachusetts promo code for massive new user bonuses. RELATED CONTENT: GREEN BAY (6-8) at CAROLINA (2-12) Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox. BETTING LINE: Packers by 4 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. AGAINST THE SPREAD: Green Bay 7-7, Carolina 3-9-2. SERIES RECORD: Packers lead 10-6. LAST MEETING: Packers beat Panthers 24-16 on Dec. 19, 2020, in Green Bay. LAST WEEK: Packers lost to Buccaneers 34-20; Panthers beat Falcons 9-7. PACKERS OFFENSE: OVERALL (18), RUSH (21), PASS (17), SCORING (18-T). PACKERS DEFENSE: OVERALL (23), RUSH (30), PASS (12), SCORING (17-T). PANTHERS OFFENSE: OVERALL (30), RUSH (17), PASS (31), SCORING (29). PANTHERS DEFENSE: OVERALL (3), RUSH (20), PASS (3), SCORING (29). TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Packers even; Panthers minus-6. PACKERS PLAYER TO WATCH: WR Dontayvion Wicks had six catches for 97 yards against Tampa Bay to set career highs in both categories. The fifth-round pick from Virginia has teamed up with second-round selection Jayden Reed to give the Packers a pair of promising rookie wideouts. Wicks has only one touchdown, but he has had at least 90 yards receiving in two of his past four games. PANTHERS PLAYER TO WATCH: Panthers K Eddy Pineiro went 3 for 3 on field-goal attempts last week, including the game-winner as time expired to beat the Falcons and was selected as the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. Both Carolina wins this season have come on winning kicks by Pineiro as time expired. Pineiro has made 88.9% of his field goals and has developed into a reliable option for Carolina. KEY MATCHUP: Packers QB Jordan Love vs. Panthers pass defense: Love has thrown 11 touchdown passes and only one interception over his past four games, although Green Bay is just 2-2 in those games. He’ll face a Carolina defense that has steadily improved despite a number of injuries early in the season. The Panthers limited the Falcons to seven points last week and held Desmond Ridder in check. KEY INJURIES: Packers CB Jaire Alexander (shoulder) has missed six straight games. … Packers WR Christian Watson (hamstring) has missed two consecutive games. … Packers S Darnell Savage (shoulder) and RB AJ Dillon (thumb) didn’t play against Tampa Bay. … Packers TE Luke Musgrave (abdomen) is on injured reserve. ... The Panthers were without three pass rushers — Brian Burns (illness), Marquis Haynes (back/illness), Yetur Gross-Matos (knee) — at practice Wednesday, but they still have a chance to play. SERIES NOTES: The Panthers have won three of the past four meetings at home against the Packers. However, the past two meetings, both at Lambeau Field, have resulted in 24-16 wins by the Packers. The two teams met in the 1996 NFC championship game with the Packers prevailing in Green Bay. STATS AND STUFF: The Packers haven’t had a 100-yard rushing or receiving performance in any game this season. No team has ever done that for an entire season of at least 16 games. …. Packers DT Kenny Clark had two sacks against Tampa Bay to improve his season total to a career-high 6 1/2. … After winning their first 16 December games under coach Matt LaFleur, the Packers have lost two straight. … The Packers have three players who started the season at 24 or younger who have at least five TD catches this season: Romeo Doubs (seven), Jayden Reed (six) and Christian Watson (five). The only team to have more such players in NFL history was the 2020 Pittsburgh Steelers with four, according to STATS. … The Packers have three rookies with at least 30 catches, the first time that’s happened in franchise history. The rookies are Reed (54), Luke Musgrave (33) and Dontayvion Wicks (31). … The Packers have six rookies with at least one TD catch this season. That’s the most in franchise history and the most of any team in the Super Bowl era aside from the 1987 strike season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. … Carolina’s only two wins this season have come at home. ... The Panthers have not scored an offensive touchdown in the first half in seven straight games. ... Carolina has only led in 14.1% of the plays it’s run this season, which is last in the NFL. Also, the Panthers have not led on a single play in the fourth quarter. Both of their wins have come on winning field goals as time expired, and they were trailing before those kicks. ... The Panthers have been outscored by 142 points this season. ... QB Bryce Young led a game-winning, 17-play, 90-yard drive last week that took 7:35 off the clock to beat the Falcons. The No. 1 overall pick is 2-11 as a starter. ... RB Chuba Hubbard has run for at least 87 yards in three straight games. ... RT Taylor Moton has played in 112 consecutive games for the Panthers, which is the longest streak of any offensive lineman in team history. FANTASY TIP: Packers RB Aaron Jones has rushed for 238 yards and four touchdowns on 33 carries over his past two matchups with the Panthers. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL The Associated Press contributed to this article

23b6ad5533a5337964229c66b6d5ec69

sports

How Patriots are handling final say with Bill Belichick gone

FOXBOROUGH — After Jerod Mayo was introduced as the 15th Patriots head coach in the G-P Atrium at Gillette Stadium, both he and owner Robert Kraft read excited opening statements on Wednesday afternoon. Kraft is optimistic about the path ahead and Mayo is eager to get to work. When the time came for questions, the first one was among the most pressing: Who will have final say on Patriots personnel? For the past two decades, that power had belonged singularly to Bill Belichick, who earned total control over New England’s roster after winning his third Super Bowl in 2004. So with Belichick out the door, who will get to make the ultimate decision when the Patriots are on the clock at No. 3 overall in next spring’s NFL Draft? BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. Kraft began by saying this was a day to celebrate Mayo, but then offered a winding and open-ended response. “What we know: We have a lot of people internally who have had a chance to train and learn under the greatest coach of all time and a man who’s football intellect is very special,” Kraft said. “So in the short term, we’re looking for collaboration as our team has a tremendous opportunity to position itself right. Given our salary cap space and in my 30 years of ownership we’ve never been drafting as (early) as we’re drafting. So we’re counting on our internal people whom we’re still learning and evaluating. So we’re going to let that evolve and develop, and before the key decisions have to be made, we will appoint someone. “At the same time, we’ll probably start doing interviews and looking at people from the outside. But my bias has always been, in all our family companies, to try to develop a culture from within where we understand each other. I’ll just give you a little factoid: In the 30 years that we’ve owned the team, this is the third coach that our family has hired. In that period, there have been 244 coaches hired in the NFL. Which means an average of roughly eight coaches per team, which means there’s a turnover every three and a half years in the teams. We like to get continuity in our company. Get the most competent people and then try to build stability. So before we just rush and hire people, we want to understand what we have internally.” Internally, those high-level candidates would be Matt Groh (director of player personnel), Eliot Wolf (director of scouting), Steve Cargile (pro scouting director), Camren Williams (college scouting director) and Patrick Stewart (senior personnel advisor), but it remains to be seen if any of them will leave to join Belichick at his next landing spot. The 71-year-old coach has already interviewed in Atlanta, and will likely be a serious candidate if the Cowboys or Eagles jobs open after embarrassing wild card losses.

ee2d0eab522d9cf6b090a65258fb4c75

sports

Red Sox trade Chris Sale to Braves in shocking deal for young infielder

Less than 24 hours after agreeing to sign free agent righty Lucas Giolito, the Red Sox have made a shocking trade involving their starting rotation. Boston has traded lefty Chris Sale and cash considerations to the Braves in exchange for infielder Vaughn Grissom, a source confirmed Saturday. ESPN’s Jeff Passan, who first reported the deal, notes that Sale waived his no-trade clause to facilitate the trade. The deal is official. An important factor in the deal was, as a source said Saturday, that the Red Sox are covering a “good amount” of Sale’s $27.5 million salary for 2024. The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier pegs that number at is $17 million. The move gives the Red Sox a significant amount of savings ($8.6 million for competitive balance tax purposes) while netting them a highly regarded young infielder in Grissom, who is likely to take over at second base on a full-time basis and has six years of control remaining. A trade involving Sale didn’t seem particularly likely before the winter because the Red Sox wanted to add rotation help, not subtract it. Ultimately, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said Saturday night, the deal with the Braves made too much sense not to pursue. “Anytime you trade someone like Sale, who has made such a meaningful contribution to this organization and was obviously an incredibly important part of a World Series winning team, it’s a really tough decision,” Breslow said. “The fact that I wasn’t the chief baseball officer here (during Sale’s prime) didn’t diminish that in my mind at all. So it’s something that I was very mindful of and very thoughtful of, but in the end, I felt like this was the decision that was best for the Red Sox both in the near term and the long term.” The move ends an up-and-down tenure in Boston for Sale, who was an All-Star in 2017 and 2018 before injuries derailed the final years of his time with the club. In his first two years after coming over in a blockbuster trade with the White Sox, Sale finished in the top four in American League Cy Young voting twice while posting a 3.08 ERA in 84 starts. The Sox then gave him a five-year, $145 million contract extension before the 2019 season, which was a struggle before ending prematurely due to injury. Due to Tommy John surgery and a series of injuries (some of the freak variety), Sale was limited to just 11 starts from 2020-22. In 2023, he posted a 4.30 ERA and recorded 125 strikeouts in 20 starts but missed two months with a shoulder injury. Manager Alex Cora had named him the team’s Opening Day starter for 2024, though that obviously will no longer be the case. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. In 115 starts over seven seasons with the Red Sox, Sale posted a 46-30 record and 3.27 ERA while recording 945 strikeouts in 670 ⅔ innings. His departure leaves a void in what will surely be a different-looking Red Sox rotation in 2023. With Giolito signed, the Sox can pencil him in along with Brayan Bello and a group that includes Nick Pivetta, Kutter Crawford, Garrett Whitlock and Tanner Houck. The money freed up by trading Sale may also be used to add more rotation help via free agency. Grissom, 22, has 64 games of major league experience with the Braves since debuting last season. The former 11th-round pick has hit .287 with five homers, 27 RBIs and a .746 OPS as a big leaguer and profiles as Boston’s second baseman of the future. The right-handed hitting Grissom entered 2022 as the No. 12 prospect in a loaded Braves system with scouts excited about his contact ability and arm strength. He debuted that year and played well — including hitting his first career homer at Fenway Park in August — and spent 2023 bouncing between the majors and Triple-A, where he hit .330 with eight homers, 61 RBIs and a .921 OPS in 102 games. Grissom, who has the ability to play every infield position except first base, was blocked in the majors by Atlanta stalwarts Ozzie Albies, Orlando Arcia and Austin Riley. He won’t have that problem in Boston where second base is wide open; he projects as the starter there with Enmanuel Valdez, Pablo Reyes and David Hamilton moving down the depth chart. The unexpected Sale trade fills one hole (second base) for the Red Sox while opening up another in the rotation. The club could use its savings from Sale’s contract ($8.6 million) to increase its aggressiveness in the free agent market for starters or dangle a middle infield prospect (Nick Yorke or Marcelo Mayer) in trade talks involving a controllable starter. There’s also still a chance the club adds to its outfield mix; Teoscar Hernández remains available on the free agent market and the Sox do have interest in him. As a veteran of more than 10 major league seasons and five with the same club, Sale had a full no-trade clause he had to waive to facilitate the deal. Moving to a ready-made contender like the Braves, who play not too far from his home in southwest Florida, likely appealed to Sale. “He was quite appreciative and understanding of the position and the opportunity to influence the longer term outlook of this team and the chance to go to a team that’s likely to compete for a World Series championship in the NL,” Breslow said. “I think he would probably say it was bittersweet because the organization has meant so much to him. He had very close relationships with the people here and in fact was very mindful of calling that out. “Those decisions are never easy. Those conversations are never easy. But I’m super appreciative of the way that Chris approached it.” The Braves will hold a $20 million club option over Sale for 2025.

f8f5bfb1adb30218861dd4e41398bda5

sports

Tyreek Hills family safe after massive house fire

A scary moment unfolded Wednesday when Tyreek Hill’s Southwest Ranches, Fla. house caught on fire while he was at practice. Video footage surfaced of crews battling heavy smoke that was seen coming from the roof. The Miami Dolphins wide receiver was at practice when the fire broke out. According to the team, Hill was made aware of the fire and left the facility. His family is out and safe. The cause of the fire is unclear at this time. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. The 9,300-square-foot home features seven bedrooms and eight bathrooms that also includes two guest houses and a full-sized basketball court. Other images showed firefighters making holes in the roof of the house in order to help better fight the fire. Hill arrived at his home, as shown by helicopter footage from those on scene. Hill and the rest of the Dolphins are preparing for a crucial Week 18 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Hard Rock Stadium. The team that emerges victorious will clinch the AFC East title. If Miami can pull out a win, it would be its first division title since 2008.

f09671bc5b7a8dd4cd2e3c056d309853

sports

Ex-Patriots assistants shouldnt be ruled out to replace Bill Belichick (report)

With the end of the New England Patriots’ regular season on the horizon, questions about Bill Belichick’s future are only becoming more frequent. Whether Belichick will return to New England in 2024 remains unclear, but the latest report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero shed light on what could be coming in the weeks and months ahead. Including two interesting candidates to take over for Belichick should he not come back. “If Belichick does move on, speculation has centered on (Jerod) Mayo as his successor. That’s not a guarantee, though, and other options — particular coaches with Patriots ties, such as Josh McDaniels or Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores — shouldn’t be ruled out,” Rapoport and Pelissero wrote. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. McDaniels spent time as the Patriots offensive coordinator, but his head coaching success, or lack thereof, has been on full display with the Denver Broncos and the Las Vegas Raiders — who fired him earlier this season. Flores, meanwhile, was with the Patriots in different roles for 10 seasons. He was the Miami Dolphins coach for three seasons before he was fired, which led to a discrimination lawsuit against the NFL. Flores is in his first year as defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings. It’s also worth noting that Rapoport and Pelissero reported that Belichick “intends to coach in 2024″ and team owner Robert Kraft has “consulted numerous people about how to move forward.” There are a lot of questions surrounding the Patriots going into the offseason, but perhaps none more important than what comes next with Belichick, who’s helped lead the team to six Super Bowl championships.

60dd1f213db293b6a01fa8d71288763e

sports

Two-time Super Bowl champion reveals what Patriots should do in 2024 draft

What the Patriots will do in the 2024 NFL Draft is a big question. They’re going to get a high pick, it just remains to be seen exactly where they’ll fall on the draft board once the regular season comes to an end. New England would certainly benefit from a change at quarterback, but it’s just one of many issues. The Patriots also need some help on offense. While many believe whoever is in charge — whether that’s Bill Belichick or someone else — will draft a quarterback, one former Patriots linebacker wouldn’t take that route. On the latest episode of “Eye On Foxborough,” Rob Ninkovich joined MassLive’s Karen Guregian to discuss where the team’s priorities should be come the 2024 draft. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. “I don’t think it’s so bad. It gives you some flexibility. I don’t know if I was really hot on the top two picks. So if you’re gonna have No. 4, you’re still gonna get a great football player,” Ninkovich said. “And you can let the teams in front of you — you think the Bears are gonna draft a quarterback No. 1 overall? I don’t know. ... So I think you let those teams figure it out. And then you could take a step back and see what else the rest of the league is gonna do.” If it was up to Ninkovich, he wouldn’t be so fast to draft Caleb Williams or Drake Maye. “I would definitely look at a game breaker. I’d look at a receiver. If (Marvin) Harrison Jr. is there — which he might not. If you’re the top two teams and you have a quarterback you probably want to get a playmaker,” he said. “But all I know is this: It doesn’t matter if you have Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, the best quarterbacks ever. If you can’t protect them, and you don’t have a guy to throw to, you’re in trouble. So you gotta protect the quarterback and you gotta have somebody to throw to. “So if I had the controls, I would go after a big-time target or I would go after the best tackle in the draft. And then you could find a great quarterback in the second or third round.” Ninkovich also added that there will be quarterbacks available on the free agent market in the offseason. What the Patriots will do at quarterback is one of their biggest questions going into 2024. The team could look very different come next season, but answers will begin to come to light once the draft rolls around.

796a37ac918ba8231d358878e239e119

sports

Source: Celtics retain 4 players, guarantee contracts for season

The Celtics roster remains fully intact on Monday according to a league source, indicating the team has elected to let four contracts become fully guaranteed for the season. Boston could have waived any of Dalano Banton, Luke Kornet, Svi Mykhailiuk or Lamar Stevens before Sunday evening if they wanted to avoid fully guaranteeing any of their contracts for the season before Tuesday’s NBA season guarantee deadline. However, Brad Stevens and Boston’s front office elected to retain the quartet of players for now, a decision he hinted at last week in a press conference. “I’ve been really pleased with all those guys,” Stevens said Thursday in response to a question from MassLive. “I don’t want to say what we do or don’t do. I don’t ever want to speak in absolutes but I’ve been really impressed with all those guys. They’ve all come in and done well for us.” Kornet will see his contract guarantee for $2.4 million while Mykhailiuk, Stevens and Banton will all earn just over $2 million for the season. All those players have been reliable contributors for Boston so far with teammates and coaches speaking highly of all of them. Amid a busy January schedule, they all provide solid depth as well when injuries hit. Boston currently has an open roster on the 15-man roster along with three two-way players under contract. Those deals have become guaranteed as well for Neemias Queta, JD Davison and Drew Peterson.

18303d47a505e7af69e2c335650ebd75

sports

Emotional Lions QB reacts to Detroits 1st division title since 1993

Christmas came early for the Lions. For the first time since 1993, Detroit is NFC North champions. The last time the Lions won, it was known as the NFC Central. The Lions defeated the Minnesota Vikings, 30-24, on Christmas Eve to become division champs just two seasons after finishing 3-13-1. After the game, quarterback was emotional speaking to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. “It’s pretty exciting, man,” Goff told Pelissero. “It really is. It’s been a lot of hard work. A long time coming. We got a special group. We really do and this was hard for me. It wasn’t pretty at the end, but we got it done.” BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. Goff came to the Lions in 2021 via trade with the Los Angeles Rams for Matt Stafford. The quarterback was part of the 3-13-1 team and helped rebound them to 9-8 in 2022. Now he and Detroit are playoff bound and division champions. “It’s emotional. But, it’s just the beginning for us. It’s the first check mark for us,” Goff told Pelissero. “I get emotional thinking about all the guys that went through 3-13, that went through 1-6 early last year and now stand here.” This is the first time the Lions are back in the playoffs since 2016. Now, they’ll look to end their NFL-worst postseason win drought, which spans 31 seasons. The Lions are back in action Saturday when they travel to Dallas to take on the Cowboys in Week 17.

79aae9055385360295632cd33bf63be2

sports

Source: Patriots hiring Jerod Mayo as next head coach

The Patriots have hired linebackers coach Jerod Mayo to become their next head coach, a source confirmed to the Herald. Mayo, 37, becomes the youngest head coach in the NFL and the 15th in Patriots franchise history. He recently concluded his fifth season as a coach at any level, having rejoined the organization as an assistant in 2019. Mayo has spent the entirety of his NFL career in New England, where first played from 2008-2015. The team is expected to hold a press conference next week to announce Mayo’s promotion. According to a source, during a renegotiation of Mayo’s contract last January, the Patriots included a clause that established a succession plan if and when the franchise parted ways with Bill Belichick. That clause allows Mayo to succeed Belichick without the Patriots conducting a full head-coaching search under normal league rules. Belichick and owner Robert Kraft announced a mutual parting of ways Thursday. The Patriots are likely to begin a search for the next head of their personnel department, a job Belichick also held during his 24-year run as coach. ESPN first reported Mayo’s hiring. This story is developing …

b7a86543739846d90b2fb9a9690f13d2

sports

Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid: Free live stream, TV, how to watch Spanish Supercup

The Spanish Super Cup kicks off on Wednesday afternoon. Real Madrid will take on Atletico Madrid at Al -Awwal Stadium in Saudi Arabia for a 2 p.m. EST start. Real (+100) is a favorite over Atletico (+245), with a draw on the table as well (+250). Fans can watch the match on television via ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes or stream it on ESPN+ and other various streaming services. How to watch Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid (Spanish Super Cup) Who: Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid When: Wednesday, January 10 at 2 p.m. Where: Al -Awwal Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia How to watch Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid - The match is on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+. How to watch the matches online: ESPN+ | DirecTV | fuboTV - Every Real Madrid match this season will be available to watch via ESPN+. Meanwhile, matches like this one that air on ESPN Deportes, ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC will also be available to stream on conventional services. Fans can also watch those matches for free by signing up for a trial of DirecTV or fuboTV. How to watch matches in English and Spanish - Matches broadcast on ESPN+ will be available in both Spanish and English. What is ESPN+? How much does it cost? - ESPN+ is a standalone streaming service that carries exclusive live sports. It does not include events that are broadcast on ESPN TV channels. Instead, ESPN+ is designed to be a home for certain sports like Spanish League matches. Fans can sign up for ESPN+ starting at $9.99 a month. More European soccer news via Associated Press It has been a slow start to the January transfer window in the Premier League. Expect that to change pretty quickly. Deals are being mooted, speculation is starting to fly, sought-after stars — like Kylian Mbappé and Ivan Toney — have chosen to talk about their future to the media. Here’s a look at the situation surrounding a number of key players and teams: TIMO WERNER Timo Werner might have won the Champions League during his time with Chelsea from 2020-22 but it was still an underwhelming stint in English soccer for the Germany forward. It looks like he’ll be returning to England — to London again, too — in a bid to ignite his career ahead of the European Championship. Werner is widely reported to be close to joining Tottenham from Leipzig, initially on loan but with a view to a permanent move. In the short term, he would plug a gap left by the departure of captain Son Heung-min to the Asian Cup potentially until mid-February. “It’s right that Timo wants to go on loan,” Leipzig coach Marco Rose said over the weekend, without name-checking Tottenham. “Timo would like to go to the European Championship.” IVAN TONEY Ivan Toney’s eight-month suspension for breaching betting rules is almost over, with the Brentford striker available again from Jan. 17. It is interesting timing, with a number of top teams seemingly in need of a proven scorer for the second half of the season. Toney would fit the bill — he was third in the Premier League’s scoring charts last season, behind only Erling Haaland and Harry Kane — and he has been heavily linked with Arsenal, which is in the midst of a scoring slump that is perplexing manager Mikel Arteta. Toney gave an interview to British broadcaster Sky Sports, published Monday, in which he said he owes Brentford for sticking by him during his long ban. Brentford manager Thomas Frank has said Toney won’t be sold in January, and the team needs its star striker after plunging into relegation danger in recent weeks. Money talks, though, and Toney’s future could be a talking point right until the end of the window. LEAVING SAUDI? Jordan Henderson took plenty of flak when he decided to join the exodus of players moving to Saudi Arabia on lucrative deals, with advocates of LGBTQ+ rights feeling let down by the former Liverpool captain because he has been an outspoken supporter in the past. Six months later and it appears he wants out, with sections of the British media reporting he will consider a return to the Premier League this month after struggling to settle in the Middle East. Similarly, Roberto Firmino — another former Liverpool player — is reportedly willing to leave the Saudi league and Karim Benzema could yet be enticed back to Europe to return to playing at the highest level. Tottenham and Chelsea could be options for Henderson as they have been light on central midfielders at times this season. KYLIAN MBAPPE Something has to give soon in the ongoing transfer saga involving Kylian Mbappé, arguably the world’s best player. His contract at Paris Saint-Germain is up at the end of the season, when he can leave for nothing. PSG is saying the club will not let him go for free. Mbappe appears happy to stay until the summer, and scored a hat trick in PSG’s 9-0 win over sixth-tier side Revel in the French Cup on Sunday. The widespread belief is that Mbappé will end up at Real Madrid, though there is scope for a team from the lucrative Premier League to come in for him. Liverpool has long seemed the most likely destination for the France international if he did move to England. The departure of Mohamed Salah, potentially to Saudi Arabia, would leave a gap in Liverpool’s forward line but that won’t happen before the summer, by which time it could be too late. A move to Manchester United, a team that could afford Mbappé's wages, as the centerpiece of a new era for the club seems fanciful given it is far from assured of playing in the Champions League next season. CHELSEA Chelsea has spent more than $1 billion on players over the past three transfer windows. It doesn’t look like the club is about to stop there. Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has spoken of the need for more reinforcements this month, with the team languishing in 10th place in the Premier League at the halfway point of the season and in danger of missing out on qualifying for European competition for a second straight year. A striker might be required — the club has long been linked with Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Toney — while a midfield playmaker is a possibility if Chelsea decides to move on Conor Gallagher. Chelsea might need to sell before it buys in order to meet financial rules.

66785c8d43ccd13ac33405e0daf79daa

sports

4 takeaways as Celtics beat Wolves to make franchise history

The Celtics rallied from a nine-point deficit in the final four minutes of regulation and eventually battled past the Wolves with a 127-120 win in an overtime thriller on Wednesday night at TD Garden. In a fight between two of the best teams in the league, Minnesota initially took command from Boston in the fourth quarter behind big performances from Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns but the Celtics fought back behind Jayson Tatum (45 points, 11 rebounds) and Jaylen Brown (35 points) to pull off the dramatic win. Boston led by as many as 10 points in the first half but the Wolves steadily chipped away at the deficit in the first half and found their rhythm in the second half, pushing up their lead to nine points with 3:35 remaining in regulation. Boston clawed their way back into the game though with a 9-0 run, nearly pulling off the win in regulation before finishing the job in overtime. The team was also without Kristaps Porzingis (knee contusion) in the win to extend their home winning streak to 18 games. There will be little rest for Boston as they now head back on the road to Milwaukee on Thursday night for a matchup against two of the top teams in the East. Here are four takeaways from Wednesday’s game: BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. Jaylen Brown remains red hot in first quarters: The Celtics All-Star likes to do his best work early in games offensively and that trend continued on Wednesday night. Brown erupted for 15 points in the first quarter knocking down five of his seven shot attempts including three from 3-point range. It was the third time this season that Brown had scored 15 or more points in the third quarter and he’s now shooting over 57 percent on the year in the first quarter. Boston’s offense has been at a different level all year long at the TD Garden and Brown’s efficient production is a big part of the reason why. Travel woes leave Wolves shorthanded: Minnesota did not arrive in Boston until six hours before opening tip due to weather issues delaying their flight from Orlando on Tuesday night. The unusual flight schedule led to the Wolves showing some extra caution with their veterans as Mike Conley got the night off for the first time all season while Rudy Gobert was a late scratch with a hip issue. The Wolves played with a lot of energy in their absence, getting a big game for Naz Reid to help fill the void but a well rested Boston squad certainly benefitted from a travel-weary Wolves squad particularly in the final two minutes of the game as the Celtics pulled off a 9-0 run to force overtime. Celtics make history at home: Boston entered the contest tied for the most consecutive home wins to open a season in franchise history, having won 17 straight to let them match the 1957-58 Celtics. Boston was also riding a 24-game regular season home winning streak dating back to March 2023 entering Wednesday night, putting them just behind a couple of historic runs by the 1986 Celtics at the old Boston Garden. They added to both streaks in dramatic fashion on Wednesday night using a 9-0 run in the closing minutes of regulation and a huge overtime period from Tatum to make a new spot in the franchise record books for this squad. Wolves streak: Minnesota had gone winless at the TD Garden for 18 straight seasons entering Wednesday night, dating back to when Kevin Garnett remained with the franchise. The win featured Garnett and current Celtics assistant Sam Cassell. Minnesota has had a few playoff teams amid that lengthy stretch but none have the talent of this Wolves squad even with a pair of their regulars out in Mike Conley and Rudy Gobert for this contest. However, the Celtics extended their home dominance over the Wolves for one more year and gave themselves a three-game lead over the Wolves for the best record in the NBA.

fdbf7d8a5363aede311d8f108b6ab9c1

sports

Kyle Hudson to handle third base coaching duties for Red Sox (report)

After months of secrecy, the Red Sox have finally revealed their major league coaching staff assignment for the 2024 season. According to the Boston Globe, Kyle Hudson will shift from first base coach to third base coach. Hudson replaces Carlos Febles, one of two coaches fired by the Red Sox after the 2023 season. Hudson joined the Red Sox’s coaching staff last winter and served as first base coach, outfield instructor and baserunning coach. He’ll continue to handle outfield and baserunning duties while coaching third. Meanwhile, Andy Fox, who was on the major league staff last season as the team’s major league field coordinator, will replace Hudson as the first base coach. Presumably, Fox will also be in charge of the team’s infielders, a job Febles handled in his time with the club. The team’s dissatisfaction with infield defense was a big factor in dismissing Febles, who was later hired by the Toronto Blue Jays. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. Andrew Bailey, who replaced the fired Dave Bush, will be the team’s pitching coach. Pete Fatse returns as the hitting coach, along with assistants Luis Ortiz and Ben Rosenthal. Kevin Walker (bullpen coach), Ramon Vazquez (bench coach), and Jason Varitek (game-planning coordinator) will all return in the same roles.

1e96248f3b1d21661e6b4cb4dc4bc3a2

sports

Celtics injury report: 1 rotation player listed for Jazz game

The Celtics could be missing a key rotation player when they take on the Jazz at 7 p.m. Friday at TD Garden. Al Horford is listed as questionable on the injury report, though that’s due to rest. It’s no surprise the Celtics could look to stagger their rotation considering their upcoming schedule. The C’s have a back-to-back as they take on the Jazz on Friday then fly to Indiana to play the Pacers on Saturday. They also have five games over the next seven days as part of a hectic schedule. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. Horford, 37, hasn’t played in back-to-backs over the past couple seasons as the team looks to keep him fresh. But recently, the team has also been cautious with Kristaps Porzingis, who also hasn’t played in both games of a back-to-back. So considering the C’s also play Saturday, it’s not too surprising they could stagger their two big men in terms of which game they end up playing. Last week against the Raptors, the C’s were significantly shorthanded as they had either Horford nor Porzingis playing, among others. The Jazz come in with 16-19 record, led by former C’s assistant coach Will Hardy. They do have a strong rim protector in Walker Kessler, so it’ll be interesting to see how the Celtics take on Utah. Reserve big men Luke Kornet and Neemias Queta could also get some extra run if Horford sits out Friday.

268df488b035eb5bb933330fa7c36cf2

sports

Bill Belichick, meteorology skeptic, not worried about snow forecast

Bill Belichick, who has taken plenty of shots at the accuracy of weather forecasts over the years, doesn’t sound too worried about the snowfall that’s predicted for Sunday’s game. Massachusetts is expected to be hit with a winter storm Saturday into Sunday ahead of the New England Patriots’ regular-season finale against the New York Jets. Belichick, though, doesn’t seem too convinced. “We’ll see what happens,” Belichick said. “Things can change quickly at this time of year. We’ll see how it goes. As the conditions get closer to game time, we’ll deal with them appropriately.” “Whatever it is, it is,” added later. In the past, Belichick has cracked jokes about the unpredictability of weather in New England -- and the lack of accuracy of meteorologists -- claiming weather forecasts are “almost always wrong.” So while most of the region prepares to hunker down on Sunday and get their shovels out, Belichick has not plans to go crazy preparing with a snow game. “I mean, we’re not going to create snow and get a snow machine in here, but we’ll, um, Depending on what the conditions are, we can certainly talk about it and show examples of what playing in different types of conditions is like.” Some of Belichick’s most colorful comments over the years have come at the hands of weather forecasts and those who work as meteorologists.: From 2014: “We played down in Miami two years ago and there was a zero percent chance of rain – zero – and it rained. I’m just telling you. If I did my job the way they do theirs, I’d be here about a week.” Also from 2014: “When you play in New England, you have to be ready for everything. I’d say based on the forecasts we’ve gotten so far this year, none of them have been even very close to what game conditions were. There was 100 percent chance of rain last week and the only water I saw was on the Gatorade table.” One more from 2014: “My experience of going with the forecast in this area two days before the game, I mean I’d bet a lot that they’re wrong, just based on history because they’re almost always wrong.” From 2019: “The Giants game was supposed to be the monsoon and everything here and like usual there was not one drop of rain.” From 2021: “If it rains, it rains.” From 2022: “I’m more worried about the Bills than the weather. I think the Bills are who we have to focus on and that’s who we have to beat. The weather is the weather.” We’ll see on Sunday whether Belichick’s skepticism is well-founded.

ec70b2fdf3a80d8b82dd63c660d1b2c4

sports

Why Bruins OT loss will haunt David Pastrnak

After the Bruins’ 4-3 overtime loss to the Coyotes on Tuesday, David Pastrnak was taking the defeat particularly hard. Pastrnak scored the first goal of the game and his 25th of the season. He cracked the Bruins’ top 10 career points list (tied with Ken Hodge at 674) in the process. It was a sniper’s goal that slipped through an almost impossible hole over Connor Ingram’s shoulder and under the crossbar. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. But what he accomplished was outweighed by what he didn’t in his mind on Tuesday at Mullett Arena. In the 3-on-3 overtime, Pastrnak had a breakaway 12 seconds into overtime but couldn’t get his wrist shot high enough to beat Ingram. After Linus Ullmark was injured during the overtime, Pastrnak had another chance to end a tough night on a high note with another breakaway, but Ingram robbed him with 1:34 left. Nick Schmaltz scored 38 seconds later against Jeremy Swayman, who came in after sitting for three periods and most of overtime to send Boston out disappointed. “I’m definitely feeling a little guilty. I had two breakaways to end the game for our team,” Pastrnak said. “That will haunt me tonight. I won’t sleep.” He would like to have prevented Swayman from having to face a shot in those circumstances. “That’s hard for a goaltender to sit on the bench for three hours and come in with an unfortunate injury,” he said.

eb75bad0bb0c7d7ad3517d8c9b65a8ea

sports

After 24 years, it had become obvious: It was time for the Patriots to move on from Bill Belichick

FOXBOROUGH — At the NFL owners’ meetings in October in New York, Steelers owner Art Rooney II stopped briefly to chat about the decision in 1991 to move on from legendary coach Chuck Noll. It was 24 years together for Bill Belichick and the Patriots. It was a spectacular run that may never be duplicated, in both length and accomplishments. Thursday, it came to an end when the Patriots and Belichick parted ways. It was just time. Robert and Jonathan Kraft made the move that had to be made, given the state of the Patriots and Belichick’s tenure. A 4-13 record this season, and 29-39 (including postseason) the last four years with no playoff wins, is not where anyone expected to be. Advertisement “The last three years have been pretty tough,” Robert Kraft said Thursday. “It just is something that was best we each moved on, and I think that’s what the last three, four days of taking the time to figure it out allowed us to do.” Get Breaking Sports Alerts Be the first to know the latest sports news as it happens, and get the Globe's most interesting reporting right to your inbox. Enter Email Sign Up Belichick, 71, still has plenty of energy and know-how. He will probably get another head coaching job. The Patriots could have brought him back for another year with a different mix of personnel around him — a new general manager, yet another offensive coordinator, a new quarterback. But that would have just been delaying the inevitable. Belichick always emphasized doing the best thing for the organization. On Jan. 11, 2024, the best move forward for the Patriots is with new leadership. “Our family is the custodian of this asset, the New England Patriots, and you know how important it is to the psyche of the community,” Kraft said. “And what’s gone on here the last three or four years isn’t what we wanted, so we have a responsibility to do what we can to fix it to the best of our ability.” Advertisement Just because it’s time to move on doesn’t diminish the past or Belichick’s impact. As time wears on, Belichick’s six Super Bowl championships, 17 division titles, and 300-plus wins will shine far brighter than his sub-.500 record without Tom Brady. And Belichick’s primary legacy won’t be, or shouldn’t be, that he couldn’t win without Brady. It should be that for nearly two decades, he was at the cutting edge of coaching and leadership. Belichick won every which way — with offense, with defense, with a fast-paced passing attack, and with ground-and-pound running. He coldheartedly mastered the salary cap and when to move on from aging players. His system of developing and promoting coaches from within kept his program humming for two decades. His stats guy, Ernie Adams, was the smartest, most secretive wizard in the NFL. Belichick knew every inch of the rule book and found creative ways to exploit it (ask John Harbaugh and the Ravens). He took intentional safeties before anyone had thought of it. He invested in special teams and knew that left-footed punters created 1 percent more fumbles than right-footers. He mastered public relations and made the phrases “Do your job,” “It is what it is,” and “We’re on to Cincinnati” part of pop culture lexicon. He also worked harder, and worked his team harder, than any other coach. Advertisement But Belichick isn’t two steps ahead of the NFL anymore. The last four years, he has often found himself two steps behind. Belichick has found that he can no longer coach his team to a playoff spot out of sheer will. He can’t take a career defensive coach such as Matt Patricia and turn him into a successful offensive coach. His philosophies on team-building (like not investing in wide receivers) are antiquated. His schemes seem to be more complicated than what is being run elsewhere. Belichick’s football operation is smaller than most. The NFL is full of whiz-kid coaches who are revolutionizing offense, and Belichick is left holding 3 yards and a cloud of dust. The NFL now has strict rules on practice time, and rules that lessen the impact of special teams, sapping Belichick of other advantages. And his players don’t fear him the way they used to, like when Jakobi Meyers threw that ill-fated backward pass in Las Vegas, or when Mac Jones went behind Belichick’s back in 2022 for advice on fixing the offense. The 2023 season also turned potentially toxic. Belichick gave up in the third quarter of a loss to the Saints, and then gave up in the fourth quarter against the Chiefs. He became one of the least analytical coaches on fourth down, consistently kicking field goals or punts in situations that strongly suggested going for it. And it’s unclear whether Belichick is responsible for destroying Jones, but he didn’t seem to help the situation. Advertisement Belichick certainly isn’t the first coach to sputter to the finish line. Legendary coaches such as Noll, Don Shula, and Tom Landry had tough endings, too. It’s unrealistic to think that a 71-year-old coach with Belichick’s résumé would remain as hungry and be as willing to change as his younger self. And the hidden advantages that made Belichick great in 2001 and 2007 and 2016 weren’t going to remain his advantages forever. There’s a new generation of coaches that grew up idolizing Belichick and learning his tricks. The NFL is now a young man’s game. As of Thursday, 12 of the 24 NFL head coaches were under 45 years old, with four under 40. Many of Belichick’s allies are gone from Foxborough, too — Dante Scarnecchia, Ivan Fears, and Adams. The old gang has moved on. It’s time for a fresh voice in Foxborough, whether it’s Jerod Mayo, Mike Vrabel, or someone else. It was an incredible run with Belichick in Foxborough. He and the Patriots had success that may never be duplicated in the salary-cap era. But after 24 years, the answer had become obvious. It’s time to move on. Ben Volin can be reached at ben.volin@globe.com.

58c859e8247adf51016a217e70985f2d

sports

Presumed No. 1 draft pick makes it official; what it means for Patriots

To the surprise of very few, Caleb Williams has declared for the 2024 NFL Draft. The presumptive No. 1 overall pick of the draft made it official Monday, announcing on social media that he will forego his remaining eligibility and go pro. The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner is the odds-on favorite to be drafted with the first pick, whether it’s by the Chicago Bears or another team that trades for the pick. Williams, who started his college career at Oklahoma before transferring to USC as a sophomore, referenced his time with both the Sooners and Trojans in his announcement. “Since I was 10, all I ever wanted to do was to play football. The journey would be empty without the people who have supported and loved me,” Williams wrote. “I will Fight On forever and rep Hornsdown4Life. I’m ready to do whatever it takes. I am officially declaring for the NFL Draft.” What this means for the New England Patriots is that there were no surprises at the top of the draft with players returning. There are three quarterbacks in this draft who are considered elite prospects. Since New England holds the No. 3 pick, it means they are guaranteed to get a shot at least one of them. Williams joins North Carolina’s Drake Maye and LSU’s Jayden Daniels among the elite quarterbacks who are expected to come off the board in the first few picks. Monday’s announcement was by far the latest to be made official. Maye made his decision over a month ago on Dec. 11, 2023. Meanwhile, Daniels declared on Dec. 18. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. Additionally, Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. also declared for the draft, adding another candidate to come off the board early. In the scenario that a team falls in love with Harrison and takes him in the top two, the Patriots could possibly have their pick of multiple quarterbacks by the time they come on the clock. Again, none of this is shocking news. Williams has been expected to declare early for the NFL Draft since his days as a star freshman at Oklahoma. But when it comes to the Patriots’ best draft pick in decades, every official development merits watching.

5f6982dba2a4b876a3bbb0249dc692d6

sports

NBC Sports Boston's Week 16 picks: Lopsided action on Patriots-Broncos

After another perfect week, John Tomase has created some space atop the leaderboard. He simply cannot be stopped and now has a three-game lead on Amina Smith and is up 3.5 games on Ted Johnson. Here's a look at the current standings for our 2023 NFL picks contest: Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Boston sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter. Let's get to this week's picks: Week 16 Trends Fading the Patriots That's what everyone is doing. Which also means they won't be gaining ground on our leader because -- as we know -- Tomase always picks against the Pats. We've got FIVE Broncos backers this week at -7. And no one is betting on the Patriots to keep Sunday night's game within a touchdown. Other lopsided action Jake Browning has made believers out of a good chunk of this group over the past few weeks. He once again has three backers with the Bengals -2 at Pittsburgh. The Steelers are getting no love, even with Mason Rudolph replacing Mitch Trubisky at QB. The Lions have also fallen back into favor after their dominant win last Saturday. Detroit gets two backers at -3 in Minnesota. Jared Goff is back on the road, but still in a dome. Game of the week The best matchup is probably Ravens vs. 49ers on Monday night. However, Miami vs. Dallas is the most popular game to bet in our group. We've got three backers on the Cowboys at +1 and just two on the Dolphins. Ironically, both teams have stunk against teams with winning records, so there's a chance this game ends in a tie or a push.

b87e49ec386fe8c26e2c69771dc08279

sports

Man finds unopened pack of baseball cards from 1952 in Cape Cod house

A man found an unopened 72-year-old pack of baseball cards — potentially worth more than a million dollars — on Cape Cod. Jason West still can't quite believe the discovery he made during a home demolition in Chatham, Massachusetts. "Kind of in a pile of garbage, I saw this, what looked to me like a baseball bat," West said. He says the 1952 Bowman pack had fallen through a crack in the floor, behind the stairs to the second floor. The pack was unreachable until recently, when the stairs and the home were demolished, leading to West's amazing find. Get Boston local news, weather forecasts, lifestyle and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC Boston’s newsletters. "This kid in Chatham went to the corner store to buy this pack and was running up the stairs and dropped it in the crack and it disappeared," West said. Like fine wines have their years, 1952 was quite the year for baseball cards. Both baseball legends Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays were rookies that year, and their rookie cards are very valuable. "I couldn't believe it," said Ryan Blake of Card Vault in Patriot's Place. "You never find something like this, this is like the grail pack of cards. If you can find one, that is the one you want to find." The rare discovery is all the buzz in the sports collectible world. "This is one of the more incredible finds I have ever seen," said Eric Whiteback, known on social media as "The Collectibles Guru." Whiteback covers the collectibles market and says the unopened pack of cards could be worth upwards of $15,000. Here is where it gets tricky, though: If a Mantle or Mays card is inside, those cards are worth a lot more. If not, the pack isn't as valuable, but no one will know until it is opened. "If you happen to pull one of those key Mays or Mantle cards in really great condition, there is a seven-figure ceiling on this," Whiteback said. West says he is still undecided, but he's excited after his home run of a find. "To a point, yeah, I do want to open it," West said. "But I don't want to kill the value of it, either, depending on what is in it."

89d52dfca4617fc1071eace1749e3988

sports

ESPN BET promo code MASS: $250 bonus for Patriots-Broncos

Sports Betting Dime provides exclusive sports betting content to MassLive.com, including real-time odds, picks, analysis and sportsbook offers to help sports fans get in on the action. Please wager responsibly. The Patriots will visit the Denver Broncos on Christmas Eve, and the ESPN BET promo code MASS will unlock $250 in bonus bets for this Sunday Night Football matchup. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. While New England’s postseason hopes have been long dashed, this is a critical game for the Denver Broncos and the rest of the AFC postseason picture. The Broncos are coming off a disappointing blowout loss in Detroit last weekend, and if they wish to keep their hopes alive, they need a win in the worst way tonight. No matter how you wish to bet Patriots-Broncos, the ESPN BET promo code MASS will get you $250 in bonus bets for Sunday Night Football. So, if you’re looking to back Russell Wilson to throw 2+ touchdown passes, Courtland Sutton to record an anytime touchdown or are just looking to play the point spread or over/under, this is a great way to do it. ESPN BET promo code MASS: $250 bonus for Patriots-Broncos ESPN BET promo code MASS figures to be a popular Christmas Eve play in both Colorado and Massachusetts tonight, but with families gathered around celebrating holidays everywhere, this bonus figures to get plenty of play in all 17 markets in which it is live. That said, the offer is available in the following states: New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee, Louisiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Colorado, Arizona, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio. Get started by clicking here Click the sign up button and enter ESPN BET promo code MASS. Using options like PayPal, Skrill, online banking and more, make a first deposit. Make any wager on Patriots-Broncos and receive $250 in bonus bets. How to use the ESPN BET promo code this weekend While players will want to check out the Sunday Night Football matchup, these bonus bets are valid for seven days and can be used on Christmas Day games like Eagles-Giants and 49ers-Ravens. In terms of how to make a wager on the Patriots-Broncos game, let’s take a look at the total. Quite frankly, it’s hard to imagine the Patriots making a ton of offensive noise in a tough environment against a Broncos defense that has performed admirably at home this season. Oddsmakers feel that way, too, given the total is set at just 35.5 points. While the Patriots went over the total in a game with just 30.5 points set against the Steelers a few weeks back, we don’t think lightning will strike twice. Bank on this one to stay under the total after using the ESPN BET promo code. Get the latest sports betting news, advice and promos sent straight to your inbox. Enter your email here: Think you know Patriots football? Play the MassLive.com Prop Bet Showdown for a chance to win prizes! If you or a loved one has questions and needs to talk to a professional about gambling, call the Massachusetts Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org to speak with a trained specialist to receive support. Specialists are available 24/7. Services are available in multiple languages and are free and confidential.

424194a146ae0574ffd66dd31265433b

sports

The Run-Up Guide to Iowa

Finally. More than a year after Donald Trump first announced his 2024 presidential run, six months after Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida refocused his campaign strategy to be all-in on Iowa, and right in the midst of debilitating winter weather, the Iowa caucuses are upon us. And “The Run-Up” has everything you need to know to understand what might happen today — and what it will mean for the race going forward. What’s at stake is clear: Anyone who is going to slow down Mr. Trump on his path to clinching the nomination has to get started in Iowa, with at least a close second-place finish. Going into the caucus, Mr. Trump has a dominant polling lead. But now it’s up to the voters. Iowa voters tend to care more about candidates who can speak more to small-town and religious values. The state’s evangelical leaders have largely backed Mr. DeSantis, but evangelical voters themselves — including people coming out to Trump events in freezing temperatures in the last week — have largely backed Mr. Trump.

d0f1c0b39aaad5120cb2109867f1cc0c

sports

Police search for armed robbery suspect near Boston University

A male carrying a gun robbed a liquor store near Boston University on Thursday and was last seen on Beacon Street heading towards Kenmore Square, officials said. The robbery happened around 12:30 a.m. at 21 Massachusetts Ave., the address of Quality Mart, police said. “The suspect was wearing a black North face coat, blue jeans, timberland boots, a white basketball jersey and carrying a black north face backpack,” a Boston University alert said. “He was a light skin male.”

ccef2ff2e15db2ab0db74b21d8776cce

sports

Boys Basketball Scoreboard: Frank Field scores 1,000th point, Hoosac Valley defeats Easthampton & more

Hoosac Valley star Frank Field reached the 1,000 career point mark Monday night in the Hurricanes’ 88-48 win over Easthampton. The senior scored the first five points of the game to eclipse the milestone, and scored 15 more points to help his team improve to 5-1 on the season. Field wasn’t the only one who performed in the win. His fellow classmate Joey McGovern sunk a game-high five three’s en route to a 28-point performance. The game was never close – with the Hurricanes holding a 28 point lead at halftime. Noah Murray led Easthampton with 16 points, but Hoosac’s deep offense – which included four double-digit scorers – proved to be too much. Field Currently leads the team with 19.8 points-per-game and has been a key figure in Hoosac’s hot start and will get a chance to show off his skills in the team’s next game which will take place Thursday at the 2024 Spalding Hoophall Classic at Springfield College where the Hurricanes will take on 7-1 Pioneer Valley. Boys Basketball Scoreboard

6d2e6c214b48a2b307d72247f9d35e89

sports

Bill Belichick Coach Updates

Some were struck by the finality of the news, saying that even though a 4-13 season had prepared them for this as a possibility, it was still a shock. 7:15 p.m.

1b44a8b60ee8bce2f2dcd6595bd0708e

sports

Valdamar Brower joining Holy Cross staff as defensive line coach

Former Springfield Central football head coach and UMass assistant coach Valdamar Brower will be the next defensive line coach at Holy Cross. Brower spent the last two seasons as the defensive line coach at UMass, his alma mater. Before joining the Minutemen’s coaching staff, Brower was the head coach at Springfield Central High School for 13 years and built the program into a state powerhouse.

50da429a12a876011ffa51ebf3c60bbe

sports

Patriots mailbag: Who has most to gain in final month?

We’re running a mailbag on Fridays during the season. If you have questions on the Patriots, NFL, or want gripe about past answers, email cmason@masslive.com or tweet @bychrismason. Now let’s get to this week’s questions! Which player has the best opportunity to boost their stock in the past four weeks of the season? You’d mentioned Mike Onwenu clinching a payday after his performance against TJ Watt. Who else has the chance to get themselves in a similar spot? — Matt K. OK, I’ll give you three non-Onwenu selections. 1. Bailey Zappe. I understand the quarterback is the most straightforward answer, but he’s also a correct one. While almost everybody else on the roster has put plenty of tape out this season, Zappe hasn’t. If he can string a few good performances together, he’ll certainly have the inside track on New England’s backup gig for next season. A few great performances, and he may turn himself into a valuable trade chip. The better he plays in December, the more snaps he’ll see in the future. 2. Josh Uche Coming off a breakout season where the edge rusher registered 11.5 sacks, 25 pressures, and caught fire down the stretch, he’s struggled to replicate that performance in a contract year. With Matthew Judon shelved since early October, Uche has notched just 2 sacks and 9 pressures while playing 27.8% of the defensive snaps this season. With free agency looming, an underwhelming season will look quite a bit better if he can add a few sacks to the stat sheet in the season’s final month. 3. Mack Wilson Though he flies under the radar, Wilson is also heading into free agency again. The speedy sub-linebacker has seen his snap count rise and is starting to make plays on a weekly basis. If he can keep building momentum, he’ll see a fuller marketplace in March. And yes, Onwenu is still near the top of my list. The more good tape he puts out at tackle, the more zeroes he’ll see in his next contract. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. Patriots biggest need after QB? — Brian R. Wide receiver and tackle are 1 and 1A. Take your pick. The wideout room is still devoid of game-changing talent. You could double the receiving yards of any Patriots pass catcher and they still wouldn’t have as many as DeAndre Hopkins, who they flirted with over the summer. And tackle is a major issue moving forward because Bill Belichick simply hasn’t addressed the position with any long-term vision. If they pay up, they can try to retain Onwenu, but they’re still going to need somebody on the other side. I highly doubt that’ll be Trent Brown in 2024. For this Bill Belichick posse, who’s gonna be responsible for turning off the lights when they’re shown the door? Who might stay around? — Ed H. If Belichick is in fact done, I think a lot depends on three things: 1. How it ends 2. What comes next for Belichick 3. Who his replacement is If things get ugly between Belichick and Robert Kraft, it’s hard to imagine his sons Steve and Brian sticking around — though I think they’d still have jobs if Jerod Mayo is the successor. Someone like defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington has already drawn coordinator interest and could leave independently. Wide receivers coach Ross Douglas flew the coop in that fashion last weekend. If Belichick lands somewhere like Los Angeles, he could certainly try to bring staff members with him. Joe Judge and Cam Achord seem like natural candidates to follow the coach. I don’t think Bill O’Brien would. But this entire discussion could be moot if the Patriots don’t go with Mayo and opt for an external hire who wants to bring his own staff in. It’s generally a foolish practice to fire an entire staff, but some hardheaded coaches do it. When Belichick arrived in New England, he retained assistants Dante Scarnecchia and Ivan Fears, and that worked out very, very well for all parties involved. I wonder if Bill might be a bit more open to giving up final say on the GM duties given the fact that he lived the nomadic life of a coach before his stint in New England? My rationale is that him moving on because of said change in GM duties not only affects him, but also his two sons and their families. Your take on this? — Mark M. Your logic makes sense, but ultimately I just don’t see him ceding that power in New England. It’d require Belichick to eat some crow, and I don’t think he has the appetite for that — especially if Kraft is the one serving him. If Belichick takes another head coaching job, he can bring Steve and Brian along if he wants and they’ll certainly enjoy as much job security as he does. And interestingly, Belichick’s career hasn’t been as nomadic as most coaches. If you want to see a total nomad, check out former Patriots quarterbacks coach Jedd Fisch’s Wikipedia page. Do the Patriots pick a QB with top pick or trade down for a second tier? — Jordan K. If they stay at No. 2 overall, they should absolutely take a quarterback. Both Caleb Williams and Drake Maye have the tools to be franchise-changers. If Bill still wants to coach, why wouldn’t he want to coach Navy until he’s ready to retire? With his appreciation of history, it could bring his family full circle — Miller Navy just hired new head coach Brian Newberry last season and coaching college football is way more work than the NFL. With recruiting and spring ball, there’s no offseason for those guys. At 72, I don’t think Belichick will be looking to put more on his plate. After the recent failures of practically every QB taken in the first round, why does the media think it will be different now? — Todd G. Um, how’s CJ Stroud looking? In all seriousness, 11 of the Top 15 quarterbacks in passing yards were first-round picks. Guys like Jalen Hurts and Brock Purdy remain the exception, not the rule. Let’s say the Patriots win a couple games down the stretch and fall out of a Top 5 pick where Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Marvin Harrison Jr. are no longer available. Do you think they’d stick and take a tackle like Alt? Maybe Jayden Daniels’ stock rises enough that they’re comfortable taking him? Trade down? — Erik P. I think they’ll take a tackle if they fall out of the Top 5, but fortunately — albeit, unfortunately in the short term — I don’t see them winning out and making that a possibility. As it stands, they have a nice cushion near the top of the board and I’d be pretty surprised if they didn’t wind up in the Top 3. Here’s how the draft order currently looks: 1. CHI (via CAR): 1-12 2. NE: 3-10 3. ARI: 3-10 4. WAS: 4-9 5. LAC: 5-9 6. CHI: 5-8 7. LV: 5-8 8. NYJ: 5-8 9. NYG: 5-8 10. TEN: 5-8 Will we see the Patriots sign/draft someone who has a similar playing style to Malik Cunningham (at least as a practice squad member or 3rd string QB)? — Conor M. That all depends on who is doing the drafting.

56f10e7709bd9bf551ca6cae794a234c

sports

Trent Brown still missing, reportedly has next team picked out

FOXBOROUGH — Trent Brown still hasn’t returned to the Patriots practice field since serving as a healthy scratch in Buffalo. Brown missed practice on Wednesday — he was listed with an illness again on the injury report — and was nowhere to be found on Thursday, either. Brown has now missed four practices in the past two weeks with the illness designation, despite coming off the injury report last Friday and posting a number of social media photos from a New Years Eve party over the weekend. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. According to the Boston Herald, the free-agent-to-be already has his next destination picked out. “Brown had dealt with knee and ankle injuries in late October, and had his mind on free agency,” Andrew Callahan and Doug Kyed wrote. “After a surprising upset at Pittsburgh, Brown openly discussed plans to play for an NFC team in the team locker room.” It’d make a lot of sense if that was the Dallas Cowboys, who are hours from Brown’s ranch in Texas and have high-profile tackle Tyron Smith heading into free agency. Elsewhere on the practice field, Myles Bryant returned from an illness and the Patriots had perfect attendance beyond Brown. With snow in the forecast for Sunday’s season finale against the Jets, quarterback Bailey Zappe is looking forward to playing in some New England weather. “It’ll be exciting. I’m from Texas,” Zappe said. “We don’t really play in snow very much, so it’s going be fun. It’s going to be a great environment, last game, try to end the year out strong. So, I’m ready for it.”

9f09023c9c630d38d47eae3661aea201

sports

Petey calls Boston paradise after taking it over during USA tour

Olivia Reid Fans attending a concert at Roadrunner in Boston, MA. Photo by Olivia Reid/ Photography Editor. The legend of Puff Sullivan continues. Social media personality Peter “Petey” Martin—whose sketches filled with ridiculously unpredictable plotlines helped him amass millions of followers on TikTok and Instagram—showed off his sentimental side when he headlined Paradise Rock Club on Sunday, Nov. 12. The decorated influencer was promoting his recent album, “USA” with a tour of Uncle Sam’s Country that spanned over three weeks last month. Petey’s music career stems from the early-mid 2010s, where he formerly released music under the name “90 Pounds of Pete;” his discography from that era can be found on YouTube when searched by his former moniker. As for the music itself, there are striking similarities between his previous albums and his most recent works. The songs “Arms” and “Waited Too Long,” which both came out 10 years ago, hold a very strong connection to his 2021 album, “Lean into Life.” His most recent work, “USA,” instrumentally focuses on an indie rock sound with hints of electropop and alternative rock, all the while bridging the gap with his discography through thematic structure. Witnessing him play live showcased how well he meshes with these genres. The vibes among him, his bandmates and his fans were second to none, and it seems he found his signature sound and molded himself as a praiseworthy musician. While fans waited, some pop punk classics were playing, including “Nothing On My Back” by Sum 41 and “Ocean Avenue” by Yellowcard. With the PA speakers blaring “The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows” by Brand New, Petey and his band entered to a darkened stage and an abrupt explosion of cheers. The artist began his set with the first lyrical track of his newest album, “I’ll Wait,” and his presence captivated the crowd, who frantically began to jump into a frenzy. The backing track that began the song was met with a distinguishable drum fill known by fans, who grew antsy at the sound of Petey subsequently cheering “let’s go” into the microphone. Throughout the set, Petey’s energy on stage encapsulated fans, as he made hand gestures full of excitement throughout many songs, including playing air guitar or drums when he wasn’t using an instrument of his own. This first occurred when he mimicked the drum beat during the intro of the opener. The crowd was going ballistic, and soon sang along, bringing the energy to a climax. The song resonates with those who struggle with mental health, more notably anxiety, expressing a need to take control of life and the struggles of overthinking and insomnia. Petey continued to play songs off his new album, playing “I Tried to Draw a Straight Line” and “Home Alone House” back-to-back after the opener. It wasn’t until the bridge of the latter number that he was able to greet the Boston crowd and talk about his excitement for performing in Paradise. Then, he whipped out his ax for the first time. Playing rhythm guitar for the remainder of the show, he periodically switched between a gray Fender Telecaster and red Fujigen Odyssey with HSS pickups. With the middle of the set looming, Petey played four songs from “Lean into Life,” starting with the title track. It touches on the theme of anxiety, as well as the ups and downs of life and seeking motivation when all hope is lost. “Lean into Life” was followed by “We Go On Walks,” “Microwave Dinner” and “Pitch a Fit!” The fans got riled up and sang the lyrics alongside Petey, with the bridge of “Lean into Life” and the introduction to “We Go On Walks” as prominent examples. The raw emotion of “Microwave Dinner” was profound in the set, as it is in the album version. Especially the outro, when he begins to raise his voice and express his emotions more bluntly, bringing up childhood trauma, complications with current affairs and self-care. Prior to performing “Pitch a Fit!,” Petey addressed the audience with his love for the city of Boston. He began cracking jokes about how he doesn’t agree with his friends when they tell him Boston is boring because its only attractions are old buildings where you can watch sports; he said that’s the whole point of why Boston is so great. Fans were bringing comic relief of their own with heckling; one fan screamed that he liked Petey’s shirt between songs, while another one screamed “Where’s Puff Sullivan?,” a reference to one of the characters he portrays in his videos. After performing “Pitch a Fit!,” Petey performed his most recent songs, “Skip This One,” “Family of Six” and “Birds of a Feather.” Afterwards, he played his most popular songs, two of which were singles off of “USA.” The crowd was already rough and rowdy at this point, and Petey opened the floor for even more chaos when the band performed their own rendition of the timeless classic, “Everywhere” by Fleetwood Mac. The instrumental of the track brought a lot of flair, as it shied away from Fleetwood Mac’s version with a more electropop tone that coincided with some distortion from the guitars. Petey was able to hit notes similar to that of Stevie Nicks, and he brought his own style with raspiness in parts of the song, too. Immediately following the cover, Petey and Co. began performing “Did I Mention I’m Sorry” and “The Freedom to F— Off.” The first verse to the latter got the crowd going, as they chanted the lyrics before the melodic guitar riff introduced the chorus. To deafening chants of “Petey!,” the artist and his bandmates came out to perform the encore: “Don’t Tell the Boys.” It is a beautiful song that talks about an undying friendship, and the crowd was screaming the moment the backing track began. It was an experience nobody there would forget. A line in the second verse gave everyone the opportunity to scream their hearts out, to which Petey pointed his mic at the crowd for them to finish the measure. Not a single person in the venue didn’t scream “’Til Marissa f—ing dies,” and it provided a nice idiosyncratic gesture made by the artist, and a worthwhile memory for all involved. The end of the song had an extended outro, as Petey played the closing riff an extra four bars before walking off stage, his final words to the onlookers being “I love you Boston, thank you. Good night.” Petey’s performance was a spectacular showing for an underrated artist. Fans attending the show brought the club down. Even Petey’s merch salesman said Paradise Rock Club was one of the best places for performing “Don’t Tell the Boys” because of how passionate and loud the fans got. Allston was buzzing the night of Nov. 12, and fans got a sneak peak of the social media sensation in his element. If all goes to plan, his music career will take off and reach much higher ground than his successful career as a social media personality, and many more will bear witness to how truly talented this man is.

c860aed98e1a1ef29adabfaaede4e696

sports

Jerod Mayo named head coach of New England Patriots

New England was one of 13 NFL teams to never have had a Black non-interim head coach. The 37-year-old Mayo will be the 15th head coach in franchise history and the youngest active coach in the NFL. The swift transition was facilitated by language in Mayo’s current contract that allowed the Patriots to bypass the National Football League’s rule that teams must have at least two external coaching candidates who are people of color and/or women. One day after parting with football legend Bill Belichick, the Patriots on Friday named Jerod Mayo as his successor, making the linebackers coach and former player the first Black leader in team history. Advertisement The team plans to hold an introductory news conference with Mayo at noon Wednesday. “Head coach Jerod Mayo!!! Love the sound of that!! Congratulations big bro,” former Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower wrote on Instagram. The Patriots have been eyeing Mayo as Belichick’s successor since January 2023, when they released a statement saying the team had begun negotiating a contract extension that would keep him in New England “long term.” Get Breaking Sports Alerts Be the first to know the latest sports news as it happens, and get the Globe's most interesting reporting right to your inbox. Enter Email Sign Up At the time, according to a league source, the plan was for Mayo to become head coach in 2025. However, New England’s dreadful 2023 season that ended with a 4-13 record expedited the timeline. When the Patriots decided to part ways with Belichick, the assumption was their coaching search would have to comply with the league’s Rooney Rule. In an effort to foster equitable hiring practices, the NFL has mandated that all clubs with head-coaching vacancies conduct an in-person interview with at least two external candidates who are people of color and/or women. It turns out, however, the Patriots were able to bypass this process because of the pre-existing language in Mayo’s contract. When a team has established, in writing, a succession plan involving an internal coach, it is not required to conduct a subsequent coaching search as long as the plan is in place prior to the season in which the vacancy occurs. Advertisement Jerod Mayo (top) was a fearsome linebacker who played his entire career with the Patriots. Matthew J. Lee The Patriots laid out such a plan in Mayo’s contract and informed the league office at the time of its signing, according to a source. As a result, they could promote Mayo to head coach at any time and not have to conduct a single additional interview. In 2009, two teams implemented a contractual succession plan at head coach: Jim Mora Jr. succeeded Mike Holmgren in Seattle and Jim Caldwell succeeded Tony Dungy in Indianapolis. Baltimore also did so at general manager in 2019 when it promoted Eric DeCosta. Several current and former Patriots players applauded the move to promote Mayo on social media, including linebacker Mack Wilson, who made an early pitch for a roster spot. “The start of a New Era that I’d love to be apart of,” Wilson wrote in a series of posts. “So happy for this dude. Well deserved BIG COACH! ❤️” “The ultimate Patriot. The next best thing in the new era of football. Glad to have played with you. Showed me the game in different views. Happy for ya big dawg,” former linebacker Jamie Collins wrote. Jerod Mayo was a Patriots linebacker from 2008 to 2015. Barry Chin/Globe Staff After joining Belichick’s staff in 2019, Mayo quickly ascended as a popular head coaching candidate across the league. Denver, Philadelphia, and Las Vegas all interviewed him for open head-coaching gigs. Carolina also requested an interview for its opening last offseason, but Mayo turned it down once the Patriots made their intentions clear. Advertisement During the owners’ meetings last March, Patriots owner Robert Kraft shared with reporters why he felt it was important to retain Mayo. “Jerod is an individual that, I think, has no ceiling for his ability to grow and how competent he is,” Kraft said. “We had the privilege of having him as a player, and I saw how intense he was and his leadership skills that he had. Then, I saw him leave us and go into the private industry and learn the X’s and O’s of business. And then come back to be a coach and do that with us. “Good coaches get hired away, so I was happy we were able to sit with him and try to keep him long term. I’ll do everything I can to make that happen.” Mayo, who spent the entirety of his eight-season career with the Patriots, served as a captain both in college at Tennessee and in New England. His playing experience is a major plus, according to current Patriots defensive players. Players also highlighted Mayo’s ability to form relationships, in addition to his football knowledge. Although Mayo has only four years of coaching experience at any level — with no official coordinator experience — players expressed confidence that he is more than ready to become a head coach. “I think people tend to overlook the actual qualities in the people,” linebacker Matthew Judon said. “When you start saying, ‘Well, this guy was a head coach,’ or ‘This guy was a coordinator,’ like, does he know football? Can he rally a group of individuals into a team? I think Mayo can.” Advertisement Asked Thursday about what qualities he’s looking for in his next head coach, Kraft did not make mention of Mayo and kept his answer straightforward: someone who can win and return the team to postseason contention. “I am very upset when we don’t win games. It carries the whole week,” Kraft said. “I promise you, I’ll be focused on doing the best I can do to make sure we’re putting ourselves in the best long-term position to win for many years.” It behooves the Patriots to proceed quickly with Mayo’s transition, as this offseason is expected to be busy. Up first for Mayo will be finalizing his coaching staff. Some of those decisions will likely be contingent upon Belichick’s next move. The Patriots also need to replace Belichick’s role in the personnel department. For now, though, the Patriots have already addressed a major offseason question mark by identifying their top choice to take over in the post-Belichick era. Read more about the Patriots’ coaching change: The Patriots and Bill Belichick part ways. Is it the right move? Share WATCH: And, why now? Deputy sports editor Scott Thurston has covered the legendary coach since his tenure began in 2000, and shares his thoughts. Nicole Yang can be reached at nicole.yang@globe.com.Follow her @nicolecyang.

ec59892298a659048735fe7cfe339090

sports

How much snow for Patriots vs. Jets?

FOXBOROUGH — Forecasters believe Sunday’s Patriots season finale against the Jets could bring some snow to Gillette Stadium. It’s only Wednesday as of this publication, so take things with a shaker of salt — kickoff isn’t for four more days — but let’s take a glance at where things are now. With a nor’easter heading towards New England, the Weather Channel currently forecasts 3 to 5 inches for Foxborough on Sunday, while Accuweather has the total at 4 to 8 inches. A lot will depend on the rain/snow line, as some mixing is possible in Southern New England. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. One person who definitely isn’t checking the forecasts yet? Bill Belichick. The Patriots coach went on a hilarious rant in 2014 about how little he trusts meteorology reports in New England. “Look, I’m not saying I could do it better than them,” Belichick said. “I’m just saying they’re wrong a lot. That’s a fact. They’re wrong a lot. We all make mistakes. I’m not being critical of them, I’m just saying I don’t think you can go based on that. “My experience of going with the forecast in this area two days before the game, I mean I’d bet a lot that they’re wrong, just based on history because they’re almost always wrong. An hour before the game, maybe. You might have something to work with there. I think (if) you start game planning for what the weather is going to be and you game plan wrong, you’ve wasted a lot of time.”

ae64ba8d86216f51c8d9315c615eaf03

sports

Legendary coach gushes about Derrick Whites breakout season

With the Celtics in town to take on the Spurs on Sunday, it was a chance for former San Antonio guard Derrick White to visit his first NBA home. White developed from a late first-round pick to rotation player during his time with the Spurs, which is why the Celtics went out and traded for him. Now, White is one of the Celtics’ most important players. His play on both ends of the court have started some All-Star buzz as he also rarely misses a game. So with the Celtics in town, it was a chance for Hall of Fame coach Gregg Popovich to talk about White and his development. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. “Couldn’t be more proud of a player,” Popovich told reporters. “When he first came, I don’t think he believed he belonged in the NBA. To watch him develop through the years, started here with the G-League. Playing with us and then starting for us and then taking more steps in Boston has just been a thrill to watch. “He’s one of the greatest guys ever. His confidence has just exploded. It’s been a process. He’s been in the league now, six, seven years. I’m not sure anymore. But he’s a great story. And starting out at the bottom and believing in himself and doing the work necessary to get where he is now. Just thrilled for him.” The Spurs selected White at 29th overall in the 2017 NBA Draft. White started off his collegiate career as an unheralded prospect playing at Division II Colorado-Colorado Springs. But he kept working on his game, transferred to Colorado then blossomed into a first-round pick. Initially, there was some work that needed to be done as White saw time in the G-League his rookie season. But White became a consistent starter in San Antonio, catching the eye of the Celtics front office. The C’s traded for White at the 2022 trade deadline, parting ways with Romeo Langford, Josh Richardson and some draft assets. White has impressed during his time with the Celtics, and notably, he hit the game-winning bucket to force a Game 7 against the Heat in the East Finals last season. There was little denying his talent, but White has elevated his play to new heights this season. The guard is averaging 17.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game as his two-way play has been invaluable for the Celtics. And Popovich is clearly delighted to see his once-unproven guard become such a force in the league. “Just gaining the confidence — that’s what it’s all about,” Popovich said. “And the minutes and supporting him and playing him. Making sure he knew he was on the right track all the time and doing well. He had a natural affinity and understanding of the game, IQ-wise, I don’t think he knew about himself. He’s an innately good passer, for instance. You could see it immediately. But he didn’t even think of himself in that way. He was too humble, I guess, to start out. Now he’s figured it out.”

9804b64816730c6581d73edeb6193776

sports

Travis Kelce opens up about handshake with Bill Belichick

Bill Belichick sought out Travis Kelce after the Patriots’ 27-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday at Gillette Stadium. The two shared a few words before parting ways, and Kelce opened up about what was said on his “New Heights” podcast. “I just mentioned how much I respect him and how much it’s always the biggest challenge I go up against in the National Football League is going up against one of his defenses,” Kelce said. “I just wanted to make sure he heard that from my mouth, man, because it’s been a pleasure going up against him all these years. “I got asked after the game, did I feel like it was the last time, or anything like that. Honestly, I was just going up to him to pay respect over the 10 years I’ve been going up against him,” he added. “How much I appreciate the challenge, every single time. And hats off to him for always being that great.” BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. There’s been plenty of speculation surrounding Belichick’s future in New England. The Patriots were eliminated from the playoffs two weeks ago — the earliest that happened since 2000. And there’s been reports surfacing that a decision has already been made that Belichick won’t return in 2024 despite the 71-year-old reportedly signing a “long-term, lucrative” extension in the summer. But NFL insider Ian Rapoport, who reported that a firm decision has yet to be made, expanded a bit more on his future on MassLive’s “Eye On Foxborough” podcast. “If you’re going to say that, it better be 100 percent not changeable and true. I do not know that to be the case. I don’t know that anybody knows that to be the case right now. I don’t believe that’s been decided right now,” Rapoport told Patriots columnist Karen Guregian. “And in fact, I think the main thing that I learned over the course of reporting is nobody knows how it’s gonna end.” If Belichick’s time in New England does indeed come to an end, Kelce doesn’t think his coaching career is over. “They asked me if it was the last, I’m just like, ‘it might not be here (in New England). Whatever the situation is going on here, it might not be it.,’” he said on “New Heights.” “But I think that guy’s got some football left in him.”

d2a64f51c142682a95e4eea3676ffe22

sports

Robert Kraft: Patriots owners only get involved in personnel on one condition

FOXBOROUGH — With Bill Belichick gone and no clear heir to his personnel throne in New England, it remains murky who will have final say on the roster as the offseason gets rolling. At Jerod Mayo’s introductory press conference, Robert Kraft said it’d be collaborative approach for now, but sought to debunk the idea that ownership will be more involved. He said his family will continue to delegate to the football operations staff as they have since purchasing the team in 1994. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. “It will be the same input that we’ve had for the last three decades: We try to hire the best people we can find and let them do their job and hold them accountable,” Kraft said. “If you get involved and tell them what to do or try to influence them, you can’t hold them responsible and have them accountable. It’ll be within the people’s discretion who are the decision makers to do it, and if we’ve hired the wrong people, then we’ll have to make a change. But we’re going to try to enjoy it as fans.” Kraft said there’s only one situation where ownership will get involved in football ops, and that’s when it comes off-the-field issues. “The only area that we have really weighed in is when it comes to bringing in people that we might think are not the right character to be here and they have done things in their past,” Kraft said. “That’s the only time we’ve really weighed in.”

6ce02c5af52760e42d827540c6eafc18

sports

Bailey Zappes secret to success: Sat behind a computer and just stared at a screen

How did Bailey Zappe and the New England Patriots offense go from getting shut out to scoring three touchdowns in a half in just four days? The quarterback says it may have had something to do with all the film he watched ahead of Thursday night’s win against the Pittsburgh Steelers. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. Zappe was invited on set with Amazon Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football Crew to discuss the Patriots’ third win of the season, which featured him throwing three touchdowns in the first half. Analyst (and former All-Pro corner) Richard Sherman asked what had changed between Zappe’s start on Sunday and his start in Pittsburgh. Zappe said it came down to film study on the computer -- since the Patriots had so little onfield practice time with the short week. “We didn’t really get much physical reps. So the only thing I did was sat behind a computer and just stared at a screen the last two days, three days,” Zappe said. “So I might transfer that over to the next few weeks.” Zappe went 19-of-28 through the air for 240 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, good for a 115.2 passer rating. The second-year quarterback was asked what the key was to his strong performance. In true Patriots fashion, Zappe deferred to his teammates, including tight end Hunter Henry, who was also on the Amazon Prime Video set. He also hinted at a key piece of advice he’d gotten from Bill Belichick. “I mean, just give it to my playmakers like this guy,” Zappe said, gesturing to Henry. “Just doing the best I can to give the ball to them. Coach Belichick always says, ‘We can’t make yards until I get rid of the ball.’ So just give it to these guys, give it to them, let them go make plays and that was the mindset of this game.” Zappe’s strong performance helped the Patriots improve to 3-10 on the season. Next up, it’s a Week 15 home game against the Kansas City Chiefs. We’ll find out if Zappe keeping his nose in the computer will keep his strong play going.

bb3569916af5cfd1a721206f92876e03

sports

Under-inflated footballs in Patriots-Chiefs prompts strong social media reaction

When MassLive’s Mark Daniels reported that the “K-balls” used in Sunday’s Patriots-Chiefs game at Gillette Stadium, many had the same reaction: “Not again.” Sources told Daniels that the footballs were weighed at halftime after New England players alerted the officials. The balls came in at 11 PSI, rather than the usual 13.5. This comes nine years after the “Deflategate” scandal, which led to the Patriots losing two draft picks, being fined $1 million and losing Tom Brady to suspension for four games. Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, who missed his first field goal of the season in Kansas City’s ultimate Week 15 win, isn’t blaming the footballs for the miss. But once the report dropped, there was plenty reaction on social media. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. It’s more likely than not that Patrick Mahomes was generally aware that the balls were deflated — Sam Orelowitz (@samorelowitz) December 20, 2023 Remember when the NFL tried to convince the world that Tom Brady ran an elaborate scheme with 2 assistants to let approximately 1 psi of pressure out of footballs? That was fun — Fantasy Football & Betting (@ffgtakez) December 20, 2023 I swear, if the league comes out and blames this on a change in air pressure due to temperature… https://t.co/aO7bsXDOgv — Alex Barth (@RealAlexBarth) December 20, 2023 please i can’t do this again https://t.co/s4SOdawGVM — brianna pirre (@bsp_13) December 21, 2023 Watch everyone who still say the Patriots deflated footballs claim the only reason the kicking footballs were below standard was because of the weather 😂😂😂😂 — Sara Marshall (@smarshxo) December 21, 2023 Tom Brady expected to be suspended for the 2024 season https://t.co/Wuiw3xZc1g — Conor Commentary (@ConorCommentary) December 20, 2023 It’s more likely than not that Patrick Mahomes was at least generally aware of the possibile use of under-inflated footballs https://t.co/fv5Rif8AWQ — Marvin Crawford (@cramar51) December 21, 2023 At the end of the day, Butker’s miss didn’t impact the outcome of the game. Patriots kicker Chad Ryland also missed a field goal in the first half, but he has struggled a bit with field goals this season. The Chiefs now turn their attention to the Las Vegas Raiders, who they host on Christmas Day. While the Patriots take on the Denver Broncos on the road on Christmas Eve.

fc943623762b46768bfd3dcd0390c05f

sports

Bruins Jim Montgomery explains why he sat Matt Poitras

BOSTON — Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said rookie Matt Poitras’ absence from the lineup for Thursday’s 3-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres at TD Garden was part of a calculated plan. Poitras wasn’t benched as much as he was rested for the game according to Montgomery, who said the Bruins are trying to manage the 19-year-old’s workload. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. “It’s something we’ve been discussing. We’re trying to put him in situations to have a lot of success,” Montgomery said. “He’ll be back in the lineup on Saturday. This is an opportunity for him to build some stretngth and some rest into his program. “It’s a grind. It’s a tough league. This is the way we think he can help the Bruins the most and help his game the most,” Montgomery continued. “This has been in the works for a little while as we finish nine games in 16 days.” Montgomery said he didn’t think Poitras had hit a wall. “I don’t think he’s hit the wall. It’s a new season and he’s 19 years old,” he said. “In the hardest league, he’s playing really well for us. We’re trying to put him in situations where he has more juice.” Through 24 games, Poitras has five goals and six assists and his 11 points are seventh on the Bruins. But had just two points in his last six games and has struggled all season on faceoffs.

a4942437402d5b10ad92e88cc0acfca6

sports

Patriots offensive coordinator Bill OBrien still believes in Mac Jones

With Bailey Zappe taking over as the starter the past four games, Mac Jones has pretty much stepped aside and stepped out of the spotlight. With Zappe under center, the Patriots have won two of those four games including a 26-23 thriller over the Denver Broncos on Christmas Eve. And now that Jones has taken a backseat, offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien was asked Tuesday about his former starter. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. O’Brien took the opportunity to praise Jones, who was benched during four games before ceding to Zappe. “I feel good about Mac Jones, I really do,” said O’Brien. “I think Mac Jones is a smart guy. He’s a very hard worker. He’s really done a good job in this situation here of being a good teammate.” At this point, it’s hard to say what will happen with Jones, who is in his third season with the Patriots after being taken 15th overall in the 2021 draft. After having a strong rookie campaign, he’s regressed in each of the past two seasons. In 11 games started this season, Jones threw 10 touchdown passes versus 12 picks. “Look, these are things that happen in the course of a lot of careers, right? You have some ups and downs,” O’Brien went on. “He’s approached it the right way. He’s working hard. I believe in Mac. So I think Mac’s going to be just fine.” NFL fans can wager online on Massachusetts sports betting with enticing promo codes from top online sportsbooks. Use the FanDuel Massachusetts promo code and the DraftKings Massachusetts promo code for massive new user bonuses.

a1149098a5a46bd48ff97ff5d83eb5fe

sports

Your guide to First Night Boston 2024

First Night festivities will take place as far away as Virginia and California this year, but Boston is where it all started. It’s a night that celebrates artistry in many forms from ice-sculpting to button design. First Night has been a part of Boston for nearly half a century, but as with all traditions, there are notable changes from year to year. We’ve got your guide to help you make the most out of whatever part of 2023 we have left! Where to go First night is on the move this year! Don’t go to Copley Square expecting last year’s celebrations. The main stage will be at the newly renovated City Hall Plaza with other events in the surrounding area: The Greenway, Columbus Park, Improv Asylum and Boston Common. Getting there As with any large event held in a metropolitan area, event organizers discourage driving and encourage public transportation. Luckily for attendees, the events are close to several T stops and not too far off from Back Bay for those taking the commuter rail. To get to City Hall Plaza, use nearby stops Government Center (Blue Line and Green Line), Haymarket (Orange Line and Green Line), and State Street (Orange Line and Blue Line). The T will operate on a Sunday schedule with increased service starting in the late afternoon. Visit the MBTA's website for more travel information. Whether you’re planning to drive or still figuring out your travel plans, you may want to consider the scheduled parking restrictions and road closures. You can view a list of traffic advisories for more details, and advanced reservations for parking are available through SpotHero. How do I purchase tickets? You don’t! Since 2015, First Night Boston has been entirely free to the public. Programming highlights Get a full nights’ sleep going into New Year’s Eve because starting at 11 a.m., there’s a 13-hour lineup of events, attractions, entertainment and more. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Free admission to the Mapparium Globe, the three-story stained glass depiction of the Earth. This is the furthest activity from the main stage, so it’s a good place to visit on your way in or out of the city. 11:11 a.m. – Performances start at City Hall Plaza and continue for much of the day. The first act is music group Sweet Harmony. Check the schedule for a full list of acts. Noon - 3 p.m. – Free rides at the Greenway Carousel. 1 p.m. – The Greater Boston Chinese Cultural Association will provide supplies for arts and crafts on the second floor of City Hall Plaza. Activities include calligraphy, face painting, games, snowflake making. 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. – Hourly shows at Improv Asylum for audiences of all ages. 6 p.m. – Join drummers, puppeteers, and firetrucks on a downtown parade starting at City Hall Plaza and ending at Boston Common, where more festivities will take place. Be sure to stop by Frog Pond for the annual skating spectacular. 7 p.m. – The first of two firework shows of the evening. The early show will take place over Boston Common. 7:20 p.m. - midnight – Music continues at City Hall Plaza. The official countdown to midnight begins at 11:30 p.m. with rapper Sammy Adams to help ring in the new year. Midnight – Have your cheers, then look toward the harbor for a view of the midnight fireworks display. Do’s And don’ts Do use public transportation. Do speak up or call 911 if you see dangerous activities. Do be prepared for weather on the colder and perhaps wet side. Do stay home if you're experiencing cold- or flu-like symptoms. Do be respectful of families, older citizens and people with disabilities at the events or when you're riding the T. Don't drink alcohol or smoke marijuana at any of the events. Don't drive if you've consumed alcohol. New Years is among the most dangerous times of the year to be on the road. Don't bring your own fireworks. (They are illegal in Massachusetts.) What’s going on outside of Boston? Not making it to Boston for First Night? There’s plenty going on around the rest of the state. To the east, Chatham is celebrating its own First Night. To the west, Northampton will mark its own First Night as well. Both will feature their own slate of performances and celebrations.

f57cd80409222bc6818baee7cc07c53e

sports

Hitting a Home Run on Their First Date, With the Help of a Furry Friend

On July 18, 2021, the day Patrick Alan Pennel was supposed to meet Margaret Ann Kretzmer for a first date, he canceled to spend time with someone else he was getting to know. When Ms. Kretzmer offered to meet him the following day instead, he said OK but brought the other girl along. Mr. Pennel, 40, wasn’t being a cad, he just didn’t have much choice: He had recently moved to Santa Monica, Calif., by himself and, to stave off Covid loneliness, was adopting a dog. Emma, the shepherd mix he brought home the day of the postponed date, was too new to leave alone. So on July 19, she came with him to meet Ms. Kretzmer at Ashland Hill, a Santa Monica bar. “I was still very much getting to know Emma,” he said. “I didn’t know what to expect.” Nervous barking or a date cut short by a needy new pet he could have anticipated. Feeling the first stirrings of love for an Los Angeles Dodgers fan: not as much. Mr. Pennel and Ms. Kretzmer met on Hinge, where an app-generated prompt on Ms. Kretzmer’s profile connected them. To the query, “We’ll get along well if …” Ms. Kretzmer had written “ … you like baseball.”

25586c3d32964952654d12497579ae4d

sports

Pat McAfees On-Air Slams of ESPN Executive Show a Network Power Shift

As it morphs from a television company into a streaming company, ESPN is undergoing rapid transformation. But if the extraordinary events of the past week are any indication, the transformation of its corporate culture is just as seismic. For decades, the biggest star at ESPN was ESPN. A long list of its best-known employees — like Keith Olbermann, Bill Simmons and Dan Le Batard — clashed with executives, and the story always ended the same way: Those employees left, and ESPN kept right on rolling. But last week Pat McAfee, the Indianapolis Colts punter turned new-media shock jock and ESPN star, directly criticized a powerful executive at the Disney-owned network by name, calling him a “rat.” Not only was Mr. McAfee not fired, he seemingly was not punished at all, shocking current and former ESPN executives and employees. “We know there is no more offensive crime in the universe of ESPN and Disney than host-on-host crime, or talent-on-talent crime,” Jemele Hill, a former “SportsCenter” host who left ESPN in 2018 after sparring with executives, said last week.

00bb00b297e4deb6d8c7b44f56390a4d

sports

West Springfield claims Berkshire Holiday Tournament with three first-place finishes

The West Springfield wrestling team put on a dominant performance Wednesday, taking first in the 2023 Berkshire Holiday Tournament. The Terriers had three first-place finishers and accumulated a total of 268 points — more than a hundred over second-place finisher Athol (153.50) and third-place finisher Monument Mountain (135). Mount Everett, which took seventh place with 77.5 points, also had three first-place finishers in the tournament.

7b74644ca854669da0124a81558dfa7a

sports

Boston First Night celebrations kick off

A crowd of more than one hundred — adorned with wool hats and red noses — filled the plaza at the onset, growing steadily as the day went on. The festivities kicked off at 11:11 a.m. with a vocal performance by Hyde Park’s Sweet Harmony, who sang a medley that glided from the Doobie Brothers’ “Takin’ It to the Streets” into Earth Wind and Fire’s “September,” and beyond. For hours afterward, the energy only grew, as midnight drew nearer. Hundreds of revelers flooded City Hall Plaza and spilled into the surrounding streets Sunday for Boston’s iconic First Night New Year’s Eve celebration, filling the final chilly hours of 2023 with music and dancing. Advertisement First Night celebrations continue at City Hall and across Boston until 12:30 a.m. New Year’s Day. They include back-to-back shows on the plaza; an organ performance at the The First Church of Christ, Scientist; an evening figure skating spectacular on the Boston Common Frog Pond; and midnight fireworks over Boston Harbor. Established in 1976, the event has provided dance, music, art, and fireworks to the area for 47 years. As the music echoed off the brick and concrete of City Hall Plaza Sunday morning, Roxbury resident Lisa Lee moved her hips and sang along to Sweet Harmony’s rendition of Whitney Houston’s “I’m Every Woman.” She wore a leopard-print hat and a wide smile. Lee said she had not been to First Night in years, though she used to help build decorations for the parade. Just a few minutes into this year’s festivities, Lee said things were “so far, so good.” “I’ve got something to dance to,” Lee said. “It makes my soul happy, and it keeps me warm.” Behind her, a team of artists chipped away at ice sculptures highlighting some of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. Handsaws and drills whirred and whizzed against a frozen Citgo sign and the golden dome of an icy State House. Advertisement Ivan Kousidis leaned against a barricade, watching closely as plumes of ice shavings floated through the air. Earlier that morning, Kousidis and his wife walked from their North End home to the Common, where he said they saw other ice sculptures scattered through the park. He said the walk from City Hall to the Common — especially at night, when performers and a parade fill the area — is his favorite part of the celebration. “We come every year, it’s a tradition,” Kousidis said. ”You only have a certain number of these in your life, so you don’t want to miss any.” It was a similarly bustling scene inside City Hall, where children and families made paper dragons, practiced writing Chinese characters, and tied pipe cleaner snowflakes at an arts and crafts table sponsored by the Greater Boston Chinese Cultural Association. Genevieve Parent took the T from Medford into downtown with her twin daughters, who threaded beads onto pipe cleaners as they waited to have their faces painted: one with a shooting star on her cheek, the other with a flower. “It was nice to have a place inside to go to,” Parent said. Up the stairs, players from the Boston Guzheng Ensemble plucked out traditional tunes for a tightly packed crowd. By 2:10 in the afternoon, the building’s concrete atrium was overwhelmed with a cacophony of percussion, as others struck bass drums and clapped hand cymbals before ushering in dancers with the local Angel Dance Troupe. Advertisement Some people took a moment to step back from the festivities, chomping down on handfuls of cotton candy and platters of fried dough. Marley Norton of Quincy sat on a stone bench reading and waiting for her partner, a performer with Boston Music Project, which was scheduled to play at City Hall Sunday afternoon. Norton grew up in Beverly, and she just graduated from UMass Amherst, where she was part of the marching band. ”I love live music,” she shouted over the sounds rolling over the plaza. “I love these live concerts, they’re great for the community.” Meanwhile, on the Greenway, scores of families frolicked near the Tiffany & Co. Foundation Grove Carousel. Young children rode fanciful characters like oversized rabbits and butterflies, their parents along for the ride. Among them was Chris Dubois of South Boston, who hopped off the ride with his 2-year-old daughter Audrey. This was Audrey’s first First Night, but not their first go around on the carousel, he said. They rode it Saturday, and were back again Sunday. ”It’s a lot of fun,” Dubois said. “Especially since its free.” A line of parents and kids wrapped around the ride, waiting for the carousel to come to a halt and allow its grinning passengers to run off, some holding the hands of mom or dad, some angling to get back in line for another ride. Nearby, people stood in loose lines to take selfies and photos with a pair of man-sized ice sculptures — one a lighthouse with a blinking signal light, the other of a large bird seemingly in flight over the number “2024.” Advertisement That crowd included Danielle Malvesti, who pointed her phone at her husband, Nick Malvesti, and their 4-year old-son, Ben. The boy stood next to the New Year’s sculpture, his dad crouched close by him. Next to Danielle Malvesti was their daughter, Olivia, 1, swaddled up in a stroller. This was the Quincy family’s first time at First Night, and they were still exploring the festivities, Danielle Malvesti said. But they had at least one goal: staying warm. “We are going to owe these guys hot chocolate, and cookies,” she said. Daniel Kool can be reached at daniel.kool@globe.com. Follow him @dekool01. John Hilliard can be reached at john.hilliard@globe.com.

3abda6399f3fb2cf6348e0ed4603d32d

sports

Despite loss, Southwick wrestling showing major signs of improvement

SOUTHWICK – The Southwick wrestling team took a “L” in the win-loss column Wednesday night against Hampshire, a 42-36 loss, but there are a lot of underlying stats that show the Rams are winning in many other ways on the mat. First, Southwick’s Amadi Ezeugwu built an early 6-0 lead in a matchup of 120 pounders. Thirty seconds into the second period, he landed a pin.

3e66002f12b43fcae87f0225a66ea7b4

sports

Five Quick Thoughts on the trading of Chris Sale

On Saturday, the Red Sox made their second big move in as many days, dealing Chris Sale and cash to the Atlanta Braves for infield prospect Vaughn Grissom. Here are five quick thoughts on the deal: 1) It came out of nowhere. When a new head of baseball operations takes over, surprises are bound to follow. The new executive doesn’t have the same ties or emotional history with a player and is less likely to think of anyone as off-limits when it comes to trades. But even allowing for that, this one came out of the blue. So much of this offseason has been focused on the Red Sox adding pitching that no one expected to see them subtracting, which is what they’ve done here. In the final week of the season, Alex Cora essentially named Sale as his Opening Day starter for 2024; three months later, he’s sent packing. 2) Follow the money. The fact that the Red Sox included a sizable amount ($17 million) of money to make the deal work for the Braves indicates that the Red Sox were actively looking to move Sale. Had the deal been only for a prospect or two, you could surmise that the were overwhelmed by the return. This isn’t that. If the Red Sox had sent $20 million or more, it’s a clear indication that they had a goal of unloading Sale somewhere. And because they’re taking back most of Sale’s 2024 salary ($27.5 million), it can’t be argued that the Red Sox made this deal with an eye toward allocating his money for another pitching acquisition. It’s entirely possible that they could go sign another free agent, or take on a big salary as part of a trade. But it won’t be with the money “saved” on Sale for 2024, which equates to $8.6 million for CBT purposes. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. 3) Approval a key. In the first half of 2021, Sale gained 10-5 status — that is, 10 years in the big leagues, with the last five with the same team — giving him the right to refuse any trade. The fact that this deal was done with his approval is telling on a coupe of fronts. It indicates that Sale, understandably, didn’t feel good about his chances to win another championship with the Red Sox in 2024, and potentially, for 2025. (The Braves now hold an option for that year, which vests if Sale finishes in the Top 10 in Cy Young Award voting and he finishes the 2024 season on the active roster. He has a much, much better chance of winning a second ring with the Braves than he did with the Red Sox. Geography likely played a role for Sale, too. Sale loved the fact that he could go home every night during spring training, living in Naples, Fla., a 30-minute drive from the Sox’s spring training home in Fort Myers. The Braves train in North Port, about a 75-minute drive from Naples. It’s not perfect, but other than pitching for the Red Sox or their Fort Myers neighbors, the Minnesota Twins, the Braves’ spring home is the next closest to Sale’s. 4) An element of risk is removed from the rotation. When Sale was healthy, he could still be a top major league starter. But he hasn’t been fully healthy in a season since 2017. Watching Sale pitch the last few years was like constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop. He could go seven scoreless innings and fan a dozen, and fans still watched his next start through their fingers, afraid to see what might happen next. Last year, it seemed the non-stop wave of injuries had nearly defeated Sale. By the time he needed two months off in the middle of the season, he looked beaten down psychologically. Obviously, the Red Sox don’t have anyone with Sale’s resumé. But they no longer have to hold their breath, wondering if the next pitch being thrown by the starter will be his last — for that season, or for his career. After patching together the rotation the last few years and hoping against hope for some durability, the Red Sox now need certainty, and Sale offered almost none. 5) The Red Sox still won the initial trade; it was the extension that they lost. The original deal — Michael Kopech and Yoan Moncada for Sale in December of 2016 — was a veritable steal for the Red Sox. With Sale, the Red Sox won two straight division titles and a World Series, neither of which would have been realized without Sale (29-12, 2.56 ERA, 59 starts). Meanwhile, both Kopech and Moncada failed to make good on their considerable promise, with Kopech further hampered by injuries. The Red Sox would make that trade 100 times over without a second thought. The problem came when Dave Dombrowski signed Sale to a big extension at the end of spring training in 2019. Since then, Sale’s production has been, to put it charitably, spotty, largely due to injuries. Since the extension, Sale is 17-18 with a 4.16 ERA over 56 starts. Think about that: he made three fewer starts over his last five seasons combined than he did in his first two years in Boston. If you want to know why John Henry is again skittish about handing out nine-figure deals to veteran starting pitchers, look no further than the extension given to Sale.

7fc1f95190226b99409fad04e0ba3e9e

sports

Former Patriots captain says organization is to blame for Mac Jones

Devin McCourty has an interesting perspective when it comes to the Patriots quarterback situation. The longtime Patriots safety and captain was in New England during the glory days with Tom Brady. He also shared the field with Mac Jones for the first two years of his NFL career. With Jones being benched in favor of Bailey Zappe, McCourty also recognizes how the Patriots organization failed their young quarterback. Between three different offensive coordinators and a shaky receiver depth chart, McCourty told WEEI’s ‘The Greg Hill Show’ that the Patriots organization is to blame more for Jones’ struggles. “I mean, to me it’s a no-brainer. Everybody in the organization raved about the guy’s work ethic. How he’s there early, he’s there late,” McCourty said. “So, to me, it’s hard to just say, like, it’s his fault. I have no problem if someone in their opinion says, ‘Hey I just don’t think the guy’s that good. Yeah, he had a good rookie year, but I don’t think that he’s the guy that everyone made him out to be.’ I have no problem if that’s your opinion. “I don’t think, no matter how you feel about him, I don’t think you’d walk away from the situation and say, ‘hey, you know, this situation that they built around him was really good and he just didn’t get the job done.’ Like, to me, there’s no way, if you’re going to be factual, you got to look, there’s just no way.” $200 INSTANT BONUS DRAFTKINGS MASS CLAIM OFFER BET $5, GET $200 BONUS BET FANDUEL MASS CLAIM OFFER BET $50, GET $250 BONUS CAESARS MASS CLAIM OFFER $1,000 FIRST-BET BONUS BETMGM MASS CLAIM OFFER MA only. 21+. Gambling Problem? If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support. LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234 MA Gambling Helpline. MA only. 21+. Gambling Problem? If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support. LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234 MA Gambling Helpline. McCourty pointed at two big situations that hurt Jones’ development from his rookie season – the offensive coordinator situation and the team’s wide receiver depth chart. In his third NFL season, Jones is on his third offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in Bill O’Brien. After succeeding under Josh McDaniels in 2021, Belichick replaced the longtime offensive coordinator with Matt Patricia (offensive coordinator) and Joe Judge (quarterbacks coach) in 2022. Belichick also changed the Patriots offensive system. This year, Belichick brought O’Brien back, but once again, the Patriots offensive system changed and is still different from what Jones ran as a rookie. There’s also the receiver situation. Jones excelled in 2021 with Jakobi Meyers and Kendrick Bourne as his top two receivers. In 2022, Meyers remained the top receiver, but Bourne lost playing time and played fewer snaps than DeVante Parker, Nelson Agholor, and Tyquan Thornton. This offseason, the Patriots opted to not re-sign Jones’ security blanket, Meyers, in favor of JuJu Smith-Schuster, who’s been a disappointment. All of it added up to Jones regressing. “You have three different offensive coordinators in three years. They had different receivers, and I would say impact players kind of each year. All have been kind of moving parts,” McCourty said. “Seemed like he kind of built a connection with Jakobi Meyers, then Jakobi’s gone. So like it would be hard for me to just say, ‘Hey, like it’s all him.’ Like Kendrick Bourne, his rookie year goes out there has a kind of a career year. Then the next year, Kendrick Bourne doesn’t really play at all. I think it’s hard to say, ‘Hey, it’s all on Mac.’ “And again, I have no problem with the guys that watch and say, ‘Hey, I evaluated this quarterback, his arm strength, his mobility. Like if you want to come up with all of those metrics that you think makes a quarterback good and you think he doesn’t hit those certain criteria that you like in a quarterback, I get that. “But I think. overall, if you say, ‘Hey, which side do you see more at fault?’ To me, it’s no doubt the organization, what’s been put around him, for these straight three years.”

70e6f0efe07b5303e170de63783b496a

sports

New episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Stream for free

The NBC series “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” returns to the network on Monday, Jan. 8 at 11:30 p.m. ET. Those without cable who want to catch the episode premiere when it airs on NBC can do so for free through either FuboTV or DirecTV Stream, each of which offer a free trial to new users. You can also watch the series on Peacock. In the new episode, the show will welcome actor Seth MacFarlane and singer Mel B. JID will perform as the musical guest. How can I watch the “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” for free without cable? Those without cable can watch the show for free through either through FuboTV or DirecTV Stream, each of which offer a free trial to new users. You can also watch the series in full through Peacock. What is FuboTV? FuboTV is an over-the-top internet live TV streaming service that offers more than 100 channels, like sports, news, entertainment and local channels. It offers DVR storage space, and is designed for people who want to cut the cord, but don’t want to miss out on their favorite live TV and sports. What is DirecTV Stream? The streaming platform offers a plethora of content including streaming the best of live and On Demand, starting with more than 75 live TV channels.

86017b08168677ef86bb5db5becdaa7d

sports

At what point should college athletes be considered employees?

College Sports At what point should college athletes be considered employees? This month, NCAA President Charlie Baker suggested that the wealthiest athletic programs begin putting at least $30,000 annually into trust funds for at least half their athletes. Granting athletes employee status would bolster their standing in antitrust lawsuits and arm the highest-profile athletes, football and men’s and women’s basketball players, with the power to collectively bargain directly with universities for salaries and other rights. Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images LOS ANGELES — Brandon Outlaw sat on a witness stand for two days this week and described what it was like to play football at the University of Southern California. His fingerprints were scanned when he arrived for meals at the athletes’ dining hall to make sure he was there. He received text messages from anonymous class checkers, who on occasion asked him to send photos to verify he was indeed in class. He regularly urinated into a cup before practice and handed it to a member of the training staff, who would inform him if he was properly hydrated. After Outlaw conducted an interview with a student journalist, a coach reminded him that he had violated team policy by not clearing the interview with a school official. Advertisement: Outlaw, who graduated in December 2022 with a master’s degree in entrepreneurship and innovation, detailed an existence that bore little semblance to the romantic ideal of the college athlete. Instead, he described football as occupying close to 60 hours per week during the season and requiring him — with an athletic academic counselor’s assistance — to shoehorn his classes into windows that did not conflict with his countless football-related activities, which some days started at 6 a.m. The question at the heart of Outlaw’s testimony, at a National Labor Relations Board hearing, is a simple one that carries profound implications: Should college athletes be considered employees? If the answer is yes, it could be the death knell for the amateurism model that has remained a bedrock of college athletics as it has evolved into a billion-dollar business, allowing schools to pour money that might have gone directly to players into coaches’ salaries, glittering facilities and ballooning staffs. Granting athletes employee status would bolster their standing in antitrust lawsuits and arm the highest-profile athletes, football and men’s and women’s basketball players, with the power to collectively bargain directly with universities for salaries and other rights. The case threatens to “disrupt and transform more than 100 years of college athletics,” said Adam Abrahms, a lawyer representing USC, which, along with the Pac-12 Conference and the NCAA, is a defendant. Advertisement: Such disruption would be welcome, said Ramogi Huma, the executive director of the National College Players Association, an athlete advocacy group. Earlier this year, Huma filed the complaint with the NLRB on behalf of USC’s football and men’s and women’s basketball players. “The years of tradition we’re trying to stop is the tradition of exploitation, the tradition of double standards and the tradition of refusing to pay fair market value to employees,” Huma said Wednesday after the third day of the hearing. The proceedings are scheduled to continue in late January, when coaches and administrators may be called to testify, and conclude by the end of February. A ruling is not likely to come until later next year. The hearing, in Los Angeles, is but one salvo in an assault against amateurism that was supercharged in 2021 by a unanimous Supreme Court decision in which Justice Brett Kavanaugh characterized the NCAA as a price-fixing cartel. Players on the Dartmouth men’s basketball team have also gone before the NLRB to ask that they be considered employees; and a lawsuit, Johnson v. the NCAA, seeking to have athletes considered employees, is winding its way through federal court. Then there is a raft of antitrust suits, including House v. NCAA, a class-action grievance asking for $1.4 billion in damages (which the court could triple) for athletes in the top conferences. The athletes in that case argue that the NCAA’s previous restrictions on name, image and likeness rights unfairly deprived them from a share of television and social media revenue. Advertisement: These challenges have prompted the NCAA to repeatedly ask for an antitrust exemption from Congress, where they have seldom found a sympathetic ear. The lack of traction prompted Charlie Baker, a former Massachusetts governor in his first year as NCAA president, to suggest this month that the wealthiest athletic programs begin putting at least $30,000 annually into trust funds for at least half their athletes, an offering he hopes will get Congress to accede to narrow antitrust relief. “We all know this is a big public issue and people have opinions about college sports,” said Daniel Nash, the lead counsel for the Pac-12. “But this is an unfair labor practice case.” The stage in Los Angeles — far from the halls of Congress or august courtrooms with wood paneling and high ceilings — reflected that. The hearing took place in a conference room in a generic glass office building with the administrative judge, Eleanor Laws, seated in a portable box where she looked eye to eye across a table of more than a dozen lawyers. (About the only other people in the room were several members of the news media.) That a case would end up before the NLRB, which handles fair employment cases involving private businesses, has seemed inevitable since Jennifer Abruzzo, the board’s general counsel, invited a challenge two years ago by issuing a memo saying that the law would support classifying scholarship football players in the NCAA’s top division as employees. National College Players Association Executive Director Ramogi Huma testifies during a Senate Commerce subcommittee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, on intercollegiate athlete compensation. – AP Photo/Susan Walsh The NLRB accepted Huma’s case, which has been broadened to include men’s and women’s basketball players as well as nonscholarship athletes, who are commonly referred to as walk-ons. The Pac-12 and the NCAA have been named as co-defendants so that any ruling would apply to both public and private schools that are part of those organizations. Advertisement: Over the opening days, Amanda Laufer, the lead attorney for the general counsel, sought to demonstrate through the testimony of two recent former walk-on football players, Outlaw and Kohl Hollinquest, that USC exerted extraordinary control over the athletes, even ones who were not being rewarded with scholarships or earning hundreds of thousands of dollars in endorsements like Caleb Williams, the team’s Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback. (Another subpoenaed witness did not show up for the hearing Wednesday. Laufer declined to identify the athlete, but subpoenas have been issued for other athletes.) In addition to the fingerprint monitoring of their dining hall attendance, the class monitors and the nearly daily hydration and weight checks, players were required to remain in the team hotel when they were on the road unless they left with the team — even if the game was many hours away. Laufer asked Outlaw if he could meet a friend for coffee? “No,” Outlaw said. Could he visit the Space Needle while the team was in Seattle? “No,” Outlaw said. Both players described a point system under the current head coach, Lincoln Riley, and his predecessor, Clay Helton, in which being late or missing meetings, meals, weightlifting sessions or classes would add up to punishment from the team. Outlaw testified that on Monday mornings, Riley would stand in front of the team and read a list of the previous week’s transgressions. For each one, every player would have to do one up-down, an exercise where players drop down to a pushup position then bounce back up. Advertisement: Outlaw, who ran track at the University of Virginia for four years before he transferred to USC and joined the football team, said that while some workouts are considered voluntary — the NCAA has hours restrictions on team activities — players are expected to participate. “They’d say things like, ‘No, this isn’t mandatory. You don’t have to do it,’” Outlaw said with a smile. “‘But it’s also not mandatory for us to play you in the fall.’” This contrasted with the picture that Abrahms had illustrated of football as an extracurricular activity that is part of the “institutional fabric” of the school. Athletes “don’t come to USC with the intention of punching a clock,” he added. Abrahms sought to make the point in his cross-examination that the players had gained skills like discipline and leadership from playing football that would benefit them long after college. Abrahms, Nash and Rick Pins, the lead counsel for the NCAA, tried to draw a connection in their questioning of Outlaw and Hollinquest between the demands of college football and those of high school football, where the players also had coaches, schedules and rules to follow. But Laufer noted that those are also characteristics of professional football. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

e050b7fc293d868ec21623995713286c

sports

Rob Gronkowski: Suspended Steelers safety made football play

Rob Gronkowski agrees with Tom Brady saying the NFL is “flat-out” wrong for suspending Pittsburgh Steelers safety Damontae Kazee for the remainder of the 2023 season for “repeated violations of playing rules intended to protect the health and safety of players.” Kazee was ejected from Sunday’s game for an illegal hit to the head of Indianapolis Colts receiver Michael Pittman. And while the league wants to make the game safer and eliminate dangerous hits, Kazee’s hit to Pittman had many wondering what else the safety could have done in that situation with Pittman flying through the air in order to catch the ball. Gronkowski was asked about the suspension on the “Up & Adams” show Wednesday and is of the belief Kazee shouldn’t have been suspended at all. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. “A suspension for the rest of the season, I think, is a little bit too much. I don’t even think he should have been suspended at all,” he said. “From the angle of it, the guy led with his shoulder. I mean, what else is he supposed to do? The guy’s laying out for a catch, how else are you supposed to attack the opposing guy that’s catching the ball as a defender? “That play was a football play,” Gronkowski continued. “There’s no other outcome that could have happened there. The defender made a play on how the defender should have made the play. He led with his shoulder, as well. He didn’t lead with his head. ... And on top of it, Gardner Minshew did throw a bad ball. ... So, Tom is right. And I would never argue with Tom on these situations because Tom is the best quarterback of all time. ... That was a clean hit. It was. What was wrong with it? What else could the defender have done?” Brady, who made his opinion known under SportsCenter’s Instagram comment section, called for better play from the quarterbacks so they don’t put their teammates in danger. “QBs needs to read coverages and throw the ball to the right places and defenders should aim for the right hitting areas,” Brady wrote. “Need better QB play!! It’s not OK QBs to get your WRs hit because of your bad decisions!” Brady’s been critical of the NFL this year, calling it “more like flag football” due to some penalties getting called now that wouldn’t have been called 10 years ago. Kazee — who’s been fined five times this season by the NFL — originally was suspended for the entire regular season and the playoffs, a decision he appealed. The appeals officer upheld the regular-season suspension Wednesday, but Kazee is now eligible to return for the postseason should the Steelers make it.

f8d060303877221c19acb18c68ebbe9f

sports

Why Bill Belichick Fit In So Well, for So Long, in New England

It is hard to make an impression, and even harder to make history in a place as old and momentous as New England. The measuring stick is so high. But Bill Belichick, who departed Thursday as the head coach of the New England Patriots after 24 years of unmatched dominance in America’s most popular sport, will be remembered alongside New England legends like Ted Williams, Bill Russell and Paul Revere. OK, Paul Revere is a stretch. Only Tom Brady will exist in perpetuity alongside Paul Revere. Nevertheless, Belichick, whose teams won an N.F.L. record six Super Bowls with Brady as quarterback, is big enough in the Boston area that he could qualify as an honorary Kennedy. Belichick’s exit as the Patriots coach, after consecutive losing years that included this season’s 4-13 record, is an end of an era in a place where sports heroes can outshine almost any senator, civic leader or artist. Belichick, known for his rumpled appearance, unsmiling countenance and monotone voice, was celebrated as savant, savior and sage. He also became an influential, popular role model in New England.

4289bb156a7993d03dc6c10f8ca37b1d

sports

Red Sox mailbag: When will the Red Sox start spending like they used to?

We’ve hit roughly the halfway point of the offseason, and with Winter Weekend and likely a few more moves still to come before spring training, now is as good a time as any to empty out the mailbag and answer your questions. Today we’ll cover the Red Sox payroll, potential trade scenarios and how a couple of newcomers could factor into the big league equation. When will the Red Sox start spending again like they used to? Or are those days over? — Ben I. This is a question I hear from Red Sox fans a lot, and it’s especially worth addressing given the recent reports that ownership set a budget of $225 million last year and has been squirrelly about payroll this winter. Basically, what exactly would “spending again like they used to” actually look like, and what would constitute an acceptable payroll for this club? Traditionally, the Red Sox have ranked in the top five for payroll throughout John Henry’s ownership, and according to year-by-year Associated Press data, the Red Sox ranked top five in 19 of the past 22 seasons. They ranked second to the Yankees in five out of six seasons between 2002-08, one of the most successful runs in team history, and boasted the No. 1 payroll in 2018-19. But lately that’s begun to change. Since 2019, the Red Sox have been surpassed by numerous other teams, with the club dropping to sixth in 2022 and to 13th in 2023, by far the worst mark relative to the league in recent franchise history. According to Red Sox Payroll on Twitter, the club finished with a payroll of approximately $225 million this past year — meeting ownership’s reported mandate — and while that isn’t far off from the club’s biggest spending seasons, it still falls far short of the investments made by other organizations in recent years, notably the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers. So if the Red Sox are going to spend like they used to, they need to pick up the pace. In order to get back into the top five, the Red Sox will probably have to carry a payroll of at least $250 million. Even if that doesn’t approach the ludicrous spending we’ve seen from Steve Cohen and the Mets, it would at least put the club back on par with the Yankees, Dodgers and Phillies. So, that’s it, right? Well, not quite. The other factor to consider is timing, and while going over the luxury tax threshold hasn’t deterred the other big clubs, there are valid baseball reasons why the Red Sox might want to stay below for one more year before pushing their chips to the center of the table. Besides the luxury tax payments themselves, clubs that go over the luxury tax suffer draft pick penalties, most notably in terms of the compensatory picks they get when a high-profile free agent leaves. If a club is below the tax threshold, they’ll get a pick between the second and third rounds, while if they’re over it’ll drop to between the fourth and fifth. The penalties get stiffer for each year a club is over the threshold, and if the difference of a few rounds doesn’t seem significant, remember that the Red Sox acquired top outfield prospect Roman Anthony with an early compensatory pick in 2022. Had they been over the tax he’d likely be playing for a different organization. Given that this team is coming off two straight last place finishes and is probably still more than a year away from championship contention, it wouldn’t be outrageous for Red Sox ownership to want to hang below the tax threshold at least one more season. If that’s their goal, then they should approach the $237 million tax threshold — maybe leave a small buffer for midseason acquisitions — and ready themselves for a big push starting in 2025. But if this season’s payroll comes out to $225 million again — or worse, even lower — then red flags should go up all across New England and the team will have some explaining to do. What implications does potentially moving on from Kenley Jansen have on the bullpen? Who would replace him? — Justin Z. So this question comes amid reports that the Red Sox might be looking to slash payroll before targeting some of the remaining free agents more aggressively, and Kenley Jansen is someone who has been floated as a possible trade chip to help accomplish that. Personally, I think that’d be a bad idea and would be completely self-defeating, but let’s say they do deal Jansen and unload his $16 million remaining salary. What then? The Red Sox have a couple of internal options who could slot into the closer role. The top candidate would seemingly be Chris Martin, who just put together one of the best seasons by a reliever in team history after posting a 1.05 ERA over 55 appearances. He occasionally held down the fort in the ninth inning when Jansen wasn’t available, but he also has only 12 career saves, so it might be better not to mess with a good thing and leave him to dominate the eighth. If not Martin, the Red Sox could also turn the closer job over to Tanner Houck or Garrett Whitlock, both of whom have held the role in the past. Houck earned eight saves during the summer of 2022, including six in a two-week span in June, before injuries derailed his season. Whitlock unofficially became the guy late in 2021, though he still typically threw two innings at a time rather than follow the traditional save-situation blueprint. The Red Sox could also add from outside the organization, perhaps signing free agent closer Jordan Hicks, but hopefully this entire conversation proves moot. Jansen is one of the best closers in baseball history and the Red Sox would be better off with him locking things down at the end of games rather than trying to outsmart themselves to save a few bucks. Who in the minors is absolutely untouchable in trade talks? — Paul Z. Nobody. Seriously, at this point in the Red Sox competitive cycle, the club shouldn’t hesitate to do whatever it takes to improve the big league roster. And while I’m not advocating that Craig Breslow gut the farm system, the organization has amassed enough young talent that the Red Sox shouldn’t shy away from a bold move if the right guy is on the table. Look at the infield. Right now the Red Sox have Rafael Devers, Trevor Story, Vaughn Grissom and Triston Casas under team control for the next four years and beyond. Perhaps Marcelo Mayer could push his way into that group as well, but even if he does that still leaves standouts like Nick Yorke, Chase Meidroth, Blaze Jordan and Mikey Romero with their paths potentially blocked. The same is true for the outfield. Masataka Yoshida will probably be around for four more years and the club could still add another big bat, which would potentially leave only one spot for Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, Roman Anthony and Miguel Bleis. Even if all of those players blossom into stars — they won’t — there just isn’t going to be enough room for everyone. If there is anyone who’s probably the least likely to go, it’s probably Brayan Bello and Kyle Teel. Bello because he represents exactly the type of young pitcher the organization is trying to add more of, and Teel because he’s a one-of-one within the Red Sox system who could potentially be catching in the majors by the end of this season. But as for the others, why not pick two, three or four and maximize their value now? That way you can strengthen the club while still leaving enough talent to build with later. Where does Tyler O’Neill fit into the Red Sox plans this season? — Ed H. It’s difficult to say without knowing how the outfield is going to ultimately shake out, but assuming nothing changes I think it’s safe to say we’ll see O’Neill playing a lot in left field. As of this writing Boston’s best lineup would likely have Yoshida primarily at designated hitter, O’Neill in left field, Jarren Duran in center and Wilyer Abreu in right. If the Red Sox were to sign Teoscar Hernandez then he might bump Abreu from right field, but in either case O’Neill would still see regular time. Two of O’Neill’s most valuable qualities are his defense — he won both of his Gold Gloves while exclusively playing left field for St. Louis — and his bat against lefties. He has a career .816 OPS against lefties compared to .765 against righties, so it’s a safe bet that whenever the Red Sox face a lefty we’ll probably see a lot of lineups that include both him and Rob Refsnyder. And if there’s ever a righty who is particularly weak against lefties, maybe that’s when O’Neill will sit and the Red Sox will load up on lefties with Yoshida, Duran and Abreu in the outfield. Again, a lot could change here, but I’d bet O’Neill will play just about every day. Bryan Mata either makes the 26-man roster or he’s gone. What do you foresee? — Josh B. I think Mata is probably going to get traded. It’s really hard to see how he’ll crack the opening day bullpen given all the other arms vying for spots, and with Justin Slaten also needing to make the roster, the Red Sox will probably need to prioritize the guys they can stash in Triple-A. That’s why they cut Mauricio Llovera loose, but I also think Mata has enough value that he could be included as part of a larger deal. Mata has the kind of stuff you can’t teach, and a guy who can throw 100 mph gas out of the bullpen is something that will be of interest to a lot of clubs. The trouble is his command has been terrible and his extensive run of injuries has hampered his development to the point where he’s now out of options and essentially has to make the team or be designated for assignment. If Breslow eventually swings a deal for a starting pitcher or another outfielder, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Mata were included as the second or third prospect to sweeten the pot. If not, I suppose he’ll go into spring training and compete for a spot like everyone else. Maybe the club’s new pitching infrastructure could help unlock his potential and turn him into a late-game weapon, but personally I have my doubts and wouldn’t get my hopes up about seeing him pitch for the Red Sox, this year or maybe ever.

ff59255af36f81c83f75fb887f4548b9

sports

NFC Wild Card tickets: Where to buy Rams vs. Lions tickets

The Detroit Lions won their first division title in three decades and will now host the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Wild Card round of the playoffs on Sunday, Jan. 14. Carson Wentz threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score to lead the Los Angeles Rams to a 21-20 victory over the San Francisco 49ers to clinch the sixth seed in the NFC. The NFC Wild Card matchup will be on Sunday, January 14 at 8 p.m. EST. Fans looking to attend this NFL playoff game in person have plenty of options and can shop around at StubHub and *VividSeats. *New customers who purchase tickets through VividSeats can get $20 off a $200+ ticket order by using the promo code MassLive20 at checkout.* If you need to travel outside your local area to get to this game, head over to TripAdvisor, VRBO, Marriott or Booking.com for deals on everything from car rentals to airfare to hotels. As of Monday, January 8, the cheapest tickets are $429 on StubHub and $399 on VividSeats. Who: Detroit Lions vs. Los Angeles Rams When: Sunday, January 14 at 8 p.m. EST Where: Ford Field in Detroit, MI Stream: fuboTV (free trial); or Sling; or DirecTV Stream Tickets: StubHub and VividSeats Gear: Shop around for jerseys, shirts, hats, hoodies and more at Fanatics.com Sports Betting Promos: NFL fans can wager online on Massachusetts sports betting with enticing promo codes from top online sportsbooks. Use the FanDuel Massachusetts promo code and the DraftKings Massachusetts promo code for massive new user bonuses. RELATED CONTENT: DETROIT (AP) — Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell was determined to close the regular season with a win, taking the risk of getting players hurt in hopes of moving from the No. 3 to the No. 2 seed in the NFC and potentially hosting two or more playoff games. Detroit won a franchise record-tying 12th game, beating Minnesota, but lost standout rookie tight end Sam LaPorta to a potentially serious knee injury. LaPorta had a 2-yard touchdown catch midway through the first quarter and later limped off the field with a knee injury as the Lions went on to beat the Vikings 30-20 on Sunday. It was an ominous development for the NFC champions a week before the postseason. “You’re either all in or all out,” Campbell said. Detroit (12-5) matched the 1991 team’s win total and will host a playoff game for the first time since the 1993 season, when it played at the Pontiac Silverdome. The Lions secured the No. 3 seed by winning a division title for the first time in three decades. They needed Dallas to lose later Sunday at Washington to move up a spot in the NFC, but the Cowboys had no trouble with the last-place Commanders, winning 38-10 to earn the No. 2 seed. Detroit will host its former quarterback, Matthew Stafford, and the Los Angeles Rams in the playoffs next Sunday night, and the Lions will spend the week hoping LaPorta is healthy enough to help them earn a second playoff victory since winning the 1957 league title. LaPorta had 86 catches, an NFL record by a rookie tight end that surpassed Keith Jackson’s 81 receptions in 1988 with the Philadelphia Eagles. The second-round pick from Iowa had 889 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns. “You can’t replace that chemistry,” quarterback Jared Goff said. Goff was 23 of 32 for 320 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown in the fourth quarter. Minnesota (7-10) was eliminated from playoff contention, losing four straight games and six of seven in a season stunted by Kirk Cousins’ torn Achilles tendon and the team’s inability to replace him. “I appreciate the way these guys battled all the way to the end, despite all the adversity and all the injuries,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said. Nick Mullens, one of three quarterbacks to start for the Vikings over their final five games, lofted a 38-yard touchdown pass to Justin Jefferson in the final minute of the third quarter and had a 42-yard pass to Jordan Addison for another score on his next possession to keep Minnesota within a touchdown. Mullens threw interceptions to Cam Sutton and C.J. Gardner-Johnson late in the fourth, ending Minnesota’s comeback hopes. He finished 30 of 44 for 396 yards. As usual, Jefferson did his part for the Vikings. He had a career-high-matching 12 catches for a season-high 192 yards and a score. Jefferson, who missed seven games with a hamstring injury, joined Wes Chandler (1982) and Jim Benton (1945) as the only players in league history to have 1,000 yards receiving in 10 or fewer games. “It is so impressive what he has been able to accomplish in a year with so much adversity and with all the defensive looks he saw,” O’Connell said. “When he is available for a full game, he’s as dominant as anyone in the league.” CROWD FAVORITE A week after a much-disputed call negated a go-ahead, 2-point conversion against the Cowboys, fans at Ford Field roared each time offensive lineman Dan Skipper reported as eligible and cheered even louder when he caught a 4-yard pass. INJURY REPORT Vikings: OG Ed Ingram (shoulder) was not cleared to play after being listed as questionable, joining OT Brian O’Neill (ankle) and with CBs Mekhi Blackmon (shoulder) and Byron Murphy (knee) on the inactive list. Lions: LaPorta’s injury looms large. Return specialist Kalif Ray was also ruled out during the game with a knee injury. WR Jameson Williams (ankle) was inactive with an ankle injury. UP NEXT Vikings: Missed the playoffs for third time in four years, failing to earn consecutive postseason bids for the first time since the 2008 and 2009 seasons. Minnesota won 13 games and the NFC North last year in O’Connell’s debut season. “We need to go into the offseason and figure out what the difference was between Year 1 and Year 2,” he said. Lions: Host a playoff game at Ford Field for the first time — and in prime time — as they aim to win a postseason game for the first time since beating Dallas on Jan. 5, 1992. The Lions haven’t played the Rams since Oct. 24, 2021, when Stafford led Los Angeles to a 28-19 victory at SoFi Stadium that dropped Detroit to 0-7. The Rams won the Super Bowl that season, but since then, the Lions have been ascendant. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL The Associated Press contributed to this article

bebc2a2be23eb41e32264db0d76bacf1

sports

New potential suitor emerges for Bill Belichick (report)

If Bill Belichick and the Patriots part ways, the coach could garner plenty of attention on the open market. Belichick has already been linked to coaching vacancies in Los Angeles, Carolina and Washington, provided the Commanders move on from Ron Rivera. On Sunday morning, NFL Media offered a new potential suitor: The Atlanta Falcons, who might move on from Arthur Smith. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. “A loss would drop Atlanta to 1-4 over its final five games of the regular season and ensure a third straight seven-win season, heightening scrutiny on the progress of the football operation at a time when there could be big-name coaches — including Patriots legend Bill Belichick, whose name has come up frequently in connection with Atlanta in conversations with league sources the past week — potentially becoming available,” Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported. One of the authors of the most heartbreaking moment in Falcons history, it’s easy to see why Atlanta would covet Belichick. The 28-3 comeback in Super Bowl LI will never be forgotten and the coach’s resume is obviously excellent. From Belichick’s perspective, there would be pros and cons to the opening. Falcons owner Arthur Blank is one of the steadiest in the sport, and they play in one of the weakest divisions in football. It’d be easy to see Belichick going there and ascending to the top of the NFC South in relatively short order. They have a number of young building blocks on offense in RB Bijan Robinson, WR Drake London, and TE Kyle Pitts. However, they also have a lot of uncertainty at the quarterback position, won’t possess a high first-round pick, are middle of the pack when it comes to salary cap space in 2024, and they’re not one of the NFL’s blue chip franchises.

de146ed5506efdb7f527255ce8783506

sports

Powerball: See the winning numbers in Saturdays $620 million drawing

It’s time to grab your tickets and check to see if you’re a big winner! The Powerball lottery jackpot continues to rise after one lucky winner in California won $1.73 billion in the October 11 drawing. Is this your lucky night? Here are Saturday’s winning lottery numbers: 09-14-17-18-53, Powerball: 06, Power Play: 3X Double Play Winning Numbers 20-37-39-40-43, Powerball: 01 The estimated Powerball jackpot is $620 million. The lump sum payment before taxes would be about $312 million. The Double Play is a feature that gives players in select locations another chance to match their Powerball numbers in a separate drawing. The Double Play drawing is held following the regular drawing and has a top cash prize of $10 million. Powerball is held in 45 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The Double Play add-on feature is available for purchase in 13 lottery jurisdictions, including Pennsylvania and Michigan. A $2 ticket gives you a one in 292.2 million chance at joining the hall of Powerball jackpot champions. The drawings are held at 10:59 p.m. Eastern, Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. The deadline to purchase tickets is 9:45 p.m.

f09987d2a14a8a13da948924aaace59c

sports

Boys Basketball Scoreboard: Angel Castillo, Athol hold off Frontier & more

The Athol boys basketball team defeated Frontier by just two points Thursday night to remain undefeated. Behind the 50-48 win, Athol moved to 5-0 on the season.

173b810729c73d0e5a389d825718aecd

sports

UMass mens basketball falls short in one-point loss to Loyola Chicago

One point marked the difference Wednesday night as the UMass men’s basketball team fell to Loyola Chicago, 79-78, on the road. Loyola Chicago went into the half with a three-point lead, and while the Minutemen outscored Loyola Chicago in the second half, it wasn’t enough. The lead changed hands 13 times and was tied on seven different occasions. Josh Cohen led the way offensively for UMass, putting up a team-high 28 points to go along with eight rebounds, two steals and a block. Jaylen Curry added on 18 points. Philip Alston led Loyola Chicago with 23 points, while Des Watson had 15 points. The loss moved UMass to 11-6 and 2-3 in the Atlantic-10. The Minutemen will return home Saturday when they host George Washington at 12 p.m.

3f64ad0d2489a5512d593c04643ed8b9

sports

Former Patriots exec makes case for Rodney Harrison to be in HOF

Rodney Harrison is still eyeing a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame after he was named a semifinalist (again) in November. The former Patriots safety has quite the résumé, which includes being the NFL’s first member of the 30-interception, 30-sack club. The two-time Super Bowl champion has been eligible since 2013, but hasn’t gone beyond being named a semifinalist. Former Patriots Vice President of Player Personnel Scott Pioli made his case for Harrison, as he has in the past, and explained what makes Harrison a Hall of Famer on the latest episode of “Eye On Foxborough.” BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. “There’s only been two players that have ever done it (30 sacks, 30 interceptions). The other one being Ray Lewis. I get stats, I know stats, I’m not a huge stats guy. But if we’re gonna talk about stats for this moment, let’s talk about that,” Pioli told MassLive Patriots columnist Karen Guregian. Pioli, now an NFL Network analyst, mentioned how Harrison has done more in fewer games than Hall of Famer John Lynch. “I understand the importance of numbers, and I’ve never been someone who’s made it just about the numbers. When you look at film, when you look at tape during Rodney’s time, there’s no doubt that he’s one of the best players in the National Football League at that position,” he said. “And when we talk about numbers, again, if we’re going to talk about numbers, when you look at Rodney’s tackles that are more, interceptions that are more, sacks that are more than John Lynch and this is not discrediting John Lynch at all, but he did it in only 186 games, whereas John played 224 games.” More than his numbers, though, Harrison is also “one of the most incredible and fine human beings.” “He’s an amazing human being. He’s an incredible husband. He’s an incredible father. He was one of the best teammates I’ve ever seen,” Pioli said. Harrison will find out if he’s among the 15 finalists before the official Hall of Fame Class of 2024 is announced at the NFL Honors on Feb. 8.