Abbie ParrNEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 21: Michael Beasley #8 of the New York Knicks takes a shot in the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics during their game at Madison Square Garden on December 21, 2017 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)After the latest New York Knicks debacle that was the 2016-2017 season, let's just say hopes weren't high coming into 2017-2018. There's no question it would be a rebuilding year, and with the Vegas win total set at 30.5 prior to the season for NYK, expectations were lower than usual, even with a healthy Kristaps Porzingis running the show.
Fast forward to Christmas weekend and the Knicks are more than halfway to 30 wins and have their sights set on a playoff spot. It's been by far one of the more pleasantly surprising Knicks ..

Dick Enberg, 1935-2017: Legendary broadcaster anchored NBC golf telecasts, 'plucking the right strings'

Charles Barkley recently threw his often-discussed weight behind Democratic senatorial candidate Doug Jones in order to help keep his home state of Alabama from electing Roy Moore. But the Round Mound of Rebound still has love for Republicans when it comes to their new tax plan.
RELATED: Watch things get awkward as Chuck threaten Shaq with a chicken wing
During Thursday night's NBA on TNT coverage, Barkley called the tax cut a “big gift” ahead of the holidays. He also offered this honest — and hilarious — interpretation of how “trickle-down” economics work.
“I'm going to trickle my fat ass down to the jewelry store and get me a new Rolex,” Barkley said with a laugh. “I'm not going to pass it to nobody.”
Merry Christmas to you too, Chuck.
“Thank you, Republicans. I know I can always count on y'all to take care of us rich people, the one-percenters,” Barkley added. “Sorry, poor people. I'm praying for y'all, but y'all ain't got no chance.”
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Some of the biggest stories in golf, and a few obscure ones, comprised our favorite episodes of the year.

Justin Thomas, Golf World's Newsmaker of the Year, showcases a paradigm shift in professional golf, where you're never too young to dominate

PAK CHONG, Thailand (AP) Kiradech Aphibarnrat has withdrawn from an Asian Tour satellite event with a back injury, meaning the Thai golfer will finish the year at No. 49 in the world and earn an invitation to the Masters.

The top 50 in the final world ranking of 2017 earn spots at Augusta National.

Kiradech is No. 51 this week and was projected to move to No. 49 provided he didn’t play. However, he qualified for the Boonchu Ruangkit Championship, named after an esteemed player and pioneer in the development of Thai golf. By adding the tournament, Kiradech would have needed a top-10 finish to secure his spot in the Masters.

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The Asian Development Tour said he withdrew before the first round.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) The Puerto Rico Open won’t be played next year because of the damage from Hurricane Maria. It will be replaced by an unofficial PGA Tour event for players, other athletes and celebrities to help with recovery work.

The PGA Tour and the Puerto Rico Tourism Company said the Puerto Rico Open will return as a 72-hole, official tournament in 2019 and 2020.

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan made the announcement Thursday, saying he hopes the special event in March will help the island rebuild and celebrate Puerto Rico as a golf and travel destination. Tournament organizers hope to raise $500,000.

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The event will be held at TPC Dorado Beach.

The Puerto Rico Open, held opposite a World Golf Championship in March, has been part of the tour schedule for 10 years and has raised $690,000 for charity groups working with children and health issues.

D.A. Points won this year’s tournament.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) Most golfers like short par 3s, but West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice probably wishes No. 18 at the Greenbrier Classic in 2015 was a little longer – 33 yards longer to be exact.

In 2015, Justice’s charity promised fans at the 18th hole $100 for the first hole-in-one and $500 for the second in 2015. Professionals George McNeill and Justin Thomas aced the 137-yard hole, forcing the charity to give almost $200,000 to fans around the green.

The charity took out an insurance policy on the payouts, but a federal appeals court says the policy only covered holes at least 170 yards long.

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Old White Charities Inc. accused the insurer of breach of contract for not covering the payout, but the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected that claim.

Palm Springs city council officially apologized to Crossley Tract residents, promising to remove the trees as soon as possible.

YouraPechkinSnowy view in Carpathian Mountains, winter landscapes series.It’s the Winter Solstice, which, for those of you who aren’t attuned to astrophysics / don’t pray to the ancient Wiccan gods, means today is the shortest day of the year. Well, that’s actually wrong — the day’s still 24 hours long, but those 24 hours contain the year’s least amount of daylight, so people say “shortest” because they like to be intentionally confusing, and I’m not sure all this math holds true in places like Antarctica or Iceland anyway. You know what, it’s gonna get dark fast, let’s just leave it at that.
But even with scant daylight, the day doesn’t have to be a total waste! Here are some fine suggestions for how to spend the shortest and most depressing day of the year. (Ha! Just kidding, 2017 provided at least 175 Most Depressing Days of the Year, but this one is definitely the darkest.)
• Tell your wife that sure, you would be happy to spend the day shopping with her, then chuckle smugly to you..