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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Tarik Skubal showing leadership of AL-best Detroit Tigers — on and off the field
The Detroit Tigers returned to Comerica Park on May 9 after a 10-game road trip that spanned three time zones: three games in Houston against the Astros (Central), four in Anaheim against the Angels (Pacific) and three in Denver against the Rockies (Mountain). The trip was bookended by a home series in the Eastern Time Zone. Advertisement This marked the first time in franchise history the Tigers played four consecutive series in four different time zones. The Tigers' plane didn't land until 2 a.m. May 9 — less than 17 hours before the opener of a three-game series against the Texas Rangers in Detroit — but left-hander Tarik Skubal flew home ahead of the team plane to prepare for his start. "We had a long road trip and guys got in late," said Skubal, whose fastball topped 99.5 mph twice in the first inning and maxed out at 100.1 mph in the seventh inning, after the 2-1 victory. "You could expect maybe a little bit of a low-energy game, but I didn't want that to happen." That's on-field leadership. Advertisement Buy our book: The Epic History of the Tigers Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) pitches in the third inning against the Texas Rangers at Comerica Park in Detroit on May 9, 2025. He didn't ease into his start. He came out like a flamethrower. "That was by design," Skubal said. "I think guys came out a little tired — not saying we did come out tired, but I just didn't want that to happen with the late plane ride. I wanted to energize the guys with a quick first inning and get us in the dugout ready to hit." Skubal — the 2024 American League Cy Young winner — took a perfect game into the sixth inning before Josh Smith hit a two-strike fastball for a leadoff single, but Skubal still dominated: seven innings of one-run ball with zero walks and 12 strikeouts. Advertisement He generated 32 whiffs, the most by any Tigers pitcher since the start of the pitch-tracking era in 2008. Six whiffs occurred in the first inning. "There was probably a little bit extra effort in the first inning," Skubal said. The Tigers extended their winning streak to five games, improved their AL-best record to 26-13 and remained atop MLB with a plus-84 run differential. Is there something special brewing? "I don't know," Skubal said. "What month is it? Early May. There's a lot of baseball to be played. I don't want to get ahead of that. ... What makes it special is we show up and try to win every game. ... We need to focus on tomorrow." Advertisement That's off-field leadership. He sounds like manager A.J. Hinch. "The only way I know how to prepare is to get our guys focused," Hinch said, reflecting on the Tigers' AL-best record. "When you're getting those answers from them, it's my fault. All they're going to talk about is the next series because that's all they hear from me, but I'm very proud of our players and our organization." [ MUST LISTEN: Make "Days of Roar" your go-to Detroit Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ] Skubal is the best player on one of the best teams in baseball. Advertisement It would've been easy to play into the hype. After all, the Tigers have a 99.9% chance to make the postseason, according to Baseball Reference. They also have a 90.7% chance to win the AL Central — something that hasn't been done since 2014 — and an MLB-best 19.5% chance to win the World Series, which hasn't happened in Detroit since 1984. But Skubal isn't thinking about October. He's focused on May 10. "Our focus needs to be on getting better each and every day," Skubal said. "I think we do that, and it shows. That's something that A.J. has instilled in everybody. Whatever happened in the last four games doesn't matter when we come to the yard tomorrow. I think our team truly believes that." Advertisement Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@ or follow him @EvanPetzold. Order your copy of 'Roar of 125: The Epic History of the Detroit Tigers!' by the Free Press at Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on demand at Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers' Tarik Skubal leads the way on and off the field
USA Today
15-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
5 biggest storylines on the Giants' 2025 schedule
5 biggest storylines on the Giants' 2025 schedule The New York Giants' 2025 regular season schedule has been ranked the toughest of all 32 NFL teams. They are under pressure to turn the tide on their recent journey through the depths of the league and things may get worse before they get better. Here are the five biggest Giants storylines after the schedule release this week. Very little primetime love this year The Giants are scheduled to play 10 of their 17 games in the early 1 p.m. ET window. They are only scheduled to play in the late afternoon window once (Week 7 at Denver) and have just three prime-time games: one Sunday (Week 3 vs. Kansas City), one Thursday (Week 6 vs. Philadelphia) and once on a Monday (Week 13 at New England). That, of course, could change any time after Week 12 when the league allows flex scheduling, designed to put more important games in prime time. The times for the Giants' final two games – Week 17 at Las Vegas (a Saturday game) and Week 18 at home against Dallas – have yet to be assigned. Home for the holidays For the first time in several years, the Giants are not scheduled to play on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day or any other holidays (or eves). Too many times, holidays have been interrupted by football, causing all interested parties to rearrange their schedules. The Giants also will not participate in any of the NFL's seven international games this season. The Giants, their fans and pundits can have normal 9-to-5 work days this year. A late bye week could prove fateful The Giants have traditionally been one of the NFL's most injured teams in recent years. In some seasons, a mid-season bye has come in very handy. The Giants won't have that luxury in 2025. Their bye week is in Week 14, meaning they will be no rest for the weary. If they stay healthy, this could actually be a strategically optimal time for the bye, especially if they are in contention. Minimal travel should help keep things tight With no overseas games and only two western trips on the schedule, the Giants will play 11 of their 17 games in the Eastern Time Zone and three in Central Time. They will travel a total of 16,081 miles this season, 21st in the NFL. Being close to home is always helpful and the Giants, although they have back-to-back road games on three different occasions this season, will have no long stayovers; they'll return home after every away game. The quarterback watch is on The Giants have a potential quarterback controversy on their hands. Head coach Brian Daboll says there's a plan to integrate first-round pick Jaxson Dart into game action but until then, veteran Russell Wilson will be under center. It is very similar to the scenario the Giants faced in 2004 with Eli Manning and Kurt Warner. Head coach Tom Coughlin decided in Week 11 to start Manning even though Warner had led the Giants to a 5-4 record. The Giants lost six of their final seven games with Eli under center. That can't happen this year. The Giants need to show improvement across the board. That would be the best of both worlds: win more games and get Dart some snaps.
USA Today
15-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
6 takeaways from the Bills' 2025 NFL schedule release
6 takeaways from the Bills' 2025 NFL schedule release The Buffalo Bills have known their opponents for the 2025 season for months. Now, they know when they will face their foes next season. The NFL officially released its full slate of games for the 2025 season on Wednesday. The schedule is full of intrigue as the Bills look to build toward their sixth-consecutive AFC East crown. However, Buffalo will face off against multiple teams that have ended their season in recent years. With that, here are six takeaways from the Bills' 2025 NFL schedule: It's an MVP start to the season Buffalo will host the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1 on Sunday Night Football as the NFL's marquee game to open the season. The previous two NFL MVPs face off in prime time. Both Jackson and Allen have been electrifying over the past few seasons, easily being the most important pieces to their respective teams' success. The NFL made certain to get them on display from the get-go. Early-season home cooking Buffalo will play four of their first five games at home. The most difficult challenge occurs in Week 1, when the Bills host Baltimore. Buffalo then hosts four teams that are rebuilding their rosters. Buffalo will host Miami, New Orleans, and New England in Weeks three through five. There is a strong possibility that the Bills close this portion of their schedule undefeated. The most challenging games Buffalo will face stout competition throughout the season. We know about the Ravens already. The Bills will face both Super Bowl 59 combatants, the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles, throughout the year. Buffalo also faces the surging Cincinnati Bengals and MVP candidate Joe Burrow. The good news? These challenging games are spread out. After Baltimore in Week 1, the Bills will face Kansas City in Week 9, Cincinnati in Week 14, and Philadelphia in Week 17. Even better news? Buffalo will face all of these teams at Highmark Stadium. The final slate of games at the field, still referenced as Rich Stadium by many, will see some of the strongest teams come to One Bills Drive. Favorable travel schedule Buffalo will play one game out of the Eastern Time Zone. Buffalo travels to Houston in Week 12 for a Thursday night matchup. While the Bills will have to adjust to some different start times, they will not spend a great deal of time in the air. They travel the second-fewest miles among teams this season, per ESPN's Alaina Getzenberg. The end of the era Buffalo will play their final game at Highmark Stadium against the New York Jets in Week 18. If the Bills are in the spot that they've been in over the past few seasons, Week 18 might not mean much in the standings. The Bills have sewn up their postseason aspiration well in advance of the final regular season game. However, this game will be marked by memories of reflections as the Bills prepare to move into their new home, just across the street from the historical stadium. It's fitting that Buffalo faces off against the Jets for their final regular-season game at the old Highmark Stadium. Buffalo faced the Jets in the first home game at the stadium on September 30, 1973. Buffalo won an electric defensive affair, 9-7. Overall reaction Bills fans have to be smiling with this schedule. From a fan perspective, four early-season games at home in nice weather will lead to a slew of broken tables in Orchard Park. Buffalo will avoid a massive grind, as the Bills will have time to plan for some of the most challenging teams. Their lack of travel and convenience of playing several tough teams at home make this quite a prelude for a historic season.
New York Times
15-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
2025 NFL schedule: Week-by-week matchups, TV broadcasts and times
The full 2025 NFL regular-season schedule was revealed on Wednesday, and there were a ton of great nuggets to come out of it. Everything starts off with a huge rivalry matchup on Thursday night (Sept. 4) on NBC between the Cowboys and Eagles in Philadelphia. But that's just a start. Among the other highlights: The schedule for Week 18 games on Saturday and Sunday are not set until after Week 17, per the flexible scheduling rules. Follow all of our coverage of the NFL schedule release (All times listed are Eastern Time Zone) Thursday, Sept. 4 Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles, 8:20 p.m., NBC Friday, Sept. 5 Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Chargers in São Paulo, Brazil, 8 p.m., YouTube Advertisement Sunday, Sept. 7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m., FOX Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m., FOX Miami Dolphins at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m., CBS Carolina Panthers at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m., FOX Las Vegas Raiders at New England Patriots, 1 p.m., CBS Arizona Cardinals at New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m., CBS Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Jets, 1 p.m., CBS New York Giants at Washington Commanders, 1 p.m., FOX Tennessee Titans at Denver Broncos, 4:05 p.m., FOX San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks, 4:05 p.m., FOX Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers, 4:25 p.m., CBS Houston Texans at Los Angeles Rams, 4:25 p.m., CBS Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills, 8:20 p.m., NBC Monday, Sept. 8 Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears, 8:15 p.m., ESPN/ABC Thursday, Sept. 11 Washington Commanders at Green Bay Packers, 8:15 p.m., Prime Video Sunday, Sept. 14 Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m., CBS Jacksonville Jaguars at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m., CBS New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys, 1 p.m., FOX Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions, 1 p.m., FOX New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m., CBS San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m., FOX Buffalo Bills at New York Jets, 1 p.m., CBS Seattle Seahawks at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m., FOX Los Angeles Rams at Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m., CBS Carolina Panthers at Arizona Cardinals, 4:05 p.m., CBS Denver Broncos at Indianapolis Colts, 4:05 p.m., CBS Philadelphia Eagles at Kansas City Chiefs, 4:25 p.m., FOX Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings, 8:20 p.m., NBC Monday, Sept. 15 Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Houston Texans, 7 p.m., ABC Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders, 10 p.m., ESPN Thursday, Sept. 18 Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills, 8:15 p.m., Prime Video Sunday, Sept. 21 Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m., FOX Advertisement Green Bay Packers at Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m., FOX Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m., CBS Cincinnati Bengals at Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m., CBS Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots 1 p.m., CBS Los Angeles Rams at Philadelphia Eagles, 1 p.m., FOX New York Jets at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m., FOX Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m., CBS Las Vegas Raiders at Washington Commanders, 1 p.m., FOX Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers, 4:05 p.m., CBS New Orleans Saints at Seattle Seahawks, 4:05 p.m., CBS Dallas Cowboys at Chicago Bears, 4:25 p.m., FOX Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers, 4:25 p.m., FOX Kansas City Chiefs at New York Giants 8:20 p.m., NBC Monday, Sept. 22 Detroit Lions at Baltimore Ravens, 8:15 p.m., NBC Thursday, Sept. 25 Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals, 8:15 p.m., Prime Video Sunday, Sept. 28 Minnesota Vikings vs. Pittsburgh Steelers in Dublin, Ireland, 9:30 a.m., NFL Network Washington Commanders at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m., CBS New Orleans Saints at Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m., CBS Cleveland Browns at Detroit Lions, 1 p.m., FOX Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans, 1 p.m., CBS Carolina Panthers at New England Patriots, 1 p.m., FOX Los Angeles Chargers at New York Giants, 1 p.m. (ET), CBS Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m., FOX Indianapolis Colts at Los Angeles Rams, 4:05 p.m., FOX Jacksonville Jaguars at San Francisco 49ers, 4:05 p.m., FOX Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs, 4:25 p.m., CBS Chicago Bears at Las Vegas Raiders, 4:25 p.m., CBS Green Bay Packers at Dallas Cowboys, 8:20 p.m., NBC Monday, Sept. 29 New York Jets at Miami Dolphins, 7:15 p.m., ESPN Cincinnati Bengals at Denver Broncos, 8:15 p.m., ABC Thursday, Oct. 2 San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams, 8:15 p.m., Prime Video Sunday, Oct. 5 Minnesota Vikings vs. Cleveland Browns in London, 9:30 a.m., NFL Network Advertisement Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m., CBS Miami Dolphins at Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m., FOX Las Vegas Raiders at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m., FOX New York Giants at New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m., CBS Dallas Cowboys at New York Jets, 1 p.m., FOX Denver Broncos at Philadelphia Eagles, 1 p.m., CBS Tennessee Titans at Arizona Cardinals, 4:05 p.m., CBS Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Seattle Seahawks, 4:05 p.m., CBS Detroit Lions at Cincinnati Bengals, 4:25 p.m., FOX Washington Commanders at Los Angeles Chargers, 4:25 p.m., FOX New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills, 8:20 p.m., NBC Monday, Oct. 6 Kansas City Chiefs at Jacksonville Jaguars, 8:15 p.m., ESPN/ABC Byes: Atlanta, Chicago, Green Bay, Pittsburgh Thursday, Oct. 9 Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants, 8:15 p.m., Prime Video Sunday, Oct. 12 Denver Broncos vs. New York Jets in London, 9:30 a.m., NFL Network Los Angeles Rams at Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m., FOX Dallas Cowboys at Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m., FOX Arizona Cardinals at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m., FOX Seattle Seahawks at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m., FOX Los Angeles Chargers at Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m., CBS Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m., CBS San Francisco 49ers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m.,CBS Tennessee Titans at Las Vegas Raiders, 4:05 p.m., FOX Cincinnati Bengals at Green Bay Packers, 4:25 p.m., CBS New England Patriots at New Orleans Saints, 4:25 p.m., CBS Detroit Lions at Kansas City Chiefs, 8:20 p.m., NBC Monday, Oct. 13 Buffalo Bills at Atlanta Falcons, 7:15 p.m., ESPN Chicago Bears at Washington Commanders, 8:15 p.m., ABC Byes: Houston, Minnesota Thursday, Oct. 16 Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals, 8:15 p.m., Prime Video Sunday, Oct. 19 Los Angeles Rams vs. Jacksonville Jaguars in London, 9:30 a.m., NFL Network New Orleans Saints at Chicago Bears, 1 p.m., FOX Advertisement Miami Dolphins at Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m., CBS Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs, 1 p.m., CBS Philadelphia Eagles at Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m., FOX Carolina Panthers at New York Jets, 1 p.m., FOX New England Patriots at Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m., CBS New York Giants at Denver Broncos, 4:05 p.m., CBS Indianapolis Colts at Los Angeles Chargers, 4:05 p.m., CBS Green Bay Packers at Arizona Cardinals, 4:25 p.m., FOX Washington Commanders at Dallas Cowboys, 4:25 p.m., FOX Atlanta Falcons at San Francisco 49ers, 8:20 p.m., NBC Monday, Oct. 20 Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions, 7 p.m., ESPN/ABC Houston Texans at Seattle Seahawks, 7 p.m., ESPN+ Byes: Baltimore, Buffalo Thursday, Oct. 23 Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Chargers, 8:15 p.m., Prime Video Sunday, Oct. 26 Miami Dolphins at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m., CBS Chicago Bears at Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m., CBS Buffalo Bills at Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m., FOX New York Jets at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m., CBS San Francisco 49ers at Houston Texans, 1 p.m., FOX Cleveland Browns at New England Patriots, 1 p.m., FOX New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles, 1 p.m., FOX Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints, 4:05 p.m., FOX Dallas Cowboys at Denver Broncos, 4:25 p.m., CBS Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts 4:25 p.m., CBS Green Bay Packers at Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:20 p.m., NBC Monday, Oct. 27 Washington Commanders at Kansas City Chiefs, 8:15 p.m., ESPN/ABC Byes: Arizona, Detroit, Jacksonville, L.A. Rams, Las Vegas, Seattle Thursday, Oct. 30 Baltimore Ravens at Miami Dolphins, 8:15 p.m., Prime Video Sunday, Nov. 2 Chicago Bears at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m., CBS Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions, 1 p.m., FOX Carolina Panthers at Green Bay Packers, 1 p.m., FOX Denver Broncos at Houston Texans, 1 p.m., FOX Atlanta Falcons at New England Patriots, 1 p.m., CBS Advertisement San Francisco 49ers at New York Giants, 1 p.m., CBS Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m., CBS Los Angeles Chargers at Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m., CBS New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Rams, 4:05 p.m., FOX Jacksonville Jaguars at Las Vegas Raiders, 4:05 p.m., FOX Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills, 4:25 p.m., CBS Seattle Seahawks at Washington Commanders, 8:20 p.m., NBC Monday, Nov. 3 Arizona Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys, 8:15 p.m., ESPN/ABC Byes: Cleveland, N.Y. Jets, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay Thursday, Nov. 6 Las Vegas Raiders at Denver Broncos,, 8:15 p.m., Prime Video Sunday, Nov. 9 Atlanta Falcons vs. Indianapolis Colts in Berlin, Germany, 9:30 a.m., NFL Network New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m., FOX New York Giants at Chicago Bears, 1 p.m., FOX Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans, 1 p.m., CBS Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m., CBS Baltimore Ravens at Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m., FOX Cleveland Browns at New York Jets, 1 p.m., CBS New England Patriots at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m., CBS Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks, 4:05 p.m., CBS Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers, 4:25 p.m., FOX Detroit Lions at Washington Commanders, 4:25 p.m., FOX Pittsburgh Steelers at Los Angeles Chargers, 8:20 p.m, NBC Monday, Nov. 10 Philadelphia Eagles at Green Bay Packers, 8:15 p.m., ESPN/ABC Byes: Cincinnati, Dallas, Kansas City, Tennessee Thursday, Nov. 13 New York Jets at New England Patriots, 8:15 p.m., Prime Video Sunday, Nov. 16 Washington Commanders vs. Miami Dolphins in Madrid, Spain, 9:30 a.m., NFL Network Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m., FOX Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m., CBS Los Angeles Chargers at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m., CBS Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m., FOX Green Bay Packers at New York Giants, 1 p.m., FOX Advertisement Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m., CBS Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m., FOX San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals, 4:05 p.m., FOX Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams, 4:05 p.m., FOX Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns, 4:25 p.m., CBS Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos, 4:25 p.m., CBS Detroit Lions at Philadelphia Eagles, 8:20 p.m., NBC Monday, Nov. 17 Dallas Cowboys at Las Vegas Raiders, 8:15 p.m., ESPN/ABC Byes: Indianapolis, New Orleans Thursday, Nov. 20 Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans, 8:15 p.m., Prime Video Sunday, Nov. 23 New York Jets at Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m., CBS Pittsburgh Steelers at Chicago Bears, 1 p.m., CBS New England Patriots at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m., CBS New York Giants at Detroit Lions, 1 p.m., FOX Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers, 1 p.m., FOX Indianapolis Colts at Kansas City Chiefs, 1 p.m., CBS Seattle Seahawks at Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m., FOX Jacksonville Jaguars at Arizona Cardinals, 4:05 p.m., CBS Cleveland Browns at Las Vegas Raiders, 4:05 p.m., CBS Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys, 4:25 p.m., FOX Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints, 4:25 p.m., FOX Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Los Angeles Rams, 8:20 p.m., NBC Monday, Nov. 24 Carolina Panthers at San Francisco 49ers, 8:15 p.m., ESPN Byes: Denver, L.A. Chargers, Miami, Washington Thursday, Nov. 27 Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions, 1 p.m., FOX Kansas City Chiefs at Dallas Cowboys, 4:30 p.m., CBS Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens 8:20 p.m., NBC Friday, Nov. 28 Chicago Bears at Philadelphia Eagles, 3 p.m., Prime Video Sunday, Nov. 30 Los Angeles Rams at Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m., FOX San Francisco 49ers at Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m., CBS Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m., CBS New Orleans Saints at Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m., FOX Advertisement Atlanta Falcons at New York Jets, 1 p.m., FOX Arizona Cardinals at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m., FOX Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m., CBS Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks, 4:05 p.m., FOX Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers, 4:25 p.m., CBS Buffalo Bills at Pittsburgh Steelers, 4:25 p.m., CBS Denver Broncos at Washington Commanders, 8:20 p.m., NBC Monday, Dec. 1 New York Giants at New England Patriots, 8:15 p.m., ESPN Thursday, Dec. 4 Dallas Cowboys at Detroit Lions, 8:15 p.m., Prime Video Sunday, Dec. 7 Seattle Seahawks at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m., FOX Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m., CBS Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m., FOX Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers, 1 p.m., FOX Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m., CBS Washington Commanders at Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m., FOX Miami Dolphins at New York Jets, 1 p.m., CBS New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m., CBS Denver Broncos at Las Vegas Raiders, 4:05 p.m., CBS Los Angeles Rams at Arizona Cardinals, 4:25 p.m., FOX Cincinnati Bengals at Buffalo Bills, 4:25 p.m., FOX Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs, 8:20 p.m., NBC Monday, Dec. 8 Philadelphia Eagles at Los Angeles Chargers, 8:15 p.m., ESPN/ABC Byes: Carolina, New England, N.Y. Giants, San Francisco Thursday, Dec. 11 Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8:15 p.m., Prime Video Sunday, Dec. 14 Cleveland Browns at Chicago Bears, 1 p.m., FOX Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m., CBS Arizona Cardinals at Houston Texans, 1 p.m., FOX New York Jets at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m., CBS] Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs, 1 p.m., CBS Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots, 1 p.m., CBS Washington Commanders at New York Giants, 1 p.m., FOX Las Vegas Raiders at Philadelphia Eagles, 1 p.m., FOX Advertisement Green Bay Packers at Denver Broncos, 4:25 p.m., CBS Detroit Lions at Los Angeles Rams, 4:25 p.m., FOX Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints, 4:25 p.m., FOX Indianapolis Colts at Seattle Seahawks, 4:25 p.m., CBS Tennessee Titans at San Francisco 49ers, 4:25 p.m., FOX Minnesota Vikings at Dallas Cowboys, 8:20 p.m., NBC Monday, Dec. 15 Miami Dolphins at Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:15 p.m., ESPN/ABC Thursday, Dec. 18 Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks, 8:15 p.m., Prime Video Saturday, Dec. 20 Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears, TBD, FOX Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Commanders, TBD, FOX Sunday, Dec. 21 New England Patriots at Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m., CBS Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m., FOX Buffalo Bills at Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m., CBS Los Angeles Chargers at Dallas Cowboys, 1 p.m., FOX New York Jets at New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m., CBS Minnesota Vikings at New York Giants, 1 p.m., FOX Kansas City Chiefs at Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m., CBS Atlanta Falcons at Arizona Cardinals, 4:05 p.m., FOX Jacksonville Jaguars at Denver Broncos, 4:05 p.m., FOX Pittsburgh Steelers at Detroit Lions, 4:25 p.m., CBS Las Vegas Raiders at Houston Texans, 4:25 p.m., CBS Cincinnati Bengals at Miami Dolphins, 8:20 p.m., NBC Monday, Dec. 22 San Francisco 49ers at Indianapolis Colts, 8:15 p.m., ESPN Thursday, Dec. 25 Dallas Cowboys at Washington Commanders, 1 p.m., NETFLIX Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings 4:30 p.m., NETFLIX Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs, 8:15 p.m., Prime Video Saturday, Dec. 27 (all times TBD) Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers Arizona Cardinals at Cincinnati Bengals Baltimore Ravens at Green Bay Packers Houston Texans at Los Angeles Chargers New York Giants at Las Vegas Raiders Sunday, Dec. 28 Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m., CBS Advertisement Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m., FOX Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m., FOX New England Patriots at New York Jets, 1 p.m., CBS New Orleans Saints at Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m., CBS Philadelphia Eagles at Buffalo Bills, 4:25 p.m., FOX Chicago Bears at San Francisco 49ers, 8:20 p.m., NBC Monday, Dec. 29 Los Angeles Rams at Atlanta Falcons 8:15 p.m., ESPN Saturday, Jan. 3 or Sunday, Jan. 4 (all times TBD) New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons New York Jets at Buffalo Bills Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams Kansas City Chiefs at Las Vegas Raiders Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
USA Today
22-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
How a Hawaii newspaper cartoonist predicted Rick Pitino's legendary coaching career
How a Hawaii newspaper cartoonist predicted Rick Pitino's legendary coaching career Show Caption Hide Caption Pitino and Calipari face off in March Madness battle of coaching greats Mackenzie Salmon takes a look at the best games to watch on the first day of second round action in the NCAA Tournament including a battle of coaching legends. Sports Seriously Rick Pitino coached his first game at Hawaii in 1976, under odd circumstances. Before Pitino ever won a game, a newspaper cartoonisted predicted his great career. NCAA probe resulted in Rick Pitino being elevated to acting coach at Hawaii. He left after that 1976 season finished for assistant job at Syracuse. Rick Pitino, coaching St. John's, is trying to become the first coach to reach a March Madness Final Four with four different programs. A newspaper cartoonist forecasted the legend of Rick Pitino, nearly 50 years ago. Harry Lyons drew cartoons for the Honolulu Advertiser, and he also penned a sports column for the newspaper. In 1976, Lyons predicted that a slick young fella named Pitino would become a heck of a coach someday, and the cartoonist hoped it would be with Hawaii. 'Personally, I'd like to see Rick Pitino get a good, fair, reasonably long-term shot … at coaching the UH basketball team,' Lyons wrote in a column that February, accompanied by a cartoon depiction of Pitino coaching the Rainbow Warriors. Lyons wouldn't get his wish. Pitino left the island state following the conclusion of that tumultuous season for an assistant's job on Jim Boeheim's Syracuse staff. But Lyons proved right in his prediction that Pitino would become something special. If Pitino takes St. John's to the Final Four, he'll become the first coach ever to reach a Final Four with four different programs. His second-seeded Red Storm will play No. 10 Arkansas in the NCAA Tournament's second round on Saturday. Nearly all of Pitino's career victories came while coaching teams in the Eastern Time Zone, but not his first victories. Those came at Hawaii, amid a wacky season that attracted an NCAA probe and a cartoonist's praise. MARCH MADNESS WINNERS, LOSERS: McNeese State adds to ACC men's NCAA tournament misery How Rick Pitino's coaching career began at Hawaii Pitino began the 1975-76 season as an assistant for Hawaii coach Bruce O'Neil, but things quickly soured for O'Neil after the Honolulu Advertiser reported that four basketball players violated NCAA rules by appearing with O'Neil in a television commercial for a local car dealership. O'Neil accepted responsibility for the commercial, and Hawaii relieved him of his coaching duties that February. The university elevated Pitino to acting head coach. Hawaii lost its first game under Pitino by two points in overtime to Long Beach State. Next came a one-point loss to San Jose State in overtime, then a 15-point loss to UNLV. With Pitino's coaching career off to an 0-3 start, Lyons, the Honolulu cartoonist, had seen enough. He wanted Pitino as full-time coach. 'It isn't often that a coach gets a pat on the back for losing three out of his first three games,' Lyons wrote in a column that published Feb. 24, 1976, 'but here's one. Rick Pitino, the acting coach of the UH Rainbows, has done a great job. 'Pitino took charge in a hurry when the whole program could have tumbled into a very deep, very dark hole.' Lyons went on to praise Hawaii's 'admirable finishes under rugged odds.' Harry Lyons: cartoonist, Hawaii sports fan, Rick Pitino supporter The Advertiser's 1989 obituary for Lyons described him as a whimsical man who enjoyed smelling the flowers, drinking Beefeater on the rocks and watching sports. Lyons, like Pitino, was a New York native – the coach from the city, the cartoonist from Scarsdale. Lyons came to Hawaii in 1959 to be the Advertiser's cartoonist, back when local newspapers employed such positions. He stayed on in that role for 20 years and earned high acclaim. President Lyndon Johnson reportedly collected his cartoons. Lyons also had a knack for the written word, and, in 1973, he started writing sports columns for the Advertiser while still a cartoonist. In this particular column in 1976, he threw full support behind Pitino. 'The majority of folks I've talked to think he's something special,' Lyons wrote, 'despite the fact that his team has yet to win.' Lyons went on to quote a few Hawaii fans' opinions of Pitino. One fan praised the coach's cool demeanor and his interest in his players. Another lauded Pitino's four-corner offense and the team's improving defense, but one fan hoped Hawaii would swap Pitino for John Wooden. Yes, even before internet message boards and social media, fans harbored visions of 'big fish' hires during times of transition. Lyons finished that column by opining on the Hawaii band's musical selection for games. He quipped that the Hawaii band put the crowd to sleep with its music, in contrast to Missouri's band that played "brassy pep songs.' Hawaii would lose a fourth straight game under Pitino before finishing with back-to-back victories against Portland, giving Pitino a 2-4 record as acting coach. And then he was gone, off to Syracuse. Months later, the NCAA released findings that Pitino, too, broke rules at Hawaii. NCAA found Rick Pitino broke rules at Hawaii; he says otherwise The television commercial that landed O'Neil in hot water in 1976 wasn't the only rule-breaking activity occurring within the program. The NCAA, in a 1977 infractions report, detailed a slew of violations involving improper recruiting inducements and extra benefits for athletes that occurred during O'Neil's tenure. Pitino, who was at Syracuse when the NCAA's report published, committed several rules infractions, according to the NCAA. Hawaii basketball received two years' probation. Among its findings, the NCAA ruled that Pitino arranged for multiple commercial flights between New York and Hawaii for athletes and recruits, at no cost to the athletes. The NCAA also found that Pitino and O'Neil arranged for the same car dealership involved in the TV commercial to give two athletes used cars, in exchange for two season tickets. Also, the NCAA said, Pitino gave coupons to athletes so they could eat free meals from McDonald's. O'Neil and Pitino 'acted contrary to the principles of ethical conduct,' the NCAA wrote, and 'their involvement in various violations in this case demonstrates a knowing and willful effort on their part to operate (Hawaii basketball) contrary to NCAA legislation.' The NCAA ordered Hawaii to sever ties with O'Neil, Pitino and former athletic director Paul Durham. By then, though, none of the three were working for Hawaii. The Honolulu Advertiser, in an editorial, wrote that Hawaii basketball 'got off easy' by receiving two years' probation. 'I guess the ban won't hurt me too much,' O'Neil quipped to the newspaper after the NCAA's report. 'I never expected to be a coach at the University again, anyway.' As for Pitino's part in the saga, he adamantly denied involvement in most of the infractions. 'The only one that's true is the one about handing out McDonald's coupons,' he told the Honolulu newspaper. He denied knowing anything about cars or flights for athletes. Pitino maintained that stance when interviewing to become Kentucky's coach in 1989. 'I didn't make any mistakes (at Hawaii),' Pitino told reporters. 'I don't care what anybody says.' Pitino accepted the Kentucky job, ending his NBA tenure with the New York Knicks after two seasons. By then, it was becoming clear that Pitino's career would become 'something special,' just as a newspaper cartoonist in Honolulu had predicted. Blake Toppmeyer is a columnist for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at BToppmeyer@ and follow him on X @btoppmeyer. 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