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Happy Friday 🙌
Today’s weekend preview is a bit of a zoo. We’ve got ants, wolves, dogs and more. One NBA star was pushed into extra pressure, and delivered. The NHL Trade Deadline is hyperactive. Women’s conference tourneys are tipping off in the PAC-12. And Jake Paul's next fight is Mike Tyson? (Iron Mike, TKO please)
Plus, we conclude the week with a retirement sendoff for Jason Kelce — the hungry underdog (bottom of today’s edition). Madness is one week out…
⌛️ Selection Sunday: 9 Days Letter Rip! |
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Photo: Dylan Buell / Getty Images |
Anthony Edwards (44 Points, Game-Saving Block) Answers the Bell After T-Wolves Lose Karl-Anthony Towns
The Western Conference-leading Minnesota Timberwolves (44-19) had themselves a chaotic day yesterday. Just hours after the team learned Karl-Anthony Towns would need surgery on a torn meniscus — just one month before playoffs — Anthony Edwards appeared to hurt his ankle early in Indiana. The Wolves’ superstar guard answered the bell anyway and erupted for 44 points in a win against the Pacers (113-111), and emphatically sealed the game with a high-rising block in the final seconds. The early injury was cause for alarm among the Minnesota faithful. They're far from "feeling good," but it was quite the day for the T-Wolves and their two biggest stars.
Ant-Man Rising: Ever since he was the No. 1 overall pick back in 2020, Edwards has been a dynamic scorer able to pop off for 40-plus on any given night. He’s done it three times this year, but he also has games where he disappears, frequently when KAT (Karl-Anthony Towns) gets the hot hand. Depending on KAT’s return timeline, expect to see Edwards step up with an increased scoring role, and an increased responsibility to get the Wolves into the playoffs with the No. 1 seed in the West.
Watch: Anthony Edwards Takes Over in 4th Quarter, Drops 44 With Bad Ankle |
Future Finals Preview?
Nuggets def. Celtics (115-109)
Denver and Boston met last night for what many expect to be the preview of this year’s NBA Finals. The Nuggets got the best of the Celtics in Denver thanks to Nikola Jokic’s triple-double (32-12-11). Jaylen Brown droped 41 points for Boston. Also: Please witness this Aaron Gordon put-back dunk. Are you serious?!
Luka Makes NBA History
Mavericks def. Heat (114-108)
Dallas and Miami clashed Thursday in a fun throwback to an old NBA Finals rivalry. The Mavs and Heat met in the 2006 Finals, and again in 2011, but this era looks different. Luka Doncic popped off for a 35-point triple-double (11 boards, 11 dimes) and set an NBA record in the process. He’s the first player with four straight 35-point triple-doubles in league history. Pistons Pull Off 10th Win
Pistons def. Nets (118-112)
No futility record here! With their 10th win of the year last night against the Nets, the Detroit Pistons will NOT find themselves in possession of the NBA record for fewest wins in a season. The 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers won just nine games. The Pistons’ backcourt of Cade Cunningham (32) and Jaden Ivey (34) combined for 66 points. Good work, Detroit. Other NBA Highlights Bulls def. Warriors (125-122) Kings def. Spurs (131-129)
Suns def. Raptors (120-113) |
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Photo: Nick Wosika / Getty Images |
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The Weekend Must-Watch List |
🏀 NBA T-Wolves at Cavaliers (Fri. 7:30 pm, ESPN) Bucks at Lakers (Fri. 10:00 pm, ESPN)
Celtics at Suns (Sat. 8:30 pm, ABC) 76ers at Knicks (Sun. 7:00 pm, ESPN) Full NBA Weekend Schedule 🏒 NHL Hurricanes at Devils (Sat. 12:30 pm, ABC)
Flyers at Lightning (Sat. 7:00 pm, ESPN+) Oilers at Penguins (Sun. 1:00 pm, TNT) Predators at Wild (Sun. 3:30 pm, TNT)
Full NHL Weekend Schedule ⚽️ Soccer EPL: Liverpool vs. Man. City (Sun. 11:45 am, NBC) MLS: FC Cincinnati vs. DC United (Sun. 3:00 pm, AppTV)
MLS: Inter Miami vs. CF Montreal (Sun. 5:00 pm, AppTV) Gold Cup: USWNT vs. Brazil (Sun. 7:15 pm, Par+)
🏀 NCAA Basketball M: #14 Kansas at #1 Houston (Sat. 4:00 pm, ESPN) M: #15 Kentucky at #4 Tennessee (Sat. 4:00 pm, CBS)
M: #7 N. Carolina at #9 Duke (Sat. 6:30 pm, ESPN) M: Wisconsin at #3 Purdue (Sun. 12:30 pm, FOX)
Women’s Conference Tournaments (Full Schedule) *All Times ET |
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Yesterday, we asked: Which of the top-3 teams (projected No. 1 seeds) in the men’s NCAA Tournament do you think has the best chance to win it all? It looks like the team is riding with the Huskies for the repeat.
UConn (27-3) — 44.7% Purdue (26-3) — 27.9% Houston (27-3) — 27.4%
Thanks for participating in the polls. If you want to continue the conversation surrounding breaking news, debates and our Question of the Day, follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn.
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Photo: Perry Knotts / Getty Images |
Eagles Center Jason Kelce Retired, But His ‘Underdog’ Legacy Won't Be Forgotten
It’s not every season an offensive lineman earns one of our Underdog features, but few offensive linemen have the magnetism of Eagles center Jason Kelce. The 13-year veteran officially retired from football this week after a media tailspin back in January. Reports said he was retiring after the Eagles lost to the Bucs in the playoffs, but Kelce said he still needed time to think. The undersized center with an oversized heart and personality is one of the rare football players who endeared himself to almost everyone. In Philly? He’s a legend. The 36-year-old spent his entire career in Midnight Green, and he leaves the game as one of the greatest centers in NFL history. He had tears in his eyes as he walked off the field back in January. More tears came in his press conference on Tuesday. So let’s celebrate one of football’s little-big men who was hungrier than anyone.
Jason Kelce’s NFL Underdog Story
At 6-foot-3 and 295 pounds, you wouldn’t think Kelce is undersized, but he definitely is standing next to typical NFL linemen. No one projected a Hall of Fame career when he was selected in the sixth round in 2011. And while there aren’t many stats to prove a center’s worth, beyond making blocks, it’s felt through leadership, reliability, and grit in the trenches. It’s also recognized by peers and awards. Kelce’s six 1st-Team All-Pro selections and 156 consecutive starts ought to speak loudly. His seven Pro Bowls are the third-most by any center in NFL history. His speed and crafty footwork made him one of the most versatile offensive linemen to ever play the game. Just look at the Eagles’ famous ‘tush-push’ play. That only works because Kelce is in the center of the wedge. His work ethic was unmatched, and any teammate since 2011 would agree.
The Super Bowl Parade Speech
In sports, alcohol-induced parade speeches are always iconic. But at the Eagles’ first-ever Super Bowl parade in 2018, Kelce’s ‘Underdog’ speech stole the show and set the stage for his media career. His raspy-voiced, scream-laced rant brought Philadelphia new levels of Super Bowl bliss as he ripped the doubters, the media, the enemies, and united a city that had yearned for a title since it joined the NFL.
In that parade speech, Kelce referenced a quote in the offensive line room: “Hungry dogs run faster.” He expanded on the quote by acknowledging Eagles fans starving for a championship — “If I don’t eat breakfast, I’m p—ed off.” Kelce’s Next Assignment
In the latter years of his career, the star center became more famous than he ever expected thanks to his “New Heights” podcast with co-host and brother, Travis. You’re probably aware that Travis became quite popular this season, and the Kelce brothers have taken over the world. Jason, his wife Kylie, and their three daughters were also the subjected of an Amazon Prime documentary called “Kelce.” The entire Kelce family has become beloved by sports fans everywhere, and it has a lot to do with Jason and Travis having big personalities as a pair of unheralded players who became NFL legends.
In his first two months of quazi-retirement, Jason has had no assignments. He appears to be enjoying it, partying through another Super Bowl run with Travis and enjoying his time as a "girl dad." He used his retirement speech on Tuesday to talk about the greatest thing a man can do with his life — be a father. And while many expect Kelce to eventually find his niche in media, don’t expect it too soon. The guy is living in the moment.
Offensive lineman have a thankless position — one that requires a true blue-collar, “hungry dog” mentality. The Eagles’ O-line anchor made a living off being that hungry dog. He’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer when the time comes, and a Philly legend. We may never see another center quite like Jason Kelce. That hungry dog ran fast. Read More
Video: Best of Jason Kelce Mic’d Up
ESPN: What Jason Kelce Meant to the Eagles as a Teammate & Player
CBS Sports: How Eagles Legend Jason Kelce Stacks Up Among Greatest Centers in NFL History |
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