This whole New Year’s on Wednesday thing really threw me off. Doesn’t really feel like the weekend already! Whoever scheduled that if you’re reading this make sure to get that cleaned up for next year, thanks! Anyway, great day of sports today including TWO NFL games! We’ve also got more on the Jimmy Butler drama and the story you didn’t know you needed! Who is Thomas Stevens?

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Today’s Trivia🧠

(answer at the bottom of the Stump)

On This Day…

🚲️ On this day in 1887, Thomas Stevens completed the first bicycle trip around the world when he arrived in New York after 2 years and 9 months.

He rode what was called a “penny farthing” and started in San Fran and biked to New York, traveling by boat to Europe. He then traveled through Europe to Constantinople, rested, and got back on the road and then through India, boat to China, bike to East China, boat to South Korea, biked again, boat to Japan, biked from one coast to another, then boat back to California. IN THE 1800’s???? WHAT?

Today’s Stump Story…

🚲️ Thomas Stevens: We’re Doubling Down

Our “on this day” may have given you a preview of Thomas Stevens and how he traveled around the world on the classic version of what little kids ride around on today, but I really wanna dig in on this one.

As I was reading more and more about Thomas Stevens, I sat there and thought, “people need to know about this dude.” I was dumbfounded with what I found. Before I get into the trip, I need to set the scene. Stevens was an Englishmen, who just three years before deciding to cycle around the world, had another idea.

Stevens became the first person to cycle across North America in 1884. He traveled with only a pair of fresh socks and an extra shirt, a bedroll, a tent, and of course, a .38 Smith and Wesson. He rode a Penny Farthing Big-Wheel (pictured above). In total, it took him 103 ½ days to complete his adventure. Now remember, this is before ROADS in some of the country, before highways, all that. He was traveling rocky terrains, rough wagon paths, railroad ways, canal paths, and irregular public roads on an unstable, uncomfortable BIG-WHEELER!

This guy must have been sick because 3 years later he said, “I want more.” Stevens decided to not just do America, but to do the whole gosh darn world. He took off from New York and landed in Liverpool, England, for his first leg of the trip: Europe. He went through France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Slavonia, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Turkey. He then rested in Constantinople while his bike was being fixed. He also required a new and better pistol because BANDITS were threatening him! BANDITS! He went through Anatolia, Armenia, Kurdistan, Iraq, and Iran.

Then he hit a speed bump, he was refused permission to travel across Serbia. So he thought, “I’ll go through Afghanistan”, but alas, he was ejected from that country too. So instead, he went across the Caspian Sea to Baku, through Batoum, and then to India by boat. He went across India, to Honk Kong, and Stevens spoke no Chinese, so no directions were given. He then went to Korea, Japan, and back to the US.

In all, Stevens cycles 13,500 miles. A truly remarkable feat given the time, the equipment, and his lack of world knowledge. Dude was just out there riding, absolute LEGEND.

Quick Hitters

🏈 First Responders Bowl: The show was stolen by North Texas QB Drew Mestemaker, the freshman Walk-On QB who hadn’t started a game at the position since the 9th grade. Mestemaker was the starting safety and punter, but never the QB in high school. With their starter in the portal, the Mean Green turned to Drew. He threw for 393 yards, two touchdowns, and added a 70-yard touchdown run. That run cut the Texas State lead to two points with 1:49 left in the game. Unfortunately, Mestemaker was intercepted with 12 seconds left in the ball game and Texas State held on. Either way, an electric story coming from the First Responders Bowl. Texas State 30, North Texas 28.

🏈 Duke’s Mayo Bowl: Something about Minnesota and winning bowl games… it’s in their DNA. This is the Golden Gophers 8th straight bowl victory. Virginia Tech was badly outmanned with their starting QB in the transfer portal. Minnesota was led by their RB Darius Taylor, who rushed for a buck thirteen and WR Elijah Spencer, who added two touchdowns in the game. Gophers 24, Hokies 10.

🏀 Jimmy Butler SAGA! Well, the cat was already out of the bag, but I think it’s now time to say that the LION is officially out of the ZOO! This thing just got a little bigger! Jimmy Butler has expressed his interest in being anywhere else other than Miami, and after it seemed like Pat Riley was going to keep him in Miami, that has quickly changed. Yesterday the Heat suspended Butler for 7 games for conduct detrimental to the team and said they are open to ALL offers for Jimmy Butler! Looks like he’s played his last game in Miami!

Other News:

• ⚾️ Dodgers sign another player from Korea

• 👮 Track star arrested in Miami

• 👑 LeBron breaks a Jordan record

Top Performers:

• 🏀 CJ McCollum (NOP): 50 BURGER! 10-16 from three!

• 🏈 Lincoln Pare (TX ST): 143 rushing yards, 2 TDs

• 🏀 Victor Wembanyama (SAS): 35 points, 18 rebounds

• 🏀 Evan Mobley (CLE): 34 points, 10 rebounds

Stump Favorites

🏈 North Texas QB throws up after long TD run

🤮 PJ FLECK GETS THE MAYO DUMP

🏀 They’re calling CJ McCollum WHAT?!?!?

💯 Full Scoreboards: MLB, Soccer, PGA, NFL, WNBA, NCAAF, NHL

Today’s Slate

*All times are ET*

🏈 NFL: Browns @ Ravens (4:30 PM on ESPN), Bengals @ Steelers (8:00 PM on ESPN) ; NCAAF: Bahamas Bowl: Buffalo @ Liberty (11:00 AM on ESPN2)

🏀 NBA on NBATV: Knicks @ Bulls (8:00 PM), Hawks @ Clippers (10:30 PM), full schedule

🏀 NCAAW: (1) UCLA @ Indiana (12:00 PM on FOX), full schedule

🏀 NCAAM: (6) Florida @ (10) Kentucky (11:00 PM on ESPN), (23) Arkansas @ (1) Tennessee (1:00 PM on ESPN), (25) Baylor @ (3) Iowa State (2:00 PM on CBS), (15) UCLA @ Nebraska (2:00 PM on FOX), Arizona @ (16) Cincy (2:30 PM on ESPN2), (12) Oklahoma vs (5) Alabama (6:00 PM on SECN), full schedule

🏒 NHL: Rangers @ Capitals (12:00 PM on ABC), full schedule

⚽️ Soccer: EPL: Tottenham vs Newcastle (7:30 AM on USA), AFC Bournemouth vs Everton (10:00 AM on USA), Brighton vs Arsenal (12:30 PM on NBC) ; Serie A: Fiorentina vs Napoli (12:00 PM), full schedule

Trivia Answer:

I don’t know folks, all signs point to Jimmy being OUT as soon as possible, but will his contract expire or will Miami trade him?

Can’t thank you enough for sticking to the end of this thing we call The Daily Stump. If you know anybody who might want this bit of daily sports news in their life, send them this link, it would go a long way. Appreciate the hell out of you all…

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