Happy New Year 2025

Category: Sports

Patrick Mahomes’ grandfather reportedly ‘hanging on’ in hospice care to watch grandson play in Super Bowl LIX

Patrick Mahomes will look to become the first quarterback in NFL history to win three straight Super Bowls Sunday, and he is also looking to give at least one more gift to his grandfather Randy, who is in hospice care.

Mahomes’ mother, Randi Mahomes, shared the news that Patrick’s grandfather was in hospice care Jan. 24, just a day before the quarterback led the Kansas City Chiefs to an AFC championship win over the Buffalo Bills.

Now, Randi said her father is “hanging on,” hoping to see Mahomes lead the Chiefs to one more victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Sunday’s Super Bowl, according to People.

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Super Bowl LIX will be streamed on Tubi. (Tubi)

“I know that it has meant a lot to him,” Randi said. “And I think he’s hanging on because he wants to see his grandson do an amazing thing or just let him play.

“I mean, he must be such a proud grandpa, so proud. And my mom was very proud, and his other grandparents [were too].”

Randi added that one thing her father still remembers is the date and time of the Super Bowl.

Randi announced her father was in the hospital in mid-September.

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“Prayer warriors please pray for my daddy. He is in the hospital and is not well His name is Randy,” she wrote on X Sept. 14. A few days later, her post on Instagram said, “This is how I fight my battles. If you are seeing this, take a moment, and PRAY for my dad now.”

Patrick Mahomes will have that as motivation as he looks to make history for his team and family Sunday.

Mahomes’ opponent, the Eagles, will also have some motivation.

After a medical plane crashed on a street near the Roosevelt Mall in Philadelphia Jan. 31, the Eagles are now playing to honor one of their young fans.

Andre Howard III, known as “Trey,” saved his sister from falling debris after the Philadelphia plane crash Jan. 31, 2025. (Family provided to FOX 29 )

Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown told reporters Wednesday he and his teammates are playing for Trey Howard, a fourth grader who suffered a brain injury while using his body to shield his sister from the plane crash.

“He’s a hero,” the Eagles wide receiver said Wednesday. “Stepping in to save his sister. You can tell he has great parents. He was raised right. For him to wake up and say, ‘Did I miss it?’ It’s crazy. Something of that magnitude takes place, and he’s worried about a football game. Of course, we want to do it for him.”

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On top of that, both teams will also have the honor of playing in the first Super Bowl attended by a sitting president. President Trump will be in New Orleans for the game Sunday.

Mahomes gave his thoughts on Trump attending the game to reporters Wednesday.

“It’s always cool to be able to play in front of a sitting president,” Mahomes said. “Someone that is at the top position in our country.”

It will also mean a lot to Mahomes’ mother, who announced her endorsement for Trump a day before the election in a video message to OutKick at the Chiefs’ game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Nov. 4.

Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs kneels in prayer before a game against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field Dec. 15, 2024, in Cleveland. (Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)

Randi told Fox News Digital she is excited for her son to play as Trump watches Sunday.

“I think for a president of our country, of the United States, I think it’s amazing,” she said. “I think whoever the president is, to support the teams, to support America’s best sport. … I think it’s really neat for a president to be able to support it. You know what, let’s do it.”

FOX’s coverage of the Super Bowl begins at 1 p.m. ET Sunday with the game kicking off at 6:30 p.m. ET. The game can be streamed on Tubi for free.

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Jackson Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital. He previously worked for ESPN and Business Insider. Jackson has covered the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.

February 9, 2025
Anthony Davis leaves Mavericks debut with injury after being traded for Luka Dončić

Dallas Mavericks fans were hostile Saturday during the team’s first home game since Luka Dončić was traded.

The 25-year-old reigning scoring champion was sent to the Los Angeles Lakers, who gave up Anthony Davis in return.

Davis made his Dallas debut Saturday amid protests and chants calling for the firing of general manager Nico Harrison outside before the game.

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Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis leaves a game against the Houston Rockets during the third quarter at the American Airlines Center. (Jerome Miron/Imagn Images)

It all started as Harrison had imagined. Davis dominated the first half with 24 points and 13 rebounds.

However, less than four minutes into the third quarter, Davis appeared to injure his groin. Davis had been out with an abdominal strain earlier in the week.

Davis went down without contact as Alperen Sangun of the Houston Rockets drove past him for a layup. Davis grabbed his groin area as he walked slowly toward the offensive end and stayed in the corner near the Dallas bench while his team ran the offense.

Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis celebrates during the second quarter against the Houston Rockets at American Airlines Center. (Jerome Miron/Imagn Images)

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Davis didn’t try to go back the other way after the Rockets regained possession. The Mavericks committed a foul to stop the clock and get Davis out of the game. He stayed in the bench area briefly before leaving the court, and he was not spotted on the bench in the fourth quarter.

The 31-year-old big man has had injury issues in the past, but he did play in a career-high 76 games last year.

Anthony Davis of the Dallas Mavericks reacts after an injury in a game against the Houston Rockets at American Airlines Center Feb. 8, 2025, in Dallas, Texas. (Tim Heitman/Getty Images)

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The Mavs got a 116-105 win, but surely their fans are holding their breath.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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February 9, 2025
Patriots owner Robert Kraft opens up on Trump attending Super Bowl LIX, Tom Brady calling the game

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft is at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, and his old friend President Donald Trump will be there too.

Kraft gave his thoughts on Trump becoming the first sitting president to attend the big game in an interview with Fox News Digital.

“It just shows you that maybe the NFL and the Super Bowl are important if we got the president of the United States coming as a guest,” Kraft said.

Kraft said he donated to Trump in the past during an interview on “The Breakfast Club” in October. The owner, who has an estimated $11.8 billion net worth, said he first met Trump in the 1990s.

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Super Bowl LIX will be streamed on Tubi. (Tubi)

“Donald Trump became a social friend in the early ‘90s, when I was going down to Florida. And then when my wife … died 13 years ago, he was one of four or five people who reached out to me and was really, really nice,” Kraft said.

“The only donation I ever gave to him was he called me when he got elected, and I made a strong donation to his inauguration. I couldn’t believe it. It was like having someone who was a drunk fraternity brother become president of the United States.”

However, the owner said he distanced himself from Trump after the events of Jan. 6, 2021.

“I will say this,” Kraft said. “I was very upset (with) what happened Jan. 6. And I haven’t talked to [Trump] since then.”

The Patriots have gone to other lengths to distance themselves as a franchise from the former president as well.

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Former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady speaks during a halftime ceremony as Patriots President Jonathan Kraft and Patriots owner Robert Kraft react at Gillette Stadium Sept. 10, 2023, in Foxborough, Mass. (Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)

In May 2021, the team and Kraft denied allegations he and Trump attempted to pay a U.S. senator money to drop an investigation into a cheating scandal involving the team, according to a report by ESPN.

The report alleged Trump met with Sen. Arlen Specter in 2008 and offered him “money in Palm Beach” if he dropped his investigation into the Spygate scandal, after which the Patriots were disciplined by the NFL for filming a rival team’s coaching signals.

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Trump had not started his political career at the time and was well known as the star of “The Apprentice.” ESPN says Trump was acting on behalf of Kraft, a claim those close to the former president and the team deny.

“Mr Kraft is not aware of any involvement of Trump on this topic, and he did not have any other engagement with Specter or his staff,” a team spokesperson told ESPN.

A mutual friend of Trump and Kraft will be at the Super Bowl as well, but for work-related reasons.

Tom Brady will be broadcasting his first Super Bowl as the color commentator for Fox’s broadcast of the game, capping the former quarterback’s first season in the booth.

Former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, right, embraces Patriots owner Robert Kraft, center, as Patriots President Jonathan Kraft, left, looks on during halftime ceremonies to honor Brady at a game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Patriots Sept. 10, 2023, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

Kraft praised Brady’s broadcasting skills in an interview with Fox News Digital.

“I think the way he has presented the nuances of the game, things that fans would never see, is truly special and unique, and Fox was brilliant to attract him,” Kraft said.

Brady previously received praise for his broadcasting during a crucial moment of the Washington Commanders’ NFC divisional-round victory over the Detroit Lions Jan. 18.

The Commanders were up three points with under 14:30 to play. They decided to go for it on 4th and 2 from the Lions’ 5-yard line. A stop for the Lions and they would have gotten the ball back with ample time to either tie the game or take the lead.

Brady noticed something wrong about the Lions’ defense as the Commanders broke their huddle.

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft before an AFC wild-card playoff game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. (Rich Barnes/USA Today Sports)

“Need a timeout, 12 on the field, timeout,” Brady said. “Timeout! Timeout! Nope. Nope. Oh no! What are they doing?”

The Lions were penalized for having 12 men on the field. The penalty gave the Commanders a new set of downs. Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. found the end zone two plays later and put Washington up 38-28. The Commanders won the game 45-28.

Brady received praise on social media for pointing out the Lions’ illegal defense.

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Jackson Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital. He previously worked for ESPN and Business Insider. Jackson has covered the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.

February 8, 2025
Eagles activate Brandon Graham off injured reserve before Super Bowl LIX

Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham tore his triceps 11 weeks ago, putting his season, possibly his career, in jeopardy.

Now he will play in the Super Bowl.

Graham, 36, was activated off injured reserve Saturday and will return for Sunday’s Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs.

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Defensive end Brandon Graham of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates during the second half of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium Nov. 24, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)

Graham said before the season that this season would be the final one of his 17-year career. The injury to his triceps Nov. 24 against the Los Angeles Rams had Graham facing a possible premature end to his career.

The defensive end returned to practice as a limited participant last week and was listed as questionable in Friday’s practice.

“It’ll feel great because you worked your butt off to get back,” Graham said. “I know the team worked their butt off to get here, and I want to be there for them.”

Graham is one of two position players and four players overall left from the Eagles’ Super Bowl championship team in the 2017 season.

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Brandon Graham of the Philadelphia Eagles runs out of the tunnel before a game against the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field Nov. 14, 2024, in Philadelphia. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

In the Eagles’ Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots in 2018, Graham strip-sacked Tom Brady with 2:11 left in the fourth quarter to seal the 41-33 win for the Eagles.

In their 38-35 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl two years ago, Graham played 18 snaps without a tackle or sack.

“I don’t want to get in the way of the rhythm of what everybody already has,” Graham said. “If I can just add anything, I want to give everything I’ve got.”

Graham has played the most games of any player in Eagles history with 206, 13 more than Jason Kelce, who is second in franchise history with 193.

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Super Bowl LIX will be streamed on Tubi. (Tubi)

Graham hopes his final game ends with hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy for the second time in his career.

The Chiefs take on the Eagles in the Super Bowl Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

FOX’s Super Bowl coverage begins at 1 p.m. ET Sunday. Coverage can be streamed live on Tubi for the first time.

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Ryan Canfield is a digital production assistant for Fox News Digital.

February 8, 2025
Emmitt Smith rips teams for not using running backs enough, creating narratives against position

NFL teams might learn a thing or two from Emmitt Smith.

No one in NFL history has run for more yards than Smith, who gained 18,355 yards during his 15-year career, mostly with the Dallas Cowboys.

Smith also holds the NFL record for most rushing attempts, touchdowns and overall touches. When the NFL was a true ground-and-pound league, Smith dominated everyone in his path.

But football has changed a lot since he retired 20 years ago, and even Smith knows teams are making quarterbacks the stars of the league.

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Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith (22) makes his way through San Francisco 49ers defensive back Merton Hanks (36) and linebacker Bill Romanowski (53) for a 4-yard gain in the second quarter of the Cowboys’ 38-21 NFC championship win Jan. 23, 1994, in Irving, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

Because of that, and perhaps some analytics, the running back position was underused in recent years. Running backs had trouble getting big contracts as general managers prioritized other positions.

However, after significant turnover in the offseason, teams may now get the hint. And they’ll have somebody like Saquon Barkley to look at. The Eagles running back is one win away from a Lombardi Trophy after a 2,000-yard regular season after the Giants decided not to re-sign him to a long-term deal.

“There’s been a commitment to the running game from those guys. Prior to that, they were still doing quality work, but the emphasis from the league was all about the quarterback play and how they want the quarterback to be the face of the league,” Smith said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital.

He specifically cited Barkley, Derrick Henry and Josh Jacobs, all of whom switched teams in the offseason.

“Quarterback play has been mediocre at best in some of these organizations, but yet they still want to talk about the devaluing of the running back position,” Smith said. “I would call it the underutilization of the running back versus devaluing that position. And that’s on the offensive coordinators and the league pushing this narrative that the running back position is not valuable enough.”

What’s not mediocre are the snacks Smith will be indulging during the Super Bowl. He was in New Orleans as part of Pepsi Co’s and Frito-Lay’s “Chips and Sips” campaign.

“Every time you have an event like the Super Bowl, you gotta have your favorite chips with your favorite soda. Everyone has a chance to celebrate something and enjoy themselves with some great quality snacks for the big game,” Smith said, adding he “like[s] a little ranch.”

Former NFL player Emmitt Smith attends a game between the Augustana Vikings and the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium Nov. 4, 2016, in Durham, N.C. (Lance King/Getty Images)

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Smith also seemed to call out the hypocrisy of coaches who wind up relying on the running game when the quarterback play isn’t up to par.

“Here’s how I look at it. Teams talk about the undervalued running back, but yet when teams cannot throw the football, or the No. 1 quarterback goes down, they don’t throw the ball the same way when Cooper Rush is in the game,” Smith said.

“They lower his attempts, and guess what they do? They lean on Rico Dowdle and the running back corps of the Dallas Cowboys. … If you can run the ball without Dak in the game the way the Cowboys did the last four, five games and be effective that way, surely you can do it that way with Dak Prescott and be a better football team than what they are right now.

“Think about Bijan [Robinson] down in Atlanta. He’s the best thing they have. And Michael Penix became a better quarterback all because he had a solid running back behind him. … But people don’t want to talk about that no more. They want to talk about what Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes are doing.”

Super Bowl LIX will be streamed on Tubi. (Tubi)

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This season, five running backs ran for at least 1,400 yards, the most since 2012. In 2023, there was only one. Christian McCaffrey led the league last year with 1,459 rushing yards, while Barkley and Henry (1,921) destroyed that number this season.

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February 8, 2025
Eagles’ Jalen Hurts responds to Trump attending Super Bowl LIX: ‘He’s welcome to do what he wants’

President Donald Trump will become the first sitting U.S. president to attend a Super Bowl, and the stars playing in the game are aware of his attendance.

Trump’s expected presence sparked an enthusiastic reaction among multiple Kansas City Chiefs players, including Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, and even Gracie Hunt, the daughter of the team’s owner.

However, one star on the opposing Philadelphia Eagles gave a more lukewarm answer about Trump’s attendance.

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was asked how he feels about the president attending the game while talking to reporters Tuesday.

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“He’s welcome to do what he wants,” Hurts said.

When Hurts was asked a follow-up question about whether Trump being there would put more pressure on him, the quarterback responded, “No.”

Hurts turned down an opportunity to play golf with former President Barack Obama at the end of October.

Hurts claimed during a press conference the reason he didn’t golf with Obama was because of a clause in his contract that prohibited the quarterback from playing golf.

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However, no such clause actually exists in his five-year, $255 million contract. An Eagles spokesperson told The Philadelphia Inquirer there is an unofficial agreement between Hurts and owner Jeffrey Lurie in which the quarterback doesn’t become “golf-obsessed.”

Still, Hurts called Obama an “all-time leader” in October.

Hurts was not the only Eagles player to address Trump’s attendance Sunday.

Eagles offensive lineman Jordan Mailata said Tuesday Trump attending was “cool” but dismissed it beyond that.

“That’s cool, but Donald is not on that field. That’s cool, but, again, that’s blocking out the noise,” Mailata said. “What am I going to do thinking about Donald Trump? How is that going to make me win the game?”

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts walks off the stage after a news conference in Philadelphia April 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Mahomes and Kelce expressed more excitement for Trump’s attendance when they were asked.

Kelce called it an “honor” earlier this week.

“I think, you know, no matter who the president is, I know I’m excited because it’s the biggest game of my life, you know. And having the president there, you know, it’s the best country in the world. So, that’d be pretty cool,” Kelce said.

Mahomes gave his thoughts on Trump attending the game to reporters Wednesday.

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“It’s always cool to be able to play in front of a sitting president,” Mahomes said. “Someone that is at the top position in our country.”

Earlier Wednesday, when Trump was asked who he expected to win the Super Bowl, the president didn’t give a definitive answer but alluded to Mahomes’ success.

“I don’t want to say, but there’s a certain quarterback that seems to be a pretty good winner,” Trump said when asked which team he’s rooting for.

Donald Trump and Brittany and Patrick Mahomes (AP Newsroom/Getty Images)

While Trump didn’t identify Mahomes by name, he has expressed fondness and respect for the quarterback and his wife Brittany in recent months.

Mahomes recognized Trump was probably talking about him and gave his thoughts about the cryptic praise from the president.

“It’s cool to hear that he’s seen me play football and respects the game that I play,” Mahomes told reporters Wednesday.

After the NFL’s conference championships wrapped Jan. 26, Trump sent a congratulatory post to the Chiefs on Truth Social, while neglecting the Eagles.

However, Trump did acknowledge the Eagles in a more recent post expressing his excitement for the game and even hinted at praise for Hurts and Eagles running back Saquon Barkley.

“Two great Quarterbacks in this game. Also, an unbelievable running back, and the absolute best tight end in football (Ever!). Incredible coaching!” Trump wrote on Truth Social Friday.

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Jackson Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital. He previously worked for ESPN and Business Insider. Jackson has covered the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.

February 8, 2025
Emiliano Grillo’s hole-in-one at famed 16th hole at Phoenix Open sparks massive fan celebration

The crowd at the 16th hole at the Waste Management Open was itching for a reason to celebrate.

And Emiliano Grillo’s hole-in-one in the second round Friday gave fans at the rowdiest hole in golf a reason to go wild.

Grillo was 1-under par, then pulled off his best Steph Curry impression.

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Emiliano Grillo during a practice round for The Open Championship at Royal Troon July 15, 2024. (Jack Gruber/USA Today Sports)

From 155 yards out, Grillo dunked the ball in the hole, as cleanly as Curry would nail a deep 3-pointer. The ball rattled around the hole but never once hit the green.

Once the ball hit the hole, chaos ensued.

Grillo flipped his club into the air and didn’t know what to do, running around the tee box before embracing in a midair leap with fellow golfer Rafael Campos.

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Some of the thousands gathered at the 16th hole during the first round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open PGA Tour golf tournament at the TPC Scottsdale Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

In waves, fans started launching beer cans and cups onto the course in celebration.

The security on the 16th hole did it best to try and control things, but it was ignored by the frenzied fans, who continued to launch beverages on the course.

It was the 12th ace in the history of the 16th, and the fans were loving it.

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Emiliano Grillo waits to hit on the 15th hole during the first round of the Wyndham Championship golf tournament at Sedgefield Country Club. (Jim Dedmon/USA Today Sports)

They broke into chants and jumped up and down, reminiscent of a college football stadium before a rivalry game.

Campos set up the hit after Grillo, but it took him a bit to step up to the box because debris had to be cleared from the hole.

Grillo is one over par in the third round through four holes and is 1-under par for the tournament overall.

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Ryan Canfield is a digital production assistant for Fox News Digital.

February 8, 2025
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The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF)’s refusal to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order banning trans athletes from girls’ and women’s sports has prompted outrage within the state.

On Friday, residents gathered in Long Beach, California, to protest outside of a CIF federated board meeting.

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The protesters then spoke at the board meeting, pleading with the CIF officials to follow the president’s order.

Protesters even threatened civil lawsuits against the CIF and state in case they continue to refuse compliance with Trump. Currently, there is one lawsuit against the CIF and the state’s attorney general, Rob Bonta, over a situation at Martin Luther King High School involving a trans athlete on the girls’ cross-country team.

“There will be more lawsuits to follow if the CIF does not follow federal law,” said Julianne Fleischer, a Legal Counsel at Advocates for Faith & Freedom, at the event. “I want CIF to know that it is important you follow federal law or you will be held accountable for failing to enforce federal law throughout the school districts … with more lawsuits they’re going to spend significant funds on litigation.”

Trump’s executive order states that any school receiving federal funding that allows biological males to compete in the girls’ or women’s category will lose that federal funding. According to USA Facts, California public schools receive about $16.8 billion per year, which is 13.9% or one in every seven dollars of public school funding, which is well above the national average.

Many of the protesters there made it a point to warn the state of the consequences of losing that federal funding.

A California school district employee showed up at the protest to plead with the CIF to follow Trump’s order. Sonja Shaw, Chino Valley Unified School Board President, spoke from her perspective as a mother and became visibly emotional when she scolded the CIF for its decision, calling it “shameful.”

“Whoever is in CIF at the top level putting out those woke weird toolkit on telling boys about how to compete against girls, if you’re a part of that, you’re disgusting, and you need to step out of here,” Shaw said.

In California, a law called AB 1266 has been in effect since 2014, giving California students at the scholastic and collegiate levels the right to “participate in sex-segregated school programs and activities, including athletic teams and competitions, and use facilities consistent with his or her gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on the pupil’s records.”

California Code of Regulations section 4910(k) defines gender as, “A person’s actual sex or perceived sex includes a person’s perceived identity, appearance or behavior, whether or not that identity, appearance, or behavior is different from that traditionally associated with a person’s sex at birth.”

CIF Bylaw 300.D. mirrors the Education Code, stating, “All students should have the opportunity to participate in CIF activities in a manner that is consistent with their gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on a student’s records.”

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These laws and the subsequent enabling of trans athletes to compete with girls and women in the state have resulted in multiple controversies over the issue in the last year alone.

At Martin Luther King High School, the father of a girl who lost her varsity spot to the trans cross-country athlete previously told Fox News Digital that his daughter and other girls at the school had been told that “transgenders have more rights than cisgender[s]” by school administrators when they protested the athlete’s participation.

That father, longtime firefighter Ryan Starling, showed up at the protests and board meeting on Friday and shared his daughter’s story.

“We’re asking you guys today to be bold and be brave and stand up for our girls,” Starling said.

Starling also suggested that the CIF set up a category specifically for trans athletes, to avoid exclusion.

“How about you make an open category? Start protecting our girls immediately so that everybody can still compete, but that everybody has their place,” Starling said.

Starling’s family is a plaintiff in the current lawsuit against CIF and Bonta. The suit challenges AB 1266, which allows transgender athletes to compete against girls and women, claiming it is a Title IX violation.

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“Plaintiffs seek a federal ruling that AB 1266 violates Title IX as well as a decision holding the District accountable for violating their First Amendment rights. They demand injunctive relief to stop schools from forcing biological girls to compete with and against males, a judgment affirming sex-based protections in athletics and compensation for damages caused by these discriminatory policies,” an Advocates for Faith & Freedom spokesperson said.

The issue of trans athletes competing with girls and women has caused other controversies within the state in recent months.

Stone Ridge Christian High School’s girls’ volleyball team was scheduled to face San Francisco Waldorf in the Northern California Division 6 tournament but forfeited in an announcement just before the match over the presence of a trans athlete on the team.

A transgender volleyball player was booed and harassed at an Oct. 12 match between Notre Dame Belmont in Belmont, California, and Half Moon Bay High School, according to ABC 7. Half Moon Bay rostered the transgender athlete.

California State Assembly member Kate Sanchez announced on Jan. 7 that she is introducing a bill to ban trans athletes from competing in girls’ and women’s sports. Sanchez will propose the Protect Girls’ Sports Act to the state legislature. Currently, 25 states have similar laws in effect.

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Jackson Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital. He previously worked for ESPN and Business Insider. Jackson has covered the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.

February 8, 2025
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Brendan Carr will oversee his first Super Bowl as chairman of the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) this Sunday when the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles square off in Super Bowl LIX, and he has one request: “no wardrobe malfunctions.”

During an appearance on “The Story,” Carr made a lighthearted plea that airwaves stay family-friendly during Sunday’s big game.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr testifies before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee during confirmation hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill July 19, 2017, in Washington, D.C. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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“This is going to be the first Super Bowl where I’m chairman of the FCC,” Carr, who officially took over last month, said with a smile.

“So one ask I have – please no wardrobe malfunctions this Sunday. That’s my only ask. That would ruin my evening.”

Carr’s request comes more than 20 years after the infamous wardrobe malfunction Janet Jackson suffered when she was the headliner for the Super Bowl in 2004.

Janet Jackson (KMazur/WireImage)

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Justin Timberlake joined Jackson as a surprise guest during the halftime performance. He infamously ripped her costume, exposing her breast to a broadcast audience of around 150 million viewers.

The game was aired on CBS and resulted in massive fallout for the network and Jackson, who was blacklisted as a result.

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The FCC received more than half a million complaints, eventually leading to an investigation where CBS was fined $550,000 for the incident. The penalty was later voided by a U.S. Court of Appeals.

Fox News’ Stephanie Nolasco contributed to this report.

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February 8, 2025
Hall of Famer says Josh Allen edged Lamar Jackson in the MVP race 'for the wrong reason'

Josh Allen finally earned his first MVP award Thursday night by a slim margin.

The Buffalo Bills quarterback edged Lamar Jackson by 21 points. Allen received 27 first-place votes to Jackson’s 23.

Allen has been a perennial MVP candidate throughout his career but had always fallen short prior to Thursday.

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He was a finalist three previous times, and with Jackson having just won last year, one Hall of Famer suggested Allen received sympathy votes this year.

“I get it, because [Josh] is a great quarterback. He hadn’t won one. Lamar had two. And they’re like, ‘Let’s just give him one.’ But that’s the wrong reason,” Jonathan Ogden told TMZ Sports. “But it’s all good. What are you going to do? But they made the wrong choice. But that’s all good.

“I don’t want it to sound like I’m hating on Josh because the brother is a tremendous quarterback. But he didn’t have the year Lamar had.”

Jackson’s numbers do trump Allen’s mostly across the board, but there is something to be said about Allen’s Bills running away with their division despite letting go of top receiver Stefon Diggs.

This season marked the first time since 2019 Allen did not pass for 4,000 yards, but he did lead the NFL with a 77.4 total QBR. While his 28 passing touchdowns were also his lowest since 2019, he did run for 12 touchdowns, the second most of his career.

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After winning his second MVP award last year, Jackson hit career highs with his first 4,000-yard campaign and his first season throwing 40 touchdowns.

Allen got the benefit of a rather subpar division, clinching the AFC East Dec. 1. But it became clear that as long as Allen is in the fold, the Bills have a chance to compete.

Allen received 22 second-place votes to Jackson’s 26 (Saquon Barkley and Joe Burrow each received one), while Allen also got a third-place vote. Jackson recorded a fourth-place vote.

This comes despite Jackson receiving more first-team All-Pro votes than Allen. It’s the first time since 1987 (John Elway) a first-team All-Pro did not win the MVP.

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February 8, 2025