Starting Five

The five sports topics that will be discussed at water coolers across America

1. Giannis Scores 64, Tries to Fight Half of Pacers Team

The Scoop: Giannis scored 64 points on the Pacers, but that wasn’t the biggest story of the game. Early in the fourth quarter, a scuffle ensued after a hard foul on Giannis going up for a layup. Teammates Bobby Portis and Thanasis Antetokounmpo (Giannis’s brother) had to be contained. Giannis responded by scoring nearly every basket for the rest of the game, and all he wanted to do was celebrate with the game ball. However, the pacers players took it with them, which led Giannis charging down the tunnel after it. In what should’ve been a night to admire Giannis’s ability, all the stories will be on the fight and a chase down in the tunnel.

Conversation Starter: What is your favorite petty sports altercation?

2. Tommy Cutlets, America’s New Favorite Italian

The Scoop: Tommy DeVito, a native of New Jersey was elevated from the practice Squad when Giants starting QB (Daniel Jones) and backup QB (Tyrod Taylor) both were injured. Tommy “Cutlets,” a nickname teammate Saquon Barkley coined, has since won three games straight. As his stardom grows, the attention turns to his family and agent, who are comically the most stereotypical Italians of all time. Whether it’s giving the recognizable Italian hand gestures, ranking Tommy’s favorite pastas, or rolling up to the tailgate with every uncle, cousin, and friend of a friend, we simply cannot get enough of the DeVitos.

Conversation Starter: If every NFL team had a 3rd string QB who was a stereotype of the surrounding community, describe the perfect caricature for each city?

3. Shohei Contract Terms are Just Bonkers

The Scoop: On Sunday we shared that Shoehi Ohtani signed the largest contract in North American Sports history. The terms of the deal were released this week and they’re even crazier than we originally thought. Rather than taking the payment up front. Shohei is being paid $2 Million per year and in order to allow the Dodgers to pay the other superstars on the team, is deferring the remainder of the payments until after his contract expires. That means from now until 2033, Shoehi will be paid $2 Million per year and from 2034-2044, he’ll receive lump sum payments of $68 Million each year. There is generational wealth, and then there’s printing money for the rest of your life. Shohei will be retired and kicking his feet up on the couch and may still be the highest paid athlete in the world. Not a bad deal. 

Conversation Starter: Would you be willing to defer all that money, or would you want it up front? 

4. Florida Attorney General is Suing the College Football Playoff

The Scoop: Did you think FSU’s snub from the playoff was going away? Well, if you did, you’d be wrong as the Florida Attorney General announced an antitrust lawsuit against the College Football Playoff selection committee. The lawsuit cites the cost of lost revenues for the University to be estimated in the Millions, and that the committee’s decision “reeks of partial treatment” for major brands like Alabama and Texas. It’s unclear if there is a legal basis to sue, or what will come from the inquiry, but the State of Florida hopes to uncover facts and shed some light on what has been a black box process for years.

Conversation Starter: Do you think the State of Florida is in the right to sue?

5. Pyrotechnics in European Football Reaches a New High

The Scoop: For years, pundits have debated the use of pyrotechnics at soccer matches across the world, highlighting the safety risks involved. Over the weekend, FC Koln, a club in Germany, received a 595,000 Euro fine for their use of pyros (frankly it was pretty awesome, go check out the video). This is a consistent trend, as just this season some of the biggest clubs in the world like Bayern Munich, PSG, and Celtic have received fines for Pyro usage. There’s a fine line between creating an incredible atmosphere and safety, and European fans love to tightrope walk that line. 

Conversation Starter: Do you think there should be harsh penalties for pyrotechnic use among fans?

What We’re Watching this Week

If you're at a bar, they might be showing these games. Here's what you should know:

NFL Thursday Night Football

Las Vegas Raiders (5-8) vs Los Angeles Chargers (5-8): Over the weekend, Chargers star quarterback Justin Herbert was ruled out for the season with a broken hand, and the Chargers offense, which has struggled all year, may get worse. For fantasy football owners, hopefully you have one of these defenses, because sacks, interceptions, and fumbles are all very much in play. 

NCAA Volleyball Final Four

Pitt vs Nebraska, Wisconsin vs Texas: All eyes on the National Championship. Texas upset Stanford in the Elite Eight to become the only team not seeding as a #1 to make the Final Four. The other three one seeds handled business and look to earn the top spot in what has been a very competitive season. The games are this week on December 14th and 17th in Tampa, Florida. 

College Basketball

#9 North Carolina (7-2) vs #14 Kentucky (7-2) (Saturday at 5:30pm ET): Two of the biggest brands in college hoops face off. Both programs have had down years by their own standards, but both have had great starts to the season playing team basketball rather than relying on stars. Which team will show up Saturday afternoon? That remains to be seen.

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Subscriber Special Interest

Fantasy Football Playoffs Season

The Scoop: For many Fantasy Leagues, this week marks week one of the playoffs, or if you were hit by the injury bug, week one of the losers bracket to determine the winner of the last place punishment. Most leagues will have a one-week quarterfinal and semifinal, then a two week long championship game, spanning two game days to end the season. With all the season-ending injuries to top players, this season has been rewarding to whoever can win the waiver wire, so if you’re still in the players, check here for top players available in most leagues.

Conversation Starter: What’s the best Fantasy Football punishment for last place you’ve heard?

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Until next week,

The Fastbreakk