Every year, dozens of new TV shows debut. It is effectively impossible to catch them all, especially if you want to watch the shows that, you know, have been on for years already and you already enjoy. There were some new shows in 2023 worth your time, though. Finding them can be a little circuitous at times. You may not have every streaming service necessary. Like we said, though, catching everything is impossible these days. Just do what you can, or rather what you feel like.
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The Toronto Marlies have made a trade, picking up additional help up front with the acquisition of a physical winger. The trade deadline may be over in the NHL, but that doesn't mean that the Toronto Maple Leafs organization as a whole is done making moves. Earlier on Friday, the Toronto Marlies acquired physical winger Brandon Baddock from the Rockford Ice Hogs, the AHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks. The Toronto Marlies have made a trade, picking up additional help up front with the acquisition of a physical winger. "The Marlies have added more depth after losing pieces at the NHL trade deadline. Toronto adds Brandon Baddock from Rockford for future considerations. 6-foot-3 physical winger who has 7 points and 86 PIMs in 38 games," per insider Kyle Cushman. Ice Hogs general manager Mark Bernard released the following statement in which he thanked Baddock for his contributions for the franchise and wished him luck in the future. "I want to thank Brandon and his family for all of their contributions on and off the ice during the past two seasons. Brandon and his wife Hannah have made an incredible impact in the Rockford community right from the start of their time here. With the roster constraints we have experienced this season regarding the league's Veteran Rule, I wanted to provide Brandon the opportunity to play night in and night out." Baddock was drafted 161st overall in 2014 by the New Jersey Devils. The Marlies next play the Charlotte Checkers on Saturday.
The sports world is still reacting to the viral confrontation between LeBron James and Stephen A. Smith. James went up to Smith during the Los Angeles Lakers' game against the New York Knicks and asked the longtime ESPN personality to refrain from mentioning his son Bronny. Fans and analysts have fallen on both sides of the discussion. Some have said that James was out of line for criticizing a journalist for talking about a current player, and others feel that Smith has singled out James and his son. One former ESPN host falls in the second category, and he criticized Smith for calling the confrontation "weak." “OK, first of all, it’s not weak,” said former "SportsCenter" anchor Dan Patrick said on Wednesday's edition of his show (h/t Awful Announcing). “Because weak would’ve been tweeting something out. He confronted you. So, that’s not weak. He didn’t push him or anything; there were words exchanged.” Patrick attempted to add more perspective by explaining the rationale behind LeBron wanting to spend one season playing with his son, and how the Lakers have managed things this season. “It’s not like LeBron sent his son to Afghanistan. His son is on the Lakers, acting like he’s the 55th player drafted. He’s a bench player. He goes back and forth to the G League," Patrick said. "It felt like it was over and above what needed to be said. We all understand. Bronny’s not going to be in the league when LeBron retires. He’s just not good enough to play. He can be a G League guy. Should’ve stayed another year at USC, but his dad is probably saying, ‘I don’t know how much longer I’m gonna play. I want to play with you.’ This has been his goal." Patrick also mentioned that Smith seemed to question LeBron's parenting, and that the insinuation about his skills as a father may have led to the nature of the confrontation. "Once he talks about, ‘I’m pleading with you as a father,’ I can’t," LeBron appeared to say while speaking to Richard Jefferson on Saturday night in Boston. The issue appears to be resolved, as James now has bigger issues to deal with after suffering a groin injury in that game against the Celtics. We'll see how things play out, but it's clear that Smith's feelings on the matter aren't the same as everyone else's.
The Pittsburgh Steelers seemed to have two legitimate options for their starting quarterback spot for the 2025 season. Russell Wilson and Justin Fields were brought to Pittsburgh ahead of the 2024 season on bargain deals. Fields started the first six games, but when Wilson returned from a calf injury, he finished the season as the starter. Fields handled the benching like a professional, but it feels like he didn’t take a liking to that decision from Mike Tomlin. The Steelers seemed to be in on Fields for the 2025 season, but he ultimately decided to leave when he received a better offer from the New York Jets. It was clear that the Steelers had faith in his potential, but Fields’ situation in Pittsburgh appeared to be a bit more complicated after the season. With his departure, the Steelers were forced to rethink their quarterback options, possibly shifting their focus to other candidates or adjusting their plans altogether. Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo joined The Pomp And Joe Show on 93.7 The Fan on Friday, where he shared some interesting information about Fields leaving for the Jets. Fittipaldo suggested that the decision came down to the Jets offering a more secure role for Fields, which was something the Steelers couldn’t guarantee him in 2025. This insight added another layer to the quarterback drama that has been unfolding in Pittsburgh, leaving fans wondering what the future holds for the position. "What we know at this point, is I do think the Steelers were caught off guard by Justin Fields leaving to the Jets," Fittipaldo said. "It would have been super simple. That was the first guy that they wanted." Fittipaldo shared something rather interesting about the Steelers being taken aback by the fact that Fields actually left them. It was reported that Tomlin likely expected to secure Fields on a discount, given his situation with the team. For Fields, his first six games in Pittsburgh were the best he had shown as a quarterback in the league, primarily because he protected the football and still managed to flash moments of brilliance. The Steelers saw potential in him but weren’t willing to meet his demands. However, Pittsburgh wasn’t willing to go as far as the Jets were in their offer to Fields, and that’s ultimately why he chose to leave. The situation came as a shock to the Steelers, who probably felt that Fields would be their top option for the 2025 season. Instead, he opted for more guaranteed money and the assurance that he would be the starting quarterback. That, apparently, was something the Steelers weren’t willing to provide him. The Steelers’ inability to guarantee Fields the starting role and secure his future in Pittsburgh ultimately led to his departure. While the team had shown confidence in him, they failed to offer the kind of stability that Fields was looking for, which paved the way for the Jets to make their move. This surprising turn of events left the Steelers reevaluating their quarterback strategy for the 2025 season. Steelers Losing Justin Fields Has Created Massive Uncertainty The Steelers’ first option was Fields, and his departure has created chaos within the organization. As soon as they realized the market for Fields was going to be much higher than they were willing to go, Pittsburgh began considering other quarterback options. Fields’ midseason benching in 2024 actually worked in his favor, as it highlighted his first six starts, which were solid, productive, and, most importantly, demonstrated his ability to protect the football. These performances, especially his flashes of brilliance, kept him fresh in the minds of teams in need of a quarterback, like the Jets. These highlight-reel moments gave the Jets and others the confidence to pursue Fields, knowing he still had untapped potential. Now, with the Steelers seemingly all in on Aaron Rodgers, they face the possibility of missing out on him and being left without a solid quarterback option for 2025. The surprise of Fields leaving has exposed the Steelers’ lack of a backup plan, leaving the team scrambling to reassess their quarterback situation and causing massive uncertainty in the Steel City.
The New York Yankees got devastating news this week when it was revealed that ace Gerrit Cole would miss the entire season because of an elbow injury. However, if you're looking silver linings, the Yankees got great news out of the surgery, Per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com: Gerrit Cole’s UCL surgery included internal bracing, according to the Yankees, which can reduce inflammation and speed recovery time. Generally speaking, this could mean he is closer to a 12-month recovery than if he had the procedure with the traditional method. Given when the injury occurred, there is even a slight chance that Cole could be ready for Opening Day in 2026. For example, Spencer Strider had Tommy John surgery early in the 2024 season and is set to come back by late April of this year. Lucas Giolito of the Red Sox had internal bracing done last spring training and was on track for an Opening Day return this year until he injured his hamstring. The 34-year-old Cole is one of the best pitchers of his era, having gone 153-80 over a 12-year career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Astros and Yankees. A six-time All-Star, Cole won the American League Cy Young Award in 2023 and has won two ERA titles. He dealt with elbow issues last season but returned to go 8-5 in 17 starts as the Yankees won the American League pennant. He pitched just 95 innings for the season, striking out 99. The Yankees will open up the season on March 27 at home against the Milwaukee Brewers.