Super Bowl 2020 prediction: 'Madden' simulation says 49ers shut down Patrick Mahomes, dominate Super Bowl LIV - CBS Sports

Super Bowl LIV is just a couple days away, and it seems the expectation of the public is that the Kansas City Chiefs will beat the San Francisco 49ers behind their MVP quarterback, Patrick Mahomes. But before you lock in your pick for the game, ask yourself this: Throughout the history of this game, doesn't it always feel like every Super Bowl zigs when you think it's going to zag? Take last year for example: You had the No. 1 scoring offense in the regular season in the Los Angeles Rams muster just three points against the New England Patriots. Bananas! 

With that in mind, when I sparked up the ole' XBox One and set up our latest CBS Sports Madden Super Bowl simulation, I was expecting some shenanigans to go on, but not what ultimately transpired. In the real world, Patrick Mahomes is currently in the midst of one of the great statistical playoff runs of all-time. That gets put to a halt, however, in this Madden universe as the San Francisco 49ers pick him off not once, not twice, but three (!) times en route to a 20-7 victory in Super Bowl LIV. 

Patrick Mahomes did not have a great performance in this Madden sim. EA Sports

Jimmy Garoppolo was sharp throughout the contest and completed his first six passes of the night. He finished connecting on 14 of his 21 throws for 149 yards and one touchdown. By looking at Mahomes' stats, you'd think that the two quarterbacks had a pretty similar outings, but most of his passing marks were in garbage time. His three picks were the real story and ultimate demise of the Chiefs.  

Super Bowl LIV is only days away, but which team has the edge? Brady Quinn and Bryant McFadden join Will Brinson for a position-by-position breakdown; listen below, and be sure to subscribe for daily NFL goodness.

At the start, it looked like Kanas City was going to to do Kansas City things -- put points up in bunches. However, with just under two minutes left in the first quarter and the game still scoreless, Mahomes dropped back to pass from the San Francisco 19 yard line and was picked off in the end zone by safety Jaquiski Tartt. Mahomes was targeting tight end Travis Kelce in the back of the end zone, but simply didn't put enough on his pass and Tartt jumped out in front of it. 

It was after that turnover when the 49ers were able to march down the field and fourth string running back Jeff Wilson Jr., of all people, was able to score Super Bowl LIV's first touchdown off a toss from the 3 yard line. While Wilson Jr. was surprisingly the back who hit pay dirt, it was Tevin Coleman who was the star offensive weapon for San Francisco, finishing with 143 yards from scrimmage. 

Kansas City, meanwhile, continued to have trouble protecting Mahomes and was shut out heading into the locker room for halftime. 

The second half only had more heartbreak for Kansas City as the Madden Gods took away what looked to be a fumble recovery by safety Tyrann Mathieu. Niners receiver Kendrick Bourne hauled in a deep shot from Garoppolo around the Chiefs 20 yard line and as he turned up field, defenders swarmed him, the ball appeared to pop out, and Mathieu recovered it. Upon review, however, officials determined that Bourne's knee was down prior to the fumble. Niners ball. 

Just three plays later, Garoppolo delivered a dart to rookie Deebo Samuel to put San Francisco up 14-0 with less than a minute remaining in the third quarter. 

On the ensuing Chiefs possession, Mahomes threw his second interception of the evening, but it was hardly his fault. The virtual Sammy Watkins had one of those plays that would make you either snap your controller in half, throw it at your television or shut the game off entirely. He had the ball go right through his hands and it fell into the breadbasket of middle linebacker Fred Warner, who would later be named Super Bowl MVP. 

Kansas City did show a brief glimpse of brilliance as Mahomes went on a surgical fourth quarter drive where he completed all six of his passes for 75 yards, including a 12 yard touchdown pass to running back Damien Williams. That cut the 49ers lead to 10, but a late field goal by Robbie Gould really put a comeback out of reach. With just three second remaining in Super Bowl LIV and the Chiefs still trying to cling to any remaining hope of a championship, Mahomes' deep shot was caught for title-clinching interception by veteran cornerback Richard Sherman. 

And with that, the San Francisco 49ers are Super Bowl champions! 

Whew!  

This Madden simulation wasn't the high-flying event many are expecting from the actual Super Bowl, but if even some of the dramatics from this game come to fruition on Sunday down in Miami, we'll be in for quite a show. 

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2020-01-31 14:35:00Z
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Dominic Thiem vs Alexander Zverev - Match Highlights (SF) | Australian Open 2020 - Australian Open TV

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2020-01-31 12:37:57Z
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Severe storms could kick off Super Bowl weekend - CNN

Fans arriving in Miami late Friday for the game between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs may be a little disappointed in the weather, with a 50% chance of drizzle Friday afternoon.

Know the difference between a watch and a warning

The rain is expected to strengthen overnight as a cold front moves through the Miami area.

There is a slight risk these storms may become severe, especially early Saturday.

The storms will bring the possibility of strong wind, small hail, and minor flooding.

Even though the severe threat will be over by mid-morning Saturday, showers can be expected to linger into the early evening.

Get more weather news from around the world

By Sunday, everything dries out.

The storms are forecast to leave the area entirely by Sunday, leaving behind cooler, dry air.

Fans could enjoy highs near 70 during the day, and a temperatures of around 65 at the time of kickoff, 6:30 p.m.

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2020-01-31 09:45:00Z
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Severe storms could kick off Super Bowl weekend - CNN

Fans arriving in Miami late Friday for the game between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs may be a little disappointed in the weather, with a 50% chance of drizzle Friday afternoon.

Know the difference between a watch and a warning

The rain is expected to strengthen overnight as a cold front moves through the Miami area.

There is a slight risk these storms may become severe, especially early Saturday.

The storms will bring the possibility of strong wind, small hail, and minor flooding.

Even though the severe threat will be over by mid-morning Saturday, showers can be expected to linger into the early evening.

Get more weather news from around the world

By Sunday, everything dries out.

The storms are forecast to leave the area entirely by Sunday, leaving behind cooler, dry air.

Fans could enjoy highs near 70 during the day, and a temperatures of around 65 at the time of kickoff, 6:30 p.m.

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2020-01-31 09:00:00Z
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Vigil honors memory of Alyssa Altobelli, 14-year-old killed in helicopter crash with Kobe Bryant - KABC-TV

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- Friends and family gathered in Newport Beach to honor the memory of Alyssa Altobelli, a 14-year-old girl who died in the same helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant.

Alyssa and both her parents, Orange Coast College head baseball coach John Altobelli and his wife Keri, were among the among the nine killed in the horrific crash that also claimed the lives of Kobe and his daughter Gianna.

Hundreds of people showed up to a candlelight vigil to honor Alyssa's memory. They read poems she had written when younger, and praised her for her strong work ethic and contagious smile.

"If she was smiling, other people were always smiling around her," Ellie Robinson, a friend. "She was respectful. She knew how to handle herself. She knew what to say. She was nice, she was funny."

Vigil organizers say Alyssa grew up in the Newport Beach area, attended Mariner Elementary School and was in the 8th grade at Ensign Intermediate.

She was a point guard with the girl's Mamba basketball team.

Friends say sports played an important role in her life. They read a poem written by Alyssa in grade school as they shared their own memories of her.

They lit candles in the shape of the number 5 - Alyssa's number - and released lanterns with messages honoring her.

They also lit nine lanterns - one for each of the victims who died in the crash.

Copyright © 2020 KABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.

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2020-01-31 06:11:50Z
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Andy Reid Stretched the Limits of Offensive Innovation to a Super Bowl - The Ringer

Football is not a sport of giant leaps. There are only, by rule, so many ways you can line up on a football field, and even the biggest innovations are small, nuanced changes building on decades of other modifications before it. The best minds, like Andy Reid and Bill Belichick, are to football what Malcolm Gladwell once dubbed Steve Jobs: tweakers, who don’t invent a lot but change a lot. Reid started as a West Coast offense scheme baron. He worked under West Coast offense legend Mike Holmgren as an assistant before taking the offense, which relied on short, horizontal passing routes, with him as a head coach in Philadelphia. Reid kept incrementally building the offense until it included, well, basically everything. The Fast and the Furious started out as a pretty basic car racing movie in 2001, and by 2017, its plots involved Russians with nuclear weapons. Reid began his career as a West Coast savant who built an offense that folded in nearly every innovation of the sport. But, in both the Fast franchise and in Reid’s career, the main ingredients are still there.

He has built an offensive empire in Kansas City, one brick at a time. Pro Football Focus has a play-by-play coaching metric that determines the most valuable play-callers in the sport—Reid is no. 1 over the last two years and has ranked in the top 10 in every year since 2014. The story of offensive football is about small, almost imperceptible changes to schemes that one day create something that shocks you and goes for a 70-yard touchdown. In that regard, the story of offensive football is also the story of Andy Reid.

Reid is coaching in his second Super Bowl on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, 15 years after losing to the Patriots and Belichick in his last one, with the Eagles. Only Dick Vermeil’s 19-year absence between Super Bowls, which culminated with the 1999 Rams victory, was a longer stint. There are limitless stats to explain Reid’s offensive brilliance, but very few tell the story as succinctly as making two Super Bowls spread that far apart. It was so long ago that Troy Aikman and Joe Buck called the last game. Ah, right, they are doing this one too.

Reid is 61 years old. He was a BYU offensive linemen when 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was born, and he led the Eagles to three NFC championship games before Shanahan became a coach in the NFL. The clearest argument that geography is not destiny is that Jeff Fisher and Reid were born in Los Angeles in the same year, 1958: One became a beacon of offensive brilliance, and the other became a retrograde offensive disaster. Innovation is not about age, it is about being smarter than the guy across the field from you. Reid usually is. “If you get stuck in the past, that’s when defenses have the opportunity to catch up to you,” Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy told me Wednesday. That Reid has become a symbol of youthful innovation alongside Shanahan is a testament to the way his brain works and the ability for him to get players—like Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce—to help make the innovation run smoothly.

In 2013, I sat down with Reid in a plain room in a college building in St. Joseph, Missouri, where the Chiefs held their training camp. He told me that the college game is five years ahead of the pro game and that in five years, the spread offenses that had thoroughly dominated the college game would finally dominate the NFL. Five years later, it happened. The Eagles beat the Patriots in what Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley told me looked like a Big 12 game. I tell this story often for two reasons: Because it’s amazing how prescient Reid was, and because it explains Reid perfectly. He not only sees the future, but he helps shape it. Reid spent those five years borrowing liberally from other levels of football and has now perfected the form. In 2017, spread plays he ran against the Patriots were stolen by the Patriots and a slew of other teams. Reid famously stole a play last season from North Dakota State. The result? “College” plays are rarely discussed anymore. The levels of football have merged, which Reid helped. There are no longer NFL or college plays anymore, only football plays.

“He studies like no other coach I’ve ever been around,” Chiefs receivers coach Greg Lewis said. “He studies college games, high school games, CFL games, European games. He’ll go look at stuff from 1910. He knows everything. He has a beautiful mind. He is able to compartmentalize everything then bring it out at the right moment, ‘Oh, this is something I saw on film from 70 years ago.’” Then comes the most important part: “He’s able to put it in terms everyone understands, and that’s special.”

“Some of the stuff we were doing in 2003 or 2004, we still have, we’ve blended it with the college stuff. He is so open to adapting and adjusting the nuances of the offense. He has never been stuck on what he did before,” Lewis said.

This season, the Chiefs scored the second-most points per drive in the NFL, behind Baltimore. They scored on nearly half of their possessions, also behind only Baltimore. They faced the third-fewest third downs in the league, the sign of a good offense, and led the league in third-down conversion rate anyway. Few teams are better at running run-pass options. Only Drew Brees sees more open receivers beyond the first-down marker:

Highest percentage of throws at or beyond the first down marker where the intended receiver was open:

Drew Brees 76.8%
Patrick Mahomes 74.6
Teddy Bridgewater 74.1
Matt Ryan 74.0
Jimmy Garoppolo 73.3
Derek Carr 72.7
Ryan Tannehill 71.4
Lamar Jackson 71.3

— Steve Palazzolo (@PFF_Steve) January 18, 2020

The Chiefs offense works so well because it pairs a coach who knows how to give every advantage with a quarterback who is so good he doesn’t even need them. If you have one or the other, you can be a great offense. If you have both, you are unfair. Reid has played a small role in nearly every offensive innovation over the past two decades. He hired pistol offense lord and former Nevada coach Chris Ault as a consultant to teach him the offense in 2013. Around that time, the Chiefs ran the pistol with Alex Smith, and the 49ers used it to perfection with Colin Kaepernick. Six years later, the Ravens, with former 49ers coordinator Greg Roman in the same position, unleashed the pistol with Lamar Jackson, this season’s presumptive MVP. Once again, Reid saw the future. Sometimes, that can be a little too early. Former Eagles executive Joe Banner once told me that when the team signed Michael Vick in 2009, Reid planned to run the spread. It ended up being a little early for the full version of the spread. Reid turned Vick into an MVP candidate anyway with Vick’s arm and his legs, but it didn’t kickstart a revolution.

The through line in all of this is that Reid is open to anything. Joe Bleymaier, the Chiefs’ passing game coordinator and assistant quarterbacks coach, told me that Reid wants to pick everyone’s brain to see what is possible on a given concept. He’ll take a play, Bleymaier said, and start considering small but crucial changes. “If he sees a play he’s run forever one way, and then sees it implemented in another way [on another team], he wants to know how far he can take it. He wants to push the boundaries and ask, ‘What’s the limit of this concept?’ There are no rules.” He added that this could mean anything within the play: how many receivers are on which side of the field or how the offensive line is stacked. Any small change could dramatically shift the odds in favor of the offense, and Reid wants to explore every possible one.

In 2018, Belichick said Reid has “over the course of time, been able to modify some of the traditional West Coast principles from Coach [Paul] Brown to Coach [Bill] Walsh to Coach Holmgren and so forth to fit his personnel and to fit new scheme ideas that he’s incorporated. So, West Coast offense is still built around speed, space, and balance—catch and run plays, yards after catch, balance between the running game and the passing game, and getting the ball to skill players so they can make yards with it.”

This was reflected by current Chiefs defensive assistant Brendan Daly, a former Patriots assistant, who said he’s been wildly impressed by Reid’s ability to build off of the West Coast offense. “At one point in time, I used to think of Coach Reid as one of the bare-bones offensive coaches. It has been fascinating to see him, over the years, as offenses change, as players change. Competing against him over the years, I was so impressed how incredibly open-minded he was to new concepts,” Daly told me Wednesday. “To new ideas. Formations, plays—his ability to incorporate so many new things into his offense but holding the same characteristics that he’s had his entire career.”

This includes a next-level mastery of the deep pass, which has come to the forefront since Mahomes became the deep-passing king of the sport in 2018.

“[Reid] never stops learning. He continues to push the boundaries of what we can get away with, and he also allows players and coaches to put their own twist on it,” quarterbacks coach Mike Kafka said. “If it makes sense for us and is sound, we’ll do it. He has an open mind about those types of things.” Kafka explains that Reid is flexible within his offense to allow players freedom. He uses the example of the team’s star tight end. “Kelce understands space and open spaces in the defense and has a great ability to find it. A route might be drawn up a certain way, and Kelce will understand how to make it different because of that. It’s fluid and Andy has an open mind about those things.” Well, of course he does.

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2020-01-30 13:38:29Z
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Roger Federer: "Today was horrible!" | Australian Open 2020 Press Conference SF - Australian Open TV

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2020-01-30 13:12:31Z
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Djokovic vs. Federer, a Rivalry for the Ages, Is One-Sided This Time - The New York Times

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1. Djokovic vs. Federer, a Rivalry for the Ages, Is One-Sided This Time  The New York Times
2. Novak Djokovic tops Roger Federer to reach 8th Australian Open final  ESPN
3. Australian Open 2020: Djokovic overcomes Federer to reach record eighth final in Melbourne  Yahoo India News
4. HIGHLIGHTS: Federer defeats Djokovic in London | Nitto ATP Finals 2019  Tennis TV
5. Men's semifinals set at Australian Open 2020 - Experts make their picks for Federer-Djokovic, Zverev-Thiem  ESPN
6. View full coverage on Google News

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2020-01-30 11:56:00Z
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Chris Jones: We want to put the game on Jimmy Garoppolo’s shoulders - NBCSports.com

Getty Images

The fact that the 49ers only threw the ball eight times in the NFC Championship Game has been repeated over and over since they beat the Packers and the Chiefs have certainly heard it once or twice.

Defensive tackle Chris Jones said on Wednesday that a team that can run that much and still put up more than 30 points is “dangerous.” As a result, he thinks the best way for the defense to go is to take that away from the 49ers and put the game on quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo‘s shoulders.

“1,000 percent,” Jones said, via Tom Pelissero of NFL Media. “And we’ll see where it goes from there.”

This isn’t the first time that the 49ers have heard talk about Garoppolo being their weak link and Garoppolo responded to Jones later on Wednesday. He said he thought it was great Jones feels that way and noted that other teams have tried that approach over the course of the 49ers’ run to the Super Bowl, but that he remains confident that their offense can find a way to win every time they take the field.

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2020-01-30 11:48:00Z
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Roger Federer vs Novak Djokovic - Match Highlights (SF) | Australian Open 2020 - Australian Open TV

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2020-01-30 11:11:02Z
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Jae Crowder-ESPN analyst get in Twitter spat after Knicks' fiasco - New York Post

Jae Crowder didn’t just draw the ire of the Knicks for his controversial late steal, he caught the attention of ESPN analyst Tim Legler.

Legler, who played in the NBA for 12 seasons before retiring in 2000, said Wednesday night it was a bush-league move for Crowder to steal the ball with 18 seconds left in the Knicks’ 127-106 blowout loss to the Grizzlies at the Garden.

Crowder stole the ball after a lazy backcourt pass from Julius Randle and dribbled the ball to the right corner for a 3-pointer which he missed as an incensed Elfrid Payton pushed him in the chest. Crowder got up off the floor and went after Payton and a mini-fracas ensued with Randle, Marcus Morris, and Damyean Dotson trying to get after Grizzlies players.

“My take on the hostilities tonight bw @nyknicks and @memgrizz. What the hell was @CJC9BOSS thinking? Seriously,” Legler tweeted. “And if someone says “play til the final buzzer” then I know they have never played at any level. 18 point lead? :50 left? Stealing the inbounds? Shooting a 3?”

This drew a sarcastic response from Crowder.

Jae Crowder and Tim LeglerAP; ESPN Images

“Aye Tim with all due respect I only play one way and thats hard til the buzzer sounds,” Crowder tweeted in all caps. “Im sorry if it disgusts you. I know Knicks are your team but U should tell them to play harder and less talking!”

Legler pushed back at the talk that he is a Knicks fan.

“People making me laugh as if I care about @nyknicks. Zero allegiance,” he tweeted. “Never played there. Don’t talk about them on the air EVER (laughing emoji) it wouldn’t matter who the team or player is… the other team is going to respond.”

Legler also said this broke the NBA’s unwritten rule of how teams should act in games that are clearly decided.

“I DO NOT believe there is such a thing as “running up the score” in high major college or professional basketball,” he tweeted. “I HATE when teams take a shot clock violation late in a game to avoid scoring when the outcome is decided. It’s actually more humiliating.

“But this is different. NBA teams respect end of game culture. I wouldn’t care at all if they steal the ball once it’s advanced. That’s not what we are talking about. The reaction here is typical fan bias. Love it if it’s us… take him out if it’s them. I get it.”

For more on the Kobe Bryant tragedy, listen to the latest episode of the “Big Apple Buckets” podcast:

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2020-01-30 07:10:00Z
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Lakers Release Statement on Kobe Bryant's Sudden Death - Sports Illustrated

The Los Angeles Lakers took to Instagram on Wednesday to release a statement following the death of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna. 

"We are devastated and have been forever changed by the sudden loss of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna," the post reads. "We send our love to Vanessa, the Bryant family, and to the families of the other passengers. Words cannot express what Kobe means to the Los Angeles Lakers, our fans, and our city. More than a basketball player, he was a beloved father, husband, and teammate. Their love and light will remain in our hearts forever.

"The Mamba Sports Foundation has set up the MambaOnThree Fund to support the families affected by this tragedy. To help, please visit MambaOnThree.org. For those who are inspired to continue Kobe and Gianna’s legacy in youth sports, please visit MambaSportsFoundation.org."

Bryant's widow, Vanessa Bryant, also released her first public comments on the tragedy on Wednesday. 

The Lakers organization has been greatly impacted by the Kobe and Gianna's deaths, with Tuesday's game against the Clippers postponed to allow more time for players and the front office to grieve.

Lakers executives, including Jeanie Buss and Linda Rambis, gathered at the team's facility on Sunday following the news, according to the LA Times. General manager Rob Pelinka, who was Bryant’s agent and a close family friend, reportedly also spent time on Sunday with Bryant’s widow, Vanessa.

An 18-time All-Star and 11-time All-NBA first-teamer, Bryant led the Lakers to five NBA championships and scored 33,643 points in his 20-year NBA career. He retired after the 2015-16 season, having spent his entire career with the Lakers. The franchise retired his No. 8 and No. 24 jersey numbers in December 2017.

He was 17 when he was selected with the No. 13 pick in the 1996 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets before being traded to the Lakers. He went on to become the Lakers' franchise leader in points, games played, three-pointers, steals and free throws.

One of his most iconic games was an 81-point performance against the Toronto Raptors in 2006, which ranks as the second-most points scored in an NBA game, behind Wilt Chamberlain's 100 on March 2, 1962. Bryant scored 60 points in his final game when the Lakers defeated the Utah Jazz 101–96 on April 13, 2016.

Countless other Lakers honored Bryant on Sunday. Magic Johnson called Bryant "the great Laker of all-time." Shaquille O'Neal said that there were "no words to express the pain" he was feeling. Phil Jackson said that Bryant "transcended the norm." Kareem Abdul-Jabbar said he was "much more than an athlete."

Others from around the sports world also paid their respects to Bryant.

The 2020 Grammy Awards took place in Staples Center on Sunday night, and host Alicia Keys framed the event by acknowledging Bryant's death in her opening remarks.

Earlier in the day, fans started gathering outside Staples Center to honor the late Lakers legend following the news off his death.

Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, his daughter Alyssa and wife Keri were also aboard the helicopter and killed, along with Sarah and Payton Chester, assistant coach Christina Mauser and pilot Ara Zobayan. 

More Coverage of Kobe Bryant's Death:

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2020-01-30 04:23:00Z
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Marcus Morris blasts Jae Crowder's 'female tendencies' after Knicks madness - New York Post

The tension had been boiling all night between Marcus Morris and Jae Crowder, even before a fight broke out late in the Knicks’ 127-106 loss to the Grizzlies on Wednesday at the Garden.

But Morris didn’t hold back from voicing his feelings postgame, either.

“I think dude is just, he plays the game a different way. A lot of female tendencies on the court,” Morris said. “Flopping, throwing his head back the entire game. It’s a man’s game and you just get tired of it at the end of the day.

“When you step back and shoot a 3 and try to rub it in that they’re winning, it’s just unprofessional,” Morris added. “That’s soft. His game is soft. He’s soft. That’s how he carries [himself]. It’s just very woman-like.”

Later, Morris apologized for his comments.

“I apologize for using the term ‘female tendencies,’ Morris tweeted. “I have the upmost respect for women and everything they mean to us. It was a Heat of the moment response and I never intended for any Women to feel as though in anyway I’m disrespecting them. Again I apologize with my comments.”

Elfrid Payton fouls Memphis Grizzlies forward Jae Crowder; Marcus MorrisRobert Sabo, Corey Sipkin

Crowder pushed the Knicks over the edge with less than a minute to go in the fourth quarter when he stole a careless inbounds pass from Julius Randle, then walked over behind the 3-point line and chucked up a shot. Elfrid Payton wasn’t having it, shoving Crowder down with two hands as he got off the shot, sparking the scuffle.

Morris came over and shoved Ja Morant, who had gotten in the middle of the mess, which led to Morris’ technical foul and ejection for escalating the incident. At the time, the Grizzlies were up 124-106 and there were 48.1 seconds left.

Morris said he didn’t have a problem with Crowder making the steal. What came next is what ticked him off.

“Obviously at the end, that was very unprofessional,” Morris said. “They’re winning the game, that’s a good team. [Crowder] does stuff like that.”

Morris and Crowder — both former Celtics, though they never overlapped — had gotten tangled up earlier in the night. Morris, who finished with four personal fouls, was charged with an offensive foul for pushing Crowder in the first quarter and then were chirping later in the third quarter.

“The game is watered down,” Morris said. “It’s not tough. We can’t play physical, you can’t bump. It’s starting to get comical at this point.”

Asked if the way the game ended was related to Crowder’s actions or the Knicks’ frustrations boiling over, Morris picked the former.

“No frustration,” Morris said. “The game’s over. [If] y’all win the game, y’all win the game. You’re the better team that night. That [what Crowder did] is unprofessional on every level, no matter who it is. … He knows better. He’s a vet in this league. But that’s his tendencies, man.”

For more on the Kobe Bryant tragedy, listen to the latest episode of the “Big Apple Buckets” podcast:

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2020-01-30 04:36:00Z
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Patrick Mahomes, Jimmy Garoppolo both in 'great situations,' says Chiefs QB - ESPN

11:04 AM ET

AVENTURA, Fla. -- To Patrick Mahomes, the similarities between himself and Jimmy Garoppolo don't end with the fact that each player will quarterback a team in Super Bowl LIV on Sunday. They extend to the idea that they were put in the right position to take advantage of their skills.

"Being in the right organization with the right coaches, the right teammates ... being in this league, it's not about one person," said Mahomes, who will lead the Kansas City Chiefs against Garoppolo and the San Francisco 49ers. "It's not about the quarterback. It's about your team and how you go out there and play as a team and play together.

2 Related

"So I think with both me and him, we've been put in a lot of great situations and we've tried to maximize that every day we get those opportunities. ... I think Jimmy would say the same thing."

Mahomes and Garoppolo arrived on their current teams in 2017, and they were matched with innovative offensive head coaches.

Garoppolo joined the 49ers in a midseason trade with the New England Patriots and flourished almost immediately under Kyle Shanahan. Mahomes joined the Chiefs and coach Andy Reid as their first-round draft pick, and he didn't play much as a rookie. By the time he became a starter in 2018, the Chiefs had the pieces of a championship offense in place around him.

"I think I ended up in the perfect place," Mahomes said. "To have Coach Reid and these coaches around me, to have Alex Smith in front of me for a year and be able to learn from him and then obviously to have all the players I have around me, I'm in a place where the team was already a winning team. They had a lot of success and when I came in, I was able to just be who I am, and ended up winning a lot of football games early in my career.

"I hope I get to play the rest of my career there now. I mean, just the people and how they accept you and how they care about you more as a person than they do as a player and how much passion they have for the Kansas City Chiefs, it's special and it's somewhere I want to be for the rest of my career."

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2020-01-29 16:08:12Z
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Coach K flipped out at Duke students after misunderstanding a chant - SB Nation

Upset with the officiating during the first half of what would eventually be a 79-67 loss to Duke, Pittsburgh head coach Jeff Capel was hit with a technical foul by official Bert Smith. It wasn’t the first time a distraught visiting coach got T’d up inside Cameron Indoor Stadium — Capel actually got T’d up during last year’s game in Durham as well — and it won’t be the last. That said, the resulting fallout from this particular whistle was ... different.

Following the technical, the Duke student section began to chant “Jeff Capel, sit with us,” not an atypical cheer from the Cameron Crazies. The subject of this taunt (?) being a former Duke player and longtime Blue Devil assistant (2011-18) did not sit well with Mike Krzyzewski.

Immediately, an enraged Coach K began screaming at the students to “shut up.” He then addressed them before halftime, angrily informing them that Capel is “one of us.”

After Cameron Crazies started yelling "Jeff Capel, sit with us," Coach K could be seen yelling "Shut up" and "He's one of us."

Capel played at Duke and coached there for 7 seasons. pic.twitter.com/OdKeJ62MMv

— ESPN (@espn) January 29, 2020

I’m torn on whether the best part of this video is Coach K reacting like someone just told him that 72-year-old men aren’t supposed to have jet black hair, or the Duke students looking like they just experienced an adult raising their voice at them for the first time in their lives.

Seriously, these are the looks of kids who just had an impromptu audience with God and were informed that they haven’t been living right.

After the game, Krzyzewski admitted he wasn’t sure what exactly the students had been chanting, but it was hearing Capel’s name that had set him off. When he was told the cheer was more harmless than he had originally assumed, the Hall of Fame coach served up something of an apology.

“I thought it was something personal,” Krzyzewski said. “I apologize to the students for that. I don’t apologize for the timing. You shouldn’t say that. Middle of the first half of an ACC game. This isn’t some cutesy little thing where we can just bounce a ball around and giggle. We’re in a fight.

“Once I heard his name — you know, I’m not going to go over there and say, ‘will you please tell me what you’re doing?’ So it’s a mistake on my part. But I’d rather make the mistake in protection of my guy. And I went and just said at the end of the half, ‘look he’s our guy, he’s our guy.’ So I apologize, but let’s think of a different cheer. Like, ‘DEFENSE!’ and ‘LET’S GO!’ or “COME ON, DUKE!’ Leave the other guy alone.”

In Coach K’s defense, this new cheer policy does seem like it has the potential to be electric.

Capel, who was the head coach at VCU and Oklahoma before arriving in Durham, was Coach K’s associate head coach and top recruiter during his time at Duke. He is considered by some to be one of a handful of candidates to replace Krzyzewski whenever the Hall of Famer decides to call it a career.

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2020-01-29 15:13:16Z
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Kobe Bryant Was Making Huge Plans For Gianna's Future Days Before Their Tragic Deaths - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Kobe Bryant was making big plans for his second-oldest daughter, Gianna, right before their tragic deaths. Days before Kobe and Gianna, also known as Gigi, passed away in a helicopter accident, the Los Angeles Lakers star filed a trademark for her nickname on the basketball court. The filing was a clear move that Kobe had major plans for Gianna’s future, which likely would have included an appearance in the WNBA.

Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant | Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images

Kobe Bryant files a trademark for Mambacita

On December 30, Kobe filed paperwork to trademark the name “Mambacita.” The nickname is a reference to Kobe’s moniker in the NBA, Black Mamba. It is also a testament to Gianna’s talent on the court.

According to TMZ, the trademark documents outlined a plan to use the name on a variety of sportswear, including hoodies, shorts, sweatshirts, shirts, hats, sweatpants, and jerseys.

Kobe Bryant first started calling his daughter Mambacita on social media. In a post from November, for example, Kobe shared a clip of Gianna making a fade-away against one of her teammates, Alyssa Altobelli, during a scrimmage.

In the caption, Kobe praised Gianna for making a move that looked similar to his trademark fade-away. He also complimented Alyssa for playing great defense. Alyssa and her parents, Keri and John Altobelli, also passed away in the helicopter crash.

Inside Kobe’s return to basketball

Kobe retired from the Los Angeles Laker back in 2016 and penned an emotional letter, titled “Dear Basketball,” following his retirement.

With Kobe revealing that he gave the game of basketball his all, few thought he would ever return to the court. But that all changed when Gianna showed a growing interest in the sport.

Although coaching was not in Kobe Bryant’s original retirement plan, he gladly accepted the role to teach his daughter everything he learned from the game. The father and daughter developed a tight bond over their love for basketball and were often spotted at NBA games analyzing the action.

Kobe and Gianna were on their way to a basketball game when their helicopter crashed into a hillside near Calabasas, California. There were a total of 9 people on board the craft when it down, none of whom survived.

Kobe Bryant opens up about Gigi’s future

A few years ago, Kobe discussed Gianna’s future in basketball during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live. The former NBA star revealed that his daughter had dreams of playing for the University of Connecticut and felt confident about continuing his basketball legacy.

He also hilariously revealed Gianna’s response whenever people told him that he needs to have a son.

”The best thing that happens is when we go out and fans come up to me, and she’ll be standing next to me and they’ll be like: ‘You’ve got to have a boy. You and [wife Vanessa] have got to have a boy, someone to carry on the tradition, the legacy.’ And she’s like, ‘Oh, I got this,’” he shared.

There is no doubt that Kobe had major plans for Gianna’s future. The ultimate plan would have been seeing his daughter drafted into the WNBA and later profit off her nickname.

Kobe Bryant was a huge supporter of the WNBA over the years and was not shy about expressing his love for the game. Not only did he attend games and watch film, but he also coached Gianna’s team and ran basketball camps in the area.

It is such a shame that both of their lives were cut short in the helicopter crash, along with the other seven victims of the crash.

The world mourns Kobe and Gigi’s tragic death

In the hours and days following the tragic helicopter accident, fans from around the world mourned the loss of Kobe and his daughter.

A slew of current NBA players have paid tribute to Kobe Bryant and Gianna on social media, as well as NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who said that Kobe “will be remembered most for inspiring people around the world to pick up a basketball and compete to the very best of their ability.”

Former WNBA star and University of Connecticut center Rebecca Lobo also expressed her condolences for losing Kobe and his daughter.

“No @NBA player supported the @WNBA or women’s college basketball more than Kobe,” Lobo shared. “He attended games, watched on TV, coached the next generation. We pray for his family.”

Kobe and Gianna will continue to receive tributes on social media as fans around the world deal with the shock of their loss. It is still unclear why the helicopter crashed, but weather and possible mechanical issues are believed to be at fault.

Kobe Bryant was 41 years old and Gianna was 13 years old at the time of their deaths. Kobe retired from the NBA in 2016 but remained active in many current players’ lives.

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2020-01-29 12:41:38Z
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Super Bowl LIV score predictions - ESPN experts pick 49ers-Chiefs - ESPN

7:30 AM ET

On Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs meet at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, for Super Bowl LIV. Will Chiefs coach Andy Reid finally get his Super Bowl ring with Patrick Mahomes guiding his offense? Can 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and Kyle Shanahan's tough San Francisco defense complete their magical one-season turnaround with a championship?

Ahead of kickoff, ESPN.com's writers, editors, analysts, columnists and pundits make their predictions for the big game.

The tally: Chiefs have the advantage

• Of 75 experts who weighed in, the Chiefs were favored by 48 of them (64%), while the 49ers claimed 27 votes (36%).

• The most common predicted final score was 31-27, picked by eight of our experts. The lowest combined total was 37, chosen via a 20-17 final score. The highest combined score was 54-51 for a total of 105 points.

• The Vegas line currently favors Kansas City by 1 point. ESPN's Football Power Index also likes the Chiefs (64.8%) by an average of 5 points.

See who picked: Chiefs | 49ers

Predicting a Chiefs victory

Dan Appenfeller, NFL editor: 34-27
Todd Archer, Cowboys reporter: 31-27
Ben Arledge, NFL editor: 34-27
Sarah Barshop, Texans reporter: 34-31
Dave Bearman, ESPN Chalk editor: 31-20
Dane Beavers, NFL editor: 31-20
Matthew Berry, fantasy writer: 31-27
Matt Bowen, NFL analyst: 28-20
John Buccigross, SportsCenter anchor: 27-24
Heather Burns, NFL editor: 42-28
Rich Cimini, Jets reporter: 31-28
Courtney Cronin, Vikings reporter: 34-31
Turron Davenport, Titans reporter: 34-21
Rob Demovsky, Packers reporter: 33-28
Michael DiRocco, Jaguars reporter: 31-27
David Fleming, NFL writer: 54-51
Mike Golic, ESPN radio: 28-24
Chris Grandstaff, NFL editor: 38-31
Dan Graziano, national NFL reporter: 34-28
Brady Henderson, Seahawks reporter: 23-21
Jamison Hensley, Ravens reporter: 20-17
Jon Hudec, NFL editor: 23-20
Preston Johnson, ESPN Chalk analyst: 30-24
Tim Kavanagh, NFL editor: 31-18
John Keim, Redskins reporter: 30-28
Vince Masi, ESPN Stats & Information: 36-31
Bob McClellan, NFL editor: 37-31
Vaughn McClure, Falcons reporter: 28-21
Tim McManus, Eagles reporter: 33-26
Todd McShay, NFL draft analyst: 31-27
Ian O'Connor, senior NFL writer: 27-23
Brooke Pryor, Steelers reporter: 34-28
Jordan Raanan, Giants reporter: 31-26
Jason Reid, The Undefeated writer: 41-27
Mike Reiss, Patriots reporter: 31-27
Michael Rothstein, Lions reporter: 35-24
Aaron Schatz, Football Outsiders: 38-31
Sarah Spain, espnW reporter: 27-24
Chris Sprow, NFL editor: 34-24
Pat Sutherland, NFL editor: 33-23
Adam Teicher, Chiefs reporter: 27-21
Mike Triplett, Saints reporter: 27-23
Seth Walder, analytics writer: 34-17
Mike Wells, Colts reporter: 31-21
Eric D. Williams, Chargers reporter: 33-30
Jeremy Willis, NFL editor: 34-21
Trey Wingo, NFL analyst: 34-31
Cameron Wolfe, Dolphins reporter: 31-27

Predicting a 49ers victory

Elizabeth Baugh, multisport editor: 34-27
T.J. Berka, NFL editor: 28-24
Mike Clay, NFL analyst: 28-27
Jeff Dickerson, Bears reporter: 28-27
Ben Fawkes, ESPN Chalk editor: 34-31
Jeremy Fowler, senior NFL writer: 30-27
Paul Gutierrez, Raiders reporter: 31-30
Eric Karabell, fantasy writer: 38-31
Doug Kezirian, ESPN Chalk analyst: 30-24
Mina Kimes, ESPN Daily host: 34-31
Jeff Legwold, Broncos reporter: 27-23
Steve Levy, SportsCenter anchor: 24-17
Keith Lipscomb, fantasy editor: 31-27
Marcel Louis-Jacques, Bills reporter: 35-24
Elizabeth Merrill, NFL writer: 35-31
Alisha Miller, NFL editor: 35-32
David Newton, Panthers reporter: 28-24
Katie Nolan, Always Late host: 24-21
Anthony Olivieri, researcher: 28-24
John Pluym, NFL editor: 31-28
Mike Tannenbaum, NFL analyst: 35-31
Lindsey Thiry, Rams reporter: 28-26
Kevin Van Valkenburg, NFL writer: 28-24
Nick Wagoner, 49ers reporter: 34-31
Josh Weinfuss, Cardinals reporter: 27-24
Seth Wickersham, NFL writer: 21-20
Field Yates, NFL analyst: 31-27

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2020-01-29 12:34:35Z
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NBA legends come together to mourn Kobe Bryant - CBS This Morning

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2020-01-29 12:34:15Z
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Helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant and 8 others was 20 to 30 feet from clearing a hilltop when it crashed, investigators say - CNN

As federal investigators wrapped up operations at the crash site, the NTSB's Jennifer Homendy said preliminary information suggests the plane descended rapidly and was likely in one piece before it slammed into the hill.

"The descent rate for the helicopter was over 2,000 feet a minute, so we know that this was a high energy impact crash," Homendy said. "This is a pretty steep descent at high speed. So it wouldn't be a normal landing speed."

The crash occurred about 1,085 feet above sea level, missing the top of the hill by 20 to 30 feet, investigators said. Parts of the helicopter were found scattered around a crash site that stretched 500 to 600 feet, the NTSB said.

Timeline: Here's what happened in the minutes before crash

The NTSB will release its preliminary report on the crash in 10 days, Homendy said.

"Its not going to contain our findings, our analysis, it's not going to contain any safety recommendations or probable cause but it's going to provide some factual information -- more than we have now, but just the facts."

A final report will be out in about 12-18 months, she said.

NTSB recommended a safety system

On Tuesday, NTSB turned over the accident site back to local authorities after recovering pieces of the wreckage, an iPad, cellphone and documents including maintenance records, the helicopter's registration and the airworthiness certificate.

The helicopter did not have a terrain awareness and warning system -- a safety feature which provides the pilot with information about the terrain, Homendy said.

The NTSB recommended that similar helicopters be equipped with the system after a fatal Texas crash in 2004 that killed 10 people. The Federal Aviation Administration failed to implement the recommendation, Homendy said.

In his last communication with air traffic control, the helicopter's pilot said he was climbing to avoid a cloud layer, the NTSB previously said. But when air traffic control asked him what he planned to do, there was no response.

Radar data indicated the helicopter climbed 2,300 feet and began a left descending turn, Homendy said.

That last contact was around 9:45 a.m. The first 911 call about the crash came in two minutes later, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said.

Weather experts are studying that morning

The morning of the crash had been particularly foggy.

Visibility was so low Sunday morning that the Los Angeles Police Department had decided to ground its helicopters.

But comparing the police helicopters with the one Bryant was flying in -- a Sikorsky S-76B -- isn't accurate, Homendy said.

"It's an apples to oranges comparison. It's a different helicopter, different operations, they have 4-person helicopters, this is outfitted for more than that," she said. "We have to look at this specific crash, this specific helicopter."

The S-76 line serves as offshore oil and gas transportation, air ambulances, executive transport and search-and-rescue aircraft. One aviation expert calls it a "workhorse."

Homendy said a weather expert on staff is studying the weather that day and the decision-making behind flying Sunday.

Moments before the crash, air traffic control approved pilot Ara Zobayan's request to fly with SVFR clearance -- special visual flight rules clearance -- which allows pilots to fly in weather conditions worse than those allowed for regular visual flight rules.

And while she said that clearance is very common and nothing out of the ordinary, Homendy said investigators will look into whether Zobayan should have been granted that special permission.

Families mourn mothers, daughters, siblings

Meanwhile, families are mourning the nine people who died Sunday -- including 41-year-old Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna.

"The first day was brutal," Matt Mauser, whose wife was killed, said. "I woke up this morning and I said, 'I'm OK,' and then I walked out and I started to cry. And then I saw my kids and I started to cry."

Christina Mauser was an assistant girls basketball coach, former teacher and mother of three. Her youngest daughter is turning four years old next week. Mauser had been recruited by Bryant himself, her husband said, to help coach a team in his basketball academy.

Three young girls on the helicopter -- including Gianna -- were on their way to a basketball game in Thousand Oaks.

One of them, Alyssa Altobelli, was flying with her parents, John and Keri.

Another, Payton Chester, was flying with her mother, Sarah Chester.

They all were killed in the crash.

"While the world mourns the loss of a dynamic athlete and humanitarian, I mourn the loss of two people just as important ... their impact was just as meaningful, their loss will be just as keenly felt, and our hearts are just as broken," Todd Schmidt, a former principal at the elementary school Payton once attended, wrote in a Facebook post.

Zobayan, who also died, had more than 8,200 hours of flight time, Homendy said, and had been working with Island Express Helicopters, which owned the Sikorsky S-76B.

The LA County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner announced all nine bodies had been recovered -- four of which were officially identified through the use of fingerprints.

CNN's Sarah Moon, Netctar Gan, Emiko Jozuka, Wayne Sterling and Sara Loaiza contributed to this report.

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2020-01-29 11:48:00Z
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Shaq leads crowd in 'Kobe, Kobe' chants after emotional tribute - New York Post

Shaquille O’Neal led the crowd near the Staples Center Tuesday night in a chant for Kobe Bryant hours after he gave a tearful tribute to his longtime Lakers teammate who was killed in a Southern California helicopter crash on Sunday.

O’Neal, who was walking out onto the street, quieted the crowd to lead them in a loud chant of “Kobe, Kobe, Kobe!”

Earlier, the 47-year-old O’Neal, who had an up-and-down relationship with Bryant, was grief stricken about his former teammate’s death.

“I haven’t felt the pain that sharp in a while,” O’Neal said as part of TNT’s tribute to his former Lakers running mate.

O’Neal said the loss of the 41-year-old Bryant hurt even more because Shaq had just lost his younger sister Ayesha to cancer in October.

“Now I lost a little brother,” Shaq said, referring to Bryant, as the rest of the panel including Ernie Johnson, NBA greats Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Dwyane Wade consoled him.

O’Neal, who won four NBA titles in his illustrious career, captured three with the Lakers. Shaq and Kobe, who won five rings with Los Angeles, led the Lakers to three consecutive NBA crowns from 2000-2002.

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2020-01-29 10:00:00Z
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Audio of Kobe Bryant helicopter crash captured on Nest camera - Fox News

A California woman who lives near the site where Kobe Bryant’s helicopter crashed says her Google Nest camera captured audio of the doomed aircraft’s final moments, a report said.

Ronna Leavitt’s recording, which was obtained by ABC 7 Los Angeles, has a timestamp of 9:45 a.m. — the same time Bryant’s Sikorsky S-76B plummeted into the hills of Calabasas.

What is believed to be Bryant’s helicopter can be heard at varying levels of intensity throughout the 43-second clip.

KOBE BRYANT HELICOPTER CRASH: 4 OF THE 9 BODIES IDENTIFIED, AUTHORITIES SAY

Three seconds before the clip ends, a thump can be heard, followed by silence.

Leavitt told the network that she heard the chopper Sunday morning before it made a U-turn and crashed into the nearby hilly terrain.

She provided the video to investigators.

The 41-year-old NBA legend, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others were killed in the wreckage.

Leavitt’s Nest video is not the only footage purported to capture Bryant’s chopper.

Glendale resident David Lyudmirsky shot cell phone video of what is believed to be Bryant’s helicopter “performing a very aggressive circling maneuver’’ a half-hour before it crashed.

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He turned over his video footage to the NTSB on Monday night.

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2020-01-29 09:30:02Z
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