Day: January 17, 2022

By FRED GOODALL, AP Sports Writer TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — As the game clock expired, Tom Brady raised his arms in triumph along the sideline, whirled and tossed a football into the stands. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their jubilant 44-year-old quarterback took the first step on what they hope will be a journey back to the Super Bowl, dominating the Philadelphia Eagles 31-15 in a NFC wild-card playoff victory Sunday. “It only gets tougher from here,” said the seven-time Super Bowl winner, who's trying to help the Bucs become the first team to repeat as NFL champions since the Brady-led New England Patriots won back-to-back titles in the 2003 and 2004 seasons. Tampa Bay (14-4) set the tempo from the start, with Brady leading a pair of long TD drives in the ope...

By DOUG FERGUSON, AP Golf Writer HONOLULU (AP) — Five shots behind at the turn, Hideki Matsuyama figured all he could do was keep his head down and try to stay in the game Sunday in the Sony Open. And when he finally looked up, he couldn't see one of the best shots of his career. In a sudden-death playoff with Russell Henley, Matsuyama hit a 3-wood from 276 yards, right into the sun, and had no idea that it settled 3 feet away for eagle on the par-5 18th until he heard an enormous cheer from one of the largest galleries at Waialae. “To be honest, I didn't even see it,” Matsuyama said. “But everybody started cheering, and I knew it was good.” Matsuyama, who made birdie on the 18th in regulation for a 7-under 63, Vibram Shoes Five Fingers won for the ...

By DAVE SKRETTA, AP Sports Writer KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs were going nowhere on offense against Pittsburgh early Sunday night, so coach Andy Reid had wide receiver Mecole Hardman take a shotgun snap and hand off to running back Darrel Williams on a trick play. Their exchange hit the ground, T.J. Watt picked it up and returned the fumble for a touchdown. It was precisely the kind of play that should have energized the heavy underdogs, playing in a tough environment on the road, but it wound up doing something else entirely: It ticked off Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. He proceeded to throw for 404 yards and five scores, leading Kansas City to the end zone on six straight possessions after the turnover, and the Chiefs cruised Skechers Women...

By DAVE SKRETTA, AP Sports Writer KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger raised some eyebrows ahead of their wild-card game against the defending AFC champion Chiefs on Sunday night when he admitted that “we probably aren't supposed to be here.” Well, he wasn't wrong. After taking an early lead on T.J. Watt's fumble return for a touchdown, the Steelers watched Patrick Mahomes guide the Chiefs to six consecutive touchdown drives. So by the time Roethlisberger finally led Pittsburgh past midfield for the first time, midway through the third quarter, Hey Dude Women's Shoes  the outcome of what was likely his final game had been decided. The Chiefs advanced to face Buffalo in the divisional round next Sunday night with a 42-21 blowou...

By TIM REYNOLDS, AP Basketball Writer The NBA had enormous problems. Drug abuse among players was believed to be rampant. Many arenas were half-empty or worse on game nights. Most franchises were losing money. Some were on the cusp of folding. And when games were on television, nobody was watching. That was how the 1980s began. “This league,” Hall of Famer Jerry West said, “was in trouble.” Saviors, a lot of them, were coming. There were stars so bright they could go by just one name: Doc, ’Nique, Michael. Another was a bespectacled short man in a suit and wing-tips, someone who changed the game without ever dribbling or shooting a basketball. But change truly began with two other members of the one-name-only-needed club; a flashy Black sta...

LARRY BIRD “Larry Legend” played his entire 13-year career with the Boston Celtics, and his rivalry with Los Angeles Lakers guard Earvin “Magic” Johnson catapulted the league to new heights. Bird's sharp shooting, pinpoint passing and rugged rebounding helped the Celtics win NBA titles in 1981, 1984 and 1986. He won three straight league MVP awards from 1984 to 1986 — Hoka Sneakers  no one has won three in a row since. He was rookie of the year in 1980, All-Star MVP in 1982 and Finals MVP in 1984 and 1986. At 6-foot-9, he was one of the first players of his size to take advantage of the 3-point line. He was the 3-point contest champion three times. He was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998. JULIUS ERVING The high-flying “Dr. J” was t...