Digital Sports Desk

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Two Cathedrals

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By TERRY LYONS

It was a beautiful service. Radio City Music Hall, in all its glory.

“We’ve got to go back to the office, now sir. We’ve got some decisions to make.”

“Yeah.

“Would you do me a favor? Would you ask the agents to seal the place for a minute?”

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You’re a Son of a Bitch, you know that?

“He was taking his daughter to basketball practice with her coaches and teammates, and you hit them with a foggy day.

“What? Is that supposed to be funny? Is it supposed to mean something?

“You cannot conceive, nor can I, of the appalling strangeness of the mercy of God,” says Graham Greene.

“I know who’s ass he was kissing there, because, I think you’re just vindictive.

What was Ray Amati? A warning shot?

That was my guy – our guy, and his smile was the sun. Your son.  What did I ever do to your son, but praise his Glory and praise his Name? St. Ignatius to Trinity to St. John’s the whole way – 18 credits of Theology, and it was hard.

I saw Jerry West on TV, upset as I’ve ever seen him. You took his son. You know what Jerry West has done for this League? This Game? For Kobe? All Jerry West does is go around and fix franchises, help players. Like Kobe, a little kid from Italy and Philly.

“Gratias tibi ago, domine.”

“Yes, he made a mistake. We’ve all made mistakes. You made us human, remember? Have we displeased you – you feckless thug?

Nearly six Billion social media connections around the world, people picking up a ball and playing, laughing, enjoying our game, exercising out there with the fans from all the other nations – all as one. Wasn’t that enough? More than 40 million fans following the NBA on Facebook, another 30 million or more on Twitter. Steph Curry, himself, has some 47 million kids from every country on the Earth following him – just helping youngsters, who all love his game.

We got the kids from Serbia and the kids from Croatia, Bosnia and Montenegro all playing together in a Basketball w/o Borders camp. We taught people about living with HIV and David and Magic saved countless lives to teach the importance of safe sex and the AIDS virus you tossed at us in the ’80s, you creep. Did the same thing when we started Basketball w/o Borders in China. 

In CHINA.  Yao Ming wiped the tears from the eyes of some little girl, who for the first time could tell her story in public. She cried. We cried.

Stay in School, Don’t Foul Out, Hoops for Troops – we were trying to take care of the kids and the families, you know? It’s not about selling T-Shirts and Hats, it’s about getting kids off their asses and playing. Child obesity is a major issue in the USA and around the world. We were always trying to get kids – boys and girls – all playing our game. We started the WNBA, man.

And, personally, I raised two wonderful girls into amazing young women. Put every second of time into their education. That’s not enough to get me out of the dog house, so you take my main man, David. Why? He was just getting going with helping us, a few new companies, tech start-ups.

Morgan Wooten coached for 46 years at DeMatha. Yeah, I know, in ’96 you spared him with the kidney transplant from his son, Joe. He lived to a nice age of 88, but you took him from us, the basketball family, on January 21, just three weeks after David passed. The great DeMatha coach went 1,274 and 192, for Christ’s sake, at a Catholic school.

That’s petty good.

And, then you take Kobe. And his wonderful 13-year old daughter, and their friends, coaches and teammates, along with a talented pilot they all trusted.

“Haec credam a deo pio, a deo justo, a deo scito?

“Tuus in terra servus, nuntius fui; officium perfeci.

“Cruciatus in crucem,

“Eas in crucem.”

Editor’s Note: I wrote weeks ago, when NBA Commissioner David Stern fell ill of a brain hemorrhage, that I kept flashing back in time to the early ’80s and days gone by and memories of David, and of the NBA. I wrote of being in a Josh Lyman world, every damn time I turned around.

Now?

Denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance, huh?

Well, I’m pissed.

***

If you have NO IDEA what I’m writing about, that’s tough shit.

But, at the least I can do – I’ll give you a little insight. CLICK HERE.

Heating Up

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Boston Celtics at Miami Heat

When: 8:00 PM ET, Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Where: American Airlines Arena, Miami, Florida
Preview for Digital Sports Desk by Gracenote

MIAMI – The Boston Celtics have had very different results on the defensive end through the first two legs of their three-game road trip. They’ll try to find some consistency on that end of the floor and head home with a winning trip when they visit the Miami Heat tonight.

Heat at Celtics Highlights (NBA/Youtube – December 2019)

After stifling the Orlando Magic in a 109-98 win Friday night, the Celtics gave up at least 29 points in all four quarters in Sunday’s 123-108 setback at New Orleans in the hours after the news broke that Kobe Bryant had died in a helicopter crash. “My stomach is still hurting,” Boston forward Gordon Hayward told reporters. “It was hard to play today. Mentally, there were a lot of guys that weren’t themselves with the news and I don’t blame them. It’s very, very tough.” The Heat were idle when the Bryant news came in and marked an emotional return to the court Monday with a 113-92 rout of the Magic. Bam Adebayo notched his third triple-double of the season with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists as Miami improved to 21-2 at home.

TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: TNT, Sportsnet One

ABOUT THE CELTICS (30-15): Forward Jayson Tatum (illness, groin) has missed two straight games and he is listed as doubtful for Tuesday’s game. Center Enes Kanter (hip) also sat out the Orlando and New Orleans games and will not be ready for the Miami matchup. Kanter (8.2 rebounds per game) and Tatum (6.9) are the team’s top contributors on the glass and without them Boston was outrebounded 54-37 at New Orleans, giving up 18 offensive boards.

ABOUT THE HEAT (32-14): Adebayo was 10-of-16 from the floor and both Duncan Robinson (21 points) and Jimmy Butler (19 points) were 7-of-11 as Miami’s starting five shot 58.8 percent from the floor against the Magic. Kendrick Nunn sat for the second straight time due to a sore Achilles, but fellow starting guard Goran Dragic returned from a calf injury that kept him out of the previous game and contributed 14 points and five assists off the bench. “We haven’t really been able to get to that enough this season, and I’m not complaining about it,” coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters of the team’s inability to be fully healthy. “There’s a lot of teams way worse off on that injury card than we are. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there – it’s a good bridge; it goes to good places.”

BUZZER BEATERS

  1. Celtics PG Kemba Walker is averaging 36 points in two games since being held to eight in a win over Memphis on Wednesday.
  2. Robinson is 15-of-24 from 3-point range over his last three games.
  3. SG Jaylen Brown scored 31 points to lead Boston to a 112-93 win in the first meeting Dec. 4, stretching the Celtics’ winning streak in the series to four.

Road Warriors Meet at MSG

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NEW YORK – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Villanova Wildcats, ranked eighth in the AP poll this week and 10th in USA Today, meet St. John’s at Madison Square Garden at 6:30 p.m. ET tonight. Both teams are coming off road wins this past Saturday. Villanova won 64-60 at Providence while St. John’s defeated DePaul 79-66.

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Villanova (16-3, 6-1 BIG EAST) continues to feature a balanced scoring attack with five players averaging in double figures. Collin Gillespie is the leader with a 15.1 mark. Saddiq Bey is right behind at 14.9. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, who has been the BIG EAST Freshman of the Week for the last three weeks, is averaging close to a double-double with 11.2 points and 9.4 rebounds. St. John’s (13-8, 2-6) is the only BIG EAST team to defeat Villanova in each of the past two seasons. The Johnnies’ L.J. Figueroa made seven 3-pointers while tallying a career-high 28 points Saturday at DePaul and Mustapha Heron added 20 points. Heron has averaged 18.7 points over this last three games.

Butler heads to Georgetown after a dramatic 89-85 overtime home win against Marquette on Friday. The Bulldogs’ Kamar Baldwin had only two points in the first half, but finished with 31 in the win at Hinkle Fieldhouse. He was named BIG EAST Player of the Week on Monday. Butler is ranked 16th in AP and 17th in USA Today. 

Georgetown has not played since a 66-57 loss at Xavier last Wednesday. The Hoyas (12-7, 2-4) rank second in the BIG EAST in scoring, averaging 77.9 points while Butler (16-4, 4-3) is first in scoring defense (59.4). The Hoyas have two wins against ranked teams this season, knocking off Creighton and Texas. They have won four of their last six against ranked squads under coach Patrick Ewing.

Home teams are 23-14 (.642) in league games going into Tuesday.

Kobe Bryant Will Remain Immortal in Our Basketball-Loving Souls

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By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – It hurts so much and you didn’t even know him.

You didn’t know him, but for 20-something years, you allowed him into your living room.

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You either loved him or despised him as you soared on an epic basketball journey that began in Philadelphia and ended yesterday in a canyon near Los Angeles, called Calabases. The television news crews aired the wreckage of a helicopter, smoke still smoldering from a terrible crash that took the lives of nine souls, including a pilot, friends, coaches who were with this incredible basketball savant and his late daughter, Gianna, all of 13 years old.

He was drafted right out of Lower Merion High School and all of Philadelphia’s basketball society knew him well. Since December of 1992, in the Year of the Dream Team, Kobe Bean Bryant‘s name began to fill the prep sports pages of the Philadelphia Inquirer and Philly Daily News. The Internet had yet to go mainstream.

The son of Joe “JellyBean” Bryant, a professional basketball player who hailed from La Salle University and then the Sixers and a small handful of other NBA clubs, the Bryant family trekked to Italy as “JellyBean” extended his career and young Kobe would attend schools in Italy for his formative years of 1st through the middle of 8th grade. 

JellyBean and his wife, Pamela, moved back to Philly, a family of five with their youngest child and only son soon to be enrolled in Lower Merion. That season’s high school basketball preview recommended its readers mark down a name to be reckoned with as the winter sports began:

“Remember this name: Kobe Bryant. The 6-4, 14-year-old freshman and son of Joe Bryant, a former star at La Salle, will not only play on the varsity, he will start. ‘He’s a very talented player. He has the ability to do everything well, and he has phenomenal range on his jumper.’”

Four years later, Lakers legend Jerry West, the greatest general manager in NBA history would be orchestrating a draft night trade whereby the Los Angeles Lakers would send their starting 7-1 center and eventual Hall of Famer Vlade Divac to Charlotte for the rights to Kobe Bryant who was selected No. 13 by Hornets in the 1996 NBA Draft, a draft that’s produced three Naismith Memorial Hall of Famers (Allen Iverson, Ray Allen and Steve Nash) with a fourth soon-to-come.

Yes, it hurts now but it will hurt just as much, again, this August 29th when Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett walk up to the stage at Springfield’s beautiful Symphony Hall to make their Hall of Fame induction speeches and Kobe Bryant won’t be there to headline the night as one of the very best of the best basketball players to ever play the game.

The annual Hall of Fame Enshrinement ceremony might need to be changed this summer. Maybe there should be a one-year pause for the normal festivities to pay tribute to Kobe Bryant, alone. That unprecedented gesture might ease the pain for the NBA basketball-loving world who adopted that 18-year old and a mid-summer requiem might provide a small moment of solace for those who will attend the Basketball Hall of Fame ceremonies just six days after Kobe would’ve turned 42.

Tributes are all that is left, now.

The videos will remind us of the days gone by, remind us of the days in Italy or the State high school battles against Hazleton (Lower Merion lost 64-59, in OT). The editors will splice-in the NBA Draft night footage, the debut, the playoff losses, the NBA All-Star Game debut alongside Michael Jordan and take viewers on a 20-year journey of five NBA titles, two NBA Finals MVPs, countless baskets, dunks, clutch shots and scoring records.

News outlets, if they’re worth a damn, will need to include a 2003 sexual assault case in Eagle, Colorado, where Kobe Bryant provided a very public mea culpa after the criminal case was dismissed. The assault allegations provided a distinct and lasting blemish on an otherwise stellar career of basketball prowess, women’s basketball advocacy and worldwide community relations and social responsibility outreach.

In recent years, he embraced retirement from the game but remained close to it. His business interests flourished in media and publishing, his Mamba Mentality book sharing his basketball experiences and insight. In 2018, Bryant won an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, entitled “Dear Basketball.”

Kobe’s widow, Vanessa, a high school sweetheart and the mother of his four daughters, will mourn the loss of her husband and daughter in this unspeakable tragedy for the Lakers and NBA family – a strong, loving family they will stand with and walk aside in the dark days ahead this week. The power of support will, hopefully, get them through the terrible shock, pain and mourning while everyone who welcomed Kobe Bryant into their NBA on TV living rooms cries a few tears as well.

Like Kobe, none of us are perfect. 

Like Kobe, none of us are impervious to horrific accidents and the resulting deadly damage air travel disasters inflict upon our very human flesh and blood.

Unlike Kobe, though, very few of us are immortals.

Kobe Bryant, one of the greatest basketball players to ever play the game we love, soon will be enshrined and to many basketball-loving fans, he will remain immortal.

Kobe Bryant, 1978-2020

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LOS ANGELES – Retired National Basketball Association superstar Kobe Bryant, a five-time NBA champion, two-time NBA Finals most valuable player and two-time Olympic gold medalist in his 20-year basketball career, died today when a helicopter he was traveling in crashed near Calabases, California.

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TMZ Sports first reported the fact Bryant was on the Sikorsky S-76 helicopter which reportedly had nine people on board when the crash occurred shortly before 10 a.m. near Las Virgenes Road, south of Agoura Road, according to a watch commander for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Bryant was 41 years old, the father of four daughters with his wife, Vanessa (Laine). According to reports Sunday afternoon, Bryant’s 13-year old daughter, Gianna, was with her father on the helicopter along with three other unidentified individuals, including the pilot.

Among the first to issue an official statement on the terrible tragedy was NBA Commissioner Adam Silver who wrote:

“The NBA family is devastated by the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna.

“For 20 seasons, Kobe showed us what is possible when remarkable talent blends with an absolute devotion to winning. He was one of the most extraordinary players in the history of our game with accomplishments that are legendary: five NBA championships, an NBA MVP award, 18 NBA All-Star selections, and two Olympic gold medals.

“But he will be remembered most for inspiring people around the world to pick up a basketball and compete to the very best of their ability. He was generous with the wisdom he acquired and saw it as his mission to share it with future generations of players, taking special delight in passing down his love of the game to Gianna.

“We send our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Vanessa, and their family, the Lakers organization and the entire sports world.”

The Boston Celtics organization also issued a statement that read:

“There are no words that can convey the heartbreak the entire Celtics organization feels in the wake of the terrible loss of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna.

“Kobe was one of the greatest talents and competitors to ever play basketball, and his love of the sport inspired countless fans and players around the world. Our fans were fortunate to watch him as he contributed many memorable chapters to the Celtics-Lakers rivalry, which he treasured.

“We extend our deepest condolences to Kobe’s family, fans, and the entire Lakers organization, as well as all of the victims and families affected by this horrible tragedy.

NBA legends, including former Lakers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Shaquille O’Neal all expressed their shock and then their condolences for the family.

In NBA games played yesterday, teams began the games by taking a symbolic 24-second violation and then an eight-second violation, forever memorializing the No. 24 and No. 8 uniform numbers that Bryant wore during his career.

Bs Pastrnak Takes NHL MVP

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ST LOUIS – San Jose Sharks forward Tomas Hertl scored the game-winning goal as Team Pacific defeated Team Atlantic 5-4 to win the NHL All-Star Game on Saturday night.

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Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson scored twice in the victory and Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl had a goal and an assist.

Boston’s David Pastrnak and Jonathan Huberdeau had each a goal and an assist for Atlantic. Pastrnak was named the event’s MVP with four goals and two assists over his two games.

“We all wanted to win at the end of the day. Too bad we didn’t,” Pastrnak told reporters after the game. “I don’t even know how they got votes in. I would expect the winner to be the MVP, the winning team. If it was voted in by fans, I appreciate the love. Probably wasn’t any fans from the St. Louis building. Whoever voted, I appreciate it, I appreciate the love.”

“He’s our MVP on a lot of nights, too, so I’m used to see him going to work,” Atlantic/Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy told reporters. “He got to play with good players, score a few goals. Too bad we came up a little short.”

The event featured four divisional teams playing 3-on-3 games with two 10-minute periods.

The title game was more tightly contested than the wide-open semifinal games. Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen stopped seven of eight shots as the Atlantic built a 3-1 first-period lead.

Pacific battled back in the second period to tie the game 3-3 and later take the lead 5-4 on Hertl’s goal with 2:36 left.

In the semifinals, the Atlantic defeated Team Metropolitan 9-5, and the Pacific beat Team Central 10-5.

In the first semifinal, the Metropolitan forged a 5-4 second-period lead, then the Atlantic scored five unanswered goals — the last two into an empty net — to advance to the final.

Pastrnak and Ottawa Senators forward Anthony Duclair each scored a hat trick and added an assist for the winners. Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman had a goal and three assists, and Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped six of seven shots in the second period.

The Metropolitan was led by New Jersey Devils forward Nico Hischier (two goals, one assist), Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones (one goal, three assists) and Philadelphia Flyers forward Travis Konecny (three assists).

In the second semifinal, the Pacific broke a 4-4 tie with a dominant second period — outscoring the Central 6-1 to advance to the final. Hertl scored four goals, including the final three of the second period, to lead the attack.

“I thought Tomas Hertl was really good, he played defense,” Pacific/Arizona head coach Rick Tocchet said. “I said, ‘You’re the next Brent Burns.’ I thought he was the next Brent Burns out there, he was awesome for us.”

Draisaitl (three goals, one assist), Calgary Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk (two goals, two assists) and Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes (goal, three assists) also starred offensively.

Flames goaltender David Rittich stopped nine of 10 shots in the second period to seal the victory and send Pacific to the final.

Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane scored twice for the Central, and forwards Mark Scheifele (Winnipeg Jets) and Tyler Seguin (Dallas Stars) each had a goal and an assist.

–Field Level Media

Digital Sports Desk’s While We’re Young (Ideas) – Episode 40

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By TERRY LYONS

ST. LOUIS – Just as the NHL rank and file took their break and the hockey’s All-Stars headed to Missouri and the Gateway Arch along the Mississippi, the world’s tech stars were arriving this past Tuesday for Stadia Ventures’ Spring 2020 Finalist Pitch Day and World Demo Day.

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Due to the fact this reporter was directly associated with one of the 10 Finalists – see www.SnapScreen.com – it’s not appropriate to comment in too much detail on the companies pitching the accelerator nor the intricacies of the event itself. But, suffice to say, for anyone seriously involved with the entrepreneurial side of Sports Tech, and the Sports Biz industry itself, witnessing and interacting with the Stadia Ventures execs, event organizers and event attendees was a dream come true.

The well-organized pitch and demo day were well attended by many of the industries’ experienced sports executives and mentors who made up a combination of the accelerator’s Judges Panel and Mentor group. The impressive gathering also saluted three of its 2019 cohorts in Clicktivated, Funder, LiveStyled – all three impressive start-ups now seeking funds.

Being the proper thing to do, this reporter will leave it at that for now, but it’s highly recommended to seek-out additional information on Stadia Ventures at: CLICK HERE. Looking forward to returning to St. Louis someday soon, especially during baseball season to take in a game at Busch Stadium.

Special Note: 

Please join our friends at New York Venture Community Sports and WWE Chief Brand Officer, Stephanie McMahon and Executive Vice President of Talent, Live Events and Creative, Paul “Triple H” Levesque, for a private event to support Connor’s Cure. The event will feature tremendous networking, cocktails, light food, a raffle, and a special fireside chat with the WWE executives, moderated by Charly Caruso, of WWE and ESPN. … Note that due to space limitations, the venue will only accommodate the first 150 registrations.

WWE and NY VC Sports to host event for Conor’s Cure

As the event is focused on NYVC Sports’ collective commitment to giving back, all proceeds will go to support Connor’s Cure.

Stephanie and Paul personally created the charity in 2014 in honor of WWE fan Connor Michalek, who lost his battle to Medulloblastoma, a rare tumor that affects the brain and spinal cord, at age 8. Connor’s incredible personality and fighting spirit captured the hearts of many WWE Superstars and members of the WWE Universe, and ultimately made him a local celebrity in his hometown of Pittsburgh.

NY VC Sports and WWE with Benefit for Conor’s Cure

Originally created at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh UPMC and now in partnership with The V Foundation for Cancer Research, Connor’s Cure raises awareness and funds that support cutting-edge research at pediatric cancer facilities around the world. To date, Connor’s Cure has raised $3 million and has helped 500 families, but with more than 15,000 children diagnosed each year, so much more support is needed in this crucial fight.

Here Now, The Notes:  Surely, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson would rather be preparing for the Super Bowl. But the talented 23-year-old has embraced this weekend despite his team’s disappointing playoff exit. He will be one of a league-high 12 Ravens who are expected to play in the Pro Bowl on Sunday afternoon in Orlando. … The game will mark Jackson’s first Pro Bowl appearance as he represents the AFC in its annual contest against the NFC. … “He’s just a special player, a special dude,” said Ravens running back Mark Ingram II, who also will play in the game. … “An elite athlete on the field, a great person off the field. Humble. Hard worker. Leadership. Everything you need in a franchise quarterback, he has it. I’m glad to be with him.” … The Ravens had a 13th player named to the Pro Bowl, but cornerback Marcus Peters declined to take part in the game because of an unspecified injury. The 13 selections overall matched the 2007 Dallas Cowboys for the all-time record, including kicker Justin Tucker and long snapper Morgan Cox who round out the Ravens who spent the week in Orlando. … “It’ll be fun, and it’ll be a chance for us to kind of maybe heal up a little bit in a great environment,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh told reporters. “I don’t know how many of these guys really like roller coasters, but I know for me and my family, we will be at the roller coasters at Universal (Studios) a lot.” … As the Ravens’ offense leads the AFC, the Minnesota Vikings’ defense will lead the NFC. The Vikings have eight players in the Pro Bowl, including five on defense. That group includes defensive linemen Danielle Hunter and Everson Griffen up front, linebacker Eric Kendricks patrolling the middle, and safety Harrison Smith and cornerback Xavier Rhodes assisting the secondary. … Kendricks led the Vikings with 110 tackles during a career-best season. He added two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in the regular season and intercepted San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in the playoffs, and he was rewarded with his first Pro Bowl selection. … “I’ve always known I can do it,” Kendricks told reporters after being named a first-team All-Pro. “There’s just more that I want and more that I’m after. It’s definitely nice to get the validation. At the same time, that’s not what I’m focused on.” … The game will not include any players from the 49ers or the Kansas City Chiefs as they get ready for the Super Bowl one week later. But plenty of star playmakers fill both the AFC and NFC rosters. … Besides Jackson, the AFC’s quarterback contingent includes Deshaun Watson of the Houston Texans and Ryan Tannehill of the Tennessee Titans. Tannehill replaced the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes.The NFC’s signal-callers include Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks, Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints and Kirk Cousins of the Vikings. Cousins replaced injured rival Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers. … The AFC has won the last three Pro Bowls since the format returned to a traditional conference matchup.

The Florida Panthers will host the 2021 NHL All-Star Game, commissioner Gary Bettman announced Friday in his press availability session before All-Star weekend festivities in St. Louis, hinting at some future USA/Canada/The World type competition … Florida hosted once previously, in 2003. That was the first time a shootout decided an NHL outcome, won by the Western Conference 6-5. The league adopted the shootout as the regular-season tiebreaking procedure at the start of 2005-06. … “We are in discussions with the Players Association about giving a distinct international flavor to next year’s All-Star Game, but more detail will come at a later date,” Bettman said. … NHL All-Star Weekend at BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida, will include the NHL All-Star Skills on Jan. 29, 2021, and the NHL All-Star Game on Jan. 30, 2021. … This year’s All-Star Game is in St. Louis.  … Since 2016, the NHL All-Star Game has consisted of each division having its own team, with the four sides squaring off in a three-on-three tournament.

Just prior to the NHL All-Star break, Gritty, the Philadelphia Flyers’ fuzzy, orange mascot, was found to be under investigation for an alleged physical assault of a 13-year-old boy during a photo shoot at the team’s stadium back in November, multiple outlets reported. … Chris Greenwell, the boy’s father and a longtime season ticket holder, wrote in a Facebook post Wednesday that his son, Brandon, was “punched and injured” by Gritty, and that the organization “tried to bribe me not to speak about it.” … Greenwell gave more detail in an interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer, describing the Nov. 19 incident, which happened at Wells Fargo Center during an event for season ticket holders. … He told the Inquirer that after the photo was taken, his son patted Gritty on the head and then walked away. The mascot got up, “took a running start,” and “punched my son as hard as he could,” Greenwell said, per the Inquirer. … The South Detectives Division of the police department is conducting an “active and on-going” investigation.

Diamond Dust:  Multiple reports Saturday had the Colorado Rockies and shortstop Trevor Story agreeing to terms on a two-year deal that would cover the remaining two years of arbitration eligibility for Story, making him a free agent for the 2022 season. … According to the reports, the deal will pay the two-time All-Star $27.5 million. … Story, 27, had sought $11.5 million in arbitration for next season, with the club countering at $10.75 million. … Drafted out of high school by the Rockies in 2011, Story is coming off his fourth season in the majors. … Story hit .294 with 35 home runs and 85 RBIs in 145 games with the Rockies in 2019. For his career, he’s batted .276 with 123 home runs and 347 RBIs in 544 games. … The Washington Nationals are re-signing free agent first baseman Ryan Zimmerman to a one-year, $2 million deal that includes up to $3 million in incentives, multiple outlets reported. … The 35-year-old Zimmerman is the longest-tenured player for the reigning World Series champions and is the franchise’s all-time leader in hits, doubles, home runs and RBIs. … Zimmerman, the first player ever drafted by the Nationals in 2005, had said he would retire if he could not work out a deal with Washington for 2020. … The New York Mets named quality control coach Luis Rojas their new manager, the team announced this week. … Rojas, 38, is the son of former major league player and manager Felipe Alou and the brother of six-time All-Star Moises Alou. … Rojas replaces Carlos Beltran, who lost his job last week in the wake of the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal. … Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen told reporters Wednesday the team was finalizing a multiyear deal with Rojas. … Rojas has been coaching and managing in the Mets organization since 2006. He interviewed for New York’s managerial vacancy after the team fired Mickey Callaway in October, but Beltran got the job. … The robots are coming — to spring training. Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred announced that a computerized camera system will be used to call balls and strikes this spring. … It will be “more accurate than a human being standing there,” he said in an interview with Fox Business Network. … MLB began experimenting with the computerized strike zone last season in the independent Atlantic League and the Arizona Fall League. … Plate umpires, equipped with earpieces, crouched behind home plate and signaled the ball or strike calls as determined by a camera system. … Manfred said the so-called “robot umpires” also will be used in some minor leagues this season. … “We believe over the long haul it’s going to be more accurate,” Manfred said, per ESPN. “It will reduce controversy in the game and be good for the game.” … Spring training games in the Cactus and Grapefruit leagues get underway in late February. … In preparation of the 2020 Baseball season, all MLB “Official Scorers” convened in Secaucus, New Jersey this past weekend.

Digital Sports Desk posts a once-a-week Sunday Notes column, entitled: “While We’re Young Ideas.” It’s a throwback of sorts to the days when sportswriting and the baseball beat were the best jobs in the entire sports industry, maybe the entire world. One of those sportswriters was named Dick Young and he wrote “Young Ideas” with a “Diamond Dust” section for notes and quotes. … We welcome feedback and suggestions (psst, they call ’em pitches) for mentions within “While We’re Young Ideas” or Digital Sports Desk. Please follow and encourage (at least) another person or two to plug into (@DigSportsDesk) (@WhileYoungIdeas) and (@terrylyons).

NHL All-Star Break

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ST. LOUIS – Seventeen teams (bolded below) have their bye weeks leading up to and including 2020 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend in St. Louis (Jan. 24-26), while the other (non-bolded) 14 teams have breaks including and following NHL All-Star Weekend.

ANAHEIM: Jan. 18-26

ARIZONA: Jan. 19-28

BOSTON: Jan. 22-30

BUFFALO: Jan. 19-27

CALGARY: Jan. 19-27

CAROLINA: Jan. 22-30

CHICAGO: Jan. 22-31

COLORADO: Jan. 21-31

COLUMBUS: Jan. 23-31

DALLAS: Jan. 19-26

DETROIT: Jan. 23-30

EDMONTON: Jan. 19-28

FLORIDA: Jan. 22-31

LOS ANGELES: Jan. 19-28

MINNESOTA: Jan. 23-31

MONTREAL: Jan. 19-26

NASHVILLE: Jan. 19-26

NEW JERSEY: Jan. 19-26

NY ISLANDERS: Jan. 22-31

NY RANGERS: Jan. 22-30

OTTAWA: Jan. 19-26

PHILADELPHIA: Jan. 22-30

PITTSBURGH: Jan. 22-30

SAN JOSE: Jan. 19-26

ST. LOUIS: Jan. 19-26

TAMPA: Jan. 18-26

TORONTO: Jan. 19-26

VANCOUVER: Jan. 19-26

VEGAS: Jan. 22-30

WASHINGTON: Jan. 19-26

WINNIPEG: Jan. 23-30

Sunrise!

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ST. LOUIS – The Florida Panthers will host the 2021 NHL All-Star Game, commissioner Gary Bettman announced Friday. The Florida venue hosted once previously, in 2003. That was the first time a shootout decided an NHL outcome, won by the Western Conference 6-5. The league adopted the shootout as the regular-season tiebreaking procedure at the start of 2005-06.

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“We are in discussions with the Players Association about giving a distinct international flavor to next year’s All-Star Game, but more detail will come at a later date,” Bettman said.

NHL All-Star Weekend at BB&T Center in Sunrise will include the NHL All-Star Skills on Jan. 29, 2021, and the NHL All-Star Game on Jan. 30, 2021.

This year’s All-Star Game is being played in St. Louis. Since 2016, the NHL All-Star Game has consisted of each division having its own team, with the four sides squaring off in a three-on-three tournament.

–Field Level Media

Magical

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Boston Celtics 109, Orlando Magic 98

When: 7:00 PM ET, Friday, January 24, 2020
Where: Amway Center, Orlando, Florida
Attendance: 18,846
Special to Digital Sports Desk by Field Level Media

Boston at Orlando Highlights (NBA/Youtube)

ORLANDO – Kemba Walker scored 37 points, Gordon Hayward added 22 and the short-handed Boston Celtics surged past the host Orlando Magic 109-98 on Friday night.

Hayward also had 14 rebounds, and Daniel Theis chipped in 16 points as the Celtics won their third straight. Boston played without two of its three top scorers in Jayson Tatum (right groin strain) and Jaylen Brown (right ankle sprain), and key reserve Enes Kanter also was out with a right hip contusion.

Evan Fournier had a team-high 30 points, Nikola Vucevic added 17 and 12 rebounds and Aaron Gordon scored 12 for the Magic, who lost for the fourth time in their last five.

The Celtics went down by 16 early in the second quarter but were within four at the break thanks to 19 points in the quarter and 27 in the half from Walker. Boston went up 70-69 on a Theis bucket with 4:07 left for its first lead since 5:42 of the first and ended the third quarter on an 18-8 stretch to take an 82-77 advantage into the fourth.

Walker was at it again in the final quarter, hitting a pair of 3s and two free throws to reach 35 points as the Celtics grew their lead to 14 with 8:46 remaining. A pair of Fournier treys helped the Magic stay within six with three minutes to go, but a Theis dunk and Marcus Smart basket gave Boston a nine-point edge with 1:11 left.

The Magic used a 23-6 run to grab their first 10-point lead, 30-20, with 2:01 left in the first. Orlando ended the period up 30-24.

The Magic took their largest lead (46-30) of the half with 7:45 to go in the second, but Walker scored 13 straight points for the Celtics as they got within 54-43. Treys from Grant Williams and Hayward in the final minute had Boston trailing 57-53 at intermission.

Fournier paced Orlando with 15 first-half points.

-Field Level Media

Pedroia Suffered Setback

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FENWAY – Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia has taken another step back on his lengthy road to recovery from a knee injury.

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“Dustin has suffered a significant setback while rehabbing his left knee injury. As a result, his status for Spring Training is uncertain,” Red Sox spokesman Kevin Gregg said on Tuesday.

Per ESPN, Pedroia is discussing his options with his family, the Red Sox and his representation.

Pedroia, 36, has played just nine games in the past two seasons. He sustained the initial injury in April 2017 against the Baltimore Orioles when Manny Machado slid into him at second base. He played with the injury the remainder of the season and had surgery in October of that year.

A four-time All-Star and 2008 American League MVP, Pedroia last played for Boston on April 17 against the New York Yankees. He said he felt a pop in his knee during that game.

Pedroia underwent a joint preservation procedure in August but recently began to feel discomfort from a significant amount of inflammation.

Pedroia, who is a two-time World Series champion, is a .299 career hitter with 394 doubles, 140 home runs and 725 RBIs.

–Field Level Media

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