After Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton was the beneficiary of a charitable windfall from Buffalo Bills fans, Bengals fans are now paying it forward.
The Blake Bortles Foundation, founded by the Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback, said it has seen roughly $5,000 come in from Bengals fans as a way to thank him for knocking the Pittsburgh Steelers out of the playoffs.
The donations apparently arrived at the suggestion of Cincinnati radio host Mo Egger after a large sum given to Dalton's foundation by Bills fans who were grateful to the Bengals for knocking the Baltimore Ravens out of the playoffs, which allowed the Bills to sneak in.
"Fans are at the core of the football experience and it's truly exciting and rewarding when they band together, regardless of the team they cheer for, to make a positive impact in the lives of others," Bortles said in a statement, via Michael DiRocco of ESPN. "I greatly appreciate the support displayed by Bengals fans and they should know their support will make a difference."
What's next? Maybe Bortles will see even more money from New York Jets fans if he can knock the New England Patriots out of the playoffs this weekend.
Confidence
Fifteen months ago, Justin Thomas had one PGA Tour victory and was No. 35 in the world. Now he's the PGA Tour player of the year, FedEx Cup champion and a major champion who has seven victories.
That his confidence has soared is obvious. What exactly does that mean?
"I don't have the sense of panic," Thomas said. "I know that I don't need to be what I thought I had to be to be in contention. I know that I don't have to go out and play this perfect round. I know that if I shoot 1 under the first round at this tournament, that I still have a chance to win. I know that I'm not going to win every tournament. It's more the fact of the whole body language and the patience thing."
His own example would have been the TPC Boston last year during the FedEx Cup playoffs, and the CJ Cup in South Korea when he was exhausted from a busy fall and squeaked out a playoff victory.
"That to me is more confidence building and reassuring than anything else," he said.
Sharp shooter
Jaden Newman, a 13-year-old guard at Downey Christian (Orlando, Fla.), tied a national record Tuesday by hitting 17 three-pointers in a 115-31 victory over Discovery High School (Alfred, Fla.).
Newman finished with 70 points, and she is averaging 45.7 points a game.
"Right when the game started, I knew I was in the zone," she said during her lunch break Wednesday. "Right off the bat, to start the game, I made an and-one 3. That was the first play of the game. That built my confidence, and I knew I should just keep shooting.
"I felt like I couldn't miss. I just kept making everything."
Newman was 17 of 24 from three-point range, tying the mark currently held by Duke senior Rebecca Greenwell, who also hit 17 three-pointers while playing for Kentucky's Owensboro Catholic.
"I want us to keep winning, and I really want to break the record with 18 threes," Newman said. "Maybe next week in our next game."
Sports quiz
Jo Jo White, who died Tuesday at the age of 71, finished his NBA career with what team?
Sports answer
The Kansas City Kings
Sports on 01/18/2018