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NEW ORLEANS -- Patrick Mahomes is preparing to play for the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX against the Philadelphia Eagles, but he's also a Texas native and a fan of the Dallas Mavericks.
Mahomes was like most fans stunned by the blockbuster trade that sent Luka Doncic from the Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis.
"Luka is such a franchise player,'' Mahomes said at opening night at the Super Bowl on Monday. "I know it hurt my heart as a Mavs fan, but I'm excited for the future and having [Anthony Davis].
"It definitely hurts more than anything knowing Luka and the work that he put in and the time he's put in in Dallas and the city and how he's done so much for it. That's been the thing that's hurt me the most. But I'm excited for the future of the Mavs as well. Having AD and Kyrie [Irving] and all these guys they have, they'll have a chance to go out there and compete. But I'm excited for Luka too and to get to learn under LeBron [James] and become even a better basketball player.''
Before he could process the stunning trade, Mahomes, who sits courtside at Mavericks games when he can, went on X early Sunday morning to express his disbelief with a two-word message: "Wait what?" He followed that with another post saying, "I'm sick (right now.)"
Wait what?
Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) February 2, 2025
He made it clear Monday, however, that the trade wouldn't chase him away from watching the Mavericks play again.
"I know the Mavs have a great basketball team and getting Anthony Davis is going to help them,'' Mahomes said. "I'll be there. I'm a Mavs fan through thick and thin.''
England's Chessum takes positives from Ireland loss
England may be without wing Cadan Murley for the meeting with the 2022 Grand Slam winners on Saturday.
The 25-year-old, who scored a try on his debut in Dublin before struggling under the high ball in the second half, missed training on Monday with a foot injury which required a scan.
Tom Roebuck or Ollie Sleightholme would be the likeliest to step in if he is unavailable to face France, who opened their campaign with a 43-0 thrashing of Wales.
"That is the scary thing for those watching - they have managed to put 40 points on a team when you don't really think they have reached second gear," added Chessum.
"They come to live in the opposition 30 metres, they have a big pack of forwards who can go to work at the set-piece and, the obvious one, they have Antoine Dupont and whoever is going to sit in the driving seat at 10 for them this weekend.
"We know what their threats are. Today's preparation has been about installing what we think we can do to them."
Whale Takes the Reigns for Moto Anatomy X Royal Enfield
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. Royal Enfield has announced Australian racer Max Whale as its newest addition to the Moto Anatomy X Royal Enfield Team for this year, following Johnny Lewis retirement.
Whale rode a strong 2024 debut in Mission AFT SuperTwins, where he notched multiple top-10 finishes. Now poised for success in the top level of the Progressive American Flat Track ranks with a distinguished team built by Lewis, Whale becomes Royal Enfields first international rider. Known for his aggressive riding style, Whale made an impact early in his career, turning pro in 2018 and securing back-to-back runner-up finishes in the AFT Singles presented by KICKER Championship in 2020 and 2021.
Weve been impressed with what Max has been able to do on the track for a number of years, and we cant wait for him to be part of Royal Enfields next chapter, said Adrian Sellers, Head Custom & Motorsport at Royal Enfield. Max is a young, aggressive racer with tons of skill, but most exciting to us is uncorking the potential weve seen. With Johnny taking an integral role in bike and rider development, we strongly believe this tandem will take this team to the next level.
Lewis spent five years as Moto Anatomy X Royal Enfields lead racer, team manager, and bike developer. Beyond race day, Lewis was critical to ultimately making a winner of Royal Enfields Twins FT racebike a role he will continue in 2025 as he focuses on maximizing Whales talents.
Its been an amazing ride with this group, and I am very proud of the team and bike weve built alongside Royal Enfield, Lewis said. I couldnt be more excited to continue my work with this team, this bike, and now working with Max in this next chapter of our careers. There are some similarities between him and I that we think will lend to a really smooth transition and a really successful 2025 season.
In Lewis first year at the helm in 2020, he scored a Mission AFT SuperTwins win and led the team to two podiums in the Royal Enfield Twins FTs debut season. Over the next four years, he would develop a bike that would secure two more victories at the prestigious Lima HM and Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, respectively, stand atop three more podiums, and earn 10+ top-five finishes.
In 2024, with Lewis sidelined with an injury, the team brought in Dalton Gauthier to fill in for a number of races. Joining mid-season, Gauthier was able to turn in a number of impressive finishes and take the third step of the podium at the Orange County Half-Mile.
Editors Note: This is another installment in SPEED SPORTs preview of each NTT IndyCar Series team. To read other teams previews, click here.
Andretti Global looks to regain its place among the elite teams in theNTT IndyCar Series following a promising 2024 with drivers Colton Herta, Kyle Kirkwood and Marcus Ericsson.
Ahead of the March 2 season opener on the streets of St. Petersburg (Fla.), heres a look at each driver:
No. 26 Colton Herta
Colton Herta enjoyed a career season aboard the No. 26 Honda with Andretti Global. Aside from two victories and career-high six podium finishes, Herta earned his best average finish (7.4) across the season of his career.
With questions whether hell dart to Formula 1 to join Cadillacs Formula 1 team in 2026, a potential championship could make the decision for both sides easier.
No. 27 Kyle Kirkwood
In his second full-time season with Andretti Global, Kyle Kirkwood saw consistency play a big part in a successful year.
While he went winless after a two-victory season in 2023, his average finish across the season was stellar at 8.7.
Kirkwood may be a sleeper for the title this year should he be able to cultivate a similar season from last year with a victory or two.
No. 28 Marcus Ericsson
Following three straight seasons with at least one victory with Chip Ganassi Racing, Marcus Ericssons 2024 was a step backward in his first season with Andretti Global.
Ericsson endured the worst average finish of his career (15.2) and only secured one podium finish on the streets of Detroit.
Having a year of gelling with the team may pay big dividends for Ericsson going into this season.
BROWNSBURG, Ind. The 2025 racing season gets underway this week and Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing has revealed its partner lineup and unveiled a fresh look for 10-Time World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series champion, Donny Schatz.
Kicking off this years campaign with the DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla., on Feb. 5 8, Schatz and the No. 15 team will begin its chase of an 12th WoO Sprint Car Series title.
Advance Auto Parts will return as a co-primary partner on Schatzs familiar No. 15 entry for the sixth season alongside Carquest, who enters its sixth season with Schatz.
Carquest also celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.
Ford Performance, the official engine provider for TSR, will also return as a primary partner on Schatz No. 15.
This year will mark Schatzs 29th season as a full-time World of Outlaws driver and his sixth utilizing the FPS 410 powerplant.
Continuing a 15-year relationship with the Brownsburg, Ind. based motorsports operation, Curb-Agajanian Racing will again partner with TSR as a co-entrant for Schatz. Partnering in 2010 for the first time, Curb-Agajanian Racing, Curb Records and TSR own a longstanding tradition of monumental success, acquiring not only victories but seven Knoxville Nationals victories at Iowas Knoxville Raceway and six World of Outlaws championships.
Debuting an innovative marketing relationship this year, Martin One Source joins TSR as the Official Communications Partner of Tony Stewart Racing Sprint Car.
Mobil 1 is set to also return to the team this year.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. Heading into this weekends Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, many wondered how the NASCAR Cup Series first trip to the quarter-mile oval since 1971 would turn out.
Based on the series three trips to the makeshift track inside the famed Los Angeles Coliseum the last three years, tight racing was expected as drivers clawed for real estate.
However, Bowman Gray presented a different atmosphere.
Following their finishes of second and fourth, Team Penske teammates Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano felt the Clash on Sunday was a hit.
It was really, really good, Logano said. I thought the pre-race ceremony was pretty cool. The fans being right there. Its what Bowman Gray is, right? Youve got the fans heckling you and saying whatever they want and saying your number one in two different ways, so thats what Bowman Gray was built off of.
I dont know if you got the boos I got, but, overall, I would say it was successful. You look at when fans are cheering and screaming and those type of things, drivers brands are being exposed to everybody, which is great. Everyone has a favorite or not and theyre passionate about it and when you get everyone this close, I mean, you look at yesterday. People hung out for the modified race all the way until practice and the heat races.
It was packed yesterday and tonight was standing room only, so, from that standpoint, the atmosphere was successful.
Piggybacking off Loganos thoughts, Blaney felt the masses of fans was a major selling point to the Clashs charm.
From the crowd yesterday that hung out for three hours from the modifieds to when we first got out on the track is a lot of commitment, and there was a lot of energy on the frontstretch before we got going there and thats what its all about, Blaney said.
It was really, really cool to be here and Im happy that it was a good show for everybody. Im looking forward to, hopefully, coming back next year.
I dont see why you wouldnt come back, so I hope everyone had a good time.
While the track, known as The Madhouse, delivered its fair share of frustrated drivers and retaliation on-track, the race was balanced by long, green-flag stints that saw drivers searching for grip while navigating traffic.
Perhaps the right amount of passionate fans, chaos and pure racing provided the perfect ingredients for a successful event.
For race winner Chase Elliott, who led a race-high 171 of 200 laps, it was a win hell never forget.
Im a little biased in the situation just for myself, Elliott began. It was an extremely special moment. I think the people in the crowd here made it that. Im thankful for that.
Yeah, it was a moment Ill never forget, for sure. Its not every day you not only race in an environment like that, but to have the opportunity to win and kind of share that moment with the crowd, it was really cool.
I hope we put on a good show. I hope they enjoyed it. Seemed like they were into it throughout the night. Yeah, seemed like a success, Elliott continued.
I know its always tough from a winners perspective when everything goes your way, but it seemed like the track was racy. Just thought the whole deal was much improved compared to the last few years.
New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal is out indefinitely with a lower-body injury, the team announced Monday.
Barzal, 27, played Saturday in a 3-2 overtime win over Tampa Bay but left late in regulation after blocking a shot.
He has six goals and 14 assists through 30 games this season, his ninth with the Islanders. He spent time on long-term injured reserve earlier this season due to an upper-body injury.
Barzal has 462 points (134 goals, 328 assists) in 530 games since the Islanders drafted him with the 16th overall pick in 2015.
The Islanders also announced that defenseman Scott Mayfield is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Mayfield has seven points (two goals, five assists) in 50 games this season. He has blocked 87 shots and sports a plus-14 rating.
Ottawa Senators center Josh Norris will be out "a couple weeks" because of a mid-body injury, coach Travis Green said Monday.
Norris exited in the third period Saturday after a hit by Minnesota Wild center Jakub Lauko in the Senators' 6-0 home victory. Green, who confirmed to TSN 1200 Ottawa radio that Norris sustained a mid-body injury, is concentrating on the team's game Monday night at the Nashville Predators.
"I think we've done a good job of not focusing in on players that aren't playing," Green said. "Obviously, Josh is a big part of our team, but we're focusing in on the guys that are playing. Any time someone goes out, it's another opportunity for someone else to come in. [Senators left winger Cole Reinhardt] will draw in the lineup tonight, and someone else will play center."
That someone else could be Ridly Greig on the second line with David Perron and Drake Batherson. Greig, 22, has eight goals and 16 points this season, and is averaging a career-high 16:12 time on ice in his third NHL season.
Norris, 25, scored one goal against Minnesota. He has 19 goals and 12 assists with a minus-6 rating, 34 penalty minutes and 43 blocks in 50 games this season.
The San Jose Sharks selected Norris No. 19 in the 2017 NHL draft. The Sharks traded him to the Senators on Sept. 13, 2018. Norris made the 2020-21 NHL All-Rookie first team. He has 154 points (89 goals, 65 assists) in 233 regular-season games over parts of six seasons.
Information from Field Level Media was used in this report.
WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump mostly stuck to sports and avoided any talk of tariffs as he celebrated the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers at the White House on Monday.
The ceremony was delayed nearly an hour because Trump was talking to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about pausing tariffs on the country, as he did with Mexico.
Trump made repeated references to Panthers owner Vinnie Viola being a friend, adding that "he's a champion at everything he's ever done." Viola was briefly Trump's nominee to be Secretary of the Army in 2016 before withdrawing from consideration, and the Panthers play in Sunrise, Florida, 48 miles away from one of Trump's residences in Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida.
In his speech to the club, Trump mentioned the run to the title and how he watched "the team get better and better and better," referring to the Panthers as "real champions" for their "tremendous championship."
The team had a red customized "Trump 45-47" jersey framed for him. He was also presented a "Trump 47" jersey and a gold stick by Viola, Finnish captain Aleksander Barkov and American forward Matthew Tkachuk.
The Panthers won the Stanley Cup for the first time in June, outlasting the Edmonton Oilers in seven games, and have made back-to-back appearances in the Cup finals. In 2023, the Panthers lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games, a series that Trump made note of. In fact, he praised the Panthers for going from losing the finals to winning the finals in a 12-month span, jokingly comparing it to his path back to the White House.
"You gave the fans one of the most riveting comebacks in NHL history, in any sport history," Trump said. "I don't know anything about a comeback, but they tell me it's very nice."
Tkachuk, the only U.S.-born player on the team this season who was part of the Cup run, thanked Trump for hosting the Panthers, adding that "being one of the few Americans who loves this country so much, this is such an incredible day for myself. You wake up every day really grateful to be an American, so thank you."
The Panthers scheduled their White House visit in advance of their meeting Tuesday night against the Eastern Conference-leading Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON -- The National Hockey League Players' Association and Professional Hockey Players' Association are affiliating with the AFL-CIO and joining the labor organization's sports council, they announced Monday.
Their membership brings the number of unions involved in the AFL-CIO, the biggest labor federation in the U.S., to 63, representing more than 15 million workers. It comes as collective bargaining talks are ongoing at multiple levels of the sport.
"Whether our work is on the rink, in the classroom or on the factory floor, every worker deserves a voice on the job and the power that comes with union membership," AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler said. "We are thrilled to welcome the NHLPA and the PHPA into the federation and our Sports Council, and we look forward to supporting their work to ensure strong union contracts, fair wages, safe working conditions and professional development opportunities for professional hockey players."
The NHLPA represents roughly 750 players across 32 teams, while the PHPA has 1,800 members in the American Hockey League and ECHL.
"The NHLPA's membership is proud to join the AFL-CIO and its sports council during this important moment in the labor movement," NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh said. "We look forward to working together with other players' associations and unions from across North America to ensure that workers in all industries have a collective voice in fighting for fair wages and safe and equitable workplaces."
The AFL-CIO formed a sports council in 2022 and already included unions representing players in the NFL, WNBA, Major League Soccer and National Women's Soccer League.
"Our members are excited about taking an active role in working towards better outcomes for working people in every sector of the economy," PHPA executive director Brian Ramsay said. "As we begin collective bargaining negotiations, our members will now enjoy the full support of the AFL-CIO at the bargaining table. This is what solidarity is all about."
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