National sports news roundup

It’s been a busy couple of weeks around the sports world. If you’ve been living under a rock since our last print edition, here’s what you missed:

Football

The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was named Super Bowl MVP, as he led Kansas City to a 38-35 win and his second Super Bowl victory.
The NFL head coaching carousel has officially stopped spinning. The Arizona Cardinals hired former Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. The Broncos traded a 2023 first-rounder and a 2024 second-rounder for the rights to sign former Super Bowl winning Head Coach Sean Payton, then signed him. The Houston Texans hired DeMeco Ryans, former 49ers defensive coordinator to be their third head coach in as many years. The Carolina Panthers hired recently fired Colts Head Coach Frank Reich as their new head coach, and the Colts hired former Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen to replace Reich.

Basketball

Lebron James officially became the NBA scoring king on Feb. 7. Lebron scored 38 points against Oklahoma City and surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabar’s former record of 38,387 career points, a record once believed to be unbreakable.
The Phoenix Suns acquired future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant from the Brooklyn Nets on Feb. 9, just days after Durant’s former teammate Kyrie Irving was traded to the Dallas Mavericks. In all, Brooklyn received forwards Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder and guard Spencer Dinwiddie, plus seven draft picks, including five future first rounders.

Baseball

Pitchers and catchers reported to MLB spring training for most teams on Feb. 15, and all teams will have opened camp by Feb. 17. Games start on Feb. 24 with a pair of Cactus league matchups. Opening day for all 30 teams will be March 30.
MLB’s on-field product will look a little different this year. There will now be a pitch clock, which is meant to shorten games. Teams are now required to have two infielders on each side of second base when a pitch is thrown, and all four infielders have to be on the infield grass, effectively eliminating “the shift.” The bases have been made larger in an effort to increase base stealing. Pitchers are also only allowed to step off the mound twice in one at bat, another rule meant to shorten games.
The 2023 World Baseball Classic opens March 8, as Cuba plays the Netherlands. Defending champion team USA, captained by Mike Trout, opens pool play on March 11, at 9 p.m. ET.
Fox Sports announced that Hall of Fame former Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter will be a part of its MLB studio coverage for the 2023 season.

Miscellaneous

New Mexico State has canceled the remainder of its men’s basketball season after allegations against three current players of sexual misconduct and hazing against a teammate.
The Universities of Texas and Oklahoma will join the Southeastern Conference in 2024, one year before they were originally scheduled to make the move. The Big 12 conference approved the early exit on Feb. 9