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Good Morning 👋
As I'm sure you're all aware, tragedy struck in Kansas City yesterday. It's never a fun day to write about sports when the shadow of violence looms overhead. All we can do is hope for the health of the survivors of this senseless incident. In today's edition:
The Celtics set a new franchise record with their 50-point domination over the Nets, and Bayern Munich is on a downhill slide. Editor’s Note: The Sportsletter's primary writer, Jeff, is out the rest of this week. Aaron and Marissa will be filling in as we look ahead to NBA All-Star Weekend and the Daytona 500. Enjoy.
Letter Rip! |
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Tragedy Strikes at the Super Bowl Parade |
Photo: Jamie Squire / Getty Images |
What was meant to be a day of celebration and camaraderie turned tragic quickly after senseless violence at the Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade While Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Willie Gay Jr. were celebrating their newest addition to the trophy case at the Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade, tragedy was brewing in the crowd. Immediately following the parade, gunfire broke out, causing 21 injuries and one fatality. Though no motive has been discovered yet, three suspects were detained by the Kansas City Police Department. The NFL released a statement
expressing its grief over yesterday’s events. Fortunately, law enforcement and emergency personnel were able to respond quickly to neutralize the threat and help victims. Chiefs players spoke out following the tragedy via social media: Patrick Mahomes “Praying for Kansas City…” Travis Kelce
“I am heartbroken over the tragedy that took place today. My heart is with all who came out to celebrate with us and have been affected. KC, you mean the world to me.” Drue Tranquill
“Please join me in prayer for all the victims in this heinous act. Pray that doctors & first responders would have steady hands & that all would experience full healing.” Trey Smith
“My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by today’s incidents – a huge thank you to the first responders who ran toward the sound of danger. You’re the ones who should be celebrated today.” The NFL and the
Chiefs expressed their sadness over the incident and its impact on the crowd. In their statement, the Chiefs confirmed that no players, coaches, staff nor their families were hurt in the shooting. Read More ESPN: One dead as 22 shot near end of Chief's victory parade NFL:
One person dead, multiple people injured in shooting at end of Chiefs' Super Bowl parade |
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Boston Joins Elite Company |
Photo: MediaNews Group / Boston Herald / Getty Images |
The Celtics became the third team in NBA history to post multiple 50-point wins in one season after dominating the Nets The league-leading Celtics aren’t slowing down any time soon. Though everyone in the East is hoping for them to cool off, they proved they’re hot as ever with their 136-86 win over the Nets last night.
Payton Pritchard had 28 points off the bench and Derrick White dropped 27 to fuel the Celtics’ dominant win. Pritchard went 11-16 from the field, going 6-9 from beyond the arc. White was 10-16 from the field, going 5 for 10 on threes. Jayson Tatum provided further support with 20 points, nine assists and seven rebounds.
Seeing a win by this margin in the NBA is always shocking to us, but 50-point wins are nothing new for the Celtics: They beat the Pacers by 51 points back in November. With their second 50-point victory of the season last night, they joined the 1992-93 Sacramento Kings and the 1978-79 Milwaukee Bucks as the only teams in NBA history with multiple 50-point wins in a single season. Thanks to their record-setting Wednesday, the Celtics are heading into the All-Star break with the best record in the NBA (43-12). Porzingis Injury Update
Kristaps Porzingis entered Wednesday’s game coming off a back injury which caused him to miss Tuesday’s game. At the end of the first half, he suffered a leg injury after totaling 15 points. He did not return during the second half, but the Celtics were already beating the Nets by 36 points at halftime (Boston’s largest halftime lead since 2010). Porzingis has dealt with calf and ankle issues already this season, so it is unclear how much time he will miss. Fortunately, this was the Celtics’ last game before the All-Star break, which will give him some extra recovery time.
Next game: at Bulls (Feb. 22, 8:00 p.m. ET) Read More ESPN: Celtics routs Nets by 50 points to join exclusive NBA club New York Post: Nets destroyed by Celtics in embarrassing dud before All-Star break |
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Photo: NurPhoto / Getty Images |
Mbappe helps PSG overcome sluggish first half and Bayern Munich’s offense turns feeble during Wednesday’s Champions League action
The first legs of the Champions League knockout rounds continued on Wednesday with two European powerhouses on display. While Kylian Mbappe and Paris Saint-Germain took care of business, the same could not be said of Bayern Munich against Italian underdog Lazio.
PSG def. Real Sociedad (2-0)
Paris Saint-Germain held serve at home against Group D champs Real Sociedad thanks to second half goals by Kylian Mbappe and Bradley Barcola. Mbappe became the first player to ever score in 10 straight Champions League home games when he slammed home a volley at close range in the 58th minute. Twelve minutes later, Barcola beat his defender and slid the ball through Real Sociedad keeper Alex Remiro’s legs to put PSG up by a pair. Four other shots by PSG got on net, but Remiro turned them away to give La Real a chance when the second leg kicks off in Spain on March 5.
Lazio def. Bayern Munich (1-0)
An absolute disaster for Bayern Munich! Harry Kane’s squad was favored to win its first leg against Lazio, but the Italian side scored the only goal of the game on a 69th-minute penalty kick by Ciro Immobile. Not only that, but the penalty was a result of Bayern’s Dayot Upamecano being booked with a red card, forcing his team to play with 10 men for the remainder of the match. Bayern held possession for 60% of the match and fired off 17 shots, but zero of them were on target. That’s the most shots without one going on goal in a Champions League match since 2010-11. Bayern was also shut out in its last Bundesliga match and has suffered consecutive defeats for the first time since 2019. Bayern will try to right the ship during the second leg in Munich on March 5.
Read More:
CBS Sports: Bayern looks hopeless in Champions League
AP: Mbappe scores again as PSG beats Sociedad 2-0
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Steve Wilks' firing by San Francisco 49ers slammed by NFL social media
Is Steve Wilks getting a raw deal from the San Francisco 49ers? Many on social media slammed the decision, saying that Shanahan was using Wilks as a scapegoat for his own coaching failures in the 25-22 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday in Super Bowl 58 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. (Yahoo Sports) MLB Spring Training preview
After a busy baseball winter, spring is in the air again. The Los Angeles Dodgers spent $1.2 billion this offseason, landing the top two free agents in Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The New York Yankees, after missing the playoffs last year, swung a deal for slugger Juan Soto. Fresh off winning an American League-best 101 games, the upstart Baltimore Orioles dealt for an ace in Corbin Burnes. (ESPN) NBA offseason trade rumors
A quiet deadline could lead to fireworks this summer. From LeBron to Zion, NBA front offices are trying to forecast who could become available. (The Ringer) |
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🏀 NBA Bucks at Grizzlies (8:30 pm ET, TNT) Warriors at Jazz (9:00 pm ET, NBALP) Timberwolves at Blazers (10:00 pm ET, NBALP) 🏒 NHL Flyers at Maple Leafs (7:00 pm ET, ESPN+)
Avalanche at Lightning (7:00 pm ET, ESPN+) Red Wings at Canucks (10:00 pm ET, ESPN+) ⛳️ PGA Tour Genesis Open (1st Round, CBS) 🏀
NCAA Basketball M: Minnesota at #2 Purdue (8:30 pm ET, BTN) W: #6 NC State at #16 Notre Dame (6:00 pm ET, ACCN) W: #1 S. Carolina at Tennessee (7:00 pm ET, ESPN)
🚨 W: Michigan at #4 Iowa (8:00 pm ET, Peacock) 🚨
*Caitlin Clark Needs 8 Points for NCAAW Record |
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