The Pittsburgh Pirates clinched their first playoff spot in 21 years, beating the Chicago Cubs 2-1 and spraying the Wrigley Field dugout with champagne in the aftermath. The Cincinnati Reds clinched a playoff spot with a 3-2 win over the Mets in 10 innings.
Carlos Beltran ended a 24-game streak without a homer just in time for the playoffs and to eliminate the Washington Nationals from joining them.
Baltimore Orioles 3B Manny Machado suffered a gruesome knee injury as he crossed first base. Machado will get an MRI today to determine how long he'll be out.
The Denver Broncos strolled out to a 20 point lead in the first half as Peyton Manning, Wes Welker and Eric Decker put on an offensive clinic that basically put the Oakland Raiders out of reach. The Raiders ended up taking a 37-21 loss and may have lost their starting QB as well. Terrelle Pyror, who looked pretty good, all things considered, was drilled by Broncos LB Wesley Woodyard and suffered a concussion. His status is unknown at this time.
Wembley Stadium in London wants an NFL team and to host the Super Bowl.
Former Redskin Fred Smoot called RG3 a "brat" and Mike Shanahan a "red lobster."
Ravens WR Jacoby Jones was hit over the head with a champagne bottle by a stripper on a party bus.
Pacman Jones was arrested again last night.
FSU is trying to stop the sale of Jesus Winston shirts.
The NBA may allow players to wear nickname jerseys next season. Ray Allen has his eyes on "Shuttlesworth."
The Minnesota Vikings bought 500 Lynx playoff tickets to give away to fans. The Vikings owners might want to try and save money though, as they face an $84.5 million fine in a fraud case from the 1980s.
FLASHING LIGHTS
Drake confirmed he worked on the upcoming Beyonce album.
Justin Timberlake and his crew covered the Jackson 5's "Shake Your Body" on the BBC. You can stream his upcoming album here.
Troy Ave spit a freestyle on Hot 97.
Kanye West sat down with the BBC's Zane Lowe for an hour about Yeezus, challenging the mainstream and GOOD Music. Here's part one.
Alchemist and Evidence team up as the hip-hop duo Stepbrothers for an upcoming collaboration, due Nov. 19. Here's the first cut from the project, a 13-minute sample-filled production that is well worth the listen.
Chamillionaire isn't happy about the state of the world.
DID YOU REALIZE?
North Korea now has the technology to build nuclear bombs. China reacted by banning certain exports to North Korea out of fear they are developing chemical and biological weapons
Senator Harry Reid says "We will not bow down to Tea Party anarchists," in preparation for a showdown over Obamacare that could shut down the government.
Hillary Clinton says she's still weighing factors for a 2016 Presidential run.
President Obama says he hasn't smoked in six years because, "My wife would kill me."
EVERYTHING I AM
Welcome to the United State's upper-education system.
Over the years, many state-university systems — and even states themselves — have shifted more of their financial aid away from students who need it toward those whose résumés merit it. The share of state aid that’s not based on need has nearly tripled in the last two decades, to 29 percent per full-time student in 2010-11. The stated rationale, of course, is that merit scholarships motivate high-school achievement and keep talented students in state. The consequence, however, is that more aid is helping kids who need it less. Merit metrics like SAT scores tend to closely correlate with family income; about 1 in 5 students from households with income over $250,000 receives merit aid from his or her school. For families making less than $30,000, it’s 1 in 10.
GOTTA HAVE IT
True Master is bringin' that old Wu-Tang sound back.
