Hanukkah, Judaism’s eight-day Pageant of Lights, begins this yr on Christmas Day, which has solely occurred 4 occasions since 1900.

For some rabbis, the intersection of the 2 non secular holidays gives an auspicious event for interfaith engagement.

“This is usually a profound alternative for studying and collaboration and togetherness,” mentioned Rabbi Josh Stanton, a vice chairman of the Jewish Federations of North America. He oversees interfaith initiatives involving the 146 native and regional Jewish federations that his group represents.

“The purpose is just not proselytizing; it is studying deeply from one another,” he mentioned. “It is others seeing you as you see your self.”

One instance of togetherness: a Chicanukah social gathering hosted Thursday night by a number of Jewish organizations in Houston, bringing collectively members of town’s Latino and Jewish communities for a “cross cultural vacation celebration.” The venue: Houston’s Holocaust museum.

The meals on provide was a mix of the 2 cultures – for instance a latke bar that includes guacamole, chili con queso and pico de gallo, in addition to applesauce and bitter cream. The doughnut-like pastries have been sufganiyot – a Hanukkah specialty – and buñuelos, And the mariachi band took a crack at taking part in the Jewish people tune “Hava Nagila.”

“What actually brings us collectively is our shared values – our religion, our households, our heritage,” mentioned Erica Winsor, public affairs officer for the Jewish Federation of Better Houston.

Rabbi Peter Tarlow, govt director of the Houston-based Heart for Latino-Jewish Relations, mentioned the primary Chicanukah occasion 12 years in the past drew 20 individuals, whereas this yr the group numbered about 300, and will have been bigger had not attendance been capped. He mentioned the party-goers have been a roughly even mixture of Latinos – a few of them Jews with Latin American origins – and “Anglo” Jews.

“There’s an excessive amount of hate, an excessive amount of separation in opposition to each Jews and Latinos,” Tarlow mentioned. “It is a means we are able to come collectively and present we help one another.”

Whereas Hanukkah is meant as an upbeat, celebratory vacation, rabbis observe that it is going down this yr amid persevering with conflicts involving Israeli forces within the Center East, and apprehension over widespread incidents of antisemitism.

Rabbi Moshe Hauer, govt vice chairman of the Orthodox Union, acknowledged that many Jews could also be feeling anxious heading into Hanukkah this yr. However he voiced confidence that almost all would keep the important thing custom: the lighting of candles on menorah candelabras and displaying the place they’re seen via family home windows and in public areas.

“The posture of our group – with out stridency, simply with dedication – is that the menorah needs to be in our home windows, in a spot the place the general public sees it,” Hauer mentioned.

“It’s much less for us, the Jewish group, than for the world,” he added. “Now we have to share that gentle. Placing the menorah within the window is our expression of working to be a light-weight among the many nations.”

Hauer concurred with Stanton that this yr’s overlap of Hanukkah and Christmas is “an distinctive alternative to see and expertise the variety of America and the variety of its communities of religion.”

Rabbi Motti Seligson, public relations director for the Hasidic motion Chabad-Lubavitch, famous that this yr marks the fiftieth anniversary of a milestone within the public lightings of menorahs. It was on Dec. 8, 1974 – as a part of an initiative launched by the Lubavitcher chief, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson – {that a} menorah was lit exterior Philadelphia’s Independence Corridor, the place the Liberty Bell was housed on the time.

“Hanukkah is a celebration of spiritual liberty, in order that it is not taken without any consideration,” Seligson mentioned. “One of many methods of doing that’s by celebrating it publicly.”

He mentioned Chabad was organizing about 15,000 public menorah lightings this yr via its quite a few branches around the globe.

“There actually is a few apprehension,” Seligson mentioned, referring to issues about antisemitism and political friction. “Some individuals query whether or not Jews might be celebrating as overtly as prior to now.”

“What I am listening to is there is no means that we will not,” he added. “The one means via these tough occasions is by standing stronger and prouder and shining brighter than ever.”

Stanton concurred.

“By means of our historical past, we have been via moments which can be straightforward and moments which can be laborious,” he mentioned. “Security for us doesn’t come from hiding. It comes from reaching out.”

Why is Hanukkah so late this yr? The straightforward reply is that the Jewish calendar is predicated on lunar cycles, and isn’t in sync with the Gregorian calendar which units Christmas on Dec. 25. Hanukkah all the time begins on the twenty fifth day of the Jewish month of Kislev, a date which happens between late November and late December on the Gregorian calendar.

The final time Hanukkah started on Christmas Day was in 2005. However the time period “Chrismukkah” – signifying the overlap of the 2 holidays – had turn into a well-liked time period earlier than then. The time period gained further foreign money in 2003, when the character Seth Cohen on the TV drama “The O.C.” embraced the fusion vacation as a tribute to his Jewish father and Protestant mom.

This season, the Hallmark Channel launched a brand new Christmas film referred to as “Leah’s Good Reward,” depicting a younger Jewish lady who had admired Christmas from a distance, and will get an opportunity to expertise it up shut when her boyfriend invitations her to spend the vacations together with his household. Spoiler alert: All doesn’t go easily.

Regardless of such storylines suggesting a fascination with Christmas amongst some Jews, Stanton says analysis by the Jewish Federations reveals a surge in Jews searching for deeper connections to their very own traditions and group, in addition to a surge in Jews volunteering for charitable actions throughout the holidays.

“The chance is to share with others how we have fun Hanukkah,” he mentioned. “It is a vacation of freedom, hope, exhibiting proudly you’re Jewish.” ___

Related Press faith protection receives help via the AP’s collaboration with The Dialog US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely liable for this content material.

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Trump hits the standard themes

Incident not the results of ‘hostile fireplace’, says US navy, as Yemen’s Houthis declare their assault on US service introduced the plane down.

Two United States navy pilots have been shot down over the Purple Sea in an obvious “pleasant fireplace” incident, says the US navy.

Yemen’s Houthi fighters afterward Sunday claimed that they had “focused” the plane service USS Harry S Truman a day earlier in an operation that led to “capturing down an F-18 plane”.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated each pilots had been recovered alive after ejecting from their plane, which was struck early on Sunday, with one struggling minor accidents.

This incident “was not the results of hostile fireplace, and a full investigation is underway”, CENTCOM stated, including that the plane had simply flown off the deck of Truman.

The Houthis have repeatedly attacked Israel-linked ships within the Purple Sea and Gulf of Aden, waterways important to world commerce. The group says its assaults are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, the place Israel has been waging a genocide for greater than a yr, killing greater than 45,000 folks.

In a video assertion, Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree stated the group additionally launched eight drones and 17 cruise missiles in its assault.

Nevertheless, CENTCOM stated warships and plane earlier shot down a number of Houthi drones and an antiship cruise missile launched by the Yemeni rebels.

Netanyahu pledges revenge in opposition to Houthis

In the meantime, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday pledged to retaliate in opposition to Houthi rebels after they fired a missile at Tel Aviv, warning that Israel would goal what he described because the final remaining arm of “Iran’s axis of evil”.

The Houthis struck Israel’s business hub on Saturday with what they claimed was a ballistic missile, injuring 16 folks and forcing many to depart their houses following the predawn assault.

“As we acted with power in opposition to the terrorist arms of Iran’s axis of evil, so we are going to act in opposition to the Houthis… with power, willpower and class,” Netanyahu stated in a video assertion.

Saturday’s strike on Tel Aviv was the second such assault on Israel by the Houthis this week, and certainly one of a number of because the battle in Gaza broke out.

US and British forces have repeatedly struck insurgent targets in Yemen in response to Houthi assaults on transport within the Purple Sea and Gulf of Aden. Israel has additionally beforehand struck the Houthis, together with hitting ports and vitality services, after insurgent assaults in opposition to its territory.

The most recent Israeli assault in opposition to the Houthis was on Thursday, with Israeli warplanes putting Sanaa for the primary time.

For NFL groups, quarterback succession plans will be one of many hardest procedures to tug off. Simply ask the Atlanta Falcons.

Atlanta stunned folks across the league on the 2024 NFL Draft when it chosen former Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 choose one month after signing veteran QB Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal. The scrutinized resolution was later defended by staff administration as a safeguard transfer to keep away from quarterback purgatory.

The plan seemed to be that the 24-year-old Penix would research underneath Cousins earlier than ultimately taking on as QB1 down the street. However eight months later, with Cousins in 12 months considered one of his contract and the staff’s first playoff look in seven years nonetheless in attain, the Falcons already appear prepared to maneuver on. After Cousins underwhelmed on Monday evening, the most recent in a string of subpar performances, Atlanta introduced it could bench the veteran in favor of Penix, who will make his first profession begin towards the New York Giants this Sunday.

“You’re seeing the consequence of when rigorously thought by way of plans go awry,” former NFL super-agent Leigh Steinberg mentioned in a cellphone interview. “That should have been an excoriating resolution for the coach and entrance workplace.”

The american has all of the sudden destabilized the staff’s quarterback scenario whereas creating a possible expensive transition for the Falcons, who’re on the hook to pay Cousins $27.5 million subsequent season assured no matter whether or not the 14 begins he’s made this season are it for him with the franchise. Within the occasion the Falcons minimize or commerce him, his useless cap hit would nonetheless probably dent their roster-building flexibility by way of 2026.

“If you happen to received’t play your franchise quarterback with closely assured cash in a important circumstance since you imagine you might have a greater likelihood to win with (Penix), it’s like a hand grenade thrown in the course of this well-thought out plan,” mentioned Steinberg, who has represented a document eight No. 1 draft picks, together with former Falcons star quarterback Steve Bartkowski.

The Inexperienced Bay Packers are arguably the league’s finest at quarterback succession planning. For over 20 years, they have been led on the place by present and future Professional Soccer Corridor of Famers in Brett Favre (now retired) and Aaron Rodgers (now with the New York Jets). Packers starter Jordan Love, who changed Rodgers final 12 months after serving because the backup for 3 seasons, has been thought-about for Professional Bowl honors and continues to indicate promise. No less than sufficient for the franchise to signal him to a four-year, $220 million deal (together with a document $75 million signing bonus), making him one of many league’s highest-paid gamers.

Each NFL staff aspires for that degree of continuity and stability. It’s tough to execute. Circumstances just like the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs deciding on reigning Tremendous Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes within the first spherical in 2017 whereas nonetheless having then-veteran starter Alex Smith are rarer than gold. It’s extra widespread for normal managers to snag a possible long-term starter within the draft and pray they’ll be prepared when their quantity known as. Daniel Jones, Trey Lance, Zach Wilson, Kenny Pickett, Mac Jones and Mitchell Trubisky all didn’t adequately substitute their groups’ incumbents.

The Falcons’ opponent this week has had its personal quarterback drama because it nonetheless tries to fill the sneakers left by Eli Manning 5 years in the past. The Jets, Las Vegas Raiders, Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts are further groups that may very well be eyeing a brand new franchise quarterback this upcoming draft in April.

Thus, the Falcons are solely the most recent staff to exemplify why seamless quarterback succession plans are powerful to efficiently full. Atlanta has had a spot since buying and selling its all-time passing chief Matt Ryan in 2022. The offseason strikes to pay Cousins greater than anybody on this 12 months’s free-agent class and choose Penix regardless of different positional wants was maybe an overcorrection. Now, the staff is gazing a possible useless cap variety of $65 million, which might be second all-time behind Russell Wilson, who left Denver earlier this 12 months with a complete useless cap worth of $85 million, the biggest in NFL historical past. If the Falcons launch Cousins after June 1, although, they are often unfold the hit over two years and take in a $40 million cap cost subsequent season as a substitute.

Whereas the Falcons have pushed the button on their succession plan sooner than anticipated, the lefty Penix might rise to the event regardless of restricted preseason recreation reps. The choice to present assured money to a then-35-year-old Cousins coming off an Achilles harm will be forgiven if Penix can remind folks why he was one of the crucial electrical gamers in faculty soccer final 12 months. He completed second in Heisman Trophy balloting whereas throwing for practically 5,000 yards and main the Huskies to the nationwide championship recreation.

Cousins, who has greater than $294 million in profession earnings, has handed the torch with class, however it stays to be seen whether or not his understudy is prepared for the lead function. It’s unsure what expectations the staff now has for Penix this season, however it’s clear that the Falcons’ QB technique is in overdrive and represents the league-wide dilemma introduced to groups which have handed out assured cash and later need to unseat that participant.

“This can be a very dramatic transfer to make this late within the season within the midst making an attempt to be a wild-card staff,” Steinberg added. “It sends a transparent sign that in a time of disaster they’re turning to a younger quarterback.”

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates –

Two U.S. navy pilots had been shot down Sunday over the Pink Sea in an obvious “pleasant hearth” incident, the usmilitary stated, marking probably the most severe incident to threaten troops in over a 12 months of America focusing on Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

Each aviators had been recovered alive after ejecting from their stricken two-seat F/A-18 plane, with one struggling minor accidents. However the shootdown underlines simply how harmful the Pink Sea hall has change into, with ongoing assaults on transport by the Iranian-backed Houthis regardless of U.S. and European navy coalitions patrolling the world.

The U.S. navy had performed airstrikes focusing on Yemen’s Houthi rebels on the time of the pleasant hearth incident, although the U.S. navy’s Central Command didn’t elaborate on what the pilots’ mission was and didn’t reply to questions from The Related Press.

The F/A-18 shot down had simply flown off the deck of the usHarry S. Truman plane service, Central Command stated. On Dec. 15, Central Command acknowledged the Truman had entered the Mideast, however hadn’t specified that the service and its battle group was within the Pink Sea.

“The guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, which is a part of the usHarry S. Truman Service Strike Group, mistakenly fired on and hit the F/A-18,” Central Command stated in a press release. “This incident was not the results of hostile hearth, and a full investigation is underway.”

From the navy’s description, the plane shot down was a two-seat F/A-18 Tremendous Hornet fighter jet assigned to the “Pink Rippers” of Strike Fighter Squadron 11 out of Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. Whereas Central Command referred to each as pilots, usually a two-seat F/A-18 has a pilot and a weapons officer on board.

It wasn’t instantly clear how the Gettysburg may mistake an F/A-18 for an enemy plane or missile, notably as ships in a battle group stay linked by each radar and radio communication.

Nevertheless, Central Command stated that warships and plane earlier shot down a number of Houthi drones and an anti-ship cruise missile launched by the rebels. Incoming hostile hearth from the Houthis has given sailors simply seconds to make selections prior to now.

For the reason that Truman’s arrival, the U.S. has stepped up its airstrikes focusing on the Houthis and their missile hearth into the Pink Sea and the encompassing space. Nevertheless, the presence of an American warship group might spark renewed assaults from the rebels, like what the usDwight D. Eisenhower noticed earlier this 12 months. That deployment marked what the navy described as its most intense fight since World Struggle II.

On Saturday night time and early Sunday, U.S. warplanes performed airstrikes that shook Sanaa, the capital of Yemen which the Houthis have held since 2014. Central Command described the strikes as focusing on a “missile storage facility” and a “command-and-control facility,” with out elaborating.

Houthi-controlled media reported strikes in each Sanaa and across the port metropolis of Hodeida, with out providing any casualty or injury data. In Sanaa, strikes appeared notably focused at a mountainside identified to be house to navy installations. Nevertheless, there have been no photographs or data launched concerning the strikes — which has occurred beforehand when airstrikes hit very important services for the rebels.

Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, a Houthi navy spokesman, launched a prerecorded assertion hours later during which he claimed the rebels launched eight drones and 17 cruise missiles of their assault. He additionally claimed with out providing any proof that the Houthis shot down the F/A-18, seemingly following a sample of him making exaggerated claims. Through the Eisenhower’s deployment, he repeatedly falsely claimed the service had been struck by Houthi hearth.

The Houthis have focused about 100 service provider vessels with missiles and drones because the Israel-Hamas conflict within the Gaza Strip began in October 2023 after Hamas’ shock assault on Israel that killed 1,200 individuals and noticed 250 others taken hostage.

Israel’s grinding offensive in Gaza has killed greater than 45,000 Palestinians, native well being officers say. The tally does not distinguish between combatants and civilians.

The Houthis have seized one vessel and sunk two in a marketing campaign that has additionally killed 4 sailors. Different missiles and drones have both been intercepted by separate U.S.- and European-led coalitions within the Pink Sea or failed to achieve their targets, which have additionally included western navy vessels.

The rebels keep that they aim ships linked to Israel, the U.S. or the UK to power an finish to Israel’s marketing campaign in opposition to Hamas in Gaza. Nevertheless, most of the ships attacked have little or no connection to the battle, together with some sure for Iran.

The Houthis even have more and more focused Israel itself with drones and missiles, leading to retaliatory Israeli airstrikes.

On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated his nation would act “forcefully” in opposition to the Houthis, because it has in opposition to different allies of Iran, “solely on this case, we’re not performing alone.” Israeli media stories late Sunday, counting on nameless sources, steered senior safety officers imagine that Israel ought to straight strike Iran over the Houthi assaults, somewhat than hit targets in Yemen once more.

The week main as much as Saturday’s recreation in opposition to the Texans concerned questions on how efficient Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes can be taking part in via an ankle damage and it did not take lengthy to get a solution.

Mahomes capped the primary Chiefs possession of the afternoon with a 15-yard landing run. Mahomes mentioned he did not really feel like he was “setting a tone” with the play however it served that function because the Chiefs went on for a 27-19 win that places them on the verge of clinching the primary total seed within the AFC playoffs.

After the win, Mahomes mentioned he takes a variety of pleasure in having the ability to persevere when he is not feeling 100%.

“I ask so much from the fellows round me and, so, I really feel like if I will ask them to play via ache, if I will ask them to play via little nicks and bruises and stuff like that, I’ve obtained to do it,” Mahomes mentioned. “That is one thing that I pleasure myself on, is being on the market with my guys and taking part in soccer. I am not going to place us able to be in a foul spot or lose a soccer recreation, but when I really feel like I can compete and win, I will be out on that soccer area.”

Mahomes will handle the ankle between now and Wednesday’s recreation in opposition to the Steelers. A win in that recreation or a Payments loss to the Patriots on Sunday will make them the No. 1 seed.

Tiger Woods has quite a bit to have a good time.

Because the golf legend’s 15-year-old son Charlie Woods—whom he shares with ex-wife Elin Nordegren—scored his first-ever gap in a single in the course of the ultimate spherical of the PNC Championship in Florida Dec. 22, the previous couple shared a young second amid the thrill.

In a video shared on Instagram by Golf on CBS, Elin, 44, hugged Tiger, 48, and gently patted him on the again after the completion of the 18th gap.

The candy second marked a transparent break from the exes’ complicated historical past, which incorporates his dishonest scandal, which erupted in November 2009. Although the sports activities star issued a televised apology for his infidelities in February 2010, the couple divorced later that 12 months.

Years after the headline-grabbing saga, Tiger mirrored on what he would have carried out in another way amid all of the chaos.

“In hindsight, it isn’t how I’d change 2009 and the way it all happened,” he instructed Time in 2015. “It could be having a extra open, trustworthy relationship with my ex-wife.”

Exhale, Chiefs Kingdom.

Six days after Patrick Mahomes hobbled off the sphere at Cleveland with a really tender proper ankle, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs celebrity darted, rolled, scrambled, stopped and began, and naturally, threw the soccer aplenty — just about checking all of the packing containers for what it takes to play his deadly model of quarterback — to show that disaster has actually been averted.

Possibly it was the cape that Mahomes (maybe) wears tucked beneath his jersey and out of plain sight, supplying some further juice. As a result of it positive appears as if there’s some tremendous therapeutic energy at work right here.

Didn’t Mahomes endure a excessive ankle sprain towards the Browns?

That’s an harm that always knocks victims out for 2 or three weeks. But there was Mahomes, a full apply participant all week, racing out of the tunnel for pregame introductions on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium in a full dash. If that wasn’t sufficient of an announcement, Mahomes confirmed everyone on the primary Chiefs possession. On a third-and-13, he bolted out of the pocket and almost obtained the primary down. Two performs later, he broke from the pocket once more, scrambling up the center for a 15-yard landing scamper.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The most recent NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and extra.

It appeared so becoming that Mahomes — who additionally accomplished 28 of 41 passes for 260 yards with a landing and nil picks — used his legs to provide the primary factors for a 27-19 victory towards the Houston Texans.

“I don’t know if it was setting a tone,” Mahomes stated throughout his postgame information convention. “I knew I may run. It was simply the stopping that was going to be exhausting. As soon as I obtained to working, I noticed the top zone. I used to be simply making an attempt to stand up within the air (close to the objective line) and to the top zone. It wasn’t setting a tone. I used to be simply making an attempt to play soccer on the market.”

That’s what superheroes do. They serve up the extraordinary. Ease fears. Make the entire higher. Then, dripping in humility, insist that it’s no huge deal.

Then once more, possibly that’s under no circumstances the cope with Mahomes, even with all of his Tremendous Bowl bling and MVP {hardware}.

This newest episode could also be simply the Space 51 proof wanted to show that the dude is simply not of this world. Mahomes could very properly be an alien amongst us.

“He didn’t miss a beat,” stated Chiefs coach Andy Reid.

No, Reid, even with all that he has witnessed through the years from Mahomes, wasn’t anticipating his quarterback to go “Crazylegs” together with his working on Saturday. A clue got here in the course of the week, when Mahomes didn’t miss a single apply rep. However nonetheless.

“He spoils the canine out of us,” Reid stated. “He’s so robust. Mentally. And bodily. You simply get used to it. Most guys don’t come again from that like he did. However he set his thoughts to it. Then he jumped in that coaching room and stayed in there. They usually did an excellent job on him, our trainers. Most guys don’t do this.”

And none of those guys, Reid may have added, are Mahomes, who sends fairly the message to his group about management.

“I ask quite a lot of the blokes round me,” Mahomes stated. “If I’m going to ask them to play by ache, play by nicks and bruises, I’ve obtained to do it as properly.”

So there. In any occasion, with Mahomes main the best way, the Chiefs are 14-1, nonetheless on observe to assert the No. 1 seed for the AFC playoffs and nonetheless exhibiting indicators that their mission to grow to be the primary three-peat Tremendous Bowl champion is getting stronger by the hour. They received one other one-possession recreation (their sixteenth in a row in that style, together with 11 such victories this season), which is undoubtedly an excellent trait to hold into the postseason. They usually introduced again one other weapon, too, with the regular-season debut of latest receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, again from a shoulder harm three weeks after electrical working again Isiah Pacheco made his return from a damaged fibula.

So, regardless of the grind that features three video games over 11 days, all methods are go. Particularly with Mahomes exhibiting nearly no limitations from the ankle harm.

For a group that has tailored all season to 1 harm after one other, the resilience that Mahomes has demonstrated in current days is completely reflective of the bigger image with the Chiefs. No one anticipated that chasing a three-peat can be simple. But the grit the Chiefs have demonstrated to probably place themselves as the highest seed — and it might be a well-earned bye week off — has amplified a dimension that may be neglected.

The identical will be stated of the ringleader, too, even when in earlier seasons we’ve seen him shake off accidents whereas chasing Tremendous Bowl glory.

Just a few days in the past, Reid contemplated the opportunity of beginning backup quarterback Carson Wentz, as any accountable grownup would do given Mahomes’ standing popping out of the Cleveland recreation.

“I wasn’t positive,” Reid instructed reporters on Thursday. By then, he was relieved by the motion he noticed from No. 15 on the apply subject. “I’ve been by it with him earlier than. He amazes me each time he does it. He’s so mentally robust and simply places…it’s a mindset that he has going into it. So, the place he was a couple of days in the past, I most likely would have stated it was a protracted shot.”

With Mahomes, the percentages someway preserve working within the favor of greatness. Keep tuned.

The Texans got here after Mahomes as you’d anticipate, however the unsung hero got here within the type of the Chiefs’ offensive line. Mahomes was sacked as soon as and hit simply 4 occasions (contrasting the 11 occasions that Kansas Metropolis’s protection laid hits on Houston’s C.J. Stroud, who was sacked twice). The Chiefs obtained an enormous recreation from Joe Thuney, the All-Professional left guard who made the emergency begin on the left sort out submit that has been such a problem this season, with Reid rotating a number of our bodies on the submit throughout practices final week in devising his plan.

Nearly as good because the safety was all through the sport and as shaky because it has been all through the season, the most important hold-your-breath second on Saturday (after that first landing tumble, in fact) got here within the fourth quarter, when Mahomes was hit (legally) by Danielle Hunter as he launched a go. Mahomes limped after getting up from the turf. As he continued, there was most likely a collective sigh of aid.

The ankle will nonetheless be monitored carefully because the rehab continues. With the following outing on Christmas at Pittsburgh, it figures that Mahomes will keep off his ft as a lot as doable. 

After which he’ll make sure you be sure that the cape is pressed and able to pack for the upcoming highway journey.

Tiger Woods and ex-wife Elin Nordegren are nonetheless supporting one another — and their son Charlie!

The previous couple — who divorced in 2010 after six years of marriage — just lately embraced one another in happiness after Tiger and Charlie Woods, 15, positioned second on the PNC Championship on Sunday, Dec. 22.

Though the father-son duo misplaced the golf event to Bernhard Langer and his son Jason, the second was highlighted by the surprising public present of affection between Woods, 48 and Nordegren, 44, which went viral on social media.

Charlie additionally had a serious victory through the event’s fourth gap, as he hit his very first hole-in-one proper in entrance of his golf legend dad.

Associated: Tiger Woods’ Son Charlie, 15, Hits First Gap-in-One in Entrance of Dad — See His Response!

Footage of the second was posted by the PGA Tour — which additionally shared that Charlie’s shot was on a par-3 gap and traveled 176 toes for the ace. He used a 7-iron earlier than the ball landed about 6 ft. from the opening itself after which rolled into the cup.

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The elder Woods lovingly embraced his son after making the shot and the 2 had been all smiles.

Talking with the Golf Channel after his milestone golf second, Charlie mentioned, “It was an ideal 7-iron, so simply sort of hit it.”

“Down off the left, a little bit lower 7. It was superior. I didn’t suppose it went in. I don’t imagine anyone till I am going up there and see it,” he added.

The PNC Championship was really a household affair, as Woods’ and Nordegren’s 17-year-old daughter Sam acted as her father’s caddie for the occasion after making her caddie debut finally yr’s event.

Associated: Tiger Woods’ Daughter Sam Is Again as Caddie Whereas He and Son Charlie Play Collectively within the 2024 PNC Championship

Tiger has repeatedly mentioned that he’s at all times “excited” to play golf along with his son. “Charlie clearly loves the instances he spends along with his dad on the golf course,” a supply near Woods advised PEOPLE in 2020. “It’s a particular bonding exercise for the 2 of them.”

Tiger and Charlie performed of their first PNC Championship again in 2020. “I do not suppose phrases can describe it,” Tiger said at the time. “Simply the truth that we had been capable of have this expertise collectively, Charlie and I, it is recollections for a lifetime.”

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STILLWATER — Because the calendar inches nearer to 2025, Oklahoma State should attempt to choose up the items of a busted 2024 season.

The Cowboys completed 3-9, shedding their final 9 video games — all in Huge 12 play — to complete off their worst season in three many years. 

How did this system that competed for Huge 12 championships in two of the earlier three seasons fall to date so quick?

The Cowboys had returned 20 starters, and whereas accidents closely impacted the protection, the offense by no means regained the shape it had proven with just about all the identical gamers in place from a yr earlier.

Requested after the season finale why the offense couldn’t replicate its success, coach Mike Gundy supplied an oversimplified reply.

“We received sporadic quarterback play,” he stated. “I’m not simply blaming (Alan) Bowman, however you guys watch all of our video games proper? There have been two or three video games the place he was unbelievable. There have been two or three video games that have been very common at greatest. In my view, highschool, school, NFL perhaps even decrease than highschool, for those who get sporadic quarterback play, it makes for a really common season.

“Then, we didn’t tie every thing else into it. We have been up and down in all three phases all yr lengthy. We may by no means pull that slot machine and have them hit on the similar time.”

Let’s asses a couple of key areas the place the season went off the rails for the Pokes:

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Offensive line woes

Whereas Gundy’s preliminary response was to level to quarterback play, essentially the most evident concern from the outset of the season was OSU’s incapability to run the ball. 

An offensive line stuffed with sixth-year seniors and skilled starters did not frequently open holes.

Ollie Gordon II, who was the reigning Doak Walker Award winner because the nation’s high operating again, opened with 126 speeding yards in opposition to South Dakota State.

It appeared like a modest begin to the season, however turned out to be the top, till a late-November breakout for 156 yards in opposition to Texas Tech. 

Gordon reached 100 yards simply 4 instances and was held to 50 or fewer 5 instances.

The absence of the run sport put undue strain on Bowman to make performs at quarterback. And defenses have been stopping the run with out dedicating plenty of further consideration to it, which elevated their skill to clog passing lanes as nicely.

That led to the inconsistent quarterback play Gundy talked about — however we’ll get to that later. 

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Inept run protection

Whereas accidents to All-Huge 12 gamers Collin Oliver and Nick Martin did essentially the most long-term injury to the Cowboys’ hopes of defensive enchancment within the second half of the season, their run protection was a large number even earlier than the accidents.

Arkansas rushed for 232 yards and even Tulsa had a little bit of success on the bottom early earlier than the sport received out of hand. 

The primary six Huge 12 opponents rushed for at the very least 225 yards, most of these after Martin — the Cowboys’ main tackler in 2023 — was misplaced for the season. 

OSU couldn’t cease the run, couldn’t sort out constantly and couldn’t get third-down stops. In consequence, the protection was on the sector method an excessive amount of. The consequence was a unit that allowed over 500 yards per sport and ranked next-to-last out of 134 Division I applications in that class.

Complicating issues, the Cowboys had modified their protection within the offseason, shifting away from the 3-3-5 coordinator Bryan Nardo was employed to run. So Nardo was left scrambling to repair an injury-riddled protection that differed from his key space of experience.

Extra:How Oklahoma State soccer signee Carl’Veon Younger went from unknown LB to 4-star prospect

Quarterback carousel

It appeared Bowman was going to be the reply to OSU’s run-game struggles. The seventh-year quarterback averaged 322.3 passing yards by three non-conference video games.

However the Utah sport highlighted some challenges, leading to his benching at halftime. It appeared odd on the time, contemplating the variety of second-half comebacks Bowman had helped orchestrate in 2023, and as just lately as two weeks prior in opposition to Arkansas. 

Nonetheless, Gundy believed it was time to make a change. Although Bowman would begin the primary three video games of Huge 12 play, he was benched within the second half of two, and eventually, Gundy switched to Garret Rangel because the starter within the seventh sport of the season.

Rangel, in fact, suffered a damaged collarbone within the second quarter of his first begin, at BYU, and with redshirt freshman backup Zane Flores already sidelined by ankle surgical procedure, the job went again to Bowman.

After the offense limped by a couple of extra losses, true freshman Maealiuaki Smith received his shot to blended outcomes, and now, the Cowboys go into the offseason set for a quarterback battle involving a largely unknown trio of gamers.

Extra:Oklahoma State soccer provides former OU RB Kalib Hicks through switch portal

2024 OSU soccer schedule

• Aug. 31: OSU 44, South Dakota State 20
• Sept. 7: OSU 39, Arkansas 31 (2OT)
• Sept. 14: OSU 45, Tulsa 10
• Sept. 21: Utah 22, OSU 19
• Sept. 28: Kansas State 42, OSU 20
• Oct. 5: West Virginia 38, OSU 14
• Oct. 18: BYU 38, OSU 35
• Oct. 26: Baylor 38, OSU 28
• Nov. 2: Arizona State 42, OSU 21
• Nov. 9: TCU 38, OSU 13
• Nov. 23: Texas Tech 56, OSU 48
• Nov. 29: Colorado 52, OSU 0

2025 OSU soccer schedule

• Aug. 30: vs. UT Martin
• Sept. 6: at Oregon
• Sept. 20: vs. Tulsa
• Date TBA: at Arizona
• Date TBA: at Kansas
• Date TBA: vs. Baylor
• Date TBA: vs. Houston
• Date TBA: vs. Iowa State
• Date TBA: vs. Cincinnati
• Date TBA: at Texas Tech
• Date TBA: at UCF