Month: February 2025

The New York Yankees announced that manager Aaron Boone has received a two-year contract extension that will take him through the 2027 season.

The Yankees said on November 8th that they would be exercising Boone’s 2025 option, coming just nine days after the club lost the World Series in five games to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Boone said after his option was picked up that he looked forward to “working tirelessly to return the Yankees to the postseason to compete for a world championship.”

Boone, 51, is entering his eighth year as Yankees manager, and is one of three managers in franchise history to lead the Yankees to the postseason in six of his first seven years (joining Casey Stengel and Joe Torre). Boone led the Yankees to a 603-429 record over the last seven years, with his Yankees teams going 22-23 in the postseason during that span — including their 2024 run to the World Series.

The Yankees will host the Tampa Bay Rays in their first spring training game at 1:05 p.m. EDT Friday at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Their regular-season opener will take place March 27 against the Milwaukee Brewers at Yankee Stadium.

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The NBA announced on Thursday that they have issued a 25-game suspension to Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis Jr. for a violation of the league’s anti-drug policy.

Per ESPN’s Shams Charania, Portis tested positive for the opioid pain medication tramadol, a painkiller often used for patients following surgery, which is a controlled substance. He began his suspension Thursday.

Portis’ agent Mark Bartelstein later issued a statement on social media that his client unintentionally took tramadol (was added to the banned substance list last spring) and that an assistant of Portis’ told him the substance was Toradol — a non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drug. Bartelstein wrote: “I am devastated for Bobby right now because he made an honest mistake and the ramifications of it are incredibly significant. Bobby is a great person, teammate and professional, and has a wonderful reputation in our league, his communities and his team. There are no bigger fans of the NBA than Bobby and I, and we are grateful to have closely and collaboratively worked with the NBA on countless occasions. We support the league’s anti-drug policy and its purpose in having a fair, competitive, healthy landscape for our athletes as it relates to drugs of abuse, performance enhancing issues, etc. Bobby Portis is absolutely not a drug abuser.”

Portis, 30, apologized to the Bucks organization and their fans, sharing in his own statement that he used the drug while recovering from an elbow injury and had been using “an NBA-approved medication for pain and inflammation. During that time, I made an honest mistake and took a pain-reducing anti-inflammatory pill that is not approved. I feel horrible and recognize that I’m responsible for what I put in my body. I give everything I have on the court and will terribly miss playing games for the Bucks during this time. I will continue to work hard and be ready for our long playoff run.”

Bucks general manager Jon Horst said in a statement that the team respects the NBA’s suspension, adding that the team supports Portis: “Together we will take this opportunity to grow and will have a better and stronger Bobby and Milwaukee Bucks team. He’s an integral part of who we are, a huge member of the Milwaukee community, and we look forward to his return.”

Portis is a 10-year veteran, and has a player option of $13.4 million in 2025-26. He averaged 13.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game through 46 appearances this season.

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On Tuesday, federal authorities charged seven men, all Chilean nationals, who allegedly burglarized the homes of several professional athletes, including Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Joe Burrow, among others. According to the complaint, the men are part of a South American Theft Group that targeted the pro athletes, stealing more than $2 million of property.

The U.S. Department of Justice said Chilean nationals “were members of a South American Theft Group that burglarized the homes of professional athletes around the country.”  They were identified as: Pablo Zuniga Cartes, 24; Ignacio Zuniga Cartes, 20; Bastian Jimenez Freraut, 27; Jordan Quiroga Sanchez, 22; Bastian Orellano Morales, 23; Alexander Huiaguil Chavez, 24; and Sergio Ortega Cabello, 38.

The named individuals targeted high-profile athletes in the National Football League (NFL) and National Basketball Association (NBA), all of whom were away or playing in professional games at the times of the burglaries. The suspects burglarized the homes of Kansas City Chiefs players Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce in October 2024, taking jewelry, watches, cash and other luxury merchandise, the Justice Department added.

Per the complaint, the burglaries began last October in Kansas City, with jewelry, watches, cash and other valuables were taken from the homes. Later that month, a Tampa Bay Buccaneers player was burglarized; and in early November, a Milwaukee Bucks player (reportedly Bobby Portis) was also burglarized. The complaint includes a photo of four men (one of whom is hiding his face) posing with the stolen goods.  In early December, Burrow’s home was burglarized with about $300,000 worth of designer goods stolen; and 10 days later, a Memphis Grizzlies player had about $1 million worth of luxury goods stolen from his home.

Each man has been charged with conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison, if convicted.

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The Boston Bruins said that defenseman Charlie McAvoy whoe suffered a “significant” shoulder injury during the 4 Nations Face-Off, remains hospitalized with an infection.

McAvoy was first admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital on Monday after the shoulder injury he sustained in Team USA’s tournament-opening win against Finland (6-1) on Thursday, February 13 in Montreal. McAvoy began experiencing increased pain when the team returned to Boston for the next stage of the tournament, and underwent x-rays, MRIs and bloodwork under the supervision of the Bruins’ medical staff and (and was also being being evaluated by Bruins head team physician, Peter Asnis) when he was diagnosed with an infection in his right shoulder.

On Wednesday, the Bruins released an update on McAvoy’s condition, with Dr. Asnis saying that McAvoy was being treated for an infection in his right shoulder, along with the ‘significant injury’ to his AC joint. After an irrigation and debridement procedure Tuesday, McAvoy remains hospitalized where he is being treated with IV antibiotics. Asnis said his condition is improving.

Team USA head coach Mike Sullivan — McAvoy’s father-in-law — spoke about the defenseman’s injury during a press conference: “I’m disappointed for him because first and foremost he’s a great kid and he’s a terrific hockey player. Under all the circumstances he’s in good spirits. I know he’s obviously disappointed he won’t be able to play for a championship.”

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