Welcome to Tuesday’s Morning Mashup. For the latest news, start at our WEEI.com home page or click here for the top stories from our news wire.
TUESDAY’S BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS:
NBA: Warriors at Pacers, 7 p.m. (NBATV)
NBA: Jazz at Kings, 10 p.m. (NBATV)
College basketball: Colgate at Syracuse, 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
College basketball: Florida at Miami, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
College basketball: West Virginia at Virginia, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
College basketball: Wright State at Xavier, 7 p.m. (FS1)
College basketball: Maryland at UConn, 9 p.m. (ESPN)
College basketball: Michigan at SMU, 9 p.m. (ESPN2)
College basketball: Stony Brook at Notre Dame, 9 p.m. (ESPNU)
NHL: Red Wings at Capitals, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)
Soccer: UEFA Champions, Atletico Madrid at Benfice, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Soccer: UEFA Champions, Manchester United at Wolfsburg, 2:30 p.m. (FS1)
AROUND THE WEB:
Aroldis Chapman
— The Reds’ trade of closer Aroldis Chapman to the Dodgers apparently is on hold and in danger of falling apart after a report emerged that the pitcher was investigated recently for domestic violence.
According to a Yahoo! Sports report, more than a dozen police officers went to Chapman’s Florida home Oct. 30 after his girlfriend accused Chapman choked and pushed her after an argument. Chapman reportedly acknowledged to police that he later locked himself in his garage and fired eight gunshots. No arrests were made due in part to a lack of cooperation, and Chapman is not facing charges due to insufficient evidence.
While Major League Baseball said it has begun an investigation, Chapman’s lawyer denied the allegations.
Reds manager Bryan Price said it’s difficult to be in a holding pattern as he tries to plan for next season.
“We go through this at the trade deadline at the end of July and now we have a bunch of players with names out there. So it’s uncomfortable enough,” Price said. “So if anything happens with any of our guys, it would be nice if it happened sooner rather than later, but that’s just the nature of the beast.”
The hard-throwing Chapman, an All-Star the last four seasons, is eligible for free agency after the 2016 season. He has spent the past six seasons with he Reds after defecting from Cuba in 2009. The 27-year-old had a 1.63 ERA in 2015 with 116 strikeouts in 66 1/3 innings.
— Steve Sarkisian, fired as USC coach during the season, filed a lawsuit against the school, claiming it discriminated against him because his alcoholism is a disability.
Sarkisian’s suit also claims wrongful termination and invasion of privacy, and he insists he is owed at least $12.6 million plus damages for “extreme mental anguish.”
“Instead of honoring the contract it made with Steve Sarkisian, USC kicked him to the curb,” the 31-page lawsuit reads.
Sarkisian said he admitted his problem and should have been allowed to return to his job after seeking treatment for his alcoholism, but the school questioned his recollection of the facts.
“Much of what is stated in the lawsuit filed today by Steve Sarkisian is patently untrue,” USC general counsel Carol Mauch Amir said. “The record will show that Mr. Sarkisian repeatedly denied to university officials that he had a problem with alcohol, never asked for time off to get help and resisted university efforts to provide him with help. The university made clear in writing that further incidents would result in termination, as it did.”
— Former Rutgers basketball coach Mike Rice, who was fired after video emerged of him verbally abusing his players during practices, has landed a new job as interim coach at The Patrick School, a high school basketball powerhouse in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
Rice was hired by Patrick School coach Chris Chavannes, who is spending the month focusing on his role as principal at the school. When Chavannes returns, Rice will serve as an assistant coach.
“I’m excited and thankful for the opportunity,” Rice told NJ.com. “Whatever I can do to help the Patrick School student-athletes and Chris, I will.”
Chavannes said Rice, who underwent anger management counseling after his departure from Rutgers, has been honest with the players about his past.
“When he first came in, he was very open with the kids about what transpired at Rutgers and what he’s done and continues to do to recover from that,” Chavannes told NJ.com. “It’s not something he hides from and he’s very open about it.”
ON THIS DAY TRIVIA (answer below): On. Dec. 8, 1977, the Red Sox traded pitcher Don Aase and cash to the Angels for which player?
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Look, those guys played hard. They fought all the way. Similar to what happened in the Denver game or what happened at the end of the Giants game. It’s just not consistent enough. We just have to play better for 60 minutes and four quarters. We can’t take our foot off the gas and give up those types of opportunities like we did.” — Patriots coach Bill Belichick, during Monday’s weekly appearance with Dale & Holley, on Sunday’s loss to the Eagles
STAT OF THE DAY: 33-0 — Scoring totals for the Celtics‘ starting guards (Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley) and their Pelicans counterparts (Tyreke Evans and Eric Gordon) in Boston’s 111-93 victory Monday
‘NET RESULTS (mobile users, check the website to see the videos): Mirza Teletovic grabs a rebound and throws up an off-balance shot that goes in with less than a second remaining to give the Suns a win over the Bulls.
Greg Monroe hits a layup with five seconds remaining and John Henson comes up with a block at the other end as the Bucks hold off the Trail Blazers.
Teddy bears swarm the ice after a goal during the annual Western Hockey League Calgary Hitmen Teddy Bear Toss.
An 11-year-old soccer player shows off his foot skills by juggling items including an egg, a bar of soap and an Xbox controller.
TRIVIA ANSWER: Jerry Remy
SOOTHING SOUNDS: Jerry Butler was born on this day in 1939.
