Sports News Roundup: Tennis-Tennis governing bodies aim to combat online abuse of players; Olympics-Jake Paul to mentor US boxers at Paris Olympics and more

The ITF, WTA, AELTC and USTA will use the Threat Matrix service to monitor players' public-facing social media for abusive and threatening content on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and TikTok beginning Jan. 1. Olympics-Jake Paul to mentor US boxers at Paris Olympics Social media celebrity turned pro boxer Jake Paul will help mentor and promote US fighters in the run-up to the 2024 Olympics in Paris, USA Boxing said on Tuesday.

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

NHL roundup: Jackets pile up 9 goals in rout of Sabres

Kirill Marchenko recorded a natural hat trick as the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets scored seven consecutive goals en route to a 9-4 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday. Marchenko needed just 8 minutes, 7 seconds spanning the first and second periods to notch his second career hat trick. He also scored three goals in the Blue Jackets' 4-3 shootout win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Jan. 7 of last season.

Tennis-Tennis governing bodies aim to combat online abuse of players

The major governing bodies of tennis on Wednesday said they will aim to protect their athletes from online abuse by monitoring, reporting and helping to identify who is behind threats and other inappropriate contact. The ITF, WTA, AELTC and USTA will use the Threat Matrix service to monitor players' public-facing social media for abusive and threatening content on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and TikTok beginning Jan. 1.

Olympics-Jake Paul to mentor US boxers at Paris Olympics

Social media celebrity turned pro boxer Jake Paul will help mentor and promote US fighters in the run-up to the 2024 Olympics in Paris, USA Boxing said on Tuesday. Paul will call on his fighting experience and "brand building acumen" to guide the nation's top amateur fighters including Joshua Edwards and Morelle McCane, USA Boxing and Paul's MVP Promotions said in a joint release.

France prepared to change plans on 2024 Olympics opening based on security

France is prepared to move the 2024 Olympic opening ceremony from the River Seine to another location should the security situation require it, President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday. "Given we're professionals, there obviously is a Plan B, Plan C, et cetera," Macron told France 5 television when asked if the security situation - currently marked by heightened alert across Europe over tensions in the Middle East - could thwart plans to hold the ceremony as planned.

Canada's first sport integrity commissioner to resign in early 2024

Sarah-Eve Pelletier, who as Canada's first sport integrity commissioner headed the office that handled complaints about alleged abuse in sport, will resign in early 2024, it was announced on Tuesday. The former artistic swimmer's decision to resign follows the launch and first 18 operational months of Abuse-Free Sport, Canada's first-ever independent safe sport program.

NBA roundup: Ja Morant heroic in debut as Griz edge Pelicans

Ja Morant made a triumphant season debut with 34 points, capped by a game-winning, buzzer-beating layup, as the visiting Memphis Grizzlies rallied to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 115-113 on Tuesday night. Memphis, which trailed by 24 points in the first half and by 14 in the fourth quarter, took a timeout with the score tied at 113-113 and 10 seconds left to set up a play for Morant. The two-time All-Star drove to the basket and hit an off-balance jumper to end the Pelicans' four-game winning streak.

Sport-North American sports leagues doubling down on global plans

The major North American leagues all made strides in expanding their international footprints this year and are poised for further gains in 2024 in the increasingly shrinking global sports marketplace. The NBA, NHL, NFL, MLB and MLS all attracted more eyeballs from overseas than ever before and are eager to make inroads into a variety of regions in the coming years.

NFL-Jets QB Rodgers will not return this season, but expects to play beyond 2024

Four-times National Football League MVP Aaron Rodgers said he has not fully recovered from the Achilles tear he suffered in Week One and will not return this season as the Jets have been eliminated from playoff contention. Rodgers, 40, said that he would have tried to take the field if there was a chance of New York making a postseason push but those hopes ended with the team's 30-0 drubbing by the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

Sport continues to be a catalyst for protest despite misgivings

Sport and politics would ideally never mix but as the world becomes increasingly divided on societal issues, sporting platforms have turned into lightning rods for social activism. Be it athletes or spectators, disobedience or disruption has been the order of the day as they attempt to transcend the boundaries of the arena and convey their views to millions of people worldwide.

Soccer-MLS request to allow reserve teams to play U.S. Open Cup denied

Major League Soccer's (MLS) request to send their reserve teams to participate in the U.S. Open Cup, the country's oldest tournament, was denied by U.S. Soccer on Wednesday. MLS clubs voted to send teams from MLS Next Pro, a lower division developmental league formed two years ago comprising of their reserve players, as the U.S. Open Cup was not a priority and because they wanted to reduce fixture congestion.