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MSU Billings baseball team helps expand free-meal event for first responders

Published

2 days ago

December 7, 2025

BILLINGS — First responders across Billings received an unexpected show of gratitude Friday as members of the MSU Billings baseball team joined a local business to hand-deliver free meals to police, fire and EMS crews.

Watch how a small gesture can make a big difference for first responders:

Local business and MSU Billings baseball players give free meals to first responders

What began four years ago as “Topz for Copz,” a small appreciation effort for police officers, has now expanded into the “Red Bite and Blue Give Back,” offering free meals to any on- or off-duty police, fire, sheriff, EMS, or other first responders in Yellowstone County from Topz Sandwich Company.

The event is organized each year by the sandwich shop and Performance Engineering, owned by Billings City Council member Scott Aspenlieder. He said the gesture is meant to recognize the people who often go unthanked but play a vital role in the community.

topz4_2.1.1.jpg — Any first responder could receive a free meal at a Topz Sandwich Company location on Friday.

“Our EMS, our fire, sheriff’s office, police officers, those are the people that really make this community what it is today. They keep us all safe,” said Aspenlieder. “When they do get recognized, sometimes it’s not always in the best light, and we just wanted to show our appreciation for those folks as they work in our community and dedicate their time and their lives.”

Related: Billings businesses show appreciation for law enforcement after taxing year

By early afternoon, the Topz location on King Avenue had already served more than $1,500 worth of free meals. Aspenlieder hoped to top $2,000 by day’s end.

Traditionally, the event has served around 120 first responders. This year, organizers doubled the program’s reach with the help of more than a dozen MSU Billings baseball players who delivered meals directly to stations and worksites.

topz7_2.10.1.jpg — Scott Aspenlieder and Derek Waddoups stand for a photo.

“Coach Waddoups and I coached little guy football together, and we got to talking about how we serve our community,” said Aspenlieder. “I think he’s got a heart to serve our community just like we do, and it was a real natural match for us to really lean in and help our community out.”

The added help came at a busy time for the athletes, who are preparing for finals, but head baseball coach Derek Waddoups said serving the community is core to his program.

“I believe that youth sports should be life lessons, and it should help us build ourselves off the field and in the community, which is what I try to teach my college athletes as well,” said Waddoups. “What I try to get our student athletes to understand is there’s more to a community than baseball or college or anything, and so the way we talk about it is servant leadership, and then be a force for good.”

topz10_2.36.1.jpg — MSU Billings baseball players deliver meals Friday afternoon.

Players packed their cars with meals from Topz Sandwiches and fanned out across the city, making stops at the Yellowstone County Detention Facility, Fire Station 1, City Hall, and the 911 dispatch center.

Seniors Brennen Chappell and Andrew White took their portion to the fire station and were more than willing to assist.

“I enjoy that our coaching staff tries to develop us as people, to be contributing members of society, to just be good people rather than just as baseball players,” said Chappell. “Bringing some food to (first responders) will create some ease and convenience in their life and hopefully bring a little bit of joy to them as well.”

“It’s the least that we can do to be able to go and provide a meal for them,” added White.

topz14_2.38.4.jpg — Four players deliver the meals to Fire Station 1 in Billings.

Chappell, who is a summer wildland firefighter, said he understands the value of a ready-to-eat meal.

“I’ve been on the other end of what we’re doing today,” said Chappell. “How quickly you have to respond to things, having a hot and ready meal that is quality is definitely a game changer.”

At Fire Station 1, Captain Levi Bogunovich said the visit was a welcome surprise.

topz13_2.38.2.jpg — Captain Levi Bogunovich

“I was not expecting it. It’s a good gesture from the community and Topz Sandwich to come support us and bring us some lunch,” said Bogunovich. “It’s a quick little thought from the community that we’re still here, and we appreciate them.”

True to form, firefighters gave back in their own way, sharing their meal with the players and offering them a ride up the fire truck’s aerial ladder and platform.

topz3_1.14.2.jpg — Brennen Chappell and Andrew White take a ride on the fire truck.

Players said the day left a deeper impression than the thrill of the fire-truck ride.

“Service is something that’s always been a key value in my life, and I enjoy just going and helping others,” said White. “I know how much it means to these firefighters to be able to have a meal delivered to them.”

topz12_2.38.1.jpg — Players Andrew White, Brennen Chappell, Jack Nehler, and Lane Seim visit Fire Station 1.

For Waddoups, that lesson is the point.

“If we create the right habits, and I think giving back is one of those, and I call it being a force for good, attitude of gratitude,” said Waddoups. “To be able to give back and say, ‘Hey, we see you,’ even when they don’t think that we do, just that gratitude and that support is awesome from the entire Billings community.”

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David Blitzer, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment

Published

2 minutes ago

December 8, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Influence 125 highlights the most influential sports business figures of the past quarter-century. See the list.

David Blitzer, a longtime Blackstone executive, ranks among the sports industry’s most prolific investors. He joined Josh Harris in launching Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment in 2017. That firm houses their ownership of the New Jersey Devils, Philadelphia 76ers and Crystal Palace F.C., among other assets, and has been a blueprint for sports-focused holding companies that followed. Individually, Blitzer touches two more sports through minority investments in the Cleveland Guardians and Washington Commanders; he has a path to control of the former. He’s bet on emerging leagues, such as League One Volleyball and TGL, and is increasingly powerful at the grassroots level: Blitzer and Harris are the lead investors behind youth sports roll-up Unrivaled Sports.

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Mechanic horrified after finding ‘ridiculous’ item lodged in tire: ‘I was floored’

Published

10 minutes ago

December 8, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Disposable vapes are a health hazard in more ways than one.

There’s nothing worse than an unexpected visit to the mechanic, especially if someone else caused the damage to your car. A Reddit post on the r/Justrolledintotheshop subreddit showed the damage that litter can do to your vehicle.

One mechanic revealed how a single discarded disposable vape caused hundreds of dollars in damage to a car tire. — Photo Credit: Reddit

The photo shows a mangled disposable vape that had become wedged in a tire. “Don’t toss your vape out of the window,” the poster remarked.

It’s not just cars and bikes that are the victims of discarded single-use vapes; the smoking devices are made of lithium-ion batteries, which can explode or catch fire if not discarded safely.

With half a million vapes thrown out in America every day, the risk for unsafe disposal is high. The U.S. Public Interest Research Group estimated that fires caused by disposable vapes in waste facilities cost at least $95 million each year.

Sadly, finding brightly colored disposable vapes scattered around beauty spots is becoming incredibly common. They are a massive eyesore and can also present a choking hazard to pets and local wildlife.

This litter is particularly damaging because it contains plastic, nicotine, and lithium-ion batteries. Harmful chemicals and microplastics that have shed from these devices leach into water supplies and find their way into our food and beverages.

That’s not even to mention the damage that vapes can do to your health. Though touted as a healthier option to smoking, vapes still contain nicotine, which is highly addictive, carcinogenic, and can harm brain development in young people.

If you are a vaper, try to opt for reusable options to cut down on plastic waste, and make sure to recycle any vapes properly.

“I saw one of these in the bucket at my mechanic shop just a couple weeks ago,” another Reddit user commented on the post. “I was floored that one could do that.”

“The vapes that can’t be refilled should be banned, it’s ridiculous,” someone else added.

One person retorted: “Anything ‘disposable’ should be banned.”

Get TCD’s free newsletters for easy tips to save more, waste less, and make smarter choices — and earn up to $5,000 toward clean upgrades in TCD’s exclusive Rewards Club.

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Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier to be arraigned in New York court over sports betting scheme

Published

18 minutes ago

December 8, 2025

Your Sports Nation

NEW YORK (AP) — Miami Heat player Terry Rozier is set to appear in a New York court on charges he helped gamblers placing bets on his performance in NBA games.

The 31-year-old point guard will be formally arraigned in Brooklyn federal court late Monday on federal wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy charges. He’ll also join five other co-defendants and their lawyers for a pre-trial hearing later in the day on the case.

Rozier previously appeared before a federal judge in Orlando on Oct. 23, when prosecutors first announced the indictment.

At the time, he was released with conditions. One of his lawyers, Jim Trusty, denied the charges, saying the Ohio native was “not a gambler” and “looks forward to winning this fight.”

Prosecutors say Rozier conspired with friends to help them win bets on his performance in a March 2023 game when he played for the Charlotte Hornets.

They say he informed the bettors that he intended to leave the game against the New Orleans Pelicans early with a supposed injury, allowing gamblers to place wagers earning them tens of thousands of dollars.

Rozier played the first nine minutes and 36 seconds of the game before leaving, citing a foot issue. He did not play again that season.

More than 30 people have been arrested in connection with the sprawling federal takedown of illegal gambling operations linked to professional sports, including several Mafia figures.

Rozier was one of three current or former NBA players ensnared in the investigation.

Portland Trail Blazers coach and NBA Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups was among a number charged with participating in a scheme to fix high-stakes, Mafia-backed illegal poker games.

Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones has also been charged in that poker scheme, as well as the separate scheme to help gamblers win bets on NBA games that also implicated Rozier.

Billups and Jones pleaded not guilty during their separate arraignments last month. Both Billups and Rozier have been placed on unpaid leave from their team as their court cases play out.

Rozier has earned about $160 million over a 10-year NBA career.

He had been a first round pick for the Boston Celtics in 2015 after starring at the University of Louisville. Charlotte traded him to the Heat last year.

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Follow Philip Marcelo at https://x.com/philmarcelo

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Freshmen getting it done for Central Bucks South | Sports

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26 minutes ago

December 8, 2025

Your Sports Nation

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Honor surprises coach, Santa, veteran, mentor

Published

34 minutes ago

December 8, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Bill Tyler thought he’d been invited to a dinner honoring Jimmy Bogue for Bogue’s contributions to youth sports.

However, Tyler was surprised to learn the honor was really for one of Bogue’s mentors: Tyler himself.

The December surprise was extra appropriate for the Cambridge City resident who portrayed Santa Claus for 40 years at community and private events and at stores that included Richmond’s mall.

The recognition took place during the annual Citizen of the Year dinner on Tuesday, Dec. 9, at Golay Community Center in Cambridge City.

New Day Kiwanis President Nathan Ulerick, a 2019 winner, and 2024 winner Brad Bowman presented a plaque and gift basket to Tyler. The last seven Citizen of the Year recipients currently living in the community select the honoree.

Cambridge City Evening Kiwanis started the award in 1961 to recognize a western Wayne County resident who makes a long-range impact on the community.

Trina Fultz congratulates Bill Tyler after he received Cambridge City’s Citizen of the Year award during a Dec. 9 dinner at Golay Community Center. Photo by Millicent Martin Emery

Tyler’s influence can be felt locally, statewide and nationally. His military service was followed by 31 years as a disabled veterans specialist with Indiana Department of Workforce Development. He served hundreds, possibly thousands, of veterans across the state at offices in communities including Richmond, Connersville, Winchester, Muncie and Portland.

Tyler then worked a few years as a substitute teacher for Western Wayne Schools before fully retiring, but he has influenced countless youth as a coach.

Several of Tyler’s former athletes attended the dinner, sharing the impact that he made on their lives during his decades of developing young players.

“I appreciate the community and all the support over the years,” Tyler said.

Tyler, a Michigan native, lived in Cambridge City in the 1950s as well as Wayne and Dearborn, Michigan, during his youth. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army before returning to civilian life in Dearborn, but enlisted in the Navy in 1966 and became a Seabee.

When he and his family moved to Milton in October 1974 after his honorable discharge from the Navy, Tyler brought a great deal of athletics experience. He was a standout four-sport high school athlete and traveled the world as a softball pitcher during his eight years in the Navy.

Tyler’s Navy career included three tours in Vietnam during the war as well as time in Morocco, Maryland, Guam and Rhode Island.

In 1975, Tyler responded to a knock on the door from a Milton group asking him to coach. That led to coaching football, basketball, wrestling and softball for junior high and high school students at Lincoln, Hagerstown, Tri, Richmond and Northeastern.

Tyler helped develop what became Western Wayne Girls Softball League. He served as league president and coached hundreds of young ladies in league play as well as travel ball, teaching life lessons in winning, sportsmanship and grit. Tyler and friends also helped bring fast-pitch softball to Lincoln.

He also served as a pitching coach at Earlham College for several seasons. He’s currently a coaching volunteer at Tri, where he helped the Titans win regional and semi-state championships and a trip to the state finals.

Angie Siggers said she’s known Tyler since childhood, remembering him as Santa as well as a great person who’s always willing to help.

“He’s always been a part of our family,” Siggers said. “He’s a very special part of our lives … You couldn’t find a better man than him.”

Former softball player Trina Fultz said Tyler has remained a supportive friend, and he was one of the first people to visit her and her new baby when they came home from the hospital.

“He always wants to know what’s going on in your life,” Fultz said.

In retirement, Tyler enjoys spending time with his wife, Diane, their children Cheryl and Kevin, granddaughter, Kinsey, and great-grandson, Grayson.

Tyler’s contributions also were recognized in 2023 when he was named grand marshal of Cambridge City’s Canal Days parade. He was Milton’s 2017 Citizen of the Year.

A version of this article
will appear in the December 10 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.

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Ari Emanuel and Patrick Whitesell, WME-IMG/Endeavor

Published

49 minutes ago

December 8, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Influence 125 highlights the most influential sports business figures of the past quarter-century. See the list.

The 2014 acquisition of IMG Worldwide for $2.4 billion enabled Hollywood super agents Ari Emanuel and Patrick Whitesell to form WME-IMG and, ultimately, turn it into the wide-reaching and influential Endeavor empire. Their acquisition of UFC for $4 billion is one of the industry’s greatest success stories, and at its height, Endeavor had tendrils in everything from athlete representation and event management to youth sports and professional bull riding. Today, Emanuel is executive chair of a leaner WME Group, and at TKO he sits atop the $39 billion parent of UFC and WWE. A newly independent Whitesell acquired WME Football to form player representation agency WIN Sports Group, and he’s separately backed the red-hot Omaha Productions through a new Silver Lake-funded venture.