Issue XII – Welcome!
THINGS I’M THANKFUL FOR
Well, for starters, I’m thankful for you and the fact that you read my ramblings every week. I’m also thankful for my supportive family and wonderful husband, who’s always down for my side quests in life. ☺️
I have some big plans and goals on the horizon and lots in store for Her Sports Desk come the new year. Not gonna lie, 2025 has been rough, but I’m determined to make the most out of 2026!
If you celebrate Thanksgiving, I wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving. And if you don’t celebrate, I hope you have a fantastic week!
– jen
In today’s memo:
My Cause, My Cleats
Why are male college football fans going shirtless?
A rookie’s guide to the NHL
and more!
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NFL 🏈
MY CAUSE, MY CLEATS
Photo: Mike DiNovo / USA Today
Back in 2013, then-Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall wore lime-green cleats to raise awareness about mental health. He was fined $10,500 for not wearing league-approved equipment, but his stance started a movement: My Cause, My Cleats week.
Now, during every My Cause, My Cleats week, NFL players swap their standard cleats for custom pairs that spotlight causes and charities close to their hearts—think foundations, research orgs, local nonprofits, you name it.
The players wear the designs in-game, get to talk about their “why,” and later, many pairs are auctioned off to raise money for that cause. It’s player-driven, community-centered, and fully blessed by the league.
This year, more than 1,000 players, coaches, staff, and media members wore custom cleats and shoes that represented the causes they support off the field. For many, the organizations they represent have had a direct impact on them, either as kids or at one point throughout their careers.
I love this initiative because even if these cleats are worn once a year, the charities and causes are ongoing, and many organizations see a boost in donations in the weeks that follow.
If you want to see who’s behind what, you can check out the complete database HERE.
Week 12 Scores
THUR, Nov 20
Houston Texans (6-5) 23, Buffalo Bills (7-4) 19
SUN, Nov 23
Chicago Bears (8-3) 31, Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5) 28
New England Patriots (10-2) 26, Cincinnati Bengals (3-8) 20
Detroit Lions (7-4) 34, New York Giants (2-10) 27
Green Bay Packers (7-3-1) 23, Minnesota Vikings (4-7) 6
Seattle Seahawks (8-3) 30, Tennessee Titans (1-10) 24
Kansas City Chiefs (6-5) 23, Indianapolis Colts (8-3) 20
Baltimore Ravens (6-5) 23, New York Jets (2-9) 10
Cleveland Browns (3-8) 24, Las Vegas Raiders (2-9) 10
Jacksonville Jaguars (7-4) 27, @ Arizona Cardinals (3-8) 24
Dallas Cowboys (5-5-1) 24, Philadelphia Eagles (8-3) 21
Atlanta Falcons (4-7) 24, New Orleans Saints (2-9) 10
L.A. Rams (9-2) 34, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-5) 7
MON, Nov 24
North Carolina Panthers (6-5) @ San Francisco 49ers (7-4) — 8:15 PM EST, ABC/ESPN
Week 10 Byes: Broncos, Dolphins, Chargers, & Commanders
CFB 🏈
SOMETHING’S GONE VIRAL
Photo: Bryan Terry / The Oklahoman
Back in October, a friendly sibling wager started a viral trend that’s now spreading across college campuses and stadiums. During an Oklahoma State game, Trent Eaton’s sister said she’d give him $10 if he walked to an empty part of the stadium, took off his shirt, and waved it around.
Eaton took that bet. And before long, another male fan joined him. Then another and then another. Before long, hundreds of Oklahoma State fans stood in Section 231, bare-chested, waving their shirts above their heads.
And thanks to the internet, a single $10 sibling dare took off, infecting other male fans to start shirtless sections of their own. The trend has gone so viral that even Pat McAfee is now taking his shirt off at least once during College GameDay segments on Saturday mornings.
Spreading anything viral on a college campus is always risky, but I think it’s safe to say this is one of those things that gets a pass, and it adds another fun element to the game.
NHL 🏒
A ROOKIE’S GUIDE TO HOCKEY
Photo: Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Some of you have asked about professional hockey, and that makes me so happy! Not everyone’s into hockey, and it can feel like a niche sport (kinda like golf or professional rock climbing). But since I know some of you are interested, here goes!
The team map:
The NHL has 32 teams split into two conferences: the East and the West. Each conference then houses two divisions (Atlantic/Metro in the East; Central/Pacific in the West). Of those 32 teams, 7 are based in Canada. You don’t need to memorize all of this – just know that teams mostly battle inside their conferences for playoff spots.
The calendar:
Hockey’s regular season is 82 games long and starts in October and runs through April. Come May, 16 teams (8 from each conference) battle it out in the playoffs with everyone vying for the Stanley Cup. There are four playoff rounds, and each is a best-of-seven series (kinda like MLB).
How a game works:
There are 5 skaters + 1 goalie per team on the ice.
Goals = points. These are accomplished when the hockey puck gets past the goalie and into the net.
Regulation games are 60 minutes long, divided into 3, 20-minute periods. There are also 15-minute intermissions between each period.
Overtime occurs when teams are tied after three periods. To settle the score, a 3-on-3 overtime happens first, then a shootout happens if still tied in the regular season.
Starter vocab:
Rink: The ice surface where the game is played.
Puck: A black rubber disc that players try to shoot into the net.
Face-off: When an official drops the puck between two opposing players to start play.
Checking: Using the body, legally, to stop an opponent with the puck.
Breakaway: When a player has a clear path to the opposing goal with no defenders in between.
Save: When the goalie prevents the puck from entering the net.
Shot: An attempt to score by shooting the puck toward the goal.
Passing: Sending the puck to a teammate.
FANTASY
HEADLINES WITH IMPLICATIONS
Depending on your league, you probably only have a few weeks left to secure your fantasy playoff spot. Here are some headlines that will likely shape how you adjust these last few weeks:
The Las Vegas Raiders fired offensive coordinator Chip Kelly following the team’s loss to the Browns on Sunday. A replacement has yet to be named. This could shake up team morale.
The New York Giants are the first team to be eliminated from playoff contention this season. But don’t bench your starters because they’ll play like they’ve got nothing to lose.
Baker Mayfield (Buccaneers) suffered a shoulder injury in Sunday night’s matchup against the Rams. He didn’t return and is expected to have an MRI today. Play this one by ear.
Aaron Rodgers (Steelers) is expected to return in Week 13. Play him with caution, though, and be prepared for a last-minute swap.
TERMINOLOGY
DEAD-BALL FOUL
The men tend to be dramatic, and sometimes that results in a penalty on the field. A lot of times, this looks like a little extra shove, guys exchanging words, and even taunting (because again, the men can’t help themselves). And when this happens between one play ending and the next snap, it’s called a dead-ball foul. The result? Yardage is either lost or gained before the next snap, depending on which team instigated the foul.