AP Sports Digest
Sun, Feb 7, 2021
AP Sports
The highlights of Sunday'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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All times EST
The supervisor is Rebecca Miller, followed by Ben Nuckols 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
FBN-SUPER BOWL
TAMPA, Fla. - Tom Brady goes for a seventh ring, this time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while Patrick Mahomes seeks a second in a row with the Kansas City Chiefs in the first Super Bowl with the host team playing in its home stadium. The Chiefs are trying to become the first repeat champs since the Brady-led New England Patriots in 2003 and 2004. By Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi. UPCOMING: 1,000 words, photos. Game starts 6:30 p.m. With The Latest starting about 3 p.m., scene story, notebook.
- With sidebars on MVP, Key to the Game, Chiefs, Bucs, others on merit.
FBN-SUPER BOWL-THE COVID SEASON
More than the youth of Patrick Mahomes or the agelessness of Tom Brady, the most compelling story about this year's Super Bowl is the fact it's happening at all. It took nearly 1 million COVID-19 tests, thousands of Zoom meetings, a few dozen reschedulings and an untold amount of flexibility for the NFL to not miss a single of the 269 regular-season and postseason games amid a pandemic. By National Writer Eddie Pells. SENT: 1,150 words, photos. Stands as early story for FBN--Super Bowl.
FBN-HALL OF FAME
Seven new members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, including Peyton Manning, speak about the honor. By Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner. SENT: 800 words, photos.
TEN-AUSTRALIAN OPEN
U.S. Open champion Naomi Osaka will get play started on Rod Laver Arena at the Australian Open in her first-round match against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. Following that match on the main show court at Melbourne Park will be Serena Williams continuing her quest for a record 24th Grand Slam singles title. Eight-time champion Novak Djokovic opens against Jeremy Chardy in a night match. By John Pye. UPCOMING: 1,000 words, photos. Play starts 7 p.m. EST. With TEN--Australian Open Crowds, Players thrive with fans back in Australia (sent).
COMMENTARY
FBN--TIM DAHLBERG-SUPER BOWL
AP Sports Columnist Tim Dahlberg writes off Super Bowl 55. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by midnight.
TEN-ON TENNIS-WELCOME BACK
No matter how well Bianca Andreescu plays at the Australian Open, no matter the length of her stay in the draw, what's important is this: One of the most promising talents in tennis is back, participating in a tournament after 15 months away because of injury. There are other returns worth celebrating as the 2021 Grand Slam season gets started, three weeks later than originally planned. By Tennis Writer Howard Fendrich. UPCOMING: 600 words, photo by 5 p.m. EST. Stands as early story for TEN-Australian Open. Will be updated after Andreescu's first-round match, scheduled to begin at about midnight EST.
NOTABLE
GLF--PHOENIX OPEN
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Jordan Spieth took a share of the lead into the final round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open in a bid for his first victory since the 2017 British Open. By John Nicholson. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 10 p.m. With GLF--Saudi International, Dustin Johnson eases to another victory at Saudi International (sent).
HKN--RED WINGS-PANTHERS
SUNRISE, Fla. - The Florida Panthers try to remain the NHL's only unbeaten team when they host the Detroit Red Wings. UPCOMING: 500 words, photos. Game starts 3 p.m.
BKN--CELTICS-SUNS
PHOENIX - The Suns host Jayson Tatum and the Celtics with Phoenix coming off a win over Detroit, while Boston will try to build off a win over the LA Clippers. By David Brandt. UPCOMING: 650 words, photos. Game starts 2 p.m.
SOC--ENGLISH ROUNDUP
LIVERPOOL, England - Manchester City can extend its Premier League lead to five points and inflict another blow to Liverpool's title defense with a victory at Anfield. Tottenham hosts West Bromwich Albion looking to avoid a fourth successive loss, third-placed Leicester is at Wolverhampton and Chelsea takes on last-placed Sheffield United. By Rob Harris. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos by 6 p.m.
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Sunday Time Schedule (EST)
NFL
Super Bowl, Kansas City vs. Tampa Bay, 6:30 p.m.
NBA
Miami at New York, 1 p.m.
Utah at Indiana, 1 p.m.
Washington at Charlotte, 1 p.m.
Boston at Phoenix, 2 p.m.
Sacramento at L.A. Clippers, 3 p.m.
NHL
Philadelphia at Washington, noon
Carolina at Columbus, 3 p.m.
Chicago at Dallas, 3 p.m.
Detroit at Florida, 3 p.m.
Los Angeles at Vegas, 3 p.m.
College Basketball (Top 25)
Men
No. 3 Villanova vs. Georgetown, 2:30 p.m.
No. 8 Iowa at Indiana, noon
No. 25 Drake at Valparaiso, 2 p.m.
Women
No. 1 Louisville vs. Notre Dame, 2 p.m.
No. 4 N.C. State at North Carolina, 2 p.m.
No. 5 UCLA at Washington 5 p.m.
No. 6 Stanford vs. Utah, 4 p.m.
No. 7 Texas A&M at No. 16 Arkansas, 3 p.m.
No. 8 Baylor at Kansas State 2 p.m.
No. 11 Ohio State vs. Minnesota, 1 p.m.
No. 17 Indiana at Iowa, 2 p.m.
No. 20 DePaul at Marquette, noon
No. 22 Northwestern at Michigan State, 3 p.m.
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