Less than a week before the start of the 2023-24 NHL season, Diamond Sports Group, the bankrupt operator of Bally Sports Arizona, wants out of its contract to broadcast Arizona Coyotes games.

On Wednesday, Diamond Sports requested in the Southern Texas Bankruptcy Court that its current television contract with the Coyotes be rejected.

Per the court filing: “The Debtors have determined, in their business judgment, that the Coyotes Agreement no longer fits within the Debtors’ long-term plans and should be rejected.”

The filing also states: “The Debtors have discussed the relief requested in this Motion with the Coyotes, and the parties have mutually agreed on this course of action.”

Both sides are awaiting the court’s approval.

The Coyotes were the lone Valley pro sports team still affiliated with Bally Sports Arizona. The Suns, Mercury and Diamondbacks all cut ties with Bally Sports Arizona earlier this year.

Now the Coyotes need a new TV broadcast partner — and fast.

The NHL season begins Oct. 11. Arizona is scheduled to begin its 82-game season on Oct. 13 at the New Jersey Devils.

In July, the Coyotes issued a statement after the Diamondbacks abruptly split with Bally Sports Arizona.

The statement read: “We are fully aware of the developments regarding Bally Sports Arizona. The Arizona Coyotes remain under contract with Bally Sports Arizona and remain hopeful that the network will continue to broadcast our games this season. Nonetheless, we will continue to evaluate all of our options, as needed, and will ensure that our great fans across the Valley are able to watch our games this fall. We will have no further comment until we have news to announce.”

Follow @AZSports

The 2023 NFL season continues this weekend. Here are Week 4’s games and storylines, as well as how to watch them NFL+ streaming servicewhat you can Sign up here. Catch All games in your local market and prime time games during the regular season on NFL+. (All times ET.)

Thursday, October 5th

Chicago Bears at Washington Commanders, 8:15 p.m

Will the Bears finally win a game in the 2023 season? A short week always makes turnover possible, although Washington has reason to be hopeful with QB Sam Howell. Watch this game in prime time on NFL+ Here.

Sunday, October 8th

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Buffalo Bills, 9:30 a.m

The Jaguars won at Wembley Stadium last week and are now looking to make it two wins in a row in London, this time at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium against a Bills team that just picked up a crucial win over Miami. Watch this international game on NFL+ Here.

New Orleans Saints at New England Patriots, 1 p.m

Things are tough in New England right now, but the Patriots can get things back in the right direction with a win over the Saints. If this is your local market game, you can watch it on NFL+ Here.

Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m

Anthony Richardson appears to be the real deal, which is significant for the Colts’ rebuilding project. He will look to start his career with a win against division rival Tennessee. If this is your local market game, you can watch it on NFL+ Here.

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m

Lamar Jackson and the Ravens have a chance to go 3-0 in the AFC North after Week 5, with all three wins coming on the road. That would be important, but it won’t be easy against the arch-rival Steelers either. If this is your local market game, you can watch it on NFL+ Here.

Carolina Panthers at Detroit Lions, 1 p.m

The Lions were last seen on “Thursday Night Football” running circles around longtime division rival Green Bay. What will they do against Bryce Young and Carolina for good measure? If this is your local market game, you can watch it on NFL+ Here.

Houston Texans at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m

CJ Stroud has been arguably the best rookie quarterback in this class so far, and now he’ll face an improved Atlanta defense on the road. If this is your local market game, you can watch it on NFL+ Here.

New York Giants at Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m

The Dolphins had a major disappointment after their 70-point game, only managing 20 and struggling to keep up with the Bills. A struggling Giants squad at home could provide a solution. If this is your local market game, you can watch it on NFL+ Here.

Cincinnati Bengals at Arizona Cardinals, 4:05 p.m

Joe Burrow’s health has been a constant issue for the Bengals this season, but a win over the previously valiant Cardinals team would make that go away (if only temporarily). If this is your local market game, you can watch it on NFL+ Here.

Philadelphia Eagles at Los Angeles Rams, 4:05 p.m

The Eagles are 4-0, but are also far from their standard. That’s probably a good thing, but if they’re not ready for Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua and the Rams, their first loss could be imminent. If this is your local market game, you can watch it on NFL+ Here.

New York Jets at Denver Broncos, 4:25 p.m

The offseason war of words between Sean Payton and the Jets over former Broncos head coach and current New York offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett will finally pay off. If this is your local market game, you can watch it on NFL+ Here.

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Minnesota Vikings, 4:25 p.m

Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs had a tumultuous time in Week 4, but they still won. Now they face Kirk Cousins ​​​​and the Vikings, who just earned their first win of the season. If this is your local market game, you can watch it on NFL+ Here.

Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers, 8:20 p.m

Game of the year? It could be that Dak Prescott leading the Cowboys and their swarming defense against the 49ers could be the best team in the NFL at this early point in the season. Watch this game in prime time on NFL+ Here.

Monday, October 9th

Green Bay Packers at Las Vegas Raiders, 8:15 p.m

Davante Adams faces his former team as the Raiders host the Packers, who are looking to bounce back from a tough loss to the Lions. Watch this game in prime time on NFL+ Here.

On Monday, Jamal Adams returned to the field for the first time in 385 days. The Seattle Seahawks safety lasted a total of nine games before suffering a knee blow to the head and heading to the blue tent.

Adams was then told by the NFL’s independent concussion doctor that he could not return to the game. A frustrated Adams was then seen on the sidelines yelling at the doctor and holding Seahawks staff back.

The NFL, according to Adam Schefter, is considering fining Adams, an ESPN insider reported Wednesday. In other words, the NFL could potentially fine a player who exhibits any of the potential signs of a concussion that the league has listed in its protocol Concussion diagnosis and management protocol.

In Section C of the 2022 PDF, behavior change – “aggressive, agitated, atypically subdued, unusually emotional or fearful, etc.” – is the seventh bullet point for observable signs.

Many people on social media pointed out that the NFL could be setting a precedent by penalizing a player with a concussion if he shows symptoms of a concussion.

Two hours later, Adams released a statement apologizing to the adviser and thanking him for his patience while Adams “wasn’t.” [himself.]”

Adams pursued Daniel Jones and lunged at his legs to take him down. The New York Giants quarterback hit Adams directly in the head with his knee and the 27-year-old remained lying on the grass. As Adams attempted to stand, he showed clear signs of disorientation.

It was a disappointing night for Adams after he played in his first game since recovering from a torn quadriceps tendon in his left leg that he suffered in Week 1 a season ago. With the Seahawks having an early bye, there is optimism that Adams can return for the team’s Week 6 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Ruthy Hebard

Ruthy Hebard’s new job has provided the Fairbanks native with a full circle moment.

The 25-year-old WNBA player has joined the women’s basketball coaching staff at Texas Christian University, where she will reunite with two familiar faces from college and high school.

TCU head coach Mark Campbell was an assistant at the University of Oregon when Hebard was an All-American forward.

TCU Basketball of Operations Jessie Craig was the head coach for the West Valley Wolfpack when Hebard was Alaska’s player of the year.

Hebard’s past, present and future will converge in Fort Worth.

“We are very excited to add someone like Ruthy to our program,” Campbell said in a press release. “She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that will be so valuable for our players.”

The 6-foot-4 Alaskan just wrapped up her fourth season in the WNBA with the Chicago Sky. This summer she became the fastest Alaskan to score 400 points in the league, breaking the previous record by 11 games. In 2021, she won a WNBA title.

“You’ve got young ladies that have dreams of getting to play in the WNBA, and to have someone that is currently doing it, to have them on your staff and to share their experiences and their wisdom, to compete against them and to see what that looks like, you can’t replicate that,” Campbell said.

Fairbanks’ Ruthy Hebard is a 58% career field goal shooter in 95 WNBA games. Photo by Chicago Sky

Her decision to coach means Hebard will not return to Europe for the WNBA offseason.

She had played in Turkey, Italy and Hungary across each of the last three seasons and enjoyed great success overseas, pumping in high scoring games of 34 points in Turkey and 31 points in Hungary.

Hebard averaged 19.3 points on 71% shooting in January of this year for Szekszard of Hungary, where she became the first Alaska woman in 15 years to play in the Euroleague.

Campbell is excited TCU players will have the opportunity to tap into Hebard’s vast experience.

“Ruthy is going to jump in and she’ll train and work out with our kids,” he said.

Campbell was at Oregon from 2016 to 2020, the same stretch Hebard was in Eugene.

She was a four-time All-Pac-12 selection and two-time Katrina McClain Award winner. As a senior, she was a NCAA First Team All-American.

Hebard finished her Oregon career with 2,368 points – the most for a college player from Alaska, woman or man.

Jessie Craig

At West Valley, Hebard’s teams her junior and season seasons went a combined 45-9 under Craig and reached the Class 4A state title game in 2015.

Hebard finished her prep career with 2,227 points, which ranked No. 2 all-time in Alaska when she left (it’s now fifth).

Craig went on to coach her hometown UAF Nanooks before eventually making her way to TCU.

After returning to the top of the podium in Japan, two-time reigning Formula 1 World Drivers’ Champion Max Verstappen has a 177-point lead over his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez with six of 23 laps remaining.

This stunning lead means Verstappen may not even have to wait until the Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday October 8, as he can mathematically secure the championship during the event’s sprint the Saturday before. With 180 points available over the remaining six Grand Prix weekends, Verstappen only needs to collect three points to clinch the title, which he achieves by finishing sixth in the sprint.

Verstappen clinched last year’s title at the Japanese Grand Prix on October 9, 2022, with four races to go, and won the 2021 title in thrilling fashion, beating Lewis Hamilton in the final race and on the final lap at the Abu Grand Prix Dhabi overtook.

F1 Drivers’ Championship 2023

1. Max Verstappen (1), Red Bull Honda RBPT – 400
2. Sergio Perez (11), Red Bull Honda RBPT – 223rd
3. Lewis Hamilton (44), Mercedes – 190
4. Fernando Alonso (14), Aston Martin-Mercedes – 174
5. Carlos Sainz (55), Ferrari – 150
6. Charles Leclerc (16), Ferrari – 135
7. Lando Norris (4), McLaren-Mercedes – 115
8th. George Russell (63), Mercedes – 115
9. Oscar Piastri (81), McLaren-Mercedes – 57
10. Lance Stroll (18), Aston Martin Mercedes – 47
11. Pierre Gasly (10), Alpine Renault – 46
12. Esteban Ocon (31), Alpine Renault – 38
13. Alexander Albon (23), Williams-Mercedes – 21
14. Nico Hülkenberg, (27), Haas Ferrari – 9
15. Valtteri Bottas (77), Alfa Romeo Ferrari – 6
16. Zhou Guanyu (24), Alfa Romeo Ferrari – 4th
17. Yuki Tsunoda (22), AlphaTauri-Honda RBPT – 3rd
18. Kevin Magnussen (20), Haas Ferrari – 3
19. Liam Lawson (40), AlphaTauri-Honda RBPT – 2nd
20. Logan Sargeant (2), Williams Mercedes – 0
21. Nyck De Vries (21), AlphaTauri-Honda RBPT – 0
22. Daniel Ricciardo (3), AlphaTauri-Honda RBPT – 0

Remaining 2023 F1 schedule

Qatar Grand Prix
Lusail International Circuit, Lusail, Qatar
October 8th, 1pm ET

United States Grand Prix
Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas
October 22nd, 3pm ET

Mexico City Grand Prix
Autodoromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Mexico City
October 29, 4 p.m. ET

Sao Paulo Grand Prix
José Carlos Pace Autodrome, Sao Paulo
November 5, 12pm ET

Las Vegas Grand Prix
Las Vegas Strip Street Circuit, Las Vegas
November 19th, 1pm ET

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
November 26, 8 a.m. ET