Pittsburgh Steelers safety Damontae Kazee’s big hit on Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. led to major consequences from the NFL on Monday.
Kazee was suspended for the rest of the season, including the postseason, the league announced. The NFL cited “repeated violations of playing rules intended to protect the health and safety of players” as the reason for the stark punishment.
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., #11, is hit by Pittsburgh Steelers safety Damontae Kazee, #23, during the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023.(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
The defensive back hit Pittman while the wide receiver was diving for the ball on a pass from Gardner Minshew. Kazee was ejected from the game and Pittman suffered a concussion.
Jon Runyan, the NFL’s vice president of football operations, addressed a letter to Kazee.
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., #11, catches a pass before being hit by Pittsburgh Steelers safety Damontae Kazee, #23, during the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023.(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
“With 8:49 remaining in the 2nd quarter, you were involved in a play that the League considers a serious violation of the playing rules,” Runyan wrote. “The video of the play shows that you delivered a forcible blow to the head/neck area of Colts’ receiver Michael Pittman Jr., who was in a defenseless posture. You had an unobstructed path to your opponent and the illegal contact could have been avoided. Your actions were flagrant, and as a result, you were disqualified from the game.
“When players violate the rules intended to protect player safety on a repeated basis, and particularly when the violations carry with them a significant risk of injury to an opposing player, it is appropriate to impose substantially greater penalties.”
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Damontae Kazee, #23, celebrates after a play on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, during a game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.(Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK)
Kazee could appeal the suspension. He was already fined four times this season for either “impermissible use of the helmet” or a “hit to a defenseless receiver.”
The S&P 500 Index (SPX) rose 2.49% last week, extending its string of weekly gains to seven weeks, the longest such winning streak since 2017. However, Bitcoin (BTC) could not maintain its momentum and succumbed to profit-booking by the bulls. Trading resource Material Indicators said in a X (formerly Twitter) post that “ year-end profit taking and tax loss harvesting” will prevail in the short term.
However, a crash is unlikely because several analysts expect the United States Securities and Exchange Commission to approve one or more spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund applications in January. If that happens, it could prove to be a game-changer for the sector.
VanEck CEO Jan van Eck said in an interview with CNBC that Bitcoin is likely to hit a new all-time high in the next 12 months. He expects Bitcoin to become an accompaniment to gold.
What are the important levels that could arrest the fall in Bitcoin and altcoins? Let’s analyze the charts to find out.
S&P 500 Index price analysis
The S&P 500 Index witnessed a strong bull move in the past few days, which carried the price above the overhead resistance of 4,650 on Dec. 13.
The sharp rally has pushed the relative strength index (RSI) deep into the overbought territory, indicating that the markets are overheated in the short term. That may start a correction or a consolidation over the next few days. The strong support on the downside is at the breakout level of 4,650 and then the 20-day exponential moving average (4,601).
If the price continues higher and breaks above 4,740, the index may extend the uptrend to 4,819. This level is again likely to witness a tough battle between the bulls and the bears, but if the buyers prevail, the rally could reach the psychological level of 5,000.
U.S. dollar Index price analysis
The bulls repeatedly failed to maintain the U.S. dollar Index (DXY) above the 20-day EMA (103) between Dec. 5-13.
That encouraged the bears to renew their selling, driving the index lower. The bears yanked the price below the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement level of 102.55 on Dec. 14, signaling the resumption of the corrective phase. The next strong support is at 101.
The RSI is showing early signs of forming a positive divergence, indicating that the selling pressure could be weakening. If the price rebounds off 101 and rises above the 20-day EMA, the index may continue to swing inside a large range between 101 and 108.
Bitcoin price analysis
Bitcoin’s tight range between the 20-day EMA ($41,323) and the downtrend line resolved to the downside on Dec. 18, but the breakdown lacks momentum.
The flattening 20-day EMA and the RSI near the midpoint suggest a range-bound action in the near term. If the price slips below $40,000, the BTC/USDT pair could collapse to the vital support at $37,980. This level is likely to witness aggressive buying by the bulls.
Alternatively, if the price turns up and climbs back above the 20-day EMA, it will suggest strong demand at lower levels. The bulls will then try to overcome the barrier at the downtrend line. If they do that, the pair may jump to $44,700.
Ether price analysis
Ether (ETH) slipped below the strong support at $2,200 on Dec. 18, indicating that the bulls may be losing their grip.
If the price maintains below $2,200, the ETH/USDT pair could slump to the 50-day SMA ($2,074). This level may again attract buyers, but the bears will try to halt the recovery at $2,200. If that happens, the possibility of a break below the 50-day SMA increases. The pair may then plunge to $1,900.
This negative view will be invalidated in the near term if the price rises above $2,200. That will suggest strong buying at lower levels. The pair will then try to surge to the overhead resistance at $2,332.
BNB price analysis
The failure of the bulls to push BNB (BNB) above $260 may have tempted short-term traders to book profits.
That started a pullback, which dipped below the moving averages on Dec. 18. The 20-day EMA ($240) has started to turn down, and the RSI has slipped below the midpoint, indicating that the bears are trying to gain the upper hand. This increases the likelihood of a fall to $223.
If the price rebounds off the $223 support with force and rises above the moving averages, it will indicate strong buying at lower levels. The BNB/USDT pair could then oscillate between $223 and $260 for a few more days.
XRP price analysis
The failure of the bulls to push XRP (XRP) back above the moving averages in the past few days attracted another round of selling.
The bears will try to sink the price to the strong support at $0.56. If the price rebounds off this level and rises above the 20-day EMA ($0.62), it will suggest that the XRP/USDT pair may remain stuck between $0.73 and $0.56 for a while longer.
The first sign of weakness will be a break and close below the strong support at $0.56. That could clear the path for a drop to the crucial support at $0.46. The next leg of the uptrend is likely to begin after buyers drive the price above $0.74.
Solana price analysis
Solana (SOL) turned down from $79.50 on Dec. 15 and reached the 20-day EMA ($67.77) on Dec. 18.
The bulls have not allowed the SOL/USDT pair to close below the 20-day EMA since the start of the rally on Oct. 16. Hence, a break of the level is likely to trigger the stops of several traders. That could start a decline to the 50-day SMA ($57.83) and thereafter to the psychological support at $50.
If bulls want to prevent the deeper pullback, they will have to aggressively defend the 20-day EMA and propel the price above $80. That will set the stage for a potential rally to $100.
Cardano (ADA) rose above the $0.65 overhead resistance on Dec. 13, but the bulls could not sustain the momentum. The price turned down on Dec. 14 and dipped back below $0.65.
The sharp pullback from $0.68 indicates that the bulls are booking profits in a hurry. That suggests the ADA/USDT pair could consolidate its recent gains in the next few days. If the price rebounds off the 20-day EMA ($0.53), the pair may rise toward $0.68 and remain stuck between these two levels for some time.
A break below the 20-day EMA could accelerate selling, opening the doors for a further fall to the strong support at $0.46.
Avalanche price analysis
Buyers pushed Avalanche (AVAX) above the overhead resistance of $42.50 on Dec. 16 and 17, but they could not sustain the higher levels.
The AVAX/USDT pair has started a pullback, which has strong support at the 20-day EMA ($33). If the price rebounds off this level with strength, it will suggest that the sentiment remains positive and the bulls are buying on dips. On the upside, a break and close above $45 will signal the resumption of the uptrend. The next target is at $50.
On the contrary, if the price skids below the 20-day EMA, it will signal that the bulls are rushing to the exit. That may lead to a deeper correction to $25.
Dogecoin price analysis
Dogecoin (DOGE) rebounded off the 20-day EMA ($0.09) on Dec. 16, but the bulls could not maintain the higher levels.
The price turned down on Dec. 17 and plunged below the 20-day EMA on Dec. 18. The 20-day EMA is flattening out, and the RSI is near the midpoint, indicating a balance between supply and demand.
If the price maintains below the 20-day EMA, the advantage will tilt in favor of the bears. The DOGE/USDT pair could plummet to the 50-day SMA ($0.08).
If bulls want to salvage the situation, they will have to quickly push the price back above the 20-day EMA. The bullish momentum could pick up after buyers clear the hurdle at $0.11.
This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.
Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards’ personal text messages with an Instagram model were put out in the public sphere on Sunday, forcing the guard to comment on it.
Paige Jordae released text messages that appeared to show her telling Edwards she was pregnant and she had an appointment to see a doctor. Edwards, who is tagged in the screenshots posted on Instagram, appeared to respond, “Hell Nawl can’t do dis.”
Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the game against the Grizzlies at FedExForum on Dec. 8, 2023, in Memphis.(Justin Ford/Getty Images)
“Honestly I had an abortion with my son around 2 years ago and I regret it everyday,” she responded.
Edwards wrote back that he didn’t “want a kid.” He seemingly encouraged her to “just take the pills” and wanted her to send him a video of her taking the right pills. He asked her to “send da video” multiple times.
The exchange appeared to take place between late November and early December. The texts also suggested Edwards offered to handle the issue between themselves but later got a lawyer involved.
Jordae then put out a longer statement about the issue on her Stories.
“I’ve never once ran to the internet about NO ONE,” she wrote. “I tried over and over to handle this privately and my efforts were ignored.
Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves dribbles the ball during the Mavericks game on Dec. 14, 2023, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.(Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
“I made comments in the heat of a moment that are not me, and that are not aligned with what I believe and who I want to be as a man,” the statement read. “All women should be supported and empowered to make their own decisions about their bodies and what is best for them.
Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves is guarded during the San Antonio Spurs game at Target Center on Dec. 6, 2023, in Minneapolis.(Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry’s impressive streak came to an end on Sunday in the team’s 118-114 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Before the game, Curry had hit at least one 3-pointer in 268 consecutive games. He also has the second-longest run with 157 games. He last went without a 3-pointer on Nov. 8, 2018 against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Stephen Curry, #30 of the Golden State Warriors, looks on during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Dec. 17, 2023 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon.(Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images)
Against Portland on Sunday, he was 0-for-8.
“We can’t rely on Steph to bail us out on every single night,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after the game. “It was a tough night for him, but that’s what a team is supposed to be about. Everybody filling in for each other, different guys stepping up each night. That’s a great sign, because he’s carried us for long enough this year. We need to give him more help.”
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, second from right, looks to pass the ball as Portland Trail Blazers forward Jabari Walker, second from left, and forward Jerami Grant, right, defend during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Oregon, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023.(AP Photo/Steve Dykes)
Curry finished with seven points and eight assists. He was +14 for the game. Klay Thompson added 28 points in the win. Golden State moved to 12-14 as Portland fell to 6-19.
The two-time MVP is the NBA career leader in made 3-pointers with 3,505.
In 2022, his postseason streak came to an end in Game 5 against the Boston Celtics. He had made 132 consecutive 3-pointers before the mark came to an end. Golden State won the NBA title the next game.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, front, is defended by Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara, right, and forward Jerami Grant, left, in the closing seconds of the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Oregon, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023.(AP Photo/Steve Dykes)
Curry is averaging 28 points per game this season and has a 41.1% 3-point percentage.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.
The $383 million Zilliqa ecosystem is experiencing disruptions due to a “critical situation” impacting the network.
According to a Dec. 18 post by developers, the Zilliqa blockchain faces a “technical issue that has resulted in an interruption to block production.” Blockchain data shows that daily transactions on Zilliqa subsequently plunged by roughly 50% to 30,906, compared to an average of 61,000 in the past few days.
Activity has since paused, with the last transaction occurring at around 11 AM UTC with no new blocks being produced since then. “The team are working hard to recover the network,” wrote Matt Dyer, Zilliqa’s CEO in a follow-up.
“This unexpected challenge is our top priority and our technical team is working to identify and resolve the problem,” said developers, warning that all partners should “temporarily halt any deposits or withdrawals on the network” as the issue is being resolved. However, developers emphasized that “funds are SAFU,” and users can still check for their on-chain wallet balance using the Zilliqa block explorer after reports surfaced of users being unable to see token balances within their Zilliqa wallet.
“No action is required on users’ ends. Just wait for the network to be restored, and things will be back to normal,” said a community moderator on Zilliqa’s official Discord.
Dear community, We are writing to inform you of a critical situation currently impacting the Zilliqa blockchain network.
The network is presently experiencing a technical issue that has resulted in an interruption to block production. This unexpected challenge is our top…
Founded in 2017 in Southeast Asia, Zilliqa launched its mainnet the following year and is dedicated to blockchain scalability, along with a metaverse venture. The network has processed 61.4 million transactions since inception. Even before the current network outage, however, Zilliqa’s blockchain saw relatively few transactions per second in terms of utilization rate.
Boston’s leading newspaper called out Harvard University for its “confusing” message on plagiarism, after the university backed embattled President Claudine Gay amid allegations she plagiarized past academic writings.
“Last week the university’s governing board released a confusing statement that appeared to confirm a few instances of plagiarism — without using that word,” the Boston Globe editorial board wrote on Monday.
Gay faced scrutiny last week after media outlets reported several instances of alleged plagiarism in Gay’s past writings. The Harvard Corporation said an independent academic probe discovered “a few instances of inadequate citation” in her writings as well. However, they “found no violation of Harvard’s standards for research misconduct.”
Despite this, Gay said she would be “proactively requesting four corrections in two articles to insert citations and quotation marks that were omitted from the original publications.”
Claudine Gay, president of Harvard University, during a House Education and the Workforce Committee hearing in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Haiyun Jiang/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The Globe accused Harvard of putting out a seemingly “contradictory” message on plagiarism.
“If Gay didn’t violate any standards of research, why would she need to correct anything?” the paper asked.
Harvard’s own guidelines on plagiarism published on its website don’t seem to fit with the governing board’s statement either, the Globe noted. Under a section entitled, “What Constitutes Plagiarism?,” the university says “it is considered plagiarism to draw any idea or any language from someone else without adequately crediting that source in your paper.”
The university goes on to call this “unacceptable” act, “stealing” someone else’s work, whether “intentionally or by accident.”
However, the paper pointed to Havard’s faculty of arts and science’s “Interim Policy and Procedures for Responding to Allegations of Research Misconduct” which has a different qualifier for plagiarism, saying that it must be committed “intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly.”
Harvard President Claudine Gay faced scrutiny for controversial comments on antisemitism and allegations of plagiarism.(Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images)
Harvard’s confusing guidelines, along with the governing board’s statement, are “muddying what should be a clear-cut line and creating ambiguity about academic standards,” the paper argued.
“For the professors who have to enforce plagiarism rules in the trenches, it matters what message Harvard sends about its guidelines,” it added.
An investigation by the Washington Free Beacon found that in four papers published between 1993 and 2017, including her doctoral dissertation, Gay “paraphrased or quoted nearly 20 authors—including two of her colleagues in Harvard University’s department of government—without proper attribution.”
The Manhattan Institute’s Christopher Rufo and journalist Christopher Brunet also published instances of what they said were problematic sections of her Ph.D. dissertation that “violate Harvard’s own stated policies on academic integrity.”
The plagiarism accusations come on the heels of Gay’s controversial testimony before Congress responding to antisemitism on campus.
Harvard Pres. Claudine Gay testified before Congress over antisemitism on the college campus(Getty Images)
During the hearing, Gay would not give a clear answer when asked if calls for genocide against Jews violated Harvard policy.
The Harvard Corporation also addressed these comments, which Gay already apologized for, in voicing their “unanimous” support for her in their statement.
“As members of the Harvard Corporation, we today reaffirm our support for President Gay’s continued leadership of Harvard University. Our extensive deliberations affirm our confidence that President Gay is the right leader to help our community heal and to address the very serious societal issues we are facing,” the Harvard Corporation wrote in its statement.
“So many people have suffered tremendous damage and pain because of Hamas’s brutal terrorist attack, and the University’s initial statement should have been an immediate, direct, and unequivocal condemnation,” the statement continued. “Calls for genocide are despicable and contrary to fundamental human values. President Gay has apologized for how she handled her congressional testimony and has committed to redoubling the University’s fight against antisemitism.”
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Super Bowl champion running back Rashard Mendenhall had enough with NFL analysts, specifically “average white guys” as he explained on social media.
It wasn’t exactly clear who Mendenhall was directing his ire at but his post on X came a few hours after he commented on the criticism of the Pittsburgh Steelers and head coach Mike Tomlin.
Running back Rashard Mendenhall of the Steelers during the New England Patriots game at Heinz Field on Nov. 14, 2010, in Pittsburgh.(George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
“I’m sick of average white guys commenting on football,” he wrote. “Y’all not even good at football. Can we please replace the Pro Bowl with an All-Black vs. All-White bowl so these cats can stop trying to teach me who’s good at football. I’m better than ur (sic) goat.”
Former Houston Texans star J.J. Watt joked about what an “All-Black vs. All-White bowl” would look like.
“I don’t understand how you can talk about Tomlin’s playoff record, without acknowledging that Kenny Pickett has only played one year,” he added. “Who was the QB for all those playoff loses?!! Literally all of them. Make up your minds. How you arbitrarily separate Mike & Ben in de (sic) W/L column?”
Mendenhall was a standout running back at Illinois before turning pro. He played for the Steelers from 2008 to 2012 before spending his final year in Arizona.
Rashard Mendenhall of the Arizona Cardinals warms up for the Titans game at LP Field on Dec. 15, 2013, in Nashville, Tennessee.(Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
Have you ever dreamed of having a robot companion that can walk, talk, and do anything you want? Well, you might be closer to that reality than you think. A Chinese robotic firm has created what is now being dubbed the “world’s most powerful general-purpose humanoid robot.”
The robot, called H1, is a stunning feat of engineering and innovation. The company behind H1 is Unitree Robotics, a leading developer of legged robots based in Hangzhou, China.
Unitree’s vision is to make legged robots as common and affordable as smartphones and drones. The company has already made a name for itself with its Go2 quadruped robot, which can run, jump, and climb stairs.
H1 is a different beast altogether. It is a bipedal robot that stands at 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs 100 pounds. It has an advanced powertrain that provides the highest level of speed, power, maneuverability, and flexibility.
It can walk at a similar speed to a human, around 3.4 mph, and can withstand kicks and pushes without losing its balance.
H1 humanoid robot being kicked (Unitree Robotics)(Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
It also has a 3D LiDAR sensor and a depth camera for its vision, which means it can accurately sense its surroundings and avoid obstacles.
H1 is not just a prototype. It is a fully functional robot that can perform a variety of tasks, such as carrying objects, opening doors, and even dancing. It can also communicate with humans using speech and gestures.
The robot is designed to be adaptable and customizable, with modular components that can be easily replaced or upgraded. The company plans to add hands to the robot soon, which will further enhance its capabilities.
H1 is not cheap. It is a high-end product that costs around $150,000. That might sound like a lot, but it is actually quite reasonable compared to other humanoid robots on the market, such as Boston Dynamics’ Atlas, which costs around $1 million. Unitree claims that H1 is the most cost-effective humanoid robot in the world, and that it aims to lower the price in the future.
H1 is not yet available for purchase, but you can pre-order one on Unitree’s website. The company has not announced an official release date, but some rumors suggest that it might be as early as 2024. Unitree says that it is working hard to improve the robot and make it ready for mass production.
Kurt’s key takeaways
H1 is a remarkable robot that showcases the incredible potential of legged robotics. It is not only a powerful machine but also a friendly and intelligent companion that can interact with humans and the environment. It is a robot that can truly walk among us, and maybe even become one of us.
What do you think of H1? Would you like to have one as your personal assistant, friend, or partner? Or are you like, no way? Let us know by writing us atCyberguy.com/Contact.
For more of my tech tips & security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.
Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.
The European Commission said it had opened formal proceedings to investigate X — formerly Twitter — over content related to the terrorist group Hamas’ attacks against Israel.
In a Dec. 18 notice, the commission said it planned to assess whether X violated the Digital Services Act for its response to misinformation and illegal content on the platform. According to the government body, X was under investigation for the effectiveness of its Community Notes — comments added to specific tweets aimed at providing context — as well as policies “mitigating risks to civic discourse and electoral processes.”
“The opening of formal proceedings empowers the Commission to take further enforcement steps, such as interim measures, and non-compliance decisions,” said the notice. “The Commission is also empowered to accept any commitment made by X to remedy on the matters subject to the proceeding.”
We have opened formal proceedings to assess whether X may have breached the #DSA in areas linked to:
risk management content moderation dark patterns advertising transparency data access for researchers
The proceedings will include a look into X’s blue check mark system, which the commission described as a “suspected deceptive design” on the platform. According to the European Commission, there were also “suspected shortcomings” in X’s efforts to increase transparency of the platform’s publicly available data.
X owner Elon Musk implemented controversial policies at the social media giant following his purchase of Twitter in 2022, receiving criticism from many long-time users and tech industry experts. The then-CEO was responsible for cutting Twitter’s trust and safety team, reducing the number of content moderators, and replacing the platform’s signature blue check verification system.
Following the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel, Musk used his personal account to promote antisemitic content by replying to a tweet promoting far-right conspiracy theories. The watchdog group Media Matters released a report in November showing that advertisements on X for large firms were able to be featured alongside pro-nazi content under certain search conditions.
During a Nov. 29 interview with Andrew Ross Sorkin, Musk told advertisers to “go fuck yourself” following many leaving the platform, saying the exodus was “gonna kill the company.” The social media site claimed it was “the platform for free speech” after filing a lawsuit against Media Matters, alleging the group’s report did not reflect what the typical X user sees.
At the time of publication, Musk had not publicly commented on the European Commission investigation. The former Twitter CEO is known in the crypto space for pushing Dogecoin (DOGE) and other tokens, as well as his Bitcoin (BTC) purchases while heading Tesla and SpaceX.
Padraig Harrington, a three-time major champion, offered some great advice to parents at the PNC Championship on Friday about how to get their kids interested in golf.
Harrington teamed up with his son Ciarán and competed against other gold legends and their children, including Tiger and Charlie Woods, Bernhard and Jason Langer and Annika and Will Sorenstam.
As the first round played on, Harrington talked to The Golf Channel about how to get children involved in the game. He said parents should focus on having their child love the game rather than trying to be good right off the bat.
Padraig Harrington pictured with his son Ciaran Harrington, who will be playing with his father this week as a preview for the PNC Championship at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club on Dec. 14, 2023 in Orlando, Florida.(David Cannon/Getty Images)
“I would say to a lot of people, you think providing these for your kids is good, but not really,” he said of the golf facilities. “When it’s easy for kids, they just tend not to want to do it. In hindsight, the best way if you want to get your kid into the game of golf is bring them somewhere where you’re not stressed. That’s very important. Kids pick up on that.
“Let them do what they like when they’re there. Have a bit of fun. If they want to hit one shot, two shots, 10 shots, play in the bunker, look at the whatever, or whatever they want to do, let them do. And generally, bring them home before they get tired. So, the best thing you can do with a kid early on in golf is say hey, we have to go home. And don’t wait ‘til they get tired and hate it, wait ‘til they’re actually enjoying themselves, go home.”
Harrington said that parents spending time with their children one-on-one is as important.
“And the last thing I would say, and this has nothing to do with being a competitive player, it’s about the love of the game. When you’re finished, take 10 minutes to spend with your son or daughter and go and have a Coke, a Pepsi, this week. Go and have a Pepsi in the bar, wherever it is, and sit there, have an ice cream, and spend 10-15 minutes. Because, if they have that 15 minutes alone time with you, just you and them, for the rest of life, every time they play golf, they’ll remember the 15 minutes they had with their father or mother.
Padraig Harrington plays a shot from a bunker on the 18th hole during the final round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, Florida. Bernhard Langer and his son, Jason Langer, won the 2023 PNC Championship.(Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
“And that’s what’ll keep bringing them back to college for the next … and remember, these kids will play golf for 90 years. There’s a good chance my kids will be playing when they’re 100. It’s a long career and if every time they play golf it’s bringing that happy memory of when they were a kid and they just got a bit of alone time, a bit of quiet time, a bit of big boy time, you know, when they’re sitting there in the clubhouse and enjoying it. Don’t bring them to the nice country club. That’s not use, that makes them soft anyway.
“And remember, it’s unlikely if your kid gets good at the game that doesn’t necessarily make them love the game. If your kid loves the game, it’s likely that they’ll become good. It’s the love should be first and it’s even more important to get a love for the game because we all know you plateau when you play golf. There’s many plateaus where it really gets frustrating. And if you don’t live it, those plateaus are going to stop your playing, you’re going to give up whereas if you love it you’ll go through anything.”
Team Langer won the competition over the weekend, with the Harringtons finishing 15th.
Padraig Harrington and son, Ciaran Harrington, react on the 13th green after a birdie during the final round of the PNC Championship at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club on Dec. 17, 2023 in Orlando, Florida.(Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)
The Irish golfer won The Open Championship twice and the PGA Championship once in his career. He has 15 victories on the European Tour and six on the PGA Tour.
