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Patrick Mahomes showcases his generational talent as Chiefs reach Super Bowl again

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Patrick Mahomes showcases his generational talent as Chiefs reach Super Bowl again

Patrick Mahomes was alleged to be hobbled, or on the very least restricted.

A proper ankle sprain suffered every week earlier than the AFC championship recreation made the trash-talking Cincinnati Bengals favorites over Mahomes and a Kansas Metropolis Chiefs workforce enjoying host to the convention title recreation for the fifth yr in a row.

However on Sunday evening, Mahomes confirmed as soon as once more why he’s considered maybe the NFL’s finest quarterback and a generational expertise.

Mahomes made the important thing play when he scrambled for a primary down — and absorbed a late hit — to arrange Harrison Butker’s 45-yard area objective with three seconds left that gave the Chiefs a 23-20 victory earlier than 73,426 at Arrowhead Stadium.

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The Chiefs ended a three-game dropping streak in opposition to the Bengals, who defeated them in final season’s AFC championship recreation, and superior to the Tremendous Bowl for the third time in 4 years.

“We wished to play this workforce, and we obtained ’em at Arrowhead Stadium and we have been capable of end the job this time,” Mahomes stated. “And the job’s not completed for us.”

The Chiefs will play the NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles, 31-7 winners Sunday over the San Francisco 49ers, in Tremendous Bowl LVII on Feb. 12 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.

For anybody conversant in NFL historical past, it would as properly be dubbed the Andy Reid Bowl.

Kansas Metropolis Chiefs coach Andy Reid celebrates with defensive finish Frank Clark after the workforce’s win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

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(Brynn Anderson / Related Press)

The Chiefs coach is in his tenth season in Kansas Metropolis after 14 with the Eagles, whom he led to the Tremendous Bowl in 2004.

“I had a good time there,” Reid stated of his years in Philadelphia. “I’m pleased for them. Joyful for the town.”

Nobody was happier than Mahomes to return to the Tremendous Bowl. He received the NFL’s Most worthy participant award in 2018 and received the Tremendous Bowl the following season.

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However he fell in need of successful back-to-back titles when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Chiefs in Tremendous Bowl LV. And he endured three straight defeats by the Bengals and quarterback Joe Burrow.

“After I first obtained within the league, all of it occurred so quick,” he stated. “I received MVP. I received the Tremendous Bowl.

“I assumed that’s simply form of the way it went. … Now that I’ve handled failure, dropping the AFC championship, dropping the Tremendous Bowl, I understand how a lot arduous work and each day grind it takes.”

Mahomes and his teammates didn’t want further motivation going into Sunday’s recreation. However the Bengals supplied it.

Cornerback Mike Hilton dubbed Arrowhead Stadium “Burrowhead.” The mayor of Cincinnati even obtained in on the act.

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“Burrowhead my ass,” tight finish Travis Kelce stated throughout a tv interview after the sport.

Mahomes stated he and his teammates heard the barbs.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow carries the ball against the Kansas City Chiefs in the second half.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow carries the ball in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs within the second half.

(Brynn Anderson / Related Press)

“Guys have been in all probability as pumped up as I’ve ever seen them going right into a soccer recreation,” Mahomes stated. “A whole lot of trash discuss coming from plenty of totally different locations.”

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Mahomes shook off the discuss and the harm and performed a recreation that was quick on magic however lengthy on clutch play.

On a day that featured a temperature of twenty-two levels at kickoff and a wind chill of 10, Mahomes accomplished 29 of 43 passes for 326 yards, together with landing throws to Kelce and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

He appeared restricted only some instances. Within the third quarter, Mahomes rolled to his left and threw again to his proper to finish a move. However as he ran again to the huddle, he was noticeably limping for the primary time.

“It positively didn’t really feel good,” he stated.

The ache was worse the following collection when he tried to retrieve a ball that slipped out his hand and was recovered for a fumble by the Bengals.

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Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker celebrates after the team's victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Kansas Metropolis Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker celebrates the workforce’s victory over the Cincinnati Bengals within the AFC championship recreation.

(Brynn Anderson / Related Press)

Burrow additionally was absorbing photographs. A Chiefs protection led by deal with Chris Jones and Frank Clark sacked Burrow 5 instances — 4 within the first half — and rookie cornerbacks Jaylen Watson and Joshua Williams intercepted passes.

Burrow accomplished 26 of 41 passes for 270 yards and a landing.

And the Chiefs stored giving him alternatives to repeat final season’s championship recreation efficiency, when he led the Bengals again from a 21-3 deficit to win in time beyond regulation.

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After Kansas Metropolis took a 13-6 halftime lead on two area objectives and Kelce’s landing catch, the Chiefs’ incapacity to totally capitalize on alternatives appeared to set them up for an additional disappointing outcome in opposition to the Bengals.

Burrow’s landing move to huge receiver Tee Higgins early within the third quarter tied the rating, 13-13. Bengals operating again Samaje Perine’s landing run early within the fourth quarter tied the rating, 20-20.

“The tide was turning our means,” Burrow stated. “It felt like we have been simply going to discover a option to win this recreation.”

Williams’ interception with simply lower than seven minutes left gave Mahomes an opportunity, however the Chiefs didn’t take benefit. The protection, nevertheless, pressured the Bengals to punt, and Skyy Moore’s 20-yard return gave Mahomes the ball on the Chiefs’ 47-yard line with 30 seconds left.

On third and 4, Mahomes scrambled for a primary down after which was hit late by Bengals linebacker Joseph Ossai. A 15-yard penalty for pointless roughness moved the ball to the 27, and Butker’s kick cleared the objective submit for the victory.

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“It was pure grit,” Reid stated of Mahomes’ efficiency. “For Pat to do what he did, and that run on the finish, I can’t say sufficient. He’s the MVP in my eyes.”

Stated common supervisor Brett Veach: “Folks don’t understand how damage he was. … It simply provides to his already nice legacy.”

Apprised of Veach’s feedback, Mahomes indicated he nonetheless has work to do.

“My objective is to win a Tremendous Bowl,” he stated. “To me, the job’s not completed.”

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Hawks get No 1 pick in 2024 NBA Draft despite 3% chance to win lottery

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Hawks get No 1 pick in 2024 NBA Draft despite 3% chance to win lottery

The NBA Draft Lottery saw a shocker as the Atlanta Hawks were awarded the No. 1 overall pick despite having just a 3% chance of winning it. 

This is the Hawks’ first time getting the No. 1 pick since 1975, when they ended up drafting David Thompson, a five-time All-Star and NBA Hall of Famer. However, the Draft Lottery was not established yet, so it is the first time they won it. 

Hawks general manager Landry Fields was all smiles when he heard his team’s name called and was likely in disbelief because his team had a very small chance of getting the selection. 

The Atlanta Hawks win the first overall pick during the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery on May 12, 2024 at the McCormick Convention Center in Chicago. (Kena Krutsinger/NBAE via Getty Images)

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The Detroit Pistons, who owned a league-worst 14-68 record, and Washington Wizards could not believe it as they had the best odds at 14% to get the No. 1 pick.

Instead, Washington was given the No. 2 pick, and the Pistons got the No. 5 pick for the third straight season despite owning the worst record in the league in back-to-back seasons.    

Now, Atlanta has the opportunity to choose whoever they deem the best overall prospect.

BRONNY JAMES, SON OF BASKETBALL GREAT LEBRON JAMES, DECLARES FOR NBA DRAFT, ENTERS TRANSFER PORTAL

Hawks GM Landry Fields after getting No. 1 pick

Landry Fields of the Atlanta Hawks smiles after winning the number one overall pick during the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery on May 12, 2024 at the McCormick Convention Center in Chicago. (Kena Krutsinger/NBAE via Getty Images)

French small forward Zaccharie Risacher and center Alexandre Sarr are up there, as is UConn standout center Donovan Clingan. 

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However, there is not a Victor Wembanyama like last year’s Draft that makes having the No. 1 pick easy. 

Here is the entire top 10 draft order. 

Landry Fields smiles after getting No. 1 pick

Landry Fields of the Atlanta Hawks poses for a photo after winning the number one overall pick during the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery on May 12, 2024 at McCormick Convention Center in Chicago. (Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)

  1. Atlanta Hawks
  2. Washington Wizards
  3. Houston Rockets (via Brooklyn Nets)
  4. San Antonio Spurs
  5. Detroit Pistons
  6. Charlotte Hornets
  7. Portland Trail Blazers
  8. San Antonio Spurs (via Toronto Raptors)
  9. Memphis Grizzlies
  10. Utah Jazz

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UCLA completes perfect season with women's water polo championship

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UCLA completes perfect season with women's water polo championship

Adam Wright knows the drill.

At the final horn of UCLA’s 7-4 NCAA championship win over Cal on Sunday, the UCLA head coach carefully took off his sneakers and placed them on the bench. He gathered several players and assistant coaches in a group hug on the pool deck before sharing a consoling hug with Cal head coach Coralie Simmons.

Then he dove into the pool head first.

After coaching the UCLA men’s team to four NCAA championships, Wright led the women to their first national crown since 2009 and completed the program’s first undefeated season since 2008. The Bruins (26-0) are the first team since USC in 2016 to complete a perfect season and just the fifth team in NCAA women’s water polo history.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Wright told reporters at Cal’s Spieker Aquatics Complex. “It feels so good to see UCLA back on top because that’s what I was used to when I was at school at UCLA, and I’m just lucky to be a part of it.”

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Wright, who also won NCAA titles as a player in 1999 and 2000, took over the women’s program in 2017. The Bruins were coming off a streak of close calls, advancing to the NCAA title game three times in four seasons only to come up short each time. After UCLA won seven of the first nine NCAA women’s water polo championships, including five consecutive titles from 2005-09, Stanford and USC split the next 13.

But with a talented young roster, the Bruins could be starting a new dynasty.

Freshman Panni Szegedi led UCLA with three goals in the championship game, moving her into a tie for the team-lead with 39 goals on the season. Underclassmen scored six of UCLA’s seven goals, and freshman Lauren Steele starred in the cage with 17 saves.

The relationship between the young players and veterans including graduate students Brooke Doten and Hannah Palmer exemplified the culture that powered the Bruins to their eighth NCAA championship and 12th national title overall.

“Our connections outside the water go so far in the water,” Steele told reporters.

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The former Orange Lutheran star figures to be a mainstay of UCLA’s future success. She graduated from high school early to join the Bruins in December then started all 26 games, earned MPSF newcomer of the year honors and was named MPSF tournament MVP as UCLA won its first conference championship since 2017. She is still slated to attend her high school graduation ceremony next month.

“Just an absolute stud,” Wright said on the ESPNU broadcast while his hair was still soaked from celebrating in the pool. “Changed the complexion of UCLA women’s water polo.”

Szegedi scored all three of her goals in the second half after the teams were tied 2-2 at halftime. The freshman from Hungary broke the tight game open by giving the Bruins a two-goal lead with 5:07 remaining in the fourth quarter. It was the first time either team led by multiple goals in the defensive battle.

Seeing Steele’s eyes from the pool deck, Wright said he knew the freshman would finish the job from there.

Steele put the exclamation point on UCLA’s championship celebration after players and coaches climbed out of the pool. Standing in front of an oversized poster of the bracket, teammates waited for Steele to finish her on-camera interview before handing her a blue sticker with UCLA printed on it. She stuck the badge on the national championship line.

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Travis Kelce spotted dancing in star-studded group at Taylor Swift's Paris show

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Travis Kelce spotted dancing in star-studded group at Taylor Swift's Paris show

The “City of Love” was the latest sighting of Travis Kelce at a Taylor Swift concert, and he had some A-list celebrities dancing alongside him to his significant other’s chart-topping hits. 

The Kansas City Chiefs superstar tight end was seen at Paris La Défense Arena in Paris where Bradley Cooper and Gigi Hadid were next to him to enjoy Swift’s 87th Eras Tour show. 

Coincidence on the number, anyone?

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are shown at Coachella. (Gilbert Flores)

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Videos have circulated on social media of Kelce dancing to Swift songs, including “… Ready for It?” “Lover” and the classic “You Belong with Me.”

It’s significant that Kelce has been spotted at this show as he hasn’t been seen since she went back on tour. Swift has been in Paris for three nights prior to this fourth and final show, where Kelce was spotted.

TRAVIS KELCE HOSTING ‘SNL’ MADE CAST MEMBER FEEL ‘VERY PROTECTIVE’ OF HIM

Of course, this isn’t the first time Kelce has reciprocated the love and support Swift showed during the Chiefs’ Super Bowl-winning season last year. During the Chiefs’ bye week, Kelce was seen in Buenos Aires for one of Swift’s Eras Tour dates. 

They will clearly go the extra mile to support each other; Swift famously flew from Japan to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl after a tour date across the Pacific.

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And fans, whether it was of Kelce first or Swift, have fallen in love with the couple throughout the process as they continue to be one of the world’s power couples.

Taylor Swift looks lovingly up at Travis Kelce in his red Chiefs uniform after the Super Bowl

Taylor Swift celebrated with Travis Kelce on the field after his Super Bowl win. (AP Photo/John Locher)

While love isn’t something to rush, many are clamoring to know if Kelce has any thoughts of proposing to Swift to take their relationship to the next level. 

Recently, Chiefs long snapper James Winchester said on the “Like a Farmer” podcast that he thinks his teammate will be engaged at some point because he sees “they’re very similar in a lot of ways.”

“Being around Trav for the last nine years, I mean, I think they’re more similar than you would think. I wish the best for them,” he added.

Other than supporting Swift, Kelce has had a great offseason thus far. The Chiefs made him the highest-paid tight end in the game with a new contract extension that’s worth $34.25 million over two years, with $17 million fully guaranteed for the upcoming 2024 campaign. 

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Travis Kelce smiles

Travis Kelce attends American Express Presents CARBONE BEACH on May 5, 2024, in Miami Beach, Florida. (Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for American Express Presents CARBONE BEACH)

So, personally and professionally, Kelce had a lot of things to dance about in Paris with some of his friends while watching Swift kill it onstage.

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