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'Love doing this': Retiring not on Kelce's radar
NEW ORLEANS -- Travis Kelce has no plans to retire anytime soon even if the Kansas City Chiefs win a third straight Super Bowl on Sunday.
The future plans of the 35-year-old Kelce have been a lingering question as his fame has risen off the field thanks to his relationship with pop star Taylor Swift and a media career boosted by one of the most popular sports podcasts.
Kelce was asked at opening night festivities Monday night before Kansas City plays Philadelphia in the Super Bowl where he plans to be in three years.
"Hopefully still playing football," he said. "I love doing this, I love coming into work every day. I feel like I still have a lot of good football left in me. We'll see what happens. I know I've been setting myself up for other opportunities in my life. That's always been the goal knowing football only lasts for so long. You have to find a way to get into another career and another profession. I've been doing that in my offseason. But for the most part, I plan on being a Kansas City Chief and playing football."
Kelce is still playing at a high level even if he has fallen off a bit from his peak. He had 97 catches this season but gained only 823 yards and scored three touchdowns.
Kelce had a throwback game in the divisional round win over Houston with seven catches for 117 yards and enters the Super Bowl with the most catches in the playoffs (174) and second to Hall of Famer Jerry Rice in yards receiving (2,039) and TD catches (20).
Kelce was one of the most popular players with the media during opening night, with a large group of reporters and others surrounding his podium for the entire hour, peppering him with questions on all sorts of topics from football to dances to whether he planned to give Swift a ring if the Chiefs win on Sunday. He quickly responded, "A Super Bowl ring? Next question."
Kelce did say his relationship with Swift helps him on the football field by providing motivation that he needs to work as hard as she does to remain at the top of his game.
"I better hold up my end of the bargain," he said. "If she's out here being the superstar she is, never taking no for an answer, and always working her tail off, I better match that energy for sure."
Eagles QB Hurts: SB LVII loss to Chiefs 'lit a fire'
NEW ORLEANS -- Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts said the loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII "lit a fire" in him and that he is focused on finishing the job this time around as the two teams get set for their title bout rematch on Sunday.
"I've learned so much," Hurts said Monday. "It's the same as any other game and, you know, I think the moments are the moments. But ultimately, you know, every game has its lessons -- good, bad or indifferent. So, just being able to become wiser, grow and mature and take all these lessons in for the next season and the next games.
"It's had a great driving force. It lit a flame, lit a fire in me, and to have this opportunity again is exactly what you work for."
Hurts had arguably his best performance as a pro in his Super Bowl debut two years ago, accounting for 374 yards and four total touchdowns. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs outscored Philadelphia 17-8 in the fourth quarter, however, for a 38-35 come-from-behind win.
The Eagles then had a disappointing 2023 campaign, dropping five of their final six regular-season games after a promising 10-1 start before falling in the first round of the playoffs.
They rebounded this season with a 14-3 record followed by three home wins in the playoffs, including a 55-23 drubbing of the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship Game.
Hurts had another big game in a big moment, going 20-of-28 for 246 yards against Washington and accounting for four scores to set up a Kansas City-Philadelphia Super Bowl for the second time in three years.
"It's a blessing. To see all the hard work pay off and have this opportunity again, it means everything," he said.
The Eagles' most notable addition since the first Super Bowl matchup is running back Saquon Barkley, who put together an MVP-caliber season and who needs just 30 yards to eclipse Terrell Davis' mark for most rushing yards in a season, including playoffs. They also boast the No. 1 defense in football.
Their hope is that the new additions along with lessons learned from the first time around will put them on top.
"You've got to be able to finish," Hurts said, "and that's going to take great focus, a great week of prep this week, putting it all together."
Booker, 28, becomes Suns' all-time scoring leader
Devin Booker became the Phoenix Suns' all-time leading scorer Monday night at the Portland Trail Blazers, breaking Walter Davis' franchise record of 15,666 points.
Booker, 28, surpassed Davis on a 3-pointer with 7:34 remaining in the third quarter. He reached the milestone in his 10th season and 642nd game for the Suns.
Booker hugged family members at the next timeout and was given a loud ovation by the fans in Portland.
"It means everything," Booker said. "Just being drafted to a franchise that believed in me, taking a chance on me as an 18-year-old kid and going through a rebuild phase and just sticking with it. Keeping my head down. The love and support has always been there. I don't take it from granted.
"I take it seriously putting 'Phoenix' across my chest."
The Blazers had a 120-117 lead when Deni Avdija fouled Booker on a 3-pointer with 4.4 seconds left in overtime. Booker made the first two free throws but missed the third, which Deandre Ayton grabbed for his 20th rebound as the Trail Blazers held on for a 121-119 win.
Booker finished with 34 points, giving him 15,678 for his career.
"The city loves Devin," Suns coach Mike Budenholzer said of Booker's connection to the franchise and the Phoenix region.
Asked where Booker ranks for him among all the great players he has coached, Budenholzer replied, "He's at the top tonight."
"He's the all-time leading scorer for the Phoenix Suns," Budenholzer added. "He's our guy. He's special. A really, really special night for Book."
Davis played in 766 games (359 starts) for Phoenix from 1977 to 1988. He was a six-time All-Star for the Suns and also played for the Denver Nuggets and the Trail Blazers. Davis died in 2023 at age 69.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Malone says Nuggets 'not trading Michael Porter'
Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone quieted rumors that Michael Porter Jr. could be dealt this week, saying after his team's 125-113 win over the New Orleans Pelicans that "we're not trading Michael Porter."
Porter had a season-high 36 points in Monday's win on 12-of-22 shooting, including 7-of-12 from 3-point range. After the game, Malone was asked if he has had conversations with Porter about the trade rumors.
"No because we're not trading Michael Porter," Malone said. "So I'm not touching base with anybody on that. ... And if there's something coming, obviously [Nuggets GM Calvin Booth] will talk with me and I'm sure we'll communicate with whatever players. But Michael is a really important piece, he helped us win a championship."
Porter is enjoying his best season since a back injury kept him out for most of the 2021-22 season, but the Nuggets as a team have been inconsistent. He's the only player on Denver's roster eligible to be traded before the Feb. 6 deadline who makes more than $9 million this season, making him a prime candidate to be dealt should the Nuggets make a significant move.
A 6-foot-10 wing with a sweet shooting stroke, Porter has been an iron man for Denver after an injury-plagued start to his career, playing in 81 games last season and every game thus far this year.
"As long as I'm here, I'm going to be here and I'm going to be happy and I'm going to play hard and try to be available and try to help win games," Porter said after Monday's game. "And then if the day came where they wanted to trade me and they wanted to go a different direction, then I'll be excited for the new opportunity. But ... it's not something I think about at all."
He's in the third year of a five-year, maximum rookie contract extension he signed in 2022. He has two years and nearly $80 million left on the deal.
NEW ORLEANS -- Patrick Mahomes is preparing to play for the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX against the Philadelphia Eagles, but he's also a Texas native and a fan of the Dallas Mavericks.
Mahomes was like most fans stunned by the blockbuster trade that sent Luka Doncic from the Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis.
"Luka is such a franchise player,'' Mahomes said at opening night at the Super Bowl on Monday. "I know it hurt my heart as a Mavs fan, but I'm excited for the future and having [Anthony Davis].
"It definitely hurts more than anything knowing Luka and the work that he put in and the time he's put in in Dallas and the city and how he's done so much for it. That's been the thing that's hurt me the most. But I'm excited for the future of the Mavs as well. Having AD and Kyrie [Irving] and all these guys they have, they'll have a chance to go out there and compete. But I'm excited for Luka too and to get to learn under LeBron [James] and become even a better basketball player.''
Before he could process the stunning trade, Mahomes, who sits courtside at Mavericks games when he can, went on X early Sunday morning to express his disbelief with a two-word message: "Wait what?" He followed that with another post saying, "I'm sick (right now.)"
Wait what?
Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) February 2, 2025
He made it clear Monday, however, that the trade wouldn't chase him away from watching the Mavericks play again.
"I know the Mavs have a great basketball team and getting Anthony Davis is going to help them,'' Mahomes said. "I'll be there. I'm a Mavs fan through thick and thin.''
England's Chessum takes positives from Ireland loss
England may be without wing Cadan Murley for the meeting with the 2022 Grand Slam winners on Saturday.
The 25-year-old, who scored a try on his debut in Dublin before struggling under the high ball in the second half, missed training on Monday with a foot injury which required a scan.
Tom Roebuck or Ollie Sleightholme would be the likeliest to step in if he is unavailable to face France, who opened their campaign with a 43-0 thrashing of Wales.
"That is the scary thing for those watching - they have managed to put 40 points on a team when you don't really think they have reached second gear," added Chessum.
"They come to live in the opposition 30 metres, they have a big pack of forwards who can go to work at the set-piece and, the obvious one, they have Antoine Dupont and whoever is going to sit in the driving seat at 10 for them this weekend.
"We know what their threats are. Today's preparation has been about installing what we think we can do to them."
Whale Takes the Reigns for Moto Anatomy X Royal Enfield
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. Royal Enfield has announced Australian racer Max Whale as its newest addition to the Moto Anatomy X Royal Enfield Team for this year, following Johnny Lewis retirement.
Whale rode a strong 2024 debut in Mission AFT SuperTwins, where he notched multiple top-10 finishes. Now poised for success in the top level of the Progressive American Flat Track ranks with a distinguished team built by Lewis, Whale becomes Royal Enfields first international rider. Known for his aggressive riding style, Whale made an impact early in his career, turning pro in 2018 and securing back-to-back runner-up finishes in the AFT Singles presented by KICKER Championship in 2020 and 2021.
Weve been impressed with what Max has been able to do on the track for a number of years, and we cant wait for him to be part of Royal Enfields next chapter, said Adrian Sellers, Head Custom & Motorsport at Royal Enfield. Max is a young, aggressive racer with tons of skill, but most exciting to us is uncorking the potential weve seen. With Johnny taking an integral role in bike and rider development, we strongly believe this tandem will take this team to the next level.
Lewis spent five years as Moto Anatomy X Royal Enfields lead racer, team manager, and bike developer. Beyond race day, Lewis was critical to ultimately making a winner of Royal Enfields Twins FT racebike a role he will continue in 2025 as he focuses on maximizing Whales talents.
Its been an amazing ride with this group, and I am very proud of the team and bike weve built alongside Royal Enfield, Lewis said. I couldnt be more excited to continue my work with this team, this bike, and now working with Max in this next chapter of our careers. There are some similarities between him and I that we think will lend to a really smooth transition and a really successful 2025 season.
In Lewis first year at the helm in 2020, he scored a Mission AFT SuperTwins win and led the team to two podiums in the Royal Enfield Twins FTs debut season. Over the next four years, he would develop a bike that would secure two more victories at the prestigious Lima HM and Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, respectively, stand atop three more podiums, and earn 10+ top-five finishes.
In 2024, with Lewis sidelined with an injury, the team brought in Dalton Gauthier to fill in for a number of races. Joining mid-season, Gauthier was able to turn in a number of impressive finishes and take the third step of the podium at the Orange County Half-Mile.
Editors Note: This is another installment in SPEED SPORTs preview of each NTT IndyCar Series team. To read other teams previews, click here.
Andretti Global looks to regain its place among the elite teams in theNTT IndyCar Series following a promising 2024 with drivers Colton Herta, Kyle Kirkwood and Marcus Ericsson.
Ahead of the March 2 season opener on the streets of St. Petersburg (Fla.), heres a look at each driver:
No. 26 Colton Herta
Colton Herta enjoyed a career season aboard the No. 26 Honda with Andretti Global. Aside from two victories and career-high six podium finishes, Herta earned his best average finish (7.4) across the season of his career.
With questions whether hell dart to Formula 1 to join Cadillacs Formula 1 team in 2026, a potential championship could make the decision for both sides easier.
No. 27 Kyle Kirkwood
In his second full-time season with Andretti Global, Kyle Kirkwood saw consistency play a big part in a successful year.
While he went winless after a two-victory season in 2023, his average finish across the season was stellar at 8.7.
Kirkwood may be a sleeper for the title this year should he be able to cultivate a similar season from last year with a victory or two.
No. 28 Marcus Ericsson
Following three straight seasons with at least one victory with Chip Ganassi Racing, Marcus Ericssons 2024 was a step backward in his first season with Andretti Global.
Ericsson endured the worst average finish of his career (15.2) and only secured one podium finish on the streets of Detroit.
Having a year of gelling with the team may pay big dividends for Ericsson going into this season.
BROWNSBURG, Ind. The 2025 racing season gets underway this week and Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing has revealed its partner lineup and unveiled a fresh look for 10-Time World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series champion, Donny Schatz.
Kicking off this years campaign with the DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla., on Feb. 5 8, Schatz and the No. 15 team will begin its chase of an 12th WoO Sprint Car Series title.
Advance Auto Parts will return as a co-primary partner on Schatzs familiar No. 15 entry for the sixth season alongside Carquest, who enters its sixth season with Schatz.
Carquest also celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.
Ford Performance, the official engine provider for TSR, will also return as a primary partner on Schatz No. 15.
This year will mark Schatzs 29th season as a full-time World of Outlaws driver and his sixth utilizing the FPS 410 powerplant.
Continuing a 15-year relationship with the Brownsburg, Ind. based motorsports operation, Curb-Agajanian Racing will again partner with TSR as a co-entrant for Schatz. Partnering in 2010 for the first time, Curb-Agajanian Racing, Curb Records and TSR own a longstanding tradition of monumental success, acquiring not only victories but seven Knoxville Nationals victories at Iowas Knoxville Raceway and six World of Outlaws championships.
Debuting an innovative marketing relationship this year, Martin One Source joins TSR as the Official Communications Partner of Tony Stewart Racing Sprint Car.
Mobil 1 is set to also return to the team this year.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. Heading into this weekends Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, many wondered how the NASCAR Cup Series first trip to the quarter-mile oval since 1971 would turn out.
Based on the series three trips to the makeshift track inside the famed Los Angeles Coliseum the last three years, tight racing was expected as drivers clawed for real estate.
However, Bowman Gray presented a different atmosphere.
Following their finishes of second and fourth, Team Penske teammates Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano felt the Clash on Sunday was a hit.
It was really, really good, Logano said. I thought the pre-race ceremony was pretty cool. The fans being right there. Its what Bowman Gray is, right? Youve got the fans heckling you and saying whatever they want and saying your number one in two different ways, so thats what Bowman Gray was built off of.
I dont know if you got the boos I got, but, overall, I would say it was successful. You look at when fans are cheering and screaming and those type of things, drivers brands are being exposed to everybody, which is great. Everyone has a favorite or not and theyre passionate about it and when you get everyone this close, I mean, you look at yesterday. People hung out for the modified race all the way until practice and the heat races.
It was packed yesterday and tonight was standing room only, so, from that standpoint, the atmosphere was successful.
Piggybacking off Loganos thoughts, Blaney felt the masses of fans was a major selling point to the Clashs charm.
From the crowd yesterday that hung out for three hours from the modifieds to when we first got out on the track is a lot of commitment, and there was a lot of energy on the frontstretch before we got going there and thats what its all about, Blaney said.
It was really, really cool to be here and Im happy that it was a good show for everybody. Im looking forward to, hopefully, coming back next year.
I dont see why you wouldnt come back, so I hope everyone had a good time.
While the track, known as The Madhouse, delivered its fair share of frustrated drivers and retaliation on-track, the race was balanced by long, green-flag stints that saw drivers searching for grip while navigating traffic.
Perhaps the right amount of passionate fans, chaos and pure racing provided the perfect ingredients for a successful event.
For race winner Chase Elliott, who led a race-high 171 of 200 laps, it was a win hell never forget.
Im a little biased in the situation just for myself, Elliott began. It was an extremely special moment. I think the people in the crowd here made it that. Im thankful for that.
Yeah, it was a moment Ill never forget, for sure. Its not every day you not only race in an environment like that, but to have the opportunity to win and kind of share that moment with the crowd, it was really cool.
I hope we put on a good show. I hope they enjoyed it. Seemed like they were into it throughout the night. Yeah, seemed like a success, Elliott continued.
I know its always tough from a winners perspective when everything goes your way, but it seemed like the track was racy. Just thought the whole deal was much improved compared to the last few years.
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