Welcome to Friday’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.
FRIDAY’S BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS:
NHL: Canadiens at Bruins, 1 p.m. (NBC)
College football: Outback Bowl, Northwestern vs. Tennessee, noon (ESPN)
College football: Citrus Bowl, Michigan vs. Florida, 1 p.m. (ABC)
College football: Fiesta Bowl, Notre Dame vs. Ohio State, 1 p.m. (ESPN; WEEI-FM)
College football: Rose Bowl, Iowa vs. Stanford, 5 p.m. (ESPN; WEEI-FM)
College football: Sugar Bowl, Oklahoma State vs. Mississippi, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN; WEEI-FM)
College basketball: Utah at Stanford, 9 p.m. (ESPNU)
College basketball: UCLA at Washington, 11 p.m. (FS1)
AROUND THE WEB:
— New York has amped up its battle against daily fantasy sports companies DraftKings and FanDuel, requesting that the companies return all the profits to state residents who lost money with them and pay a fine of up to $5,000 per case.
According to an ESPN report, New York attorney general Eric Schneiderman filed an amended lawsuit Thursday, adding the request for restitution of funds. The companies took in more than $200 million in entry fees in 2015 from at least 600,000 New York customers.
The sides are scheduled to argue before an appellate panel Monday to determine whether the companies can continue to operate in New York as the case proceeds to trial. Schneiderman initially demanded the companies leave the state in early November. He was granted a temporary injunction Dec. 11 that prevented DraftKings and FanDuel from operating in the state, but an appellate court quickly reversed the decision.
Schneiderman claims the companies are operating illegal gambling operations, and lately he’s attacked the organizations for what he says is deceptive advertising.
Last week, Illinois attorney general Lisa Madigan said DraftKings and FanDuel are profiting from illegal gambling and must leave her state as well. The companies responded by filing lawsuits there.
— The Colts’ struggles this season have been well-documented, and now amid reports that coach Chuck Pagano is on his way out, Indianapolis is playing the blame game.
WTHR-TV columnist Bob Kravitz on Thursday wrote that Pagano’s job was made more difficult by general manager Ryan Grigson, whom sources described as a “terrible meddler.”
According to the story, Grigson — who arrived with Pagano in 2012 — has dictated to Pagano who should and should not play, and also undermined the coach when it came to disciplining players.
Said one source: “The culture here now is the worst I’ve ever seen it.”
— Jets coach Todd Bowles said he will announce his team’s MVP on Friday. Some Jets fans believe a former player deserves the honor: IK Enemkpali, the man who punched Geno Smith during training camp, knocking the quarterback out of action.
That allowed a clear path for Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has led the Jets to the brink of the playoffs. It also led to Enemkpali’s immediate departure — and acquisition by the Bills.
Asked about the MVP movement, Enemkpali said Jets fans are “crazy.”
“The Jets fans — I was up there for a year — they’re crazy. They say anything and they have no filter at all. So I’m not surprised,” Enemkpali told The Buffalo News. “Nobody knows if what I had done was going to deter whether Geno was going to play or not.”
Enemkpali was suspended four games for the punch. He’s gone on to see limited action in 10 games with the Bills.
“I proved that I could go into a new place and just kind of redeem myself and have new teammates, and they all kind of see the new person that I am,” Enemkpali said. “And just trying to be that personable guy and trying to be a good teammate.”
ON THIS DAY TRIVIA (answer below): On Jan. 1, 1979, John Y. Brown attended his first game as the new owner of the Celtics. Which franchise did Brown trade with Irv Levin to acquire the C’s?
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Tom, just so much respect for him as an athlete. I was hoping to bump into him today in the hallway. I was probably going to jump on him or something like that. … A player like Tom Brady is special. It would have been nice to meet him today. But we’ll have to save that for another day.” — Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban, talking about Patriots quarterback Tom Brady as the Canadiens and Bruins prepare for Friday’s Winter Classic at Gillette Stadium
STAT OF THE DAY: 14-0 — Clemson’s record after Thursday’s 37-17 victory over Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl, putting the Tigers in position to become the first 15-0 team in FBS history if they can beat Alabama in the national championship game Jan. 11
‘NET RESULTS (mobile users, check the website to see the videos): Trail Blazers rookie Pat Connaughton shoots an air ball, but teammate Tim Frazier jumps over the baseline to save the ball and throws a high lob that turns into an alley-oop dunk for Noah Vonleh.
From the Winter Classic alumni game, Canadiens goalie Richard Sevigny robs Ray Bourque.
Bruins alumnus Jay Miller loses a tooth when he gets hit by a puck.
TRIVIA ANSWER: The Buffalo Braves, who now are known as the Los Angeles Clippers
SOOTHING SOUNDS: Country Joe McDonald was born on this day in 1942.