Your morning roundup for Nov. 23, the day we learned Peruvian tap water affects your sexuality. Photo H/T Todd B, via @jbacott. Got any stories or photos for us? Tip your editors.
What we watched: The Austin Rivers show (20 points, 4 boards, 3 assists), and the frightening Doc Rivers death stare that came with every ill-advised shot he took (and made) in Duke's 82-75 win over Michigan last night. On a non-Duke note, though, watch out for Michigan freshman Trey Burke. He kept Michigan in the game at times last night, and quietly put up 17 points and 9 assists. Fun fact of the day: He's best friends with Ohio State's Jared Sullinger.
Elsewhere
Might be time to cut the interviews, then, Mo: "Mariano Rivera, while he waits to find out if he needs a surgical procedure done on his vocal chords, speculated on Tuesday that 2012 could be the final year of his career. ‘I don't know what will happen,' said the Yankees closer, who turns 42 Tuesday and has one year and $15 million remaining on his contract. ‘I have one year left. I might call it over. I will know more in spring training.' Bothered for a month by a condition that has turned his voice into a raspy whisper, Rivera has been to one doctor and Monday will get a second opinion. ‘Every time I talk it gets worse and worse,' Rivera said yesterday at his New Rochelle restaurant, 42 Clubhouse Grill, where his foundation paired with HOPE Community Services to feed 42 children and their families Thanksgiving turkey meals. [NY Post]
BYU and Big East break it off after a few dates: "Brigham Young won't be part of the Big East's westward expansion. Negotiations between the rebuilding conference and BYU have broken off, a person familiar with the talks told The Associated Press. The person spoke Tuesday on condition of anonymity because the conference and school have not been making their talks public. ‘BYU to the Big East is dead. It's not going to happen,' the person said. BYU athletic department spokesman Brett Pyne said in an email that school officials declined a request for comment. The Big East was trying to add BYU as part of its plan to become a 12-team football league. The deal-breaker was television rights. The person says BYU wanted to retain the rights to its home football games and the league could not agree to that." [AP]
Always your No. 1 fan: Matt Kemp's mama is "heartbroken." [@dodger27mom]
Your Dog Chasing Its Own Tail Interlude:
Elway loses the faith (in Kyle Orton): "Kyle Orton's bumpy ride with the Broncos ended Tuesday when the team waived the veteran quarterback 10 games into his third season. Orton, who didn't comment on his departure when contacted, had discussions with Broncos coach John Fox over several weeks before Orton and the team decided it was best for him to be placed on waivers with Tim Tebow having taken over as the starting QB for the rest of the season. ‘He's been an absolute pro and even this year with the trying times going on, he's handled it like a pro,' John Elway, the Broncos' executive vice president of football operations, said in a statement. ‘We just thought it was the best for the Broncos at this time, as well as giving Kyle an opportunity to catch on with another team and showcase his talents there.'" [Denver Post]
Your Jerry Jones Radio Overreaction: "I know how tough these wins are. As you well know, I should know how tough they are. In the NFC, the last 10 representatives of the NFC have been different teams. There hadn't been the same team twice in 10 times. That says all you need to know. And of course, we haven't been one of them, and that really says all you need to know. We had our shots at it. I thought three years ago when we won 13 games, we were knocking on the door. So just like when you get a lead, when you get your opportunity, you better hit that thing and hit it hard. And that's why we have to look at the opportunity we've got out here Thanksgiving Day, and we've got to make sure that we look at it like we're playing in a Super Bowl because these windows of opportunity for these teams to get a chance to compete in the playoffs and get to a Super Bowl, in the league and the system we're in, are precious." [105.3 The Fan, via Dallas Morning News]
Merch: Managing editor Tom Scocca and contributing editor Drew Magary have both written books. You can buy Scocca's Beijing Welcomes You: Unveiling the Capital City of the Future here, and Magary's The Postmortal here. Now do it.
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