Ryan Minor, who played in four MLB seasons and replaced Cal Ripken Jr. when he decided to end his consecutive-games streak, died Friday at the age of 49.
The University of Oklahoma said that Minor passed away from cancer. Minor was an All-American in basketball and helped the OU baseball team to the 1994 national title as a first baseman and pitcher.
2Infielder Ryan Minor of the Baltimore Orioles in action during a spring training game against the Montreal Expos at Fort Lauderdale Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The Orioles defeated the Expos 11-9. (Jamie Squire /All)
He was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 33rd round of the 1996 MLB Draft and appeared in 87 games over three seasons with the Orioles.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of former third baseman and longtime minor league manager Ryan Minor, who courageously fought cancer,” Baltimore posted to X, the company formerly known as Twitter.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Ryan’s family and friends at this time.”
Ripken ended his consecutive-games-played streak on September 20, 1998 at 2,632. Minor played third base in place of Ripken.
Baltimore Orioles’ third baseman Ryan Minor leaps but misses a ball hit by Detroit Tigers’ Brad Ausmus during the fourth inning of a baseball game August 8, 1999, at Camden Yards in Baltimore. Former Orioles infielder Minor has died at age 49. The University of Oklahoma said that Minor died of cancer Friday, December 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
“I had no idea, when I was coming to the park,” Minor said at the time, according to The Associated Press.
He finished his MLB career appearing in 142 games, hitting .177 at the plate with 27 RBIs.
Minor went on to coach in Baltimore’s minor league system, managing the Delmarva Shorebirds and the Frederick Keys.
A two-sport star, Minor was named the 1994-95 Big Eight Conference Player of the Year in basketball under head coach Kelvin Sampson.
Infielder Ryan Minor, #10 of the Baltimore Orioles, looking on during the Spring Training game against the St. Louis Cardinals at the Rodger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida. The Orioles defeated the Cardinals 8-5. (Jamie Squire/Allsport)
“The ultimate warrior and fierce competitor,” Sampson posted to X. “The best 3 level scorer i ever coached. Ryan was at his best on the road in the ol Big 8. Thank you for allowing me to coach you Ryan. I love you and God Bless you.”
Minor was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer last fall, according to The Oklahoman. He was named as a member of the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame 2024 class last month.
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We banter the word “hope” about carelessly. We hope the Red Sox will win the World Series. We hope the store will stay open late.
But the hope of Christmas is a greater hope. The message of Christmas is simply this: a good God is up to good things in our world.
It often feels impossible to remember in the chaos of our world.
Though the people forgot God, Christ came. In spite of hopelessness, Christ came.(iStock)
Christ came! In spite of sin and scandal, Christ came. In spite of racism and sexism, Christ came. Though the people forgot God, Christ came. In spite of hopelessness, Christ came. In spite of, and out of, the pandemonium, Christ came.
The surprise pregnancy, the sudden census, the long road from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Unpleasant and difficult, yet they resulted in the world’s greatest miracle. “And [Mary] brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger” (Luke 2:7 nkjv).
Everything prior to this happened so this moment would happen. Was the first Christmas different from what Mary had planned? Yes, but it turned out greater than she could have dreamed. God used the struggles to accomplish his will.
Don’t you need that reminder? In your world of short nights, hard work and high stress, don’t you need to know that Jesus holds it all together?
In your world of short nights, hard work and high stress, don’t you need to know that Jesus holds it all together?(Michal Fludra/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
I created a four-step reminder to find in HOPE even in the midst of the chaos during the holidays:
Help – reach out to someone who needs an act of kindness. Open – open your heart to miracles. Pray – make this the year that you take time to talk to God. Enjoy – enjoy what you have. Don’t dwell on what you don’t have. Fix your mind on the good around you and enjoy it.
You might relate to the jalopy I once saw. The car clattered down the freeway, one door missing, hood dented, needing paint. On the loosely hanging bumper was this sticker: “Honk if anything falls off.”
God is unaffected by our storms. He is undeterred by our problems.(iStock)
“For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels – everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment” (Col. 1:16–17 msg).
Everything inside you and every voice around you says, “Get out. Get angry. Get drunk. Get high.” But don’t listen to the voices. You cannot face a crisis if you don’t face God first.
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6–7 tlb).
The Nativity, circa 1406-10, by artist Lorenzo Monaco.
(Heritage Art/Heritage Images via Getty Images)
Cling to him. In the ER, when your dreams are falling apart, say to him, “Lord, I need you now.” Between the headstones of the cemetery, whisper, “Dear Jesus, lift me up.” During the deposition, when others are grumbling beneath their breath, may you be overheard repeating this prayer: “God, you are good. I… need… help. Encourage me, please.”
In the prayer journal of King David, we read this question: “When all that is good falls apart, what can good people do?” (Ps. 11:3).
Isn’t David’s question ours? When all that is good falls apart, what can good people do?
When terrorists attack, when diseases rage, when families collapse, when churches divide… when all that is good falls apart, what can good people do? What is the godly response to the unexpected mishaps and calamities of life?
In the prayer journal of King David, we read this question: “When all that is good falls apart, what can good people do?”(iStock)
Curiously, David doesn’t answer his question with an answer. He answers it with a declaration. “The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his throne in heaven” (vs. 4).
His point is unmistakable: When everything shakes, God remains unshaken. He is in his holy temple. His plan will not be derailed. God is unaffected by our storms. He is undeterred by our problems.
God has made a business out of turning tragedy into triumph. He did with Joseph, with Moses, with Daniel, and, most of all, he did with Jesus on the cross. The innocent one was slaughtered. Heaven’s gift was murdered. Mothers wept, evil danced and the apostles had to wonder, “When all that is good falls apart, what do good people do?”
Is your Christmas a difficult one? Then take heart.(iStock)
God answered their question with a declaration, with the rumble of the earth and the rolling of the rock. He reminded them, “The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his throne in heaven.”
Is your Christmas a difficult one? Then take heart. God is still in his temple, still on his throne, still in control. And he still makes princes out of prisoners, counselors out of captives, Sundays out of Fridays and brings beauty out of Bethlehems.
He did then, for them. He does it still, for you and me.
It’s almost Christmas, and many of us are excited to celebrate with our family and friends.
However, traveling during the holidays can also be challenging and frustrating, especially with the high demand and the winter weather.
That’s why you need to be prepared and savvy about your travel options.
If you’re planning to visit family or friends in a different city or state this year, be sure you’re prepared for the chaos that will likely ensue. Here are CyberGuy’s top 6 tips for traveling this holiday season.
Whether you’re logging onto Wi-Fi at an airport, a hotel or somewhere else while you’re away from home, your privacy and information are at high risk if you’re not using a VPN. A virtual private network helps encrypt your data so hackers sharing these public Wi-Fi networks can’t access it as easily. Unless you’re at home on your own safe Wi-Fi network, you can’t be sure that you’re on a secure network, so make sure you’re browsing with a VPN and have antivirus software set up.
From the travel tech to stay connected no matter where you are to the must-have, coziest gifts to make those long trips easier, we’ve gathered the best travel gear right here.
Some of my personal favorites include the best Travel Dual USB Charger, which is this Anker 36W dual USB-C charger. Plus, these compression sac sets will change your packing game completely and make it a breeze for the whole family. Get all of our top travel gear here.
People traveling through the airport.(Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson )
If you’re traveling internationally, don’t worry about the stress of having to mentally convert different currencies. You may want to check the price of something before purchasing it abroad, but you’re not sure how much it costs in USD. Instead of looking up the conversion rate and figuring it out yourself, use your phone’s camera or a simple app to get all of your currency conversions right on the spot.
iPhone currency converter
If you’ve updated your iPhone to iOS 17 (which you should! find our how-to update here), you now have a Live Text feature in the camera. That means if you open your iPhone camera and point it at any text or number, it can read it live. Use this feature for currency conversion by opening your camera app and pointing it at the price tag. Once the camera sees the numbers, tap the live text key, which looks like a square with three horizontal lines in it:
Then, on the bottom left, you’ll see a box pop up that contains the number — tap that, and you’ll see a conversion right there.
Android currency converter
If you’re traveling with an Android device and want to stay up-to-date with the latest currency conversions, download the Google app. It’s available for free on the Google Play Stores and has lots of tricks your regular browsers don’t. Just open the Google app, type “Convert [insert the price of what you’re converting here] to USD” and the number will pop up automatically based on the current global market.
A man holding a passport and walking through an airport.(Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson )
4. Be ready to rebook a flight if you’re delayed or canceled
Have you ever wondered how certain people always seem to be able to rebook a canceled or delayed flight way more easily than you? You, too, can also be a travel tech geek and never miss that next flight again. We’ve gathered our top 4 tips, including apps and insider information, so you can always be ready in a pinch if your travel plans go awry.
5. Set up a personal hotspot wherever you go
The world has become more remote-work friendly, but there are also times when you need to browse the web in a more remote area. If you’re traveling somewhere off the grid and want to stay in touch with your family and friends, you’ll want to follow our tips for setting up a hotspot in all sorts of locations. You may be able to set up a hotspot through your phone carrier or turn your phone into a hotspot itself. Either way, be sure you never get disconnected again!
6. Download offline maps for your destination
Before you embark on your holiday travel, especially if you’re going to an unfamiliar city or region, make sure to download offline maps for the area using apps like Google Maps or Apple Maps. This will allow you to navigate even if you don’t have a stable internet connection. Offline maps are a lifesaver when you’re exploring a new place, and they can help you find your way around, locate nearby attractions and avoid getting lost.
If you have an iPhone with iOS 17, you can use the Offline Maps feature to download maps ahead of time and use them even when you’re off the grid. You can also manage your downloaded maps, and drop pins to save specific spots.
Downloading offline maps can save you from using costly data while roaming, making your travel experience more convenient and budget-friendly. So, be sure to download the maps you’ll need ahead of time and have them ready on your device before you hit the road or take off on your flight.
Traveling during the holidays can be a wonderful experience, but it can also be stressful and unpredictable. That’s why you need to be prepared and savvy about your travel options. By following these top 6 tips, you can make your holiday travel easier, safer and more enjoyable. Remember, the holidays are a time to celebrate and have fun, not to worry and stress.
How do you stay connected and entertained while traveling during the holidays? Do you use any apps, gadgets, or games? 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.
It was another turbulent year in 2023, marked by political dysfunction at home and two major world conflicts. ‘America’s Newsroom’ anchor Bill Hemmer looks back at the top headlines of the past 12 months.
Over the course of 2023, the world lost a number of Christian ministers, faith leaders and church prelates who left an indelible mark on international religious dialogue.
Here is a short list of Christian heavyweights the world lost in 2023 who shaped the culture across denominations.
Charles Stanley — Southern Baptist
Dr. Charles Stanley of In Touch Ministries is pictured during a sermon. Stanley died April 18 in his home.(FOX 5 WAGA)
In April, In Touch Ministries announced the death of Dr. Charles Stanley.
Stanley, 90, was an internationally renowned minister with over 65 years experience preaching the Bible around the world.
Born in the middle of the Great Depression in 1932, he began feeling called to ministry at age 14, following the same path as his father and grandfather.
Stanley received a bachelor of divinity from Southwestern Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, before continuing his education with a graduate degree and doctorate in theology from the Luther Rice Seminary in Atlanta.
A devout Southern Baptist, Stanley founded In Touch Ministries in 1977 and struck a syndication deal with the Christian Broadcasting Network in 1978.
From there, In Touch Ministries expanded into a multimedia network of broadcasting, publishing and public speaking with content provided in over 50 languages.
Stanley was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention in 1985 and left an indelible mark on the denomination’s character.
He is survived by his son, Charles Andrew Stanley, who serves as senior pastor at the multi-site North Point Community Church based in Alpharetta, Georgia.
Timothy Keller — Presbyterian
Tim Keller, celebrated Presbyterian minister and spiritual author(José A. Alvarado Jr. for the Wall Street Journal)
Redeemer City to City reports 112,988 leaders trained through the program, and approximately 1,633 churches were established around the world.
Born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Keller held a doctorate of ministry and a doctorate of divinity from Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia.
Keller authored 31 books on spirituality and ministry.
He is survived by his wife, Kathy, three sons and seven grandchildren.
Jack Hayford — Pentecostal
Pentecostal minister Jack Hayford inside his office(Ken Hively/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Pastor Jack Hayford, 88, died Jan. 8.
Born in 1934, Hayford struggled with infirmities his entire life after being born with a life-threatening muscular condition in his neck.
He miraculously healed from the affliction and attributed his unlikely recovery to the intercession of God. Later in his youth, he was struck by polio and once again overcame the affliction against all odds.
These traumatic experiences formed his faith and drove him to pursue ministry and obtain a degree from L.I.F.E. Bible College.
Hayford became the pastor of the struggling First Foursquare Church of Van Nuys — also known as The Church on the Way — in California in 1969. He served the same congregation for decades, retiring in 1999.
Over the course of his pastorate, the church became one of the first mega-churches in the U.S. At its height, it boasted over 10,000 members and remote followers across the nation.
Hayford was eventually elected president of the entire International Church of the Foursquare Gospel.
Cardinal George Pell
Archbishop of Sydney Cardinal George Pell attends the Synod of Bishops for The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith at the Synod hall in Vatican City. (Franco Origlia/Getty Images)
Cardinal George Pell of Australia, 81, died Jan. 10 of a heart attack.
Pell, born in Ballarat, Australia, in 1941 to a non-practicing Anglican father and devout Catholic mother, was a remarkable player of Australian rules football in his youth.
Despite briefly signing with a professional franchise, he felt called to the seminary and was ordained a priest in 1966. Following a rise through the dioceses and working in a number of clerical positions, he was consecrated a bishop in 1987. He was made cardinal by Pope St. John Paul II and participated in the conclaves that elected both Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.
The cardinal was controversial in his home country, where he drew ire from secular groups and liberal activists for his aggressive defense of traditional marriage, sexual morality and the importance of religious belief to the soul of a society.
Toward the end of his life, Pell was brought to court and convicted of molesting two boys while serving as prelate in Melbourne despite the case relying on testimony alleging an incident at the church that judges eventually found to be logistically impossible.
Pell, maintaining his innocence, served over 13 months in Australian prison as his attorneys appealed the case to the High Court of Australia, which ruled unanimously (7-0) to overturn the conviction and quash all charges against the prelate.
An unearthed email exchange from 2014 showed Deputy Commissioner Graham Ashton of Victoria discussing with media assistants how charges against Pell could deflect public scrutiny from an unfolding corruption scandal in the police department.
Following his death, the cardinal lay in state in Rome before a Requiem Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica.
Pat Robertson
Rev. Pat Robertson poses a question to a Republican presidential candidate during a forum at Regent University in Virginia Beach, Va.(AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)
Marion “Pat” Robertson died June 8 after decades of ministry as a broadcaster, educator and businessman.
This intimate broadcasting startup grew to become “The 700 Club,” one of the most famous Christian TV programs in U.S. history.
Robertson hosted “The 700 Club” and oversaw production at CBN for 60 years, announcing his retirement Oct. 1, 2021.
Over the course of his career, Robertson had a hand in dozens of successful ventures, including the evangelical Regent University, humanitarian organization Operation Blessing, the advocacy group Christian Coalition and International Family Entertainment.
He is survived by his wife and four children.
Timothy Nerozzi is a writer for Fox News Digital. You can follow him on Twitter @timothynerozzi and can email him at timothy.nerozzi@fox.com
I’m trying to reverse engineer the odds for Dallas Cowboys(10-4) at the Miami Dolphins(10-14) Christmas Eve in NFL Week 16. Cowboys-Dolphins is a pick ’em in the Circa Million V football betting contest. Miami is a slight favorite across the board as of Friday.
The Dolphins get a boost for home-field advantage Sunday. Granted, Hard Rock Stadium isn’t a tough place for visitors to play. So let’s give the ‘Phins a 1.5-boost as the home team. Essentially, the market is saying Dallas is better than Miami at their current versions.
CeeDee Lamb #88 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates with Jalen Tolbert #18 after scoring a touchdown during the game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on December 17, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)
Sure, the Dolphins have a sketchy injury report. They have two starting offensive linemen missing practice this week. Tyreek Hillmissed Miami’s 30-0 vs. the New York Jets last week with an ankle injury.
But, Hill hasn’t been walking with a limp. I think Hill could’ve played last week if Miami needed him. Plus, Cowboys OG Zack Martinand LT Tyron Smithhaven’t practiced this week either. One of Dallas’s biggest strength is its offensive line and both of these guys are future Hall of Famers.
So, I’m not seeing the case for the Cowboys. Let’s look at these teams’ best. Miami hung 70 on the Denver Broncos in September. Knowing what we know now about the Rams, Dallas’s best game is a 43-20 home win vs. LA in Week 8.
I have a lot of “yeah, but’s” for the Cowboys’ win over the Rams. Dallas was coming off of a bye. That was a different Rams team than the one that’s currently an NFC Wild Card seed. Rams WR Cooper Kupp was still getting his feet under him and they were missing RB Kyren Williams.
More importantly, the Cowboys are monsters at home and this game is in South Beach. They are 7-0 straight up (SU) and 6-1 against the spread (ATS) while scoring roughly 40 points per game (PPG). Dallas is 3-4 SU and ATS and scoring just 21.7 PPG.
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup (13) celebrates his first half touchdown with teammates CeeDee Lamb (88), Zack Martin (70), Tyler Smith (73) and Tony Pollard (20) during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Furthermore, Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa is 16-2 SU & 13-5 ATS with +6.1 spread differential as a home favorite in his career. Miami is 6-1 SU with a +19.4 scoring margin and 5-2 ATS at home this season.
Florida Man, and fellow OutKick writer, Zach Dean winced when I predicted the Dolphins would crush the Cowboys Christmas Eve. Dean is a tortured ‘Phins fanatic who thinks I may have jinxed Miami with my confidence.
That said, Dallas is more cursed than the Dolphins and the Cowboys shrink in big games. Since hiring head coach Mike McCarthy, Dallas is 5-11 SU and ATS vs. non-divisional opponents with a winning record.
This leads to another point, which is the Cowboys have three embarrassing losses this year while the Dolphins have just two. They both lost at the Buffalo Bills this season. Miami got hammered 48-20 in Week 4 and Dallas lost last week 31-10.
Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins reacts during the second half of a game against the New York Jets at Hard Rock Stadium on December 17, 2023 in Miami Gardens, Florida.(Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
However, the Bills were at full strength when they beat the Dolphins. Whereas Buffalo’s defense was missing two All-Pros (LB Matt Milanoand Tre White) for its game vs. Dallas. The Bills put enough on film for Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel to use to pick apart the Cowboys.
Also, I’m buying stock in Miami’s defense with CB Jalen Ramseyplaying. Ramsey made his debut for the Dolphins in Week 8. Since then, their defense leads the NFL in expected points added per play and ranks 2nd in success rate.
Everyone knew Miami’s defense would improve under 1st-year defensive coordinator Vic Fangio once Ramsey was back. That’s coming to fruition. The Dolphins have All-Pro talent on all three levels of their defense.
The bottom line is Miami has the better passing attack, coaching staff, and defense. And all we need is for the Dolphins to win at home. My only concern here is I’m TOO confident in Miami and maybe I’m missing something.
Miami will be one of my five NFL Week 16 Circa Million V football betting contest picks. I’m willing to RISK 2 unitson DOLPHINS (-125) MONEYLINEat DraftKings Sportsbook.
Listen to the ‘OutKick Bets with Geoff Clark’ podcast HERE.
WASHINGTON — Though the Republican presidential primaries and caucuses haven’t started yet, former President Donald Trump’s commanding lead in the polls has already spurred debate over potential running mates.
Some names being floated are lawmakers who’ve said in interviews they would be interested in the job. Other names are generated when Trump meets with a high-profile supporter, which happened this week when he was spotted at Mar-a-Lago with Rep, Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., according to aides.
But his aides add that stories about an array of possible appointments − from running mate to White House chief of staff − are premature at best.
“Second term policy priorities and staffing decisions will not – in no uncertain terms – be led by anonymous or thinly sourced speculation in mainstream media news stories,” the Trump campaign said in a statement. “President Trump is solely focused on winning the Republican nomination for president.”
Donald Trump is working to win the Republican nomination for president. Before the first primary ballot has been cast, there’s already speculation about who the frontrunner’s pick for vice president might be.
Trump himself said in an interview with NBC in September that he hasn’t thought too much about the role but added he “likes the concept” of a woman as vice president.
“We’re going to choose the best person,” he said.
Either way, numerous political experts said loyalty would be a prime consideration for Trump as he chooses his running mate. And some of his supporters being floated as a running mate could very well end up on Trump’s ticket.
Here’s a look at some potential contenders.
Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina during the Republican National Committee presidential primary debate hosted by NBC News at Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County.
South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, who dropped out of the presidential race last month, was floated as a potential running mate early on in the primary race. Unlike some of his rivals, the lawmaker did not criticize Trump directly when he was on the campaign trail.
Scott worked on opportunity zones − a bipartisan initiative − in Trump’s 2017 tax cut legislation. He is also 58 and Black, which would be key for Trump as he seeks to expand his coalition of supporters.
Trump was asked on Fox News whether he would choose Scott as a running mate in July, and said he thinks Scott is a “very good guy” and talented.
“We did opportunity zones together. It’s never been talked about. It’s one of the most successful economic development things ever done in this country. And Tim is very good,” Trump said. “I mean, I could see Tim doing something with the administration.”
Though Scott said he wouldn’t endorse anyone for the primary, he did defend Trump’s economic record and acknowledged his poll numbers in an interview with CNBC earlier this month.
Nikki Haley
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley during the fourth Republican Presidential Primary Debate.
Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., has argued that former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley would be a good pick for Trump’s vice president as she would pull independent voters to his circle of supporters.
Haley, 51, worked in the Trump administration as an ambassador to the United Nations from 2017 to 2018, where she supported U.S. relations with Israel and led the initiative to pull the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement on climate change. As a woman of color, she would diversify Trump’s ticket.
“A large gender gap exists in his current polling and attempting to reach out to more moderate suburban female voters in swing states will be crucially important in the general election,” said Aaron Kall, an elections expert at the University of Michigan. “Given the advanced ages of Trump and Biden, selecting a younger candidate could help alleviate any concerns over health.”
Having Haley on Trump’s ticket might also increase his chances of beating Biden. Numerous polls have found that Haley has a higher chance of winning against Biden in a hypothetical matchup than other Republican candidates.
But when asked by a voter in Iowa this week whether she would consider being Trump’s number two, she made clear she wouldn’t accept the position.
“I don’t play for second,” she said. “I’ve never played for second my entire life.”
The two have also battled on the campaign trail. Haley said that Trump is not the right president for the country in 2024. The Trump campaign has called Haley “birdbrain,” and sent a birdcage and bird food to her hotel room in October to mock her.
Kristi Noem
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem speaks at the Calvin Coolidge Foundation conference at the Library of Congress on February 17, 2023 in Washington, DC.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, one of Trump’s fiercest allies, is also being floated after she endorsed the former president at an event in September. Trump said in an interview with NBC that same month he has his eye on Noem as a potential running mate.
“I think she’s fantastic. She’s been a great governor. She gave me a very full-throated endorsement – a beautiful endorsement actually,” Trump said. “And, you know, it’s been a very good state for me and certainly she’d be one of the people I’d consider.”
Noem, 52, has also made clear she is interested in the position, saying in an interview with Newmax in September she would consider the role “in a heartbeat.”
She’s criticized Trump’s criminal indictments and the Colorado Supreme Court’s ruling to disqualify Trump from the state’s presidential primary ballot this week. She’s also passed anti-abortion and pro-Second Amendment policies. Before she was governor, Noem served in Congress where she helped pass the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 − key legislation under the Trump administration.
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, 41, is another lawmaker Trump could potentially choose. Sanders endorsed Trump at a rally in Miami, Florida, last month, calling him “my former boss, my friend, and everybody’s favorite president.”
Sanders served as the White House press secretary in the Trump administration from 2017 to 2019, advising him on personnel, policy and communications strategy, according to her website. When Sanders stepped down from her position, Trump acknowledged in a news conference that the pair have been through a lot together and that she did an incredible job.
“She’s tough and she’s good,” Trump said.
If 2024 does end up being a match between President Joe Biden and Trump, Sanders would serve as a key player for Trump. She delivered a combative response against Biden when he delivered his State of the Union address in February, saying Biden’s weakness puts the nation and world at risk.
SIOUX CITY, IOWA – OCTOBER 29: Former HUD Secretary Ben Carson endorses Republican presidential candidate former U.S. President Donald Trump during a campaign event with the former president on October 29, 2023 in Sioux City, Iowa. On Saturday, Trump joined other Republican presidential candidates when he addressed Republican Jewish Coalition’s annual conference where his one-time vice president, Mike Pence, announced he was suspending his campaign.
Ben Carson, who served as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the Trump administration, said he would be willing to serve as Trump’s running mate when the former president ran in 2016.
Ultimately, Trump chose former Vice President Mike Pence for the spot. But Carson’s name is now being floated again after the retired neurosurgeon endorsed him for the 2024 race.
If Carson were chosen however, it is unclear whether he would take the spot.
When Carson announced he would leave after Trump’s first term, he was pressed in a 2019 Newsmax interview on whether he would be interested in serving in a second Trump administration. Carson said, “I would be interested in returning to the private sector, because I think you have just as much influence — maybe more — there.”
Marjorie Taylor Greene
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. is seen at the House Oversight committee holds a hearing on the basis for an impeachment inquiry of President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on Sep 28, 2023.
Staunch Trump supporter Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., told the Atlanta-Journal Constitution in August that it would be an “honor” if she was chosen for the vice president spot and would consider it “very, very heavily.”
She’s spoken at numerous Trump campaign events and was one of the 147 Republicans who voted to decertify the 2020 election results.
Greene also supports an impeachment inquiry against Biden – joining other Republican lawmakers in alleging Biden was involved in his family’s business dealings as vice president – and accused him of treason, while defending Trump against his indictments.
However, Greene’s far-right stances and rhetoric might not bode well for Trump if he is seeking to attract moderate Republicans to his base.
Elise Stefanik
Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC 2023, Saturday, March 4, 2023, at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md.
Rumors about Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., being a possible running mate for Trump have also been floated, as she is one of the former president’s fiercest allies.
She endorsed Trump last year before he announced he was running. The endorsement came after the midterm elections, when some Republicans were blaming him for failing to generate a red wave, according to The Associated Press.
Stefanik has also criticized his indictments and filed ethics complaints with judges who have overseen cases related to the former president.
She is 39 and could appeal to younger women looking to back the former president. However, she is from New York, which has voted blue in recent presidential elections.
“Electoral considerations are often at play in Vice-Presidential selections, so someone who could help Republicans flip a state like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada, Georgia, or Arizona could be especially helpful,” Kall previously told USA TODAY.
Kari Lake
Though former Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake launched a Senate bid in October, there’s some speculation that she could land higher office as Trump’s potential running mate.
Lake, 54, has defended Trump against his criminal indictments and spread allegations that the 2020 election was stolen – despite evidence to the contrary.
She came out first in a poll conducted by the Conservative Political Action Conference in March that asked voters who they would like to see as the Republican candidate for vice president. Lake won 20% of the vote, topping the other candidates on the list.
However, she did lose the governor’s race in the midterms last year which could affect whether she has enough political standing to pull in more supporters to Trump’s circle.
Vivek Ramaswamy
Businessperson Vivek Ramaswamy during the fourth Republican Presidential Primary Debate presented by NewsNation at the Frank Moody Music Building University of Alabama on Dec. 6, 2023 in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Though businessman and self-proclaimed outsider Vivek Ramaswamy is competing for the Republican nomination, he has defended Trump numerous times on the campaign trail and acknowledged Trump was the best president of the 21st century.
Trump has also taken notice of Ramaswamy’s efforts, crowning him the winner of the first Republican debate in August.
“He’s a very, very, very intelligent person. He’s got good energy, and he could be some form of something. I tell you, I think he’d be very good,” Trump said in August when asked by conservative host Glenn Beck what he thought of Ramaswamy as vice president.
However, Ramaswamy has no political experience, and he said he wasn’t interested in playing for second place in an interview.
“Donald Trump and I share something in common and that is that neither of us would do well in a number 2 position,” he said on Fox News in August.
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It’s beginning to look a lot like playoff, er, Christmas, as the weekend rolls around.
The next three days are filled with big NFL matchups for Week 16, and some teams are writing to Santa – or the football gods – about their wish to clinch a playoff berth. Others are simply hoping to remain in the playoff race with just three regular-season weeks left to play.
There are also players who are going after some career milestones while others are looking to continue building an MVP resume.
So, deck the halls with your favorite team’s jerseys and get ready for an action-packed Week 16, starting with the game everyone is looking forward to seeing.
GAME OF THE WEEK: BALTIMORE RAVENS VS. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens warms up prior to the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on Nov. 26, 2023, in Inglewood, California.(Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
The No. 1 seeds in both the AFC and NFC square up on Christmas night to wrap up Week 16, and there’s no finer game on which to end the holiday. Both teams have already clinched a playoff berth, with the 49ers having also sealed their NFC West title as well.
Speaking of milestones and MVP resumes, Christian McCaffrey is putting a season to remember, leading the NFL with 1,801 scrimmage yards (1,292 rushing, 509 receiving) and is tied for the league with 20 touchdowns.
If McCaffrey gets two rushing touchdowns on Monday, he will become the fifth player in NFL history with at least 15 rushing touchdowns and five touchdown receptions in a season, joining Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk and O.J. Simpson as well as Ahman Green and Alvin Kamara.
Brock Purdy, the 49ers’ quarterback who is also in the MVP race, could also make history as the first signal-caller to post a 119.0 passing rating or higher in seven straight games.
For the Ravens, Justin Madubuike, who already has a career-high 12 sacks this season, could become only the second player to record at least half a sack in 12 consecutive games. He’d join Jevon Kearse, who did so during the 1999-2000 season.
Cleveland Browns vs. Houston Texans: Dec. 24, 1 p.m. ET
Despite Deshaun Watson’s absence, the Browns’ defense and their slew of quarterbacks have led them to a 9-5 record entering Sunday when they take on the 8-6 Texans.
So, there’s a variety of ways the Browns can make the playoffs, but the main thing is winning the game. Then, they’ll have to look at teams like the Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts to get either wins or losses.
Meanwhile, the Texans are right outside the playoff bubble at 8-6. But C.J. Stroud will likely not be available again for Houston, which will have head coach DeMeco Ryans going back to veteran Case Keenum.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes takes the field for the game against the Buffalo Bills, Dec. 10, 2023, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.(William Purnell/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Las Vegas Raiders: Dec. 25, 1 p.m. ET
This playoff scenario is a lot less complicated than the prior game as the Chiefs simply need to win to get their playoff spot solidified.
They defeated the Raiders in Week 12 as quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw for 298 yards and two touchdowns. The Raiders are still alive in the playoff race, too, so this isn’t a situation where they will let their AFC West rival walk all over them.
The Chiefs can also get in with a tie to the Raiders and a Broncos loss.
Miami Dolphins vs. Dallas Cowboys: Dec. 24, 4:25 p.m. ET
Another game that has game-of-the–week potential is this one. The Dolphins are looking to get their playoff spot etched in stone, and the Cowboys are trying to erase a brutal loss to the Bills.
Dak Prescott & Co. didn’t have their secret sauce in Buffalo, snapping the five-game win streak he helped put together amid a 31-10 drubbing. Meanwhile, the Dolphins took care of the New York Jets for the second time this season.
Miami will need to beat the Cowboys and have the Bills lose or tie to make it in, or tie themselves and see Buffalo lose. The Cowboys, however, punched their ticket last week despite the loss.
Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings: Dec. 24, 1 p.m. ET
A big win over the Broncos last Saturday puts the Lions in position to get their first playoff berth since the 2016 season. It wasn’t locked in last week because of the Seattle Seahawks’ win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
But a win or tie over the playoff-hungry Vikings would not just lock a playoff spot in, it would give Detroit the NFC North title. If they do lose to Minnesota, though, another Seahawks loss would lead to a playoff berth.
The Vikings, though, want to keep their No. 6 seed in the NFC playoffs right now, and head coach Kevin O’Connell has faith that Nick Mullens can deliver his first win as a starter with the team after losing in overtime to the Bengals last week.
Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles(Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
TIME TO PLAY SPOILER
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants: Dec. 25, 4:30 p.m. ET
For the first time this season, these two NFC East foes will match up, and quarterback Jalen Hurts wants to let off some steam after a miraculous comeback by the Seahawks moved the Eagles’ record to 10-4 on the year.
That’s three straight games Philly has lost, and there’s no better opportunity for getting back on track than against a team you’ve beaten in each of the last four meetings.
At the same time, Tommy DeVito’s streak of wins might have ended last week, but the Giants are not mathematically out of the playoff running. While it’s not likely they reach the playoffs, one can always play spoiler, messing up some seeds or completely wiping a team out of the playoff race.
This case would be seeding with the Eagles already in the playoffs, and it’s even sweeter to take down a rival.
Buffalo Bills vs Los Angeles Chargers: Dec. 23, 8 p.m. ET
The win over Dallas last week is exactly what this Bills team needed. It gave them back-to-back wins against very good teams (the Chiefs two weeks ago), and at 8-6, they’re on the cusp of popping back into the playoffs.
They get a highly favorable matchup against the Chargers, who remain without Justin Herbert and Keenan Allen. Easton Stick will be at quarterback again, and we saw how that unfolded against the Raiders on Dec. 14. It wasn’t pleasant.
And here’s a fun fact: Josh Allen has a touchdown pass and rushing touchdown in 10 games this season, the most such games in a season in NFL history.
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook #4 celebrates with quarterback Josh Allen after scoring touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys during the second quarter, Dec. 17, 2023, in Orchard Park, New York.(AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Green Bay Packers vs. Carolina Panthers: Dec. 24, 1 p.m. ET
Can they do it again? Can Carolina get its third win of the season while altering the playoff bracket?
A game-winning field goal by Eddy Pineiro might have wrecked the Atlanta Falcons’ playoff chances last week, and now they get a Packers team that’s lost two straight games and are 6-8 in the NFC race.
Jordan Love and his crew know this is a must-win game to remain in the hunt, especially with the final wild-card spot only at 7-7 on the season.
Denver Broncos vs. New England Patriots: Dec. 24, 8:15 p.m. ET
So, the Patriots are not going to the playoffs and are looking ahead to next year’s NFL Draft, where a quarterback may be taken. But that doesn’t mean they can’t ruin some playoff hopes.
The Broncos falling to the Lions moved their record to 7-7 on the year, which is 11th in seeding in the AFC. Another loss would be detrimental to Russell Wilson and Sean Payton.
New England is always a tough place to play this time of year, and though Bill Belichick may appear to be Scrooge, he’d love Christmas if a win was involved.
Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson(Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)
The NFL has upheld its punishment for Philadelphia Eagles security chief Dom DiSandro’s sideline altercation with San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw.
DiSandro and Greenlaw were both ejected from a Dec. 3 game, and DiSandro’s appeal of a $100,000 fine and a ban from the sideline for the rest of the regular season was denied, sources told The Associated Press Friday. The Eagles have paid the fine, according to the AP.
DiSandro, known as “Big Dom,” will still be allowed to travel with the team and perform other work-related duties.
The Eagles have already clinched a postseason spot, and DiSandro will be permitted on the sidelines for playoff games.
Philadelphia Eagles security chief Dom DiSandro before a game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field Dec. 18, 2023, in Seattle. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
The incident started after DiSandro pulled Greenlaw off Eagles star receiver DeVonta Smith and shouted at him after a reception in the third quarter of Philadelphia’s 42-19 loss to the 49ers Dec. 3. Greenlaw, who was penalized for unnecessary roughness on the play, popped up and reached over two officials, reaching his hand in DiSandro’s face.
The NFL later fined Greenlaw $10,927 for the unnecessary roughness penalty. DiSandro also was told to leave and walked to the locker room to a rousing ovation from Eagles fans.
A ref breaks up San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw’s altercation with Philadelphia Eagles staff member Dom DiSandro during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia Dec. 3, 2023.(Bill Streicher/USA Today Sports)
The league later sent a memo to teams stressing a policy that states non-player personnel are prohibited from making physical contact, taunting or directing insults to opposing players or officials. The memo also said only game officials or coaches should try to break up altercations. The NFL said any violations could lead to fines or suspensions.
DiSandro met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell as the appeal process played out.
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw (57) has an altercation with Philadelphia Eagles staff member Dom DiSandro during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia Dec. 3, 2023.(Bill Streicher/USA Today Sports)
DiSandro joined the Eagles in 1999 and also serves as a senior adviser to general manager Howie Roseman. The 45-year-old oversees all safety and security matters for players, coaches and executives.
He also directs security at the team’s training complex, is responsible for security measures related to team travel and logistics and provides education on the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
Dorian Finney-Smith of the Brooklyn Nets during the second half of a game against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center Dec. 18, 2023, in Salt Lake City. (Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
“We just hugged,” Finney-Smith said. “A long, long hug. So many questions and stuff that we have. It was very emotional.”
Questions indeed, probably about the fateful day that landed Smith in jail.
Elbert Smith and Diefen McGann each had a handgun Jan. 25, 1995, when they tried to collect a debt from Willie Anderson at an auto body shop. But it all took a wrong turn after Anderson attempted to retrieve McGann’s gun. Smith lunged at Anderson with a knife, causing Anderson to drop the gun. But McGann shot Anderson three times, killing him.
Both were charged with first-degree murder. McGann accepted a plea deal and served five years in prison. Smith declined that same deal, though, since it was McGann who fired the shots. However, Smith was found guilty of second-degree murder and sentenced to 44 years.
Dorian Finney-Smith of the Brooklyn Nets smiles before a game against the Golden State Warriors Dec. 16, 2023, at Chase Center in San Francisco.(Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
But with the help of Finney-Smith’s former team, the Dallas Mavericks, Smith was paroled in July. Although the two remained in contact, their hug marked the first time they touched one another since Finney-Smith was a toddler.
“He’s here for Christmas; that’s what matters. This is the best Christmas gift I’ve ever gotten,” Finney-Smith said. “Besides the births of my kids, this is up there with the best days I’ve ever had.”
“Definitely as an organization we were very supportive of [Finney-Smith] flying back and being there for that special day,” head coach Jacque Vaughn said. “You never know what guys are dealing with when they’re playing on the floor.”
Dorian Finney-Smith of the Brooklyn Nets reacts during the second half of a game against the Toronto Raptors at Barclays Center Nov. 28, 2023, in Brooklyn.(Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Players from the Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts take a knee while Michael Pittman Jr. of the Indianapolis Colts is on the field with an injury at Lucas Oil Stadium Dec. 16, 2023, in Indianapolis.(Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
Pittman lay on the turf for several minutes before walking off on his own, but the hit was enough to give him a concussion. He has since cleared protocol but is questionable this weekend with a shoulder injury.
The Indianapolis Colts wide receiver discussed Kazee’s hit Friday, a tackle he says he doesn’t remember.
“I honestly never saw him coming. I was diving, I caught it, and then, all of a sudden, I woke up and there’s people looking down at me. I was like, ‘Oh, s—, what just happened?” he recalled, via ESPN.
Pittman said he didn’t realize the impact and scary nature of the hit until he saw his wife and daughter crying.
Michael Pittman Jr. of the Indianapolis Colts walks off the field with an injury in a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lucas Oil Stadium Dec. 16, 2023, in Indianapolis.(Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
“I really didn’t grasp how significant it was until I watched it,” he said. “I remember sitting in my locker, and then my wife came in crying, my daughter was crying. And that’s the first time that I was like, ‘Maybe this was bad.'”
Pittman added that Kazee was “headhunting” and it was “not a clean hit.”
“But I don’t think he meant to try to impose a life-changing injury. I don’t think any player has that in them. And you never want to see guys lose games and lose that much money. … He has a family, too, and I know that’s a hefty fine,” Pittman said.
Kazee was fined close to $12,000 earlier this month for a hit on the Cincinnati Bengals’ Irv Smith. It was his fifth fine of the season, his fourth for a tackle.
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., left, collides with Pittsburgh Steelers safety Damontae Kazee Dec. 16, 2023, during a game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.(Robert Scheer/IndyStar/USA Today Network)
In Week 7, Kazee was fined $11,806 for “impermissible use of the helmet,” an infraction he committed again the following week. Another fine was issued that week because of a hit to a defenseless receiver, according to Spotrac.
