Welcome to Friday’s Morning Mashup. For the latest news, start at our WEEI.com home page or click here for the top stories from our news wire.

WHAT’S HAPPENING LOCALLY FRIDAY:
NBA: Bobcats at Celtics, 7:30 p.m. (CSNNE; WEEI)

SATURDAY:
NHL: Penguins at Bruins, 1 p.m. (NESN)

SUNDAY:
NFL: Jets at Patriots, 4:30 p.m. (CBS)

AROUND THE WEB:

♦ Former Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor pleaded guilty Thursday in New City, N.Y., to misdemeanor charges of sexual misconduct and patronizing a 16-year-old prostitute in a deal that will keep him out of jail. “She told me she was 19,” insisted Taylor, who must register as a sex offender.

Taylor thus avoids becoming the third member of the Giants’ 1991 Super Bowl championship team to land behind bars. Mark Ingram is in federal prison for money laundering, bank fraud and bail jumping. Dave Meggett, who also played for the Patriots, last year received a 30-year sentence for criminal sexual conduct and burglary.

♦ Heat star LeBron James, who sat out Thursday night’s loss to the Nuggets, is still hearing it about his two-faced behavior regarding his tweet about the Cavaliers. At Ball Don’t Lie, Kelly Dwyer wonders why James won’t take a stand one way or another.

♦ The Broncos hired John Fox to be their new coach. In The Denver Post, Dave Krieger writes that the former Panthers coach is a good fit for the Broncos as the anti-Josh McDaniels — a veteran coach who will demonstrate more professionalism than McDaniels. Meanwhile, at The Cleveland Plain Dealer, Terry Pluto looks at the unknown quantity that is new Browns coach Pat Shurmur.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Jan. 14, 2000, which two former Red Sox players were elected to the Hall of Fame?

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I think he’s going to unleash hell on them.” — ESPN NFL analyst Trent Dilfer, talking about Tom Brady vs. the Jets

STAT OF THE DAY: 5 — Goals scored by the Bruins in the third period of Thursday night’s 7-5 victory over the Flyers

‘NET RESULTS: A BMX bike race gets off to a bad start.

A girl singing the national anthem at a minor league hockey game in Norfolk, Va., loses power to the microphone but gets a lift from the crowd.

TRIVIA ANSWER: Carlton Fisk and Tony Perez

SOOTHING SOUNDS: Allen Toussaint turns 73 Friday.

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