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Pastrnak Stays Hot, Bruins Win

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Boston’s David Pastrnak registered his first hat trick of the season and an assist to lead the Bruins to a 6-3 win over the visiting New York Rangers on Saturday afternoon.

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The Bruins never looked back after Pastrnak scored a go-ahead goal in the first period before increasing the Bruins’ lead to three on two occasions during the final frame.

The star winger is riding a 10-game point streak. He was named thr NHL’s “First Star” of the month of January.

Pavel Zacha had a goal and an assist, Charlie McAvoy and Charlie Coyle each scored, and Brad Marchand and Matt Poitras each dished out two assists for the Bruins, who snapped a two-game skid.

Boston’s Jeremy Swayman made 22 saves in the win.

J.T. Miller scored two goals for New York less than 24 hours after being re-acquired in Friday’s blockbuster trade with the Vancouver Canucks. Jonny Brodzinski netted the other.

The 31-year-old Miller was playing his 342nd regular-season game as a Ranger and his first in 2,533 days (Feb. 25, 2018).

New York’s goalkeeper, Igor Shesterkin, stopped 19 shots.

After losing a 1-0 lead, Pastrnak flipped the score back in Boston’s favor with 2:51 left in the first, taking a Brandon Carlo feed from behind the goal line and quickly snapping it glove-side.

The game’s first two-goal lead was established 3:39 into the second when Coyle was stationed outside Shesterkin’s crease to deflect an Andrew Peeke point shot.

Tatum Beats Buzzer and Pelicans

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NEW ORLEANS – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Boston’s Jaylen Brown scored 28 points and Jayson Tatum added 27, including a tie-breaking jumper with 0.2 seconds left, as the visiting Celtics held off the New Orleans Pelicans 118-116 on Friday night.

Tatum added 10 assists, Kristaps Porzingis and Derrick White scored 16 points each and Luke Kornet had 11 off the bench for the Celtics.

Trey Murphy III scored a season-high 40 points, Jose Alvarado added 20, CJ McCollum had 17 and Brandon Boston Jr. 10 for New Orleans, which lost its fifth straight game. Pelicans starting point guard Dejounte Murray had to be helped to the locker room after injuring his lower right leg in the first quarter. He did not return.

New Orleans trailed by five after three quarters, but Alvarado hit a 3-pointer to open scoring in the fourth. The Pelicans got within two points four more times, with the Celtics answering on the first three. On the fourth occasion, Murphy made a short jumper to finally pull New Orleans even at 114 with 1:37 left.

Brown and McCollum exchanged baskets before Tatum dribbled down the clock and swished the game-winner from 21 feet.

Four Celtics scored during a 9-6 run to start the third quarter, increasing the Celtics’ lead to 68-59. Murphy made two 3-pointers, and Alvarado and Karlo Matkovic made one each as the Pelicans took a 77-75 lead.

Brown scored eight points and White and Payton Pritchard scored three each as Boston took a 91-86 lead going into the fourth.

Murphy scored 16 points to help New Orleans take a 34-31 lead at the end of the first quarter.

New Orleans led by five twice early in the second quarter, but Kornet made consecutive baskets to complete a 6-0 run and put Boston ahead by one point. The Pelicans regained the lead briefly, but Tatum made consecutive 3-pointers to start an 8-0 run that gave the Celtics a 47-42 lead.

New Orleans closed within one point twice, but White and Tatum each made a 3-pointer to help Boston extend the lead to nine. Murphy’s 3-pointer trimmed New Orleans’ deficit to 59-53 at halftime.

–Field Level Media

NOLA’s Super Bowls of the Past

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NEW ORLEANS — (Staff and Wire Service Report) – When the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles meet in Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9 in the Caesars Superdome, New Orleans will make history by tying Miami for the most Super Bowls hosted (11).

But it’s the games themselves that have produced plenty of history for the Crescent City.

In the city’s first Super Bowl (IV), the Chiefs made their only previous title game appearance in New Orleans at Tulane Stadium, which was the site of three Super Bowls before the Superdome came along.

The previous year, the New York Jets made Joe Namath a prophet by upsetting the heavily favored Baltimore Colts and demonstrating that the AFL and the NFL were more competitive than had generally been accepted, with the merger of the two leagues approaching.

When Hank Stram’s Chiefs rolled into New Orleans and upset the heavily favored Minnesota Vikings in the last game involving the AFL, it further solidified the incoming teams’ legitimacy.

Fast forward 43 years, and the last Super Bowl played in New Orleans made history as the first one in which the two head coaches were brothers when John Harbaugh led the Baltimore Ravens against Jim Harbaugh’s San Francisco 49ers.

But it became notable for another, more bizarre reason when a power outage knocked out the lights inside the Superdome early in the third quarter.

In between the first and last Super Bowls in New Orleans, the Crescent City was the site of:

–the first Super Bowl titles won by the Cowboys and the Steelers;
–another Cowboys title in the first Super Bowl played indoors once the Superdome opened;
–the Eagles’ only previous appearance in a New Orleans Super Bowl in a loss to the Raiders;
–the Bears’ only Super Bowl title;
–the 49ers’ last Super Bowl title with Joe Montana;
–the Packers’ first post-Lombardi title;
–and the Patriots’ and Tom Brady’s first title in the first post-/911 Super Bowl.

[Read more…] about NOLA’s Super Bowls of the Past

Jets Beat Bruins, 6-2

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BOSTON – Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele capped a two-goal effort with the eventual game-winner and Wakefield, R.I., native Parker Ford scored in his NHL debut as the visiting Jets beat the Boston Bruins 6-2 Thursday night.

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Scheifele’s second goal 35 seconds into the third period marked the 328th of his Winnipeg career, tying him with Ilya Kovalchuk for the most in Jets/Atlanta Thrashers franchise history.

Nikolaj Ehlers and Vladislav Namestnikov added a goal and an assist, Kyle Connor scored, and Connor Hellebuyck made 26 saves for Winnipeg, which is on a five-game win streak.

The Jets scored four third-period goals and found the back of the net on two of four power plays in the game (50 percent).

Elias Lindholm led the Bruins with a goal and an assist, while Brad Marchand also scored and added 14 penalty minutes.

Joonas Korpisalo stopped 21 shots in Boston’s second consecutive loss and third in a five-game span (2-3-0).

The Bruins climbed out of a 2-0 hole to tie the game when Lindholm buried a shorthanded goal off Pavel Zacha’s faceoff win 11 seconds into the third. Winnipeg never trailed after Scheifele took an Ehlers feed down the middle to provide an answer just 24 ticks later.

Ehlers was credited with the Jets’ insurance goal less than a minute later, poking the puck off Boston defenseman Mason Lohrei’s stick and into an open left side of Korpisalo’s net at 1:17.

Ford extended Winnipeg’s lead to 5-2 at 5:57. After Alex Iafallo settled down a Logan Stanley centering feed in the slot, the former Providence College captain cashed in with a wrister.

Connor scored an empty-net goal with 36.6 seconds remaining.

Namestnikov lifted the visitors to a 1-0 lead just 2:55 into the first, putting home a power-play goal from low on the left side. Cole Perfetti’s shot from the wing created a rebound that Nino Niederreiter sent to Namestnikov across the crease to bang into an open side of the net.

Minutes after a Josh Morrissey snipe past Korpisalo was called back due to offside, Scheifele doubled Winnipeg’s lead with a goal that counted, tipping in Neal Pionk’s point shot at the 11:31 mark.

Marchand scored his second goal on the man advantage in as many games to bring Boston within one at 15:34. The Bruins captain slid down from the top of the left circle and snapped a shot past Hellebuyck.

–Field Level Media

C’s Win with Porzingis’ Career Night

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BOSTON – Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis scored a season-high 34 points and collected 11 rebounds to help Boston breeze to a 122-100 victory over the visiting Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night. Porzingis made 10 of his 18 field goal attempts, including 8 of 14 shots from behind the 3-point arc. His eight 3-pointers tied his career high.

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Porzingis had 26 points in the first half, when he made 6 of 8 shots from behind the 3-point arc.

Jaylen Brown added 28 points, six rebounds and six assists for the Celtics, who also received a 22-point performance from Derrick White. White made four 3-pointers.

The Bulls didn’t have leading scorer Zach LaVine, who is averaging 24.0 points per game. Chicago coach Billy Donovan said LaVine will miss multiple games to be with his wife to prepare for the birth of their third child.

Chicago guard Coby White returned from an ankle injury and scored 16 points in 31 minutes. It was White’s first game since Jan. 19.

Patrick Williams came off the bench and contributed 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists for the Bulls, who were playing the first game of a three-game road trip. Chicago will play at Toronto on Friday and at Detroit on Sunday.

Sam Hauser (hip) and Al Horford (toe) didn’t dress for the Celtics, who avoided a third straight home loss.

Boston was 18 of 44 from 3-point range (40.9 percent). Chicago was 37 of 92 from the field (40.2) and 15 of 49 (30.6 percent) from 3.

The Celtics scored the game’s first 10 points and led 26-23 after one quarter. Boston scored 41 points in the second quarter to build a 67-51 halftime lead and was up 96-76 after three quarters.

Boston’s lead peaked at 24 points late in the third quarter. Chicago failed to get closer than 16 points in the fourth.

Boston has won three of the four games between the teams this season.

–Field Level Media

NFL’s Pro Bowl Teams

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ORLANDO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The NFL announced on Wednesday the players participating in each of the on-field and off-field skills competitions that make up the 2025 Pro Bowl Games taking place Thursday and Sunday in Florida.

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The 11 skills challenges are worth three points apiece for a total of 33 available. Points from the flag football game on Sunday will be added to Thursday’s score to determine the winner between the competing AFC and NFC sides.

“Passing the Test” is a combination of quarterbacks throwing at various targets in 40 seconds, and teammates answering questions about current Pro Bowl players to try to add more time (10 seconds for a correct response).

The AFC quarterbacks are the Bengals’ Joe Burrow, the Patriots’ Drake May and the Steelers’ Russell Wilson. The trivia partners are the Texans’ Nico Collins, the Dolphins’ Jonnu Smith and the Browns’ Myles Garrett.

The NFC QBs are the Lions’ Jared Goff, the Vikings’ Sam Darnold and the Buccaneers’ Baker Mayfield. Their trivia partners are the Packers’ Josh Jacobs, the 49ers’ Fred Warner and the Bucs’ Mike Evans.

“Safety Catches” pits a wide receiver, tight end and defensive back from each side trying to catch passes while running an obstacle course.

For the AFC: WR Ja’Marr Chase (Bengals), TE Brock Bowers (Raiders) and DB Derek Stingley Jr. (Texans).

For the NFC: WR Justin Jefferson (Vikings), TE Trey McBride (Cardinals) and DB Jaylon Johnson (Bears).

“The Big Spike” pits lineman spiking the football for power and impact.

The AFC participants are OL Rashawn Slater (Chargers) and Joel Bitonio (Browns) and DL Quinnen Williams (Jets). The NFC participants are OL Chris Lindstrom (Falcons) and Frank Ragnow (Lions) and DL Dexter Lawrence (Giants).

“Relay Race” features four players from each squad running 40-yard dashes with a football instead of a baton to hand off.

The AFC relay runners: RB Jonathan Taylor (Colts), CB Pat Surtain II (Broncos), DE Danielle Hunter (Texans), FB Patrick Ricard (Ravens), FS Minkah Fitzpatrick (Steelers), ST Marvin Mims (Broncos), LB Joey Bosa (Chargers), CB Denzel Ward (Browns), WR Jerry Jeudy (Browns), LB Kyle Van Noy (Ravens), LB Nik Bonitto (Broncos) and SS Derwin James (Chargers).

The NFC relay runners: RB Jahmyr Gibbs (Lions), CB Jaycee Horn (Panthers), DE Micah Parsons (Cowboys), SS Brian Branch (Lions), CB Devon Witherspoon (Seahawks), ST KhaDarel Hodge (Falcons), DE Nick Bosa (49ers), RS KaVontae Turpin (Cowboys), WR Malik Nabers (Giants), LB Bobby Wagner (Commanders), LB Jared Verse (Rams) and SS Budda Baker (Cardinals).

“Helmet Harmony” tests players knowledge of their NFL teammates.

The AFC participants: Cameron Heyward and Miles Killebrew of the Steelers; Dion Dawkins and Connor McGovern of the Bills; and Marlon Humphrey and Kyle Hamilton of the Ravens.

The NFC participants: Vita Vea and Tristan Wirfs of the Buccaneers; Jonathan Greenard and Brian O’Neill of the Vikings; and Rashan Gary and Xavier McKinney of the Packers.

“Dodgeball” features four teams of seven players and has a total of six points available.

AFC players: Jeffrey Simmons (Titans), Logan Cooke (Jaguars), Ronnie Stanley (Ravens), Chris Boswell (Steelers), Joe Mixon (Texans), Isaac Seumalo (Steelers), Tyler Linderbaum (Ravens), Patrick Queen (Steelers), Quenton Nelson (Colts), Zaire Franklin (Colts), Brian Thomas Jr. (Jaguars), James Cook (Bills), Ross Matiscik (Jaguars) and Trey Hendrickson (Bengals).

NFC players: Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Seahawks), Erik McCoy (Saints), Leonard Williams (Seahawks), Bijan Robinson (Falcons), Robert Hunt (Panthers), Taylor Decker (Lions), Jack Fox (Lions), Kyle Juszczyk (49ers), Tyler Smith (Cowboys), Andrew Van Ginkel (Vikings), George Kittle (49ers), Andrew DePaola (Vikings), Brandon Aubrey (Cowboys) and Byron Murphy (Vikings).

“Punt Perfect” tests the punting accuracy of a one punter and one non-punter from each conference. AFC: Cooke (punter) and Humphrey. NFC: Fox (punter) and Juszczyk.

The Madden NFL 25 Competition features the AFC’s James and Thomas, and the NFC’s Jefferson and Parsons.

The “Great Football Race” consists of five challenges in a relay race. The AFC is represented by Garrett, Linderbaum, Slater, Boswell, Matiscik and McGovern. The NFC participants are Parsons, Ragnow, Wirfs, Aubrey, DePaola and McCoy.

The “Tug-of-War” features the AFC’s Nelson, Seumalo, Bitonio, Stanley, Dawkins, Hendrickson, Hunter, Simmons, Heyward, Q. Williams. The NFC is going with Lindstrom, Tyler Smith, Hunt, O’Neill, Decker, Gary, N. Bosa, Lawrence, Vea, L. Williams.

Flag football rosters:

AFC: Burrow, Maye, Wilson, Mixon, Taylor, Cook, Ricard, Chase, Jeudy, Collins, Thomas, Bowers, J. Smith, Linderbaum, McGovern, Van Noy, Bonito, J. Bosa, Queen, Franklin, Humphrey, Ward, Surtain, Stingley, Fitzpatrick, Hamilton, James, Mims, Killebrew.

NFC: Goff, Darnold, Mayfield, Gibbs, Jacobs, Robinson, Juszcyk, Jefferson, Nabers, Evans, Smith-Njigba, McBridge, Kittle, Ragnow, McCoy, Verse, Greenard, Van Ginkel, Warner, Wagner, Horn, Johnson, Murphy, Weatherspoon, McKinney, Baker, Branch, Turpin, Hodge.

–Field Level Media

Chiefs Beat Bills for Super Bowl LIX Bid

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KANSAS CITY – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Harrison Butker kicked a tiebreaking 35-yard field goal with 3:33 remaining as the Kansas City Chiefs recorded a wild 32-29 victory over the visiting Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday to reach the Super Bowl for the third straight season.

Patrick Mahomes accounted for three touchdowns (two rushing, one passing) as top-seeded Kansas City eliminated the Bills from the postseason for the fourth time in the past five seasons. Kareem Hunt rushed for a touchdown, and Xavier Worthy had six receptions for 85 yards and one score.

The Chiefs will face the NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9 in New Orleans. Kansas City will be looking to become the first team to win three consecutive Super Bowls.

Mahomes completed 18 of 26 passes for 245 yards and added 43 on 11 rushes as the Chiefs won their ninth consecutive postseason game.

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Josh Allen was 22-of-34 passing for 237 yards and two touchdowns for the second-seeded Bills, who were trying to earn their first Super Bowl appearance in 31 years.

James Cook rushed for 85 yards and two touchdowns while Mack Hollins and Curtis Samuel had scoring receptions for Buffalo.

Kansas City drove 51 yards in eight plays to set up Butker’s go-ahead kick.

The Bills faced fourth-and-5 from their own 47-yard line on their next possession when the Chiefs heavily blitzed Allen, and his desperation throw for Dalton Kincaid fell incomplete with 1:54 left.

Two plays later, Kansas City’s Isiah Pacheco took a short pass 10 yards for a first down. The Bills then had a chance to force a punt on third-and-9, but Mahomes hit Samaje Perine out of the backfield for 17 yards to clinch the victory.

Buffalo took a 22-21 lead on Cook’s 1-yard TD run with 2:56 left in the third quarter to cap a 12-play, 80-yard drive. The ensuing two-point conversion try failed.

The Bills later had possession, but Allen was stopped for no gain on fourth-and-1 from the Kansas City 41-yard line, giving the Chiefs the ball with 12:55 remaining in the game.

Just five plays later, Mahomes ran to the end zone for a 10-yard score and followed with a two-point conversion pass to Justin Watson to give Kansas City a 29-22 lead with 10:14 left.

Buffalo answered and tied the score on Allen’s 4-yard touchdown pass to Samuel on fourth-and-goal with 6:15 to play.

Kansas City held a 21-16 halftime lead.

The Chiefs drove 90 yards in nine plays on their first possession, with Hunt scoring on a 12-yard run.

Buffalo scored the next 10 points on Tyler Bass’ 53-yard field goal in the opening quarter and Cook’s 6-yard TD run with 10:25 left in the first half.

Kansas City took a 14-10 lead on Mahomes’ 11-yard touchdown pass to Worthy with 4:13 left in the second quarter. Mahomes added a 1-yard scoring run with 1:55 to go to give the Chiefs a 21-10 advantage.

Buffalo responded with Allen’s 34-yard touchdown pass to Hollins with 23 seconds remaining in the frame. A two-point conversion attempt failed.

–Field Level Media

Philly Crushes DC for SB LIX Berth

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PHILADELPHIA – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley rushed for three touchdowns apiece, and the Philadelphia Eagles pulled away for a 55-23 win over the visiting Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship Game Sunday afternoon.

Barkley rushed for 118 yards and Hurts threw for 246 yards and a TD for Philadelphia, which advanced to play in Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9 in New Orleans. The Eagles scored eight touchdowns and reached the Super Bowl for the fifth time in team history and the second time in three seasons.

The Commanders pulled within 14-12 midway through the second quarter. Zane Gonzalez made a 46-yard kick for his second field goal of the afternoon, and McLaurin broke a tackle on his way to a 36-yard touchdown catch with 7:05 remaining in the half.

The Eagles pulled ahead 27-12 after scoring two touchdowns in 65 seconds. Hurts lurched forward for a 1-yard score with 1:44 left in the half, and after the Commanders fumbled on the kickoff return, Philadelphia took advantage as Hurts found A.J. Brown for a 4-yard touchdown.

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Gonzalez cut the deficit to 27-15 with a 42-yard field goal just before halftime.

Hurts put Philadelphia on top 34-15 with 8:58 left in the third quarter. He took the snap out of the shotgun and weaved through traffic for a 9-yard score.

Daniels brought Washington within 34-23 on the next possession. He scored on a 10-yard run, then passed to Olamide Zaccheaus for a two-point conversion.

Hurts’ third rushing touchdown made it 41-23 with 12:24 to play. Washington drew multiple penalties for encroachment trying to stop the “Brotherly Shove,” and ultimately Hurts and the Eagles got their way as teammates pushed the quarterback across the goal line yet again.

Barkley scored his third touchdown on a 4-yard run with 7:58 remaining.

Rookie Will Shipley finished the scoring with a 2-yard rushing touchdown with 3:03 to go, two plays after ripping off a 57-yard run. The Eagles finished with 229 yards on the ground.

–Field Level Media

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | Jan 26

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By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – Take your Super Bowl Sunday and toss it in a Crock Pot of chili. Let it simmer. Take your World Cup final and toss it in a vat of the best guacamole you’ve ever had in your life. Take Sunday at The Masters and go dine at the Augusta House of Pancakes. The Kentucky Derby is a great day but it stands alone. I’ll take the AFC/NFC Championship Sunday over all of those great sporting events every day of the year.

Get the Smorgasbord of All-Time ready. Sunday (January 26, 2025) is our day!

Yes, there are a bunch of great days in sports, but the doubleheader on tap today is certainly one, if not, “the” best days on the annual calendar of sports specialties. This year, it’s the upstart Washington (DC) Commanders against the venerable Philadelphia Eagles at The Linc in the first game (3pm ET) on FOX while the nightcap of the Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead (6:30pm ET) on CBS, might prove to be the best game of the year.

In the NFL season, the conference championships are the best because of the fact it’s a twin bill. The Super Bowl is great, don’t get me wrong, but Championship Sunday brings memories on top of memories. Maybe another great day for NFL football, opening week Sunday can compare, especially for us Fantasy Football geeks who are wondering how our teams will fare, inevitably benching two great wide receivers while starting a pair of duds.

While it’s been touched on here before, humor this WWYI columnist as some of the other great days in sports are listed in the paragraphs to come. It can be an endless list, to be sure.

Let’s put aside Game 7s, as they take on a life of their own during the World Series, NBA Finals or the NHL’s Stanley Cup Final. A Game 7 overtime to decide the Stanley Cup Champion is the most intense experience in sports, no doubt. But we’re here to focus on some of the most amazing days sports has to offer.

Looking back, the U.S. Open tennis tournament had an all-time day when the men’s semifinals sandwiched the women’s final on a Saturday to remember, especially when John McEnroe played Jimmy Connors in the nightcap. The USTA, so rightfully, changed the schedule to give the women’s final a night of its own.

Here in Boston, we have some pretty good twin bills. Patriots’ Day, with the Boston Marathon blending with an 11:00am first pitch at Fenway Park, is one of the best day of the year and certainly the most inspiring as you witness the everyday runners competing on the same course as the champions. And take an afternoon NBA or NHL Playoff game and pair it with an April or May or June night game at Fenway, and you’re looking at a day in paradise.

But there’s plenty of other sporting events to contemplate. Here are just a few:

  • NCAA Opening Round Thursday and Friday
  • NCAA Final Four Saturday
  • BIG EAST Thursday and Friday
  • The ACC Basketball Semis
  • Breeders’ Cup Championship (seven World Series games on one afternoon)
  • The Beanpot (BC, BU, Northeastern & Harvard playing ice hockey)
  • NCAA Lacrosse Final Four Semis
  • The Frozen Four Semis
  • Olympic Gold Medal and Bronze Medal games in Men’s Basketball
  • The new CFP (College Football Playoffs) – First Round Tripleheader
  • Thanksgiving Day NFL Football (Detroit and Dallas hosting)

The only thing Better in sports or entertainment?

How about the Allman Brothers Band at Red Rocks (near Denver, Colorado) playing Jessica, Les Brers In A Minor, Dreams and In Memory of Elizabeth Reed at the same show?

Oh, we’re talking rock shows?

Don’t get me started.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: Picks for NFC/AFC Championship today? Tough calls, as the Commanders keep winning and the Bills and QB Josh Allen are due. After all, you’re either hot or you’re due.

The Philadelphia Eagles (-6) is the play in the National Football Conference with the fact that Saquon Barkley and the vaunted Eagles’ fans at The Linc will help bring it home.

The American Football Conference championship is a much tougher call, especially since two of my dearest friends in the whole wide world support the teams that will play and – undoubtedly – beat each others brains to bits.

The Chiefs are healthy but the Bills are a bit banged up, especially in the secondary.

While I think the Buffalo Bills and Josh Allen are due, I just can’t recommend anyone betting against KC QB Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. That said, if you’re thinking of playing KC, I’d go with the money line, and if you’re thinking of playing the Bills, take the measly (+2) and picture an overtime when KC scores and kicks an extra point, only to leave the Bills a chance to score and go for two points to win it.

It’s only 18 days until Red Sox Pitchers & Catchers report.

  • Truck Day: Monday, Feb. 3
  • Pitchers and catchers report Wednesday, Feb. 12
  • Full Squad Workout: Wednesday, Feb. 17

It’s only 49 days until NCAA Selection Sunday.

Minnesota Wild team owner Craig Leipold broke the news during a podcast interview when asked about the current state of the NHL. Although the esteemed NHL Commissioner Gary B. Bettman has made no formal announcement of his future plans, Leipold indicated the NHL governors are beginning to make plans for a hockey league without Bettman at the top. Bettman, 72, has been the NHL’s commissioner since February 1993. His tenure has been the longest in league history, surpassing Clarence Campbell, who was the NHL President for 31 years from 1946–1977. “The fact that Gary is going to be retiring, you know, that’s a concerning factor,” Leipoid said on “The Sick Podcast” with Pierre McGuire and Jimmy Murphy. “There’s a lot of us who know how well Gary has been as a commissioner in this league, and what he’s done for all the teams and the players. It’s going to be a sad day when he’s not part of it. … But you know, that’s a couple years down the road and we’re doing the planning now. We have to make sure we get it right when he leaves. Right now, that’s kind of the only thing that’s on the horizon.”

Who’s Got Next? That’s the toughest question on the ice.

The logical answer would be to promote Bill Daly, the current NHL deputy commissioner and chief legal officer, but the NHL is known to act in strange ways and an outsider might be the choice of the Canadian power brokers of the NHL (Toronto and Montreal).

NHL aficionados might suggest a famous former player to take on the job, but a multi-millionaire legend, usually yucking-it-up at celebrity golf outings or being paid nicely to adorn the set of an NHL broadcast, is not likely to seek a job where they work 12 to 15 hour days dealing with the vast problems and financial difficulties, or league/player collective bargaining negotiations, difficult decisions on Olympic participation or enforcing player safety rules with fines and suspensions.

TIDBITS: One thing the NBA didn’t anticipate for the first of two NBA Paris Games? How about a 30-point blow-out, with the San Antonio Spurs crushing the Indiana Pacers, 140-110. A line score for San Antonio’s incredible Wemby? 30, 11, 6 and 5 blocks, including a 2:25 span to end the third quarter with four points, three rebounds, three blocked shots and two assists. The crowd of 15,935 at the Chia Pet of arenas certainly went home happy this past Thursday. … The Pacers returned the favor and blew out the Spurs on Saturday, 136-98.

The NCAA – with the exception of member schools like UNLV and Nevada Reno – was dead set against the ‘evils’ of Las Vegas until Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Conference Championship tournaments filled the coffers of schools and televison partners. In 2027, it’ll be even bigger, as the College Football Playoffs will culminate at Allegiant Stadium in Vegas to crown the national champion.

“Las Vegas has shown the world they have amazing venues and boundless energy to host an event like the College Football Playoff national championship in spectacular fashion,” said Rich Clark, executive director of the College Football Playoff. “I can’t think of a better stage to crown the best team in college football in 2027. I want to thank Steve Hill and the entire Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority for the hard work and dedication they put in to making this day a reality for their city.”

Hill reeled in another huge event for sin city. “Pairing the energy of Las Vegas with the College Football Playoff National Championship will make for a truly extraordinary event, both on and off the field,” said Hill, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. “We appreciate the opportunity the CFP has provided us to welcome college football’s great athletes and biggest fans for an unmatched national championship experience in the city built for celebration.”

Las Vegas will become the third city in the Pacific time zone to host the CFP title game, joining the Bay Area (2019) and Los Angeles (2023). Here is the whole list:

Looking Ahead:

  • 2027 Las Vegas
  • 2026 South Florida

Looking Back:

  • 2025 Atlanta
  • 2024 Houston
  • 2023 Los Angeles
  • 2022 Indianapolis
  • 2021 South Florida
  • 2020 New Orleans
  • 2019 Bay Area (California)
  • 2018 Atlanta
  • 2017 Tampa Bay
  • 2016 Arizona
  • 2015 North Texas

THIS JEST IN: Our friends at Sportico reported on Fanatics, noting: ‘“Fanatics Commerce, which includes its core apparel and merchandise sales, represented about $6.2 billion of sales, or 77% of total revenue. Fanatics Collectibles, the trading card unit, brought in about $1.6 billion. Revenue at Fanatics Betting & Gaming was about $300 million.” Add it up and you’ve got an $8.1b company.

YOU CAN’T MAKE IT UP: There’s a Long Islander who played a game of “Free Parking” at the local pro hockey rink that even hockey Hall of Famer Brad Park would’ve sniffed out in a two minute call for “charging.” It’s a crime that might land the crook a jail sentence and serious fine, never mind the loss of a good job at the UBS Arena – home of the New York Islanders. A parking attendant working the lots around Belmont Park pocketed nearly $5,000 since last spring, offering concert goers and Islanders’ fans a discounted parking rate at the arena lots by sending the fees directly to his personal Venmo account instead of being processed to the UBS coffers, according to Nassau County prosecutors. … Tremayne Brown, 26, of Queens, was charged with falsifying business records and grand larceny after authorities said they discovered Brown promised a discount to drivers attending events at the Elmont, Long Island (New York) venue. … Prosecutors say the alleged scheme unraveled after his supervisor overheard him tell a woman heading to the January 12 “Disney on Ice” performance to “pay using Venmo to save on fees.” … Easy surveillance and follow-up caught the digital thief red-handed as records showed Venmo deposits dating back to last spring, all coinciding with events and Islanders games at The UBS. … The parallel parking pilferer pleaded ‘not guilt’ at a preliminary hearing and was released with the case pending.

While We’re Young (Ideas) is a weekly (every weekend) collection of Sports Notes and News written by Terry Lyons. The posting of each notebook harkens back to the days when you’d walk over to the city newsstand on Saturday night around 10pm to pick-up a copy of the Sunday papers. Inside, just waiting, was a sports-filled compilation of interesting notes, quotes and quips in a column that always sold a few newspapers.

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes is brought to you by Digital Sports Desk.

-TL-

NFC/AFC Championship Previews

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KANSAS CITY – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Four teams are left in the race for the Lombardi.

Two-time defending champion Kansas City, the top seed in the AFC, welcomes an opponent the Chiefs know all too well — and not just because of a 30-21 loss at Buffalo on Nov. 17.

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This is the fourth postseason meeting in five years between the Bills and Chiefs, with marquee quarterbacks front and center.

A new name in lights, rookie Jayden Daniels, orchestrated a landslide upset of the NFC favorite and No. 1-seeded Detroit Lions last week to set up the Washington Commanders for a third game in three months against East division rival Philadelphia.

The Eagles are crossing their fingers quarterback Jalen Hurts can be ready after a knee injury slowed him down in a 28-22 home win over the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional playoffs. Philadelphia’s plan still centers around the man lined up behind Hurts — running back Saquon Barkley — who delivered the goods in both games with Washington in the regular season.

More details and all the dirt on Sunday’s AFC Championship and NFC Championship in the capsules below:

NFC Championship Game
No. 6 Washington Commanders (14-5) at No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles (16-3)
Sunday, 3 p.m. ET, FOX/FOX Deportes

The NFC title game in Philadelphia completes a trilogy between rivals and the fifth time teams from the same division square off in the conference championship. This is Washington’s first championship game appearance since 1991, when the franchise won its last Super Bowl.

Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni has 52 wins in his first four seasons. Only George Seifert, who inherited a gunpowder-infused roster in San Francisco, has more victories (57). Joe Gibbs and Mike Tomlin are the only head coaches with two Super Bowl appearances in their first four seasons. Sirianni would join them with a win over Washington today.

Previously this season, the Eagles defeated the Commanders, 26-18, on Nov. 14 as Barkley rushed for 146 yards, including two rushing touchdowns in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter to seal the win. In Week 16, Washington overcame a 13-point fourth quarter deficit to defeat Philadelphia, 36-33, as Daniels set a career high with five TD passes. He threw the game-winning TD with six seconds left after Eagles backup Kenny Pickett’s pass to likely seal the win was dropped by Barkley.

Philadelphia ranked No. 1 in total defense in 2024 and intercepted Daniels three times in two games. At the heart of the defense, second-year defensive tackle Jalen Carter took over late in last week’s win over the Rams with a key sack and forced fumble. Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury threw a few bouquets at Carter this week, calling him “maybe the best I’ve ever seen” at the position. The Eagles have more firepower behind Carter with Defensive Player of the Year candidate Zack Baun and all-rookie defensive backs Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. Mitchell’s shoulder injury forced him out of last week’s game.

Barkley has the third-most rushing yards (2,329) and is fourth in total yards (2,638) in the NFL’s single-season record books. Broncos running back Terrell Davis set the record in 1998.

The game is a second homecoming for Commanders tight end Zach Ertz, who is second in Eagles franchise history to Hall of Famer Harold Carmichael with 639 receptions. Ertz caught a TD pass for visiting Washington when the teams played in November.

AFC Championship Game
No. 2 Buffalo Bills (15-4) at No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs (16-2)
Sunday, 6:30 p.m. ET, CBS/Paramount+

Buffalo beat the Chiefs after Kansas City’s 9-0 start to the regular season, taking a 30-21 victory to push the Bills’ regular-season winning streak over the Chiefs to four games. But Kansas City rattled off six consecutive wins to earn the No. 1 seed and first-round bye in the AFC. The Chiefs have three consecutive victories over the Bills in the playoffs — the 2020 AFC Championship Game and 2021 and 2023 AFC divisional wins.

Quarterback Josh Allen is tightening the margins for opponents by taking care of the ball. Buffalo sports a plus-27 turnover margin and is the first team in NFL history with zero turnovers in four consecutive playoff games. Including the postseason, the Bills lead the NFL with 35 takeaways and a league-low eight turnovers in 19 total games. No team has ever reached the Super Bowl with 10 or fewer turnovers.

Counterpart Patrick Mahomes knows a thing or two about coming out on top in close games. Turnovers? It’s been eight games — since Week 12 of the regular season — without losing the ball for Kansas City, as the Chiefs peak on schedule. The Chiefs have won eight playoff games in a row, the third-longest such streak all-time (2001-2005 New England Patriots – 10 consecutive wins; 1961-67 Green Bay Packers – nine) and since Week 12.

Stopping the run will be a vital element to winning Sunday, Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo noted this week. He pointed to James Cook’s 16 rushing touchdowns and Allen’s game-sealing rumble that beat Kansas City earlier this season.

Buffalo allowed 176 yards rushing to the Ravens, who gained 416 total yards but had three critical turnovers.

Bills safety Taylor Rapp was ruled out with a hip injury on Friday. It’s likely rookie Cole Bishop will be in the starting 11 against Mahomes on Sunday night.

Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is two TD receptions shy of tying the all-time playoff record held by Jerry Rice (22). Kelce hauled in a pair of Mahomes TD passes in the Chiefs’ playoff win at Buffalo last year. He added a touchdown reception as part of a seven-catch, 117-yard game last week to beat the Houston Texans.

Mahomes and Andy Reid have the Chiefs in the AFC Championship for the eighth consecutive season. Mahomes’ 16 playoff wins are second among all starting quarterbacks, he owns the second-highest postseason passer rating (105.6, minimum 150 attempts), fifth-most postseason touchdown passes (42) and eighth-most postseason passing yards (5,312) in NFL playoff history.

Only three teams have reached the Super Bowl three consecutive seasons: the 1990-93 Bills (four consecutive), 1971-73 Miami Dolphins (three) and 2016-18 Patriots (three).

–Field Level Media