Blocking as a form of self care
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Hey there!
Before we dig into today’s sports news, we’re thinking of everyone impacted by the devastating plane crash in D.C. on Wednesday, a tragedy that claimed the lives of several members of the U.S. figure skating community.
- Sending love, sending strength, and sending hugs as we head into the weekend.
— Basketball icon Candace Parker, announcing that she’s part of the group working to bring the WNBA’s 16th franchise to Tennessee.
- The two-time W MVP and former Lady Vols hooper has always been vocal about the positive influence her collegiate coach, the late, great Pat Summitt, had on her life. Chills.
Justin Tucker allegations
🏈 Not great
The GIST: Seven-time Pro Bowler and Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker is facing allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior, as reported by The Baltimore Banner in a bombshell article yesterday. Here’s everything we know.
The allegations: According to claims from six massage therapists, the alleged misconduct occurred between 2012 and 2016 — during Tucker’s first five seasons in the NFL — and resulted in multiple massage therapists refusing to work with the long-time Ravens kicker, along with two spas banning him from returning.
- All of the horrifying alleged incidents occurred while Tucker was receiving treatment. The matter is being investigated by the NFL, and Tucker could be disciplined under the league’s personal conduct policy.
Tucker’s response: The veteran kicker responded with a lengthy social media post an hour after the allegations went public, calling the claims “unequivocally false.” His lawyers also denied the reports, stating that they’re speculative and “impossible to prove,” while maintaining that Tucker was never banned from the two spas.
Zooming out: It’s no secret that the NFL has a disappointingly long history of sexual misconduct amongst its athletes — and the league’s punishments rarely fit the crime. Though there’s still plenty to sort through, all eyes will once again be on the league’s handling of this reprehensible situation.
✅ Two-time WNBA champion Monica Wright Rogers was announced as the Toronto Tempo’s inaugural general manager (GM) on Wednesday after spending the last two seasons as the assistant GM for the Phoenix Mercury.
🏒 With only two weeks until the puck drops on the 4 Nations Cup, all four contending teams have named their captains. Sidney Crosby (Canada), Auston Matthews (USA), Victor Hedman (Sweden), and Aleksander Barkov (Finland) will don the Cs for their respective squads.
🪣 NBA MVP candidate (and Hamilton’s own) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dropped a cool 52 points on Wednesday, but that still wasn’t enough to lift his Oklahoma City Thunder in their 116–109 loss to the Golden State Warriors.
1️⃣ There was not one but two aces during yesterday’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am opening day with both world No. 3 Rory McIlroy and world No. 28 Shane Lowry tallying holes-in-one.
- And with American Russell Henley leading the way by just one stroke, the rest of the weekend’s action will be all grand and all green.
⛳ South Korea’s Kim A-lim leads the Hilton Grand Vacations (HGV) Tournament of Champions after yesterday’s first round, boasting a four-shot lead over the rest of the field.
🏀 It’s a good weekend to wear No. 22 — South Carolina star A’ja Wilson and Iowa icon Caitlin Clark will have their college jerseys retired on Sunday. It feels like one of those nights.
👀 And that’s not the only Clark news to report: Though the hoops phenom won’t bring her talents to this year’s NBA All-Star action, she will bring them back to the Hawkeyes’ homecourt when the Indiana Fever play an exhibition game there in May.
⚾ Veteran pitcher and three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer reportedly inked a one-year, $15.5M deal with the Toronto Blue Jays yesterday, bolstering the Blue Birds’ ailing rotation.
Together With Proline
🎶 How to bet on Beyoncé
The weekend before the Super Bowl means one thing: It’s time to warm up your wagering hand with a few bets on the Grammys. And you can get in on the action with PROLINE — here are a couple of sample ideas:
💿 Album of the Year: It’s “Cowboy Carter” — no further questions
🎵 Song of the Year: “Please, Please, Please” (prove us right)
👀 Best New Artist: What we need is a femininomenon — so Chappell Roan, of course
Agree or disagree? Either way, throw some green on your gut feeling and place a Grammys bet with PROLINE, where you can bet on so much more than sports. Download the app to build your bet today and place it in store while shopping for watch party snacks.
*Must be 18+ and a resident of Ontario to bet in-store with PROLINE
🏀 Unrivaled: Lunar Owls BC vs. Laces BC — Tonight at 8:15 p.m. ET — TSN+
- Two undefeated teams and the league’s top-three leading scorers in the Owls’ Napheesa Collier and the Laces’ Kayla McBride and Tiffany Hayes? Say less, then procure an umbrella because it’s about to be raining (threes).
🏐 PVF: Vegas Thrill vs. Indy Ignite — Tonight at 10 p.m. ET — YouTube
- The two top teams in the PVF are as evenly matched as they come, so the big question is which high-flying outside hitter will reign supreme: Indy’s Leketor Member-Meneh or Vegas’ Hannah Maddux?
🏒 PWHL: Montréal Victoire vs. NY Sirens — Sunday at 1 p.m. ET — TSN
- A classic case of an old dog facing off against new tricks, this top-of-the-table showdown features Montréal’s fearless leader, Marie-Philip Poulin, and NY’s rookie phenom, Sarah Fillier, both of whom lead their respective squads in points. Drop that puck.
🏈 NFL Pro Bowl: American Football Conference (AFC) vs. National Football Conference (NFC) — Sunday at 3 p.m. ET — TSN
- If last night’s Pro Bowl Games brought the harmony to your household, there’s more where that came from with Part 2 of the NFL’s All-Star festivities slated for Sunday, highlighted by the annual flag football showdown.
- The AFC has some work to do, but The Great Football Race only cares about where you finish, not where you start.
Together With Kruger Products
From overcoming injury to post-partum goal scoring, Canadian hockey superstar Natalie Spooner is known for her resilience — just like Kruger Products. That’s why the pair’s partnership on the Kruger Big Assist program is the perfect match.
- Over the last five years, more than 45 grassroots hockey organizations across Canada have benefited from a Kruger Big Assist grant, and your local program could be next.
Here’s what passed The GIST squad’s vibe check this week:
📚 What to read
Inner Excellence by Jim Murphy. The book has gone from underdog to sideline staple, thanks to Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown.
🏉 Who’s ready to ruck
Women’s Elite Rugby (WER), the first-ever pro women’s rugby league in the U.S. WER recently revealed its six team names and logos ahead of their March season start and they’re truly try-mendous.
🎨 Who to know
“Queen Tahj” Williams, a New Orleans artist who made history as the first Black woman to design the Super Bowl logo and theme art.
Question of the Day
Believe it or not, today’s the last day of January. With the second month of the year on deck tomorrow, which of the following events are you most stoked for in February?
Today’s email was brought to you by Lisa Minutillo, Lauren Tuiskula, Marga Sison, Rachel Fuenzalida, Megan Murray, and Briana Ekanem. Editing by Laura Pastore. Fact-checking by Marga Sison and Rachel Fuenzalida. Ops by Briana Ekanem and Marga Sison. Ads by Katie Kehoe Foster, Alessandra Puccio, and Lisa Minutillo. Managing edits by Lauren Tuiskula. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.