Tommy Pham hit MLB’s most improbable homer this season after begging White Sox GM to play

Tommy Pham hit MLB’s most improbable homer this season after begging White Sox GM to play

Wednesday afternoon’s game against the Cleveland Guardians might be the biggest one of the season for the Chicago White Sox.

The South Siders entered play on Wednesday just a half-game ahead of Cleveland in the AL Central standings, and with meeting representing the final game between the two teams this season, it was an opportunity for Chicago to put some distance between their rivals in the division.

It was also a chance for Tommy Pham to try and get back into the lineup.

Pham, acquired by the White Sox in a trade back on September 1 with the Philadelphia Phillies, has only appeared in a handful of games this entire season, and entered play without a hit to his credit all year. He was also placed on the 10-day injured list back on September 6, due to a left calf strain, after appearing in just one game for the White Sox.

But the veteran outfielder bumped into White Sox general manager Chris Getz in the elevator on Tuesday night and made his pitch, telling Getz he was ready to play:

As luck, or the baseball gods, would have it, Pham came to the plate with a pair of runners on for the White Sox in the top of the fifth inning, with two outs. Chicago trailed 2-0.

But with one swing of the bat, it was 3-2:

That’s right. Hours after convincing his general manager that he was ready to play, Pham recorded his first MLB hit of the season, a go-ahead three-run shot for the White Sox in perhaps their biggest game of the season.

So there is a lesson here, friends. You are your own best advocate. Speak up for yourself. Make that elevator pitch.

Even if it is a literal elevator pitch, like Pham did.

by Editor

Paul George gets what he was walking into in Boston, says ready to fit with Tatum

Paul George gets what he was walking into in Boston, says ready to fit with Tatum

Paul George gets it.

He gets that Celtics fans were not excited to see him come to town. It’s not personal, but he was the big contract and big name who came to Boston when Celtics president Brad Stevens sent the much-beloved Jaylen Brown to a rival in Philadelphia. That trade — made for financial reasons because of the tax aprons, Stevens said — left a bitter taste in Celtics fans’ mouths. One week, those fans thought they were in the mix for Giannis Antetokounmpo, a few weeks later, the man who finished sixth in MVP voting a season ago was gone and replaced by the 36-year-old George.

“Listen, I understand the circumstances. I understand how huge J.B. was, not only for the organization but here in the city. So I didn’t take it, personal, to be honest…” George said of his reception. “To be honest, it’s fair, but just one foot in front of the other. Hopefully, with how we start this year, they understand this is a new team and something that they can be proud of.”

George, who played just 78 games across two seasons in Philadelphia due to injuries and a suspension, said he feels “like I’ve turned that corner” and his body is right again.

He also said he understands he is not the star of this team. Jayson Tatum — returning from his own injury — is that guy.

“We have a superstar, and that’s J.T.,” George said. “I’m not here to necessarily steal the shine or try to reinvent who I am….

“I’m here to help J.T. And he’s the guy, right? I played alongside another superstar wing (Kawhi Leonard, when Paul was with the Clippers), and we co-existed beautifully. I see myself and that with J.T., being able to play off him, being able to help him.”

If he can stay healthy, what George brings to Boston is a high-IQ game, defense, and a scoring threat opponents have to respect. He may not be at his peak, but this is still a nine-time All-Star and four-time All-Defense player.

George and Mike Conley, the other veteran introduced in Boston Tuesday, both said all the right things about Boston’s winning culture and wanting to be part of it. Neither has a ring, both said that potential is part of what drew them to Boston.

George gets it if Celtics fans need some time — and some proof of concept — to talk themselves into this team (otherwise those fans spend time trying to dissect Joe Mazzulla’s facial expressions during a September press conference). George also knows he has to stay healthy and on the court, telling NBC Sports Boston it would be “unacceptable for me, from a personal level, to not be able to play at least 50 games, 60 games in a season.”

While the Celtics have interesting younger players — Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, Ron Harper Jr., just-drafted Chris Cenac Jr. — if this team is going to look like a threat in the East, it’s because George recaptured much of his form.

It’s just a September press conference, few things will mean less when the games start, but George at least gets it.

“I’m all in and I’m happy to pull along and do my part to try to lead this group back to where I think everybody here feels and wants,” George said.

That’s all you can ask.

by Editor

Today in sports history, November 4

Today in sports history, November 4

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Nov. 4

Today in sports history

Today is Nov. 4. On this date in:

1923: Chicago Bears founder, co-coach and player George Halas returned a Jim Thorpe fumble 98 yards for a touchdown in a 26-0 victory over the Oorang Indians, setting an NFL record that stood for 49 years.

1951: The United States captured the Ryder Cup at Pinehurst, defeating Great Britain 9½-2½ with a team led by Sam Snead.

1959: Chicago Cubs slugger Ernie Banks was named National League MVP for the second consecutive season after another power-filled year at shortstop.

1961: Philadelphia Warriors star Wilt Chamberlain began an NBA-record streak of 65 consecutive games scoring at least 30 points.

1962: Detroit Red Wings defenseman Bill Gadsby recorded his 500th career point in a 3-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks, becoming the first defenseman in NHL history to reach the milestone.

1965: Johnny Kerr played his 844th consecutive NBA game, then a league record, as the Baltimore Bullets lost 108-107 to the New York Knicks.

1971: Los Angeles Lakers star Elgin Baylor retired because of persistent knee injuries, ending a 14-season career in which he scored 23,149 points and made 11 NBA All-Star teams.

1976: Major League Baseball conducted its first free-agent reentry draft, a landmark business event in the sport’s labor history that included stars such as Reggie Jackson, Rollie Fingers, Joe Rudi and Willie McCovey.

1977: New York Rangers star Phil Esposito scored his 600th career goal in a 5-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks, becoming the third player in NHL history to reach the mark.

1980: Japanese home-run king Sadaharu Oh retired after a legendary career in which he hit a professional-record 868 home runs.

1987: Edmonton Oilers star Wayne Gretzky recorded his 1,000th career assist in his 645th NHL game, adding a hat trick in a 7-2 victory over the New York Rangers.

1988: The Charlotte Hornets played the first game in franchise history, losing 133-93 to the Cleveland Cavaliers before a sellout crowd at Charlotte Coliseum.

1989: David Robinson made his long-awaited NBA debut after fulfilling his U.S. Navy commitment, scoring 23 points and grabbing 17 rebounds as the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 106-98.

1989: The Orlando Magic played the first regular-season game in franchise history, losing 111-106 to the New Jersey Nets at Orlando Arena.

1993: The NBA Board of Governors awarded the league’s 28th franchise to a Toronto ownership group headed by John Bitove Jr., creating the Toronto Raptors, who began play in 1995.

1996: Houston Rockets forward Charles Barkley became the fourth player in NBA history to compile at least 20,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 3,500 assists as Houston defeated Utah 75-72.

2000: Grove City running back R.J. Bowers became the first player in NCAA history to surpass 7,000 career rushing yards, reaching the milestone during a 14-10 win over Carnegie Mellon.

2001: Luis Gonzalez singled home the winning run off Mariano Rivera in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the New York Yankees 3-2 in Game 7 to win the first World Series championship in franchise history.

2003: The Big East announced a major expansion during a wave of college conference realignment, adding Louisville, Cincinnati and South Florida in all sports and DePaul and Marquette in sports other than football.

2003: New York Rangers captain Mark Messier scored twice in a 3-0 victory over the Dallas Stars to pass Gordie Howe and move into second place on the NHL’s career points list with 1,851.

2006: Carolina Hurricanes captain Rod Brind’Amour collected the 1,000th point of his NHL career during a 3-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators.

2007: Minnesota Vikings rookie Adrian Peterson rushed for an NFL-record 296 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-17 win over the San Diego Chargers.

2009: Hideki Matsui drove in six runs, tying the World Series single-game record, as the New York Yankees defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 in Game 6 to win their record 27th championship. Matsui was unanimously selected World Series MVP.

2012: Indianapolis Colts rookie quarterback Andrew Luck threw for 433 yards against Miami, setting an NFL rookie single-game passing record in a 23-20 victory.

2016: Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry’s NBA-record streak of 157 consecutive games with at least one made 3-pointer ended.

— USA TODAY Network

This story was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of information gathering, review, editing and publishing. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Today in sports history, November 4

by Editor

Las Vegas Expansion Fee Could Exceed $10 Billion As Final Bids Due Soon

Las Vegas Expansion Fee Could Exceed $10 Billion As Final Bids Due Soon

The NBA are in “deeper and deeper stages” of the expansion process, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania on NBA Today. The next rounds of bids for the Las Vegas franchise are due on Thursday and final bids are expected to be due at some point shortly after that.

The Las Vegas expansion conversations have moved at a faster pace than Seattle and could exceed $10 billion.

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported earlier on Tuesday that Walmart heiress Nancy Walton Lurie and Bill Lurie are considered the favorites to receive the Las Vegas team.

Josh Kushner and Bob Iger were previously involved in the bidding process for Las Vegas, but instead purchased a majority stake in the Los Angeles Lakers at a $12 billion valuation.

The Seattle expansion process hasn’t received as many bidders as Las Vegas.

by Editor

Adam Silver doesn't want Trail Blazers leaving Portland amid tense negotiations over new arena: 'It would be a failure'

Adam Silver doesn't want Trail Blazers leaving Portland amid tense negotiations over new arena: 'It would be a failure'

Adam Silver does not want the Trail Blazers leaving Portland. 

That, the NBA Commissioner said on Tuesday, would be considered a “failure.”

“I would see it as a failure if we did not keep the team in Portland,” Silver said at his press conference following the Board of Governors meeting in New York. “I’ve spent a lot of time in that community over the years, they’ve shown amazing support for the Trail Blazers. … We need a state of the art arena. I think by any objective measure, the current building there is in the bottom measure of any arena in the league.”

The Trail Blazers were purchased earlier this year by Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon, who landed the team from the estate of late owner Paul Allen. The team was sold at a valuation of more than $4 billion.

Since then, Dundon has been in negotiations for massive renovations on the Moda Center, the city-owned arena that the Trail Blazers lease to play their home games in. Framework for a deal that would have brought in more than $586 million had been agreed to by Oregon, Portland and Multnomah County, according to The Athletic, but terms have still not been agreed to with the city and the county. 

There is a city council vote scheduled for December, but the $365 million that Oregon has committed to the project will expire at the end of the year. If the deal is reached, the Trail Blazers will agree to a 20-year extension on the lease that would keep them there through 2050. If it’s not, their future in the city after the current deal expires after 2030 is very much in doubt. 

“It’s my hope that we can lower the temperature, honestly, a bit in these negotiations,” Silver said.

The Moda Center is one of the most outdated arenas in the league, and is undoubtedly due for major renovations — especially with the WNBA’s Portland Fire now calling it home, too. According to The Athletic, it’s the “behind-the-scenes” areas of the arena that need the most work, including loading docks, locker rooms and more. 

There is speculation that Dundon would move the team out of Portland if a new arena deal isn’t reached. Where the team would go, however, is still unknown. The NBA is still talking about expanding in both Seattle and Las Vegas, Silver confirmed on Tuesday, and there is already a team in North Carolina, where Dundon’s other sports franchise is located. 

“It is my hope and belief that the Trail Blazers can be successful in Portland, Oregon,” Silver said. “It is important at the same time that Tom Dundon reaches a deal with the city officials and the state elected officials that makes operating in Portland viable for the long term.”

Regardless, the NBA wants things in Portland to be settled sooner rather than later. Relocation for the Trail Blazers is not something Silver wants to see happen.

But whether or not his comments on Tuesday do anything for negotiations in Portland remains to be seen.

by Editor

Clippers Draft Pick Sanctions Were Modeled By NBA On Wolves’ Precedent

Clippers Draft Pick Sanctions Were Modeled By NBA On Wolves’ Precedent

Adam Silver said the NBA examined past precedent before stripping the Los Angeles Clippers of five first-round draft picks for violating salary cap rules, calling the decision painful given its effect on the franchise’s supporters.

Silver made the comments Tuesday following a two-day board of governors meeting. Silver cited the Minnesota Timberwolves’ prior forfeiture of five picks for cap circumvention as the guiding example for the Clippers’ punishment.

“I think that’s, in some ways, the most difficult part of adjudicating these disputes,” said Silver. “While there have to be competitive consequences, in our view, if these rules are violated we still want to be a 30-team league and we recognize that in some ways we’re unfortunately punishing the fans of that team as well.”

The remarks marked Silver’s first public statements since the league concluded the Clippers had circumvented cap regulations connected to Kawhi Leonard, an allegation the franchise had strongly disputed throughout a year-long league investigation. Earlier this month, the NBA issued severe penalties following that inquiry, suspending owner Steve Ballmer for a full season, levying a $30 million fine and forcing the club to surrender five future first-round selections.

The deal returning Leonard to the Toronto Raptors was finalized on Monday. Ballmer confirmed this week that he intends to comply with the sanctions, abandon a legal pursuit, and noted the fine had already been paid.

Silver added that the Clippers had no representative present at the board meeting, since the organization is still searching for an interim governor.

by Editor

Fantasy Fallout: Raptors, Clippers reportedly finalize Kawhi Leonard trade

Fantasy Fallout: Raptors, Clippers reportedly finalize Kawhi Leonard trade

After seven seasons in Los Angeles, Kawhi Leonard is headed back to the city where he won his second NBA title. The Raptors initially agreed to this trade in late June, but paused it while the NBA investigated Leonard’s contract with the Clippers. That investigation has since been completed, with Leonard receiving a $700,000 fine and the Clippers being fined $30 million and losing five first-round picks.

Team governor Steve Ballmer was suspended for one year, while lead executive Lawrence Frank was suspended for six months. Despite needing to finalize their front office structure for the upcoming season, the Clippers have reportedly finalized a deal that sends Leonard to Toronto in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and future draft capital.

With Miami (Giannis Antetokounmpo) and Philadelphia (LeBron James and Jaylen Brown) making major moves to improve their rosters this summer, bringing Leonard back into the fold is Toronto’s “big swing.” Meanwhile, the Clippers will move forward with a core likely to be led by Ingram and Darius Garland. Let’s take a look at the fantasy fallout from the most recent major trade in the NBA.

Toronto receives:

Kawhi Leonard

When healthy, Leonard is one of the best all-around players in the NBA. However, since leaving Toronto after the 2019 NBA championship, staying on the floor has been a challenge. He played 57 games or fewer in four of his seven seasons in Los Angeles, including missing the entire 2021-22 campaign with a knee injury.

However, he has played at least 65 games in two of his last three seasons. 2025-26 ranked among the best of Leonard’s career, as he averaged 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.9 steals and 2.6 three-pointers while shooting 50.5 percent from the field and 89.2 percent from the foul line. Add in a 38.7 percent mark from three, and Leonard was not far off from a 50/40/90 season.

His production from a season ago is likely to boost Leonard’s ADP considerably, after many managers waited until the third or fourth round in standard league drafts to select him last fall.

As for how his return to Toronto affects the other fantasy mainstays on the roster, Leonard had a considerably higher usage (33.5) than Ingram did with the Raptors last season (26.9). That may not significantly affect Scottie Barnes, who remains a cornerstone, but Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett bear watching.

Quickley’s superior three-point shooting to Barrett may give him a better chance of preserving his fantasy value next season. Also, does Ja’Kobe Walter see his opportunities take a hit after a promising end to his second NBA season? That won’t change much in how he’s viewed in dynasty leagues, but his redraft-league value may take a hit.

LA Clippers receive:

Brandon Ingram
Gradey Dick
Two unprotected first-round picks (2031 and 2033)
One pick swap (2027)
Two second-round picks (2030 and 2033)

In the short term, Ingram finds himself in a situation where he should be an offensive focal point alongside Darius Garland. However, given his injury history and current contract, it’s fair to question Ingram’s long-term fit with the Clippers. He’s coming off a season in which he surpassed 70 regular-season games for the second time in his career, but heel surgery sidelined him for most of the playoff series against the Cavaliers.

In 77 games, Ingram averaged 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.8 three-pointers while shooting 47.7 percent from the field and 82.0 percent from the foul line. In eight-cat formats, his production aligned with his ADP (61), so there wasn’t much for fantasy managers to complain about. However, while the move to Los Angeles and last season’s production may convince some to reach for Ingram earlier in drafts, the injury history may prevent others from doing the same.

Leonard’s exit raises Garland’s fantasy ceiling, provided he remains healthy. As for Gradey Dick, a change of scenery may do him some good after he offered limited production for most of his three seasons in Toronto. His best year in Toronto, 2024-25, was one in which the Raptors were hit hard by injuries. Unless he has a monster preseason, the trade won’t change his outlook in fantasy drafts, even with the Clippers losing Bennedict Mathurin in free agency.

The biggest long-term winner in this deal may be rookie Keaton Wagler, whether he projects to play on or off the ball as his career progresses. The Clippers may not go all-in on a rebuild right now, but a realistic look at the Western Conference suggests this trade moves them closer to the lottery than to title contention.

And it should be noted that, thanks to the Paul George trade, Oklahoma City can swap 2027 first-round picks with the Clippers.

by Editor

Taj Gibson retiring from the NBA after 17 seasons, reportedly set to join Bulls staff as assistant coach

Taj Gibson retiring from the NBA after 17 seasons, reportedly set to join Bulls staff as assistant coach

Taj Gibson is headed back to the Chicago Bulls, just this time on the other side of things. 

Gibson announced Monday he was retiring from basketball after spending 17 seasons in the NBA. Gibson will now join the staff in Chicago, where he got his NBA start, as an assistant under new head coach Tiago Splitter, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

“Today is a very emotional day for me. After 17 seasons in the NBA, I can honestly say I gave this game everything I had,” Gibson wrote on social media. “Basketball gave me the opportunity to live a dream. As a kid from Brooklyn, NY, I was lucky to get a chance to display my talent on the biggest stage. From Fort Greene Projects to USC, to the Chicago Bulls, and every team and city that came after, I’m grateful for every moment, every teammate, every coach, and every person who believed in me.

“I wanted to be the guy my teammates could count on someone who brought toughness, energy, leadership, and heart every time I stepped on the court … After 31 years of basketball, I can walk away with no regrets, knowing I left everything on the floor. God has truly blessed me.”

The Bulls first selected Gibson with the No. 26 overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft out of USC. He earned All-Rookie honors in Chicago and finished fifth in the Rookie of the Year race. Gibson spent more than seven seasons with the Bulls, and was the runner-up as the Sixth Man of the Year during the 2013-14 campaign while averaging 13 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. 

Gibson jumped around a lot in the back half of his career, and ended up playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Washington Wizards, Detroit Pistons, Charlotte Hornets and most recently the Memphis Grizzlies. Gibson appeared in 10 games for the Grizzlies last season, and became just the 35th player in history to make an NBA appearance while in his 40s.

Gibson was actually traded earlier this month to the New Orleans Pelicans, too. But at 41, Gibson opted to call it a career instead of fighting for an 18th season.

Gibson will now join Splitter’s staff in Chicago. The Bulls hired Splitter earlier this summer to replace Billy Donovan after a front office shakeup that saw both general manager Marc Eversley and vice president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas fired. Splitter spent last season as the Portland Trail Blazers’ interim head coach after Chauncey Billups was placed on leave and arrested for his alleged involvement in rigged poker games. Splitter led the team to the playoffs for the first time since 2021.

Splitter and Gibson are tasked with turning the Bulls around, which has been a tough task over the last decade or so. The Bulls went just 31-51 last season, and they’ve only been to the playoffs twice in the past 11 seasons. They’ve not won a playoff series since 2015, and have had only two winning campaigns over that span.

While it’s been a struggle in Chicago lately, it’s hard to argue there’s a better place for Gibson to start his coaching career.

by Editor

Kawhi Leonard trade to Toronto, agreed to in June, finally going through

Kawhi Leonard trade to Toronto, agreed to in June, finally going through

After being on hold for months awaiting a resolution in the Clippers salary cap circumvention investigation, the trade of Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors — agreed to back on June 30 — is finally going through, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.

This comes one day after Clippers owner Steve Ballmer released a statement saying he and the franchise would not fight the harsh penalties handed down by Commissioner Adam Silver and the NBA.

While the sides agreed to this trade in June, the Raptors put finalizing the deal on hold, waiting to see the outcome and punishments from the NBA’s investigation (they would have been on the hook if Leonard were suspended). Now that the report is done, the punishments have been handed down and accepted, and the Clippers have figured out who is heading basketball operations (though they haven’t officially announced it), the trade can and will move forward, as expected.

As a reminder, the trade details are:

• Toronto receives: Kawhi Leonard
• The LA Clippers receive: Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks (2031 and 2033), a 2027 first-round pick swap, two second-round picks (2030 and 2033).

This is a win for Leonard, who gets out of the glare of the Los Angeles spotlight and lands in a city where he helped win a title and is beloved. Leonard is expected to reach terms for an extension with the Raptors, although the timing is unclear.

While some pundits wanted to stir up the idea that the Clippers might try to hold up or change the trade — as punishment to Leonard, who got off with a slap on the wrist in all this — league sources had told NBC Sports (and we consistently reported) the deal was going to go through. Beyond the damage to reputations there would be for backing out of an agreed-to deal, this trade also works for both sides.

The Raptors get Leonard, an All-NBA player last year, averaging 27.9 points and 6.4 rebounds a night in 65 games. Putting Leonard at forward with Scottie Barnes (almost an All-NBA player last year, 18th in voting), RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley in what is a potentially dynamic and dangerous roster (if Leonard can stay healthy).

While the Clippers get a quality player in Ingram, the real draw here is the picks — Los Angeles lost five first-round picks in the punishment from the NBA, this brings a couple in the door. Whatever internal frustrations they may have with Leonard, the Clippers needed those picks and with that needed this trade.

by Editor

Taj Gibson retires after 17-year NBA career, joining Bulls as assistant coach

Taj Gibson retires after 17-year NBA career, joining Bulls as assistant coach

Taj Gibson has decided it was time to retire as a player after 17 seasons — but he is not stepping away from the NBA.

Gibson has announced his retirement on social media and will join the Chicago Bulls as an assistant coach under Tiago Splitter.

“I wanted to be the guy my teammates could count on someone who brought toughness, energy, leadership, and heart every time I stepped on the court.”

Gibson certainly was that.

Gibson was drafted in the first round in 2009 by the Chicago Bulls and played eight seasons for the franchise, finishing fifth in Rookie of the Year voting and being top-10 in Sixth Man of the Year voting three times (including second in 2014). With the Bulls he averaged 9.4 points and 6.4 rebounds a game.

After leaving Chicago he played in New York, Minnesota, Washington, Charlotte, Oklahoma City, Memphis and Detroit. This summer, the Grizzlies traded Gibson to the Pelicans, who then waived him.

Now he returns to Chicago, where he is beloved. Gibson made his mark in Bulls history and ranks fifth all-time in blocks (695), sixth in offensive rebounds (1,336), 10th in defensive rebounds (2,250), 10th in games played (562) and 12th in total rebounds (3,586).

Gibson has always had the basketball IQ and demeanor of a coach, and now he will learn under another former NBA big man turned coach in Tiago Splitter.

by Editor