Show notes
NHL – National Hockey League Last Night Vegas Golden Knights 4, Chicago Blackhawks 1 Golden Knights 4, Blackhawks 1 – Smith scores twice, Golden Knights top Blackhawks 4-1 Reilly Smith scored twice and rookie Logan Thompson made 23 saves to lead the Vegas Golden Knights to a 4-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Smith got a short-handed goal in the second period while the last-place Blackhawks were using five forwards on their top power-play unit. He capped the scoring with an empty-netter for his 14th goal. Chandler Stephenson scored a power-play goal in the second for Vegas, and Phil Kessel tipped one home in the third. The Blackhawks have scored a total of five goals during a five-game slide. Chicago is 1-12-1 in its last 14. Tonight Chicago Blackhawks at Minnesota Wild, 8:00 p.m. Saturday Ottawa at Detroit, 1:00 p.m. Sunday NY Rangers at Chicago, 7:30 p.m. NFL – National Football League – Week 15 Last Night San Francisco 49ers 21, Seattle Seahawks 13 49ers 21, Seahawks 13 – Purdy, 49ers topple Seahawks 21-13, win NFC West Rookie Brock Purdy a pair of touchdown passes to George Kittle, and the San Francisco 49ers won their first NFC West title since 2019, beating the Seattle Seahawks 21-13. Despite using their third starting quarterback this season, the 49ers continued to show they might be the class of the NFC alongside Philadelphia. San Francisco won its seventh straight, using its stifling defense to frustrate Seattle into countless mistakes. Playing on the road for the first time in his career, Purdy connected on his first 11 pass attempts. He finished 17 of 26 for 217 yards. Seattle lost for the fourth time in five games and its playoff hopes took another hit. Saturday Indianapolis Colts at Minnesota Vikings, 1:00 p.m. Sunday Detroit Lions at New York Jets, 1:00 p.m. Rock 107 WIRX 12:00 Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears, 1:00 p.m. NFL – Bears QB Justin Fields takes aim at 1,000-yard rushing mark Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields grew up as a fan of Michael Vick. He’s closing in on a feat accomplished only by Vick and Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson. Fields needs 95 yards rushing to become the third NFL quarterback to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. The Bears face the Philadelphia Eagles and their intimidating pass rush on Sunday. The Bears have talked about cutting back on planned running plays by Fields. But he’s always a threat to scramble under pressure. His off-script runs have helped the Bears rank sixth in the NFL in third-down conversion rate. NFL – Jets QB White has no doubt he’ll start Sunday vs. Lions There’s no doubt in Mike White’s mind he’ll start at quarterback for the New York Jets on Sunday. White said Thursday he’s continuing to prepare to start against Detroit. He has said all week that is his mindset. White has been limited at practice this week after he was twice knocked from the Jets’ loss to the Bills in Buffalo last Sunday by big hits. He finished the game, but left the stadium in an ambulance to be examined at a hospital. White acknowledged he’ll likely wear some sort of protection around his midsection against Detroit. NBA – National Basketball Association Tonight Sacramento Kings at Detroit Pistons, 7:00 p.m. Indiana Pacers at Cleveland Cavaliers, 7:30 p.m. New York Knicks at Chicago Bulls, 8:00 p.m. Sunday New York at Indiana, 5:00 p.m. Brooklyn at Detroit, 6:00 p.m. Chicago at Minnesota, 7:00 p.m. NCAAFB – College Football Today FBS Bowls Miami (OH) vs. UAB, 11:30 a.m. HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl, Nassau UTSA vs. Troy, 3:00 p.m. Duluth Trading Cure Bowl, Orlando Division III National Championship – Stagg Bowl Mount Union vs. North Central, 7:00 p.m. Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, MD Saturday FBS Bowls Cincinnati vs. Louisville, 11:00 a.m. Wasabi Fenway Bowl, Boston Florida vs. (14) Oregon State, 2:30 p.m. SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl, Las Vegas Washington State vs. Fresno State, 3:30 p.m. Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl Presented by Stifel, Los Angeles Rice vs. Southern Miss, 5:45 p.m. LendingTree Bowl, Mobile, AL SMU vs. BYU, 7:30 p.m. New Mexico Bowl, Albuquerque, NM North Texas vs. Boise State, 9:15 p.m. Frisco Bowl Presented by SERVPRO, Frisco, TX Division II National Championship Ferris State vs. Colorado Mines, 1:00 p.m. McKinney ISD Stadium, McKinney, TX NCAAFB – Coach Brees: Purdue brings back QB to assist at bowl game Former Purdue quarterback Drew Brees is returning to his alma mater as a coach for the Jan. 2 Citrus Bowl game against No. 17 LSU. The retired NFL star will join new Purdue coach Ryan Walters as he settles into his new job. Walters says he grew up dreaming about following Brees’ career trajectory. Now the two will get acquainted as Brees moves back to Indiana for at least the next few weeks. Walters won’t be coaching the Boilermakers for the bowl game. That task falls to interim coach Brian Brohm. The Boilermakers are short-handed after Brian’s brother, Jeff, left for Louisville and took four assistants with him. NCAAMBKB – Men’s College Basketball Saturday Lipscomb at Michigan, 4:00 p.m. News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM 3:30 Sunday Western Michigan at Iowa State, 1:00 p.m. Detroit Mercy at Eastern Michigan, 3:00 p.m. Central Michigan at Missouri State, 6:00 p.m. Notre Dame at Georgia, 5:30 p.m. NCAAWBKB – Women’s College Basketball Saturday Appalachian State at (19) Michigan, 12:00 p.m. Eastern Michigan at Xavier, 1:00 p.m. Western Michigan at Chicago State, 2:00 p.m Sunday Detroit Mercy at Michigan State, 3:00 p.m. Central Michigan at Eastern Illinois, 3:00 p.m. (5) Notre Dame at (6) Virginia Tech, 4:00 p.m. NCAA – Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker to be next NCAA president Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker will be the next president of the NCAA, replacing Mark Emmert as the head of the largest college sports governing body in the country. Baker, a Republican, has been governor of Massachusetts since 2015. He announced earlier this year he would not seek re-election. He will start the job in March 2023. Emmert announced he would step down earlier this year after 12 years of leading the NCAA. Battered by losses in the court and attacks by politicians, the NCAA is going through a sweeping reform, trying to decentralize the way college sports is governed. NCAA – National labor board to look into rights of USC athletes The National Labor Relations Board will investigate an unfair labor practice complaint involving the rights of University of Southern California football and basketball players. In February, the National College Players Association filed an unfair labor practice charge against USC, the Pac-12 Conference and the NCAA alleging misclassification of college players as “student-athletes” and other violations. The NLRB’s Region 21 in Los Angeles will look into the complaint that covers football and men’s and women’s basketball players at the private school. MLB – AP sources: Tigers agree to $8.5M contract with RHP Lorenzen The Detroit Tigers have bolstered their rotation by agreeing to a one-year contract with right-hander Michael Lorenzen, according to a person familiar with the situation. Lorenzen will make $8.5 million and can earn $1.5 million in performance bonuses based on innings pitched, another person told The Associated Press on Thursday. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced. Lorenzen was 8-6 with a 4.24 ERA in 18 starts last season with the Los Angeles Angels. Since making his major league debut with the Cincinnati Reds in 2015, he is 31-29 with a 4.10 ERA. MLB – Cubs add to bullpen, agree to deal with Boxberger The Chicago Cubs have added bullpen help and agreed to a $2.8 million, one-year contract with veteran right-hander Brad Boxberger. The 34-year-old Boxberger was 4-3 with a 2.95 ERA and one save over 70 appearances and 64 innings with Milwaukee last season. An All-Star with Tampa Bay in 2015, he is 31-37 with a 3.44 ERA in 11 seasons with San Diego, the Rays, Arizona, Kansas City, Miami and the Brewers. Chicago relievers had a 4.12 ERA last season. The Cubs finished 74-88 and missed the playoffs for the second straight year. ECHL – ECHL Hockey League Tonight Kalamazoo Wings at Iowa Heartlanders, 8:05 p.m. AHL – American Hockey League Tonight Hartford Wolfpack at Grand Rapids Griffins, 7:00 p.m. FIFA – World Cup 2020 – Qatar Saturday 3rd Place Match Croatia vs. Morocco, 10:00 a.m. Sunday World Cup Finals France vs. Argentina, 10:00 a.m. FIFA – Messi carries the weight of Argentina into World Cup final As Lionel Messi approaches his second and likely last World Cup final the stakes could hardly be higher. The same goes for Argentina after more than 30 years of disappointment since it last won soccer’s ultimate prize. For Messi victory against France at Lusail Stadium on Sunday is a chance to finally get his hands on the one major trophy that has eluded him in his storied career. In doing so he would push ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo who has also never won a World Cup in the long-running rivalry between the two greatest players of their generation. FIFA – France struck by cold virus ahead of World Cup final A cold virus has run through the France squad though coach Didier Deschamps expects all his players to be healthy for the World Cup final against Argentina on Sunday. Defender Dayot Upamecano and midfielder Adrien Rabiot were isolated this week and rested for the 2-0 win over Morocco in the semifinals. Deschamps says “it’s flu season now, and in that sense, we have to be careful.” The coach says the players’ immune systems are run down by the physical toll of World Cup games. He says air conditioning that’s routine in Qatar and at stadiums could also be having an effect. MHSAA – High School Sports Last Night Boys Basketball SMAC St. Joseph 58, Lakeshore 51 St. Joe coach Gregg Schaffer picked up his 200th win as the Bears defeated Lakeshore 58-51 on Thursday. St. Joe put three starters in double figures as Chase Sanders had 19, including three 3-pointers and was 6 of 7 from the free throw line. Joron Brown scored 15 and Matt Lanier had 11. The Bears improve to 2-2 on the season. Lakeshore was led by JJ Frakes game high 21 points, and 16 points from Jack Carlisle, the Lancers fall to 0-3 on the season. Mattawan 66, Portage Central 56 Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 57, Portage Northern 54 Battle Creek Lakeview 51, Battle Creek Central 50 Kalamazoo Central 64, Gull Lake 43 Lakeland Benton Harbor 85, Dowagiac 33 Girls Basketball BCS Michigan Lutheran 37, New Buffalo 6 River Valley 44, Our Lady of the Lake 24 River Valley had three starters in double figures in a 44-24 win over Our Lady of the Lake, Kayanna Lance led the Mustangs with a game high 16 points, while Lexie McCarty scored 15 points, and Nat Heckathorn added 11. Claire Jollay scored 11 to lead the Lakers. Lakeland Benton Harbor 55, Dowagiac 37 Buchanan 49, Brandywine 45 – OT Southwest 10 Bloomingdale 54, Comstock 28 Marcellus 35, Centreville 32 Hartford 47, Decatur 26 Mendon 28, White Pigeon 21 Non-Conference Cassopolis 39, Berrien Springs 29 Grace Constable had 11 points for the Shamrocks in the loss. Lawrence 36, Bangor 28 Friday Boys Basketball Wolverine Sturgis at Niles, 7:15 p.m. Otsego at Edwardsburg, 7:15 p.m. Plainwell at Paw Paw, 7:15 p.m. Vicksburg at Three Rivers, 7:15 p.m. Lakeland Brandywine at Buchanan, 7:00 p.m. BCS River Valley at Our Lady of the Lake, 7:00 p.m. Michigan Lutheran at New Buffalo, 7:30 p.m. Countryside at Covert, 6:00 p.m. Eau Claire at Howardsville Christian, 7:30 p.m. SAC South Haven at Watervliet, 7:00 p.m. Coloma at Fennville, 7:30 p.m. Gobles at Martin, 7:30 p.m. Schoolcraft at Lawton, 7:30 p.m. Delton-Kellogg at Black River, 7:30 p.m. Galesburg-Augusta at Saugatuck, 7:30 p.m. Parchment at Constantine, 7:30 p.m. Kal. Hackett at Kal. Christian, 7:30 p.m. Southwest 10 Bloomingdale at Comstock, 7:30 p.m. Decatur at Hartford, 7:30 p.m. Centreville at Marcellus, 7:30 p.m. Mendon at White Pigeon, 7:30 p.m. Non-Conference Berrien Springs at Cassopolis, 7:00 p.m. Lawrence at Bangor, 7:30 p.m. Girls Basketball SMAC Lakeshore at St. Joseph, 7:00 p.m. Portage Central at Mattawan, 7:00 p.m. Portage Northern at Kalamazoo Loy Norrix, 7:00 p.m. B.C. Lakeview at Battle Creek Central, 7:00 p.m. Gull Lake at Kalamazoo Central, 7:00 p.m. Wolverine Sturgis at Niles, 6:00 p.m. Otsego at Edwardsburg, 6:00 p.m. Plainwell at Paw Paw, 6:00 p.m. Vicksburg at Three Rivers, 6:00 p.m. SAC Allegan at Bridgman, 6:00 p.m. Coloma at Fennville, 6:00 p.m. Gobles at Martin, 6:00 p.m. Schoolcraft at Lawton, 6:00 p.m. Delton-Kellogg at Black River, 6:00 p.m. Galesburg-Augusta at Saugatuck, 6:00 p.m. Parchment at Constantine, 6:00 p.m. Kal. Hackett at Kal. Christian, 6:00 p.m. Non-Conference Our Lady of the Lake at Berrien Springs, 7:00 p.m. Eau Claire at Howardsville Christian, 6:00 p.m.Chicago Blackhawks’ Andreas Athanasiou (89) pressures Vegas Golden Knights’ Brayden Pachal during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) runs against Seattle Seahawks linebacker Cody Barton (57) during the first half of an NFL football game in Seattle, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.