Thursday was a slow day on the field/ice/diamond/hardwood, but extremely busy off the field/ice/diamond/hardwood thanks to P.J. Fleck reportedly becoming Minnesota’s next Head Coach, Chris Berman news at ESPN, Kyle Korver to the Cavaliers, and Skip Bayless being Skip Bayless.
P.J. Fleck is reportedly the next Head Coach at the University of Minnesota
Back on December 9th, 2016, Western Michigan signed Head Football Coach P.J. Fleck to a new contract extension that basically guaranteed he would be the Broncos’ Head Coach for AT LEAST the 2017 season. Well, now it looks like Fleck won’t make it that far.
FOX 9 has learned through multiple sources that PJ Fleck has a tentative agreement with #Gophers to be the next head coach. 6-yr, $21M range
— FOX 9 Sports (@Fox9Sports) January 6, 2017
Earlier today, we wrote about Les Miles visiting Minnesota to interview for their Head Coach vacancy, but it looks like he’ll lose out to Fleck.
Fleck played at Northern Illinois from 1999 to 2003 before spending two seasons in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers. The 36-year-old started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Ohio State in 2006. From there Fleck was the Northern Illinois WR coach from 2007-2008, N. Illinois’ WR coach and recruiting coordinator in 2009, Rutgers’ WR coach from 2010-2011, the WR Coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012, and has been the Head Coach at Western Michigan since 2013.
One important note to keep in mind about Fleck is he coached under former Minnesota’ Head Coach Jerry Kill from 2008-2009 at Northern Illinois. On Wednesday, Kill made it clear he wasn’t happy Minnesota fired his successor Tracy Claeys.
“I will never step foot in TCF Bank Stadium or the football facility ever again,” Kill said on 1500 ESPN Twin Cities, according to Phil Mackey, a host on the station.
It’s possible that Minnesota went hard after Fleck because of his relationship with Kill and how that could help retain recruits that weren’t happy with Claeys’ original firing.
Minnesota underclassman: “Doesn’t matter who coach is we don’t want to play for administration. Countless people will transfer if possible”
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) January 3, 2017
Chris Berman bids farewell to several ESPN hosting roles
Way back back back back back when ESPN was an infant, Chris Berman was there. Since joining ESPN back in 1979, the well known broadcaster has been seen commentating on practically every major sport the network has showcased.
In recent years, Berman was well known for his loud and joyful style leading Sunday NFL Countdown and his eccentric calls during the MLB Home Run Derby. After years of being one of the major faces at the network, on Thursday ESPN announced Berman would be changing his roll at the network drastically.
ESPN confirmed the changes, and included this statement from Berman.
“The whole experience here has been a dream come true,” Berman said. “When we started in 1979, I was just 24. Nobody knew if ESPN would make it, or, for that matter, if cable TV would make it. I certainly wasn’t sure I would make it, but I really didn’t care. We were too busy having a blast, talking sports with viewers who were just like us, even if it was during the wee hours of the morning. We got to band together here in Bristol, Connecticut, and put out a product of which we were all very proud.
“What I didn’t know I was signing up for was a lifetime of friendships and, I like to think, respect. Respect from those I have worked with and from those in sports I have covered, and respect from those viewers who welcomed us into their homes. That’s what hits me the most as I look back at these past 38 years – knowing that all of this happened while we were just having fun and trying to get it right.
“I’ve been lucky enough to spend almost two-thirds of my life at ESPN, and I am honored to have lent a small hand in laying the cornerstone for what has truly become a beacon in sports.
“I’m thrilled that this ride will continue, albeit differently. Today’s announcement allows me to fulfill perhaps my final professional goal – knowing that I will finish with the team I came in with.”
Kyle Korver could soon be on his way to BelieveLand
The defending NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers recently lost shooting guard J.R. Smith to a thumb injury that is expected to keep him out for about three months, and they didn’t take long to find his replacement. In fact, they may have even gotten an upgrade.
Kyle Korver likely going to be a Cav but sides are still finalizing aspects of the deal. Cavs, as of now, to send 1st rounder, sources say
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) January 6, 2017
Sources: Atlanta and Cleveland are finalizing terms on Korver deal, with Mike Dunleavy Jr., likely moving onto a third team through Atlanta.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 6, 2017
For now, Dunleavy could park in Atlanta, but Hawks are motivated to him elsewhere, league sources tell @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 6, 2017
Not sure if this is out there yet – I hear Mo Williams is Atlanta bound along w/a heavily protected 1st from Cavs for Korver @BBallInsiders
— Eric Pincus (@EricPincus) January 6, 2017
Korver, 35, is one of the best three-point shooters in NBA history, sporting a 42.9% from behind the arc in his career (over 4,554 attempts). In 2016-17, Korver has a 40.9 three-point %, while also averaging 9.5 points, 2.3 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game. He’s spent the last four seasons with the Hawks, and led the NBA in three-point percentage twice over that span.
Breaking: Skip Bayless is Skip Bayless
In news that should shock nobody, Skip Bayless is Skip Bayless. What do we mean by this? Well, just read this quote from the famous journalist:
“I just speak from my heart; I just get to truth telling,” says Bayless. “And I have consistently been correct on all these outrageous takes.”
That quote was part of Adam Caparell’s detailed Complex profile of FS1’s Skip Bayless.
Always correct? Huh? We’ll just leave this one great incorrect take here:
Johnny Football will one day be bigger in Cleveland than his buddy LeBron ever was.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) May 9, 2014
What about from our own This Week In Hot Takes, where Bayless said “Bama is lucky they didn’t have to play Vanderbilt this year”? 6-6 Vanderbilt went on to lose the Music City Bowl 41-17 to North Carolina State, while Alabama rolled over Washington 24-7 in the College Football Playoff semifinals and will face Clemson for the national championship.
Next, here’s one of the greatest ones, from Bleacher Report’s Amber Lee:
“I’ve been extremely objective about Tim Tebow. And that’s my problem: I’m one of the very few commentators who have been objective about Tebow.”
Quick Hits
– The mighty have fallen.
don't cry because it's over
smile because it happened pic.twitter.com/bG7ScLcNQs
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) January 6, 2017
The @Capitals defeat the @BlueJacketsNHL 5-0, ending the second longest streak in NHL history at 16 games. pic.twitter.com/ZnsdbDX5Oo
— NHL (@NHL) January 6, 2017
Congratulations to the @BlueJacketsNHL on an incredible and historic 16-game run. pic.twitter.com/btIdHLGNNT
— NHL (@NHL) January 6, 2017
– University of Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon has declared for the NFL draft, but our Andrew Coppens asked the very important question of “will any team actually pick him?”
It will now likely be something that follows him to the NFL Draft process, as Sports Illustrated reports Mixon is going to declare for the NFL Draft.
https://twitter.com/SInow/status/817160043216965633?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Various NFL team sources insisting no team will draft Joe Mixon.
We'll see.
— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) January 6, 2017
– Randy Gregory got suspended again. Raise your hand if you didn’t think that would happen. *crickets*
Randy Gregory suspended without pay for at least one year for violating NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 5, 2017
– A minor league hockey team is wearing Rocky uniforms.
All he wants to do is go the distance.
'Rocky Tribute Night' is THIS Saturday, 1/7. 💪 pic.twitter.com/ONsu4jH2ou
— xy – Toledo Walleye (@ToledoWalleye) January 5, 2017
– All of New England is celebrating the prospect of Tom Brady pajamas sponsored by Under Armour!
– Edwin Encarnacion’s salary from the Cleveland Indians will be impacted by how many people show up to watch him play at home.
So Encarnacion will earn bonuses based on Indians crowds. In the past, this may not be worth much. But attendance may spike
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 5, 2017
encarnacion can earn up to $1M a year extra via his attendance bonuses #indians
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 5, 2017
https://twitter.com/MLBastian/status/817051771797381120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
– Could less Conan O’Brien be more?
According to a report from The Wrap, TBS is working on remodeling Conan’s late-night show from a daily format to a weekly format in order to take advantage of Conan’s performance on the road as opposed to in a permanent studio. Conan’s late-night show has generally fared better in the ratings when the show packs up and broadcasts on location instead of from the fixed studio, but does this mean Conan will be a traveling road show on a weekly basis? Potentially, although there are many details still to be worked out.
– UCLA’s T.J. Leaf ruined a Cal defender with this RIDICULOUS dunk.
– Wrigley Field could be hosting a College Football bowl game in the future?
As reported by the Chicago Tribune, the plan the Cubs have in mind has 2020 as a target date to allow for further renovations to and around Wrigley Field that will make the venue even more attractive for fans and provide more amenities. It also allows for time to figure out how best to fit a football field inside the field of play that will actually allow for two end zones to be used, as opposed to having teams each move on offense in the same direction and share a sideline.
– The Star Wars production team is trying to figure out what to do with Carrie Fisher’s Princess Leia in episode IX, which has yet to be filmed.
– Here is our handy dandy guide for journalists who get kicked out of stadium press boxes thanks to this situation:
Other reporters are being told they will be ejected as well if they interfere with Jeff being ejected from the press box
— Les Bowen (@LesBowen) January 1, 2017
– Coach K cares not for your opinions on Grayson Allen’s one game suspension.
“I think it’s appropriate, and I think the things that we’ve done are appropriate,” Krzyzewski told ESPN’s Jay Bilas. “There are things that you see or the public see, and there are things that you all don’t see and shouldn’t see or shouldn’t be talked about, and they’re called teachings.
“You don’t need to teach out in the public all the time.”
– The Dallas Mavericks are not very good this year so unsurprisingly Andrew Bogut wants out.
“Thankfully I’m a free agent here so I only have a couple of months more here and then will most likely move on,” Bogut said. “I don’t see myself hanging around with everything that’s gone on. It will be an interesting six months ahead.”
– The next Presidential Inauguration could have an interesting smell to it.
Free marijuana will be handed out on Trump’s Inauguration Day https://t.co/S7TvLx7He8 pic.twitter.com/omrwQdNWGF
— FOX2now (@FOX2now) January 4, 2017
– So apparently Bob Bradley might have been called Ronald Reagan?
A Random ‘The Office’ Related Video:
No comment.
One Last Glorious Moment of Procrastination:
PHALAAAAAAAAAAANGES!
