SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Even at age 36, Aaron Rodgers believes he and the Green Bay Packers will be in this position again -- on the verge of another Super Bowl.

Perhaps that's why Rodgers, while clearly disappointed after Sunday's 37-20 NFC Championship loss to the San Francisco 49ers, projected optimism after the gap between his first and possible second Super Bowl widened by at least another year.

"The window's open, and I think we're going to be on the right side of one of these real soon," Rodgers said after his third NFC title game loss in four tries as a starter.

"That's the exciting thing. It doesn't make this feeling any easier, but that is very exciting moving forward."

To get back to the Super Bowl, the Packers will have to close the gap between them and teams such as the 49ers. Of the Packers' four losses this season, including playoffs, two came at the 49ers, and they trailed by a combined score of 50-0 at halftime of the two games.

"Well, it looks pretty big," Rodgers said of the gap. "They got us a couple times, but I don't think it's that big. I think we're really close. I think we're just a little more consistent performance away from consistently playing with these guys. But we got him at their place twice. I've said this before: We've got to get one of these at home. It's a different ballgame. It's different playing in 20-degree weather and snow. Cold and wind is a different type of game than playing here."

Rodgers has played all four of his conference championship game starts on the road, winning only in Chicago in 2011, the victory that led to the Packers' Super Bowl XLV win.

But after two straight losing seasons and a coaching change, Rodgers called this season special for one overriding reason.

"This one will always be special because it became fun again," he said.

Rodgers praised general manager Brian Gutekunst and the Packers' personnel department for the additions they made in free agency, most notably signing Preston Smith and Za'Darius Smith.

"We weren't picked by most people to win our division, and we found a way to not only do that but win a home playoff game and get to this spot," Rodgers said. "Just felt like it was meant to be, almost, so that's a little more disappointing. Then you realize I don't have the same number of years ahead of me as I do behind me, so it's slightly more disappointing.

"It's a little raw right now, for sure, but it definitely hurts a little more than early in the career, just because you realize just how difficult it is to get to this spot. With all the changes this offseason and with all the installation of a new system and a new program, to get to this point, you felt like it was something special because it just didn't really make sense."

Although Rodgers threw for 326 yards and completed 31 of 39 passes with two touchdowns, he threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. Two of the turnovers came in the first half.

Rodgers and receiver Davante Adams also credited first-year coach Matt LaFleur for allowing the Packers to be "a player-led team."

"Gives a lot of hope," Adams said of LaFleur. "Every game is tough to win in this league, especially when you're a brand-new coach coming in with a whole new scheme. Everything's new, all new coaches [except] maybe two or three, and you just start from scratch. To be in this position that we are competing, for a championship, it was awesome, and I give a lot of credit to him."

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- To take the biggest step toward completing one of the most dramatic turnarounds in NFL history, the San Francisco 49ers did what they've done so many times throughout the season on Sunday: rode the wave provided by an unlikely hero.

With Raheem Mostert, the journeyman running back/accomplished surfer, putting together one of the most dynamic rushing performances in playoff history, the Niners throttled the Green Bay Packers for the second time this season, this time by a score of 37-20 on their way to their first NFC championship crown since 2013.

In what was the eighth postseason meeting in the storied franchise histories of the Packers and 49ers, the Niners leaned on the same formula they used to dispatch the Minnesota Vikings last week with a different star in the lead role.

Where last week it was running back Tevin Coleman carrying the freight, this one belonged to Mostert, who ran over, around and through Packers defenders all day on his way to 220 yards on 29 carries to go with four touchdowns.

The rushing yards were the second most by a player in postseason history and the most in 49ers franchise history. Mostert's four touchdowns were the second most by an individual in a playoff game.

In a season where multiple players deep on San Francisco's depth chart have performed well in big moments, Mostert offered the ultimate example on the biggest stage yet.

"I definitely think so," coach Kyle Shanahan said. "He has earned everything that he's gotten. He earned today and he's just such a good person and for him to help us as much as he has on offense and I mean, you guys saw the play he made last week on special teams. ... But I can't say enough good things about Raheem."

The rushing yards are the second-most by a player in postseason history and the most in 49ers playoff franchise history. His quartet of touchdowns ranks as the second-most by an individual in a playoff game.

In the first half alone, Mostert rushed for 160 yards on 14 carries with three scores. Those 160 yards were the most in the opening half of a playoff game since the Chargers' Keith Lincoln had 176 in the 1963 AFL championship game against the Boston Patriots, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Mostert and the 49ers' dominant performance earned them a spot in Super Bowl LIV against the Kansas City Chiefs on Feb. 2 in Miami.

With the convincing win, the Niners became the third team in the Super Bowl era to go from four or fewer wins in one season to a Super Bowl berth the next, joining the 1999 St. Louis Rams and the 1988 Cincinnati Bengals. Those Rams went on to win Super Bowl XXXIV, while the Bengals, who played only 15 regular season games that season because of a player strike, lost Super Bowl XXIII to, coincidentally, the 49ers. That game was also played in Miami.

It's the Niners' first NFC championship since after the 2012 season which sent them to Super Bowl XLVII against the Baltimore Ravens. The 49ers lost that game 34-31.

The biggest game of Mostert's career came as the culmination of a breakout season in which he went from reliable special teams ace to leading rusher as Coleman and fellow running back Matt Breida dealt with injuries. Since ESPN began tracking tackling statistics in 2001, Mostert is the only player to lead his team in special teams stops and rushing yards in a season.

All of that came after previous, short stops in Philadelphia, Miami, Baltimore, Cleveland, the New York Jets and Chicago that lasted less than a combined two years. In many of those places, Mostert didn't so much as make the active roster.

At one point during that uphill climb, Mostert even considered walking away from the game before a pep talk from his wife Devon convinced him to stick with it.

"I was a little discouraged in 2015 at the end of that year," Mostert said. "I was with the Browns. My wife, she's from Cleveland so we thought we had something in the bag with me making the roster and then coming in to training camp, preseason I had a little bit of an injury so I missed the last preseason game that year. I thought I was on the roster. I made the 53-man roster, was celebrating with my family and then the next day I got cut. So, going through that, it just made me stronger.

"I got immune to being cut. I just wanted to show the world what I can do. Honestly, it was just one of those things where I really had a talk with my wife and I was just like 'Hey, what do you think should happen?' after I got cut. She said 'Hey, if you love your job, if you love this sport, you will do anything for it and if you love what you do, you will do anything for it.' That was my philosophy from there on out."

Now, Mostert is the leading rusher on the NFL's second-best rushing attack and heading to the Super Bowl. Even before Sunday's win, he had trouble grasping just how far he's come, though he's never forgotten where he's been.

"I actually still have the cut dates that I look at before every game," Mostert said. "When I got cut, been on several different teams and the journey's been crazy. Not everybody can deal with that type of stress and pain and agony that I went through. But, like I said, I kept the faith in myself and whoever gave me the opportunity. And this organization has done a great job with that."

Mostert did that and then some as Shanahan leaned on him and the offensive line to get it done in the run game so heavily that they attempted just two passes in the second half. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo finished 6-of-8 for 77 yards on the day as the Niners rushed for 285 yards on 42 attempts as a team.

Garoppolo's eight passes left the Niners as one of just four teams with fewer than 10 attempts in a postseason game.

Shanahan carved out his in place in history, joining Bill Walsh and George Seifert as the only coaches in franchise history to go to the Super Bowl in their first postseason appearances. Also, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, Shanahan will join his dad Mike to form just the second father/son duo in NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL history to appear in at least one title game.

And in fitting fashion, it was Mostert, he of the seven NFL stops who never played running back until his junior year at Purdue who led Shanahan's Niners back to the promised land.

"He's as fast as anybody out there," right tackle Mike McGlinchey said. "He's as strong and big and has all the on-paper stuff but his heart and his passion and his desire and his care for his teammates, you just can't be happier for a guy than him because of all the things he's done and put in. What was he on like seven teams before this? That's unbelievable, that's like movie stuff to be the MVP of the NFC championship game to take your team to the Super Bowl, that's pretty cool."

The Kansas City Chiefs are tiny favorites over the San Francisco 49ers as the two-week lead-up to Super Bowl LIV begins.

The consensus opening line at sportsbooks around the nation was pick 'em. The point spread had grown to Kansas City -1 late Sunday night at most shops.

According to ESPN Stats & Information's line archive, no Super Bowl has ever closed with a point spread of pick 'em. Four Super Bowls have had a line of fewer than two. This year's Super Bowl appears destined to be the fifth.

Caesars Sportsbook opened the Chiefs at -1.5 on Sunday and took early bets on the 49ers.

"We had the Chiefs a little higher than the 49ers in our power ratings," Alan Berg, senior oddsmakers for Caesars Sportsbook, told ESPN on Sunday night. "You can make a case for either team, and I expect decent, balanced action from the public."

Bookmaker William Hill reported taking an early $33,000 bet on Kansas City at pick 'em. At the Westgate SuperBook in Las Vegas, more than 70% of the early bets were on the Chiefs, who, for now, are Super Bowl favorites, just the way they started the season.

The Chiefs kicked off the season as the consensus favorites to win the Super Bowl, overcame a midseason knee injury to quarterback Patrick Mahomes and mounted consecutive playoff comebacks in wins over the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans to reach the franchise's first Super Bowl since 1969.

The 49ers were considered middle-of-the-pack contenders to start the season, with 40-1 Super Bowl odds at Caesars Sportsbook. They secured their spot in Miami with a 37-20 win over the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship.

Super Bowl LIV is slated for Feb. 2 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

The favored team has won 34 of 53 Super Bowls. However, favorites of three points or fewer are 8-7.

The over/under total opened at 51.5 and had grown to 52.5 late Sunday.

Utah Jazz forward Royce O'Neale has agreed to a four-year, $36 million contract extension, agents Ty Sullivan and Steven Heumann of CAA Sports told ESPN.

The Jazz announced the extension Sunday, but did not provide any contract details.

"Re-signing Royce to a long-term extension was a priority for our organization," Jazz executive vice president of basketball operations Dennis Lindsey said in a statement Sunday. "Royce is an elite defender and has really shown the ability to spread the floor with his shooting. We feel he brings a versatility to our team that's vital to our success. We're happy that we were able to retain not only a great player in Royce, but also a tremendous person."

Although he could've become a restricted free agent this summer, O'Neale and his reps at CAA Sports -- including Sullivan, Heumann and Richard Beda -- negotiated a long-term deal that keeps him with the franchise that signed him out of Europe in 2017.

"I'm staying here for a while," O'Neale said Sunday in a statement.

O'Neale, 26, has proved to be an essential element to the Jazz's elite NBA defense and elevation into the fourth seed in the Western Conference. In his third NBA season, O'Neale has become a full-time starter for the Jazz and is averaging career highs in minutes (30), points (6.2), rebounds (5.0) and assists (2.5). He's become a quintessential 3-and-D specialist, guarding elite opposing players and shooting 44.3 percent on three-pointers this season.

O'Neale is one more Utah organizational success story of evaluation and player development. After going undrafted out of Baylor, O'Neale played two seasons overseas before signing with the Jazz.

"Just the journey of how far I've come," O'Neale said. "I've come a long way."

New Orleans Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson is officially listed as doubtful for Monday's contest against the Memphis Grizzlies.

The team announced the change in the injury report on Sunday evening, but don't read too much into it. Williamson is still expected to make his NBA debut on Wednesday night against the San Antonio Spurs.

The upgrade for Williamson, who has been listed as out for every game this season after having knee surgery the day before the regular season started, is a necessary step in his recovery process.

The NBA encourages teams to gradually improve a player's status coming back from injuries so that a player doesn't jump from out to available.

Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin told reporters last week that Williamson's expected debut will be against the Spurs.

The long-anticipated debut will tip off at 9:30 ET on ESPN.

Williamson, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 draft, averaged 23.3 points in the preseason while shooting 71.4 percent from the field.

His original six-to-eight-week timeline for recovery from meniscus surgery has stretched out to 13 weeks. The Pelicans have taken their time with his recovery process and have been adamant that they weren't going to rush him back onto the court.

Williamson joined a handful of other Pelicans on the injury report for Monday. JJ Redick is listed as probable, while Jrue Holiday, Derrick Favors and Jahlil Okafor are all listed as questionable. Kenrich Williams (back) and Darius Miller (Achilles) are listed as out.

Dallas Mavericks forward Kristaps Porzingis, who has missed the past 10 games because of right knee soreness, said he is targeting a return to the lineup Tuesday against the LA Clippers.

"The way I'm feeling, I don't see why there should be any hurdles," Porzingis told reporters on Sunday, according to the Dallas Morning News. "But you never know, so I'm just putting in the work, making sure the knee is strong, leg is strong."

Porzingis went through a full practice on Sunday.

"We have [Monday] and then we'll see where we are for Tuesday, but [Sunday] was good," coach Rick Carlisle said, according to Mavs.com. "He was out there the whole time, he competed. We did do some live stuff, which he was in, so good stuff."

The 7-foot-3 Latvian is averaging 17.3 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game in his first season with Dallas. He was shown Saturday night in the stands at UFC 246 before the main event between Conor McGregor and Donald Cerrone.

ST. LOUIS -- Harrison Bader is confident he'll be in center field for the St. Louis Cardinals when the season begins.

Bader was in St. Louis on Saturday taking part in the annual Cardinals Winter Warm-Up.

"I'm the starting center fielder," the 25-year-old Bader said. "It's my position. I'm going to take it. There's no sense in talking about it. I'm looking forward to showing up day one, guns blazing and ready to go."

While there is no question about his defensive ability and speed in center, it's his bat that gives some pause.

Last season, Bader finished with a .205 batting average. He hit 12 home runs, drove in 39 runs and stole 11 bases.

"Last year, individually it wasn't what I wanted it to be production-wise," Bader said. "The biggest thing I've taken away at this point is how I responded. I've been very fortunate to be with people behind the scenes who've helped me take steps in the right direction to help me produce like I want to and how I know I can.

"There's no secret to it. There's no special sauce. This is a day-in and day-out grind. My swing is feeling really good. All you can do is go out there and play hard. That's what I've been doing."

"I'm the starting center fielder. It's my position. I'm going to take it. There's no sense in talking about it. I'm looking forward to showing up Day One guns blazing and ready to go." Harrison Bader

Bader finished his 2018 rookie season hitting .264 with 12 homers and 15 stolen bases in 138 games. He took over in center after Tommy Pham was traded on July 31 to Tampa Bay. His flair in the outfield, making diving catches or running down line drives in the gap, made him a fan favorite.

Bader began 2019 as St. Louis' starting center fielder, but offensive struggles landed him on the bench. He was sent to Triple-A Memphis on July 30. When he was demoted, Bader was hitting just .195 with six home runs in 90 games.

The Cardinals brought him back Aug. 20, and Bader made a big impression in his first game after being called up. He legged out a triple, scored two runs, walked three times and made a spectacular diving catch in shallow center during a 9-4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers.

Then, in a five-game stretch against Colorado and Pittsburgh, Bader got eight hits. But he tailed off again after that.

"My bat was not present last year. Plain and simple," Bader said. "It showed up a couple of times, but I wasn't nearly as consistent as I needed to be."

Following the season, he was a Gold Glove finalist.

"The Gold Glove recognition was nice," Bader said. "As tough as it was at the plate, you don't want that to carry over into the field. Regardless if I'm a .330 hitter or what I was last year as a hitter, I always want to play as a Gold Glove center fielder. That mentality will always stick with me."

Bader certainly might be the opening-day starter in center. However, he could just as easily find himself in a platoon role.

There might be a challenge to Bader in spring training. Center field will likely be one of the most competitive battles for the Cardinals this spring.

President of baseball operations John Mozeliak has said he views center field and left field as open tryouts this spring.

Possibly in line for the job in center is Dylan Carlson, a 2016 first-round draft pick. Carlson is considered one of the team's top breakout prospects this season. Last year, he hit .292 with 26 homers and 20 steals as a 21-year-old between Double-A Springfield and Triple-A Memphis.

Carlson has above-average speed and shows the instincts that could make him a standout defender in center.

The Cardinals are thought to be interested in dealing for Rockies star third baseman Nolan Arenado. Bader has been one of the names mentioned in trade speculation.

"I live in the present. I know my name has been tossed around," he said. "No trade has been made, so I'm going to go with: They still have confidence in me to go on the field and do what I'm supposed to do and capable of doing."

When the Cardinals recently made a deal with Tampa Bay for pitching prospect Matthew Liberatore, some initial rumblings had Bader included in the trade. He was on a plane, and when he got off, Bader said he had about 60 messages on his phone telling him he had been traded.

One of those messages, however, was from his agent, telling him he was not part of the deal.

"I'm thankful for every day I get to wear this uniform. I want to be a Cardinal. I have been a Cardinal since day one. I want myself to be a consistent bat. I want to be a very hard out night in and night out. I don't want any pitching staff or pitcher to think I'm an easy out," Bader said.

That's what he wants to show the Cardinals in spring training.

"There's no other focus in my life than to do what I need to do to produce on the field and to help us win a World Series," Bader said.

HOUSTON -- A week filled with fines, suspensions, firings and impromptu news conferences as a result of their sign-stealing scandal ended awkwardly in Houston on Saturday, with the Astros meeting and greeting fans and media at their annual winter festival.

Two of the team's biggest stars -- Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman -- took center stage: one for his unfazed confidence, the other for his terse tone and tenor.

Altuve, Houston's second baseman, said the Astros will be in the World Series again, while pushing back on the idea that the team's cheating went beyond the sign-stealing detailed in MLB's report earlier this week.

"Believe me, in the end of the year, everything will be fine," he said. "We're going to be in the World Series again. People don't believe it, we will. We will. We made it last year, we were one game away of winning it all."

Altuve was the American League MVP in 2017, and since the sign-stealing scandal broke, some have questioned whether he deserved the award. In recent days, he has also been accused of wearing an electronic device under his jersey that could alert him of certain pitches, which he vehemently denies.

"You know, we all know that some people made that up," he said. "And like I said, the best thing to happen to me was the MLB investigate that and they didn't find something."

While Altuve didn't have a problem answering numerous questions about the scandal, Bregman, Houston's third baseman, refused repeated attempts by reporters to get him to address what happened and kept repeating variations of the same phrase.

"The commissioner made his report, made his decision, and the Astros made their decision," he said. "And I have no further comment on it."

After being pressed on if he plans to discuss the sign-stealing in the future, Bregman finally gave an answer that didn't seemed as rehearsed. "I think in the 2020 year," he said, "our actions will speak louder than our words."

Altuve and Bregman were the only two stars at FanFest who were part of the 2017 championship team. Many of the other big names who helped the Astros win their first title -- including World Series MVP George Springer, ace Justin Verlander, who was the American League Championship Series MVP, and shortstop Carlos Correa -- did not attend the daylong event at which fans interact with players.

Meanwhile, Altuve was consistent is spinning the storyline forward. With spring training less than a month away, he wants the focus on baseball.

"I have two options. One is cry, and one is go down and play the game and [perform] and help my team," he said. "And you know what one I am going to do."

MLB's investigation of Houston began after former Astros pitcher Mike Fiers, who played for Oakland last season, told The Athletic about the team's scheme to steal signs.

Houston manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow were suspended for a year by MLB commissioner Rob Manfred on Monday after he found illicit use of electronics to steal signs during the Astros' run to the 2017 World Series championship and again during the 2018 season. Team owner Jim Crane then fired both Hinch and Luhnow. Manager Alex Cora left the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday after the report identified him as the ringleader of the sign-stealing scheme when he was the bench coach for the Astros in 2017.

The Astros were fined $5 million, which is the maximum allowed under the Major League Constitution, and must forfeit their next two first- and second-round amateur draft picks.

The investigation found that the Astros used the video feed from a center-field camera to see and decode the opposing catcher's signs. Players banged on a trash can to signal to batters what was coming, believing it would improve the batter's odds of getting a hit.

"It's a tough situation, and as a team, we have to stay together and go through this as a team like we've been doing, always," Altuve said. "We have to talk about it at spring training and try not to let things in the past distract us for next year."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

You'd like to think that competing professionals would operate ethically, within the bounds of propriety as well as the written rules. But that's not true in the field of journalism, or politics, or professional sports; there always have been and always will be those willing to trade shards or whole slices of integrity for an advantage. In baseball, this is what happened with doctored baseballs, with corked bats, with teams taking liberties with domestic and international scouting and signings, and most notably, in the steroids era.

Ignoring those lessons of history is the mistake that commissioner Rob Manfred made as the growing problem of electronics in sign stealing emerged. As one manager said recently, the first domino of this fell when MLB implemented instant replay. Rather than stationing a fifth umpire or some sort of independent arbiter to deal with each questionable decision, MLB decided to bestow challenges on each manager, and along with that came the installation of video replay systems close to each dugout. With the benefit of 20-20 hindsight, that was like handing a bag of fireworks to a teenager; we all probably should have anticipated the falling dominoes that followed.

Athletics community reacts to news that the former agent, team manager and BBC broadcaster has died

Tributes have been paid to Maurie Plant following the news that the former agent, team manager and BBC broadcaster has died.

Plant was a familiar face to athletes on the international circuit over many years, with David Monti of Race Results Weekly describing him as “the ultimate track guy”.

“Always loved chatting with Maurie,” Monti added. “He was really suffering after multiple strokes and kidney failure. There is some solace for his friends and family that his suffering has ended.”

According to EME NEWS, Plant, 67, died at St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne and had been on life support for three weeks.

Olympic 3000m silver medallist and MD at Great Run Publishing Wendy Sly, who is pictured with Plant above, told AW: “Maurie has been a part of athletics for as long as I can remember. His passion for the sport shone through no matter what role he played; whether as an agent, working for the BBC, or, more recently, as part of the 2021 World Cross team.

“The sport will miss his knowledge and his constant wit. He was one of the funniest men I have ever met.”

Two-time Olympic 1500m gold medallist and World Athletics president Seb Coe was also among those share tributes on social media and said: “Athletics has lost one of its truest and passionate friends and so many of us have lost a great mate. Maurie Plant we will miss you so much.”

European Athletics president Svein Arne Hansen wrote: “Saddened beyond words to hear of the passing of my great friend Maurie Plant. He was a friend, confidant, advisor and work colleague on the Bislett Games for many years. Taken far too soon he will be dearly missed by all who were lucky to know him. Sleep well Maurie.”

A statement from Athletics Australia reads: “We are incredibly sad to hear the passing of Mr Athletics, Maurie Plant.⁣ ⁣Maurie has been instrumental in athletics around the world and guided numerous athletes to success.⁣ Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. Rest In Peace Maurie.”

We are incredibly sad to hear the passing of Mr Athletics, Maurie Plant.⁣
⁣
Maurie has been instrumental in athletics around the world and guided numerous athletes to success.⁣

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. ⁣
⁣
Rest In Peace Maurie. pic.twitter.com/MbjTAyrZxL

— Athletics Australia (@AthsAust) January 19, 2020

Australia’s Olympic and world 400m gold medallist Cathy Freeman said: “RIP Maurie Plant. If you were lucky enough to know him, his presence, personality and charm just sucked you right in. The mark you made in my life both as an athlete and as a friend was extraordinary. I love you, Maurice, and will miss you terribly. You’ll be forever in our hearts.”

While Australia’s Olympic and world 100m hurdles champion Sally Pearson said: “My agent and mentor but first and foremost my dear friend Maurie Plant. The sadness has hit and the tears are flowing. You’ll hate the fuss but it’s a must as we all come to terms with losing the best there was in our sport. We will miss you MP.”

My agent and mentor but first and foremost my dear friend Maurie Plant. The sadness has hit and the tears are flowing. You’ll hate the fuss but it’s a must as we all come to terms with losing the best there was in our sport. We will miss you MP. pic.twitter.com/hAwqZhvwC5

— Sally Pearson OAM (@sallypearson) January 19, 2020

Britain’s Olympic and world 200m fourth-placer Adam Gemili wrote: “This is such sad news for all those in the athletics community. Maurie was just the best. Plain and simple! So real, caring and a face everyone loved to see on the circuit. Always making people smile and laugh. RIP Maurie – You will be greatly missed.”

Journalist and coach Mike Hurst, who was one of the first to announce Plant’s death, said the news was a “devastating blow to his family and terrible loss to Australia’s athletes and coaches so many of whom he has guided for the last 40 years as a T&F manager/agent.”