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Good morning! Skate dangerously today. Inside:
Hi, My Name Is: Your new favorite Olympian
Maybe that’s a bold claim. But you don’t know American figure skater Ilia Malinin yet.
One of the best traditions in any Olympic cycle is how we form fleeting yet intense parasocial relationships with the participating athletes. Some may be personality-focused, while other competitors are purely adored for their skill. Either way, we fall in love with them for the monthlong competition.
Malinin — competing at the U.S. championships this week — should be top of your list, as evidenced by this great story today from Marcus Thompson II. A few nuggets I loved:
- Malinin is nicknamed the “Quad God” due to his exquisite quadruple-rotation jumps. Sweet nickname: ✅
- He’s just 21, but he’s already recorded the three highest free skating scores ever. Elite skill: ✅
- He has a personality befitting a singular athlete. He is not dainty or finesse-focused. He is aggressive and unafraid of defeat. Interesting persona: ✅
Marcus wrote it best:
“In a sport of elegance and artistry, Malinin is a dawg. Colloquial slang in reverence to the most maniacal competitors. Those with the confidence and edge worthy of the highest stakes. Who embrace the possibility of failure in the pursuit of glory. That’s Malinin. It may be masked by his refinement, hidden behind his boyish Christmas-morning smile. But he burns with a fire familiar in GOATs.”
It’s early, but this might be my favorite story of 2026. Make time for this one.
News to Know
Ravens fire Harbaugh in shock move
John Harbaugh is out in Baltimore after 18 seasons, the team announced yesterday. On the macro level, it is a shock — Harbaugh led the Ravens to 12 playoff appearances and a Super Bowl win during his tenure, which was one of the most consistently excellent across the league. He finished with a whimper this year, though, as a Baltimore team we thought might contend for another ring missed the playoffs and finished with an 8-9 record.
Harbaugh, 63, should receive significant interest on the coaching carousel, but it’ll take a while for this move to process, honestly. I highly recommend Jeff Zrebiec’s inside story on why the Ravens felt like it was time for something new.
Washington, QB at odds
Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. announced his intention to enter the transfer portal last night, which isn’t a shocking headline on the surface. But Williams also signed a contract with the Huskies last week, and the school has “no intention” of releasing him from said contract, which Washington contends is binding. Our full report has more details, including more on Washington’s legal strategy.
Elsewhere in the transfer portal:
- Former Texas wide receiver (and Arch Manning roommate) Parker Livingstone is heading to Oklahoma. Juicy.
- South Florida quarterback Byrum Brown, No. 5 on The Athletic’s transfer QB rankings, is following his former coach Alex Golesh to Auburn.
- Missouri defensive end Damon Wilson II, embroiled in a transfer-related lawsuit with his former school Georgia, is back in the portal again.
A’s denied trademarks, again
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office denied, for a second time, trademarks for “Las Vegas Athletics” and “Vegas Athletics” for the MLB franchise, saying the organization lacks the “acquired distinctiveness” to earn the trademarks. It’s another mess in what has been a messy relocation.
More news
Memes: A last laugh for today
So much of the sports news today is grand. Impactful. Stars ascending. Coaches losing jobs. Heavy, at least in a sports sense.
Which is why I got some light enjoyment out of this last night:
Anthony Edwards (and Julius Randle’s son Kyden) were STUNNED at the foul call 😂
🎥 @NBAonNBC | H/T @NoContext_NBA_ pic.twitter.com/Mr3vKmXLVC
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) January 7, 2026
That’s Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards, incredulous at a foul call in Minnesota’s win over the Heat last night. Right behind Edwards is Kyden Randle, son of Wolves forward Julius Randle, reacting the exact same way.
This image will be going platinum in my phone for the next few weeks:
Almost done:
Watch Guide
📺 EPL: Manchester United at Burnley
3:15 p.m. ET on USA Network
This shouldn’t be too close — Burnley is a relegation candidate — but all eyes will be on Man Utd in its first match after Ruben Amorim’s dismissal. Freed captives? Deep malaise? I’m always intrigued by the psychology of these things. Our big story on Amorim’s downfall was really good, too.
📺 NHL: Stars at Capitals
7 p.m. ET on TNT and HBO Max
Both of these teams are just plain good. We’re not surprised about Dallas, but Washington’s persistence is impressive. This story from last month about the Caps “retooling on the fly” is still worth a read.
📺 NBA: Lakers at Spurs
9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
As we’ve said before, any chance to watch Victor Wembanyama play is a treat. Seeing that happen against Luka Dončić and LeBron James is a bonus. Book it.
Get tickets to games like these here.
Pulse Picks
Dominique Wilkins never pushed his son, Jake, into basketball. Yet there Jake is, starring for Georgia — just like his father — and throwing down creative, thunderous dunks — just like his father. I loved this story from Mirin Fader on college basketball’s most interesting father-son legacy pair.
Speaking of basketball legacies: Carmelo Anthony’s son, Kiyan, now plays for Syracuse. Kiyan knows what comes with that reality.
Hit TV show “Heated Rivalry” is everywhere. Can it change hockey culture?
Dom Luszczyszyn is always so good with data, which is evident in his latest NHL Awards watch. Moritz Seider over Cale Makar for the Norris trophy? It’s possible.
Here’s an early look at winners and losers of the college football transfer portal. It’s difficult to keep up, so that’s helpful.
Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: Our story on Steve Kerr’s ejection Monday night. Catch up here.
Most-read on the website yesterday: The Harbaugh news.
📫 That’s all for now! Say hello at thepulse@theathletic.com, and check out our other newsletters.
Correction: We described Unrivaled team Mist Basketball Club as an expansion team yesterday. It is not — Breeze Basketball Club and Hive Basketball Club are. We apologize for the error.