NFL=
A day after it seemed like the Titans were going to give Mike
Mularkey an extension, they’ve parted ways with their coach. The
NFL Network reported Sunday that Tennessee was giving Mularkey an
extension after an improbable wild-card win at Kansas City before a
loss in New England, but the parties have now gone their separate
ways after they “couldn’t come to an agreement over the future.”
Some think that means Mularkey wouldn’t agree to make changes to
his assistants, while others think Tennessee is after Patriots
offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who is thought to be a
leading candidate for the Colts job.
Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane was arrested Sunday morning for
driving under the influence. He was released later in the morning,
according to ESPN and others, then on Monday tweeted, “Why ppl
judge you by what they hear but not what they know !!” Lane has
spent his six-season career with the Seahawks after they drafted
him in the sixth round in 2012. He has started 21 of his 70 career
games, including six this season.
MLB=
In the biggest deal of the offseason, the Pirates have traded star
outfielder Andrew McCutchen to the Giants. In return, Pittsburgh
will get right-hander Kyle Crick, minor league outfielder Bryan
Reynolds and $500,000 in international signing bonus allocation.
The Pirates will also give San Francisco cash to cover some of
McCutchen’s $14.75 million salary. The trade comes two days after
Pittsburgh sent ace Gerrit Cole to the Astros. McCutchen was the
2013 NL MVP, but has failed to make the All-Star team each of the
last two seasons. In 2017, he batted .279 with 28 home runs and 88
RBIs in 156 games.
NBA=
Another NBA Finals rematch takes place in Cleveland as the slumping
Cavaliers host the Warriors trying to avoid an eighth loss in 10
games – a funk that began with a Christmas defeat in Oakland.
LeBron James had a lot to say after the morning shootaround about
Martin Luther King Jr., saying “he had a vision and he took a
bullet for all of us.” James then turned his attention to President
Trump. ”For us to stand here even though we’re trying to be
divided right now by somebody, today is a great day for people to
realize how America was built and how we all have to stand united
in order to be one,” he said. ”Especially as Americans because we
believe, we all know and we all believe, this is the greatest
country in the world.”
OLYMPICS=
Simone Biles is the latest gymnast to come out and say she was
sexually abused by imprisoned former U.S. gymnastics team doctor
Larry Nassar. Biles, who won four gold medals and five medals
overall at the 2016 Olympics, said on Twitter that she is one of
”many survivors” to be abused by Nassar, who also worked at
Michigan State. Biles joins fellow gymnasts Aly Raisman, Gabby
Douglas and McKayla Maroney to come out against Nassar.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL=
Georgia junior Roquan Smith, the Butkus Award winner as the
nation’s top linebacker, will enter the NFL draft. Smith, who’s
expected to be a top-10 pick, led the charge on defense for
Georgia, which lost 26-23 in overtime to Alabama in the national
championship game. He made 137 tackles, including 14 for loss and 6
1/2 sacks, in 15 games. Smith earned SEC Defensive Player of the
Year honors, took home MVP honors in the SEC title game and was the
Defensive MVP of the Rose Bowl victory over Oklahoma.
Clemson defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, however, will return
for his senior season. Wilkins’ announcement comes after defensive
ends Clelin Ferrell and Austin Bryant said earlier they will be
coming back. A two-time All-American, Wilkins was fourth on the
team with 60 tackles and tied for third with five sacks.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL=
The Big 12 has issued a public reprimand of West Virginia’s Wesley
Harris, who struck a Texas Tech fan during a wild court-storming
Saturday after the Red Raiders’ victory over the Mountaineers. The
league also publicly reprimanded Texas Tech and fined the school
$25,000. “We must ensure that a safe environment is provided for
players, coaches, game officials and fans,” Big 12 commissioner Bob
Bowlsby said in the statement about Harris. “Although the post-game
environment did not live up to our expectations, Mr. Harris
intentionally striking a fan is contrary to the Conference’s
Sportsmanship standards.”
Duke was the ACC’s preseason favorite and North Carolina the
defending national champion, but Virginia is the conference’s
highest-ranked team. Picked to finish sixth in the ACC preseason
poll, the Cavaliers moved up a spot to No. 2 and received a
first-place vote in the latest AP Top 25 poll, its highest ranking
since reaching No. 2 in the 2014-15 season. Purdue moved up two
spots to No. 3 and had one first-place vote, while Villanova is an
even stronger No. 1, coming in on top of 63 of the 65 ballots.
Oklahoma and Duke round out the top 5.
GENERAL=
Danica Patrick is a Bears fan, but her heart now belongs to Packers
star Aaron Rodgers. Patrick confirmed she is dating Rodgers, who
broke up with actress Olivia Munn in 2017. Patrick, meanwhile,
ended a five-year relationship with fellow NASCAR driver Ricky
Stenhouse Jr. in November.