Top sports advisory for 5 p.m., Jan. 17, 2022
Good afternoon from Canadian Press Sports!
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ATHLETICS
Complaint filed over Athletics Canada CEO's tweets
ATH-Bedford-Twitter
Athletics Canada CEO Dave Bedford is facing a complaint about his Twitter activity. The tweets in question were posted over a number of days and were sexual in nature. 400 words. By Lori Ewing. MOVED. PHOTO. May be updated
SOCCER
Canada's Sinclair honoured with FIFA Special Award
SOC-FIFA-Awards-Sinclair
The world governing body of soccer honoured Canada captain Christine Sinclair on Monday for her record goal-scoring. FIFA presented the 38-year-old from Burnaby, B.C., the world's all-time leading scorer, with The Best FIFA Special Award for Women's Football during its awards gala in Zurich. 900 words. By Neil Davidson. MOVED. PHOTO.
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Canada's Labbé misses out on FIFA goalkeeper award
SOC-FIFA-Awards-Goalkeeper
Chile's Christiane Endler was named The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper on Monday, beating out Canada's Stephanie Labbé and Germany's Ann-Katrin Berger. 400 words. MOVED. PHOTO.
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Whitecaps look to keep climbing as training begins
SOC-MLS-Whitecaps-Training-Camp
VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps are optimistic as training camp begins for the 2022 Major League Soccer season on Monday. Not only did the club finish last year's campaign with its first playoff appearance in four years, but it did so during a chaotic season that saw the club forced to relocate and make drastic changes to the roster and staff — factors that shouldn't be an issue this year. By Gemma Karstens-Smith. PHOTO. 800 words. ETA 6 p.m. ET.
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Toronto FC signs Perruzza to new contract
SOC-MLS-Toronto-Perruzza
Toronto FC has signed forward Jordan Perruzza to a new contract that runs through 2024 with an option for 2025. The native of Woodbridge, Ont., who turned 21 on Sunday, made seven appearances with one goal in all competitions during the 2021 season. By Neil Davidson. 280 words. MOVED. PHOTO
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HOCKEY
Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner in COVID-19 protocol
HKN-Oilers-COVID
The Edmonton Oilers placed goaltender Stuart Skinner into the NHL's COVID-19 protocol on Monday. 124 words. MOVED. PHOTO
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Marchand, Fleury, Kucherov named NHL's three stars
HKN-Three-Stars
Boston Bruins left-wing Brad Marchand, Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury and Tampa Bay Lightning right-wing Nikita Kucherov have been named the NHL’s three stars of the week. 188 words. MOVED. PHOTO
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OLYMPICS
Bloemen leads long-track team into Beijing
SPD-OLY-Canada
Olympic champion Ted-Jan Bloemen and world champion Laurent Dubreuil lead Canada's long-track speedskating team into Beijing's Winter Olympics next month. 700 words. By Donna Spencer. MOVED. PHOTO
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FOOTBALL
Argos linebacker McCoil announces retirement
FBO-CFL-McCoil-Retires
Dexter McCoil Sr. is calling it a career. The Toronto Argonauts veteran linebacker announced his retirement Monday via Twitter. "There is always a time where every good thing must come to an end," McCoil wrote. "I can smile and be happy knowing I have no regrets in life, I've never quit anything in life, and I always had to earn everything the harder way with longer journeys. 224 words. MOVED. PHOTO
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Auclair hoping to secure long-term deal at this point in NFL career
FBN-Texans-Auclair-Future
UNDATED -- For the third time in his five-year NFL career, Canadian tight end Antony Auclair is facing an uncertain off-season. The former Laval star is slated to become a free agent after completing his first season with the Houston Texans and told reporters during a videoconference Monday he's hopeful to secure a long-term deal. 800 words. By Dan Ralph. PHOTO. MOVED. Will be updated around 3 p.m. ET
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Riders sign Canadian receiver McInnis to extension
FBO-CFL-Riders-Moves
The Saskatchewan Roughriders signed Canadian receiver Justin McInnis to a contract extension Monday. 100 words. MOVED.
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Bombers, Canadian lineman Gray, agree to extension
FBO-CFL-Bombers-Moves
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers agreed to terms on a two-year contract extension Monday with Canadian offensive lineman Geoff Gray. 100 words. MOVED.
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B.C. Lions add John Bowman to their coaching staff
FBO-CFL-Lions-Bowman
The B.C. Lions added former stalwart defensive lineman John Bowman to their coaching staff Monday. Bowman, the Montreal Alouettes career leader in sacks (134), will serve as the Lions defensive line coach this season. 150 words. MOVED. PHOTO
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Toronto Argonauts re-sign veterans Bede, Daniels
FBO-CFL-Argos-Moves
The Toronto Argonauts re-signed national kicker/punter Boris Bede and American receiver DaVaris Daniels on Monday. 129 words. MOVED. PHOTO.
COMING LATER
TENNIS - Three Canadians take to the hardcourt in the first round of the Australian Open. The ninth-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime faces Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori, while Leylah Fernandez, the women’s No. 23 seed, meets Aussie Maddison Inglis and qualifier Rebecca Marino squares off against Czech opponent Marie Bouzková.
NBA - Toronto Raptors at Miami Heat, 7:30 pm start (AP)
NHL - Montreal Canadians at Arizona Coyotes, 4 p.m. start (AP)
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AP TOP STORIES
TEN--DJOKOVIC
BELGRADE, Serbia — Novak Djokovic has returned home after being thwarted from defending his Australian Open title only to face a new predicament: He could be barred from the French Open this year, too, if he’s still not vaccinated against COVID-19. A plane carrying the No. 1-ranked player touched down Monday in his native Serbia. That closed at least the first chapter in a dizzying drama that has resonance in the world of elite sports, Australian pandemic politics and the polarized debate over the coronavirus shots. By Darko Bandic and Dusan Stojanovic. SENT: 900 words, photos. With TEN--Australian Open-Djokovic Politics (sent).
TEN--AUSTRALIAN-OPEN-DJOKOVIC-REACTION
MELBOURNE, Australia — To some, it seemed a cloud had been lifted from the Australian Open. To others, Novak Djokovic still was almost palpably present, the name on everyone’s lips on the opening day of the first major tennis tournament of the year. Djokovic left Australia late Sunday when he failed in his legal challenge to overturn the cancellation of his visa due to his lack of a COVID-19 vaccination. His flight from Melbourne was touching down in Dubai early Monday just as the first matches of the tournament began. By Steve McMorran and Bruce Matthews. SENT: 1,090 words, photos.
TEN--AUSTRALIAN OPEN
MELBOURNE, Australia — The Australian Open has started without nine-time champion Novak Djokovic. The focus is finally on the tennis. Naomi Osaka opened her title defense with a straight-set win over Camila Osorio in the second match on Rod Laver Arena. Rafael Nadal is the only past champion in the men’s bracket after Djokovic’s late withdrawal. Nadal also had a straight-set win as he renewed his bid for a men’s record 21st major singles title. By John Pye. SENT: 970 words, photos.
FBN--CARDINALS-RAMS
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Kyler Murray and Matthew Stafford both go after the first playoff victories of their careers when the fifth-seeded Arizona Cardinals (11-6) visit the fourth-seeded Los Angeles Rams. The wild-card round weekend wraps up with the first playoff game in SoFi Stadium history. By Greg Beacham. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos. Game starts 8:15 p.m.
BKN--NBA AT 75-1980s
There was Magic and Larry, the start of the Bad Boys and eventually a high-flyer named Michael. There was expansion, with five new franchises added. A new commissioner arrived to clean up the notions that the league was too-drug-addled and probably too Black for corporate America, a television audience was found and by the end of the decade, people were surmising that “it’s gotta be the shoes.” The NBA was transformed in the 1980s, when seeds were planted for the league to become the financial and social juggernaut that it is today. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. SENT: 1,150 words, photos.
With:
— BKN--NBA AT 75-1980s ALL-DECADE TEAM. The best players from the ’80s as determined by AP. SENT: 500 words, photos.
— BKN--NBA AT 75-1980s TIMELINE. Tracking the league’s challenges and triumphs during the 1980s. SENT: 900 words, photos.
— BKN--NBA AT 75-AP WAS THERE-MAGIC REPLACES KAREEM. The original AP story from Magic Johnson playing center to help Lakers clinch the title. SENT: 1,150 words, photos.
— BKN--NBA AT 75-AP WAS THERE-JORDAN’S 63. The original AP story from Michael Jordan scoring 63 points in Bulls playoff loss to the Celtics. SENT: 500 words, photos.
— BKN--NBA AT 75-AP WAS THERE-WILKINS BEATS JORDAN. The original AP story when Dominque Wilkins beat Michael Jordan in the dunk competition. SENT: 500 words, photos.
— BKN--NBA AT 75--AP WAS THERE: BIRD BEATS MAGIC. The original AP story when Larry Bird led the Celtics to the NBA title vs Magic Johnson and the Lakers. SENT: 1,175 words.
AP POLLS
BKC--T25-COLLEGE BKB POLL
Preseason No. 1 Gonzaga has climbed back to the top of The Associated Press men’s basketball poll, ending Baylor’s five-week run. The Bulldogs got 25 first-place votes, 11 fewer than No. 2 Auburn, but edged the Tigers in overall points to take the top spot. Arizona, Purdue and Baylor round out the top five. A wild week of upsets led to big changes in the AP Top 25. Baylor saw its 21-game winning streak end with consecutive losses and 13 ranked teams lost last week, including nine on Saturday. By Basketball Writer John Marshall. SENT: 630 words, photos.
BKW--T25-WOMEN'S BKB POLL
South Carolina remains the No. 1 team in The Associated Press women’s college basketball poll. The Gamecocks received 28 of the 30 first-place votes from a national media panel after beating Texas A&M and Arkansas last week. There was no movement near the top of the poll as Stanford, Louisville, North Carolina State, Tennessee and Indiana followed the Gamecocks again. Oklahoma made the biggest move, climbing nine places to 14th after beating then-No. 14 Baylor last week. By Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg. SENT: 370 words, photos.
NOTABLE
FBN--49ERS-ANALYSIS
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers barely survived a mistake-filled wild-card win at Dallas and now must make a quick turnaround to prepare for a trip to top-seeded Green Bay in the divisional round. By Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 8 p.m.
FBN--STEELERS WRAPUP
PITTSBURGH — Ben Roethlisberger came back for one more run. It looked more like running in place. The Pittsburgh Steelers were blown out in the first round of playoffs for the second straight season and now head into a murky future with Roethlisberger off to retirement. By Will Graves. SENT: 750 words, photos.
BKN--BULLS-GRIZZLIES
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis Grizzlies wrap up a four-game homestand by hosting the Chicago Bulls in a matchup of two of the NBA's streaking teams on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. Game starts 3:30 pm.
BKN--BUCKS-HAWKS
ATLANTA — The defending NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks visit the struggling Atlanta Hawks in a rematch of last year's Eastern Conference final. The Hawks are looking to break a 10-game home losing streak. UPCOMING: 650 words, photos. Game starts 6 p.m.
BKN--SUNS-SPURS
SAN ANTONIO — The NBA-leading Suns visit the Spurs. Phoenix has won four straight in the series, including two this season. San Antonio just ended a five-game losing streak. UPCOMING: 650 words, photos. Game starts 8:30 p.m.
HKN--WILD-AVALANCHE
DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche try to push their franchise-best home winning streak to 14 games when they host the Minnesota Wild. The Wild have won three straight. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. Game starts 3 p.m.
OLY--HKW-USA-JOEL JOHNSON
It’s not often two chances of a lifetime land in one person’s lap. For Joel Johnson, they came in a matter of months last year, when he was elevated to take over as the U.S. women’s national hockey program after Bob Corkum’s abrupt resignation, followed by getting hired to lead St. Thomas University’s women’s hockey program to the Division I level. By Hockey Writer John Wawrow. SENT: 800 words, photos.
GLF--HIDEKI'S MOTIVATION
HONOLULU — Not long after Hideki Matsuyama's improbable win at the Sony Open, his phone buzzed with a text from Shigeki Maruyama reminding him of what they had talked about long ago. Matsuyama now has eight PGA Tour wins, tied for most by an Asian player. "That was the goal," Matsuyama said. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. SENT: 800 words, photos.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published January 17, 2022.
The Canadian Press
