Paul George no longer is an All-Star snub. George was selected to replace New Orleans Pelicans star DeMarcus Cousins on LeBron James’ team after the center ruptured his left Achilles on Friday night. It will be George’s fifth All-Star appearance and first as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder. The decision was made by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver as George received the most coaches’ votes out of any player not initially selected to the All-Star Game. “Obviously, I would have liked to make it under better circumstance — because of an injury I got in,” George said, per ESPN. “But needless to say, I’m happy for this to be my ... NESN.com
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Tom Brady Opens Up About ‘Crazy’ Hand Injury After AFC Title Game Win
FOXBORO, Mass. — New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady needed stitches near his right thumb to play Sunday. It did not look like he had a sewn up throwing hand as he led the Patriots to a fourth-quarter comeback win over the Jacksonville Jaguars to move on to Super Bowl LII. And how many stitches Brady needed on his hand depends on which reporter or radio personality you believe. WEEI’s Kirk Minihane initially said Brady needed three. The Sports Hub’s Mike Felger said Brady was sewn up with four. ESPN’s Mike Reiss reported Brady needed 10 stitches before the game. After the game, ESPN’s Adam Schefter said No. 12 actually needed 12. Br... NESN.com
Nick Saban Smiling? Alabama Coach ‘Happiest’ He’s Ever Been After Winning Title
Nick Saban won his sixth national championship Monday when his No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs 26-23 in overtime in an epic College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Saban, who normally is about as warm as a desert cactus, was downright jubilant when freshman quarterback Tua Tagovailoa hit DeVonta Smith for a 41-yard game-winning touchdown in overtime. And it honestly was kind of weird to see Saban so happy. Saban admitted this was the “happiest” he’s ever been in his life during an ecstatic postgame interview with ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi. Look at that smile, you don’t see that every day. Actually, you probably won... NESN.com
Cavs’ Isaiah Thomas Opens Up About Injury, Trade From Celtics In ESPN Interview
Isaiah Thomas soon will return to the NBA court bearing that familiar chip on his shoulder. As he nears his comeback from a long-term hip injury, the Cleveland Cavaliers guard gave a candid interview Tuesday with ESPN’s Rachel Nichols, in which he vowed to silence doubters and earn the lucrative contract he wants. Thomas also revealed the extent of the grudge he still bears against the Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge for sending him to the Cavs last summer in a blockbuster trade for Kyrie Irving. Thomas might make his Cleveland debut against the Celtics on Jan. 3 at TD Garden. Thumbnail photo via YouTube/ES... NESN.com
Patriots President Dismisses Beef Between Bill Belichick, Alex Guerrero
If there’s a rift between New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and Alex Guerrero, Tom Brady’s personal trainer, team president Jonathan Kraft doesn’t know about it. “I haven’t heard anything from either the coaching staff or Alex about either one being upset with each other,” Kraft said on 98.5 The Sports Hub on Sunday, via The Boston Globe’s Ben Volin. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported there’s “some sort of issue” between Belichick and Guerrero this week. Guerrero has not been attending road games, as he has in years past. Guerrero was not spotted by NBC Sports Boston’s Mike Giardi as the Patriots were exiting their team buses... NESN.com
Why Stephen A. Smith Believes Rob Gronkowski’s Suspension Is ‘Unacceptable’
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski was suspended one game for his late hit on Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White, and as far as Stephen A. Smith is concerned, the punishment doesn’t fit the crime. Gronkowski delivered an elbow to White, who was laying defenseless along the sideline, late in the Patriots’ 23-3 win over the Bills on Sunday at New Era Field. The cheap shot prompted an apology from both Gronkowski and Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, but the league still decided to hand down a one-game ban, which Smith believes is far too lenient. “A one-game suspension to me is easily unacceptable,” Smith said Tuesday on ESPN’s... NESN.com
Rex Ryan Relives ‘Butt Fumble’ Play, Recognizes It Will Always Live On
The magnitude of the infamous New York Jets “butt fumble” against the New England Patriots five is not lost on then-head coach Rex Ryan. In celebration (if you can call it that) of the anniversary of the play, ESPN compiled an oral history of the ordeal, including the perspective of Ryan. While that moment came in what Ryan cites to be the worst quarter of his coaching career, he never thought the play would resonate as much as it has. “You sit back, you probably have a drink or two and then you’re like, ‘Flush that one away and get on to the next game,'” Ryan told ESPN. “At the time, I never realized it