Former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer encouraged troubled staff member Zach Smith to stay with the Buckeyes in January 2018 when Smith was offered a coaching position at Alabama, according to a text message exchange released by the university Friday afternoon.

Meyer fired Smith roughly six months later after reports about Smith's volatile and allegedly abusive relationship with his ex-wife became the final straw in a career marked by behavioral issues for the younger assistant. Ohio State investigated Meyer shortly after Smith's firing and suspended him for mishandling previous issues with Smith and for misleading the media when he was asked about Smith's conduct. Meyer retired after the 2018 season.

On Friday, more than 11 months after the university concluded its investigation, Ohio State released to the public more than 2,000 pages of documents that were reviewed by investigators as part of the probe into Meyer. Among the text messages and emails was one conversation during which Meyer told Smith in January 2018 that they "got u thru the s---" and that he wanted Smith to stay on staff in Columbus, Ohio. Smith, according to the text messages, was offered a position as passing coordinator on the Alabama staff.

"I have personally invested far too much in u to get u in position to take next step," Meyer wrote. "U need to step away from other situation and let's go win it all... again."

Meyer hired Smith on his staffs at Florida and Ohio State. Smith is the grandson of former Ohio State head coach Earle Bruce, whom Meyer considered a father figure and mentor. Meyer said his connection with Bruce clouded his judgment when it came to dealing with Smith's past behavior.

Police in Florida investigated domestic violence claims made by Smith's former wife in 2009, when Smith worked for Meyer's Florida team. Police also investigated claims of domestic abuse against Smith made in Columbus in 2015. He was not charged with a crime in either instance. Smith was charged with criminal trespassing after another dispute with his then-ex-wife in May 2018. He pleaded to a misdemeanor in that case last fall.

Meyer told reporters last summer that he wasn't aware of the 2015 incident. He told co-workers around the same time that he knew about "2009 and last week," but knew "nothing" about a reported felony arrest of Smith in 2015. Emails and human-resource records show Smith was encouraged to enroll in an employee assistance program in October 2015, and Meyer asked a fellow staffer to make sure Smith followed through with the program. Smith said Meyer was aware of the 2015 incident, and Meyer later apologized for misleading reporters with how he answered questions about that incident.

On July 23, 2018, as reports of Smith's most recent encounter with police became public, Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith suggested to Meyer via text that they should take a more "institutionally formal" approach in trying to work with Zach Smith through the employee assistance program. Meyer announced his decision to fire Smith later that same day. Gene Smith was also suspended by the university for how he handled the situation.

Meyer texted both his agent and a close adviser the day after he fired Smith to tell them that Smith was being fired for "cumulative" reasons. He told both men that he did not intend to share that part of the story with the media.

Shortly after speaking with reporters about Smith's ouster, Meyer told Tim Kight -- an author and adviser -- that the situation was "a mess" and he "will not address the situation again." He told Kight that he "never heard of anything" regarding an arrest in 2015.

"I understand that [Smith's ex-wife]'s lawyer is releasing stuff," Meyer said. "Scary."

Ohio State's investigation of the issue revealed that while an employee with the football program, Smith was known to have exhibited "promiscuous and embarrassing sexual behavior, drug abuse, truancy, dishonesty, financial irresponsibility, a possible NCAA violation, and a lengthy police investigation into allegations of criminal domestic violence and cybercrimes."

Several text message exchanges released Friday show Meyer's trust in Smith had eroded in December 2017. He told one staff member to "keep [an] eye on Zach" on Dec. 24 that year. A staff member told Meyer a few weeks earlier of Smith that he "ripped his ass yesterday morning so he knows I'm all over him."

One month later, Meyer told Smith he wanted him to stay at Ohio State rather than accept a new position elsewhere.

What are the best NBA Christmas Day games this year?

The 2019 slate will feature plenty of star power and revamped rosters, including Anthony Davis and LeBron James vs. Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. The five games:

• Los Angeles Lakers vs. LA Clippers

• Houston Rockets @ Golden State Warriors

• Milwaukee Bucks @ Philadelphia 76ers

• Boston Celtics @ Toronto Raptors

• New Orleans Pelicans @ Denver Nuggets

Our NBA experts answer the big questions about the five matchups, identify the biggest surprises and make bold predictions about the games and the teams involved.

Which Christmas Day game are you most excited to watch?

Tim Bontemps: Bucks-Sixers -- and, to me, it isn't close. While the Western Conference next season is going to be a dogfight, Milwaukee and Philadelphia are the massive favorites to finish atop the East. They appear destined for a showdown in the conference finals. Combine that with the fact that both teams have young superstars (Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee, and Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons in Philadelphia) who could be playing against one another for years to come, and this could be the start of an annual Christmas tradition. Sign me up for that.

Bobby Marks: Pelicans-Nuggets. Understandably, everyone will be focused on Los Angeles, but I am taking one of the best teams in the West (Denver) versus Zion Williamson and a New Orleans squad that could contend for one of the final playoff spots.

Malika Andrews: The Battle of Los Angeles. This could be the first time we see the new-look Clippers take on the AD/LeBron Lakers. Just one game likely won't dictate if the Clippers can become the new kings of L.A., but it will be fun nonetheless.

Kevin Pelton: Bucks-Sixers. Obviously, all eyes will be on the Staples Center co-tenants who will square off against each other. Given the depth of contenders in the West, however, I think it's more likely that Milwaukee and Philadelphia will be a preview of a playoff series -- specifically, the most likely outcome for the conference finals at this point. These teams played a thriller in April on TNT won by the host 76ers, but the Raptors denied us a meeting in last year's playoffs, so we haven't seen them square off since.

Which of the 10 teams are you most surprised to see included?

Marks: Toronto. Despite winning the NBA championship last year, the inclusion of the Raptors feels a year late and almost like a makeup for previous Christmas Day omissions. Toronto should be a playoff team if the roster stays intact but certainly not one of the top 10 teams in the NBA -- let alone top four in the East.

Pelton: Denver. The Pelicans are the odd team out, as they're more likely to miss the playoffs than make them, according to Caesars Sportsbook. But we've seen star draft picks like Zion Williamson featured on the Christmas Day slate before. The first meeting between Greg Oden and Kevin Durant, for example, was scheduled for Christmas Day before Oden underwent season-ending microfracture knee surgery. Despite finishing second in the West during the 2018-19 regular season, I'm still a little surprised the Nuggets are being highlighted given their relatively small national footprint. This is clearly a bet Denver can maintain its lofty standing in a deeper West and on Nikola Jokic as a budding superstar.

Andrews: New Orleans, which has played on Christmas Day only three times and hasn't made an appearance since 2015.

Bontemps: Probably the Raptors. Toronto deserves to make the slate after winning its first NBA championship, but given Kawhi's departure, it wouldn't have been a shock for the Raptors to have been left off. Still, it's good to see the NBA reward Toronto for its title with the opportunity to play -- and host -- a game on Christmas Day. It is something fans of the franchise have wanted to happen for years, and now they'll get their wish.

Which team is the most surprising exclusion?

Andrews: The Knicks will not play on Christmas Day for the first time since 2015, but that isn't the most surprising New York team not scheduled to play on Dec. 25. Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets will not be spreading Christmas cheer -- at least not in the form of a game. I expect Kevin Durant's return to also mark the return of the Christmas Day Nets the following season.

Marks: Utah. I get that the Pelicans have the market appeal based on the Zion factor and Golden State has Stephen Curry, but excluding the Jazz does not add up. The Jazz played on Christmas last December with an inferior roster. They've made significant additions with Mike Conley and Bojan Bogdanovic, plus they already have Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, yet they still missed the cut.

Pelton: Brooklyn. Even with KD on the sidelines, I would have guessed the combination of adding Kyrie Irving and being the marquee team in the Big Apple would have gotten the Nets on the Christmas schedule.

Bontemps: I'll cheat a bit and say two teams -- the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets. Yes, Kevin Durant is injured, but it felt like Celtics-Nets -- with Kyrie Irving making his return to Boston for the first time -- was the kind of juicy game that would be saved for the Christmas Day slate. Instead, they were left out completely. And while the Knicks are all but certain to be among the NBA's worst teams, that hasn't stopped the league from force-feeding them to the viewing public. It's good to see that the league is avoiding simply having big markets play on its marquee day.

Will the Lakers or Clippers have a better record on Christmas Day?

Pelton: I'll put money on the Clippers. They've got more existing infrastructure in place with five of the seven players who saw at least 70 minutes of action in last year's first-round series still on the roster, plus longtime head coach Doc Rivers. Given that, I think the integration of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard will go more smoothly than the Lakers trying to build chemistry from scratch under new coach Frank Vogel.

Bontemps: The Clippers. Yes, working in Leonard and George will take time, but the Clippers are starting the season ahead of the Lakers. Plus, it isn't like the Lakers don't have a host of things to sort out themselves (including figuring out who, exactly, is going to play defense). This will be a fun game, but I expect the Clippers to have the better record when these teams square off.

Marks: The Clippers. Even with Paul George likely missing parts of training camp as he nurses a torn left labrum, the addition of Leonard and the continuity factor with the rest of the roster give the Clippers the edge.

Andrews: I'm taking the Clippers as well.

What is your bold Christmas Day prediction?

Marks: That the team representing the Western Conference in the Finals -- the Utah Jazz -- will be sitting at home.

Andrews: If Giannis signs the supermax next summer, Milwaukee will be hosting in 2020 and he will be playing on Christmas Day for at least the next five years.

Pelton: Peace on Earth seems way too bold at this point, so I'll settle for New Orleans having a better record than at least one other team in action.

Bontemps: That the next time the NBA won't have a Christmas Day featuring Giannis Antetokounmpo will be in the 2030s. Yes, I know that's a long way from now and leaves open plenty of time for an injury to change things. But given that Antetokounmpo seems poised to rule the NBA for the foreseeable future, my belief is he will be a featured guest on television sets around the world on Christmas for the next decade, at least.

CHICAGO -- With under two months left in the regular season, Chicago Cubs reliever Brandon Morrow is still hopeful he can contribute to his team's playoff push as he continues his long recovery from elbow and forearm issues.

Morrow, 35, hasn't pitched in the big leagues since before last year's All-Star break, experiencing several starts and stops in his rehab process.

"I faced hitters just last week, so I'm pretty built up," Morrow said via text on Friday. "I've thrown the last two days and should be back on the mound early next week."

Morrow has been rehabbing at the Cubs' spring facility in Arizona and recently underwent yet another procedure after being diagnosed with radial tunnel syndrome (compressed nerve).

"On Monday, I had that nerve decompressed via hydrodissection," the right-hander said. "It took away all the aches and pain I was feeling in my elbow and forearm."

Morrow was signed to a two-year, $21 million deal before the start of the 2018 season and saved 22 of 24 games during the first half that season. But his velocity took a huge dip in his final outing before the All-Star break and he hasn't pitched in the majors since.

He had minor offseason elbow surgery, then a Synvisc injection in late April, a procedure typically done on an athlete's knee.

"That will lubricate and help to protect the area around my elbow," Morrow explained at the time.

It set his recovery back but now things are finally progressing again. The Cubs could use all the help they can get in the bullpen, even though Morrow has been replaced as the closer after the team signed Craig Kimbrel to a multiyear deal in June.

Chicago's pitching staff has a save percentage of 56 this season, near the bottom of the National League. Morrow would fit in nicely as a setup man, as the team has had issues just getting to the ninth inning with a lead.

Although optimistic, Morrow has no stated timeline yet.

"With the way I'm feeling, I expect to progress quickly," he said.

Things will have to move fast, as the Cubs have just 53 games left after their 6-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday, drawing them to within a half-game of first place in the NL Central. A September return for Morrow, as well as veteran Ben Zobrist, could give the team a huge boost.

"I guess not more than a month away from being back," Morrow said.

The Phillie Phanatic has been part of Philadelphia lore since 1978.

The Phillies are hoping to keep it that way, even if it means getting the courts involved.

In a federal lawsuit filed Friday in New York, a copy of which was obtained by The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Phillies alleged that the firm they hired to help create the Phanatic, Harrison/Erickson Inc., is trying to renege on an agreement the sides made more than 30 years ago and in doing so make the beloved, furry green mascot a major league "free agent."

According to the lawsuit, then-Phillies executive Bill Giles developed the idea of the Phanatic in the late 1970s, then worked with Harrison/Erickson to develop the mascot's costume in 1978. It made its debut at a Phillies game in April 1978 and became "wildly popular."

In the lawsuit, the Phillies say in 1984 they paid Harrison/Erickson $215,000 for rights to the Phanatic costume that would last "forever." But according to the major league team, over the past year the New York-based company has tried to terminate that agreement, believing that it "created the copyrighted character" -- claims the Phillies called "legally baseless."

The Phillies say Harrison/Erickson Inc. has threatened an injunction against the team for use of the Phanatic, unless the sides renegotiate their agreement and the major league team pays the company "millions of dollars" before June 2020.

"The Club therefore requests that this Court put an immediate end to H/E's effort to hold up The Phillies with its threats of legal action and to make the Phanatic a free agent," the lawsuit reads. "By issuing a declaratory judgment in The Phillies' favor and an injunction against H/E's threatened actions, the Court will ensure that Phillies fans will not be deprived of their beloved mascot of 41 years and that The Phillies' investment of creativity, time, effort and money in The Phanatic will not be liquidated by H/E."

Colorado Rockies All-Star center fielder David Dahl was carted off the field after suffering what appeared to be a serious injury to his lower right leg in Friday night's game against the visiting San Francisco Giants.

Dahl appeared to overrun a line drive to center field by Scooter Gennett in the top of the sixth inning, and while reaching back to catch the ball, his leg twisted awkwardly underneath him.

Dahl made the catch but immediately went to the ground in pain, clutching at his lower leg as athletic trainers rushed onto the field. He left on a cart as fans at Coors Field stood and applauded in support.

Dahl is hitting .302 with 15 home runs and 61 RBIs this season.

There was no immediate word on the extent of the injury from the Rockies.

MADISON, Ill. – His voice has been synonymous with calling the action at racing events across the country for 40 years, and now Bob Jenkins is bringing his familiar and welcome tone to World Wide Technology Raceway.

Jenkins has joined the public address team for the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline weekend, featuring the NTT IndyCar Series, NASCAR K&N Pro Series and more.

“I’m really looking forward to being there and I know it’s going to be a great weekend,” Jenkins said.

Starting for what was then the fledgling ESPN in late 1979, calling a U.S. Auto Club Sprint Car race at Salem Speedway in southern Indiana, Jenkins got in on the ground floor of televised race play-by-play.

Along the way, he covered sprint and midget races for ESPN’s famed “Thunder” series, off-road and drag racing and predominantly NASCAR, when he formed a legendary trio with Benny Parsons and Ned Jarrett.

But being from Indianapolis, Jenkins’ heart has always been with “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” the Indianapolis 500.

“Open-wheel has always been my thing,” Jenkins said. “I’ve been fortunate to be able to work at Indy in some capacity, either in radio or public address. I haven’t missed a 500 since 1966. Fortunately, I was able to end my career (as a TV commentator) with what was then Versus, which is now NBCSN, doing my favorite kind of motorsports.”

Now officially retired, Jenkins still works on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway public address team for the Indy 500 and NASCAR Brickyard 400.

Chris Blair, executive vice president and general manager at World Wide Technology Raceway, is keenly aware of Jenkins’ legacy and the affinity race fans have for him, so he asked Jenkins to join the WWTR PA team this year.

“Since St. Louis is relatively close and it’s an interesting race track, I said sure,” Jenkins recalled. “I’m looking forward to it. It’s always been a fun race track and they do a lot of promotion and have a great crowd. I’m really excited about helping them out.”

Jenkins still follows the NTT IndyCar Series closely, but admitted he’ll be studying up on the other series racing this weekend to become familiar with the drivers and teams. He’ll lean on others on the PA team for their expertise as well. And he’s excited for the opportunity.

“I love the shape of the track and that it’s different,” Jenkins said of Gateway. “I think it’s going to be fun weekend.”

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – In advance of this year’s fifth running of the Historic Sportscar Racing Classic Daytona presented by IMSA, HSR officials announced today a change and expansion of the Run Group structure for the Classic 24 Hour race.

The event returns to Daytona Int’l Speedway, Nov. 13-17.

The major move is the division of Group E into two distinct classes each featuring modern but retired prototypes and GT race cars from this century.

Run Group E remains a showcase of such iconic machines as the Audi R8, Pescarolo Judd, Peugeot 908 and Lola B07 LMP race cars that now compete in the group with Daytona Prototype International (DPi), LMP2 race cars and others just past their prime.

The Group E split paves the way for Oreca FLM09 Le Mans Prototype Challenge (LMPC) “PC” cars and Gen 2 and Gen 3 Daytona Prototypes to compete for overall honors in a move to a completely restructured Run Group F.

Still current in their appeal but no longer eligible in contemporary racing series, the “DP” and “PC” cars will compete in Group F against retired LMP2 cars of the same era.

“Daytona Prototypes and LMPC cars have become quite popular with HSR competitors in recent years,” HSR President David Hinton said. “Both have been competitive but are a little outmatched against the LMP machines that have set the standard in Group E since the inaugural HSR Classic Daytona in 2014. Moving ‘DP’ and ‘PC’ to Group F, where they will be able to contend for the overall victory, has been a popular decision with our competitors and brings back a familiar scene for race fans that watched both classes compete at Daytona in their prime just a few years ago.”

Eligible GT cars in Group E include the Ferrari 458, Porsche 991, Viper GTS-R and GT3 and similar top-end GT sports cars. Production-based GT cars in Group F will see slightly older and less powerful FIA, IMSA and GRAND-AM GT1, GT2, GS, GT3, GT4 and World Challenge and “Cup” and “Challenge” race cars all eligible to get in on the action.

Group F was formerly home to competitors in HSR classes with race cars not represented in the other six other groups.

Rechristened Run Group G, the category offers a variety of primarily production-based cars that includes many of the same teams and race cars that compete in HSR’s Vintage GT and Historic GT groups and HSR Classic RS Cup and HSR Global GT series.

Run Groups A through D continue with no major technical or race car eligibility changes from previous years, but a competition format change will see Groups C and D compete simultaneously for the first time in the 2019 HSR Classic Daytona.

Competitors will share the track but separate Group C and D victory lane podiums and awards for both groups will be presented at the conclusion of the HSR Classic Daytona on Sunday.

Doubling up Groups C and D ensures the traditional format of the HSR Classic Daytona will literally continue like clockwork again this year. Including the combined Group C and D sessions, each HSR Classic Daytona Run Group takes to the track four times throughout the 24 hours.

The competitors in each group covering the most total distance in the shortest amount of time in their four sessions will be crowned Classic Daytona presented by IMSA champions.

The Toe Poke Daily is here every day to bring you all the weirdest stories, quirkiest viral content and top trolling that the internet has to offer, all in one place.

Lukaku spills beans on United speed test

Ever wonder who the fastest player on your favourite team is? Well if you're a Manchester United supporter, Romelu Lukaku has your back.

The Belgian striker -- linked with a move away from Old Trafford -- took to Twitter to silence those who suggest he doesn't have a proper top gear and posted a video of what looks to be the results of a one-off speed test from a United training session on July 10 along with the words "Lack of pace."

Romelu Lukaku has published Manchester United's sprinting stats and it makes for some interesting reading...??‍♂️

(?: @RomeluLukaku9) pic.twitter.com/DupdtKRZOj

— BenchWarmers (@BeWarmers) August 2, 2019

The tweet, which was quickly deleted, shows Lukaku was the second-fastest player on United in the test with a top speed of 36.25 Km/h, behind only Diogo Dalot's 36.43. Point taken Rom, but we're much more interested in some of the results a little further down -- and all the way to the bottom of -- the list.

FIrst of all, Phil Jones! Not sure many would have pegged the pugnacious defender to crack the top 10 ahead of teammates like Paul Pogba (was he trying?), Aaron Wan-Bissaka or Eric Bailly.

However, it might be Luke Shaw who'll be the most remiss that this list saw the light of day. The results show the left-back is the slowest player on this squad with a top speed of 31.03 Km/h, leaving Juan Mata, second-bottom on the list, to gloatingly thank Lukaku for "finally showing the world he's quicker than Luke Shaw."

Not to be outdone, Shaw tweeted soon after that he was only going at 70 percent. Whatever the case, sounds like a prime PPV opportunity for Man United TV to settle this particular squabble on the track.