Sarni's Scrolls: "Real'' news from Fox?

By Jim Sarni

Charissa Thompson said she made up stuff when she was a sideline reporter.
The Fox Sports and Amazon Prime host, who began her career over a decade ago as a sideline reporter, said on a Barstool podcast this week that she would fabricate a report when "the coach wouldn't come out at halftime or it was too late, and I didn't want to screw up the report."
Unbelievable.
But Thompson was only repeating an admission she made in 2022 on her podcast with Fox colleague Erin Andrews, who chimed in that she did the same thing.
Nothing happened to Thompson then.
But now it's a sports media firestorm, with Thompson being called out by a growing chorus of her shocked and angered peers.
"This is absolutely not ok, not the norm and upsetting on so many levels," tweeted Tracy Wolfson, lead sideline reporter for the NFL on CBS.
"I take my job very seriously, I hold myself accountable for all I say. I build trust with coaches and never make something up. I know my fellow reporters do the same."
With her flippant remarks, Thompson has discredited her profession and destroyed her credibility.
She needs to go.
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Las Vegas is doing Formula One Grand Prix its way.
The city that never sleeps has opted against the traditional Sunday in favor of a Saturday night. 10 p.m. local time PST. That's 1 a.m. EST. East Coast viewers can watch after 'SNL" signs off.
Formula One is betting big on the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix, investing nearly $600 million in the race which will occur on a new street track that will include a stretch down the iconic Strip.
Max Verstappen, the best driver in the world, will almost certainly win. The 26-year-old Dutchman has already clinched his third straight F1 championship. He's won a record 17 races this season, including 10 in a row.
So no drama. But quite a spectacle.
ESPN, as it does for all F1 races, will use the UK-based Sky Sports broadcast team. The telecast is commercial-free.
***Corporate money keeps pouring into women's golf.
The LPGA Tour announced its 2024 schedule with over $116 million in prize money and a record 10 regular tournaments offering at least $3 million.
LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan released the schedule at the CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, the season finale that previously announced it will raise its purse to $11 million next year and $4 million going to the winner.

Also: ESPN has signed a two-year agreement with the LPGA in which it will provide featured group coverage on ESPN+ at eight tournaments.

The ESPN deal is significant because LPGA coverage, outside of the majors and select events, is limited to Golf Channel. Those eight events will have 18-hole coverage of two featured groups in the morning and two in the afternoon.

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There's more to watch...■ LPGA Tour Championship, Golf, NBC■ ATP Finals, Tennis Channel ■ Cricket World Cup: India vs. Australia, Sun., 3:30 a.m., ESPN+■ Grey Cup: Montreal vs. Winnipeg, Sun., 6 p.m., CFL+■ NCAA men's and women's soccer, ESPN+■ NCAA Field Hockey, Fri and Sun, ESPNU
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ETC.
■ Travis Kelce is featured on "Fairytale of Philadelphia," off his brother Jason's upcoming charity Christmas album with his group the Philly Specials, "A Philly Special Christmas." Their duet is a remake of the Pogues' "Fairytale of New York " with new lyrics to honor Jason's team.
■ "Next Goal Wins," comedy-drama of Dutch-American soccer coach Thomas Rongen (Michael Fassbender), who is assigned to help the struggling American Samoa national team prepare for the 2014 World Cup, opens Friday.
■ CNBC News Special: "Inside Track: The Business of Formula One." Sara Eisen reports.
■ MLB owners approved the Oakland A's move to Las Vegas.
■ Rules changes: MLB wants to shorten pitch clock from 20 to 18 with runners on base... NHL wants more offense in overtime.
■ NBA commissioner Adam Silver said he's thinking of potential franchises in Mexico City and Montreal, as well as a return to Vancouver. That's after probable expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle.
■ Netflix is considering bidding for the NBA's In-Season Tournament.
■ Warren Buffett bought a stake in the Atlanta Braves... Atlanta will host the 2025 All-Star Game.
■ James Madison was denied its request for a bowl waiver... again.
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■ The Tiger Woods-Rory McIlroy TGL virtual golf venue in Palm Beach Gardens was damaged in a roof collapse due to an overnight power outage. The league is scheduled to debut on Jan. 9... McIlroy plans to move his primary residence to London.
■ The Little Vegas Chapel is offering an F1-themed wedding package called "Race to the Altar" for $175.
■ Nick Kyrgios drew raves for his debut on The Tennis Channel -- "The makings of insightful pundit" -- in stark contrast to his mouthy bad boy image on the court.
■ LSU has a multi-million dollar deal with Nike, but some of the biggest stars such as Angel Reese and Hailey Van Lith have signed with other brands.
■ Manchester City spent more on player salaries last season than any team in British soccer history, paying out more than $500,000.
■ Terry Taylor, the first female sports editor at the Associated Press (1992-2013), passed away at 71.
■ Jason Aidoo will succeed Raina Kelly as boss of ESPN's "Andscape" site devoted to the intersection of Black culture and sports, according to Front Office Sports.
■ North Face has an interesting CGI ad campaign on Big Ben.
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■ Jimmy Kimmel will host the Academy Awards for the fourth time. March 10, 2024.
■ Books: Justin Torres won the National Book Award for "Blackouts," his novel about erasure and queer history... Amazon's Book of the Year: "The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store" by James McBride.
■ Three in 10 U.S. adults still get their news from Facebook.
■ John Cena will host a talk series "What Drives You" for Roku: Cena and his celebrity friends hit the road in his guests' favorite vehicles.
■ Former "Sports Illustrated" writer Rick Reilly penned an Opinion piece for the Washington Post: "How I Got Hooked On 'The Golden Bachelor'."
■ NWSL champion Gotham FC rang the NASDAQ Opening Bell.
■ Boyz II Men has created a new version of Chili's iconic Baby Back Ribs jingle.

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THEY SAID IT
■ "We know what we have. There's one ball and four good motherf---ers. And we understand that." -- Los Angeles Clippers guard Paul George.
■ "If I listen to you guys, I may as well call it a year." -- Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo calling out media for his team's 1-2 start.
■ "How fortuitous for Earth." -- Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel after two days of record-setting rainfall in South Florida.
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Jim Sarni, BC Class of '69, is a former sportswriter for The Boston Globe and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. He resides in Fort Lauderdale and watches a lot of television. If you have a comment or an opinion, we'd love to hear from you Jksarni@aol.com

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