New England hires former Patriots Super Bowl champ Mike Vrabel as its next coach
The New England Patriots have hired Mike Vrabel as their next head coach. The move comes after Patriots owner Robert Kraft fired Jerod Mayo after the team's season finale victory over the Buffalo Bills to finish 4-13 in his lone season as coach. Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich, former Houston Texans offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton and Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson also interviewed for the job. But Vrabel, a fan favorite during eight seasons as a player in New England where he was a member of its first three Super Bowl winners and an inductee into the team's hall of fame in 2023, was the preferred candidate.
No pants? No problem. London subway riders bare their legs to brighten a gray winter day
LONDON (AP) -- Mind the pants. Hundreds of Londoners headed down to the Underground on Sunday afternoon, stripped down to their underwear and travelled around a bit, trying to look as though nothing unusual was going on. As if. This was the Official No Trousers Tube Ride, an annual event with no point other than injecting a little levity into the bleak midwinter. No deep meaning, no bigger motive. The only goal was to be silly, if but for one afternoon.
'Den of Thieves 2' opens at No. 1 as 'Better Man' flops
NEW YORK (AP) -- On a quiet weekend in movie theaters, Lionsgate's "Den of Thieves 2: Pantera" debuted atop the box office with $15.5 million. Sunday's studio estimates came as much of Hollywood's attention was on the wildfires that continue to rage in Los Angeles. Mid-January is often a slow moviegoing period. This weekend's lull was slightly exacerbated by the closures of about 10 theaters in Los Angeles, the country's top box-office market. The Robbie Williams biopic "Better Man," in which the British pop star is portrayed by a CGI chimpanzee, flopped with $1.1 million in ticket sales. The lion's share of box office business went to holiday holdovers including "Mufasa: The Lion King," "Sonic the Hedgehog 3," "Nosferatu" and "Moana 2."
Philadelphia 76ers reportedly reverse course, won't build contentious $1.3B downtown stadium
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- The Philadelphia 76ers have decided not to build a $1.3 billion downtown arena. The surprising move comes just weeks after the team received approval for the contentious project from the city council. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Sunday that multiple council members had confirmed the change in plans. The team has struck a deal with Comcast Spectacor to remain in the city's sports stadium district, the newspaper said, but further details about the new proposal have not been released. The 76ers, the mayor's office and Comcast Spectator -- which owns the Wells Fargo Center, where the team now plays -- did not respond Sunday to requests for comment.
Reality TV star Chase Chrisley accused of slapping a Twin Peaks bar manager in Atlanta
ATLANTA (AP) -- Reality TV star Chase Chrisley is accused of slapping the manager of a popular sports bar in Atlanta after refusing to leave. An Atlanta police report says that Chrisley, who gained fame on the "Chrisley Knows Best" show that featured his parents and close-knit family, was allegedly drunk at a Twin Peaks restaurant on Jan. 6 and refused to leave when asked by the manager. He allegedly slapped the manager twice in the face, including once while he was on the phone with 911. Chrisley left the bar before officers arrived. He was arrested Thursday on suspicion of simple battery and later released on $10,000 bond. His representative didn't immediately respond to an inquiry about the incident Sunday.
Pope Francis baptizes 21 babies in annual ceremony at the Sistine Chapel
VATICAN CITY (AP) -- Pope Francis has baptised 21 babies in the Sistine Chapel on Sunday under the ceiling frescoed by Michelangelo, in what has become an annual tradition that marks the end of the Christmas holiday period at the Vatican. Francis celebrated the Lord's gift of faith to these children, stressing they were the protagonists of the ceremony. "It is important that these children feel well," the pope said. "If they are hungry, feed them so they don't cry. If they feel hot, change them... But let them feel at ease, because today they are in charge and we must serve them with the Sacrament, with prayers." The pontiff personally administered the sacrament of baptism on the infants, who are the children of Vatican employees working at the Holy See.
A young gorilla rescued from aircraft hold recovers at Istanbul zoo
ISTANBUL (AP) -- A young gorilla rescued from a plane's cargo hold is recovering at an Istanbul zoo while wildlife officers consider returning him to his natural habitat. The 5-month-old gorilla was discovered in a box on a Turkish Airlines flight from Nigeria to Thailand last month. After a public competition, he has been named Zeytin, or Olive, and is recuperating at Polonezkoy Zoo. The director of Istanbul nature conservation says it's important to return the gorilla "to an absolutely safe environment." As Istanbul emerges as a major air hub between continents, customs officials have increasingly intercepted illegally traded animals.
Canada's former leader Chrétien has blunt advice for Trump: 'Give your head a shake!'
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) -- President-elect Donald Trump's remark that Canada should become the 51st state has drawn condemnation and a patriotic outburst from a former Canadian prime minister who offered blunt advice to the incoming U.S. leader: "Give your head a shake!" Jean Chrétien, Canada's prime minister from 1993 to 2003, joined a chorus of officials from the northern U.S. neighbor who say Trump's remarks are no longer a joke and may undermine America's closest ally. Chrétien wrote in an article published Saturday in The Globe and Mail newspaper that Canada would never agree to become part of the U.S. He extolled Canadians' love of independence and said Trump's remarks amounted to "totally unacceptable insults and unprecedented threats" to Canadian sovereignty.
CBS' Jim Nantz will reach a rare broadcasting milestone when he calls his 500th NFL game Sunday
Jim Nantz has called many signature events during his nearly 40 years at CBS Sports. Nantz will reach a milestone on Sunday that only a few NFL announcers have accomplished. He will call his 500th NFL game when the Buffalo Bills host the Denver Broncos in an AFC wild-card round game. According to CBS records, Nantz is the first person in CBS' storied NFL history to work 500 games as a play-by-play announcer. Pat Summerall did more than 500 games at CBS, but started as an analyst in 1962 after retiring from playing. He moved to play-by-play midway through the 1974 season.
Biden honors Pope Francis with the Presidential Medal of Freedom
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Joe Biden has honored Pope Francis with the Presidential Medal of Freedom with distinction. It's the highest civilian award given by the president. The citation says the pontiff is "a light of faith, hope, and love that shines brightly across the world." Biden had been scheduled to present the medal to the pope in person on Saturday in Rome on what was to be the final overseas trip of his presidency. But Biden canceled his travel plans so he could monitor the wildfires in California. The White House said Biden bestowed the award to the pope during a phone call in which they also discussed efforts to promote peace and alleviate suffering around the world.