AP Sports Digest

Mon, Feb 1, 2021
AP Sports

The highlights of the AP Sports report. An up-to-the minute listing of all stories planned, including games and events, is available in Coverage Plan on AP Newsroom, http://newsroom.ap.org/coverageplan You can also find a link to Coverage Plan on the left navigation of the Newsroom home page, http://newsroom.ap.org

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TOP STORIES

BBO-MLB LABOR

NEW YORK - Major League Baseball has proposed a one-month delay in starting spring training due to the coronavirus pandemic and pushing back opening day to April 28, two people familiar with the plan told the AP. By Baseball Writer Ronald Blum. SENT: 660 words, photos.

FBN-SUPER BOWL-PLAYERS' COACHES

Both Andy Reid and Bruce Arians are considered players' coaches, though they do it in different ways. It's a quality that's helped them reach the Super Bowl. By Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi. SENT: 690 words, photos.

FBN-SUPER REMATCH

Tyreek Hill was unstoppable against Tampa Bay in late November. The speedy Kansas City star caught 13 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns in the Chiefs' 27-24 victory that afternoon. Tampa Bay gets another shot at Hill and the Chiefs in the Super Bowl on Sunday. It's the first rematch in the NFL finale in nearly a decade. By Mark Long. SENT: 970 words, photos.

FBN-SUPER BOWL-CHIEFS-UPHILL CLIMB

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Tyreek Hill nearly threw away his career. Twice. Yet he has grown up considerably since his days at Oklahoma State and those early years with the Chiefs, becoming not only one of the most popular players in Kansas City but also one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. By Dave Skretta. SENT: 790 words, photos.

FBN-SUPER BOWL-MAHOMES-BRADY HISTORY

Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes have faced off in a regular-season shootout and a playoff classic. There have been dazzling performances and memorable blunders. Here's a look back at their four previous meetings with each star QB winning twice. By Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow. SENT: 870 words, photos.

FBN-SUPER BOWL-BRADY BUNCH

Some are Hall of Famers who are among the biggest names in the sport. Others are anonymous role players whose contributions went mostly unnoticed by outsiders. They all are part of the Brady Bunch. By Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow. SENT: 890 words, photos, graphic.

SBD-WINTER X-SHAUN WHITE 2021

ASPEN, Colo. - With the mountains closed and the halfpipes shuttered during a pandemic that turned the world and its sports upside down, Shaun White put double-corks on hold and saved his most intense workouts for his mind. By National Writer Eddie Pells. UPCOMING: 1,100 words, photos by 3 a.m.

NOTABLE

GLF-FARMERS INSURANCE OPEN

SAN DIEGO - Patrick Reed was so unaffected by a rules controversy a day earlier that he won the Farmers Insurance Open by five shots, the biggest margin in his nine career PGA Tour victories. SENT: 750 words, photos.

CAR-IMSA-DAYTONA-ROLEX 24

Wayne Taylor Racing overhauled its entire program during the short IMSA offseason and still pulled out its third-consecutive win in the prestigious Rolex 24 at Daytona. By AP Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer. SENT: 960 words, photos. With CAR-IMSA-Rolex-Garcia-COVID (sent).

FRE-WINTER X-COLBY'S RECOVERY

ASPEN, Colo. - Each May 8 for the last four years, freestyle skier Colby Stevenson has a "celebrate life" day with his buddies. It's usually on top of a mountain somewhere. It was on that day in 2016 when he suffered a fractured skull after falling asleep on his way home to Utah from Mount Hood. By Pat Graham. SENT: 830 words, photos.

SOC-TRINIDAD-US

ORLANDO, Fla. - Jesus Ferreira scored his first two international goals and had three assists, and Paul Arriola and Jonathan Lewis scored twice each to power the United States over a rusty Trinidad and Tobago 7-0 in an exhibition. SENT: 870 words, photos.

BKN-76ERS-PACERS

INDIANAPOLIS - Doc Rivers threw a changeup at the Indiana Pacers. It turned out to be the perfect call. By Michael Marot. SENT: 610 words, photos.

FBN-SUPER BOWL-STOPPING TRAFFICKING

Even during a pandemic with ticket sales limited and the off-the-field events drastically scaled back, an event like the Super Bowl also brings with it a seedy underside. The week of the big game can mean a heightened risk of human trafficking. Minnesota quarterback Kirk Cousins is among a handful of NFL players who've joined the cause to fight such atrocities. By Pro Football Writer Dave Campbell. SENT: 820 words, photos.

US-SUPER BOWL-SUPER FANS

PORTLAND, Maine - The Super Bowl is going to look different this year for three friends who've attended every installment of the big game. But Don Crisman, Tom Henschel and Gregory Eaton have tickets in hand and say they will be there, as they have every year since the first AFL-NFL World Championship Game in 1967. The trio, who range in age from 79 to 84, are among an ever-shrinking group of fans who have witnessed every Super Bowl in person. By Patrick Whittle. SENT: 550 words, photos.

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AP Sports Extra: Super Bowl:

A paginated preview of the Super Bowl on Feb. 7 is available by searching "SE" in AP Newsroom under the Graphics tab. Three page sizes are available -- full broadsheet, half broadsheet, tabloid -- with space for local advertising or content. The pages look at the Chiefs-Buccaneers matchup, keys to the game and Super Bowl facts and figures. For questions, contact Barry Bedlan at bbedlan@ap.org

SUPER BOWL 55 PREVIEW: Full-page graphic shows the probable Chiefs and Buccaneers starters, with analysis of offense and defense and key players; team stats for regular and postseason; and statistical QB comparison. 6c x 20 inches. Stand alone or with related Super Bowl stories. UPCOMING: Feb. 3.

SUPER BOWL 55 LOGOS: Super Bowl 55 logo with team helmets, logos. With any Super Bowl stories. SENT.

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Monday Time Schedule (EST)

NBA

Charlotte at Miami, 7:30 p.m.

L.A. Lakers at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.

Houston at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.

Minnesota at Cleveland, 8 p.m.

New York at Chicago, 8 p.m.

Portland at Milwaukee, 8 p.m.

Sacramento at New Orleans, 8 p.m.

Memphis at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.

Phoenix at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

Detroit at Denver, 9 p.m.

NHL

Boston at Washington, 7 p.m.

Nashville at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m.

Pittsburgh at N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m.

Vancouver at Montreal, 7 p.m.

Calgary at Winnipeg, 8 p.m

College Basketball (Top 25)

Men

No. 10 Texas Tech vs. No. 24 Oklahoma, 9 p.m.

No. 25 Louisville vs. Georgia Tech, 2 p.m.

Women

No. 1 Louisville vs. No. 2 NC State, 7 p.m.

No. 14 Ohio St. at No. 23 Northwestern, 8 p.m.