The Sportsletter - Rowdy Rams: Shirts Not Required

BY JEFF YODER

FEB. 17, 2022  |  SUBSCRIBE  |  BROWSER VIEW

Good Morning,

Yesterday’s Super Bowl parade didn’t disappoint. Scenes of sunshine and champagne showers filled the streets of L.A., and I’m still shoveling the snow from my driveway in the Midwest. Aaron Donald partied enough for the both of us, though. Who needs a shirt, anyway?…

Letter Rip!

NFL

The Party in Hollywood

Photo: Icon Sportswire / Getty Images

Rams Celebrate Super Bowl LVI Win With Epic Parade in Downtown Los Angeles

A long time coming... The Rams paraded around downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday for a celebration of epic proportions. There were no boats like last year’s party in Tampa Bay, but there was certainly booze. Aaron Donald was shirtless the whole day. Cooper Kupp rocked the jersey of L.A. legend, Kobe Bryant. Odell Beckham Jr. sprayed fans with champagne. And Matthew Stafford pulled out the cigars. Sunday’s victory marked the franchise’s first Super Bowl since moving back to Southern California, so there was plenty to celebrate. The Hollywood sign was even changed to “RamsHouse” as the City of Angels went wild.

The Big Questions

Following Super Bowl LVI, there was speculation that head coach Sean McVay (36) and DT Aaron Donald (30) were considering retiring or stepping away. It didn't appear that way on Wednesday with an intoxicated Donald declaring, “Why not run it back?”

Maybe they will. The Rams are currently $8 million over the salary cap with no first-round picks and a plethora of pending free agents. But run it back, they may.

Additional Storylines

ESPN: Best Moments from Los Angeles Rams’ Championship Parade

NFL: Best of Rams Super Bowl LVI Victory Parade Speeches

FTW: 10 Photos of Rams Celebrating Super Bowl Parade in L.A.

OLYMPICS

Oh, Canada... Gold Once Again

Photo: Kirill Kudryavtsev / Getty Images

USA Women’s Hockey Falls to Canada (3-2) in Gold Medal Game

Too little, too late. The United States women’s hockey team fell to Canada in the finale on Wednesday night (3-2) after trailing 3-0 in the first 30 minutes. Hilary Knight and Amanda Kessel brought the USA back, but there wasn’t enough time left to find the game-tying goal. Team USA outshot the Canadians 40-21 in the game, but Sarah Nurse and Marie-Philip Poulin (2) gave the team from the North an early 3-0 advantage. Overall, the Canadians dominated the tournament by going undefeated and outscoring opponents a combined 58-10. Team USA was the only squad to play the Canadians within five goals, and a silver medal is nothing to scoff at. It was Canada’s fifth gold medal all-time in women’s hockey.

Watch: Canada def. USA (3-2) in Women’s Hockey Gold Medal Game

Other Olympics Highlights

• Men’s Hockey: USA Stunned, Eliminated by Slovakia in Shootout
• Women’s Alpine: Switzerland’s Michelle Gisin Wins Back-to-Back Gold
• Women’s Slalom: Mikaela Shiffrin Crashes Out of 3rd Event
• Men’s Slopestyle: USA’s Alex Hall & Nick Goepper Take Gold & Silver
• Men’s Curling: USA Beats Denmark to Secure Spot in Semifinal

Medal Count 🏅

Norway (28)

ROC (24)

Germany (20)

United States (20)

Canada (19)

Austria (17)

Italy (16)

Netherlands (14)

Sweden (14)

Japan (14)

Full Medal Count

SOCCER

Reds Roll in Leg 1

Photo: DeFodi Images / Getty Images

Champions League: Liverpool Shuts Out Inter (2-0), Bayern Scores Late to Save Crucial Point Against Salzburg (1-1)

Another afternoon in Europe saw two more Champions League matches in the knockout rounds. Liverpool nabbed two second-half goals from Roberto Firmino (75’) and Mohamed Salah (83’) to blank Inter (2-0). The bizarre scoresheet featured just two combined shots on target — both goals — as neither goalkeeper recorded an official save. In the Bundesliga battle, Bayern Munich scored a 90th-minute equalizer from Kingsley Coman to salvage a point against RB Salzburg (1-1). Four more matches take the pitch next week.

Yesterday’s Highlights

Liverpool def. Inter (2-0)

RB Salzburg draw Bayern Munich (1-1)

Upcoming Matches: Tuesday & Wednesday (Feb. 22-23)

Additional Storylines

Sporting News: Jurgen Klopp’s Side Snatch Late Win in Milan

EuroSport: Battling Austrians Denied Famous First-Leg Win by Last-Minute Coman Equalizer

🎥THE HIGHLIGHTS

🏀 NBA: DeRozan Breaks Wilt’s Scoring Mark

The Bulls were winners over the Kings Wednesday night (125-118) thanks to another monster night from DeMar DeRozan. DD poured in 38 points to break Wilt Chamberlain’s record with seven straight games of 35-or-more points on 50-percent shooting. That’s five straight wins for Chicago (38-21) who are back atop the East.

🏒 NHL: Scheifele Snipes Hatty in Jets Win

Another night, another hat trick in the NHL. Wednesday’s hat-tip went to Mark Scheifele who lit the lamp three times in less than 10 minutes of ice time while adding an assist in the Jets’ win over the Wild (6-3).

🏀 NCAA Men’s Basketball

#2 Auburn def. Vanderbilt (94-80)

#5 Purdue def. Northwestern (70-64)

#11 Texas Tech def. #7 Baylor (83-73)

Rutgers def. #12 Illinois (70-59)

🏀 NCAA Women’s Basketball

#14 Texas def. #6 Iowa State (73-48)

#7 Baylor def. TCU (80-55)

Texas Tech def. #15 Oklahoma (97-87)

THE STORYLINES

🏀  NBA Title Tiers

The Suns, Warriors and Bucks are favorites for the 2022 NBA title, but the 76ers are on deck after the James Harden trade. Other teams made the list, but the top tier of title contenders are gearing up for the trophy chase. (CBS Sports)

🏈  Todd McShay’s Latest Mock Draft

For 27 teams that do have a first-round selection, it's time to starting planning ahead and stacking prospect boards. Who will be the No. 1 pick? How will teams with multiple selections retool, and who will land the top prospects? (ESPN+)

⚾️  Missing Spring Training

On the day spring training workouts for pitchers and catchers were to begin, baseball stayed underground. Instead, it was merely Day 77 of the owners' lockout of players as both sides continue negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement. (USA Today)

📰 THE HEADLINES

• Bengals Reward Head Coach Zac Taylor With Extension Through 2026 (ESPN)
• Dick Vitale ‘Optimistic’ He’ll Return to Commentating After Vocal Cord Surgery (SI)
• Vikings Finalize Hiring of Rams OC Kevin O’Connell as Head Coach (Bleacher Report)
• NBA Commissioner Adam Silver Says League is 'Moving Closer' to Adding In-Season Tournament (CBS Sports)
• Juan Soto Reportedly Turned Down 13-Year, $350 Million Contract From Nationals (USA Today)

SUPPORT THE TEAM

Share The Sportsletter by using your unique Team ID to get rewards as you rack up points and climb the ranks!

Support The Sportsletter

Did Someone Forward You This Email? Subscribe Here
Feedback? Contact Our Editor: Jeff@TheSportsletter.com
Not Loving The Letter? Unsubscribe
Follow us on Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Copyright © 2022 The Sportsletter
717 Market Street, San Francisco, CA, 94103