Brock Purdy and Six Grinches Who Stole Joy On Sports Christmas

Stores may have been closed on Monday, but the sports world was busy for Christmas Day as premier showdowns took place in both the NFL and the NBA.

Big games make for big moments, which also make for big feelings toward the big villains who inspire them. On Monday, a number of sports Grinches stole Christmas joy in one way or another (depending, of course, on which team fans cheer for).

Here are six of the biggest offenders.

Referee Scott Foster set up Lakers fans

Christmas Day is sometimes hailed by casual fans as the true start of the NBA calendar, and this year's unofficial season opener pitted two of the league's most storied franchises against one another as the Boston Celtics took on the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Celtics pulled away late for the 126-115 victory, dampening the mood for Lakers fans including Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, who took to X, formerly Twitter, in the aftermath to complain about how likable this year's Celtics team is (thereby, in an indirect way, making the Celtics a Grinch in their own right).

Referee Scott Foster is another culprit, however, after he hit the Lakers with an accidental bait-and-switch.

After LeBron James blocked Jayson Tatum in transition and was whistled for a foul in the first half, the Lakers challenged the call. The replay, however, showed Lakers forward Taurean Prince slapping Tatum's arm to dislodge the ball before James' block. That meant the challenge was successful, but Tatum still got to the line for a pair of free throws.

When Foster started to announce the call to the Los Angeles crowd, they cheered. Foster's reaction was funny.

Foster was correct: The fans did not appreciate it.

Steve Kerr Hates Nikola Jokic's fouls

After his Golden State Warriors dropped back to .500 with a 120-114 loss to the defending champion Denver Nuggets, Steve Kerr had a bone to pick with officials, as well as the NBA itself.

"I have a problem with the way we are legislating defense out of the game," Kerr told reporters. "We're just enabling players to BS their way to the foul line. If I were a fan, I wouldn't have wanted to watch the second half. It was disgusting."

Jokic went to the free-throw line 18 times and made every attempt in the victory. Whether he or Kerr is the Grinch in this scenario depends on the fanbase.

Brock Purdy Stole the Joy of 49ers Fans

Purdy has had a near-MVP season so far, but Monday's four-interception 33-19 loss to the Baltimore Ravens left the San Francisco 49ers flummoxed.

"Our team came ready to play, and for me to make some decisions like that...it's not fair to these guys," Purdy told reporters after the game. "I have to realize that and understand that, and I have to get better for my team."

The Ravens now have the best record in the NFL and can clinch the top seed in the NFC with a Week 17 win over the Dolphins. The 49ers have the top seed in the NFC and hold tiebreakers over the second- and third-place Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys.

Jack Jones Denied* A Young Fan A Ball

Upon first watch, it appeared Raiders cornerback Jack Jones was the biggest Grinch in Christmas sports for offering and then pulling back a ball from a young fan in the front row after he intercepted Patrick Mahomes and took it all the way back for a pick-six.

A closer viewing, however, shows that Jones actually pulled the ball away from an older fan who tried to come over the back of the young fan to steal it.

Jones gets a pass—the fan is the Grinch. The Raiders beat the Chiefs 20-14.

The Training Table at Arrowhead Stadium

Isiah Pacheco had a tough day on Christmas. Not only did the Chiefs fall to the Raiders, but Pacheco suffered the indignity of being sent to the training table after a bit of friendly fire...only to have the training table collapse underneath him.

The Chiefs are having a tough time right now.

Suns Fans Are Angry at Kevin Durant

The Phoenix Suns employ Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, but they are below .500 at 14-15, and fans are less than pleased about it.

After Monday's high-profile loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the Christmas Day closer, fans on the Suns' subreddit started turning on Durant, noting his of history switching teams.

"I genuinely don't understand why anyone feels like Suns fans should have any positive feelings towards KD whatsoever," one wrote. "... Came and blew up a very good team 1 year removed from NBA finals so he can fulfill his insecurities of never having accomplished anything without hopping onto a proven championship team pre/post him."

If the season ended today (which would be odd for casual fans, since the season just started for them), the Suns would be the final team to miss the play-in games.