Weekly Update – Week of January 25, 2021

Baseball: RIP Hank Aaron. MLBPA rejects DH and expanded playoff. Springer to Blue Jays. MLB Combine. Cactus League wants delay. Hand to Nats. Yankees and Red Sox trade. Taillon to Yankees.

Basketball-NBA: Wizards play first game and lose. Grizzlies postpone 5 games. Heat using COVID sniffing dogs. 1 year since Kobe.

Basketball-NCAAM: Kansas drops 3. Michigan pauses athletics. ASU HC reprimanded. Pac 12 commish to leave in June.

Football-NFL: Super Bowl LV set Bucs vs Chiefs. Eagles hire HC. Pro Bowl goes virtual.

Golf: Si Woo Kim wins 3rd. JT not dropped by Citi.

Olympic Sports: New shot put WR. Goggia wins 4th downhill. UK team makes Americas Cup final. Loch wins Luge World Cup season. RUS banned 2 Olympics – no appeal. Men’s downhill canceled.

UFC: McGregor loses first TKO fight.

Baseball:

• RIP Baseball HoF Hank Aaron. The HR legend died in his home at the age of 86. He simply died of old age and passed away peacefully in his sleep. Aaron was a 25x All-Star, World Series Champion from 1957 and hit 755 HRs.
• The MLBPA rejected the MLB proposal for a universal DH and expanded playoff. If you’re confused because you think you’ve seen this before you’re right. Just for the 2020 season, the MLB did play with a universal DH and an expanded playoff but they said that was only due to the shortened season. This will likely be an issue that keeps popping up as the CBA is set to expire in December of this year.
• The Astros have lost one of its stars. George Springer signed a $150MM 6-year deal with the Blue Jays. This is the biggest financial commitment for the team ever. Now the Blue Jays have made it known they’re on the lookout for pitchers and infielders.
• The MLB will hold its first pre-draft combine in NC on 6/20-28. There will be a tournament between 88 players who have to be invited by scouts. The 2021 MLB draft is scheduled for 7/11-13 in Atlanta. 2021 will also see the return of the MLB’s Prospect Development Pipeline for 2022 eligible draft prospects from 7/22-8/1. Both of these are completely voluntary and free for participants.
• The Cactus League (spring training home for 15 teams in AZ) have sent a letter to the MLB asking to delay the start of spring training due to the high level of COVID infections in the local. Those 15 teams include Diamondbacks, Cubs, Reds, Indians, Rockies, White Sox, Royals, Angels, Dodgers, Brewers, A’s, Padres, Giants, Mariners and the Rangers. Spring training games are set to be starting on 2/27.
• The Nationals have signed a 1-year $10.5MM deal with Closer Brad Hand. Hand was previously with the Indians but they refused to renew his option for $10MM.

• The normal rivals, the Yankees and the Red Sox, have come to an agreement to trade relief pitcher Adam Ottavino and RHP Frank German to the Red Sox in exchange for a player to be named later and cash. Ottavino signed a 3-year deal for $27MM with the Yankees in 2019 and was the first player to wear the #0 as a Yankee. This is the first deal between the rivals since 2014.

• Sticking with the Yankees, they have acquired Jameson Taillon from the Pirates in return for 4 prospects. Taillon is recovering from Tommy John surgery and has not pitched since 5/1/19.

Basketball-NBA:

• The Wizards finally got to play after having 6 games suspended due to COVID concerns. Russell Westbrook also finally got to play as he returned from a quad injury however it wasn’t a happy night as they lost to the Spurs 121-101.
  • The Grizzlies are also having COVID concerns and have had their 5^th consecutive game postponed now. This run of postponed games ties the Wizards with 6 total which is the most in the NBA so far.
• The Heat are using COVID sniffing dogs to screen fans back into their arena. This week some ticket holders will be allowed in as well starting with the game on Thursday, which is up from just friends and family of the players. Attendance will still be capped at 10% or ~2,000 fans for now. The airports in Dubai and Helsinki also use the dog sniffing method. CDC warns this should not be used in substitute of testing.
• Tomorrow marks exactly 1 year since we lost #24 Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna.
• Zion Williamson won his case against former agent Gina Ford, who was suing the Pelicans for $100MM for breach of contract. The contact was voided as Zion was a student at Duke at the time, but was not ineligible by the NCAA and Ford was not certified as an agent at the time.

Basketball – NCAAM:

• #9 Kansas lost its 3^rd game in a row, which hasn’t happened since 2013 after losing to Oklahoma on Saturday. This was also OU’s 2^nd vicotyr over a top 10 team in a month after it beat #9 West Virginia on ½. OU is 8-1 at home and has won 3 of its last 4 games against Kansas in Norman. Kansas lost those 3 games all on the road to #2 Baylor, OSU and OU.
• Michigan, although losing 1 game, have been moved up in the rankings. However, the school has been put on a 14 day pause of all athletic activities after a breakout of COVID. All athletes, coaches and staff are required to quarantine. This would put the basketball programs missing 4 games apiece.
• ASU bball HC Bobby Hurley has been reprimanded by the Pac 12 for his public scrutiny of the officiating in their loss to Arizona on Thursday. The conference does not allow coaches to make negative comments about officials or their officiating.
• Larry Scott will not be commissioner of the Pac 12 after June. His contract was set to expire in June of 2022 but the conference has opted to end it a year early. Scott has served as commish since 2009 and he was the one who launched the Pac 12 network in 2012. He was previously the CEO of the Women’s Tennis Association before his current post.

Football – NFL:

• Super Bowl LV is set! The Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs the Kansas City Chiefs next Sunday (2/7) at 5:30pm on CBS. The Chiefs are favored by 3.5 right now.
  • The Bucs beat the Packers in a QB showdown between some of the greatest ever (Brady vs Rodgers). Brady won his first ever NFC Championship in a 31-26 victory. The Bucs will be the first team to play in their home stadium for a Super Bowl ever! (Rams were not in their home stadium if you’re thinking that stat is incorrect). Brady is going for his 6^th Super Bowl in his 10^th
  • The Chiefs beat the Bills last night 38-24 to secure the AFC Championship and a Super Bowl spot. The Chiefs are the defending champs. Let’s see if they can do it 2 weeks in a row. The Chiefs will not be allowed to make the trip to FL before 2 days before the game due to COVID restrictions.
  • Who’s going to win? 

• The Eagles have hired a new HC in Nick Sirianni from the Colts OC position. He arrived in Phili today.
• The pro Bowl will be virtual with real-life participants playing Madden NFL 21 on Sunday. Each player will play for 1 5-min quarter. You can watch on the NFL’s Twitch channel.
  • Reppin’ the AFC: Deshaun Watson, Snoop Dogg, Keyshawn Johnson
  • Reppin’ the NFC: Kyler Murray, Jamal Adams, Bubba Wallace and Marshawn Lynch.

Golf:

• Si Woo Kim won his 3^rd PGA Tour title and he is only 25 years old. He won the American Express this weekend by 1 shot over Patrick Cantlay. Cantlay shot a 61 in the final round to break the Stadium Course record by 2 but it wasn’t enough after Kim birdied 2 of the last 3 holes.
• JT did not lose Citi as a sponsor but the company did say that they want a ‘meaningful portion’ to go to LGBTQ causes. Moral of this story, don’t mention slurs even if you think its under your breath.

Olympic Sports:

• There is a new WR in the shot put indoors today thanks to American Ryan Crouser who threw 22.82m that’s 74’10.5”. The original WR was 22.66m from 1989. Not only did Crouser break the record, he broke it twice: his first attempt is the current record and a follow up attempt was 22.7m. The American Track League has agreed to host a 4 week indoor series of meets at the University of Arkansas so that track athletes can compete during COVID. Crouser is the reigning Olympic champ in the event.
• Sofia Goggia has won her 4^th World Cup downhill, which ties USA Lindsey Vonn’s streak in 2018. Goggia won by 0.27 seconds of Lara Gut-Bahrami.
• The UK Team won their race against the ITA Luna Rossa team by 33 seconds to advance to the America’s Cup challenger series final, which will determine who competes against New Zealand in March.
• GER Felix Loch is the new Luge World Cup overall champion after locking up his 9th win in the last 10 races. This is his 7^th time as season champion. There are only 2 races remaining and he is ahead of his teammate Ludwig by 320 points, an uncatchable amount.
• Russia will still be banned from the next 2 Olympics and the country has said they will not look to appeal the decision.
• The Men’s World Cup downhill in AUT has been cancelled. But not due to COVID because of weather.
• Staying with skiing, American Ryan Cochran-Siegle says he plans to return to the sport after breaking his next in a downhill crash by the end of the World Cup season (March). He won his first World Cup race in December in the Super-G. He sustained only a minor neck fracture after losing his balance in a jump and breaking through the first row of safety nets on one of the most dangerous courses in the circuit.

UFC:

• Conor McGregor lost by TKO in the second round at UFC 257 to Dustin Poirier. Poirier had already lost to McGregor back in 2014 and this was by far his biggest win. This is McGregor’s first KO or TKO loss of his career. And he’s already talking about a trilogy bout with Poirier.

What to Watch this Week

Basketball-NBA:

• Wed 1/27
  • Lakers at 76ers @ 6:30pm on ESPN
  • Timberwolves at Warriors @ 9pm on ESPN
• Thurs 1/28
  • Clippers at Heat @ 6pm on TNT
  • Trail Blazers at Rockets @ 8:30pm on TNT
• Fri 1/29
  • Bucks at Pelicans @ 6:30pm on ESPN
  • Mavericks at Jazz @ 9pm on ESPN
• Sat 1/30
  • Lakers at Celtics @ 7:30pm on ABC
• All other games are on NBATV

Basketball – NCAA:

• Mon 1/25
  • Syracuse at 8. UVA @ 6pm on ESPN
  • Texas Tech at 11. West Virginia @ 8pm on ESPNU
• Tues 1/26
  • Oklahoma at 5. Texas @ 6pm on ESPN2
  • Kentucky at 18. Alabama @ 6pm on ESPN
  • Mississippi St at 18. Tennessee @ 6pm on SEC
  • Dayton at 25. Saint Louis @ 7pm on CBSSN
  • Mizzou at Auburn @ 8pm on ESPN2
• Wed 1/27
  • Miami at 16. Florida St @ 5pm on ACC
  • Creighton at Seton Hall @ 6pm on FS1
  • Penn St at 13. Ohio St @ 6pm on BTN
  • UVA at Notre Dame @ 6pm on ACCNX
  • Wisconsin at Maryland @ 7pm
  • Kansas St at 2. Baylor @ 8pm
  • Louisville at Clemson @ 8pm
• Thurs 1/28
  • TCU at 9. Kansas @ 7pm
  • Gonzaga at San Diego @ 8pm
  • Villanova at UConn @ 8pm on FS1
  • Houston at Tulane @ 8pm on ESPN2
  • Oregon at 24. UCLA @ 8pm
• Fri 1/29
  • Saint Louis at Richmond @ 5:30pm on FS1
  • Iowa at 22. Illinois @ 8pm on FS1
• Sat 1/30
  • Alabama at 24. Oklahoma @ 11am on ESPN2
  • Texas Tech at LSU @ 1pm
  • Florida at 11. West Virginia @ 1pm
  • TCU ay 12. Mizzou @ 1pm on ESPNU
  • Villanova at Seton Hall @ 2pm on FOX
  • Wisconsin at Penn St @ 2pm on BTN
  • Auburn at 2. Baylor @ 3pm on ESPN
  • Florida St at Georgia Tech @ 3pm on ACC
  • UVA at 20. VTech @ 5pm on ACC
  • Kansas at 18. Tennessee @ 5pm on ESPN
  • Minnesota at Purdue @ 6:30pm on BTN
  • Gonzaga at Pepperdine @ 7pm on ESPN2
  • Texas at Kentucky @ 7pm on ESPN
  • Creighton at DePaul @ 7pm on CBSSN
• Sun 1/31
  • SMU ay 6. Houston @ 12pm on ESPN
  • Michigan St at 13. Ohio St @ 12pm on CBS

Golf:

• Thurs 1/28 – Farmers Insurance Open: Round 1 @ 2pm on Golf Channel
• Fri 1/29 – Farmers Insurance Open: Round 2 @ 2pm on Golf Channel
• Sat 1/30 – Farmers Insurance Open: Round 3
  • 12pm on Golf Channel
  • 2pm on CBS
• Sun 1/31 – Farmers Insurance Open: Round 4
  • 12pm on Golf Channel
  • 2pm on CBS

Hockey:

• Tues 1/26 – Islanders at Capitals @ 6pm on NBCSN
• Wed 1/27 = Blackhawks at Predators @ 6:30pm on NBCSN

Motorsports:

• Sat 1/30 – Supercross @ 7pm on NBCSN

Olympic Sports:

• Tues 1/26
  • Skiing: FIS World Cup Men’s Downhill @ 10:30pm on NBCSN
  • Skiing: World Cup Women’s Giant Slalom @ 11:30am on NBCSN
• Wed 1/27
  • Figure Skating: ISU Grand Prix @ 10pm on NBCSN
• Thurs 1/28
  • Figure Skating: ISU Grand Prix @ 5:30pm on NBCSN
  • Sailing: America’s Cup Prada Challenger Series @ 11:30pm on NBCSN
• Fri 1/29
  • Figure Skating: ISU Grand Prix @ 6pm on NBCSN
  • Sailing: America’s Cup Prada Challenger Series @ 10pm on NBCSN
• Sat 1/30
  • Skiing: World Cup Women’s Downhill @ 2pm on NBCSN
• Sun 1/31
  • Sailing: Americas Cup Prada @ 1pm on NBCSN
  • Figure Skating: ISU Grand Prix @ 3pm on NBCSN
  • Luge: World Cup Team Relay @ 5pm on NBCSN

Soccer:

• Tues 1/26
  • Premier League: Newcastle United vs Leeds @ 11:55am on NBCSN
  • Premier League: West Brom vs Manchester City @ 2:10pm on NBCSN
• Wed 1/27
  • Premier League: ManU vs Sheffield United @ 2:10pm on NBCSN
• Thurs 1/28
  • Premier League: Tottenham Hotspur vs Liverpool @ 1:55pm on NBCSN
• Sat 1/30
  • Premier League: Everton vs Newcastle United @ 6:25am on NBCSN
  • Premier League: Chelsea vs Burnley @ 8:55am on NBCSN
• Sun 1/31
  • Italian Serie A: Atalanta vs Lazio @ 8am on ESPN2