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Boxer Paul Bamba Dies Days After WBA Title-Winning Title Fight In New Jersey Boxer Paul Bamba Dies Days After WBA Title-Winning Title Fight In New Jersey
Boxer Paul Bamba Dies Days After WBA Title-Winning Title Fight In New Jersey A champion boxer died less than a week after reaching one of his career's biggest milestones and winning a title fight in Carteret. Paul Bamba has died at the age of 35, according to an Instagram post on Friday, Dec. 27 by his manager and R&B singer Ne-Yo. The cause of his death was unknown. Bamba's death was announced just days after he defeated Rogelio Medina by sixth-round technical knockout (TKO) at the Carteret Performing Arts Center. The victory on Saturday, Dec. 21 gave the World Boxing Association's (WBA) cruiserweight gold belt to Bamba, a Puerto Rico native. "He was a fierce…

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by Chris Spiker
Sports
ESPN Legend Goes Head-To-Head With Dave Portnoy Over Hairline Roast ESPN Legend Goes Head-To-Head With Dave Portnoy Over Hairline Roast
ESPN Legend Goes Head-To-Head With Dave Portnoy Over Hairline Roast ESPN legend Scott Van Pelt wasn’t about to let Barstool Sports CEO Dave Portnoy get a head start on mocking a college athlete’s hairline. During the Pittsburgh Panthers’ Thursday, Dec. 26 game against the Toledo Rockets, Portnoy zeroed in on offensive lineman Ryan Baer’s thinning locks after a grueling six-overtime showdown.  “This 6OT game just blessed us with this hairline,” Portnoy said of the 22-year-old athlete. “How old are college kids again?” The viral tweet racked up 9.6 million views, but Brookeville, MD's Van Pelt—who has embraced his own baldness with pride—wasn’t here for…

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by Cecilia Levine
Sports
Legendary Sportscaster Greg Gumbel Dies At 78 Legendary Sportscaster Greg Gumbel Dies At 78
Legendary Sportscaster Greg Gumbel Dies At 78 Greg Gumbel, a distinguished sports broadcaster renowned for his extensive career with CBS Sports, has died at the age of 78. A cause of death has not yet been released. Gumbel's career spanned several decades, during which he became a familiar and trusted voice in American sports broadcasting.  He was particularly known for his work as a play-by-play announcer for NFL games and as the studio host for the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. His calm demeanor and professionalism endeared him to colleagues and audiences alike. Gumbel's contributions to sports broadcasting were significan…

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by Joe Lombardi
Sports
18-Year-Old Projected To Be First Pick In NHL Draft Now On Worldwide Stage For Team USA 18-Year-Old Projected To Be First Pick In NHL Draft Now On Worldwide Stage For Team USA
18-Year-Old Projected To Be First Pick In NHL Draft Now On Worldwide Stage For Team USA A native New Yorker projected to be the first pick in this year's National Hockey League is displaying his talents on a worldwide stage. Long Island resident James Hagens had two goals and two assists on Thursday, Dec. 26 as Team USA opened play at the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Junior Championships with a 10-4 win over Germany in front of over 13,000 fans in Ottawa, Ontario. Hagens' second goal, which he fired in from the slot, gave Team USA a 4-2 lead with six minutes to go in the second period. Hagens, who plays center, had the primary assist on the team's sec…

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by Joe Lombardi
Sports
Livvy Dunne Cheers On NJ Devils During Holiday Visit Home Livvy Dunne Cheers On NJ Devils During Holiday Visit Home
Livvy Dunne Cheers On NJ Devils During Holiday Visit Home Livvy Dunne is home for the holidays—and cheering on the New Jersey Devils. The LSU gymnast and social media star was spotted at the Prudential Center in Newark on Monday, Dec. 23, supporting the Devils as they faced off against the New York Rangers. Dunne, a Hillsdale native who trained at ENA in Paramus growing up, showed love for the Devils on Instagram, sharing a selfie in a team jersey. She shared a video from the stands during the first period. The Devil were clearly inspired by her presence as they crushed their biggest rival 5-0, with Jack Hughes leading the way with two goals.&nbs…

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by Cecilia Levine
Sports
Landmark Deal For FIFA Women’s World Cup Marks First For Netflix Landmark Deal For FIFA Women’s World Cup Marks First For Netflix
Landmark Deal For FIFA Women’s World Cup Marks First For Netflix FIFA has partnered with Netflix to grant the streaming platform exclusive US broadcasting rights for the 2027 and 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup.  This agreement marks the first time Netflix will fully acquire rights to a global sports event, reflecting the growing prominence of women’s soccer. FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the deal as a pivotal step for the sport. “This agreement sends a strong message about the real value of the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the global women’s game,” Infantino said. “Netflix’s commitment underscores the tournament’s importance and helps elevat…

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by Joe Lombardi
Sports
Second Chance, First Class: Ravens Fans Get VIP Treatment At Metlife Following Big Lottery Win Second Chance, First Class: Ravens Fans Get VIP Treatment At Metlife Following Big Lottery Win
Second Chance, First Class: Ravens Fans Get VIP Treatment At Metlife Following Big Lottery Win Some Baltimore Ravens fans were given the second chance of a lifetime courtesy of a Maryland Lottery promotion that gave them a taste of the good life. The lucky winners - Raymond and Debbie Jones from Salisbury, Lenny and Darlene Brown from Woodstock, and Juan Garcia and his daughter Melanie from Riverdale - traveled with the team to the Big Apple to take on the New York Giants over the weekend, where they were treated to lavish hotel accommodations, got to meet some players, and were given $1,000 to splurge in the city. Oh, and the Ravens won the game easily to climb to 9-5 as they c…

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by Zak Failla
Sports
Supporters Of Central Jersey HS Football Coach Battling Cancer Plan Drive-By Event Supporters Of Central Jersey HS Football Coach Battling Cancer Plan Drive-By Event
Supporters Of Central Jersey HS Football Coach Battling Cancer Plan Drive-By Event Freehold is rallying to support a beloved football coach and history teacher battling a rare and aggressive form of cancer. An event called "Coach Mac’s KO Cancer Drive By" will be held in the Freehold Township High School parking lot at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 22. The drive-by was planned to show support for 44-year-old Brian McNamara as he undergoes heavy chemotherapy and radiation treatments. The special parade was organized by a close friend of McNamara's named Lenny. "Everyone has been asking to see Brian, but due to his current treatment schedule and health, this dr…

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by Chris Spiker
Sports
Who Is Hannah Hidalgo? Meet NJ Star Basketball Player Who Knocked No. 2 UConn Down Who Is Hannah Hidalgo? Meet NJ Star Basketball Player Who Knocked No. 2 UConn Down
Who Is Hannah Hidalgo? Meet NJ Star Basketball Player Who Knocked No. 2 UConn Down Thursday, Dec. 12 was a sad night for UConn women's basketball, but a great one for Notre Dame, and New Jersey. The Fighting Irish point guard, who played for Paul VI High School in Haddonfield, NJ, put up 29 points, handing No. 2 UConn its first loss of the season. It was a major upset as No. 8 Notre Dame brought the Huskies down, finishing off the game 79-68. Hidalgo helped the Irish get out to an 11-point halftime lead. Despite a third-quarter push by the Huskies and their star guard Paige Bueckers, the Irish dominated the fourth quarter and earned their third win over an …

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by Cecilia Levine
Sports
'Selfless' Central Jersey Football Coach, Teacher Battling Rare Cancer: Fundraiser 'Selfless' Central Jersey Football Coach, Teacher Battling Rare Cancer: Fundraiser
'Selfless' Central Jersey Football Coach, Teacher Battling Rare Cancer: Fundraiser A beloved Freehold football coach and history teacher is battling an aggressive form of cancer, according to a fundraising campaign. A GoFundMe page said Brian McNamara first thought he was dealing with a sinus infection. After undergoing multiple tests, scans, and biopsies, the 44-year-old was recently diagnosed with a rare head and neck cancer known for rapidly spreading. More than $35,800 has been raised from at least 480 donations as of Monday, Dec. 9. "Brian is a selfless, caring individual who would do anything for others," wrote Diana Petriello, the fundraiser's organizer. …

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by Chris Spiker
Sports
Biggest Player Contract Ever In Sports: NY Yankees' Juan Soto Signs With Rival Mets For $765M Biggest Player Contract Ever In Sports: NY Yankees' Juan Soto Signs With Rival Mets For $765M
Biggest Player Contract Ever In Sports: NY Yankees' Juan Soto Signs With Rival Mets For $765M It's truly one for the books. New York Yankees free agent right fielder Juan Soto has reportedly agreed to a $765 million, 15-year deal to go crosstown and join the rival Mets. It's the largest deal in pro sports history, with no deferred money, a $75 million signing bonus, and an opt-out after five seasons, according to mlb.com. The signing represents a bold move for Mets owner Steve Cohen in his quest to build a championship-caliber team. He outbid not only the Yankees but also Soto's other suitors: the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Toronto Blue Jays. News…

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by Joe Lombardi
Sports
NJ's Woj, Famed NBA Insider, Drops Cancer Diagnosis Bomb: Report NJ's Woj, Famed NBA Insider, Drops Cancer Diagnosis Bomb: Report
NJ's Woj, Famed NBA Insider, Drops Cancer Diagnosis Bomb: Report Adrian Wojnarowski, a Glen Rock resident who became the preeminent NBA insider for ESPN before his shocking retirement in September, revealed to Sports Illustrated he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer earlier this year. In a profile about his retirement, Wojnarowski, known for his "Woj bombs" that altered the NBA landscape, discussed his decision to leave a job that paid him $7.3 million annually to become general manager of the St. Bonaventure college basketball team, making $75,000, living in an apartment above a bar in upstate New York. Last February, blood tests revealed Wojn…

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by Sam Barron