AP Sports Digest
Wed, Feb 3, 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 supervisor is Bob Lentz until 3 am. The day supervisor is Rebecca Miller at 9 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-QB WHISPERERS
Clyde Christensen mentored Andrew Luck and Peyton Manning but had never met Tom Brady before becoming his quarterbacks coach this season. Tom Moore, the Buccaneers' 82-year-old consultant, has worked with Terry Bradshaw, Manning and now Brady. By Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 3 a.m.
US-SUPER BOWL-STRIP CLUBS
TAMPA, Fla. - A global pandemic and reduced Super Bowl attendance could affect one storied business in the city of Tampa: strip clubs. With only 22,000 fans able to attend the game and a citywide mask mandate, Tampa's numerous strip clubs and their dancers are worried how this year will shake out. By Tamara Lush. UPCOMING: 760 words, photos by 3 a.m.
TEN--AUSTRALIAN OPEN-SO MUCH TENNIS
MELBOURNE, Australia - Erima Nishimura sure picked a pretty decent day to bring her 9-year-old son, Yoshiharu, to Melbourne Park for the first time to see some tennis. So much tennis: There were 89 matches on the schedule Wednesday, featuring Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, Stan Wawrinka and eight other Grand Slam singles champions. It's all part of a six-tournament setup meant to help players prepare in short order amid a pandemic for the Australian Open -- yes, a half-dozen tournaments, and all held at one site, the venue where the year's first Grand Slam event begins next week. By John Pye. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos by 3 a.m.
BBN--TRADING ARENADO
DENVER -- Nolan Arenado forced his way out of Colorado by steadfastly sticking to a request to be traded. The eight-time Gold Glove winner and five-time All-Star got his wish in being dealt to the St. Louis Cardinals. By Pat Graham. SENT: 1,100 words, photos.
HKN-AROUND THE NHL
Most NHL teams are keeping two goaltenders busy, trying to keep them fresh as the frequency of games picks up with the league shooting to squeeze 56 games into less than four months. By Hockey Writer Larry Lage. UPCOMING: 810 words, photos by 3 a.m.
COMMENTARY
GLF--ON THE FRINGE-REED
Patrick Reed's rules violation in the Bahamas was worth more than two shots. There is no greater punishment in golf than being stuck with a reputation for cheating. That tainted views of a similar incident involving two very different players at Torrey Pines. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. SENT: 850 words, photos. With glance, Golf Notes (sent).
BBO--ON BASEBALL-MLB LABOR ANALYSIS
NEW YORK -- A work stoppage at the start of spring training 2022 seems likely after players refuse to negotiate with owners over a delay for this spring training. This comes after players were unable to reach a deal over the start of the pandemic-shortened 2021 season. By Baseball Writer Ronald Blum. SENT: 940 words, photos.
NOTABLE
FBN--SUPER BOWL-BIENIEMY
Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy doesn't enjoy being the "poster boy" for minority assistants unable to land NFL head coaching jobs. He'll try to figure that out later. For now, he'll concentrate on getting Kansas City to a second straight Super Bowl title. By Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow. SENT: 800 words, photos.
FBN--SUPER BOWL-CHIEFS-LATE-ROUND LOVE
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- It takes hitting at a high percentage on late-round fliers and undrafted rookies to be able to carry the size of contracts that Kansas City has lavished on its stars. By Dave Skretta. SENT: 860 words, photos.
FBN--SUPER BOWL-4TH DOWN CALLS
If the Super Bowl comes down to a key fourth-down call from one of the coaches, history shows Kansas City's Andy Reid will be more inclined to make the better decision than Tampa Bay's Bruce Arians. By Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow. SENT: 700 words, photos.
FBN--SUPER BOWL-SHAQ ATTACK
With some advice from mentor Von Miller, Tampa Bay pass rusher Shaquil Barrett aims to wreck Patrick Mahomes' plans for a parade the same way Miller destroyed Cam Newton's party plans in Super Bowl 50 five years ago. By Pro Football Writer Arnie Stapleton. SENT: 900 words, photos.
FBN--SPORTS BETTING-SUPER BOWL
Betting on the Super Bowl is expected to drop this year. Many people still haven't returned to work settings, where office pools are filled out, and fewer plan to bet in person at sports books, casinos and horse tracks. By Wayne Parry. SENT: 600 words, photos.
FBN-INSIDE THE NUMBERS
A 10th trip to the Super Bowl puts Tom Brady in some exclusive company across sports. Brady's 10th trip to the title round comes a few months after LeBron James did the same in the NBA Finals, making them the only players in the four major North American sports leagues to do that in more than 30 years. By Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow. UPCOMING: 760 words, photos by 3 a.m.
FBN-ESPN-AL DAVIS
When director Ken Rodgers decided to do a documentary looking back on the battles between late Raiders owner Al Davis and late NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle, he decided he wanted to tell the stories from their perspectives. By Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow. UPCOMING: 780 words, photos.
- With Super Bowl Notebook, Dolly Parton Q&A (Super Bowl commercial; sent).
- For all of AP's Super Bowl coverage, visit our hub in AP Newsroom.
BBO-ANGELS-CALLAWAY-HARASSMENT
ANAHEIM, Calif. - Pitching coach Mickey Callaway has been suspended by the Los Angeles Angels after allegations of inappropriate behavior toward several women who work in sports media. By Greg Beacham. SENT: 440 words, photos.
BKC--T25-BAYLOR-TEXAS
AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas played Baylor tougher than most teams have this season. The Bears still shrugged off the Longhorns to stay unbeaten. By Jim Vertuno. SENT: 680 words, photos. With BKC-Pac-12 This Week (upcoming).
BKL--SKY-PARKER
CHICAGO -- Candace Parker says she is excited to join her hometown team after signing with the Chicago Sky. The two-time WNBA MVP left Los Angeles after spending her first 13 seasons with the Sparks. By Andrew Seligman. SENT: 690 words, photos.
BKW--T25-BAYLOR-RICHARDS RECOVERY
WACO, Texas -- Baylor guard DiDi Richards has made an incredible recovery from a preseason practice injury that left her temporarily paralyzed. By Stephen Hawkins. SENT: 740 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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Wednesday Time Schedule (EST)
NBA
Indiana at Milwaukee, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia at Charlotte, 7 p.m.
Dallas at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Houston at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Cleveland, 8 p.m.
New York at Chicago, 8 p.m.
Washington at Miami, 8 p.m.
Minnesota at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
Phoenix at New Orleans, 9:30 p.m.
Boston at Sacramento, 10 p.m.
NHL
Detroit at Tampa Bay, 5:30 p.m.
Boston at Philadelphia, 8 p.m.
College Basketball (Top 25)
Men
No. 3 Villanova at St. John's, 9 p.m.
No. 5 Houston at E. Carolina, 6 p.m.
No. 10 Alabama vs. LSU, 7 p.m.
No. 14 Virginia at NC State, 9 p.m.
No. 15 Creighton vs. Georgetown, 9 p.m.
No. 16 Virginia Tech at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.
No. 18 Missouri vs. Kentucky, 7 p.m.
No. 22 Florida vs. South Carolina, 6:30 p.m.
Women
No. 3 UConn vs. St. John's, 6:30 p.m.
No. 21 West Virginia vs. Iowa St., 7 p.m.
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