THE 2025 Caribbean Baseball Cup continued yesterday at the Andre Rodgers National Baseball Stadium, where The Bahamas faced the United States Virgin Islands in a seven-inning game.
The Bahamas ultimately secured a 3-2 victory. The game drew a strong local crowd as the home team looked to build early momentum in the tournament, which determines the final regional qualifier for the upcoming Central American and Caribbean Games.
Through the first four innings, the US Virgin Islands held a 2-0 lead. Their early scoring came from disciplined at-bats and timely contact, capitalising on two base hits and
a sacrifice opportunity that pushed runs across.
Offensively, The Bahamas generated several opportunities but could not convert in the opening innings with many pop up outs and outfield outs failing to hit gaps and get base hits.
A pair of runners reached in the second inning, including a walk and a sharply hit single to left field, but both were left stranded.
In the fourth inning, The Bahamas threatened again after a leadoff double, but a groundout and two strikeouts ended the chance. Momentum shifted in the fifth inning when Pheron Charlton delivered a key hit that secured The Bahamas’ first run of the game. Charlton advanced around the bases and later reached third, where he scored again on the next play to tie the game.
Defensively, The Bahamas remained steady. Outfield coverage limited extra-base hits, and the infield turned a key double play in the third inning that prevented additional damage. The Virgin Islands, however, remained efficient with runners in scoring position during their brief scoring stretch. The game remained 2-2 moving into the bottom of the seventh inning. Team Bahamas focused on creating runs, shifting to a more aggressive approach on the bases. As the matchup entered overtime rules, closing pitcher Chavez Fernander took the mound and delivered a strong performance, shutting down the Virgin Islands’ offence and putting The Bahamas back on offence with a chance to win.
Shariffe Neymour, the lead-off runner on second
base, would come through with the game winner score, crossing home plate to secure the 3-2 victory for The Bahamas in walkoff fashion. "We knew a lot was riding on this game so we expected this, we were very happy to come out on top tonight," said Bahamas head coach Michael Butler.
“We are in high spirits but we stay even heeled because we know that all of these things are very competitive and we can not take anybody for granted at this point and we have to be at our best for every single game,” said Butler.
With the Caribbean Baseball Cup serving as a key qualifier and an important showcase for national talent, the stakes remain high. Team Bahamas plays again this Friday against the Dominican Republic at the Andre Rodgers National Baseball Stadium.
PHILADELPHIA
(AP)
— Tyrese Maxey scored 20 of his 35 points in the third quarter, Andre Drummond had 12 points and 10 rebounds, and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Washington Wizards 121102 on Tuesday night.
Maxey, who was coming off a 44-point performance, was 13 of 26 from the field to score 20-plus for the 20th straight game this season. He also had six assists and four steals in 29 minutes.
Rookie guard VJ Edgecombe Jr added nine points, six assists, six rebounds, two steals and two blocks in 24 minutes.
Philadelphia had its 66-54 halftime lead trimmed to five after Washington scored the first seven points of the third quarter. But the 76ers scored 11 of the next 13 points to rebuild a double-digit lead at 77-63. Maxey scored 20 points in the third quarter, while the Wizards had just 23 after going 7 of 22 from the floor. Maxey did not play in the fourth quarter. Philadelphia hit 100 points with 32.1 seconds
left in the third on a free throw by Maxey. The 76ers extended the lead to 115-79 after starting the fourth on a 14-2 run. Washington dropped to 1-11 on the road this season. Jared McCain added 14 points for Philadelphia and fellow reserve Jabari Walker had 10 points and 12 rebounds. Paul George scored 11. Washington had seven players score in double figures, led by Tristan Vukcevic with 16 points. Marvin Bagley III, Justin Champagnie and Will Riley each had 13 points.
Maxey scored 15 points in the first half, McCain added 11 and the 76ers went 9 of 21 behind the arc, while the Wizards shot 38% overall by halftime. Philadelphia was without Quentin Grimes, who is third on the team with 17 points per game, for the first time this season.
Up next Wizards: Host the Boston Celtics tonight. 76ers: Stay home to play the Golden State Warriors tonight.
HANGTIME: Philadelphia 76ers’ Valdez “VJ” Edgecombe goes for a dunk on Tuesday night in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
ON THE REPLAY: The Bahamas men’s baseball team in action last night against the US Virgin Islands during the 2025 Caribbean Baseball Cup Championships at Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium. Photos: Chappell Whyms Jr/Tribune Staff
RF cleans up Montagu ahead of ‘Best of the Best’ Regatta
RF Bank & Trust (RF), in collaboration with the Rotary Club of East Nassau (RCEN), led a pre-regatta cleanup at Montagu Beach last Saturday which saw the removal of over 100 pounds of debris from the popular heritage site in eastern New Providence.
Braving strong winds and intermittent showers, dozens of volunteers from both organisations spent the morning removing
waste from the shoreline and surrounding park. The initiative, spearheaded by the executive leadership at RF, comes at a pivotal time - just one week prior to a major event on the nation’s sailing calendar - the highly anticipated Best of the Best Regatta.
“We wanted to leave Montagu looking its best for ‘Best of the Best’,” said Ethan Knowles, regional communications supervisor
at RF. “The park should be a pristine place, for sailors, for spectators, and for the many species that inhabit it. Private actors have a part to play in that outcome, so RF came out and played its part.”
Knowles noted that the regional investment bank’s record of environmental stewardship which includes, amongst other outreach initiatives, a multi-year corporate partnership with the
Local Sports Calendar
Bahamas National Trust, reflects a relational understanding of sustainability, where private, public and civic partners unite to sustain our shared physical and cultural landscapes.
In advancing both ecological and human well-being, the beach cleanup sets RF apart as a responsible, community-rooted corporate leader.
Leaders from the Rotary Club of East Nassau echoed
Held in honour of Dominic 'Hollywood' Kikivarkis, the event will kick off at 11:30am. It is sponsored by the Royal Bank of Canada, Bahamas Waste and RoyalStar Assurance.
The entry fee is $5. Kids 12-and-under are free. Refreshments will be on sale. Prizes and giveaways will be presented during the day.
TRACK CARIFTA CHARTER
WITH the 2026 CARIFTA Games all set for Grenada over the Easter holiday weekend, persons are being encouraged to secure their seats on the Bahamasair-chartered flight.
The charter will depart Nassau on Thursday, April 2 and return on Tuesday, April 7. The airfare is $1,099 per passenger. A non-refundable deposit of $200 per passenger is required. However, it can be transferred.
Cash or direct deposits can be made at the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) under the account name: Bah Association of (business checking account). Transit No.95165/ Account No.1011089.
Interested persons can contact Laura Pratt-Charlton at 357-3109 or Laketah Charlton at 468-5592 or email baaafriendsandfamily@gmail.com for more information.
SOFTBALL
BFS CONCLAVE
THE Bahamas Softball Federation will hold its national softball conclave on Saturday in the Conference Room of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.
The Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture will officially open the conclave at 1pm. The theme for the event is "One Federation, One Vision Strengthening Softball Across Our Islands."
Dignitaries from all of the affiliated island associations are expected to be represented. The dress code is smart casual.
BASEBALL
HOME RUN DERBY
CLINIC
THE organisers of the Don’t Blink Home Run Derby 2025 will host youth baseball and softball camp on Saturday, December 10, at the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium. The camp is designed for boys and girls
the importance of the initiative.
David Slatter, RF vice president and group head of investments and director of service at RCEN, noted that the cleanup highlights the power of collective action in addressing environmental pollution.
“This beach cleanup perfectly embodied Rotary’s principle of ‘Service Above Self’,” Slatter said. “We managed to fill about 10
between the ages of seven and 18 years. Check-in will begin at 3pm and the cmp will run from 4-6 pm. Interested persons can sign up at dbhrderby.com
TRACK ALL-BAHAMIAN
AWARDS
THE Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations is scheduled to hold its 2025 All Bahamian Awards ceremony on Sunday, December 14, starting at 6pm at the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium.
Under the theme: "Honouring the Spirit of The Bahamas: Every Athlete, Every Victory," the BAAA will use the opportunity to recognise all 2024-2025 national team members. A reception and dance will follow the presentations.
STAR PERFORMERS
MEET
THE Star Trackers Track Club is scheduled to hold its 23rd edition of the Star Performers Track and Field Classic on Saturday, January 24, from 9am to 6pm at the original Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium.
The event, sponsored Baker Concrete International Division Greyco Limited, will be open to competitors in all age groups to the open divisions for boys and girls and men and women.
Interested persons can contact Laura Pratt-Charlton at 357-3109 for more information.
RED-LINE
SONJA KNOWLES
TRACK CLASSIC
RED-LINE
Athletics, “Where Champions are Made,” will hold its sixth annual Sonja Knowles Track Classic over the weekend of January 31 and February 1.
The event will take place at the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium on January 31 from 11am to 6pm and Sunday, March 1 from 1-6 pm. Competition will be held in the various age groups from under-7 to masters.
Medals and trophies will be presented to the various winners.
Interested persons are urged to contact club founder and head coach Tito Moss at 425-4262 for more information.
LEGENDS TRACK
THE Legends Track and Field’s Devynne Charlton Invitational is scheduled
sizable bags, and that’s well over 100 pounds of litter that’s not posing a threat to park visitors.”
With Montagu Beach now prepared to serve as a pristine backdrop for one of the nation’s premier cultural events, the cleanup stands as a testament to what can be achieved when organisations and citizens work hand in hand to sustain the natural beauty of The Bahamas.
for Saturday, February 7 at the Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium. The meet, to be held in honour of world indoor 60m hurdles record holder and two-time champion Devynne Charlton, will have her younger sister Anthaya Charlton as one of the special guests.
Powered by Speed Capital, it will feature athletes competing from the ages of seven to the open categories for boys and girls.
T-BIRD FLYERS
THE T-Bird Flyers will hold its 2026 Track Classic, held in memory of the late Gregory Clarke, on Friday, January 9, starting at 6pm and Saturday, January 10 at noon at the Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium.
Interested persons are urged to contact Foster Dorsett at 427-3883 for more details.
ROAD RACE
MACEDONIA
AS a part of its 60th anniversary, Macedonia Baptist Church will hold a Family Fun Run/Walk race that is open to the general public on January 24. The dual event is scheduled to start at 6am at the church on Bernard Road, Fox Hill.
The categories include male and female 15-and-under, 20-and-under, 40-and-under, 60-and-under and over-60 with awards presented to the first three finishers.
BAHAMAS AQUATICS
BAHAMAS Aquatics has a pair of swim meets on its calendar for the rest of the year in New Providence and Grand Bahama.
• Nassau at Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex December 5-6 - BEAST Aquatics Meet • Grand Bahama December 6 - Freeport Aquatics Club Meet
ANDROS
HEATS ROAD RACE
THE Andros Heats sixth annual road race will be held on Saturday, December 6 at the Regatta Site in Morgans Bluff, starting at 8am.
Competition will take place in all age group divisions with trophies presented to the top three finishers and medals to the fourth place finishers.
The registration fee is $6 per athlete.
Football League will hold its 10th season Championship Day on Saturday at the multi-purpose field in front of the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium.
To climax their activities for
a
‘Remembering the Greats’ during Boxing Sports Week
TO climax their week of activities for Boxing Sports Week, a Remembering the Greats committee held a black tie ceremony at the Breezes resort on Saturday.
The event was held under the theme "Remembering the Greats."
A number of former boxers, coaches and administrators were presented awards for their accomplishments.
The committee was headed by chairman Wellington Miller, deputy chairman Fred Strurrup, treasurer Roy Colebrooke and secretary Melissa Cleare. The other members of the committee were Pat 'the Centerville Assassin' Strachan, Vincent Strachan, Jermaine 'Chu Chu' Mackey, Taureano 'Reno' Johnson, Alvin Sargent, Calvin Greene and Michelle Minus.
"Everything went well," Miller said. "The banquet was very good, very well attended. It was the first time that boxing had its own awards night.
"Everybody came out and had a good time. We honoured some of our old boxers like KO Paris, Boston Blackie, Sonny Boy Rahming, Ray Minus Sr and many of our younger boxers like Chu-Chu Mackey, Quincy Pratt, and all of those guys who fought in their era."
Honoured were William 'Yama' Bahama' Butler, Gorman 'Gomeo' Brennan, Everette 'Elisha Obed' Ferguson, Freeman 'the Natural' Barr, Virginius Knowles, Frederick Sturrup, Charles W Major Sr, Amos Ferguson, Rudolph Moultrie, Bertram 'Bert Perry' Perigord, Lorenzo 'Ray' Minus Jr,, Nathaniel Knowles, Charles Thompson, L. Garth Wright, Patrick 'the Centerville Assassin' Strachan, Leonard 'Boston Blackie' Miller, Kirkland 'Baby Boy' Rolle, Michelle Minus, Ernie 'the
Androsian Tiger' Minus, Cleveland 'KO' Parris, Fernley Palmer, Larry Forsythe, Dr Norman Gay, Wilfred Coakley, Ray Minus Sr, Steven 'the Heat' Larrimore, Randolph 'Rene' Pinder, Wellington 'Sonny Boy' Rahming, Andre Seymour, Everette Jackson, Wellington Miller, Alvin 'Ali Torrez' Sargent, Jermaine 'Chu Chu' Mackey, Tureano 'Reno' Johnson, Quincy 'Thrill-A-Minute'
Sherman 'the Tank' Williams, William 'Battling' Douglas and Churchill Tener Knowles.
Miller said plans are underway to go to Andros and Inagua to hold similar events.
This is because there were a number of boxers, coaches and administrators who came out of those islands and who would be recognised as well.
UB Mingoes topple Inter
Nassau 5-1 for
fifth straight win
NAHUM Johnson notched a hat-trick to help his University of The Bahamas Mingoes men’s soccer team take down Inter Nassau F.C 5-1 to win their fifth straight match in the Bahamas Men’s Soccer League (BMSL) at the Roscow A.L. Davies Soccer Fields on Sunday.
Johnson scored one goal in the first half and added two more in the second half to complete his first hat-trick as a Mingoe. Midfielders Clerdjevinsky Clerjuste and Keno Thomas scored one goal apiece.
“It was a rough game and a lot of fouls,” Johnson said.
“We pulled through with the goals.
“I came out with three goals and I did my job.”
Clerjuste wasted no time as he got a pass from Thomas in the third minute and he put it away to put his team up 1-0. UB tried to extend the lead after but was unsuccessful. Johnson changed that when he found the back of the net in the 44th minute to give his squad the 2-0 lead as the half ended. Thomas got a pass from his older brother, Kevin Thomas in the 53rd minute. The younger Thomas dribbled the ball and took a well-placed shot to the top right corner to put the ball out of reach for the goalkeeper. UB went up 3-0. Johnson dribbled his way into the 18-yard box on a pass from Clerjuste in the 70th minute. He beat both the defender and goalkeeper
with a tap-in as he put UB up 4-0. He got another goal in the 76th minute on another breakaway. His first shot was saved but he got the rebound and put it away for his hat-trick to give UB the 5-0 lead.
“I am just coming off injury and this is the first game I played around 80 minutes,” Johnson said. “I got the time and space to do what I have to do – take my shots and play my passes.”
Inter Nassau FC pulled one back in the 89th minute to make it 5-1.
UB sports a 5-0 win/loss record on the season and ends the 2025 calendar year against Future Stars FC at 4:45pm on Sunday, December 14 at the Roscow A.L. Davies Soccer Fields.
BOXING HONOURS:
Boxing Sports Week,
black tie ceremony was held at the Breezes resort on Saturday under the theme “Remembering the Greats.”
‘Ant’ Edwards’
late layup forces overtime, as the T-wolves edge Pelicans 149-142
By The Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS (AP)
— Anthony Edwards scored 34 of his season-high 44 points in the second half, including a driving layup to force overtime, and Julius Randle scored eight points in the extra period to lift the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 149-142 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night.
Edwards, who came in averaging 37.2 points in his last five games, struggled from long range early, missing 4 of 5 3-point attempts in the first half. But he caught fire in the second half, going 5 of 8 from deep.
Edwards sent the game into overtime by driving past Jose Alvarado for a layup with 2.3 seconds left. New Orleans led 129-125 with 1:03 remaining in regulation on Derik Queen’s dunk but went scoreless the rest of the way.
RAPTORS 121, TRAIL BLAZERS 118
TORONTO (AP) — Scottie Barnes scored 28 points to help the Toronto Raptors edge the Portland Trail Blazers.
Barnes was 10 for 18 from the field. He also had seven rebounds, seven assists and two blocks.
Immanuel Quickley had 23 points with eight assists for Toronto, which had lost two in a row. Gradey Dick scored 14 points. Portland wasted a solid performance
by Deni Avdija, who had 25 points, 14 assists and eight boards. Toumani Camara added 21 points and seven rebounds, and reserve Shaedon Sharpe — a London, Ontario, native — scored 23 points.
THUNDER 124, WARRIORS 112 SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 38 points and made a key 3-pointer with 3:34 left, Jalen Williams added 22 points and six assists, and the Oklahoma City Thunder held off the determined Golden State Warriors.
Chet Holmgren hit a go-ahead 3 from the top with 6:02 remaining and finished with 21 points and eight rebounds for the defending champions.
Brandin Podziemski scored 17 points and Seth Curry added 14 in his Warriors debut with older brother Stephen Curry sidelined for a second straight game because a bruised left quadriceps and muscle strain sustained last Wednesday against Houston.
CELTICS 123, KNICKS 117
BOSTON (AP) — Jaylen Brown scored a season-high 42 points, sealing the game with a breakaway dunk in the final seconds as the Boston Celtics beat the New York Knicks 123-117 in a rematch of last season’s Eastern Conference semifinal.
Derrick White scored seven of his 22 points in the last four minutes, after the Celtics turned back a New York charge that cut a 15-point deficit to 102-99. Jordan Walsh had six points and five rebounds in the fourth quarter for Boston.
Mikal Bridges scored 17 of his 35 points in the fourth and went 8 for 12 from 3-point range overall. Karl-Anthony Towns
added 29 for the Knicks, who had won four in a row.
SPURS 126, GRIZZLIES 119
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Harrison Barnes scored 31 points, De’Aaron Fox had 29 and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Memphis Grizzlies.
Dylan Harper added 15 points as San Antonio improved to 6-2 since losing Victor Wembanyama to a strained left calf
on November 15. Zach Edey had 19 points and 15 rebounds for Memphis, which had won three straight and five of six without star point guard Ja Morant.
After shooting 1 for 4 on 3-pointers in a 125-112 loss at Minnesota on Sunday, Barnes made his first three 3s to set up a season high. Barnes finished 7 for 12 on 3-pointers and 10 for 20 from the field.
Former NBA champion Elden Campbell dies at 57
By STEVE REED AP Sports Writer
ELDEN Campbell, a centre who played 15 seasons in the NBA — including nine with the Los Angeles Lakers — and later won a championship with the Detroit Pistons, has died. He was 57. Campbell's family informed the Pistons of the death, telling the team that he died on Monday. No cause was given.
The 6-foot-11 Campbell was born in Los Angeles and excelled at Morningside High before heading to Clemson. He was a firstteam ACC selection in the 1989-90 season and finished as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,880 points. Campbell helped the Tigers win the 1989-90 ACC regular-season title and reach the Sweet 16 before being selected in the first round of the 1990 NBA draft by his hometown Lakers.
He played nine seasons in Los Angeles, but didn't win a championship ring until later in his career with the Pistons — beating the Lakers in five games in 2004. Campbell played in 1,044 NBA games and amassed more than 10,000 points and 1,600 blocks while averaging 10.3 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. Campbell averaged 14.9 points per game with the Lakers playing alongside Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant in 1996-97, but his best statistical season came in 1999-2000 with the Charlotte Hornets when he averaged 15.3 points and 9.4 rebounds.
Campbell also spent time with the New Orleans Hornets, Seattle Supersonics and New Jersey Nets before retiring in 2005.
Premier League: Arsenal regains 5-point lead as struggling Liverpool drops more points at Anfield
By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer
ANOTHER win for Arsenal. More misery for Liverpool and its under-fire manager Arne Slot.
While Arsenal accelerated its Premier League title charge with a 2-0 victory over Brentford to regain a five-point lead, Liverpool needed a late own-goal just to salvage a 1-1 draw with Sunderland at Anfield.
Slot will be back under pressure, with his team languishing in eighth place in a disappointing title defenCe and his decision to leave star forward Mohamed Salah out of the starting lineup for a second straight game likely to be heavily scrutinised.
“It’s clear," Slot said, “that teams that play us now think they can get a result.”
Arguably a bigger shock came at Elland Road, where Chelsea fell to a 3-1 loss to Leeds in a blow to its hopes of challenging for the title.
Chelsea dropped to fourth place and nine points adrift of Arsenal, which stretched its unbeaten run in all competitions to 18 matches and is looking good for a first league title since 2004.
Squad depth Arsenal's strength in depth was on show in the comfortable win over Brentford that maintained the team's unbeaten record at Emirates Stadium this season.
The leaders were without first-choice centre backs Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba because of injury, while manager Mikel Arteta chose to start with stars Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber and Eberechi Eze on the bench.
Two of the back-ups combined for the 11th-minute opener, as Mikel Merino headed in Ben White's cross, before Saka came on
as a substitute and scored the second goal with a shot that crawled over the line in stoppage time.
Injuries are mounting up for Arteta, though — especially at centre back. Cristhian Mosquera has been filling in for Saliba but also faces a spell out after limping off late in the first half. Midfielder Declan Rice was withdrawn with a suspected calf problem in the 83rd.
With Arsenal in the middle of a run of games every three or four days, Arteta called on soccer authorities to think of players' welfare.
“Rest? That’s quite a positive word to use," Arteta said of his team selection. "We had to make some changes.
“We can play minutes," he added, "but if they can please give us just a little more time to recover and to make the welfare of these players a little bit easier, that would be great.” Manchester City is Arsenal’s closest challenger at the moment and won 5-4 at Fulham in a wild match on Tuesday.
Wirtz denied Florian Wirtz is still waiting for his first goal for Liverpool since his offseason move from Bayer Leverkusen, with his shot for the 81st-minute equaliser deflecting off Sunderland defender Nordi Mukiele and spinning into the net for what officially went down as an own-goal. Sunderland, which is in sixth place on its return to the top flight and defying most pundits' pre-campaign expectations, benefitted from a deflection to take the lead in the 67th. Chemsdine Talbi's long-range effort hit Virgil van Dijk on the leg and ricocheted into the far corner beyond Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker. The 2-0 win at West Ham on Sunday ended Liverpool's three-match losing
run but proved to be only brief respite for Slot and his underperforming players.
“Far too many times this season we don’t concede a lot of chances but the ones that we do go in," Slot said.
“We weren’t lucky enough to get the win over the line but in recent weeks we would have lost this game so that is a positive.”
Unexpected loss
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca had little to cheer in the loss at Leeds, which came just three days after his team of 10 men battled gamely to hold Arsenal to a 1-1 draw.
“A very poor night," Maresca said. “They (Leeds) deserved to win the game, they were better in all aspects.”
Leeds led 2-0 at halftime following goals by Jaka Bijol and Ao Tanaka.
Pedro Neto reduced the deficit in the 50th, but a defensive mistake by Tosin Adarabioyo led to Leeds striker Dominic
Calvert-Lewin
tive for
Anthony Edwards scored 34 of his season-high 44 points in the second half to lift the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 149-142 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. (AP Photo)
Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka celebrates after scoring during a Premier League soccer match between
and Brentford in London, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025.
(AP Photos/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Arsenal’s Mikel Merino celebrates after scoring during a Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Brentford in London, Wednesday, December 3, 2025.
Week 14 features three division battles for first place and three high-profile prime-time games
By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer
FIRST place is on the line in three division matchups in Week 14.
The Steelers (6-6) visit the Ravens (6-6) to determine the AFC North leader.
The slumping Colts (8-4) hit the road to play the Jaguars (8-4) for the top spot in the AFC South.
The Packers (8-3-1) host the conference-leading Bears (9-3) for control in the NFC North.
Each game is the first of two meetings between the teams so the loser has a chance to rebound.
The weekend also features three high-profile prime-time games.
The Cowboys (6-5-1) and Lions (7-5) kick it off tonight. The Texans (7-5) visit the Chiefs (6-6) on Sunday night. The Eagles (8-4) and Chargers (8-4) close out the week on Monday night.
PHILADELPHIA (8-4) at LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (8-4)
Line: Eagles minus 3
A two-game losing streak has the reigning Super Bowl champs reeling. Coach Nick Sirianni, offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo and QB Jalen Hurts are under fire. Yet, the Eagles are favourites on the road facing the No. 3 defence in the NFL. Justin Herbert had surgery on his left wrist on Monday and his status is unknown, though it would be a surprise if he doesn’t play. Trey Lance would start in his spot. Saquon Barkley had 255 yards rushing, including TDs of 70 and 72 yards, the last time he played at SoFi Stadium last year against the Rams.
BEST BET:
EAGLES: 24-18
INDIANAPOLIS (8-4) at JACKSONVILLE (8-4)
Line: Colts minus 1 1/2
The Colts haven’t won in Jacksonville since 2014, and are 3-16-1 against the spread vs. the Jaguars since 2015. Daniel Jones, Jonathan Taylor and the rest of a high-scoring offence have been sluggish during a stretch where Indianapolis has lost three of four. The defence won’t have All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner.
The Jaguars have won three in a row and four of five. Jakobi Meyers has boosted the passing game, giving Trevor Lawrence a main target. But they lead the NFL in penalties and must avoid yellow flags in critical spots.
UPSET SPECIAL:
JAGUARS: 22-20
DALLAS (6-5-1) at DETROIT (7-5)
Line: Lions minus 3
The Cowboys have won three in a row, including impressive back-to-back wins over the Eagles and Chiefs, to climb back into the playoff race. Dak Prescott and the offense are rolling. The defence has improved since defensive tackle Quinnen Williams arrived at the trade deadline. The Lions have lost three of four. Their dynamic offence has been inconsistent and they could be missing All-Pro WR Amon-Ra St. Brown.
LIONS: 27-26
MIAMI (5-7) at NEW YORK JETS (3-9)
Line: Dolphins minus 2 1/2
The Dolphins have won three in a row and Tua Tagovailoa is 6-0 against the Jets. Tagovailoa has been inconsistent this season and leads the NFL with 14 interceptions. De’Von Achane could have a big day running against New York, which is tied for 25th against the run. The Dolphins have lost their past 12 regular-season or postseason games in which the temperature at kickoff has been below 40 degrees. It’s expected to be a high of 39 degrees on Sunday in New Jersey. Jets QB Tyrod Taylor is 7-0-1 ATS in his last eight starts.
DOLPHINS: 23-20
PITTSBURGH (6-6) at BALTIMORE (6-6)
Line: Ravens minus 6 The Steelers are 2-5 since a 4-1 start, Aaron Rodgers isn't getting much help and fans are calling for coach Mike Tomlin to be fired. Lamar Jackson still looks slowed by injury but the Ravens have won the last two meetings by a combined 31 points. Tomlin is 13-4-2 ATS against Baltimore as an underdog.
RAVENS: 23-19
SEATTLE (9-3) at ATLANTA (4-8)
Line: Seahawks minus 7
Sam Darnold, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and the offence struggled last week but the Seahawks still won 26-0. They’ve got a dominant defence and an opportunity to earn the No. 1 seed if they win out.
Darnold is 10-0 overall and 8-2 ATS when his team is favoured by six points or more. Falcons QB Kirk Cousins is 1-7 ATS in his last eight starts.
SEAHAWKS: 24-16
CINCINNATI (4-8) at BUFFALO (8-4)
Line: Bills minus 5 1/2
Joe Burrow returned after missing two months and led the Bengals to a road win at Baltimore. He’s 2-0 head-to-head against Josh Allen and the Bills, and 18-3 ATS as an underdog of more than 3 points. Buffalo dominated Pittsburgh last week but is only 3-9 ATS this season.
BILLS: 24-23
TENNESSEE (1-11) at CLEVELAND (3-9)
Line: Browns minus 4
Cam Ward’s rookie season has been dismal in Tennessee. The Titans have lost seven games by double digits. Shedeur Sanders has shown some of his promise
while splitting his first two starts. The Browns are losing despite a suffocating defence led by Myles Garrett, who has 19 sacks.
BROWNS: 20-13
WASHINGTON (3-9) at MINNESOTA (4-8)
Line: Vikings minus 1 1/2
Marcus Mariota nearly led the Commanders to an upset over the Broncos. He could get another start if Jayden Daniels can’t return from a dislocated elbow this week. J.J. McCarthy is expected to return from a concussion for the Vikings, who need to see more from the second-year pro.
VIKINGS: 19-16
NEW ORLEANS (2-10) at TAMPA BAY (7-5)
Line: Buccaneers minus 8 1/2
Tyler Shough nearly rallied the Saints from a 16-0 deficit against Miami. He’ll have some opportunities against a secondary that’s struggled. Cameron Jordan leads a pass rush that could give Baker Mayfield some trouble. Mayfield and the offence have been lacklustre, though they’ve got plenty of upside with more key players returning. The Buccaneers aim for their second straight season sweep and their seventh win in the last eight against New
Orleans. The Saints are 8-0
ATS in their last eight division games as an underdog.
BUCCANEERS: 23-20
DENVER (10-2) at LAS
VEGAS (2-10)
Line: Broncos minus 7 1/2
Denver has won nine in a row, overcoming a deficit at some point in each game.
Bo Nix has delivered in clutch moments and a stifling defence keeps making plays at the end. Facing the woeful Raiders shouldn’t be a challenge. Las Vegas has been outscored by nearly 11 points per game.
BRONCOS: 27-13
CHICAGO (9-3) at GREEN BAY (8-3-1)
Line: Packers minus 6 1/2
The Bears have won nine of 10, including an impressive victory at Philly last week. Yet, they’re big underdogs. Caleb Williams has to play better for Chicago to be a real threat. If Jordan Love and Micah Parsons keep playing the way they did at Detroit on Thanksgiving, the Packers might be the team to beat in the NFC.
PACKERS: 27-18
LOS ANGELES RAMS (9-3) at ARIZONA (3-9)
Line: Rams minus 8
Matthew Stafford is coming off a rare three-turnover game and the Rams look to rebound from a poor defensive
effort. Jacoby Brissett is 1-6 as a starter for the Cardinals but he’s boosted the passing game.
The Rams are 26-11 overall and 25-11-1 ATS in December under coach Sean McVay.
RAMS: 31-16
HOUSTON (7-5) at KANSAS CITY (6-6)
Line: Chiefs minus 3 1/2
The Texans have rebounded from an 0-3 start to get right back in the race for the AFC South title thanks to a ferocious defence that’s No. 1 in yards and points allowed. The Chiefs have run out of margin for error. Their streak of nine straight division titles is going to end and they have to go on an incredible run to make it to the AFC title game for the eighth straight season. The Chiefs have won five straight meetings.
CHIEFS: 22-20
Last week: Straight up: 10-6. Against spread: 7-9. Overall: Straight up: 140-53-1. Against spread: 96-92-6. Prime time: Straight up: 27-16-1. Against spread: 19-25.
Best Bet: Straight up: 10-3. Against spread: 7-5-1. Upset Special: Straight up: 10-3. Against spread: 10-3.
STEELERS quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) throws during the first half against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, November 30. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
COLTS running back Jonathan Taylor (28) is tackled by Houston Texans safety Calen Bullock (2) during the second half on Sunday, November 30. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
JAGUARS quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) throws a pass against the Titans during the second half on Sunday, November 30, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)
RAVENS quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) is pressured by Bengals defensive end Joseph Ossai (58) during the second half on Thursday, November 27, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
NEW England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye looks to pass against the New York Giants during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, December 1, 2025, in Foxborough, Mass.
(AP Photo/ Charles Krupa)
From worst to first: How the Patriots and Bears topped the NFL standings
By JOSH DUBOW AP Pro Football Writer
THE New England Patriots and Chicago Bears were just playing out the string late in lost seasons when the calendar flipped to December last year.
Now they find themselves at the top of the NFL standings after remarkable turnarounds.
It's been more than three decades since the two teams that earned the top playoff seeds in each conference had missed the postseason the previous year.
That last happened in 1992, when Pittsburgh topped the AFC and San Francisco earned the No. 1 seed in the NFC after missing the 1991 playoffs despite a 10-win season. The only other times it occurred since seeding began in 1975 came in the nine-game strike season of 1982 with Washington and the Los Angeles Raiders, and in 1981 with San Francisco and Cincinnati.
Making this even more unusual is the fact that both the Bears and Patriots have rebounded under first-year coaches.
Ben Johnson has transformed a Chicago team already assured its first winning season since 2018. This is the latest in a season the Bears have been in the top spot in the NFC since 2006, when they last reached the Super Bowl.
Mike Vrabel has led a similar turnaround in New England after the team had dropped off in recent years under Bill Belichick and Jerod Mayo. The Patriots lost 26 games the previous two seasons — one shy of Carolina for most in the league — but now have the most wins in the NFL with 11.
Four teams have won the Super Bowl under a firstyear coach, with Denver the last to do it in the 2015 season under Gary Kubiak. The others were Jon Gruden in 2002 with Tampa Bay, George Seifert in 1989
with San Francisco and Don McCafferty in 1970 with the Baltimore Colts.
Gruden and Kubiak had coached other teams, meaning Johnson will try to join McCafferty and Seifert as the only coaches to win a Super Bowl in their first year as an NFL head coach.
Both teams also have second-year quarterbacks, with Caleb Williams in Chicago and Drake Maye in New England. There have never been two QBs that inexperienced starting for the top playoff seeds.
Fourth-down aggressiveness With more and more teams being aggressive on fourth down, the success — or failure — of those plays has a large impact on who wins these days.
That was clearly evident in two games this past week, with Green Bay scoring touchdowns on a pair of fourth downs in a win at Detroit on Thanksgiving, and Carolina doing the same on Sunday in an upset
victory over the Los Angeles Rams.
In all, there have been 74 offensive touchdowns scored on fourth-down plays so far this season, breaking the record for an entire season of 73 set in 2021.
There have already been more than twice as many fourth-down TDs this season as there were in the entire 2017 season (34). Philadelphia was one of the most aggressive teams that season and won the Super Bowl, contributing to a marked increase in fourthdown tries since then.
While the Rams were on the wrong end of those fourth downs against the Panthers, they are tied with Kansas City for the most fourth-down TDs this season with six. The Panthers, Lions and Jets all have five.
Broncos are the comeback kids Denver has gotten off to a 10-2 start in a most unusual fashion.
The Broncos have trailed in all 12 games this season before rallying to win 10 of them. How unusual is that? This is the 202nd time that a team trailed in each of the first 12 games of a season. Only eight teams besides the Broncos had a winning
record after the 12th game, including the Cowboys at 6-5-1 this season.
Only one team before Denver won more than seven of the first 12 games after trailing in every one — the Houston Oilers opened 8-4 in 1978. Of the seven teams to do it before this season, only three made the postseason, with the Oilers the only one to win even one playoff game. Houston won two playoff games that season before losing to Pittsburgh in the AFC title game. Denver has won six games by three points or fewer — one shy of the most in any season — with the last four games being wins by three, three, three and one point. The only other team to win four straight games by three points or fewer was the 1986 New York Giants, who went on to win the Super Bowl.
Commitment to mediocrity
For decades, the Raiders were one of the most successful franchises in the NFL with three Super Bowl championships, two more trips to the title game and 16 division titles in a 36-year span ending in 2002. Since then, it's been almost nothing but losing. The Raiders were officially eliminated from playoff contention with a 31-14 loss to the Chargers on Sunday, marking the 23rd straight season that the team will fail to win either a playoff game or a division title.
Only two other franchises have had longer streaks since the 1970 merger, with Detroit doing it 29 straight seasons from 1994-2022 and Buffalo for 24 straight from 1996-2019.
This season has been particularly bad for Las Vegas with a 2-10 record that includes five losses by at least 17 points. The offence has been the biggest issue, with the team's current streak of four straight games allowing at least four sacks and rushing for fewer than 75 yards tied for the longest in the Super Bowl era with the 2016 Browns.
BEARS quarterback Caleb Williams (18) celebrates his team’s win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday, November 28, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Tiger Woods dealing with uncertain times with his golf, Ryder Cup and reshaping PGA Tour
By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer
SO much about the future of Tiger Woods is uncertain.
Woods said Tuesday in The Bahamas he has just been cleared to chip and putt since a seventh back surgery on October 10. He is not playing in his Hero World Challenge and said he won't be playing in the PNC Championship in two weeks with his son. Even the indoor TGL League will have to wait.
“Unfortunately, I've been through this rehab process before,” Woods said. “It's just step by step. Once I get a feel for practicing, exploding, playing, the recovery process, then I can assess where I'm going to play and how much I'll play.”
As for the Ryder Cup, he turned down the captaincy for this year and was thought to be the logical choice for Adare Manor in Ireland in 2027.
“No one's asked me about it,” Woods said and then repeated it for effect.
That's not to say there hasn't been plenty of discussions between the PGA of America and Woods' manager. Woods can say a lot with few words. Translation: He's not ready to talk about that yet.
What's consuming his time is the one area that doesn't involve birdies and bogeys, and it might be
far more important than whether he tees it up at the Masters or joins the 50-andolder circuit on the PGA Tour Champions a few times next year.
Woods is chair of the Future Competitions Committee, which new CEO Brian Rolapp commissioned to make significant change to the PGA Tour. Woods said the committee has met three times and taken input from everyone from title sponsors to television to tournament directors.
What began as a blank sheet of paper now has a thousand ideas. The hope is to have a new model by the start of the 2027 season. What emerges is unclear except it will be uncomfortable. Change isn't easily accepted.
“Yes, there's going to be some eggs that are spilled and crushed and broken,” Woods said.
“But I think that in the end, we're going to have a product that is far better than what we have now for everyone involved.”
The three principles driving Rolapp's vision are parity, simplicity and scarcity.
It's the scarcity that has so many players nervous — fewer tournaments, shorter fields, slimmer odds for players who can't just show up and expect to contend the way Woods once did,
and the way Scottie Scheffler does now.
“But don’t forget, the golfing year is long,” Woods said. “So there’s other opportunities and other places around the world or other places to play that can be created and have events. So there’s a scarcity side of it that’s not as scary as people might think.”
Rolapp also soothed some concerns about a stardriven tour when he said on the CNBC “CEO Council Forum” last week, "Every sport has stars. What really makes sports work is the middle class. ... You cannot build a lifelong sport that outlives the stars if you don't build a system that works beyond your stars.”
There was nothing middle class about Woods.
His legacy will be 82 titles on the PGA Tour, his 15 majors, the only player to hold all four major championships at the same time, the player who went more than seven years without missing a cut. And now, his leadership on a committee to reshape the PGA Tour could add to that.
Woods is motivated to play again because he simply loves golf. That chapter is not over.
This will be the first year without competing in a PGA Tour-sanctioned tournament since he made his debut in 1992 at age 16 in the Los Angeles Open (he
played the PNC Championship in 2021 after missing the entire season after his car crash in Los Angeles).
Woods lost his mother in February. He ruptured his Achilles tendon in March. And then came another back surgery in October. So when he was asked why he wanted to stage yet another comeback, Woods smiled and replied, “Come back to what point?”
“I'd like to come back to just playing golf again,” Woods said. His last documented round was February 9 with President Donald Trump. “I've had a lot of things happen on and off the golf course that's been tough. And so my passion to just play, I haven't done that in a long time. Just play.”
Age and injuries have left him on the verge of being a ceremonial player when he is healthy.
Woods has played only 11 times in nearly five years since his 2021 car crash. The four tournaments where he completed 72 holes, the closest he has been to the winning score was 16 shots behind. He has played 29 rounds and broken par six times. His scoring average is 74.14.
Come back to what point?
Age and experience have put Woods in a unique role to modernise golf without ruining it. This is important to him, too. He thought back to his roots in public golf, to that first PGA Tour tee shot at Riviera at age 16, to winning the Masters at 21 and reaching No. 1 in the world longer than anyone.
“The PGA Tour gave me an opportunity to chase after a childhood dream,” he said. “This is a different opportunity to make an impact on the tour. I did it with my golf clubs. Now I am able to make an impact in a different way for generations to come — not just generations that I played against, but for future generations like a 16-year-old looking for a place to play and maybe in hopes of playing the PGA Tour.” At the moment, that's his biggest challenge.
TIGER Woods, of the United States, walks to the 18th green during the second round of the British Open Golf Championships at Royal Troon golf club in Troon, Scotland, July 19, 2024.
(AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
‘Tee Off for Tiny Hearts’
Bahamas Heart Association holds inaugural golf tourney to raise funds for children’s cardiac care
THE Bahamas Heart Association celebrated a highly successful inaugural golf tournament on Sunday, November 30, at the Royal Blue Golf Course, drawing a sold-out course of players, corporate sponsorship and dedicated supporters.
The day was marked by exceptional camaraderie and competitive spirit. Following tournament play, participants gathered for a luncheon, raffles and an exciting on-site auction for The Korn Ferry Tour season opening golf tournament at Atlantis, donated by Ministry of Tourism.
All proceeds from the day were dedicated to supporting critical cardiac care for children throughout The Bahamas.
The event concluded with prize presentations, recognising standout performances across multiple categories.
Francis Adderley and Ural Pratt, representing a strong team from Fidelity Bank, took home the firstplace win.
A Strong Partnership for a Worthy Cause This year’s tournament was made possible through the generous support of its
major sponsors, Visa and Fidelity Bank, whose contributions played a significant role in the event’s success.
Gowon Bowe, CEO of Fidelity Bank, spoke about the impact of the partnership: "When we think about the Heart Foundation and what we do with young children, from Fidelity's perspective, certainly youth development, sports, healthy living, all of those aspects come together. So, having an international multinational brand like Visa come behind it as part of us to do this brings the awareness from such a large
organisation on something like this that's taking place in The Bahamas, but also brings the power of their brand behind something that was taking place locally that required international recognition. "
Adding to the excitement, golfers had the chance to win a brand new Toyota Yaris Cross, courtesy of Automall, which offered the vehicle as the prize for anyone scoring a hole-inone on Hole 12.
Many came close, but no one made it in.
Tournament organiser Gina Gonzalez Rolle
described the day as both meaningful and uplifting.
“The energy on the course was incredible. Seeing so many people come together, having fun while supporting a cause so close to our hearts, was truly inspiring,” she said.
Acting president Letisha Paul said that “this tournament was an exciting way to build community camaraderie, and for the cause to give young heart patients a chance at a healthy life.”
She thanked Fidelity Bank and their team Crestwell Gardiner, Fidelity's executive vice president
and chairman of Fidelity's donations committee, Francis Adderley, president Blue Marlins Golf Club, Antonio Saunders, marketing manager and member of Fidelity's donations committee who also participated in the tournament.
“The depth of the Fidelity partnership was truly evident. They did more than just donate funds; they went the extra mile to assist us, ensuring the event was a success and helping us meet our goal.
“For their comprehensive efforts, we are deeply grateful.”
(AP Photo/Pavel
Serena says she
By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer
SERENA Williams threw cold water on the idea that she might be preparing to return to tennis, writing on social media that she is “NOT coming back,” after a spokesman for the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) said the 23-time Grand Slam champion had registered with the sport's drug-testing body. That is the first step that would be required by a player seeking to come out of retirement. The 44-yearold Williams, one of the
greats of the game, has not competed since bidding farewell at the 2022 U.S. Open. At the time, Williams said she didn't want to use the word “retiring” and instead declared that she was “evolving” away from tennis. It was not clear when or where — or even if — Williams actually will play again, and she later posted: “Omg yall I'm NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy.” Her agent did not immediately return a request for comment. In a statement emailed to The Associated Press, U.S.
is not coming back
Tennis Association spokesman Brendan McIntyre said: “We are aware that Serena has filed the necessary paperwork with the International Tennis Integrity Agency to reenter the International Registered Testing Pool. If Serena decides to return and compete at the professional level, together with her fans, we will enthusiastically welcome the return of one of the greatest champions in the history of our sport.”
Williams was one of the biggest stars of any sport, a dominant talent on the court and still someone
drawing attention away from it. If she were to end up returning to the tour, it would be a significant story line, of course. Her decision to place her name back in the testing pool with the ITIA, which oversees anti-doping and anti-corruption efforts, was first reported by Bounces.
“She is on the list and back in the testing pool,” ITIA spokesman Adrian Bassett wrote to the AP on Tuesday.
Athletes returning to testing need to provide information on their whereabouts — details on their location when they are not
to tennis
at an official event and times when they are available to give samples. Someone who retires while they are on the list and later comes back needs to be available for testing for six months before they are allowed to return to competition.
Williams' older sister, Venus, returned to competition this July at age 45 after nearly 1 1/2 years away from the tour; she never had announced her retirement. At the U.S. Open, Venus became the oldest player to play singles at the American Grand Slam tournament since 1981.
When Venus, a seven-time major singles champion, came back at the DC Open, she spoke about wishing Serena would join her back on tour. They claimed 14 Grand Slam doubles titles as a pair.
“I keep saying to my team: The only thing that would make this better is if she was here. Like, we always did everything together, so of course I miss her,” Venus said at the time when asked about a video on social media that showed Serena swinging a racket.
“But if she comes back, I’m sure she’ll let y’all know.”
CONGRATULATIONS to the top 12 finishers and tournament champions, Francis Adderley and Ural Pratt of Fidelity Bank. Featured alongside Fidelity Bank CEO, Gowon Bowe, BHA acting president Letisha Paul, Sir Victor Sassoon Heart Foundation executive manager, Annabel Gomez and tournament organiser, Gina Rolle.
SERENA Williams, of the United States, reacts as she holds up the trophy after winning the women’s singles final against Garbine Muguruza of Spain, at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Saturday July 11, 2015.
