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Here are our top stories:
Canada close to World Cup qualification
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UNDATED — John Herdman playfully put his fingers in his ears when a reporter suggested World Cup qualification was essentially a fait accompli for his unbeaten team. But the numbers bode well for Canada. 800 words. By Neil Davidson. PHOTO. MOVED.
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Carlos Salcedo joins Toronto FC, Soteldo exits
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TORONTO -- Toronto FC has confirmed the acquisition of Mexican international defender Carlos Salcedo from Mexico's Tigres UANL as a designated player through 2024, with Venezuelan international winger Yeferson Soteldo going the other way. 950 words. By Neil Davidson. PHOTO. MOVED.
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Zacharias says curling, kickboxing not so different
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UNDATED -- Curling and kickboxing seem like two sports at the opposite end of the spectrum, but MacKenzie Zacharias, skip of the Manitoba rink at this week’s Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Thunder Bay, Ont., can connect the two. Zacharias is a fitness instructor at a kickboxing gym and says both sports require strategy and adrenalin. 800 words. By Jim Morris. PHOTO. Short item moved after morning draw. Will be updated after afternoon draw.
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Oilers look to stay hot in showdown with Senators
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OTTAWA -- The Edmonton Oilers look for their fifth win in a row when they take on the Senators in Ottawa. It's Edmonton's second game since signing forward Evander Kane. He scored in his Oilers debut when Edmonton beat Montreal 7-2 on Saturday. 700 words. PHOTO. Developing from 7:30 p.m. faceoff.
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Masoli drawing interest from CFL clubs
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His time in Hamilton might be over, but veteran quarterback Jeremiah Masoli appears to have CFL options. A league source, not authorized to speak publicly, said Monday the Ottawa Redblacks have shown interest in the 33-year-old Masoli, with the Edmonton Elks also reportedly interested with CFL free agency starting Feb. 8. 800 words. By Dan Ralph. PHOTO. MOVED.
COMING LATER
HOCKEY: Vancouver Canucks @ Chicago Blackhawks, 7:30 pm (AP); New Jersey Devils @ Toronto Maple Leafs, 7:30 p.m. (CP)
BASKETBALL: Toronto Raptors @ Atlanta Hawks, 7:30 p.m. (AP)
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FOR OLYMPIC PREMIUM SUBSCRIBERS
Levi's 'crazy' journey set to continue at Olympics
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UNDATED – Devon Levi was scrolling through his social media feed, just like any other university student with some down time. There were probably posts featuring friends and family, maybe another couple from a professional athlete or musician he follows. Perhaps even a funny pet video or a clip of someone pulling a harmless prank. On this particular night, however, something else caught his eye — and sent the 20-year-old's heart racing. Levi was staring at a picture of himself on a list of potential goaltenders for Canada's Olympic men's hockey team following the NHL's decision to withdraw from the Beijing Games. "I was like, 'Wow, are you kidding me?'" he recalled. "I was shocked. I had no clue — like no clue — I'd be considered. 1,100 words. By Joshua Clipperton. PHOTO. MOVED.
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Family ties a theme in world champ Laurent Dubreuil's speedskating career
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Laurent Dubreuil still chuckles recounting how he once told his mother she didn't know much about speedskating. The cheeky youngster was born after parents Robert and Ariane raced in the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, and he wasn't yet old enough to know that. "My mom was tying up my skates when I was a kid and she was telling me something about what I should do on ice," Dubreuil recalled. 1000 words. By Donna Spencer. PHOTO. MOVED.
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Canada's snowboarders have different Olympics prep
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Mark McMorris is coy when asked if he has any new tricks he'll debut at the Beijing Olympics. The usually engaging snowboarder breaks eye contact, looks around his hotel room. Takes a breath. "Yes," he eventually replied with a smile. 730 words. By John Chidley-Hill. PHOTO. MOVED.
FROM AP:
FBN--ON FOOTBALL-THE OPPOSITES
Matthew Stafford and Joe Burrow had almost nothing in common before Sunday except that they were top overall picks in the NFL draft. Now, they are both Super Bowl quarterbacks. Their journeys are almost polar opposites since each left an SEC powerhouse. No matter what happens at SoFi Stadium on Feb. 13, consider this: Only once before have two overall No. 1 drafted QBs met in a Super Bowl, six years ago when Peyton Manning and the Broncos beat Cam Newton and the Panthers. Either the long journey of Stafford or the quicker trip for Burrow will end with hoisting the Lombardi Trophy — exactly what top draftees are supposed to accomplish. By Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner. SENT: 720 words, photos.
FBN—RAMS ANALYSIS
LOS ANGELES — The connection between Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp is strong. The teamwork of Aaron Donald and Von Miller is dangerous. The star-studded Los Angeles Rams are headed to the Super Bowl because all their big names put the team first, creating a powerhouse that has answered every challenge down the stretch. By Greg Beacham. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos by 8 p.m.
FBN—BENGALS ANALYSIS
CINCINNATI — When the Cincinnati Bengals went down 21-3 early in the second quarter of Sunday’s AFC championship game, the inevitability of a third straight Super Bowl for the Kansas City Chiefs began creeping in. The Bengals weren’t feeling it, though. They’d been coming from behind and winning close games all season. What transpired was another incredible Bengals finish, this one propelling them to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1988. By Mitch Stacy. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 3 p.m.
FBN--CHIEFS WRAPUP
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Despite blowing a 21-3 first-half lead, and an interception by Patrick Mahomes in overtime that allowed the Bengals to set up the winning field goal, the Chiefs still accomplished plenty this season. They won their record sixth straight AFC West title, became the first team in NFL history to host three games in the same postseason, beat the Bills in the divisional round in one of the greatest finishes ever and became the first team to host four straight AFC title games. If not for a second half to forget, a costly mistake in overtime and some poise beyond their years from Burrow and the long-downtrodden Bengals, they would be playing in a third straight Super Bowl, too. By Dave Skretta. SENT: 880 words, photos.
BKC--T25-COLLEGE-BKB-POLL
Auburn remains No. 1 in The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll for the second straight week. The Tigers have won 17 straight games. Gonzaga is No. 2 followed by UCLA and Purdue. Kentucky jumped into the top five for the first time in more than two years. The Wildcats climbed seven spots after winning at Kansas. Houston, Arizona, Baylor, Duke and Kansas round out the top 10. By Basketball Writer Aaron Beard. SENT: 630 words, photos.
BKW—T25-WOMEN'S BKB POLL
Michigan moved up one spot to sixth in The Associated Press women’s basketball poll Monday, the team’s highest ranking ever. South Carolina remained the No. 1 team in the poll, garnering 29 of the 30 first-place votes from a national media panel after beating Vanderbilt, then-No. 24 Mississippi and Florida. Third-ranked North Carolina State received the other top vote. Stanford stayed at No. 2. By Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg. SENT: 430 words, photos.
SOC--WCUP-US
The United States would leave itself little margin for error in World Cup qualifying if it fails to win its final two home games. By Ronald Blum. SENT: 600 words, photos.
OLY--FIG-THE INNOVATION GAME
Perhaps the hardest thing to do in sports is to originate: a new jump, trick or twist that nobody has done before you. It’s a balancing act faced by elite athletes, particularly those in sports that are judged, involving a certain amount of creativity, a whole lot athletic ability and enough guts to showcase to the world something never seen before. Like, for example, the quad axel that two-time Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu hopes to land at the Beijing Games. By Dave Skretta. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos.
FBN—BRADY'S FUTURE
Tom Brady has an opportunity to address reports that he’s retiring on his SiriusXM podcast Monday night. His comments on the podcast will be his first in public since his company TB12 posted a since-deleted tweet indicating the 44-year-old quarterback would retire. UPCOMING: 300 words, file photos; more on merits. Developing from 7 p.m. broadcast.
NOTABLE
CAR--INDYCAR-IN THE PITS
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — IndyCar was represented by a dozen drivers in a field of 235 of the world's best drivers at the prestigious Rolex 24 at Daytona endurance race. Five left with Rolex watches and a total of seven earned podium finishes. It was a strong showing for a series that insists it's the most competitive form of racing in the world. By Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos by 2 p.m.
BKN—HEAT-CELTICS
BOSTON — The Celtics, winners of three of their last four, look to keep their momentum going when the host the Heat. Miami is coming off a triple-overtime loss to Toronto, but has won nine of its last 12. By Kyle Hightower. UPCOMING: 650 words, photos. Game starts at 7:30 p.m.
OLY--SKI-WEATHER OR NOT
Winter Olympians in outdoor sports such as Alpine skiing or snowboarding say the weather can be a key factor in success or failure. The wind, the light, the temperature and whether or not there is any precipitation can affect all sorts of things during competition, creating another source of stress at a one-day-every-four-years spectacle already filled with them. By Howard Fendrich and Pat Graham. SENT: 800 words, photos.
FBN--LA SUPER BOWLS-1967
Pete Rozelle never liked the name that was half-jokingly suggested by Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt for the first annual game between the champions of the NFL and the AFL. Hunt agreed, telling the NFL commissioner they could surely think of something better to call it than the Super Bowl. Reporters, fans and many other football people were already calling it the Super Bowl, much to Rozelle’s consternation. Two years later, the sport gave in and adopted the name officially for the event that was already growing into the sociocultural behemoth it is today. But the first Super Bowl had a fraction of the pomp and circumstance that surrounds this weeklong celebration of football, fandom and consumerism. By Greg Beacham. SENT: 800 words, photos.
FBN--49ERS WRAPUP
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers season ended with another fourth-quarter playoff dud and now they head into an offseason with questions about whether they're ready to trade Jimmy Garoppolo and hand the team over to Trey Lance. By Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos by 7 p.m.
BKC--T25--WISCONSIN'S RISE
MADISON, Wis. — After losing most of its top players from a senior-laden team, Wisconsin was supposed to take a step back this season. The Badgers instead have taken a giant step forward, thanks to improved chemistry and a breakthrough season from sophomore Johnny Davis. By Steve Megargee. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos by 6 p.m.
SOC—ENGLAND-TRANSFERS
Christian Eriksen is set for a remarkable playing comeback after signing for Premier League club Brentford, almost eight months after having a cardiac arrest and collapsing on the field at the European Championship. On the final day of the January transfer window, Manchester City also signed Argentina striker Julian Alvarez to help its title defense. By Rob Harris. SENT: 840 words, photos.
OLY--JUM-GROWING ROOTS
FOX RIVER GROVE, Ill. — Kevin Bickner grew up ski jumping as a kid at Norge Ski Club, about 40 miles northwest of Chicago, and he will become a two-time Olympian in Beijing. Aspiring Olympians, as young as 4, are trying to follow in Bickner’s path down the inrun and through the air two nights a week in a sport that struggles with providing access to a diverse group of people. USA Nordic executive director Billy Demong said his organization is trying to change that and is proud that the number of youths in the sport has tripled since 2010 with opportunities from Anchorage to New Hampshire. By Larry Lage. UPCOMING: 650 words, photos, video by 5 p.m.
BKN—WARRIORS-PAYTON'S DYSLEXIA
SAN FRANCISCO -- Warriors guard Gary Payton II faced daunting challenges reading as a boy because of dyslexia that was diagnosed in second grade. Now as an NBA star with Golden State, Payton is finding ways to support Bay Area youth with similar learning disabilities to give them tools and courage to push forward even when everything feels so hard. By Janie McCauley. SENT: 880 words, photos.
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The Canadian Press
