Today is recognized as the holiday for the birth of Jesus at mist work locales. With that, know that we will not have a Press Row this afternoon at from 3-6. The gang will return Tuesday with a monster radio-version of "Who won and lost" the weekend.
Around these parts on a holiday, we go shorter version of the regular 5-at-10. We'll have a detailed Rushmore (a list of four items of interest) and one question. It's still five things, and it's still going to be online at 10. In our book that qualifies. (Side point: The amazing art work of Mark Wiedmer, which was again the front of the sports section on Christmas day, is simply that - amazing.)
From the "Talks too much" studios, well, you know the drill.
Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James (23) drives past Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) Rushmore of Christmas Weekend sports takeaways:
* The NBA is Golden State vs. Cleveland, then everyone else. And that's both good and bad. Yes, there are entertaining moments, and the skill set of Russell Westbrook is on another level. But the drama and intrigue and the looming implications when the Warriors and Cavs played Sunday was palpable. Cleveland's rally and 109-108 win felt like more than a regular-season game - something that truly lifts a matchup to another level. The Pats-Colts games felt like that, so did the Yankees-Red Sox after the 2003 and 2004 heartbreaks and celebrations on each side. The Warriors-Cavs are there now, and it was glorious Sunday. (Side question: Yes, it was a regular-season game that means little in the grand scheme, but that was a painful loss for the Warriors, no? They were up 14 in the fourth and let it slip on Kyrie Irving's game-winner. Also of note, the Warriors ran their play for a game-winning attempt through Kevin Durant. Durant finished with 36 points and 15 rebounds after all. After starting slowly, some cat named LeBron had 31 and 13. Also of note in this game, with J.R. Smith out with a broken thumb, the Cavs played all of eight guys; the Warriors played 12. So there's that.)
* The NFL playoff picture became much more clear. In fact, the six teams in the AFC are set. The Patriots (13-2 and winners of the East), the Steelers (10-5 and winners of the North), the Texans (9-6 and winners of the South) and the Miami Dolphins (10-5 and a wildcard team) know their spots. The Raiders (12-3) and the Chiefs (11-4) are both in, but the outcome of next week will decide the AFC West. Oakland goes to Denver; K.C. goes to San Diego. If New England wins at Miami, which has very little to playoff next Sunday, the Pats would get home-field edge through the playoffs. In the NFC, the Cowboys have homefield throughout, and the Giants haves clinched a wildcard. The Falcons have won the South and would have the No. 2 seed in the playoffs if they beat the Saints on Sunday in the last regular-season football game in the Georgia Dome. If the Falcons lose, the Seahawks (9-5-1 and winners of the West) could get the No. 2-seed with a win next. Regardless of what happens tonightbetween Dallas and Detroit, next week's Detroit-Green Bay game will decide the NFC North. If Detroit wins tonight, the Lions would be 10-5 and in the playoffs - either as the North winner or a wildcard team. So because sports often create the strangest of alliances, the Washington Redskins (8-6-1) really need the Dallas Cowboys to win tonight. if Dallas wins, Washington controls its wildcard destiny next week, and the Packers-Lions game would be one of those glorious Week 17 matchups that the winner advances and the loser turns in the pads.
* The NFL was undeniable gripping this weekend. Whether it was the Steelers' great comeback to clinch a spot and eliminate the hated Ravens or the drama of all the back and forth action that dominated Saturday, the league was exceedingly entertaining this weekend. (Yes, our NFL Frisky 4 picks went 3-1 again and we are 9-3 in the three weeks we have done this, so there's that. Cha-Christmas.) That said, two of the more intriguing stories of the NFL season ended with the same awful chapter Saturday. The Tennessee Titans officially had their season ended when Houston beat Cincy late Saturday afternoon. The Titans' year was all-but over, though when second-year quarterback Marcus Mariota broke his leg. Across the country, the Oakland Raiders, who have been among the most entertaining teams in the NFL, lost starting quarterback David Carr with a broken leg, too. Also of note, the Seahawks' playoff hopes were dealt a painful blow when speedy receiver/returner Tyler Lockett broke two bones in his leg in a gruesome injury.
Alabama coach Nick Saban, right, chats with South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier before the start of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 9, 2010, at Williams Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain)* We felt this needed to be included because, well, this is the perfect place for it. College football is about to pick up steam. If you missed it this weekend, here's TFP college football ace David Paschall's story on the legend that is Nick Saban, here's Wiedmer's fun look at sports quotes that folks would like to return this Christmas (and yes, Champions of Life makes an appearance, here's TFP UTC ace Mean Gene Henley's look at some of the strengths and holes of the Mocs' returning football roster, and here's a look at the young UT quarterbacks from Downtown Patrick Brown, the TFP UT beat ace. Yes, the bowls get back going this morning around 11, and here's one final college football tidbit that needs to be viewed to be believed. Here's Nate McBride, the nation's No. 2-ranked inside linebacker, in an almost five-minute Christmas video which was produced by SEC Country and features a letter to Santa, a bulldog puppy and a Corvette. Yep, who knows what could be next, and yes Virginia, we are a long way from three hats on a table and a gym full of friends and family.
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Today's question
Man, this day is a sneaky one in history.
The Babe Ruth trade from Boston to New York was finalized in 1919. Jimi Hendrix wrote "Purple Haze" 50 years ago on this date. And in 1973 "The Exorcist" debuted on this day and later became the first horror film to be nominated for best picture. On this day in 1982, the computer was named Time's man of the year, and in a lot of ways we've never been the same.
Well, since we did a Rushmore above (at least in theory), let's just go old school with a question: Who is the NFL MVP, because after what Aaron Rodgers and Matt Ryan have done down the stretch, this one may be wide open.
Who you got? (And we're going to try to have the bowl contest updated for tomorrow's 5-at-10.)