NEW ORLEANS -- It feels like ancient history now. But there was a time when the Superdome curse was threatening to take its place alongside the Bambino and the Billy Goat.

The New Orleans Saints didn't win a single playoff game in their first 33 years, going 0-for-3 in their iconic home building. And people started to wonder whether it wasn't such a great idea to build the Dome on top of the old Girod Street Cemetery in the early 1970s.

So as Voodoo priestess Ava Kay Jones said in ESPN's latest 30 for 30 podcast, Cursed and Blessed, the Saints decided to "bring in the big guns" before their 2000 wild-card playoff game against the reigning Super Bowl champion St. Louis Rams.

The Saints actually held a Voodoo ritual in the middle of the field to cleanse the Superdome of negative spirits. Jones wore a large boa constrictor around her neck and carried a custom-made Voodoo doll, a gris-gris bag and a bottle of gin while being accompanied by drummers and dancers from the Voodoo Macumba Dance Ensemble.

"We had never won a playoff game. And everybody was like, 'What is it?' Because no one ever wanted to admit it may be the caliber of the football team. So it had to be something else, right?" Saints president Dennis Lauscha said with a laugh. "So we leaned into it. And we worked with [Jazz Fest and Essence Fest producer] Quint Davis, and he found us a Voodoo priestess. And lo and behold, we won."

Indeed, the Saints beat the Rams 31-28 and did it in a fashion that seemed to put the curse on the opposition when Rams receiver Az-Zahir Hakim dropped a punt in the final minutes to secure the win.

"All of our Saints were marching in, let's put it that way," Davis said.

The Saints (10-3) have won six playoff games in the Superdome since, and they're hoping for at least one more this season. They have already clinched the NFC South title as they prepare to host the Indianapolis Colts (6-7) on Monday Night Football (8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN).

Davis has helped produce entertainment for the Saints for years -- including the Monday Night Football performance featuring U2 and Green Day when the Superdome reopened after Hurricane Katrina in 2006.

But even though part of the purpose was to entertain the fans before that 2000 playoff game, he said those involved were deeply serious about the rituals they were performing.

"I do believe in blessings and curses. Not just because of local folklore or anything but because the Bible speaks of blessings and curses. So this concept, I believe, is spiritually and biblically valid," Jones said. "And then growing up in New Orleans, you know, we're always conscious of things from another world."

Voodoo is more than a curiosity for tourists in New Orleans. It is a religion with African and Caribbean roots that is deeply embedded in the city's diverse "gumbo pot" culture.

Jones -- who was part of the inspiration for the Mama Odie character in Disney's animated "The Princess and the Frog," according to directors John Musker and Ron Clements -- is a bit of a gumbo pot herself. Her parents have Native American and French roots. And she called herself a "dyed in the wool Catholic" who is also "very much aware of my New Orleans spiritual heritage."

Brandi Kelley, the owner of Voodoo Authentica in New Orleans' French Quarter, is the one who got Davis and Jones together for the Superdome ceremony. She said the idea was to "honor the spirits that were in the Dome, appease them and give them the acknowledgment that they deserved.

DETROIT -- Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond are both out for the Detroit Pistons on Monday night against the Washington Wizards.

Griffin did not return after halftime when the Pistons won at Houston on Saturday night. He has a sore left knee.

Drummond is out with left eye inflammation. He also missed the game against the Rockets.

Wizards guard Isaiah Thomas was in the starting lineup Monday night after missing five straight games with a calf injury.

Thon Maker and Markieff Morris started for the Pistons instead of Drummond and Griffin.

Sergio Romo has agreed to a one-year deal with the Minnesota Twins, according to multiple reports.

The deal includes a club option and $5 million guaranteed with a chance to earn $10 million. MLB.com was first to report the deal; MLB Network was first to report terms.

The 36-year-old Romo was 2-1 with 20 saves and 60 strikeouts over 60⅓ innings in 65 relief appearances last season for the Miami Marlins and the Twins -- who acquired him, minor league pitcher Chris Vallimont and a player to be named for minor league first baseman Lewin Diaz at the July 31 trade deadline.

The veteran right-hander was acquired by Minnesota to serve as a playoff-tested performer to fortify the back end of its bullpen, and the Twins held off the Cleveland Indians to win their first American League Central title since 2010.

Romo spent the first half of the year as the Marlins' closer, racking up 17 saves to go along with a 3.58 ERA in 37⅔ innings.

Romo won three championships with the San Francisco Giants, closing out the final game of the 2012 World Series in memorable fashion when he froze Miguel Cabrera on a down-the-middle fastball. In 25⅓ career playoff innings, Romo has a 3.55 ERA.

Romo was drafted by the Giants in 2005 and worked his way up the team's minor league system before landing in the big leagues in 2008.

ST. LOUIS – A unique partnership will see Clinton Boyles partner with RMS Racing to take part in the Gateway Dirt Nationals this weekend inside The Dome at America’s Center.

Boyles will drive for the Dave and Matt Estep-led operation for the second time this season, making his first appearance as a driver in the invitation-only event after Ronnie Gardner had to decline his invite.

That opened up a hole in the event roster, while the Esteps were looking for a driver for the weekend and Boyles was eager to accommodate.

“I actually went into a CSI Shocks about three days ago and was talking to Ronnie Gardner in there, and Ronnie was invited to go run at Gateway, but he said to me, ‘man, I’m not gonna make it. I’ve got this going on and that going on.’ So I realized that there was kind of an open entry there, possibly, so I got up with Dave and Matt and talked to them, and they said they had a car if I could come up with an engine.”

Enter RAMS Racing and driver Justin Grant, who aided in checking the engine requirement off for Boyles.

“I went back and talked to Justin, who’s been a good buddy of mine for a while, along with Rick (Young) and Jeff Taylor. And they were like, well, ‘we’ve got an extra engine; you can use it,’” Boyles explained. “So the two teams (RAMS and RMS) kind of came together to help out and make it possible. After that, I just called up the guys over at the Dome and asked if coming there would be a possibility, and they said they would love to have me.

“A lot of puzzle pieces fell together to make this deal happen, but I’m super excited for it.”

A similarly-unique set of circumstances led to Boyles’ first run with RMS over the summer, when he competed in a Summer Midget Series event at Jacksonville (Ill.) Speedway in August, as well as a Badger Midget Auto Racing Ass’n event at Illinois’ Sycamore Speedway prior to the Knoxville Nationals.

“That was just a deal where T-Mez (Thomas Meseraull) had a conflict and couldn’t run those couple of nights at the beginning of August, and I happened to be running Gas City (I-69 Speedway) right before those two races and he came up to me and said that RMS ought to put me in the car since he couldn’t be there,” Boyles recalled. “Sure enough, that’s exactly what happened, and we had a good bit of fun running those two races together.

“Hopefully now we can go out, have more fun and put on a good show this weekend at The Dome.”

After parting ways with car owner Paul Hazen – who fielded his Gas City sprint car ride – late in the season, Boyles has spent the last two months actively staying around the race track and working every angle in order to stay in the driver’s seat.

In a way, his deal for Gateway is a microcosm of his entire year across the board, Boyles noted.

“Man, ever since the deal happened that the No. 57 team and I went different directions, I’ve made a lot of phone calls and talked to a lot of people, and I’m just lucky enough to have a lot of people come forward and help me out,” said Boyles. “A lot of people have given me opportunities, whether it’s been Paul or Rick and Jeff … the RAMS Racing and Rockwell Security guys, or Dave and Matt Estep and their whole team at RMS. A lot of people have just really believed in me, and that means a lot.

“I’d like to think we’re kind of doing the right things and getting out there to where people believe in me (consistently) to put me in a race car. In the end, that’s what keeps guys like me going.”

Boyles was in attendance last winter, during the inaugural appearance of midgets inside The Dome, serving as a crew member for Sammy Swindell at the Gateway event.

This time Boyles returns as a driver, and even though it’s a one-off deal, the Brownsburg, Ind., driver said he’s still keeping the pressure on himself to go out and perform this weekend.

“I hold myself to a pretty high standard, and maybe from the team side of it, they’re putting zero pressure on me, but I put a ton of pressure on myself and being in the level of equipment that these guys are giving me, I expect myself to go out and compete at the highest level with everyone,” Boyles said. “From my standpoint, I expect myself to go run well, and getting rides after this is going to come from running well. If you want to step up and find a major deal full time for the summer, you’re going to have to go run strong in these one-off opportunities like this.

“I’m putting some pressure on myself, yes, but I like being in pressure situations. I think you really find out what you’re made of in situations like the one I’m going into and I’m relishing that opportunity.”

SALEM, Ind. – Champion Racing Ass’n Powered by JEGS officials have released the schedule for the Van Hoy Oil CRA Street Stocks Powered by JEGS.

The Van Hoy Oil CRA Street Stocks schedule has 15-point events scheduled, including four $3,000 minimum to win, 150 lap events with the Four Crown Series, and one tentative non-points event.

The Four Crown events will be held at Shadybowl Speedway, Indianapolis Speedrome and Anderson Speedway, who will have two Four Crown events. The Four Crown events have been 200 laps counting yellow flag laps in the past. They will be 150 laps, not counting yellow flag laps, next year.

There are four events at Anderson Speedway, two events at Lucas Oil Raceway and Winchester Speedway, with single events at Shadybowl Speedway, Salem Speedway, Baer Field Motorsports Park, Mt. Lawn Speedway, the Indianapolis Speedrome and Kil-Kare Raceway.

The series will be part of the third annual Short Track U.S. Nationals at Bristol Motor Speedway, which is scheduled for May 30. The series has a tentative date for a special non-points event at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville as part of the All-American 400 weekend in November.

2020 Van Hoy Oil CRA Street Stock Schedule

April 5 – Lucas Oil Raceway – Clermont, Ind.
April 11 – Anderson Speedway – Anderson, Ind.
April 25 – Shadybowl Speedway – DeGraff, Ohio
May 9 – Salem Speedway – Salem, Ind.
May 30 – Bristol Motor Speedway – Bristol, Tenn.
June 14 – Mt. Lawn Speedway – New Castle, Ind.
June 27 – Anderson Speedway – Anderson, Ind.
July 11 – Indianapolis Speedrome – Indianapolis, Ind.
July 25 – Baer Field Motorsports Park – Fort Wayne, Ind.
Aug. 2 – Kil-Kare Raceway – Xenia, Ohio
Aug. 15 – Anderson Speedway – Anderson, Ind.
Sept. 6-7 – Winchester Speedway – Winchester, Ind.
Sept. 19-20 – Lucas Oil Raceway – Clermont, Ind.
Sept. 26 – Anderson Speedway – Anderson, Ind.
Oct. 9 – Winchester Speedway – Winchester, Ind. (Non-Points)
Oct. 10 – Winchester Speedway – Winchester, Ind.
Nov. 1 – Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville – Nashville, Tenn.

MOORESVILLE, N.C. – NHRA Pro Stock champion Tanner Gray will race full-time in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series next season for DGR-Crosley.

Gray will drive the No. 15 Ford F-150 in his national series rookie campaign. In addition, Gray will pick up select ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series East races.

Gray joined DGR-Crosley’s development program this year as he transitioned to stock car racing after winning the NHRA Pro Stock championship in 2018. Gray competed in multiple series including late models, ARCA East, ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series.

The 20-year-old’s main focus was on ARCA East, where he collected one win, six top-five and nine top-10 finishes in 12 starts. Gray finished the season third in driver point standings. Gray also had a trio of second-place finishes in his three ARCA West starts.

“I’m really looking forward to next year,” said Gray. “Obviously running full-time in the Truck Series is going to be tough with how competitive the series is. It’s going to be challenging racing with these guys week in and week out, but I have a lot of great people around me. The experience in the DGR-Crosley guys will help me adapt and learn quickly. It’s also exciting that Ford is coming on board and giving us assets that will further advance our performance each week.”

In preparation of running a full schedule, Gray competed in the final three Truck Series races at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, ISM Raceway in Phoenix, Ariz., and Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway.

“Tanner has done a great job in his transition to stock car racing,” said team co-owner David Gilliland. “I was really impressed with how well he picked up the feel of the car and was able to provide very detailed feedback. It’s a big step up to the Truck Series, but there’s not a doubt in my mind that he’s ready for it. I’m confident that the team we are assembling at DGR-Crosley is going to be one that is a factor every weekend and will compete for wins. I’m really looking forward to it.”

The Arizona Coyotes traded for star left wing Taylor Hall of the New Jersey Devils on Monday, a move that bolsters their status as a contender in the Western Conference.

The Coyotes sent a conditional 2020 first-round pick, a conditional third-round pick, AHL centers Nate Schnarr and Nick Merkley, and junior defenseman Kevin Bahl to New Jersey for Hall and AHL center Blake Speers. The Devils are retaining 50% of Hall's $6 million cap hit in order for the Coyotes to fit him in.

"Taylor Hall is one of the elite talents in the game today; a Hart Trophy winner, a high-end playmaker and one of the NHL's most talented forwards," Arizona general manager John Chayka said in a statement. "We are beyond thrilled to add Taylor to our team as we continue in our mission of bringing a Stanley Cup home to Arizona."

Coming soon: Hall & Yotes. pic.twitter.com/DU2AqWlmZd

— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) December 16, 2019

Hall, 28, is an unrestricted free agent next summer.

If Arizona's 2020 first-round selection is in the top three, New Jersey will receive Arizona's first-round pick in 2021. The conditions on the 2021 pick are as follows: the third-round pick in 2021 becomes a second-round selection if either Arizona wins a Stanley Cup playoff round or Hall re-signs in Arizona. The third-round pick in 2021 becomes a first-round selection if Arizona wins a Stanley Cup playoff round and Hall re-signs in Arizona. If neither condition happens, New Jersey still receives the 2021 third-round pick.

It's the second significant move the Coyotes have made for a star winger in 2019, having acquired Phil Kessel from the Pittsburgh Penguins last summer. The Coyotes are atop the Pacific Division at 19-12-4 but are only 23rd in the NHL in team shooting percentage (8.5) and 24th in offense (2.63). Hall obviously helps address that.

Hall was acquired by the Devils in June 2016 in a one-for-one trade with the Edmonton Oilers for defenseman Adam Larsson. He had 76 goals and 132 assists for 208 points for the Devils in 211 games, skating to a minus-12.

He won the Hart Trophy in 2018 thanks to a remarkable run of 44 points in 22 games that earned the Devils a playoff spot -- the lone time Hall has played in the postseason in his career.

Hall was drafted first overall in 2010 by the Edmonton Oilers. He had 132 goals and 196 assists for 328 points in 381 games from 2010-11 to 2015-16 with Edmonton.

The Arizona Coyotes land a huge prize in 2018 Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall, while the New Jersey Devils help restock for the build.

The deal:

Coyotes get: LW Taylor Hall, C Blake Speers
Devils get: D Kevin Bahl, C Nate Schnarr, C Nick Merkley, conditional 2020 first-round pick, conditional 2021 third-round pick

Arizona Coyotes: A

Emotions run high during the heat of competition, and even shortly after athletes sometimes find themselves at a loss for words of what they just accomplished.

After roaring back from an unexpected hole, the U.S. edged the International squad Sunday to win the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne.

With bodies and minds recharged, a handful of the U.S. players reflected on a special week on social media.

Former New York Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins was claimed on waivers Monday by the New Orleans Saints.

Jenkins was expected to join a playoff-bound team and will do so with the Saints, who enter Monday night's game against the Colts at 10-3 and in first place in the NFC South.

Since New Orleans has yet to play its Week 15 game, the Jenkins claim won't be made official until Tuesday.

The Giants waived Jenkins Friday, two days after he made an inappropriate remark to a fan on Twitter. Jenkins called a critical fan a "retard" when taking exception to questioning about why the stats Jenkins was using to showcase his effectiveness weren't contributing to victories.

Jenkins, 31, said Thursday that the usage of the word was "slang" that is "just part of my culture."

Giants coach Pat Shurmur met with Jenkins on Wednesday and said in a statement Friday that Jenkins' refusal to admit that what he did was wrong led to his release.

The Saints will owe Jenkins two weeks of salary at $597,000 per week -- just under $1.2 million for the remainder of this season, along with a 2020 contract that is scheduled to pay him $11.25 million.

New Orleans' defense has taken several significant hits due to injury in the past week. Defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins and defensive end Marcus Davenport were placed on injured reserve. And in the secondary, safety Vonn Bell and cornerbacks Patrick Robinson and Johnson Bademosi were previously ruled out for Monday night's game.