The GIST - What, like it’s hard?
From The GIST Team |
Happy Friday the 13th!No black cats or ladders to avoid here — just a whole lot of sports news to keep the bad luck at bay. Feeling only a little stitious as we prepare for a thrilling weekend ahead. |
Quote of The Day |
Someone else’s opinion of you doesn’t change whether you can do it or not. | |
— Duke women’s basketball head coach Kara Lawson, sharing evergreen advice about blocking out the noise. The Friday pep talk we didn’t know we needed. |
The Latest |
⚽ Not again
Source: Harold Cunningham - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
The GIST: While trying to distance themselves from a reputation of bribery and corruption, international soccer’s governing body FIFA is once again drawing significant flack after a controversial decision regarding the 2034 men’s World Cup (WC) tournament. Let’s dive in. Saudi Arabia officially confirmed as 2034 WC host: After submitting an unopposed bid, Saudi Arabia, a country widely criticized for its human rights violations, was awarded the hosting rights to the world’s biggest men’s soccer competition by FIFA on Wednesday.
Zooming out: Saudi Arabia’s proposal outlines a WC held across five cities in 15 stadiums, requiring at least 11 stadiums to be renovated or built, in addition to creating 185K hotel rooms — a tall infrastructure task expected to be largely carried out by migrant workers.
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🏀 Rolling the dice
Source: Alex Slitz/Getty Images
The GIST: The NBA Cup, the league’s second annual in-season tournament, is heading to Sin City, with four teams vying for a spot in Tuesday’s grand finale. What happens in Vegas…will send every player on the championship-winning team home with a sweet payday, so let’s toss up the ball and preview tomorrow’s semis tilts. Eastern Conference: No. 1 seed Milwaukee Bucks vs. No. 3 seed Atlanta Hawks, 4:30 p.m. ET: The Hawks took a page out of Troy Bolton’s book, soarin’ and flyin’ to seven wins in their last eight games, led by the three-pronged attack of Trae Young, Jalen Johnson, and De’Andre Hunter.
Western Conference: No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 2 seed Houston Rockets, 8:30 p.m. ET: Controversial quarter-final win aside, the Jalen Green–led Rockets are shooting for the moon, posting the second-best record in the conference despite missing the playoffs entirely last season.
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Buzzer Beaters |
🎓🏈 Legendary NFL head coach (HC) Bill Belichick is taking his talents to the collegiate gridiron, inking a lucrative five-year deal to become the next HC of the UNC Tar Heels. Didn’t see that one coming. 🎓🏀 No. 8 Notre Dame women’s basketball upset Paige Bueckers and No. 2 UConn 79–68 last night, with Hannah Hidalgo netting a game-high 29 points. Swish, swish. 🏈 Divisional chaos ensued in a rain-soaked Thursday Night Football matchup as the LA Rams topped the San Francisco 49ers 12–6 last night. The primetime tilt offered little clarity in the complicated NFC West playoff picture with only four weekends of regular-season action to go. 🏊 American swimmer Gretchen Walsh broke her own 100m individual medley world record during yesterday’s Short Course World Championships. What, like it’s hard? 🏀 The women’s and men’s FIBA AmeriCup 3X3 tournament is hitting half-courts in San Juan, Puerto Rico, this weekend, with WNBA hoopers Azurá Stevens (LA Sparks), Brittney Sykes (Washington Mystics), and Maddy Siegrist (Dallas Wings) headlining the top-ranked American women’s team. 🎓🏆 Colorado football two-way superstar Travis Hunter was named the AP college football Player of the Year yesterday — and that’s not the only hardware he’s poised to add to his trophy case: The Buffalo is also the favorite to snag the Heisman Trophy during tomorrow’s 8 p.m. ET ceremony. |
Fun & Games |
Question of the DayWe’re touching down into the weekend with tomorrow’s 8 p.m. ET Heisman Trophy winner announcement. Let us know who you think will win the prestigious award and, while you’re at it, submit your picks to our college football bracket challenge. Oregon quarterback (QB) Dillon Gabriel Colorado cornerback and wide receiver Travis Hunter Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty |
Together With Skyscanner
Source: Getty Images
You already know about the growth in women’s sports, but did you know its soaring popularity is impacting global tourism? Our friends at Skyscanner say that Sports Mode, aka, traveling for an athletic event, will be one of the top seven travel trends of 2025.
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Weekend Watching |
Source: Pitt Volleyball/X
🎓🏐 NCAA women’s volleyball: Championship tournament — Ongoing — ESPN2
⛳ Golf: Grant Thornton Invitational — Today through Sunday — Golf Channel
🏈 NFL: Buffalo Bills vs. Detroit Lions — Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET — CBS
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Giveaway Alert
Source: Visions of America/Joseph Sohm/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
With the holidays right around the corner, you deserve a festive year-end treat. How about a quick getaway to beautiful Charleston, South Carolina? Enjoy the ultimate cocktail experience including the following:
Charleston’s calling — enter to win today. |
The GIST's Picks |
Here’s what passed The GIST squad’s vibe check this week:
🏒 What to check outThis article about Sean Monahan’s incredible season. The Columbus Blue Jackets star is honoring the late Johnny Gaudreau by playing some of the best hockey of his career. Powerful. 📽️ What to useLetterboxd. Log your favorite sports movies on Letterboxd, the social network for film lovers. 📚 What to readHoops Muses, a vibrant journey through women’s basketball history and culture. This book brings the game’s milestones and legends to life and makes a great gift for the holiday season. |
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