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, …
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AP Sports Digest
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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, https://newsroom.ap.org/coverageplan. You can also find a link to Coverage Plan on the left navigation of the Newsroom home page, https://newsroom.ap.org. Sports content can be found at http://newsroom.ap.org/page/APSports
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PHOENIX — Nick Sirianni answered questions about Rocky, Santa Claus and even which of his players on the Philadelphia Eagles he’d want to date his 5-year-old daughter when she grows up. Welcome to Super Bowl opening night, where football talk gives way to the wild and wacky. By Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi. SENT: 700 words, photos.
FBN--SUPER BOWL-BLACK QBs
PHOENIX — Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni is thrilled that young aspiring football players all over the world will get to watch two Black quarterbacks face each other for the first time in the Super Bowl. He’s also pleased they get to watch two really, really good quarterbacks in Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts. By David Brandt. SENT: 630 words, photos.
BKN--SCORING RECORD-SCENE
Ticket prices are predictably through the roof for the Los Angeles Lakers’ next two home games since it’s likely LeBron James is about to break the NBA scoring record. James is 36 points from passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The Lakers play at home Tuesday against Oklahoma City and Thursday versus Milwaukee. Some tickets for that game have been listed for as much as $100,000 apiece. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos.
BKN--NETS-MAVERICKS TRADE
DALLAS — Luka Doncic has his co-star, and the Dallas Mavericks are set for their season essentially to start over after trading for Kyrie Irving. The blockbuster deal with Brooklyn sending the mercurial Irving to the Mavericks became official, two days before what figures to be his Dallas debut at the Los Angeles Clippers. By Schuyler Dixon. SENT: 820 words, photos. With BKN--Mavericks-Jazz. SENT: 690 words, photos.
NOTABLE
BKN--SUNS SALE
PHOENIX — Mortgage executive and former Michigan State guard Mat Ishbia is the new majority owner of the Phoenix Suns and WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, after the NBA’s board of governors approved his plan to purchase the controlling stake of those franchises from Robert Sarver. By David Brandt and Tim Reynolds. SENT: 550 words, photo. With BKN--Suns-Rowley. SENT: 240 words.
BKC--T25-TEXAS-KANSAS
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Dajuan Harris Jr. was willing to acknowledge Kansas was facing a must-win game when fifth-ranked and Big 12-leading Texas arrived at Allen Fieldhouse. The defending national champs played like it. Harris had 17 points, six rebounds and five assists, and the ninth-ranked Jayhawks held on after blowing a 14-point first-half lead to beat the Longhorns 88-80 and tighten the league race. By Dave Skretta. SENT: 765 words, photos.
FBN—VIKINGS-FLORES
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Vikings hired Brian Flores as their defensive coordinator, their first step toward trying to revive a once-dominant unit that ranked among the NFL’s worst last season. Flores was a senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach this season for Pittsburgh, after three years as head coach in Miami. By Pro Football Writer Dave Campbell. SENT: 460 words, photos.
FBN--BRONCOS-PAYTON BEGINS
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Sean Payton is bringing an old-school style sown by his mentor Bill Parcells and steeped in discipline and accountability as he takes over as the Denver Broncos’ new head coach. One thing that means is that Russell Wilson will no longer have his own entourage at the team’s headquarters as he did this past season. By Pro Football Writer Arnie Stapleton. SENT: 875 words, photos.
FBN--CARDINALS-GREEN RETIRES
PHOENIX — Seven-time Pro Bowl receiver A.J. Green retired after 12 seasons in the NFL. The 34-year-old spent a decade with the Cincinnati Bengals before signing with the Arizona Cardinals for the last two seasons of his career. By David Brandt. SENT:275 words, photo.
FBN—BRADY-FOX
LOS ANGELES — Tom Brady will not go immediately from the playing field to the broadcast booth. Brady told Colin Cowherd during Monday’s episode of “The Herd” on FS1 and Fox Sports Radio that he will not start his broadcasting career with Fox until the 2024 season. SENT: 260 words, photos.
FBN--SUPER BOWL-OFFICIATING TV ANALYSTS
Mike Pereira knows the pressure the officiating crew will be under for Super Bowl 57. He used to be their boss before going to Fox in 2010 as the network’s rules analyst. Pereira’s move started a wave of former officials heading to networks as rules analysts. While it has kept viewers informed, it has also increased scrutiny on crews. By Joe Reedy. SENT: 850 words, photo.
BKN--AROUND THE NBA
The Brooklyn Nets broke up their duo of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving by trading Irving to Dallas. Compared to that, the other top teams in the Eastern Conference look pretty stable heading into Thursday’s trade deadline. By Noah Trister. UPCOMING: 675 words, photos.
BKC--T25-TOP 25 THIS WEEK
Kevin Keatts believed he could change North Carolina State’s trajectory. He’s being proven right with the 22nd-ranked Wolfpack back in the AP Top 25. By Basketball Writer Aaron Beard. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos.
BKN--THUNDER-WARRIORS
SAN FRANCISCO — With star teammate Stephen Curry sidelined, Klay Thompson kept shooting and took care of the offensive load the Golden State Warriors were missing without their reigning NBA Finals MVP. Thompson scored 42 points with a season-high 12 3-pointers and the Warriors beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 141-114. By Janie McCauley. SENT: 665 words, photos. With BKN—Warriors-Sensory Room. SENT: 380 words, photos.
GLF--PEBBLE BEACH
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Justin Rose is a PGA Tour winner again after four years. Rose made short work on a short Monday with three birdies in four holes. That sent him to a 66 and a three-shot victory in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Rose had not won since Torrey Pines four years ago. Now he’s headed to the Masters again. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. SENT: 850 words, photos.
SOC--TURKEY EARTHQUAKE-ATSU
Former Chelsea and Newcastle forward Christian Atsu is missing and believed to be trapped under rubble following the powerful earthquake that struck Turkey on Monday and left more than 2,500 people dead. The Ghana international, who plays for Turkish club Hatayspor, is thought to be in a building that was destroyed, Hatayspor spokesman Mustafa Özat said, according to Turkish media. By Gerald Imray. SENT: 370 words, photo.
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AP Sports Extra: Super Bowl
A paginated preview of the Super Bowl, which will be Feb. 12, is available in AP Newsroom by searching for “Sports Extra” or “SE” under the Graphics tab. Three page sizes are available – full broadsheet, half broadsheet and tabloid – with space for local advertising or content. The pages include a look at the top storylines leading up to the Super Bowl, including keys to the game and facts and figures. Please contact Barry Bedlan at bbedlan@ap.org
