5 THINGS TO KNOW

1. The blanket fiasco: American Airlines has apologized to two players on the Memphis Grizzlies’ minor league affiliate who were kicked off a plane after a flight attendant wrongfully accused them of stealing blankets, which an assistant coach suggested happened because they are black. Airline spokesman Joshua Freed said Tuesday that Marquis Teague and Trahson Burrell boarded the Sunday Envoy Air flight from Dallas to Sioux Falls, S.D. Two first-class passengers gave the players their blankets as they headed to their seats in coach. But a flight attendant, who is also black, accused them of theft and the players were asked to leave. The players later were allowed to fly first class to Sioux Falls, Freed said. 2. Male Athlete of Year: Houston star second baseman Jose Altuve takes AP honor after leading the Astros to their first World Series title, bringing hope to a city ravaged by Hurricane Harvey. C4 3. Ted Williams at war: Thirty-eight letters penned by Hall of Fame baseball player Ted Williams (left), including one in which he described crashlanding a fighter jet with “holes all over”it, are going up for auction. The letters written to his mistress show another side to Williams, who played for the Boston Red Sox, describing his second hiatus from baseball for military service, his bombing missions in Korea and his feelings on war and his father’s death. 4. Latest Giant distraction: The New York Giants’ Landon Collins said he met with Eli Apple and interim coach Steve Spagnuolo on Wednesday morning and apologized for calling Apple “a cancer.” C4 5. Obscure stat, famous company: The Knicks’ Enes Kanter joins Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell and Bob Lanier as the only players with a 30-20 game on Christmas Day. Kanter had 31 points and 22 rebounds Monday in a 105-98 loss to Philadelphia.