Best Sports Stuff Right Now: Pioneers, Friendship Goals and Love Is Back

The onset of bowl season marks arguably the best time of year for sports fans.

Not only do bowl games signify the march to the College Football Playoff, they offer farewell to the collegiate season and the year itself.

Alongside bowl season, the NFL playoff race heats up, the NBA keeps throwing down and news and shenanigans from every corner of the sporting realm piles on for one epic offering.

Here's the best sports stuff of the week.

Cleveland's Streak Hits 365 Days

The Cleveland Browns aren't in the playoff race by any means—but that doesn't mean they aren't a team to watch closely every time they suit up.

As the above notes, the Browns haven't won much and a whole lot has happened during the drought.

Starting in Week 15, Cleveland has three more chances to avoid making terrible history. A trip to play the Buffalo Bills, hosting the San Diego Chargers and visiting the Pittsburgh Steelers is all that remains.

Are the Browns really going to let Johnny Manziel be the last guy to win a game for the team?

Josh Norman Revenge Game

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

Remember the ugly split between Josh Norman and the Carolina Panthers?

Norman gets a shot at revenge in Week 15 as a member of the Washington Redskins. Carolina won't say anything to incite Norman in the week leading up to the game, and shouldn't, after looking foolish for letting the star corner go.

Norman? He's having fun with it, per a tweet by reporter Mike Garafolo: "Asked Josh Norman how long until he turns focus to Panthers. He smiled. 'Already there. This will be a fun week. They know what time it is.'"

Best of all, this one goes down on Monday Night Football.

NBA Future Showcase

A nice showcase of the NBA's future goes down Friday, Dec. 16 at 8 p.m. ET.

There, Joel Embiid's Philadelphia 76ers will clash with D'Angelo Russell, Julius Randle and the rest of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Both have surprised so far. Embiid has the 76ers in playoff position at six wins while leading the team in scoring. The Lakers have come out of nowhere to also sit in a playoff slot at 10 wins while providing an entertaining show each time they step on the court.

Which team wins a playoff game first? Hard to say, but Friday will give a hint at an answer.

Premier AFC Showdown Takes Center Stage

Charles Krupa/Associated Press

Speaking of dynamite NFL games fans will want to catch in Week 15, the Denver Broncos hosting the New England Patriots is a pretty big deal.

This one won't have Peyton Manning against Tom Brady, but it does feature some of the most significant playoff implications of the season. 

After all, Denver is only third in the AFC West at 8-5 and has lost two of three. Things aren't as dire for the AFC East-leading Patriots, winners of four in a row.

In other words, Brady smells blood in a hostile environment. Time to have some fun.

James Conner's Story

It's hard not to talk about Pittsburgh running back James Conner.

As a junior, Conner rushed 208 times for 1,060 yards and 16 touchdowns on a 5.1 per-carry average.

But this isn't any ordinary story, as the above points out. Conner discovered his setback while recovering from a knee injury in 2015.

Since then, he's gone on to pen one of the most amazing stories of the year.

Rams Coaching Search Takes an Odd Turn

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

The Los Angeles Rams would like to have Pete Carroll as their next head coach.

This is obviously a problem seeing as Carroll coaches the Seattle Seahawks. Alas, after the Rams fired Jeff Fisher, an interesting rumor popped up from Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson, stressing just how much the Rams would love to steal Carroll from the Seahawks:

"

How big? Multiple sources with insight into the earliest stages of the Rams coaching search said there is a monster name that intrigues the power brokers inside the franchise: the Seattle Seahawks’ Pete Carroll. The same Pete Carroll who faces the Rams on Thursday night. The same Pete Carroll who resides inside the NFC West. And the same Pete Carroll who is under contract with Seattle through the 2019 season.

"

The report goes on to say the Rams might just go ahead and express interest.

This NFC West rivalry just got a little more interesting, folks.

Bowl Season Begins

Gregory Bull/Associated Press

There isn't anything quite like college football's bowl season.

Saturday offers a five-game slate, the full schedule and television info available here.

Of note, Appalachian State is back in the spotlight against Toledo. Houston and San Diego State have the firepower to help create one of the season's best games.

Best of all, the weekend slate gives way to a game every single day of the week. Good times.

Dirk Nowitzki Has Lofty Praise for Kristaps Porzingis

When Dirk Nowitzki talks highly of an NBA player, fans would be wise to listen closely.

Now in his 19th season, the future Hall of Famer took the time to praise Kristaps Porzingis of the New York Knicks, which fans can see above.

Porzingis, 7'3" and 240 pounds, does often look like a younger Nowitzki out there and averages 20 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game this season while shooting 45.6 percent from the floor and 38.1 percent from deep.

Oh, and Porzingis has the Knicks flirting with a top-three seed in the Eastern Conference. The rest of the NBA had better heed Nowitzki's warning.

The NBA's New Best Friends

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan are best friends.

When the two aren't slaying on the court together—the Toronto Raptors ranked first in offensive rating after Monday, per Basketball-Reference.com, they're making everyone else in the NBA wish they had similar camaraderie with someone.

Like when Lowry offered DeRozan his hat. Or when Lowry hilariously crashed DeRozan's interview.

Seriously, these two are their own sitcom in every interview, and fans should seek it out as much as possible.

Tim Duncan, the Robot

NBA legend Tim Duncan quietly said farewell last year. It certainly doesn't mean he'll leave the spotlight for good.

Above, fans can see Duncan got a wicked tattoo recently, one showing his inner workings as...robotic.

Honestly, calling Duncan a robot is a compliment, seeing as the guy played in 19 NBA seasons and won five NBA titles. Now he simply looks the part.

Derek Carr Wants to Help Johnny Manziel

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

Fun fact—Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr was selected in the same draft as Johnny Manziel. 

One directs a playoff hopeful, the other isn't in the league.

But ask Carr, selected 36th in the 2014 NFL draft to Manziel's 22nd, and he'd love to help a fellow quarterback. Carr spoke highly of Manziel, who has struggled with off-field issues, during an interview with Peter King of the MMQB:

"

I obviously wish him the best, you know I hope that … hopefully one day he’ll reach out, [I’d] be able to talk to him and be a friend to him.”

“You'd love the chance to help him?” I said.

“Absolutely, man,” Carr said. “Because he’s so talented, so I understand why he was drafted where he was. He could throw, could run, a dynamic athlete, dynamic player. Obviously he just had a little trouble. He’s still young though, so hopefully he'll get another chance someday and he'll be alright.”

"

Some things are more important than football, which Carr demonstrates in exemplary fashion here.

NFL Ditches Pick October

Bill Feig/Associated Press

The NFL broke from the norm recently, allowing players to wear custom cleats during play for a week, provided the cleats were supporting a cause.

Moving forward, the league has decided to readjust its Pink October, broadening the horizons players and teams can reach, according to MMQB.com's Jenny Vrentas:

"

Since 2009, the NFL has dressed up its fields, sidelines and players in pink every October to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer screenings and education in conjunction with the American Cancer Society. Teams were told last week in a league-wide conference call that each club will choose its own cancer cause to support during a three-week window next October.

"

It's another step in the right direction for the NFL, with the diverse league surely containing many people who would love to support various organizations.

Kevin Love Is Back

Matt Slocum/Associated Press

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love often looks like the scapegoat, the punchline for his odd fit with the team and minimal box-score showings, especially in the playoffs. 

Not anymore.

Well, at least right now, as ESPN.com's Zach Lowe pointed out:

"

Psst. Kevin Love is playing almost like Minnesota Love again -- you know, the guy most people in the league considered a top-10 player. He doesn't play as much, but the per-minute numbers this season are similar to peak Love. The Cavs work to get him post touches, and have him do lots of stuff beyond standing in the corner like a glorified James Jones.

"

Good for Love. Many had to know he wouldn't ever match the dominant numbers he posted while the lone superstar with the Minnesota Timberwolves. But it's good to see him playing at such a level on a smaller scale, no longer the odd third wheel.

Besides, the Cavaliers will take any help they can get if they wish to repeat.

The First Female Head Football Coach in the State of Florida

Omar Rawlings/Getty Images

Lakatriona Brunson is the latest trailblazer in the world of sports.

Brunson is the first female head football coach at the high school level in the state of Florida, leading Miami Jackson.

In a stunning profile by ESPNW's D'Arcy Maine, the globe learned of Brunson and the hurdles encountered by her and the team. Brunson herself revealed the motivation:

"

I'm like doing this for a million women out there who probably want to be in my shoes, even 10 million men who want to be in my shoes. So I have to stay firm and stay strong and make it happen. I want to build a program here at Miami Jackson, and I want to go somewhere else and go higher and higher.

"

In a man's sport, Brunson is the latest to break through, and her shining example will hopefully be the first of many.

The Pro Bowl Finally Gets It Right

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

The NFL's Pro Bowl has been the butt of jokes for years.

With big name after big name backing out and trivializing the honor, an odd fantasy-football inspired draft and little to no actual action on the field, some might not notice if the game itself got canceled outright.

The NFL won't do that, of course, and has instead pulled an admirable move out of its hat by listening to the suggestions of many.

In a surprising press release, the league revealed the next Pro Bowl will feature a skills showdown featuring a relay race, passing contest, best-hands contest and...dodgeball.

It should go without saying, but the dodgeball part makes this a must-see affair.