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The NFL Divisional Round is now on schedule and five of the six games on Super Wild Card Weekend are in the books.
This Saturday will feature the top-seeded Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles debut before the mega Cincinnati Bengals-Buffalo Bills rematch kicks off Sunday’s action ahead of an NFC showdown.
Cincinnati Bengals’ Sam Hubbard gave the longest fumble return in play-off history to hand the Bengals a 24-17 win over the Baltimore Ravens on wildcard weekend.
Hubbard ran 98 yards in the fourth quarter to send the last season’s Super Bowl runners-up into week two of this season’s NFL playoffs.
Last Sunday, the New York Giants for their own game, defeated the Minnesota Vikings 31-24.
While the Miami Dolphins scared the Buffalo Bills before the pre-season Super Bowl favourites won 34-31.
Cincinnati’s win brought a tense end to an intriguing day two of the wildcard weekend as all three games went down to the wire.
Bengals’ receiver Ja’Marr Chase scored an opening touchdown that was cancelled out by Baltimore’s JK Dobbins as the Ravens led 10-9 at half-time.
Joe Burrow Cincinnati’s quarterback got in from a yard to cap an 83-yard drive before Tyler Huntley, who was covering for the Ravens’ injured quarterback Lamar Jackson, hit Demarcus Robinson for a 41-yard touchdown.
That tied the score for both teams heading into the final quarter and as Huntley lunged for the end zone from a yard, the ball was knocked out of his hands.
It fell right into Hubbard’s waiting arms and he raced downfield for an unbelievably match-winning score.
New York Giants Secure Their First Play-off Win In 11 Years
New York Giants
The New York Giants took the lead for most of the match at Minnesota, the third seed in the NFC; fourth-year quarterback Daniel Jones secured a road victory in his first playoff appearance.
Giants running back Saquon Barkley claimed a combination of 109 yards and two rushing touchdowns, the first from 28 yards, as New York gained a half-time lead of 17-14.
Minnesota and New York scored a touchdown in the third quarter before a Vikings field goal made it 24-24 early in the fourth.
Saquon then capped a 12-play drive with a two-yard score to restore New York’s lead and they held on for their first playoff victory since winning their fourth Super Bowl at the end of the 2011 season.
Daniel Jones also became the first quarterback in play-off history to throw for over 300 yards and two touchdowns while adding more than 70 rushing yards.
This weekend the Giants will visit their NFC East rivals the Philadelphia Eagles, who are the number one seed and had a bye to the divisional round.
Damar Hamlin Inspires Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
Miami Dolphins bounced back from a 17-0 deficit to briefly lead 24-20 against the Buffalo Bills who drew inspiration from a recovering Damar Hamlin for their NFL playoffs game.
Hamlin watched last Sunday’s game from his home where he is recuperating from the Cardiac arrest he suffered on the field on 2nd January.
On Saturday the Bills’ safety visited his team for the first time since the incident.
“There was a big line of guys ready to love up on him”, quarterback Josh Allen said. Allen had three touchdown passes and two interceptions. “It was a blessing come true to see him back in the facility.”
Buffalo Bills are the AFC’s number two seeds and looked on course for a blowout win after Dawson Knox and James Cook scored.
The Dolphins lost five of their last six games in the regular season and had to play Skylar Thompson their third-choice quarterback, but drew level when he found Mike Gesicki for a touchdown.
A field goal tipped the Bills into a 20-17 lead at the half, only for Zach Sieler to score a defensive touchdown for the Dolphins after Allen fumbled.
However, Buffalo quickly recovered and answered with two rapid touchdowns from Cole Beasley and Gabe Davis, and after getting back to within three during the final quarter, Miami could not get within scoring range on their final possession.
The Bills will now relive an emotional matchup against the Bengals, in a rematch of the cancelled regular season game when Hamlin had a cardiac arrest.
The first round of the NFL playoffs will conclude with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hosting the Dallas Cowboys at 01:15 GMT on Tuesday.
San Antonio plays home games at AT&T Center but came back to the Alamodome as part of the team’s 50th-anniversary celebration.
San Antonio (AP) – The San Antonio Spurs announced an attendance of 68,323 fans for their return to the Alamodome, which is a record number for an NBA regular-season game.
Spurs, while celebrating their 50th anniversary season, returned to their former playing grounds to face the Golden State Warriors last Friday night.
San Antonio Hall of Famer David Robinson was the one who announced the official attendance at the close of the third quarter. Robinson said, “Spurs fans have again set the standard for the league”
Fans of the team began to chant”Go Spurs Go!” after the announcement.
The given numbers shattered the previous record of 62,046 people who gathered to watch Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls play the Atlanta Hawks at the Georgia Dome on March 27, 1998.
“Yeah, that’s pretty different,” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said about the record crowd. “It’s a situation where you know… are they selling alcohol? I think that people will be pretty fired up. It is just an exciting moment for everybody. It is nostalgic for everybody. To have that many people in one building, to be able to play in front of them, is pretty damn exciting, actually. We hope it is a good game.”
The Alamodome
Although San Antonio now plays its home games at the AT & T Center, coming back to the Alamodome was a way to mark the Spurs’ 50th-anniversary celebration.
While the team (13-29) is having one of the worst seasons in its history, playing at the Alamodome gave fans an opportunity to relive a former era for the team.
“Having my son here with me, sharing a past and present memory, will be cherished by both of us for years,” said a Spurs fan, Eric Hernandez, who previously attended games at the Alamodome.
The San Antonio Spurs franchise started off at the HemisFair Arena in 1973, but the Alamodome is where they took their first steps toward becoming one of the most respected franchises in the NBA.
They played in the Alamodome from 1993 to 2002 before moving to the AT&T Center.
It was in the Alamodome that San Antonio won its first NBA championship in 1999 and held its championship celebration in the downtown facility.
The Alamodome was also where the 1996 NBA All-Star Game was hosted, it was where Michael Jordan was booed for winning MVP over former Spurs resident Shaquille O’Neal.
“It’s crazy,” said Taro Kotani, a Spurs fan visiting from Japan. “The amount of people here. I’ve never been inside the Dome, so just imagining what it was like here during the ’96 All-Star Game and ’99 Finals is so nostalgic. I wasn’t there but this brings back lots of memories”.
Kotani had planned his annual trip to San Antonio around Friday’s game because he wanted to be there when history was made.
January 15 is known officially as the first day of the international signing period and this day means the world to prospects from across the globe who sign on to the MLB during the 11-month span.
While it’s been called international signing day, other people have renamed it to “international day of joy.”
This is because, for the prospects, it is their first step into playing professional baseball. It is also the day when their dreams come true.
The signing period lasts through December 15, 2023. Below is a list of players from the MLB Pipeline’s list that have reportedly agreed to terms with clubs, and for how much. Unless otherwise noted, no clubs have confirmed these deals.
*+ Shows that the club has officially announced the signing.
Signings Breakdown:
Thirty-one of the players on the Top 50 International Prospects list of 2022 are from the Dominican Republic. 12 prospects are from Venezuela, three from Cuba, two from the Bahamas, and one each from Mexico and Korea.
In terms of position, there are 20 infielders, 18 outfielders, five catchers, six pitchers, and one two-way player.
Here are the international bonus pools for the 2022-23 signing period:
Clubs that received a Competitive Balance Pick in Round B of the Draft (Athletics, Brewers, Mariners, Marlins, Rays, Reds, Tigers, and Twins) received a pool of $6,366,900) while clubs with a Competitive Balance Pick in Round A (D-backs, Guardians, Orioles, Padres, Pirates, Rockies, and Royals) received $5,825,500.
The base signing pool for the Astros, Blue Jays, Braves, Cardinals, Cubs, Giants, Mets, Nationals, White Sox, and Yankees is $5,284,00.
Los Angeles Angels, Phillies, and Red Sox each forfeited $500,000 from their pools for signing players who had rejected qualifying offers – Noah Syndergaard, Nick Castellanos, and Trevor Story – last off-season so each has a pool of $4,644,00. The Dodgers and Rangers each forfeited $1,000,000 from their pools for signing players who had rejected qualifying offers to lower their pool to $4,144,000.
The Dodgers surpassed the luxury tax threshold the previous season and forfeited $1,000,000 for Freddie Freeman. The Rangers forfeited $500,000 each for Corey Seager and Marcus Semien.
Forfeited monies are redistributed to other clubs
Teams will be allowed to trade international bonus slots during this signing period starting January 15
Guidelines:
International players are eligible to sign with a Major League team between January 15 and December 15. They must turn 16 before he signs and be 17 before September 1 the following year – in practical terms, this means players born between September 1, 2005, and August 31, 2006, will be eligible to sign in the upcoming signing period.
Players must be registered with Major League Baseball in advance in order to be eligible to sign.
These are some other prospects who signed for $300,000 or higher:
Former Los Angeles Angels RHP Matt Harvey is looking to make an MLB comeback. MLB Insider Jon Heyman of the New York Post wrote “Matt Harvey is hoping to pitch again this year” in a recent article.
The Right Hand Pitcher has not pitched since the 2021 season when he played in 28 games for the Baltimore Orioles. That year, he went 6-14 with a 6.27 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP.
In 2020, Harvey made seven appearances with the Kansas City Royals, going 0-3 with an ERA of 11.
57 and a WHIP of 2.74.
Matt Harvey with the New York Mets
Prior to that, Matt spent the 2019 season with the Los Angeles Angels. He ended the season with a career-worst (at the time) 7.09 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP in just 59.2 innings (12 starts). He also played for a while with the Cincinnati Reds and spent his five seven-plus seasons with the New York Mets.
When he was at the peak of his career, Harvey was an All-Star in 2013 and had sub-three ERAs in 2012, 2013, and 2015.
However, the 33-year-old is well removed from that part of his career and hasn’t enjoyed much success since 2016.
Any MLB team may take a chance on Harvey and give him a role that fits his current skill set. But for now, there is no indicator that he would get a chance, particularly at the major league level.
Odjick led the NHL in penalty minutes during the 1996-97 season.
Former National Hockey League (NHL) veteran player Gino Odjick died of a heart attack at a Vancouver hospital on Sunday, where he was going to get leg bandages. He was 52 years old.
In 2014, Odjick was diagnosed with amyloidosis, a disease that attacks the organs and the heart.
Following the news of his death, three out of the four teams that Odjick used to play for sent their condolences.
New York Islanders wrote on their Twitter page,
“The New York Islanders are deeply saddened to learn the passing of former family member, Gino Odjick. The team extends our condolences to the Odjick family and friends.”
Odjick played for 12 years in the NHL for the Vancouver Canucks, New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers, and Montreal Canadiens, between 1990 and 2002.
Gino Odjick playing for the Vancouver Canucks
In the history of the Canucks, Gino holds the record for minutes spent in the penalty box with 2,127.
For the 1996-97 campaign, Odjick led the league in penalty minutes at 371.
The chairman and governor of the Canucks, Francisco Aquilini said in a statement: “Gino was a fan-favourite from the moment he joined the organization, putting his heart and soul into every shift on and off the ice. He inspired many and embodied what it means to be a Canuck.
Personally, he was a close friend and confidant, someone I could lean on for advice and support. He will be deeply missed.”
Chicago Fire striker Jhon Durán was signed for $22m by Aston Villa after a massive breakthrough season in Major League Soccer.
Durán is leaving Major League Soccer for the Premier League.
The signing deal hinged on the Colombian teenager gaining a visa and passing a medical test in England.
Premier League’s Aston Villa have signed Colombia International Jhon Durán from Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire in a deal worth almost $22 million.
Before Villa drafted him, some other Europe clubs like Chelsea and Liverpool were hoping to get the striker who scored eight goals in 27 games for Fire last season. But he was scouted by Aston Villa, earning him his first cap for Colombia.
Durán had already played thrice for Colombia and is now the second Chicago Fire teen to leave the MLS for the EPL, following in Gabriela Slonina’s footsteps.
Slonina joined Chelsea for $15m last August.
Chicago Fire Striker Jhon DuránGabriel Slonina
ESPN reports that the deal to take Jhon to Birmingham, England is worth $18m, with $4m for performance-related add-ons.
Colombian club Envigado, where Durán started his career, is also entitled to a percentage of the transfer fee.
When confirming the move, Aston Villa said, ‘the deal is subject to the player passing a medical, agreeing personal terms, and obtaining the necessary work visa.’
Jhon Durán in actionAston Villa Boss Unai Emery
If the deal is finalized without any hitches, Durán’s move would be one of the three biggest in MLS history.
His $22m transfer would match the amount Bayern Munich paid Vancouver Whitecaps for full-back Alphonso Davies. But it would rank behind the $26m Newcastle United paid to sign Miguel Almiron from Atlanta United back in 2019.
Before now, Durán’s career has been watched with great interest by a number of English Premier League clubs, like Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea.
According to reports out of Colombia, Liverpool in the past, sent the same scout that discovered Luis Diaz at Porto before he joined the Reds, to watch Durán.
Portuguese club Benfica was also said to be scouting the Fire striker, he appeared on the front page of Record, a newspaper in Portugal, back in December as teams’ interests in him grew.
Jhon Durán in front of Record Newspaper
Chicago Fire coach Ezra Hendrickson, when speaking on Durán said, ‘He is a player that, once he gets it all together, he can be a really really special player. He has all the tools.’
In January 2021, Fire sporting director Georg Heitz defined Durán as being “really gifted”.
“He is not only physically interesting especially if you consider his age, but also technically, he’s really good in front of the goal, he’s good in the box, he’s smart, he’s quick with his feet. A raw talent, but really gifted,’ Heitz told the Athletic.
Durán is currently away with the Colombian national team as part of the 2023 South American Under – 20 Championships.
Los Angeles Football Club forward Gareth Bale has retired from professional soccer after a fruitful 18-year career. Bale announced this decision on Monday.
Gareth Bale joined LAFC last June after leaving La Liga’s Real Madrid. He scored one of the most memorable goals in MLS history, an extra-time header that sent the Black & Gold into Penalty kicks for their MLS Cup 2022 victory.
“We want to thank Gareth for everything he brought to our club,” John Torrington LAFC co-president and general manager said in a press release. “He arrived here with a goal to win championships in LA, and, like he has done everywhere else in his career – he succeeded.
“It was an honor to have one of the most talented, dynamic and exciting players of his generation finish his career with a title for LAFC, and we wish Gareth, his wife Emma, and their family nothing but the best in their future endeavors.”
Bale graced the list of the highest-profile players in MLS history, scoring three goals in 13 total appearances for the LAFC. He also helped the club win the Supporters’ Shield, making them the eighth MLS team to complete that single-season double.
Bale was once the most-expensive player transfer in the world when traded from Tottenham to Real Madrid. He won 21 trophies throughout a club career that began at Southampton. Five UEFA Champions League titles also grace his silverware cabinet.
This winter, Gareth captained Wales to their first FIFA World Cup appearance in 64 years and he retires as the Dragons’ all-time leader in appearances (111), and goals (40). After Wales’ Group B exit in Qatar, Bale said he wanted to participate in the 2024 Euros. But that plan changed.
“I feel incredibly fortunate to have realized my dream of playing the sport I love,” Bale announced on his official channels. “It has truly given me some of the best moments of my life. The highest of highs over 17 seasons, that will be impossible to replicate, no matter what the next chapter has in store for me.”
Following Bale’s departure, the LAFC will now have an open spot for Designated Player to use for the 2023 season alongside forwards Carlos Vela and Denis Bouanga. Bale was on a guaranteed deal through the summer, then he reportedly became DP if a contract option was exercised.
Los Angeles Football Club are entering their second season under Steve Cherundolo the head coach and starting its title defense on February 25th against the LA Galaxy in a season-opening EL Trafico at the Rose Bowl (9:30 pm ET | MLS Season Pass).
Winger secures 13th career hatty as Boston cruised 7-1 win over Ducks.
Hampus Lindholm may have seen David Pastrnak only twice a year during his time with the Anaheim Ducks, but there was one noteworthy performance by the Winger which is hard to forget:
Pastrnak’s only career four-game goal was scored against Anaheim on October 14th, 2019 at TD Garden.
“He’s a special player,” Lindholm said. “The way he can move the puck and put it in the back of the net, it’s really special. It’s fun to have him on my side finally.”
Lindholm delighted in the fact that on Sunday night when Pastrnak potted his 13th career hat trick in the Boston Bruins’ 7-1 drubbing of the Ducks at Honda Center. Pastrnak bolted past Johnny Bucyk for sole possession of third place on the B’s all-time hat tricks list and is now just one back of tying Cam Neely for second.
“It will never get old,” Pastrnak said when talking about his hat trick haul, which does not include two others in the postseason. “You’re scoring goals in the best league in the world. It’s not easy. I will never take it for granted. It’s my job to score goals. It still makes you happy.”
David Pastrnak
Boston was over the moon with Pastrnak’s performance as it secured a flawless 3-0 swing through California while extending their point streak to 14 games (11-0-3) and improving their overall record to an astounding 32-44 on the season.
The Black & Gold’s 68 points are the second-most through 40 games in NHL history (Boston, 71 in 1929-30), while their 32 wins also equal the second-most through 40 games in league legend with the 1944-45 Canadiens (the 1929-30 B’s has 35 wins).
David Pastrnak’s first goal of the night opened the scoring (his 62nd career game-opening goal) and secured his sixth career 30-goal season, making him just the seventh player in Bruins history to achieve that feat.
Phil Esposito and Rick Middleton, Johnny Bucyk -7, Peter McNab, Cam Neely, and Patrice Bergeon 6; were all players who attained this honour. The winger is also the third player this season to hit the 30-goal plateau, joining Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid (33) and Buffalo Sabers’ Tage Thompson (31).
“You can’t teach Krejci finding, buying time and Pasta just stopping there,” head coach Jim Montogomery said regarding the center’s feed from behind the net and Pastrnak’s one-timer finish from the right-wing circle to put Boston on top, 1-0, at 3:49 of the first. “Goal scorers know how to get open, that’s why they continue to score goals. That shot was amazing.”
Further, into the game, Pastrnak also assisted on David Krejci’s first-period maker to double the Bruins’ lead, before burying two goals in the middle frame – just 17 seconds apart; including a gorgeous breakaway finish that had Boston ahead, 4-1, after 40 minutes.
“Elite, creative – he’s like an artist the different ways he scores,” Montgomery said. “Everyone talks about the one-timers, but he scores off his front foot, his back foot, his backhand, fakes. I would have broke my ankle if I was the goalie in the nets on that breakaway one.”
Pastrnak’s 30th goal of the season was scored in his 40th game, which set a new personal best after doing it in 42 games during the 2019-20 campaign. He is now the seventh different Bruin to score 30 or more goals in 40 games or fewer. Pastrnak joins the likes of Esposito (four times), Neely (1993-94), Dit Clapper (1929-30), Herb Cain (1943 -44), Bill Cowley (1943-44) and Cooney Weiland (1929-30).
“The puck went in, obviously, I had some good looks,” said Pastrnak. “I was able to capitalize. Games like this sometimes, it’s good. Overall, unbelievable trip for us. Let’s go home now.”
Lindholm Hampus’ Homecoming
Lindholm Hampus
For Lindholm Hampus, the Sunday night game vs Anaheim Ducks was a sort of homecoming for him, as he came back to Honda Center as a visitor. Hampus spent the first nine seasons of his career as an Anaheim player before he was traded to Bruins last March for Urho Vaakanainen, John Moore, a 2022 first-round pick, and two other draft picks.
“It was weird,” Lindholm recounted. “Walking in, I got lost walking around the locker room and didn’t really know where to go. It was a different feeling, but happy with the two points and the process. We’ve been playing good here on this road trip, so nice to be able to go back home after a big win.”
In the first period, the Ducks paid homage to Lindholm with a video tribute highlighting his play on the ice, personality, and community work away from the rink.
“It kind of shaped me in my first couple years in the NHL, being here,” said Lindholm. “The organization has been so good to me. I’ve had so many family and friends here. Great memories. I’m obviously super happy about all that, but it’s a new chapter for me now which I’m really excited about as well.”
Lindholm rounded off the night with his fifth goal of the season when he pinched down the wall all the way into the corner and fired a shot from a bad angle that sneaked past John Gibson Anaheim’s goalie, to extend the Bruins’ lead to 6-1 with 8:34 to go.
“I was shooting to score,” said Lindholm. “I’ve tried to get in my head to shoot a little bit more. Good things happen when you shoot, I feel like. It was nice to see it go in.”
Boston Bruins Displeasure
James Montgomery
The Boston Bruins acknowledged that they were displeased with a scrum following Anaheim’s only goal late in the first period when Trevor Zegras seemingly barked something at Trent Frederic in front of the Boston Bench.
“Yeah, for sure. You can’t do that after a goal,” said Pastrnak. “You have to have some certain respect. You can’t score a goal and then yell at the opponent no matter what happened in the sequence before…it hypes everybody else up.”
Montogomery felt that the Bruins let emotion get the best of them in the second, although they put this behind them following Pastrnak’s back-to-back tallies.
“Well, it had an effect in injecting emotion into the game, right?” Montgomery said. “I think that’s why that scrum happened, but after the first period, I thought we got away from our game because of all that and we talked about our culture and how we want to represent ourselves and get back to playing real good hockey. I think we got back to our game.”
Boston Love
Boston Bruins was impressed by the wide number of fans that poured into the Honda Center on Sunday night and hyped up the team with pro-Bruins chants throughout the night.
“It was outstanding,” Pastrnak recalled. “I think the whole bench in the third period took a second. It was pretty loud there cheering by Bruins fans. Respect for them to coming and support us. They were pretty loud.”
Montogomery stated that he was surprised by the amount of support the Bruins received this season outside Boston, especially during their matches in California, Colorado, and Florida.
“You know what’s been amazing, having not played for an Original Six or a team that has great fans like the Bruins and travels so well is how well we’re represented everywhere,” he said. “It makes you feel very lucky to be a part of the Bruins.”
More On This:
By assisting Pastrnak’s second goal, Patrice Bergeron notched his 600th career helper, becoming the fourth player in Bruins history to reach this mark. He joined the likes of Ray Bourque (1,111), Johnny Bucyk (794), and Bobby Orr (624).
David Krejci (goal, two assists) recorded his 188th career multi-point game, trying Ken Hodge for ninth most Bruins history, per NHL Stats.
Jeremy Swayman made 28 saves for his fourth win in six games (4-0-2), including victories in both of his starts during the West Coast swing. “Really solid,” said Montgomery. “They had a lot of dangerous chances in the first 25-30 minutes. I thought we really took over once we got those two Pastrnak goals. The air in the balloon came out, I think.”
