NEW YORK -- Marla Miller is stepping down after 21 years as Major League Baseball's senior vice president of special events.

Miller, MLB's first female senior vice president, has been in charge of planning for the All-Star Game and World Series, arranging ceremonies and entertainment, including national anthem singers.

She helped launch the All-Star FanFest, the All-Star red carpet show, the All-Century team, Memorable Moments campaign and special events such as the Little League Classic since 2017, the 2016 game at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and this year's Field of Dreams game at Dyersville, Iowa.

She also took charge of planning the winter meetings and owners meetings.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – NASCAR officials have announced a multi-year partnership with DoorDash, the nation’s leading last-mile logistics platform, that will designate it as the official on-demand delivery platform of NASCAR.

The wide-ranging agreement will span across the sanctioning body and 11 NASCAR-owned facilities.

Over the course of their partnership, DoorDash and NASCAR, two of the fastest-growing brands with Gen Z consumers, will collaborate meaningfully to empower local communities. Additionally, DoorDash will look to deepen its connection with race fans by bringing the DoorDash experience to NASCAR tracks over the coming years through highlighting local restaurants within racing communities.

“DoorDash is a category leader and one of the fastest growing brands in the country, their expanded presence in NASCAR underscores the incredible momentum being generated around this historic season,” said Frank Kelleher, senior vice president and chief sales officer, NASCAR. “Together, NASCAR and DoorDash are committed to giving back to the communities in which we race while drastically improving the fan experience at our facilities.”

DoorDash entered the sport in 2020 by announcing a partnership with NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace and a founding partnership of 23XI Racing. The DoorDash logo is prominently featured on the hood of the No. 23 DoorDash Toyota Camry for 23XI Racing, seen during the first two points races of the season at Daytona International Speedway.

“This partnership enables us to expand our engagement and build a further connection with the racing community, while activating against our values of diversity and empowering local communities,” said Kofi Amoo-Gottfried, DoorDash’s VP, Marketing. “We are committed to leveraging our platform and resources to create a more inclusive environment for racing fans in the coming years and look forward to working with NASCAR to create unique and authentic experiences for fans and food-lovers alike.”

As part of the relationship, DoorDash will also activate across NASCAR’s rapidly growing social and digital platforms. Additionally, eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series broadcasts will integrate DoorDash branding throughout the remainder of its season. DoorDash also joins the NASCAR Fuel for Business Council, bringing together an exclusive group of Official NASCAR Partners to construct business-to-business opportunities and co-marketing programs.

Few were surprised that the USWNT won its fourth SheBelieves Cup in six years on Wednesday, but the Stars and Stripes certainly made the march to the title more of a slog than anticipated.

- Rapinoe scores twice as USWNT win SheBelieves Cup
- Andonovski: USWNT worked well as a unit vs. Argentina

Their opponents -- Canada (missing seven key players), Brazil and Argentina (a late replacement for Japan due to COVID-19 concerns) -- were not the quality of teams of past SheBelieves Cups, so I thought the tournament would be fairly one sided for the U.S., only that wasn't the case. Canada looked quite good against the U.S. under their new head coach, Bev Priestman, Brazil was more organized under former USWNT head coach, Pia Sundhage, and Argentina? Well, Argentina was what we predicted... underwhelming.

With the Olympics still scheduled to begin less than five months from now, let's reflect on what we've learned from this SheBelieves Cup:

A healthy reminder

For the U.S., not playing their best and still winning the title is always a good thing. Here's why: These players will return to their clubs knowing that their world domination is not yet complete. In Orlando, they were sometimes exposed at the back, errors that better teams would punish.

The U.S. were not clean in front of goal, either -- that could be the difference in a tight game against a better opponent. These players know all of this, and that will gently haunt them. They will watch the games back and work on getting things right, understanding that the SheBelieves Cup was a subtle, yet important reminder for them to keep that fire burning bright.

Roster Roulette

Speaking about keeping that fire burning, when USWNT head coach, Vlatko Andonovski, is asked about how many spots on his 18-player Olympic roster remain open, he says 18. Obviously, he has many locked in, but I do think due to the limited games and access to players and training camps, this Olympic roster is understandably going to take longer to decipher.

Roster roulette is a fascinating game to play, so let's give it a try. Based on the last six games (three in SheBelieves Cup, plus Colombia twice and the Netherlands), and assuming Andonovski and his staff are taking two goalkeepers, six defenders, five midfielders, and five forwards, here are some scenarios (and the player options for that final spot in italics):

GK: Alyssa Naeher, Ashlyn Harris/Jane Campbell
DF: Crystal Dunn, Becky Sauerbrunn, Abby Dahlkemper, Kelly O'Hara, Emily Sonnett, Casey Krueger/Tierna Davidson/Midge Purce/Ali Krieger
MF: Julie Ertz, Sam Mewis, Lindsey Horan, Rose Lavelle, Catarina Macario/Kristie Mewis
FW: Christen Press, Tobin Heath, Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Carli Lloyd/Lynn Williams/Sophia Smith

Questions still needing answers

Where is Carli Lloyd in her comeback after missing most of 2020 because of injury?

Lloyd had a goal and assist against Argentina and looked sharper than in her previous SheBelieves Cup game, but she missed a few excellent chances vs. Canada. Rapinoe's comeback, after also missing most of 2020, seems clearer. She finished the SheBelieves Cup as the leading scorer and also leads the team with five goals in five games in 2021. Rapinoe has shown she can still impact games quickly and consistently. I think Lloyd will need to show that in the coming months as well.

How has Alex Morgan recovered from missing 2020 due to pregnancy, a knee injury and a COVID-19 diagnosis spilling into 2021?

I thought her performance against Brazil was a plus. Her touches were sharp, her movement good. She also scored a nice goal against Argentina.

Did Lynn Williams help or hurt her case for breaking into the final 18 Olympic roster based on her play in this SheBelieves Cup?

This is a tough question for me to answer because I love so much of what Lynn Williams does with her speed. She gets into great positions and turns defenders, which makes her a consistent threat to the opposition. She also does a ton of work on the defensive side of the ball. All great attributes, yes, but her final pass and her finishing are far too inconsistent, hurting her chances to become a regular starter.

If Williams finished some of those opportunities against Canada and Brazil, the games would have been less of a slog.

How many younger players can Andonovski afford to break in? Will they be ready for the Olympics?

Catarina Macario struggled in midfield vs. Canada, but excelled as a forward in both games against Colombia. Unfortunately, Macario did not get to see a lot of time in this SheBelieves Cup as she went back early to her club in Lyon.

Sophia Smith came into the game in the 65th minute against Brazil and while she didn't make much of an impact, she played a beautiful ball for the assist on Alex Morgan's goal vs. Argentina. I think this young player may be on the outside peeking in, but she is going to be fun to watch. She runs at players better than most.

Then there's Kristie Mewis. Not a young player -- she's 30 -- but she is new to the mix (or, more aptly, newly back in the mix) and has looked consistently sharp, with a goal and assist against Argentina.

Also to ponder:

- Would Andonovski consider taking five defenders, instead of six, since Julie Ertz can also play center-back?

If he did that and he took Dunn, Sauerbrunn, Dahlkemper, O'Hara and Sonnett, the U.S. would have 3 natural outside-back options in Dunn, O'Hara and Sonnett. That seems thin for that position given the tight Olympic game schedule and how often O'Hara has been injured. That is why I think he takes six defenders and Ertz in midfield.

Since he does have the Ertz option at center-back, I think that sixth defender will have to be a player who can play outside back.

- How about the midfield mix?

If Vlatko felt strongly about both Macario and Kristie Mewis, Macario could go as a forward, but that means other forwards (like Lloyd, Williams and Smith) might not make the roster. I cannot see that happening. I think Lloyd is going. Her work on on both sides of the ball is still one of the best on the team. Add in her strong mentality and finishing ability in big moments, and even at 39 years old at the Olympics, she can help the team.

Their Superpower

With the Olympic rhythm being tighter than the World Cup schedule (two days rest at the Olympics, compared to three at a World Cup) and the Olympic roster being five players lighter than a World Cup roster, you can't afford to bring players who may help the team or are not 100 percent fit. With only 16 field players and limited rest, EVERY SINGLE PLAYER must contribute, which is why the U.S. are the clear favorites to win the Gold Medal: their squad is much deeper than any team out there.

That is their superpower. The U.S. can field two line-ups that are quite different, yet both strong, and we've seen Andonovski do this throughout his tenure with the national team. Who else in this Olympics pool could do that without losing much at all in that second group? Maybe Great Britain. For the U.S., it will be less about who is starting and more about managing the rhythm of minutes played per game so that whichever combination is on the field, they are aggressively dictating the tempo.

Overall, I think the U.S. will take a big positive from this SheBelieves Cup because they remain undefeated under Andonovski, and let's not forget: they did not concede a goal in this tournament, the first team to ever do that in the tournament's history. (It just goes to show you the standard by which we judge this team's performance, which I still think was far from their best.)

Andonovski's last chance to evaluate players against other international opponents comes in the April FIFA window (by the June window, the team will be set). It's just the environment needed to make those final judgements and then start rallying the Olympic team of 18 together.

Here's to hoping an Olympics will indeed be played in July. Sending out my best YES-the-Olympics-will-be-played karma into the world right now. Do the same, please!

England will not be able to call upon Chris Woakes for next week's fourth Test against in Ahmedabad, after he left the tour on Thursday for his pre-arranged break from the team's bio-secure bubble.

Woakes, 31, has endured a frustrating winter with England, having been involved in squads in South Africa, Sri Lanka and now India without playing a single game.

He travelled to South Africa for England's white-ball tour in December, but having sat out the T20I leg (his last such match came in 2015), the ODI series was then cancelled due to concerns over the implementation of Covid protocols in the team hotel.

Next, Woakes' chances of pushing for a place on the Sri Lanka leg of England's Test tour were kiboshed from the outset, after his Birmingham-based travel companion Moeen Ali was diagnosed with Covid-19 on arrival in the country in January, meaning that both men were required to undergo an extended period of quarantine.

Woakes was then left out of the first three Tests against India, including this week's pink-ball Test - which might have been his one realistic shot at involvement, given England's belief that the conditions may have favoured seam bowling.

However, his prowess with the bat was overlooked in favour of a reunion of England's old guard, James Anderson and Stuart Broad, neither of whom took a wicket as spin dominated for both teams in the two-day finish.

In keeping with the ECB's policy for all of their multi-format players, Woakes now returns home to be with his wife Amie and their two young daughters, Ella and Evie-Louise, who was born in October.

Already this year, Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes have missed the Tests in Sri Lanka, as did Rory Burns, who was on paternity leave, while Jonny Bairstow and Mark Wood flew home for the Chennai leg of the India tour.

Jos Buttler, Sam Curran and Moeen are also unavailable for the remainder of the series, but will return to the squad next week to prepare for the five-match T20I series that starts on March 12.

One squad player who may yet come back into the side for the fourth Test in Ahmedabad is the spinner Dom Bess, who was dropped in favour of Moeen in Chennai despite claiming 17 wickets at 22.41 in his three Tests against Sri Lanka and India.

The England management had been concerned that Bess lacked the control to restrict India's batsmen on turning wickets - a view partially vindicated by the performance of his de facto replacement, Joe Root, who took the startling figures of 5 for 8 in 6.2 overs at Ahmedabad.

However, with the fourth-Test wicket every bit as likely to offer turn from the outset, and at least one of England's three seamers likely to be surplus to requirements, there's an obvious opportunity for Bess to return to the line-up.

"He's in contention," Chris Silverwood, England's head coach, said. "He was left out of this one because of the potential movement we could have got out of the pink ball. In training, we thought how do we make best use of this pink ball and who we have available?

"We've got two bowlers in the top 10 [Broad and Anderson] and if they can move the ball around, they're a handful. So from Bessy's point of view I wouldn't read too much into that. He's played an important part in helping us win games in the past and I'm sure he will do again in the future.

"He's been great around the group," Silverwood added. "We've got a good group here who do get around each other and help each other out, keep each other going. You have to do that in bubble life, which is what we're living in at the moment. We're lucky we've got that sort of environment."

WEST HAVEN, Vt. – Devil’s Bowl Speedway has thrown out all the stops for its schedule this year.

The historic Vermont dirt track will open its 55th season on Saturday, May 1 and will race 24 straight weeks through Oct. 2. Several special events will help to further cement Devil’s Bowl Speedway’s status as the Northeast’s leading facility for crate-engine Sportsman Modifieds, and five key dates promise to be major events in the region.

A previously announced switch to weekly Saturday-night events (with a Sunday rain date) has been received with overwhelmingly positive reaction, and Devil’s Bowl promoter Mike Bruno feels that the track can continue to safely build off the momentum of a successful 2020 season – even during the height of the pandemic.

“This is the most ambitious schedule that we’ve ever created through our first 10 years owning and operating Devil’s Bowl Speedway,” Bruno said. “What we’ve put together is really exciting, and we believe that we can have a lot of fun and some huge events while maintaining health and safety guidelines. We’ve heard from drivers and fans all over the Northeast who are looking forward to the Devil’s Bowl season. It feels good to have that support.”

The Saturday run begins on May 1 – the earliest opener in 31 years – and to celebrate, Bruno has posted a big purse of $2,500 to win for the regular-distance, 30-lap feature. The weekly Limited Sportsman, Super Stock, Mini Stock, and 500cc Mini Sprint divisions will also be there to kick their seasons off in style.

Saturday night racing continues through the season, with many special events including a handful of exciting Sunday and weekend shows. The first of five major events arrives on Memorial Day weekend on May 29-30, as the 12th annual Northeast Crate Nationals gets a new date and an all-new format. The race returns to a 100-lap distance and will pay a record $5,000 to the winner, doubling the previous highwater mark. Qualifying begins on Saturday for Sportsman Modifieds and Devil’s Bowl’s weekly classes. The Sprint Cars of New England (SCoNE) tour will race on Sunday along with second-round and last-chance qualifying, weekly features, and the Northeast Crate Nationals 100.

A brand-new event is ready for Saturday, July 3, with the Independence Day Sprint Car Spectacular. For the first time ever, SCoNE and the New York-based CRSA Sprints officially come together for a Challenge race, featuring the 360-cubic-inch engines of SCoNE and the 305 powerplants of CRSA. Several 305 teams have competed at Devil’s Bowl against SCoNE in recent years, and the little engines have scored two wins; CRSA driver Cory Sparks very nearly made it three in 2020. The race pays $1,200 to win with a total posted purse of $8,000. Also on the program are all five weekly divisions, a 50-lap Enduro, and Vermont’s best fireworks show.

The Big Block and Small Block Modifieds will make their first of two stops on Sunday, Aug. 8. Fans and drivers alike have flocked to Devil’s Bowl for a handful of independent Big Block/Small Block events in recent years, and a retooled 75-lap, $7,500-to-win event promises to provide plenty of excitement. Recent Devil’s Bowl winners Mat Williamson, Matt Sheppard, Tim Fuller, Jessey Mueller, and Anthony Perrego are expected to return.

Devil’s Bowl Speedway’s signature event, the Vermont 200 weekend is ready for the Labor Day holiday on Sept. 4-5. The biggest crate Sportsman Modified race in North America will pay $10,000 to win plus lap leader bonuses, as everyone will try to dethrone 2020 winner and track champion Demetrios Drellos. An all-time track record 89 cars attempted to qualify last year. Weekly divisions will compete on Saturday night along with the Sportsman Non-Winner’s Shootout, while all Sportsman qualifying and the 200-lap main event will be on Sunday, along with the SCoNE Sprint Cars.

The final event of the five majors will be the second annual Slate Valley 100 for Big Block/Small Block Modifieds, on Sunday, Sept. 26. Canadian star Mat Williamson outdueled Mike Mahaney for the $10,000 score last season in a thrilling late-race battle, defeating a stacked field of 40 entries. Championships will also be decided for the Sportsman Modified, Limited Sportsman, and Mini Stock divisions at the event.

Featured attractions highlight the entire schedule, including Legends Night on Saturday, July 24, with a 67-lap Sportsman Modified race paying $2,500 to win. The Mid-Season Championships are on July 10, the Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Series visits on July 17, there will be six Enduro races, and the season wraps up with the second annual Foliage Fun Run Open Competition day on Saturday, Oct. 2.

SEEKONK, Mass. – When the Tri Track Open Modified Series season takes the green flag on May 1 at Monadnock Speedway, the field will be stacked full of talent.

One of the talented stars is rising New Hampshire racer Matthew Kimball, who is a former Mini Stock champion and currently a competitor in the Sportsman Modified division at multiple tracks in the Granite State.

Kimball, who does have limited starts with Tri Track, is hoping to be able to run the entire six-race slate in 2021. His most important goal will be to be consistent, learn more about the tour-type modifieds, and come home with solid top-10 finishes. He also plans to compete full-time at Monadnock in the Apex Racing No. 11 in the track’s Sportsman Modifieds and hopes to chase the NASCAR Division I National Championship, if the first few weeks of the season go well.

“It’s always good to try and get your name out there and this is a great opportunity to do that,” Kimball said. “We want to win races, but we are going to go race-by-race, and see what the schedules look like, so we don’t have conflictions. We’re going to take this year step-by-step. We would like to finish top-10 in the Tri Track points.”

Kimball, who won the Mini Stock title at Monadnock in 2018, started his career in go-karts, and moved to the Mini Stocks at the age of 13. From there, he sat behind the wheel of a modified at full speed for the first time at age 15, and the experience was different from anything he had dealt with before — but he found success quickly.

“My dad had a few championships before I took over and it didn’t take me too long to adapt to it,” Kimball said. “I won my first race just four weeks into the season. I practiced a lot before getting into a race — ran it towards the end of the year, and during practices, we went out as much as possible. Once you get comfortable in the car, it’s like driving any other race car.”

Kimball competes regularly at Monadnock, Hudson Speedway, Claremont Speedway and occasionally Lee USA Speedway, and plans to focus on Monadnock full-time this season, along with Tri Track. Driving the No. 50 machine, Kimball has learned the ropes of the Modified over the last few years, but knows he needs to continue to soak up the environment to be successful at the level of Tri Track competition. He finished sixth and seventh in the two Tri Track races on Monadnock’s high-banks last year.

“It’s a pretty big difference racing-wise from a Mini Stock to a Modified, but it just takes a few laps to get used to the throttle and the power,” Kimball said. “The biggest difference is the tone of the race. It’s a lot different trying to save your tires, versus a crate car, where you go hard the whole time. I still have to figure it out. I have to figure out adjustments to make it last more than 80 laps, so we are there at the end. A lot of it is experience — you don’t really see many guys jump in a tour car and just be there at the end.”

He’s excited to continue to race with the talented field Tri Track offers, and is looking forward to visiting Seekonk Speedway for the first time in his career. Tri Track’s 2021 schedule includes two stops at Monadnock, his home-track, two at Seekonk and two at Star Speedway, where Kimball has limited laps.

“It’s a lot different racing against the big names, but they were in the same shoes we were at one point in their career,” Kimball said. “I’ve never even been to Seekonk, so that will be tough. But I feel confident in Monadnock and I’ve won at Star in the Mini Stock. The difference at Star with a car with a lot more power will require a different line and everything. It should be a lot of figuring out different setups this year.”

With support from his family and friends, and his sponsors, Kimball wouldn’t be able to drive on the track. His sponsors include APEX Racing, KRJ Jewelry, Edmunds Ace Hardware, Peterboro Tools, Tyler’s Small Engines, Trends of Fashion, Birch Wood Inn, Beangroup and more. He’s lucky to have  a stout list of supports behind him to help him compete at a high-level.

“I’m just going to be playing it by ear and get the cars ready and go for Monadnock, I’ll be running three races in that same weekend,” Kimball said. “Between the two Sportsman Modified races and the Tri Track race, it will be a busy weekend. I’m also going to be able to race my dad, who will run our family car in a few races this year. I’ve beaten him three times, and he’s beaten me once, so hopefully I can keep the good streak going. I’m just hoping to be there at the end of each race this year.”

BANBURY, England – BMW Motorsport and Andretti Formula E will remain connected after their joint works involvement in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship draws to a close at the conclusion of season seven.

The final Formula E season for the BMW i Andretti Motorsport works team begins this weekend, but Andretti Formula E will return to compete as an independent team in season eight using the BMW Racing eDrive03 drivetrain in its cars once again.

“We’re really pleased to continue competition with BMW Motorsport as a privateer team in season eight,” said team owner Michael Andretti. “As a works team, BMW i Andretti Motorsport has enjoyed shared success and we look forward to building on that as we continue on with Andretti Formula E. The BMW eDrive 03 drivetrain has proven to be reliable and competitive, and we look forward to putting it to work for another season.”

“We are delighted to be able to continue to support Andretti Formula E,” said Mike Krack, BMW Motorsport Head of Test & Race Operations. “We are convinced that the BMW Racing eDrive03 will allow Andretti Formula E to achieve top results in Formula E. Working purely as a drivetrain supplier, we will no longer be involved directly in events at the racetrack in Season 8, but we will provide the team with support in response to any technical questions regarding the BMW Racing eDrive03.”

The BMW Racing eDrive03, which is being used in seasons seven and eight as the BMW i drivetrain in Formula E, has benefited from detailed improvements when compared to its predecessor. Ahead of the current season, the drivetrain was homologated for another two years, meaning that it is available for the team to use for one more season. Thanks to experience gained over the past few years, it has been adapted to deal even more adeptly with the unique challenges posed by Formula E circuits.

The main goal of the modifications is to improve the efficiency of the drivetrain. The E engine attains a maximum efficiency of 98 percent and its power density is higher than 14kW/kg. Its maximum rotational speed is more than 30,000 rpm. The inverter works with a direct current of up to 900 volts and achieves a power density of more than 45 kW/kg. In this latest version, the carbon inverter housing has been replaced by one made of Kevlar.

“The choice to continue with BMW as our powertrain supplier for Season 8 was an easy one,” said Andretti Formula E Team Principal Roger Griffiths. “Over the last two seasons with the works program it has delivered four wins, shown proven reliability and excellent efficiency. The team understands the operational aspects of the BMW eDrive 03 well and therefore the expectation is that Andretti Formula E can be highly competitive for the final season of the Gen2 era.”

So, you're a hockey fan and looking at this whole NBA Top Shot phenomenon and have a bunch of questions:

What exactly is this? What is an NFT? Can't I just watch the highlights online? And, is this coming to hockey eventually?

We're here to help. Hopefully, by the end of this explainer, you will have a basic understanding of the world of NFTs and crypto a lot more -- and what it means for the NHL and big leagues in general and be able to have a conversation about it.

So let's get to it!

What exactly is NBA Top Shot?

It is a digital marketplace where you can buy and sell NBA highlights, called moments. It's like trading cards, but fully digital. There's no physical collectible.

You either get these moments in packs you can buy at "drops," or on the marketplace where other people sell individual moments.

Is this the thing that Josh Hart keeps opening on his Twitch stream?

Yes! And many other NBA players are getting in on it, especially on Twitter. Speaking of Twitter, #NBATopShotThis is becoming a popular hashtag when there are great highlights posted from any NBA game.

If this is fully digital, what am I collecting?

Basically, the highlight is individually stored as a token, and you are purchasing that token (remember, NBA Top Shot calls them "moments"). The entire process is completely transparent, using basically the same technology as Bitcoin: You always know exactly how many moments exist for each highlight, as well as the transaction history. Everything is clearly out there for you to see.

When you buy one through the marketplace or pull one from a pack you buy, that moment is yours to keep in your digital wallet, or put up for sale on the marketplace.

So NBA Top Shot is this NFT thing I've been hearing about?

Each moment is an NFT, yes.

Great! Makes sense. Follow up question: What on Earth is an NFT?

NFT stands for non-fungible token. This can be used to describe anything in life, physical or digital.

The "token" part is easy to understand; it's just a good, an item, or something you can collect. A catch-all term.

Now let's break down what "non-fungible" means. Fungible essentially describes whether something is reproducible or not. Can I replace an item? If so, it is fungible. If not, it is non-fungible.

An example: If I have a dollar bill, I can easily replace it with another dollar bill or four quarters, etc. A dollar bill is fungible. (Some experts can get deep in the weeds on this and talk about serial numbers and such, but for our purposes here, this example is just fine.)

If I have one of 300 LeBron James dunk highlights -- let's say mine is No. 23, which has even more value placed upon it because collectors like the synchronicity of their collectible being the same number as the player in the highlight -- it cannot be reproduced. I know there is exactly one No. 23 of this LeBron James dunk moment, and only 300 total in existence (all with unique serial numbers). Therefore, it is non-fungible.

Other things that are non-fungible:

• The Mona Lisa

• A particular Wayne Gretzky rookie card

• Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid

What is the benefit of collecting digital memorabilia vs. physical?

One thing that physical collectors go through is the appraisal process and an inherent need for trust. I can buy a card on eBay, but I have to trust that I'm getting what is actually being advertised. Sometimes when I find cards in the wild, I need to get them appraised to get a true value to them, and that means sending my card to a third-party company to get it looked at. That costs money.

In the digital space, everything is completely clear and transparent, and there will be no wear and tear on a digital good; I don't have to worry about bent corners or pen marks or smudges on my Luka Doncic highlight.

Plus, though there are best guesses as to how many Bobby Orr rookie cards there are out there -- we might know how many were printed overall -- we don't know how many are still in any condition to sell. On NBA Top Shot, you will always know exactly how many of a certain "moment" there is, and its transaction history as well. It's all clearly visible and easily found on the blockchain.

I don't understand blockchain. What is it?

Think of it as the technology that helps power this whole thing. A ledger of transactions, a decentralized database updated in real time. Safe, secure, nobody owns it. If you want a helpful video, watch this:

Why does the NBA care about this, and why would the NHL?

Please go to your mobile keyboard and find the emoji with dollar signs for eyes and a green tongue with a dollar sign on it and tap it 50 times!

OK, fine, there are other major reasons, like engaging their communities. Totally get that. But revenue generation is definitely a massive part of this.

Let's stick with the NBA example: With a trading card or a licensed physical collectible, the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association gets paid when those goods are created. If I have a LeBron James rookie card and I sell it on eBay, the NBA/NBAPA doesn't get a cut of that transaction, nor all future secondary market transactions.

With NBA Top Shot, the secondary market (called the marketplace) is also operated by the same company, and the NBA/NBAPA gets a payment on every transaction. So, if a LeBron James moment is sold 50 times on the marketplace, all of those entities would get a cut 50 times.

I still don't get it. I can just watch highlights for free online. Why would I spend $200K for a LeBron James highlight?

The "Supreme" effect. Low supply, high demand. The power of the internet. FOMO. Any combination of those things, for starters.

I'm still not understanding. Where is the value?

In some ways, it goes back to the old saying: For those that understand, no explanation is necessary; for those that don't, no explanation is enough.

Why is there value placed upon trading cards? They are just pieces of cardboard with a picture on it, aren't they? I can print that at home ... but my home-printed Wayne Gretzky rookie card won't sell for over a million dollars.

An educated guess as to why there is value here is a combination of high demand and low supply, investor bullishness, society's desire to collect both physical and digital things, and the joy of being part of a community with good vibes (which has been said about the NBA Top Shot community).

So what does this all have to do with hockey?

Well, nothing at the moment, but this model will almost certainly be coming to all sports leagues. The UFC version will launch soon enough through the same company that created Top Shot, which is Dapper Labs.

The CEO of the company, Roham Gharegozlou, said that all of the major leagues have been in touch with him, so it's not a stretch to think that NBA Top Shot will be replicated for the NFL, MLB, and yes, the NHL as well. The one thing Dapper Labs is conscious of is the surge in demand that they have seen, and so they are trying not to grow too fast.

When can I buy my 'Ray Bourque raises the Stanley Cup for the first time' moment?

What's happening with NBA Top Shot right now is that the demand is growing so fast that the company hasn't introduced that many old highlights yet. For example, Michael Jordan highlights aren't available. This is partly because Dapper Labs wants to make sure that they can accommodate the sheer influx of demand that would come when those moments drop. You can imagine that when they are finally released, highlights like "The Shot" and "The Shrug" might go for a million dollars or more.

By the time other leagues are introduced, including the NHL, the company and website might have scaled to the point that they will be able to handle the bandwidth of multiple "Top Shot" style marketplaces operating at once, and so this would be a moot point.

What will become the most lucrative NHL 'moment'?

Obviously Wayne Gretzky high-sticking Doug Gilmour in the 1993 Stanley Cup playoffs that resulted in a non-call and the Kings eventually eliminating the Leafs, only because that high stick wasn't called ...

In all seriousness, that's a great debate. I have to think Bobby Orr's flying goal would be up there. Alex Ovechkin's behind-the-head goal on his back against the Coyotes. Maybe some record setters like a couple of Gretzky's biggest moments. Mario Lemieux's first goal, or his famous highlight-reel, coast-to-coast goal against the North Stars in the Stanley Cup Final.

It will be fascinating to watch this play out.

Have other leagues tried this digital collectible thing?

Yes. MLB had MLB crypto, but it didn't achieve nearly the viral popularity of NBA Top Shot. ESPN's Brian Windhorst wrote a great article on digital collectibles, which I highly recommend.

So what is the likelihood that we actually get this for hockey?

My guess? Very likely. Not just for the NHL but for all major sports, even major TV shows and series. I can totally see Dapper Labs replicating this model for Disney movies, Netflix shows, "The Sopranos," "The Office," "Survivor," music videos, live concerts, you name it.

Simply put, any form of entertainment with a large audience will have collectors and investors within its fan base that would likely be interested, or at least initially curious, about something like this.

Don't digital hockey collectibles already exist?

In some form, yes. I can set up an Upper Deck account, for example, and buy digital trading cards.

I can collect packs and cosmetics in NHL 21, but they live exclusively in the game. The NBA Top Shot model would be video highlights, which ushers in another dimension of collecting.

What would the NHL version of NBA Top Shot be called?

NHL Top Shelf has a nice ring to it, so that's my vote (unless it's already copyrighted, of course).

I'm slowly starting to understand this whole crypto thing. Are there other things we can see the NHL get into in this space?

Recently, soccer star Mesut Özil had the world's first digital goods drop for 3D avatar company Genies. Basically, imagine a world where you have a 3D avatar online, and just like a video game you can dress it, customize it however you want, but you can also use it on every single platform you use: text messages, social media, even video games. That is what Genies is trying to do.

Özil launched a digital clothing drop with limited edition items and it generated $500,000 in 10 minutes. Could NHL apparel, NHL player goods be a part of this in the future? Maybe, certainly, why not?

Could we see NHL jerseys in Fortnite as skins one day? I hope so! The digital sandbox is expansive, and there are many possibilities.

I get the appeal, but a part of me thinks this is all just a fad and will tank.

That's a fair point shared by some people. Dapper Labs also developed CryptoKitties, which was a white-hot NFT collectible arena a few years ago which eventually fell off a cliff -- although this weird cat/dragon-looking thing is on sale for almost a million dollars.

The difference here is that, while the internet is run by cat memes and we all know it, sports fans are a different breed. There is a sense of loyalty, urge to collect and relive goose-bump moments and celebrate revered players, as well as invest. The sports connection might give it more staying power.

The draw for the UEFA Europa League round of 16 took place in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday, and from those Perspex bowls of destiny a blockbuster of a fixture was selected: Manchester United vs. AC Milan.

The two clubs have excellent pedigree when it comes to European football, winning the Champions League on 10 occasions between them, but this is the first time they have ever been pitted against each other in another UEFA competition.

11 - The first leg will be the 11th meeting between Manchester United and AC Milan in European competition, with all 10 previous meetings coming in the European Cup/Champions League. Fallen. #UELdraw pic.twitter.com/dDPyoTV3PT

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 26, 2021

United and Milan have faced each other only six times in competitive fixtures, with one of the most famous instances coming in the 2007 semifinals when Kaka scored a wonderful solo goal (with, it must be said, the help of some sub-optimal defending).

Memories of United vs Milan in the #UCL @KAKA ? https://t.co/aS2KbADnnA pic.twitter.com/QlCEOlJO5z

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 26, 2021

Sir Alex Ferguson's side won 3-2 at home in the first leg but a brilliant brace from Kaka ultimately ensured that the Rossoneri advanced with a 5-3 aggregate victory, maintaining the Italian giants' head-to-head hold over the Red Devils.

4 - Manchester United have been eliminated from four of their five UEFA European knockout ties against AC Milan - no side has eliminated the Red Devils more often (also Real Madrid, 4). Foes. #UELdraw pic.twitter.com/Fly56WhSNW

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 26, 2021

However, it's not like Milan have always had it their own way, with the 2010 Champions League round of 16 being a case in point.

Another European classic ?❓

? Milan 2-3 Manchester United, 2010:

⏰0⃣3⃣ Ronaldinho
⏰3⃣6⃣ Scholes
⏰6⃣6⃣ Rooney
⏰7⃣4⃣ Rooney
⏰8⃣5⃣ Seedorf #UCL https://t.co/aS2KbADnnA pic.twitter.com/0QJCE4rcTt

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 26, 2021

There's a reason why Sir Alex Ferguson is considered the greatest manager of all time.

Man United beat this AC Milan team 7-2 on aggregate back in 2010 ? pic.twitter.com/7C4wftJJ4I

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 26, 2021

United have fairly recent experience of what it takes to win the Europa League having won the tournament four years ago.

Glory came in 2016-17 when a certain Zlatan Ibrahimovic, in the first of his two seasons at Old Trafford, helped power the Red Devils through to the latter stages of the competition only to miss the final with a knee injury.

Famously, Ibrahimovic attended the final on crutches but he still managed to celebrate the 2-0 win over Ajax in Stockholm with real gusto.

Man United vs. AC Milan in the Europa League last 16.

The return of Zlatan ? pic.twitter.com/XtuQQxweKc

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 26, 2021

Ibra had already made a telling contribution that season, though. He scored the winning goal on his United debut, a 2-1 win over Leicester City to win the season-opening Community Shield at Wembley, and he also netted two goals in the 3-2 win over Southampton in the EFL Cup final.

??? ???? ?????? ?

?️ It's been 4️⃣ years since @Ibra_Official headed home the winner at Wembley! ?#MUFC #GoalOfTheDay pic.twitter.com/s8fcLKDfs7

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 26, 2021

Overall that season, Ibrahimovic was directly involved in 37 goals in 46 games in all competitions for United during the 2016-17 campaign, scoring 28 goals and providing nine assists Unfortunately, his second season at Old Trafford was curtailed by injury, and he scored just once in seven appearances in 2017-18 before a spell out allowed to fully recover and embark on a goal-laden spell in MLS with LA Galaxy.

Zlatan Ibrahimović was directly involved in 37 goals in 46 games for Man Utd during the 2016-17:

◉ 28 goals
◉ 9 assists

He's coming back to Old Trafford. #UELdraw pic.twitter.com/3uDcY1MAbP

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) February 26, 2021

Now aged 39, the Swedish striker will now return to face his former club with Milan when the two heavyweights clash in the 2020-21 knockout phase. He'll be returning to Old Trafford hoping to wreak similar havoc on several of his former teammates.

Pogba ? Zlatan

The Lion is coming back to Old Trafford ? pic.twitter.com/YUmGaSaUQg

— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) February 26, 2021

Indeed, Eric Bailly must be fearing the worst after, during their time together as teammates, daring to kick Ibra in the backside and fleeing the scene before the latter -- a Taekwondo black belt, no less -- could exact his revenge.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Eric Bailly (@ericbailly24)

At least Bailly will likely avoid having to face Ibra -- on the pitch at least - as he has not started too many matches this season. So it will likely be some other United defenders who will be dreading having to contain a striker who, despite his advancing years, has still scored 16 goals in 20 appearances this season.

When you realise you're going to have to mark Zlatan Ibrahimovic - TWICE!

Manchester United have drawn AC Milan in the last 16 of the Europa League. pic.twitter.com/3iPutoaCdJ

— BenchWarmers (@BeWarmers) February 26, 2021

This tie will be one that both sets of fans can get excited about, in particular followers of United who will get to see their former star take to the Old Trafford pitch once more. It's just such a shame that none of them will be there to see it in person.

Teams Manchester United have been drawn against in cup competitions this season:

Paris Saint-Germain ??
RB Leipzig ??
Manchester City ???????
Liverpool ???????
Real Sociedad ??
Leicester City ???????
AC Milan ??

So many great ties, players and clubs that crowds have missed on seeing ? pic.twitter.com/sya9pRhkdH

— FourFourTwo (@FourFourTwo) February 26, 2021

Multan Sultans 159 for 3 (Rizwan 76, Maqsood 61*, Afridi 2-29) beat Lahore Qalandars 157 for 6 (Hafeez 60, Brathwaite 2-20, Dhani 2-39) by seven wickets

With the state of a world at the moment, almost everyone craves a return to the way things were a couple of years ago. Watching Lahore Qalandars in the PSL on Friday, you might as well have been transported there for three hours after Multan Sultan walloped them by seven wickets with nearly four overs to spare, ending their perfect start to this season. It was a performance of overwhelming dominance from the increasingly irrepressible Mohammad Rizwan whose 49-ball 76 made light work of a chase of 157.

The win was set up by the bowlers right at the start of the match after the Sultans won the toss and - guess what - decided to bowl. With Lahore opener Sohail Akhtar struggling for fluency, Sohail Khan and Shahnawaz Dhani's plan to cramp Fakhar Zaman for room worked like a charm, stifling him before bringing the wicket. By the time the powerplay was done, the Qalandars had managed just 25, their lowest six-over total in PSL history.

It was only Mohammad Hafeez, perhaps the only Pakistan batsman to match Rizwan for form at the moment, who propelled Lahore to a respectable total. He began by clobbering a six back over bowler Shahid Afridi's head, who had a difficult day today.

Hafeez went from strength to strength, bringing up his half-century of 27 balls, but a mix-up with Samit Patel led to his first dismissal of the tournament. There was no one to take over the mantle from him, and the Qalandars' innings began to splutter from that moment. Joe Denly, Ben Dunk and Patel all failed to get their side to the sort of total that would challenge the Sultans, and while the early wickets of Chris Lynn and James Vince gave the Qalandars hope, it was only flickering.

Star of the day
With the Sultans lacking a premium fast-bowling asset, Carlos Brathwaite has proven himself surprisingly useful, particularly in the first half of the innings. He was introduced as early as the fourth over today, and with his exotic mix of pace, angles, and length, kicked things off with a wicket maiden. Even Hafeez struggled to really get a hold of the West Indian, while Joe Denly often took several deliveries simply to get off strike against him. When he came on in the 14th over to bowl his final over, he broke an 89-run third-wicket partnership that looked to have set up the Qalandars for the finish, drawing Denly wide outside off stump to get him nicking off. It wasn't bowling to set the heart racing, but Brathwaite's intelligence did at least as much for the Sultans' chances as Rizwan's belligerence in the second half.

Miss of the day
The Qalandars weren't just ordinary with bat and ball today, but also in the field. Zaman's struggles up top might have caught the headlines for how heavily the side relies on him, but it wasn't the only department he was found wanting. There were two chances to put an end to the 110-run partnership between Sohaib Maqsood and Rizwan, with each of them allowed a reprieve by Zaman in the deep. When Maqsood sliced one to him, he opted for the safety of collecting it on the bounce, while Rizwan's chance spooned straight into his hands and back out again a few overs later. It was a day Zaman will want to put out of his mind, and on that point, he'll find the rest of his side in agreement.

Honourable mention
Despite the Qalandars having little to smile about, there was still the obligatory moment of magic that Shaheen Afridi would conjure up, almost like it's been written into his contract. In his first over, he had the out-of-form Chris Lynn facing up to him, a contest that would end by knockout in two balls. Lynn kept out the first one, an inswinging yorker, before being hopelessly outfoxed by a dream of a follow-up. Landing on middle a foot from the base of the stumps, it seamed ever so slightly towards off and away from the bat Lynn hopelessly brought down to fend it off. It would crash into off stump to create that most elegant spectacle, a cartwheeling off stump after an impact to its base, with a flummoxed batsman frozen just in front of it.

Afridi followed it up with another wicket in the 15th over, though the one that removed Rizwan was more of a formality after the game was done. It produced one of the cosier moments of the game, with the 20-year old walking up to the man eight years his senior and giving him a pat on the head to acknowledge his efforts.