(WCIV) — Minor league baseball teams have the opportunity to hit a branding home run, thanks to John Oliver. The comedian and TV show host is offering one team a complete rebrand.
On Sunday evening’s episode of “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” on Max, the host said the show is willing to “use all of [their] resources and stupidity” to give one minor league a new name, mascot, and even throwing them a theme night that will be “personalized and bespoke,” Oliver promised.
“We will put just as much time, energy, and resources into this as we do into exposing the dark underbelly of America’s criminal justice system. Arguably more,” Oliver said.
Oliver ended Sunday’s episode with a look at minor league baseball teams and the creative lengths they have to go to generate enough money to pay their expenses.
Some teams resort to wacky names, like the Hub City Spartan Burgers or the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. Other teams, like the Charleston Riverdogs, come up with creative theme nights.
Oliver highlighted how on July 9, 2018, the Riverdogs hosted Helen McGuckin Night at the Joe. The idea was born after the team received a two-star review Google Review from McGuckin that simply said “Just drove by.”
The Riverdogs decided they would try and impress McGuckin and change her rating. Despite making contact with McGuckin and her agreeing to attend the theme night, a scheduling conflict prevented her from being there. The Riverdogs decided to have their office manager pretend to be McGuckin. Oliver emphatically gave them five stars for the idea, and the Riverdogs received Minor League Baseball’s July Promotion of the Month award.
For any minor league team looking for a facelift, the offer comes with only three conditions.
You can’t ask them any questions.
You can’t give them any notes
You must do whatever ideas the show comes up with.
“If we pick you, and you sign our contract, I promise we will rebrand your team into something so spectacular, even Helen McGuckin would love it,” Oliver promised.
One week into the season and Penn State is already making a name for itself, earning two weekly honors.
Sophomore Tayissa Buchanan was named the Big Ten Track Athlete of the Week, whereas Collin Burkhart was named the Big Ten Field Athlete of the Week.
Strong opening week for Collin💪He’s been named the Big Ten Field Athlete of the Week after his win in the weight throw this weekend! #WeAre | #PSUTFpic.twitter.com/cTxzr9Dt1w
— Penn State Track & Field/Cross Country (@PennStateTFXC) December 10, 2025
Tay’s had herself a week! She’s been named Big Ten Track Athlete of the Week for her 2:02.67 to win the 800-meter in Boston this weekend and move into second in school history! #WeAre | #PSUTFpic.twitter.com/X7ZHTqYxSL
— Penn State Track & Field/Cross Country (@PennStateTFXC) December 10, 2025
Buchanan ran the second-fastest 800 meter in school history at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener in Boston, winning the race with a four-second personal best of 2:02.67.
Burkhart also won his respective event last weekend, earning the victory in the men’s weight throw at the Bison Opener, throwing 20.38 meters.
MORE TRACK AND FIELD COVERAGE
Penn State is back on the map ahead of the 2025-26 indoor track season.
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LEXINGTON — After defeating Cal Poly 3-0 in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Volleyball Tournament on Thursday, No. 1 Kentucky will take on No. 3 Creighton in the Elite Eight on Saturday night.
UK takes a 25-match win streak into the Elite 8, its fourth regional final under coach Craig Skinner.
Here’s everything you need to know to keep up with the match from home:
No. 1 seed Kentucky versus No. 3 Creighton will be broadcast live on ESPN2 Saturday from Historic Memorial Coliseum.
Authenticated subscribers can access ESPN2 via TV-connected devices or by going to WatchESPN.com or the WatchESPN app.
Those without cable can access ESPN2 via streaming services, with Fubo offering a free trial.
Buy Kentucky volleyball tickets here
After defeating Cal Poly, UK will play Creighton OR Arizona State in the Lexington Regional Final this weekend. Here’s a look at the tournament schedule:
First and second rounds: Dec. 4-6
Regionals: Dec. 11-14
Semifinals: Dec. 18 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri
Championship: Dec. 21 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri
Dec. 13: Kentucky vs. Creighton (NCAA Tournament Regional Final)
Reach college sports enterprise reporter Payton Titus at ptitus@gannett.com and follow her on X @petitus25. Subscribe to her “Full-court Press” newsletter here for a behind-the-scenes look at how college sports’ biggest stories are impacting Louisville and Kentucky athletics.
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – During commencement exercises today at the University of Miami, 32 Hurricanes student-athletes are set to earn their undergraduate or graduate degrees.
“I am extremely proud to see this group of Hurricanes earns their degrees from the University of Miami,” Vice President/Director of Athletics Dan Radakovich said. “Graduation is a milestone moment for our student-athletes, and I am excited to see where their life’s journey takes them from here.”
Eleven of the University’s athletic programs were represented at today’s commencement, led by the football team with 15 graduates, including ACC Defensive Player of the Year Rueben Bain and ACC Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner Francis Mauigoa. The list also includes two 2025 NCAA individual champions — Devoux Deysel, who won the men’s javelin title and Chiara Pellacani, who captured the 1-meter diving crown.
Three former baseball student-athletes earned degrees, including John Siegler, who lettered under legendary coach Ron Fraser from 1963-65.
Fall 2025 Student-Athlete Graduates
Men’s Basketball Yussif Basa-Ama*
Women’s Basketball Sophia Zulich*
Men’s Diving Max Flory*
Football Rueben Bain, Markel Bell, Wesley Bissainthe, David Blay, Charles Brantley, Andrew Cohen*, Anez Cooper, CJ Daniels*, Carter Davis, Francis Mauigoa, Matthew McCoy, Akheem Mesidor*, Ahmad Moten, Jack Nickel, Ryan Rodriguez*
Soccer Tori Grambo*, Nanaka Inaba, Emma Pidding
Women’s Swimming & Diving Chiara Pellacani
Men’s Tennis Martin Katz
Men’s Track & Field Devoux Deysel*, Solomon Strader*
Women’s Track & Field Jemima Mills*, Deisiane Teixeira*
Volleyball Paula Guersching, Dalia Wilson
Former Student-Athletes Carson Fischer* (baseball), John Siegler (baseball), Greg Veliz (baseball)
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The Kentucky Wildcats look to take another step toward the NCAA Women’s Volleyball final four on Thursday afternoon, as they get set to host the upstart Cal Poly Mustangs.
The Wildcats came into the tournament as one of the favorites to win it all. They finished with the best record in the SEC during the regular season for the ninth year in a row, defeating Auburn, Tennessee and Texas to win the SEC Conference Tournament.
Kentucky has continued to be a strong team in the national tournament. After defeating Wofford in straight sets, the team outlasted UCLA in the second round, winning in four sets. The Wildcats are trying to get back to the regional final for the second year in a row, seeking their first final four appearance since winning it all four years ago.
Cal Poly is trying to write a Cinderella story. Unranked heading into the national tournament, the Mustangs knocked off fifth-seeded BYU in the opening round, before eliminating the No. 4 team in the region, USC, in a five-set thriller last weekend. The Mustangs are in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2007, and the seventh time in program history.
NCAA WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT
Third Round
Cal Poly Mustangs vs. Kentucky Wildcats
When: Thursday, December 11
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Where: Historic Memorial Coliseum (Lexington, Ky.)
QUEENS, N.Y. – The St. John’s track and field team will send 11 student-athletes to the Seahawk Shootout on Friday, Dec. 12. Wagner will host the meet at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex on Staten Island.
Friday’s competition marks the second trip to Ocean Breeze in the last seven days for the Red Storm. Last Saturday, the Johnnies enjoyed a plethora of success both on the track and in the field at the Youree Spence Garcia Invitational.
Nora Haugen highlighted the competition for St. John’s, breaking both the program record and Norwegian national record in the 600 meters with a time of 1 minute, 26.93 seconds. The senior’s time currently sits atop the NCAA across all three divisions.
Along with Haugen, three other Johnnies won their individual events, and both relays crossed the finish line first.
Eleven student-athletes will return to the track and the ring for the second time this indoor season.
Jamora Alves returns to the shot put circle for a second straight weekend, as she is slated to compete in the event. The Guyana native had a second-place showing last weekend
with a toss of 14.40m (47 feet 3 inches). Her teammate, Desiree Pagan, will also return to the ring, competing in the weight throw.
On the track, Attoya Harvey will compete in the mile run. Last weekend, the junior ran a lifetime-best 3:00.41 in the 1,000-meter run to take fourth place and was part of the first-place 4×800 relay.
On the sprints side, Cassandra Lemus-Sodji and Karese Clivesha Kezia Lloyd are slated to make their season debuts in the 60-meter dash. Last indoor season, Lemus-Sodji placed second at the BIG EAST Indoor Track and Field Championship with a personal-best time of 7.50.
Director of Track and Field Aliann Pompey and her squad will break until late January, where they will compete at the Dr. Sander Scorcher at The Nike Track and Field Center at The Armory.
The Kentucky Wildcats volleyball team is on the the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament after a dominant 3-0 win over Cal Poly on Thursday. They move on to face Creighton, who won their match earlier in the day.
It was a true team effort by Kentucky in this one. Lizzie Carr was the star of the game, though. She led the team with 11 kills, and also led them with 6 blocks. Her hit percentage was an impressive .667, topped only by Kennedy Washington who had 7 kills and a .700 hit percentage.
They’re not alone, though. Of course, Brooklyn DeLeye and Eva Hudson were heavily involved with 8 and 9 kills respectively. Kassie O’Brien was terrific again as well, posting 31 assists and 3 blocks.
Big Blue Nation turned out to support the team once again, and they’ll get to celebrate a win. It’s Kentucky’s 25th consecutive victory, and they move on to the Elite Eight. Go Wildcats.
Kentucky closes it out to win 3-0
The Wildcats absolutely dominated set three. They finish it off 25-7 with a Kennedy Washington kill.
Jordyn Dailey block
It’s 19-5 Kentucky as they continue to dominate the third set.
Lizzie Carr gets her tenth kill
Carr is having a career day. Her tenth kill gets the Cats a 15-4 lead.
Highlight: Kentucky makes the lead ten
Cal Poly calls timeout
Kentucky has dominated the third set. They’re on a 8-0 run and lead 13-3.
Kentucky on a 6-0 run
Kassie O’Brien got a block, and then a couple of errors have extended the lead. It’s 11-3 now.
Trinity Ward ace
Cal Poly calls an early timeout after Ward makes it 8-3 Kentucky.
Kennedy Washington again
Washington gets another kill. It’s 6-3 Wildcats in set three.
Kennedy Washington hot in set three
She has a block, and now has a kill to give Kentucky a 4-1 lead.
Brooklyn DeLeye opens up set three
A DeLeye kill gives the Wildcats the first point in the third set. An ace from Molly Tuozzo follows making it 2-0.
Kentucky takes set two, 25-19
Just like set one, the second set ends on an ace. This time it was Molly Tuozzo, who gives Kentucky a 2-0 match lead.
Jordyn Dailey gets a kill
Dailey gets her first point. It’s set point for the Cats.
Highlight: Eva Hudson gets up for a kill
Eva Hudson is heating up
Hudson skies again for a kill. Kentucky leads 21-16.
Lizzie Carr is 7-for-7
Carr is having a huge match so far. Kentucky leads 20-14.
Kassie O’Brien block
The freshman continues to shine. She gets a block here to make it 19-14 Kentucky. Cal Poly calls a timeout.
Eva Hudson smashes another one
Cal Poly tied it at 12, but the Wildcats scored three straight and lead 15-12 at the timeout.
Cal Poly cuts the lead to one
They score back to back points. It’s 12-11 Kentucky.
Eva Hudson kill
It’s 10-7 Kentucky after Hudson gets up high to crush one.
Kentucky takes a 7-5 lead with a 5-0 run
Lizzie Carr spearheaded a big run for the Wildcats, putting Kentucky in front.
Lizzie Carr is having a big match
Carr got points on back to back plays, getting her sixth kill and then a block. Kentucky ties it at 5.
Cal Poly red hot in set two
They lead 5-2 as Kentucky has been a little out of sorts.
Cal Poly opens up set two
The first point goes the other way, and they lead 2-0.
Trinity Ward ace ends set one
The first set is in the books. Kentucky takes set one 25-18, and leads the match 1-0.
Eva Hudson block
Kentucky’s lead has grown to 23-17 now.
Kennedy Washington gets in on the action
Kentucky stretches the lead to 21-17 and Cal Poly calls their second timeout.
Highlight: Lizzie Carr crushes one
Lizzie Carr is on fire
Another kill from Carr, her fifth, puts Kentucky ahead 17-13 and Cal Poly calls timeout.
Kentucky leads at the timeout
The Wildcats have continued to lead so far. However, Cal Poly has stayed close. It’s 15-12 in set one.
Cal Poly closes the gap with a block
It’s 3-11 after a nice block of the Brooklyn DeLeye kill attempt.
Asia Thigpen gets her first kill
Kentucky leads 12-8 after Thigpen crushes one down the line.
Lizzie Carr hot early
Carr has two points in the early part of set one, and the Cats are up 8-6.
Eva Hudson smashes one cross court
It’s her first point of the match and gives Kentucky a 6-3 lead in the first set.
Cal Poly with 2 straight points
They narrow the game to 4-3 with the Cats still in the lead.
Brooklyn DeLeye makes it 2-0
The Wildcats strike first as DeLeye takes advantage of a mis-hit by Cal Poly.
Start time for Kentucky volleyball
The Wildcats will advance to the Elite Eight with a win.
Kentucky vs Cal Poly moved to 3:50
The Wildcats match will start at 3:50 P.M. ET on ESPN2.
