AP Sports Digest
Sun, Feb 14, 2021
AP Sports
The highlights of Saturday's 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 supervisor is Fred Lief, followed by John Nicholson at 5 p.m. and Bob Lentz at 1 a.m. The New York sports desk can be reached at 800-845-8450, ext. 1630. Sports photos, ext. 1918; graphics, ext. 7636. Agate, 877-836-9477.
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
CAR--NASCAR-DAYTONA-PANDEMIC PARTY
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Daytona is used to shirtless fans partying in the infield. But what about maskless ones? This is usually the biggest party of the NASCAR season. But on Sunday the challenge will be policing up to 30,000 fans who may have little interest in sticking to virus guidelines. By Dan Gelston. SENT: 900 words, photos, video. With sidebars on rained-out practices (sent), Kurt Busch (sent), Xfinity race (5 p.m. start).
TEN--AUSTRALIAN OPEN
MELBOURNE, Australia - Serena Williams resumes her quest for a record-tying 24th Grand Slam singles title when she plays Aryna Sabalenka in the fourth round. In other key women's matches, it's Garbine Muguruza vs. Naomi Osaka, and Iga Swiatek vs. Simona Halep. Eight-time Australian champion Novak Djokovic, injured in his last match, is to play Milos Raonic at night. UPCOMING: 1,000 words, photos. Play starts 7 p.m. With Latest, sidebars on merit.
GLF-PEBBLE BEACH
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. -- Jordan Spieth, winless in more than three years, has a one-shot lead over Daniel Berger going into a rainy third round at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 7:30 p.m.
SOC--ENGLAND-SOCIAL MEDIA ABUSE
Death threats. Racist abuse. Sexist slurs. Social media accounts allowed to stay active even after hurling bile. English soccer reaches a breaking point with players, coaches, referees and officials aghast at the proliferation of hatred aimed at them. By Global Soccer Writer Rob Harris. SENT: 1,000 words, photos.
COMMENTARY
FBN-ON FOOTBALL-SELF-DESTRUCTING TEXANS
HOUSTON - J.J. Watt is gone and Deshaun Watson wants out. The Houston Texans have been making plenty of headlines this offseason, none of it good. Watt was released at his request, and things could get even worse with a possible standoff looming with the quarterback. By Kristie Rieken. SENT: 750 words, photos.
NOTABLE
TEN--AUSTRALIAN OPEN-FACING THE GREATS
When a lesser player faces the likes of Rafael Nadal or Serena Williams, it can offer a lot of opportunities: a chance to meet an idol, measure up, soak up the spotlight, deliver a career-altering upset. More likely, it's a chance for a lopsided loss. And to some, that's OK. By Tennis Writer Howard Fendrich. SENT: 750 words, photos. Early lead for main Australian Open story. Play starts 7 p.m.
TEN-AUSTRALIAN OPEN-NO FANS
MELBOURNE, Australia -- The Australian Open had a familiar buzz the first five days. Then came a hard lockdown because of a sudden outbreak of COVID-19 cases, ending the festive feel to the season's first Grand Slam tournament. By Justin Bergman. SENT: 900 words, photos.
BKN--NETS-WARRIORS
SAN FRANCISCO -- Kevin Durant returns to the Bay Area for a reunion, facing the Warriors team with which he won two titles before leaving for the Brooklyn Nets. By Janie McCauley. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos. Game starts 8:30 p.m.
BKC--T25-VILLANOVA-CREIGHTON
OMAHA, Neb. -- No. 5 Villanova, winner in 10 of its last 11 and coming off a 32-point victory over Marquette, visits No. 19 Creighton in a key Big East game. By Eric Olson. UPCOMING: 650 words, photos. Game starts 5 p.m.
HKN--GOLDEN KNIGHTS-SHARKS
SAN JOSE, Calif. - The San Jose Sharks play their first home game of the season following 12 straight on the road when they host the Vegas Golden Knights. By Josh Dubow. UPCOMING: 650 words, photos. Game starts 4 p.m.
SKI--WORLDS-WOMEN'S DOWNHILL
CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy - Corinne Suter ends Switzerland's 32-year wait for a women's downhill world title, winning her fourth straight medal at a major championship but the first gold. Mikaela Shiffrin was among the big names sitting out the race. By Eric Willemsen. SENT: 700 words, photos. With sidebars on Ted Ligety (sent), Breezy Johnson), Kira Weidle (sent).
FBO--MANZIEL MOVES ON
ATLANTA -- Johnny Football has moved on from the game that gave him is nickname. Johnny Manziel, for the most part, is done with football after a self-destructing pro career that never came close to matching his college exploits. By Paul Newberry. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 5 p.m.
FBN--NFL ALUMNI PROGRAMS
Star cornerback Richard Sherman, one of football's most outspoken leaders, is part of an initiative with the NFL Alumni Association that stresses financial literacy. He wants players ready for when they're no longer in uniform and perhaps in another line of work. By Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner. SENT: 600 words, photos.
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Saturday Time Schedule (EST)
NBA
Philadelphia at Phoenix, 3 p.m.
Indiana at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Houston at New York, 8 p.m.
Brooklyn at Golden State, 8:30 p.m.
Miami at Utah, 9 p.m.
NHL
Ottawa at Winnipeg, 3 p.m.
Vegas at San Jose, 4 p.m.
Boston at N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m.
Montreal at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Florida, 7 p.m.
Carolina at Dallas, 8 p.m.
Columbus at Chicago, 8 p.m.
Detroit at Nashville, 8 p.m.
St. Louis at Arizona, 8 p.m.
Calgary at Vancouver, 10 p.m.
College Basketball (Top 25)
Men
No. 1 Gonzaga at San Francisco, 6 p.m.
No. 4 Ohio St. vs. Indiana, noon
No. 5 Villanova at No. 19 Creighton, 5 p.m.
No. 9 Virginia vs. North Carolina, 6 p.m.
No. 10 Missouri vs. Arkansas, 4 p.m.
No. 11 Alabama vs. Georgia, 3:30 p.m.
No. 12 Oklahoma at No. 14 West Virginia, 1 p.m.
No. 13 Texas vs. TCU, 2 p.m.
No. 15 Iowa at Michigan St., 2:30 p.m.
No. 16 Tennessee at LSU, 2 p.m.
No. 17 Florida St. vs. Wake Forest, noon
No. 20 Southern California at Washington St., 8 p.m.
No. 22 Loyola Chicago at Drake, noon
No. 23 Oklahoma St. vs. Kansas St., noon
No. 25 Rutgers vs. Northwestern, 5 p.m.
Women
No. 5 Stanford at Oregon St., 11 p.m.
No. 14 South Florida vs. Tulsa, 4 p.m.
No. 17 Gonzaga vs. Santa Clara, 5 p.m.
No. 23 South Dakota St. at Oral Roberts, 3 p.m.
No. 25 Missouri St. at Illinois St., 5 p.m.
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