Scoreboard roundup — 2/18/25

(NEW ORLEANS, LA) — The annual Sugar Bowl has been postponed one day in the wake of the truck-ramming attack early Wednesday morning on Bourbon Street that left at least 15 dead and dozens injured.

The suspect was killed after allegedly opening fire on police officers with an assault rifle. The FBI is investigating the attack as an “act of terrorism.”

Law enforcement said the attack occurred at 3:15 a.m. local time, about 16 hours before the Georgia Bulldogs were expected to take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoffs at Caesars Superdome.

There were discussions Wednesday morning about possibly postponing or canceling the Sugar Bowl — a college football game played annually at New Orleans on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day since 1935 — due to the number of resources needed to secure the venue, according to sources briefed on the discussions.

Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams told ABC News Wednesday afternoon that the game, set to kick off Jan. 1 at 7:45 p.m. CT, would be postponed by one day with an official announcement to follow.

Both schools issued statements, offering condolences to the victims and their families.

“We are horrified and saddened by the senseless act of violence that occurred in the early hours of New Year’s Day in New Orleans,” the University of Georgia wrote in a statement on X. “University personnel are working to determine if any UGA students, faculty, staff, alumni or fans were among the victims. We offer our deepest condolences to all the victims and their families, and we stand in solidarity with the New Orleans community.”

“Our prayers are with the family members and loved ones of all those impacted by the terrible attack in New Orleans early this morning,” the Rev. Robert A. Dowd, president of Notre Dame, said in a statement. “We also pray for all those injured and extend our deepest gratitude to the brave first responders who risked their lives to protect others. To be in solidarity with those who suffer is to exemplify the spirit of Notre Dame. Today, we are in solidarity with all those impacted by this tragedy.”

According to the New Orleans Police Department, the attack on Bourbon Street occurred as the department was “staffed 100%” for New Year’s Eve and the Sugar Bowl.

Former New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial told ABC News’ Diane Macedo that he was confident law enforcement could ensure security for the Sugar Bowl and that the expense on people who traveled into town for the game had to be weighed.

“If there is thought to postpone the game for a day or two, one thing that is implicated is you have visitors from Georgia, visitors from Notre Dame, who are there, who have paid to come to New Orleans, who are staying at hotel rooms at some expense to themselves. You’ve got to weigh the impact on them, as well,” he said.

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(NEW YORK) — The New York Yankees’ long-standing policy against facial hair has finally been cut short.

Yankees Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner, the son of legendary Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, shorn back the policy of having no facial hair below the lip, aka no beards, in a statement on Friday morning.

“In recent weeks I have spoken to a large number of former and current Yankees — spanning several eras — to elicit their perspectives on our longstanding facial hair and grooming policy, and I appreciate their earnest and varied feedback,” Hal Steinbrenner said in a statement on X. “These most recent conversations are an extension of ongoing internal dialogue that dates back several years.

He continued, “Ultimately the final decision rests with me, and after great consideration, we will be amending our expectations to allow our players and uniformed personnel to have well-groomed beards moving forward. It is the appropriate time to move beyond the familiar comfort of our former policy.”

George Steinbrenner instituted the policy in 1976, three years after he bought the team, when the fashion of the era saw long hair and unkempt beards became commonplace. Steinbrenner, a former member of the U.S. Air Force, did not agree with the style of the times.

Many players of the era — such as Goose Gossage and Ron Guidry — retained their famous mustaches.

The new policy statement from Hal Steinbrenner did not make it entirely clear what would be allowed as far as long hair.

The facial hair upkeep became a well-known policy for the Yankees with many bearded players debuting a freshly shaved face after signing with the Yankees, or being traded.

One such famous haircut was Johnny Damon. The former Red Sox outfielder who signed with the Yankees before the 2006 season, cut off his shoulder-length hair and years of beard growth to debut a look not seen in many years. Hall of Fame pitcher Randy Johnson, who was traded to the Yankees in 2005, also had to cut off his infamous long locks.

The policy again came into focus this spring training when newcomer Devin Williams shaved his beard for the first day of camp. However, he let the facial hair grow in the days after, leading some to question whether he would be forced to continue to keep a bare face.

Williams, a reliever who was acquired in an offseason trade for fan-favorite Nestor Cortes, told the Newark Star-Ledger, “I feel naked,” after shaving his well-known beard.

He can now let the beard grow free. To an extent.

The Yankees play their first spring training game on Friday against the Rays.

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(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Thursday’s sports events:

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Jazz 126, Pistons 119
Thunder 105, Magic 99
Hornets 114, Wizards 123
Bulls 117, Celtics 108
Nets 101, Raptors 94
Pelicans 113, Rockets 133
Warriors 93, Grizzlies 144
Hawks 126, Spurs 133
Clippers 118, Mavericks 95
Pacers 120, Suns 111
Knicks 133, Timberwolves 107
Nuggets 124, Trail Blazers 126
Lakers 113, Kings 100

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Blues 1, Lightning 3
Devils 2, Blue Jackets 4
Kings 7, Flyers 3
Penguins 5, Predators 4
Kraken 1, Blackhawks 3
Senators 3, Flames 2
Bruins 2, Oilers 3
Canucks 1, Golden Knights 3
Avalanche 4, Sharks 2

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Broncos 27, Chargers 34

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