📰🏟️ Not fired?
LSU-Brian Kelly saga continues…
Good afternoon. Welcome back to a shortened week of top sports stories. Let’s get right to it.
1) LSU now claims it never fired Brian Kelly
Kelly was removed as LSU’s head football coach on October 26 following a loss to Texas A&M, leaving a $56 million buyout remaining on his 10-year, $100 million contract.
- But, according to a lawsuit filed by Kelly this week, LSU is now claiming that former AD Scott Woodward did not have "the authority to terminate Coach Kelly” before Woodward himself was fired a few days later.
- The suit also says LSU believes it can now officially fire Kelly with cause (for unspecified reasons) and avoid paying his buyout.
2) Worst team in MLB embraces Moneyball
The Colorado Rockies hired Paul DePodesta—the inspiration for Jonah Hill’s character in Moneyball—on Monday to be the team’s president of baseball operations.
- DePodesta has had a long career across the front offices of the A’s, Dodgers, Padres, Mets, and most recently the NFL’s Cleveland Browns.
- He takes over a team that’s coming off a 119-loss season, hasn’t had a winning record since 2018, and has never won the World Series.
Can Moneyball save the Rockies?
3) Super Bowl race is wide open
Through 10 weeks, the top-three teams in the NFL by wins—the Patriots, Colts and Broncos—all entered the season as total long shots to win the Super Bowl.
- Meanwhile, some of the teams widely expected to be dominant now find themselves out of a playoff spot, including the Ravens and Chiefs.
- But despite their 5-4 record, Kansas City still remains the overall Super Bowl favorite by betting odds.
The year everyone was wrong about the NFL
4) NBA unveils new All-Star Game format
The league’s new “USA v. World” All-Star Game format will feature three teams of eight players: two American squads, and one international. If the 24 selected players don’t create the desired 16‑to‑8 American‑international split, commissioner Adam Silver will add players to balance it.
- The All-Star Game’s first three “quarters” will be made up of round-robin play featuring all three teams, allowing each of them to play twice, before a final championship quarter.
- Traditional fan, media, and player voting systems will remain—but positional requirements are gone, meaning the top five vote‑getters will start regardless of position.
Explore the full-court shakeup
5) MLB Awards Week continues
On Monday, A’s 1B Nick Kurtz was unanimously selected as the AL Rookie of the Year, while Braves C Drake Baldwin earned the National League honor.
- The Managers of the Year awards, announced yesterday, were an exact repeat from last year: both Stephen Vogt (Guardians) and Pat Murphy (Brewers) won for the second straight season.
- Cy Young winners will be announced tonight, with MVPs from both leagues to be unveiled tomorrow at the MLB’s annual awards show alongside other 2025 accolades.
🔥🧢 In Partnership with Melin
The highest quality cold-weather headwear on earth
Melin's THERMAL Collection isn't one-size-fits-all winter gear; it's engineered for how you actually spend time outside.
Morning runs need breathability. Weekends on the slopes demand durability and style. The Warmth Rating Scale delivers options: light insulation for active days, medium protection for all-day comfort, arctic-ready warmth for serious cold.
Climate Adapt Technology regulates temperature without overheating. Water-repellent exteriors handle snow and sleet. Premium materials like Merino Wool and hand-oiled Nappa leather perform flawlessly and look even better.