Sports
Jayson Tatum’s Possible Return Changes Everything for Boston Celtics
This was supposed to be a down year for the Boston Celtics.
Al Horford, the heart and soul of the Celtics, went to the Warriors in free agency. Kristaps Porzingis was shipped off to the Hawks for virtually nothing. Jrue Holiday was flipped to the Trail Blazers for Anfernee Simons, and even depth pieces like Luke Kornet elected to leave for the Spurs in free agency.
Most importantly, in last season’s Eastern Conference Semifinals, Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles tendon — an injury most would have assumed would sideline him for all of this season.
Fast forward to today, and the Celtics are 34-19 and tied for second place in the East. Jaylen Brown has silenced plenty of haters with an MVP-level season, and head coach Joe Mazzulla continues to prove why he’s one of the best leaders in the NBA.
It’s truly been an incredibly fun season for Celtics fans. This year felt like house money, but now Boston is in position to win the East in what was supposed to be a down season.
I wouldn’t bet on this Celtics team to win the East as they’re currently constructed. I’m not sure I love their trade for Nikola Vucevic, but the move I’m most excited about is the potential return of Jayson Tatum.
Boston continues to say it’s being cautious with Tatum, so if that’s the case, he might be superhuman. Early reports highlighted how quickly Tatum was progressing in his recovery, and now he’s been cleared to practice with the Celtics’ G League affiliate in Maine.
Every rational person assumed Tatum would miss the entire season. He still might be out for the remainder of the year, but it’s starting to look like that won’t be the case. If he’s already able to fully practice, how long before he’s back as a full participant?
The Eastern Conference is completely wide open. You cannot rush Tatum back for the sake of his career, but if he’s able to play, would the Celtics instantly become the favorites again?
Most players need a full year of live action to get their legs back after an Achilles tear, but with how quickly Tatum has recovered, he may simply be an athletic anomaly.
Once again, Boston looks like the smartest organization in the league. They moved off big-money contracts in Porzingis and Holiday, retained an elite core led by arguably the best coach in basketball, and now their top-10 player could return for the playoffs.
Boston is +380 to win the East, and that number feels like it has real value. Revenge against the Knicks would certainly be on the table after last year’s second-round upset, and if James Harden doesn’t mesh in Cleveland, Detroit may be the only true competition.
It might be time to start respecting the Celtics again.
Sports
Former Giants head coach Ray Handley dies
Nov 24, 1991; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Giants head coach Ray Handley on the sideline against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Tampa Stadium. FILE PHOTO; Mandatory Credit: Imagn Images Former New York Giants head coach Ray Handley, who was an assistant coach during two of the team’s Super Bowl titles, died at 81.
The Giants announced Handley’s death on Monday, citing nephew Rob Handley. A cause of death was not disclosed.
He died last week.
Ray Handley joined the Giants in 1984 as an offensive backfield coach under Bill Parcells. He spent seven seasons in that role before being named the head coach by general manager George Young after Parcells initially retired following Super Bowl XXV in 1991.
Handley received the nod after defensive coordinator Bill Belichick left to become the head coach of the Cleveland Browns and receivers coach Tom Coughlin departed to become the head coach at Boston College.
Handley posted a 14-18 record during his two seasons at the helm before being replaced after the 1992 campaign by Dan Reeves.
“He was a very astute mathematician,” Parcells told the New York Post on Monday. “He always assisted me in my clock management, particularly late in the games. He was on top of figuring out how many potential plays an opponent had left, or how many we had left. He always factored in the timeouts and was a good reference on the field under pressure in that regard.”
Handley served as a graduate assistant with his alma mater, Stanford, in 1967 and an assistant coach at Army (1968-69), Stanford again (1971-74, 1979-83) and Air Force (1975-78) before joining the Giants.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reports: Braves, C Jonah Heim agree to 1-year deal
Sep 16, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers pinch hitter Jonah Heim (28) hits a home run during the eighth inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images The Atlanta Braves signed veteran catcher Jonah Heim to a one-year contract, according to multiple media reports.
Heim was with the team on the first day of spring training when pitchers and catchers reported on Tuesday, according to MLB.com.
Heim, 30, was non-tendered by the Texas Rangers last November. The 2023 All-Star and Gold Glove winner played 595 of his 608 career major league games with Texas, posting a .226 batting average and .282 on-base percentage with 68 home runs, 87 doubles and 277 RBIs with the Rangers.
In 2023, he hit a career-best .258 with 18 homers and 95 RBIs in 131 games, leading Texas to its first World Series title over the Arizona Diamondbacks. He hit .212 with three homers and eight RBIs that postseason.
Heim enters Atlanta’s spring training as a likely backup to reigning NL Rookie of the Year Drake Baldwin. Catcher Sean Murphy will miss the start of the season as he recovers from a labral tear in his right hip that prematurely ended his 2025 season.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reports: RHP Aaron Civale joins Athletics on 1-year deal
Chicago Cubs pitcher Aaron Civale (38) pitches in the sixth inning between Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Sept. 20, 2025. Right-hander Aaron Civale and the Athletics agreed to a one-year, $6 million contract, multiple media outlets reported on Tuesday.
Per reports, Civale can earn an additional $1.5 million in incentives.
Civale, 30, posted a 4-9 record with a 4.85 ERA in 23 games (18 starts) last season split between the Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago White Sox and Cubs.
He is 43-44 with a 4.14 ERA in 140 career games (135 starts) with the Cleveland franchise, Tampa Bay Rays, Brewers, White Sox and Cubs.
–Field Level Media
What I Won’t Tell My Friend About Dementia
Former Giants head coach Ray Handley dies
