Category: Sports

Britain’s Alfie Hewett defeated Tokito Oda 6-3 6-1 to lift his maiden Australian Open men’s wheelchair singles title on Saturday.

World No 1 Hewett, a runner-up at Melbourne Park in 2021 and 2022, won his seventh Grand Slam singles title and added to his doubles success alongside Gordon Reid on Friday.

Earlier, Dutch legend Diede de Groot extended her winning streak to nine consecutive Grand Slam titles when she overcame a slow start to beat Yui Kamiji 0-6 6-2 6-2 in the women’s wheelchair singles final.

It was de Groot’s fifth Australian Open title and 17th Grand Slam singles trophy overall.

In the quad singles final, second seed Sam Schroder beat fellow Dutchman and top-seeded Niels Vink 6-2 7-5 for his fourth Grand Slam title.

Third seed Alexander Blockx became the first Belgian boy to win an Australian Open singles title. He defeated American Learner Tien 6-1 2-6 7-6 (11-9).

As part of a wide-ranging interview with New York City radio station WFAN Friday afternoon, New York Knicks owner James Dolan said he believes in the job team president Leon Rose is doing, and that he “fully expects” the Knicks to make the playoffs this season.

“Yes, absolutely,” Dolan said on WFAN’s “Carton and Roberts,” hosted by Craig Carton and Evan Roberts, when asked if he was happy with the job Rose is doing.

“Why did I bring Leon in? I’ve been doing this for like 20-something years and in my experience with the NBA, there’s things you can do as an owner. You can create an environment where everybody, you give them enough money to do their job, give them more money than they need to do their job. You can stay out of the way, which is usually the best course of action.

“But you do end up picking the one guy who’s going to make all the strategy, who’s going to execute for you. I picked Leon because I believe after you look at the NBA and the game that we play, that the team with the best talent wins. You want a guy who can get you the best talent. I believe that Leon Rose is still the best guy.”

When asked if there was a timetable Rose — a longtime player agent who was hired by Dolan to run the Knicks in March 2020 — was working under, Dolan said there was not. Instead, he said the goal moving forward was to show progress.

“Eventually, there’s a timetable,” Dolan said. “But, right now, what we’re looking for is progress. We want to build into a championship team. We fully expect to make the playoffs this year. That will definitely be a benchmark.

“Now, this is sports. If Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle both get hurt? [Making the playoffs is] probably going to be tough.”

After wins over the Cleveland Cavaliers and the NBA-leading Boston Celtics this week, New York has a 27-23 record and sits in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, a half-game behind the Miami Heat in sixth and four games up on the Washington Wizards and Chicago Bulls, who are tied for the 10th spot — the final play-in tournament position.

Speaking of the Cavaliers, the subject of Donovan Mitchell came up, as the Knicks spent months being linked to the All-Star guard this summer before the Utah Jazz sent him to Cleveland. When asked if the more “meddlesome” version of Dolan would have forced Rose to make a trade for Mitchell, Dolan responded, “I didn’t.”

When asked if it was fair to say prior versions of Dolan would have done so, he said, “Not in the last 10 years,” seemingly referring to his decision to push then-executive Donnie Walsh to consummate the trade for Carmelo Anthony back in 2011.

“My attitude has changed,” Dolan said. “Every new owner comes in thinking they’ve got the answer to how to make the team successful. Not to disparage my fellow owners, but there are franchises out there with owners over the last few years you can look at new owners who have come in and thrown a lot of money, etc, and are not doing as well as they thought.

“You really got to leave a lot of the strategy to the guys who have dedicated their lives and careers. … My deal with Leon and with [Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau], et cetera, is that I get to speak.

“Their deal is they don’t have to listen to me.”

Since Dolan assumed control of the Knicks in 1999, New York has had 14 different head coaches and seven different lead basketball executives.

Dolan also said he has no plans to sell either the Knicks or New York Rangers.

“I have no plans whatsoever to sell at this point,” Dolan said. “I’m not retiring anytime soon. It’s a family-controlled asset, so someone in the family will own it.”

Dolan, who rarely gives any media interviews, did his second in as many days after a morning show appearance on the local Fox television station Thursday morning. Both appearances were made in regard to the facial recognition technology that Madison Square Garden is using both there, where Dolan’s Knicks and New York Rangers play, and at other venues owned by the company, and that has been utilized to ban people from coming to games or concerts.

Dolan reiterated his position that the only people who are being impacted by this are the lawyers filing lawsuits against his company, and that once those lawsuits are complete, they will then be allowed to come to the games.

But when asked directly if fans can be — and have been — banned, he contradicted himself.

“OK. So, we use the … this is a long answer,” Dolan said, when asked if fans should have a concern about being banned from games. “I think the answer is basically no, except if you become confrontational.

“Confrontational with other fans, confrontational with the staff, confrontational with the ownership. You really have to be confrontational — not just say, ‘I don’t like you.’ Generally, it involves some form of profanity.”

This led to a hypothetical being asked: If a fan yells from the upper deck, will they get thrown out? Or does someone have to come down and yell profanity in Dolan’s direction?

“First, the guy up in the stands, I mean, we don’t know if we’re going to hear him,” Dolan said. “But, if we do, so what? But the guy who comes down, works his way down to the floor and as I’m leaving, starts confronting me … yeah, that guy is going to go. He’s there to pick a fight.”

In a similar vein, Dolan said social media posts would not cause someone to get banned from coming to games.

“No,” he said. “Even if you come down and get into my face and say, ‘Your team sucks! Do a better job!’ I’m going to say, ‘We will next game. Come again.’”

He once again contradicted himself later in the interview, again unequivocally stating fans shouldn’t be worried about being banned using facial recognition technology — “That’s not going to happen” — when it was followed up with a question about whether fans have been banned.

“Only the ones who have come down and gotten right into your face. They just step over the line. We certainly understand fans getting emotional. That’s a bit part of the appeal of the game. But the ones who get right up in your face and get confrontational, and that unfortunately has happened.”

Dolan also went after Sharif Kabir, the CEO of the New York State Liquor Authority, which is threatening to take away MSG’s liquor license over the facial recognition controversy. Dolan repeated Kabir’s office number on the air during the interview.

On Friday, New York State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal — the chairman of the State Senate’s Judiciary Committee — wrote a letter to both NBA commissioner Adam Silver and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman asking them to sanction Dolan over the use of facial recognition to turn away fans.

“I implore both of your organizations to use your power and discipline MSG and Mr. Dolan for these alarming abuses unless they immediately cease profiling fans with facial recognition technology for non-security purposes,” Hoylman-Sigal wrote.

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Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins watched a televised interview Friday of Tyre Nichols’ mother speaking about the loss of her son, and lost control of his emotions.

“I cried,” Jenkins said.

The outrage, frustration, sadness and anger was evident around the NBA on Friday, the day a video was released showing how Nichols, a 29-year-old father, was killed by five Memphis police officers. Several teams released statements of support for the family, as did the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association.

pic.twitter.com/Oe3FfcTCSf

— NBA (@NBA) January 28, 2023

And the emotions around the league were palpable, as has been the case so many times after so many other incidents of violence by police against Black men and women in recent years.

“This is just crazy,” said Miami coach Erik Spoelstra, who opened his pregame news conference Friday by speaking about Nichols before any questions were even asked.

The officers, who are also Black, all face second-degree murder charges, as well as charges of aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression.

The Grizzlies played a game in Minneapolis — the city where George Floyd, a Black man, was killed in 2020 after a white police officer pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck in an act that sparked protests worldwide over police brutality and racism — on Friday night with heavy hearts.

“The senseless loss of life for Tyre Nichols has really hit us hard,” Jenkins told Bally Sports, the Grizzlies’ broadcast partner, in a pregame interview from Minnesota. “It’s been tough being on the road, not being home. I wish I could extend my arms through this camera right now to the family. They’re going through a lot.”

There was a moment of silence before the game in Minnesota. Grizzlies players were not made available to media after the game.

“There’s way harder things on in the city versus what’s going on with our basketball right now,” Jenkins said after Memphis’ 111-100 loss in Minnesota. “I’m proud of our guys going out there. We’re playing with heavy hearts, but we’re also playing for our city that’s going through a lot right now.”

Several teams, including Miami, Atlanta, Cleveland, Minnesota and Milwaukee, released statements.

#JusticeForTyre pic.twitter.com/gYY8AgCVbd

— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) January 27, 2023

“We are outraged by the deadly beating that Tyre Nichols received from five Memphis police officers,” the Bucks said in their statement. “While the police officers being charged for their heinous actions is an important step for justice, this incident further highlights the need for progress in improving police-community relations.”

Nichols was on his way home from taking pictures of the sky Jan. 7, when police pulled him over. He was just a few minutes from the home he shared with his mother and stepfather.

Video of the killing was released Friday evening. It was not immediately clear if the Grizzlies viewed the video before their game.

“Our hearts go out to the entire Memphis community as they are processing and dealing with this horrible tragedy, and we stand by the rightful arrest of all officers involved,” the NBPA said. “Such aggressive policing and excessive force illustrate the continued need for accountability in the justice system.”

The union said it would “continue to monitor the investigation and legal proceedings in search of justice for Tyre and his family.”

Phoenix Suns guard and former NBPA president Chris Paul also called for change in a tweet on Friday night.

“Change is needed at all levels and we all need to do our part,” Paul wrote. “We can’t lose our humanity as a society. To the Nichols’ family and Memphis community, my heart is with you tonight.”

Nichols’ mother, RowVaughn Wells, warned supporters of the “horrific” nature of the video but pleaded for peace.

Jenkins also said he hopes citizens of Memphis rally around one another.

“My words will only mean so much,” Jenkins said. “I want to continue to encourage people to put their arms around each other, put their arms around the Nichols family, the Wells family to remember a beautiful life in Tyre Nichols — who I did not know, but I’m learning about.”

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

National League batting champion Jeff McNeil and the New York Mets agreed Friday to a four-year, $50 million contract extension, sources familiar with the deal told ESPN, ensuring one of the team’s core players will remain in Queens as the Mets look to win their first World Series since 1986.

McNeil, who turns 31 a week after Opening Day, was scheduled to go to an arbitration trial with the Mets, where he was requesting $7.75 million and they offered $6.25 million. Instead, the gap spurred conversations about keeping McNeil past his remaining two years of arbitration that landed on buying out multiple free agent seasons. The deal, which is pending a physical, includes a fifth-year club option that would take the total value to $63.75 million, sources told ESPN.

Because McNeil wasn’t set to reach free agency until just before his age-33 season, the specter of teams penalizing him for his age, plus the market not necessarily rewarding contact-oriented players, made the extension more appealing.

McNeil certainly is among the preeminent bat-to-ball artists in the sport, striking out only 242 times in 2,039 career plate appearances — a strikeout rate bettered by only nine players with at least 1,000 plate appearances since McNeil’s 2018 debut.

Among those, only Michael Brantley and Luis Arraez are in McNeil’s class as a hitter. McNeil has a career .307 batting average — third behind Arraez and Freddie Freeman in that span. Even if power isn’t a big part of McNeil’s game, he brought plenty of pop in 2022, hitting .326/.382/.454 with 39 doubles, 9 home runs, 62 RBIs and just 61 strikeouts in 589 times at the plate.

McNeil’s versatility has proved important to the Mets throughout his career, as he regularly moved among second base and the corner outfield spots. Though he played a career-high 106 games at second last season and was well above average there, he also spent 47 games in the outfield for a team that won 101 games but lost to the San Diego Padres in the wild-card round.

Because the average annual value of the deal is $12.5 million, the Mets’ competitive balance tax bill will continue to grow. Whereas the expected CBT hit was either of the arbitration numbers, McNeil’s new CBT number will reflect the AAV — and prompt a 90% tax on the $4.25 million-to-$5.75 million overage.

The Mets’ new projected payroll plus tax is around $467 million, which would smash the major league record.

For the Mets, the savings in future years could be well worth the penalty. In his five big league seasons, McNeil has produced more than 16 wins above replacement, and his skill set tends to age well. But the possibility that batting averages could pick up with the implementation of a pitch clock and a ban on defensive shifts could make McNeil’s skill set less unique.

Of course, McNeil’s batting average could tick up too, and aside from his anomalous .251 in 2021, his season numbers are .329, .318, .311 and .326. He is expected to be part of an infield in 2022 that includes first baseman Pete Alonso, shortstop Francisco Lindor — with whom he had an infamous dugout incident in 2021, though they have since made up — and some combination of Eduardo Escobar, Luis Guillorme and rookie Brett Baty at third base.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Andy Reid on Friday said Patrick Mahomes will start at quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Arrowhead Stadium, confirming what seemed to be a foregone conclusion as the week moved along.

“He’s moving around [well],” Reid said. “He can go out and play.”

Mahomes suffered a high ankle sprain to his right leg in last week’s divisional round playoff win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. He sat out a series but returned and finished the game. He practiced all three days this week.

Mahomes’ mobility after the injury was limited and his style of play was altered. He led the league in throws from outside the pocket during the regular season but made none against the Jaguars after the injury.

Reid said the Chiefs’ game plan is expansive enough that they can call plays to avoid any limitations Mahomes might have.

“We have enough in the game plan where you can kind of pick and choose where you want to go with it,” he said. “You have a variety of things that you can go to. Obviously you don’t use all the plays in the game plan, but they’re available and so if you have to go a certain direction, you can go that direction with the calls.”

Mahomes said earlier he wasn’t ready to concede he won’t be able to scramble Sunday to make the signature plays he’s known for.

“I feel like I can still do a lot of things but we’ll see as we get closer and closer,” Mahomes said. “We’ll see during the game. You can’t fully do [in practice] exactly what it’s going to be like in those moments in the game. All I can do is prepare myself the best way possible and then when we get in the game you hope adrenaline takes over and you can make those throws when you need to.”

After several days of erratic line movement at sportsbooks, the point spread on the AFC Championship Game had settled Friday morning with the Kansas City Chiefs listed as consensus 1.5-point favorites over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Kansas City went from favorite to underdog and back to favorite during the week, with each update on Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes‘ injured ankle triggering rushes of money on either team at sportsbooks. Mahomes, who was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain suffered during Saturday’s divisional win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, has been listed as a full participant in practice this week.

“I feel like I can still do a lot of things, but we’ll see as we get closer and closer,” Mahomes said Thursday. “We’ll see during the game. You can’t fully do exactly what it’s going to be like in those moments in the game. All I can do is prepare myself the best way possible, and then when we get in the game, you hope adrenaline takes over and you can make those throws when you need to.”

The Bengals, who opened as high as a 3-point underdog, attracted the bulk of the action early in the week. The SuperBook said it took only two bets on the Chiefs in the first couple of hours after posting the line Sunday, causing the Bengals to quickly become the betting favorite.

Cincinnati got to as high as a 3-point favorite, albeit briefly, Tuesday at Caesars Sportsbook in Nevada. Caesars moved the Bengals to -3 for approximately five minutes Tuesday afternoon before quickly dropping them back to -2.5.

Max Meyer, editorial content writer for Caesars Sportsbook, told CBS Sports that the move to Bengals -3 was “just to test the waters.”

“The waters were certainly tested, because a lot of sharp action [on the Chiefs] came at +3,” Meyer told the network.

Chris Andrews, a veteran Las Vegas oddsmaker and sportsbook director at the South Point casino, said he also saw increased interest on the Chiefs from bettors Tuesday.

“I remember saying [Tuesday] that there had to be some sort of report that [Mahomes] looks pretty good,” Andrews told ESPN on Thursday. “Yesterday, they showed that film clip and he seemed to be walking fine, and the floodgates opened after that.”

The point spread has stuck primarily around -1 and -2 with either team being favored for much of the week. Over the past five seasons, including playoffs, 9% of games have ended with a margin of victory of less than three, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.

The Chiefs have been favored in 14 consecutive playoff games, the longest such streak in the Super Bowl era.

In the NFC Championship Game, the Philadelphia Eagles were a growing 2.5-point favorite over the San Francisco 49ers on Friday.

“We might get to [Eagles] -3,” Andrews said. “I think there’s a decent chance of that, but I also think if we get to 3, the 49ers guys will jump in right away.”

FRISCO, Texas — For the second straight year, Dan Quinn has decided to pass up potential head-coaching jobs to remain as the Dallas Cowboys‘ defensive coordinator.

Quinn interviewed with the Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts in the past few weeks.

“Unfinished business here in Dallas. My complete focus is helping the team play championship ball in 2023,” Quinn told ESPN’s Ed Werder.

During his end-of-season news conference, coach Mike McCarthy hinted at a possible return by saying, “I feel good about where we are,” but “We’ll give Dan his due time.”

Not long after the session ended, McCarthy confirmed Quinn’s decision to stay.

“We’re all extremely excited to have Dan back,” McCarthy said. “Had a chance to visit with him a short while ago. This is big for us. Gives us continuity, definitely what we’ve accomplished the last two years, building off of that. Frankly, on a personal note, I can’t tell you how thankful I am.”

The Cowboys became the first team to lead the NFL in takeaways in consecutive years since the 1972-74 Pittsburgh Steelers. The Cowboys finished tied for fifth in points allowed per game and 12th in yards. Micah Parsons is a finalist for the Defensive Player of the Year and was named a first-team All-Pro for the second straight season. Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence and Trevon Diggs were all named to the Pro Bowl.

“I think there’s a bunch of reasons,” McCarthy said. “I think it’s staff. I think it’s players. I think he’s been a head coach, he understands at this point of his life how hard it is to win a Super Bowl. So I think all of those things play into that. I think clearly Dan is in a position to be selective, and I’m extremely excited about the decision.”

Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore interviewed this week with the Carolina Panthers, who ultimately hired Frank Reich. McCarthy said he has yet to have a full meeting with Moore about the offense and the future. The Cowboys finished fourth in points per game and 11th in yards in 2022, despite not having quarterback Dak Prescott for five games because of a broken thumb.

But the season ended with a 19-12 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round of the playoffs that has led to questions regarding Moore, who remains under contract.

“I really don’t want to play this game,” McCarthy said. “Kellen Moore, just like the rest of the coaches, will be evaluated. Every coach will be evaluated. The evaluation, it takes more than one day.”

On Thursday, McCarthy confirmed assistant head coach Rob Davis, senior defensive assistant George Edwards, offensive line coach Joe Philbin, running backs coach Skip Peete, assistant defensive line coach Leon Lett and quality control coach Kyle Valero will not return.

“It’s that time of year where you evaluate everything,” McCarthy said. “The longer I do this, it clearly gets harder. There’s a personal component. Obviously, you’re talking about some relationships I’ve been involved with for a long time. That part is probably the toughest clearly for me.”

McCarthy’s immediate future is not in question. He is under contract through 2024. The Cowboys won 12 games in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1994-95, and he became the first Cowboys coach to lead the team to the playoffs in back-to-back seasons since Chan Gailey in 1998-99.

Despite the success, McCarthy’s job status has been in question numerous times the past two years even if it has not been an issue for owner and general manager Jerry Jones.

“As far as my relationship with Jerry, just using his words, we’re in an excellent spot,” McCarthy said. “The partnership that we have, he’s excited about. He told me a number of times this week that he wants me to coach here as long as Coach (Tom) Landry did (29 years). I said, ‘OK, that’s a long time.’”

Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey will have an MRI scan this weekend after coming off injured in the FA Cup fourth-round defeat at Manchester City.

Partey was substituted at half-time in Friday night’s loss as he was replaced by Albert Sambi Lokonga.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta confirmed the Ghanaian, who has been an influential part of their season, was in “some discomfort”.

Arteta said: “He had some discomfort and it was getting worse and worse.

“He was uncomfortable to continue. (Saturday) or the day after he will have an MRI scan and see what he has.

“We have at the moment the injury of Mo (Elneny). It is not possible to get him fit. (Albert) Sambi has come in and has done well.

“It is true Thomas is a big influence and a big personality and in the second half we didn’t have him.”

The Gunners are on the lookout for a new midfielder before the transfer window closes and any serious injury to the 29-year-old could accelerate those plans ahead of Tuesday’s deadline, with Mohamed Elneny currently out injured.

Arsenal had a £60m bid for Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo rejected on Friday.

The south-coast club insist Caicedo is not for sale in this January transfer window, but Arsenal remain interested and are deciding whether to go back in with an improved offer.

Late on Friday night, the Ecuador international released a social media post asking Brighton to take up a ‘magnificent opportunity’ following Arsenal’s £60m bid.

Asked about a move for the 21-year-old following the defeat at City, Arteta responded: “You know that I am not going to comment on any players until anything is done, and I will continue like that.”

Asked if Arsenal hope to be busy in the coming days, the Spaniard replied: “We have been pretty active in the market.

“We have some necessities and if something else is available, the club is willing to try to do it when it is reasonable and hopefully it’s a player that can improve our squad.”

Keane: I expected more from Arsenal at City

Roy Keane says he “expected more” from Arsenal in their 1-0 FA Cup defeat at City and labelled their performance “disappointing”.

The north London side sit top of the Premier League, five points ahead of City but they were beaten by Nathan Ake’s second-half winner in the first meeting between the two sides this season.

Arteta, however, did make six changes from last weekend’s Premier League win over Manchester United, while City made just two as they included the likes of Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne in their starting XI.

Former Manchester United midfielder Keane told ITV: “It was hard to gauge Arsenal tonight because of the team they put out.

“Looking at the starting line-up you could sense that this was not their priority. They want to get that Premier League title.

“But I know the players are going to be down for the next few days as they don’t want to get beat.

“They’ll recover and if they go on to win the league, they’ll say they had to sacrifice this game, but when you make so many changes particularly defensively, you send the message that you’re not that bothered – which is not a good message to send.

“I expected more from Arsenal tonight but they were disappointing.”

Pep: Arsenal will switch things up in title race

Pep Guardiola has dismissed suggestions City’s 1-0 win will have any impact on the Premier League title race.

The Spaniard admitted the tactics employed by his former assistant Mikel Arteta surprised him as Arsenal’s man-to-man marking interrupted City’s flow.

“It was a tight game, a difficult opponent,” Guardiola said. “The second half was better apart from 10 minutes after the goal.

“I didn’t expect this approach, the man-to-man. It made the process difficult. In the second half we had to contact more than usual with Erling (Haaland), it is what we had to do. But it is a victory, the next round, we will see what we have to do.”

City head to the Emirates on February 15 in the Premier League but Guardiola said he did not think this result will have any bearing.

He said: “I am pretty sure both teams are going to adjust something.

“I have the feeling now they are going to do something differently.”

Keane: It’ll take a lot to stop City

Guardiola’s side have now won their last three games after suffering back-to-back defeats earlier this month.

Keane told ITV: “Pep Guardiola criticised his players a couple of weeks ago but they’ve reacted well.

“These boys are naturally winners over the past few years so they’re used to it. It’ll take a lot to stop them.

“What we saw tonight was the experience Manchester City have shown over the last few years, knowing how to win games.

“There was one real lapse from Arsenal and they got punished for it.

“It’s good to win matches when you’re not at your very best and there’s a lot more to come from City. They weren’t at their very best tonight but in the FA Cup it’s about getting the job done.”

Nathan Ake was Manchester City’s unlikely match-winner in their 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the fourth round of the FA Cup, helping his side to perhaps land a psychological blow on the Premier League leaders ahead of their top-flight clash next month.

Mikel Arteta prioritised Arsenal’s title challenge with his team selection, resting six regulars for the trip to the Etihad, but a strong City XI struggled to find a way through until defender Ake passed the ball into the bottom corner (64) after sub Julian Alvarez had struck a post.

Guardiola had appeared less than impressed with his side’s first-half performance, which saw Leandro Trossard catch the eye on his first Arsenal start and ended with John Stones appearing to suffer a hamstring injury. But the City head coach eventually got the better of his former assistant Arteta as the home side edged through.

After a shock exit to Southampton in the Carabao Cup, City will now be favourites to win this competition and add to their six FA Cup successes with a second under Guardiola. The draw for the fifth round will take place on Monday, with ties played in the week commencing February 27.

This was far from the thrilling contest Arsenal had been in with City’s neighbours Manchester United last weekend but it added extra intrigue to their upcoming Premier League clash, with February 15 circled as a key date for the destination of the 2022/23 crown.

Arsenal will be disappointed to have been knocked out of the cup – but will hope that, at full strength, they are able to build on the positive aspects of this performance to be the ones celebrating when these sides meet again in a couple of weeks’ time.

How City knocked Arsenal out of the Cup…

Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane called Arteta’s team selection “a huge gamble” before kick-off, criticising the number of changes the Arsenal head coach made to his defence amid suggestions a heavy defeat could dent the Gunners’ mindset for their Premier League campaign. Arsenal fans will remember a 2007/08 title challenge unravelling after a weakened team lost heavily in the cup at Manchester United.

But the re-jigged visitors equipped themselves well, despite Rob Holding needing to be subbed off at half-time after his physical approach to marking Erling Haaland led to him being booked and walking a disciplinary tightrope during the final stages of the opening period.

He’d done well to limit City’s top scorer to an ambitious acrobatic effort and lob over the bar in the first 45 but Arteta perhaps had last season’s north London derby in mind, when Holding was dismissed during a damaging defeat.

Kevin De Bruyne came closest for City before the break, bending a beauty beyond the post. But it was Arsenal posing the real threat in that period, with Trossard impressing down the left as he teed up Takehiro Tomiyasu and Eddie Nketiah and tested Stefan Ortega himself.

It was City who eventually made the breakthrough in the second half, though, with Alvarez rocketing an effort against the base of a post soon after being sent on and Jack Grealish then twisting and turning before feeding Ake to calmly roll the ball beyond Matt Turner’s reach.

Arteta sent for key men Oleksandr Zinchenko – back at his old club – and Gabriel Martinelli and the Gunners almost responded just moments later, when Granit Xhaka’s pass looked perfect for Nketiah before Stones’ replacement Aymeric Laporte nipped in.

Martinelli seemed to be Arsenal’s most likely route to goal in the final stages but there was no way back for the 14-time winners of the FA Cup. Their focus will now be firmly on their Premier League challenge for the coming weeks until European competition resumes, while City dream of domestic success on multiple fronts.

What’s next?

Manchester City’s next game is in the Premier League, with a trip to Tottenham on Sunday February 5, live on Sky Sports; kick-off 4.30pm.

Pep Guardiola’s side then have a week’s break before they host Aston Villa on Sunday February 12, live on Sky Sports; kick-off 4.30pm.

Arsenal’s next outing is also in the Premier League, with a trip to Everton on Saturday February 4; kick-off 12.30pm.

The Gunners than face London rivals Brentford on Saturday February 11; kick-off 3pm.

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{{ timeAgo(‘2023-01-27 15:32:03 -0600’) }}
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Ryan Wright
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Rivals.com

National Recruiting Analyst

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Steve Wilks on Friday said he was “disappointed but not defeated” after being passed over for the Carolina Panthers‘ head-coaching job, which went to former Indianapolis Colts coach Frank Reich.

There was no mention of a potential discrimination lawsuit like the one Wilks filed against the NFL after being fired by the Arizona Cardinals after one season (2018), although the law firm that represents Wilks responded Thursday to Reich’s hiring by saying that “there is a legitimate race problem in the NFL” and that it would have “more to say in the coming days.”

Wilks, who is Black, also didn’t mention Panthers owner David Tepper by name in his message posted to Twitter in which he thanked players, coaches and staff members for their support as the interim coach. It was Tepper who gave Wilks the opportunity to lead his hometown team after firing Matt Rhule following a 1-4 start.

Wilks went 6-6 as the interim coach and was a near-unanimous choice by players to get the full-time job. He was gracious in his congratulations to Reich.

“The sun rose this morning and by the grace of God so did I,” Wilks wrote. “I’m disappointed but not defeated. Many people aren’t built for this but I know what it means to persevere and see it through.

“It was an honor for me to coach those men in the Carolina Panthers locker room as the interim head coach. Players, coaches and staff, thank you for your hard work and dedication. I took pride in representing Charlotte, a great city that I love so much. Thank you to my family, friends and the community for your overwhelming support.

“I do wish Frank Reich all the best. I will always be a fan of the Carolina Panthers Football Team.”

Wilks ended his message with the team mantra: “#KEEP POUNDING.”

The first Carolina player to respond to Wilks’ message Friday was punter Johnny Hekker. Players had been silent on Twitter after Reich’s hiring Thursday.

“Nothing but absolute love for this man!” Hekker posted to Twitter. “Can’t wait to see what his future holds.”

That “absolute love” summed up what most of the players said in making a case for Wilks to be hired.

“Being a head coach in the National Football League, you have to be a leader, you have to know how to control a room,” guard Austin Corbett told ESPN during the last week of the regular season. “He’s done a fantastic job, and we need to just build off this momentum we have.”

Statistically, the Panthers improved a lot after the change from Rhule to Wilks, particularly on offense. They went from 24th in scoring (18.6 points per game) to 15th (22.1), from last in yards per game (271.4) to 17th (331.5), and from 27th in rushing (89.8 yards per game) to sixth (144.6).

But, ultimately, the Panthers went with Reich, the first offensive-minded coach in team history.

That seven of the nine candidates for the job were offensive-minded indicated early in the process where the search committee was headed.

Wilks, a defensive specialist, joined Reich and Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore in getting a second interview for the job.

The Panthers were the first of five NFL teams with a head-coach opening to make a hire. Wilks has not yet been interviewed by any of the other four.

Wigdor LLP, the New York City-based law firm that represents Wilks in his discrimination suit against the NFL, was “disturbed” by the Panthers’ hiring process.

“We are shocked and disturbed that after the incredible job Coach Wilks did as the interim coach, including bringing the team back into playoff contention and garnering the support of players and fans, that he was passed over for the head coach position by David Tepper,” the firm said in a statement.

The firm said Friday that it would not have any further response at this time.

Each week, ESPN’s Luis Miguel Echegaray offers his latest thoughts and permutations from the world of football. You have the analysis, now comes LME’s commentary. Welcome to the first edition of the Tap-In!

Is it better for Arsenal to lose against Man City in the FA Cup?

As Arsenal continue their almost indomitable run toward the Premier League title, with Manchester City a manageable if not entirely comfortable five points behind (having played a game more), attention now turns to the FA Cup fourth round. And wouldn’t you know it? The pair will face each other on Friday at the Etihad (3 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+).

It’s one of three encounters between these two teams before the end of the season, and it could tell us a lot about what to expect from the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign — not everything, but enough to paint a picture.

Mikel Arteta against Pep Guardiola. Student against master. South against north. Cockneys against Mancunians. Coldplay against Oasis — all right, I took it too far. The point is that this trilogy of matches will play out like a good old game of Texas Hold ‘Em, and both managers will aim to call each other’s bluff.

– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

What if, however, in this cup match, the best hand to play is a losing one?

Hear me out.

There’s a strategy in American sports — sometimes even a constructive one, if done right — where embracing a losing season can essentially help you to win in the long run. If a team with no star power, a disjointed squad and disgruntled fan base identifies early on that there’s no legitimate hope for the playoffs, the franchise could reconsider its roster and, most importantly, plan ahead for the extremely important draft, where high-school, college and international athletes are eligible for selection. The more you lose, the more likely you are to be able to select a coveted star.

This is tanking, and it is obviously a massive risk, with seemingly infinite variables determining the outcome. When it works, though, it can change a team’s entire trajectory.

In the NBA, for example, the 1991-92 Orlando Magic were dreadful, finishing last in the Atlantic Division with a 21-61 record. Their reward? Shaquille O’Neal. The gigantic phenomenon won Rookie of the Year that season and helped the Magic reach the NBA Finals in just his third season before jetting off to Los Angeles. LeBron James, for example, changed the overall identity of Cleveland after being selected by his hometown Cavaliers right out of high school.

In this year’s draft, there will be another prodigy by the name of Victor Wembanyama, a French unicorn — a licorne, if you will. At 7-foot-3 (some say he’s taller) and possessing moves like a point guard, we have literally never seen anybody like him. Every front office in the NBA is preparing for him, whatever happens, and most notably, if your team is bad enough, then your chances of attaining him significantly improve.

So, what does this all have to do with north London’s Arsenal and their Basque manager? Well, it goes back to my original point. Don’t prepare to win now, but rather plan to win later.

Arteta’s revolution inside the Emirates is quite outstanding and yes, last weekend I said that if they win the Premier League, many aspects of the victory will be more impressive than than the Invincibles season of 2003-2004. Many yelled at me in the comments, but my point stands, mainly because — unlike Arsene Wenger’s Invincibles, with Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Dennis Bergkamp and other stars — Arteta’s young side is basically the Rugrats cast, entering a brand-new playground without much experience in this situation. With an average age of 24.6 years old, the Gunners have no business winning any competition, so they need this title-chasing path to be as smooth as possible.

ESPN analyst Steve McManaman, who won a pair of LaLiga titles with Real Madrid, said it to ESPN FC host Kay Murray and me a few days ago: In order to maintain this level of excellence, Arsenal have to stay healthy, it’s as simple as that. The best way to do that is to alleviate the fixture congestion, and that’s why they need to lose this Friday and focus on the Premier League.

Arteta should field his weakest squad and prepare for a jam-packed schedule — and I haven’t even talked about their Europa League commitments yet. Arteta will never admit it and the fans will argue that a team should always play to win, but in a marathon-like season, these are the words of the fool, not the savvy. Wenger would often use this strategy and prioritize what was necessary ahead of what was idealistic. I am not saying Arteta will manage to lose on Friday. I am saying he should weaken his team and be prepared to relinquish the cup for the larger treasure ahead.

So, Mikel, here’s what I propose: See Pep’s hand, anticipate his tell and just like Matt Damon’s Mike McDermott did to John Malkovich’s Teddy “KGB” in the final scene of “Rounders,” bait Guardiola into thinking he’s winning, when really, he’s actually going to lose.

Goal of the Week

Serious question. Is Marcus Rashford the best player in Europe right now?

MARCUS RASHFORD WHAT A RUN 🔥

His 10th goal in 10 games since the World Cup!! pic.twitter.com/iIXRLGwyfe

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 25, 2023

Nineteenth in the Premier League and without a manager, Everton are in serious trouble and on their way to suffering relegation for the first time in their history. Frank Lampard is gone, Marcelo Bielsa reportedly isn’t interested in replacing him, and Arnaut Danjuma — who was supposedly on his way to Goodison Park — has now decided at the 11th hour and 59th minute to move to Tottenham Hotspur instead.

Danjuma after the Everton players told him “we will fight together” pic.twitter.com/jDgs0M0Ad4

— Adis ⚜️ (@AdisUno7) January 24, 2023

Is there anyone who can save this club? Well, the problems lie far, far deeper than a managerial change, but at this point, the fans don’t care. They just need someone, anyone, who can keep them in the Premier League. There’s talk of Sean Dyche, Nuno Espírito Santo and even Ralph Hasenhüttl, fresh from his Southampton firing. Even Toffees legend Duncan Ferguson doesn’t want the job, apparently: he’s just been appointed as the new manager at League One’s Forest Green Rovers.

Duncan Ferguson gives this Everton fan a moment they won’t forget 💙

(via @btsportfootball)pic.twitter.com/mh3VXYbLda

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 21, 2019

In addition, late reports on Tuesday stated that Farhad Moshiri is actively looking to sell the club for more than $600m, making its future even more uncertain.”

Tweet of the week

Carlo Ancelotti: Most decorated manager in Champions League history. Former midfield legend. Real Madrid savior. Gum giver.

Carlo Ancelotti really gave him some gum 😂🍬

(via babaychou/TikTok) pic.twitter.com/W3iurwPukP

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 23, 2023

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{{ timeAgo(‘2023-01-27 13:33:08 -0600’) }}
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Adam Gorney
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Rivals.com

National Recruiting Director

Jakob Coleman took a school tour through the Deep South in the offseason, fell in love with the idea of playing for an HBCU and committed to Tennessee State.He remains committed there but the 2025 …

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