AP Sports Digest

Sat, Feb 6, 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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The AP's Ralph Russo hosts the latest AP Top 25 College Football Podcast. https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/idhttps-podcasts-apple-com-us-podcast-ap-top-25-college/id1138957862

TOP STORIES

BKN-VIRUS OUTBREAK-DURANT

NEW YORK - Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant couldn't start a game and then couldn't finish it, removed in the third quarter because of the NBA's health and safety protocols. SENT: 500 words, photos. With BKN-Raptors-Nets (sent).

FBN-SUPER BOWL-GREATS DISCUSS BRADY

Tom Brady was already a member in good standing of the most exclusive club in sports - "The Best of the Best" - before he won three playoff road games to make a record 10th Super Bowl appearance. Just in case he needed more testimonials, The AP asked eight current and former champions from seven sports what impressed them most about the 43-year-old quarterback. By Jim Litke. UPCOMING: 1,400 words, photos by 4 a.m.

FBN-SUPER BOWL-QUARTERBACK STYLES

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Tom Brady is the quintessential pocket passer, standing tall behind his offensive line and slinging the ball all over the place. Patrick Mahomes is the kid in the schoolyard, scrambling around to buy time before chucking it downfield. Two very different styles from two of the game's very best quarterbacks. By Dave Skretta. UPCOMING: 780 words, photos by 4 a.m.

GLF--MOON ANNIVERSARY

One small shot for man. One giant shot for golf fans everywhere. On Feb. 6, 1971, Alan Shepard, commander of NASA's Apollo 14 mission, played golf on the moon. Saturday is the 50th anniversary. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. SENT: 1,100 words, photos, video.

BBN-DODGERS-BAUER

LOS ANGELES - Trevor Bauer is coming home to pitch for the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner announced his decision on Friday. By Beth Harris. SENT: 760 words, photos.

BKW--WOMEN'S NCAA TOURNAMENT

The San Antonio region will host the entire NCAA women's basketball tournament, with the last four rounds at the Alamodome. The move is aimed at mitigating COVID risks and follows last month's decision to play the men's tournament in the Indianapolis area. By Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg. SENT: 680 words, photos.

COMMENTARY

OLY--PAUL NEWBERRY-ARCTIC BID

The tiny Finnish town of Salla is making a tongue-in-cheek bid for the 2032 Summer Olympics. But the real message of this bid is the potentially cataclysmic changes brought on by global warming and climate change. By Sports Columnist Paul Newberry. SENT: 800 words, photos.

NOTABLE

FBN--SUPER BOWL-OFFENSIVE MASTERMINDS

Coaches Andy Reid and Bruce Arians are masterminds on offense, a big reason why the Chiefs and Buccaneers are in Sunday's Super Bowl. Reid adapted Patrick Mahomes to his West Coast offense. Arians modified his "no risk it, no biscuit" philosophy because of Tom Brady. By Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow. SENT: 850 words, photos. With FBN--Super Bowl-Chiefs-Britt Reid (sent).

FBN--NFL-COVID-19

The NFL managed to pull off what seemed improbable, playing the entire season without any canceled games and reaching the Super Bowl on time. They needed nearly 1 million COVID-19 tests and spent heavily on monitoring. By Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi. SENT: 750 words, photos.

FBN--PRO PICKS-SUPER BOWL

Picking against the best team in a Super Bowl isn't particularly wise. Then again, when Tom Brady is the quarterback on the other side, it changes one's thinking. By Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner. SENT: 600 words, graphic. With sidebars on Why the Chiefs will win (sent); Why the Buccaneers will win (sent).

FBN--HALL OF FAME PREVIEW

Fifteen modern-era players, including first-timers Peyton Manning, Charles Woodson and Calvin Johnson, will find out Saturday if they made the 2021 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. By Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner. SENT: 800 words, photos.

FBN--SUPER BOWL FANS-SCENE

TAMPA, Fla. -- The scene around downtown Tampa, Florida, is still bustling with people from the area and a smaller-than-usual flock of out-of-towners gathering during the days leading to the Super Bowl. By Pro Football Writer Dennis Waszak Jr. SENT: 860 words, photos.

FBN-SUPER BOWL-VIEWERS GUIDE

The Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers marks the biggest day of sports broadcasting for networks. CBS is doing the big game for the second time in three years after agreeing to a trade with NBC. By Joe Reedy. SENT: 660 words, photos. With FBN-Super Bowl-TV-Nickelodeon's Role (sent).

- With Notebook (sent). Sidebars onSuper Bowl ads (sent); Glazers/Manchester United.

- For all of AP's Super Bowl coverage, visit our hub in AP Newsroom.

TEN--AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW

The Australian Open begins Monday in Melbourne with Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams eyeing milestone victories and Novak Djokovic and Sofia Kenin defending their titles. But nothing hangs over the upcoming two weeks quite like the coronavirus. By Tennis Writer Howard Fendrich. SENT: 800 words, photos. With men's capsules (sent), women's capsules (sent), draw (sent), trivia quiz (sent), tuneup tournaments (sent).

SOC-MLS-LABOR NEGOTIATIONS

Major League Soccer and its players struck and agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement that will run through the 2027 season. By Anne M. Peterson. SENT: 300 words, photos.

GLF-PHOENIX OPEN

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Steve Stricker is having too much fun at the Waste Management Phoenix Open to stress over a messy finish. Trying to become the oldest winner in PGA Tour history, the 53-year-old U.S. Ryder Cup captain shot a 5-under 66 to get within a stroke of leader Xander Schauffele entering the weekend at TPC Scottsdale.. By John Nicholson. SENT: 740 words. With Saudi International (sent).

HKO--VIRUS OUTBREAK-MINOR LEAGUERS FUTURE

When the pandemic put hockey on ice, many minor league players started planning for what's next. Uncertainty over the short-term future of the American Hockey League and ECHL raised the level of urgency. By Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno. SENT: 860 words, photos.

US-IDITAROD

There has been another dramatic change to the world's most famous sled dog race this year because of the pandemic, with officials announcing that the ceremonial start has been canceled. By Mark Thiessen. SENT: 400 words, photos.

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AP Sports Extra: Super Bowl:

A paginated preview of the Super Bowl on Sunday 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. SENT.

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

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Saturday Time Schedule (EST)

NBA

Portland at New York, 1 p.m.

Denver at Sacramento, 5 p.m.

Chicago at Orlando, 7 p.m.

Brooklyn at Philadelphia, 8 p.m.

Milwaukee at Cleveland, 8 p.m.

Minnesota at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.

San Antonio at Houston, 8 p.m.

Toronto at Atlanta, 8 p.m.

Golden State at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

Memphis at New Orleans, 9 p.m.

Detroit at L.A. Lakers, 10 p.m.

NHL

Montreal at Ottawa, 1 p.m.

Arizona at St. Louis, 3 p.m.

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

Vancouver at Toronto, 7 p.m.

Edmonton at Calgary, 10 p.m.

San Jose at Anaheim, 10 p.m.

College Basketball (Top 25)

Men

No. 5 Houston vs. Our Lady of the Lake, 3 p.m.

No. 6 Texas at Oklahoma St., 3 p.m.

No. 9 Oklahoma vs. Iowa St., Noon

No. 10 Alabama at No. 18 Missouri, Noon

No. 11 Tennessee at Kentucky, 8 p.m.

No. 12 Illinois vs. No. 19 Wisconsin, 2:30 p.m.

No. 13 Texas Tech at Kansas St., 4 p.m.

No. 14 Virginia vs. Pittsburgh, 4 p.m.

No. 15 Creighton at Marquette, 5 p.m.

No. 16 Virginia Tech at Miami, Noon

No. 17 West Virginia vs. No. 23 Kansas, 2 p.m.

No. 21 UCLA at Southern Cal, 10 p.m.

No. 24 Purdue vs. Northwestern, 4:30 p.m.

No. 25 Drake at Valparaiso, 2 p.m.

Women

No. 12 Oregon vs. UC Davis, 9 p.m.

No. 21 West Virginia at Texas, 8 p.m.

No. 23 South Dakota St. vs. South Dakota, 6 p.m.