It’s the shortest month of the yr, however February packs a punch relating to the sports activities calendar.
With the Philadelphia Eagles topped Tremendous Bowl LIX champions on Sunday night time, soccer season is formally behind us. But there are a couple of tentpole sporting occasions on the instant horizon we have now to sit up for, together with some school hoops enjoyable earlier than Choice Sunday arrives.
4 Nations Face-Off
Do you know that Connor McDavid has not competed in a global occasion because the 2018 IIHF World Championship? He’s additionally by no means been Crew Canada teammates with Sidney Crosby.
The league’s most proficient younger star was shut out of two straight Olympics as a result of NHL’s unwillingness to take part. “We are able to’t go six, seven, eight years with out taking part in best-on-best,” McDavid mentioned after the NHL cited COVID-19 considerations for pulling out of the 2022 Beijing Video games.
Enter the 4 Nations Face-Off, a brand new event I’m intrigued to look at. The U.S., Canada, Sweden and Finland have put collectively rosters full of NHL expertise and can play a spherical robin in Montreal and Boston Feb. 12-17 earlier than the championship sport Feb. 20. Contemplate it a teaser for the 2026 Winter Video games, when NHL gamers are set to return (knock on wooden).
NBA All-Star Weekend
Feb 5, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) reacts after getting the basket and the foul in opposition to the Chicago Bulls throughout the third quarter at Goal Heart. Obligatory Credit score: Nick Wosika-Imagn Photos Talking of latest codecs, the All-Star Sport will really be a three-game tourney because the NBA continues to tweak and tinker with the occasion looking for higher scores.
Three All-Star groups have been drafted for the mini-tournament that additionally incorporates a squad of Rising Stars. I assume it’s value a shot. Kenny Smith was roundly mocked for the workforce he drafted, permitting Groups Shaq and Chuck to snap up the most important names within the sport whereas he settled for a bunch of supporting items round Anthony Edwards and Jalen Brunson.
The dunk contest lineup is fairly weak, whereas the 3-point contest has way more bankable names—but when I’m following the NBA discourse accurately, nobody will watch as a result of the complete league has develop into a 3-point contest at this level.
Daytona 500
Nov 10, 2024; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Cup Collection driver Joey Logano (22) celebrates after profitable the 2024 NASCAR Cup Collection championship and the NASCAR Cup Collection Championship race at Phoenix Raceway. Obligatory Credit score: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Photos I admit I’m not a NASCAR man, however there’s loads of purpose to catch a number of the Daytona 500 this Sunday, beginning with the truth that it’s a Crown Jewel race and the primary alternative to see the game’s star drivers in months.
Would possibly Kyle Busch finish his uncharacteristically lengthy winless drought and win Daytona for the primary time? May Denny Hamlin seize his fourth? And after receiving a preliminary injunction in its antitrust lawsuit in opposition to NASCAR, is Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing able to concentrate on, nicely, racing?
High-five school hoops: Auburn at Alabama
Jan 29, 2025; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide guard Chris Youngblood (8) reacts after defeating the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Humphrey Coliseum. Obligatory Credit score: Wesley Hale-Imagn Photos The Iron Bowl on the hardwood? Please and thanks. This Saturday at 4 p.m. ET—earlier than you skip the dunk contest in favor of actually every other night plans—be sure you catch this sport.
Florida simply handed then-No. 1 Auburn its first loss in SEC play, 90-81 at Auburn. Who’s going to imagine the No. 1 spot in Monday’s new AP ballot? In all probability Alabama, as a result of No. 2 Duke additionally took a loss over the weekend whereas the No. 3 Tide improved to 20-3 with their sixth straight win.
These groups have the No. 1 and eight scoring offenses within the nation. Alabama likes to run the ground with the quickest tempo within the sport, protection be damned. A former five-star transferred from one faculty to the opposite. Unhealthy blood? You higher consider it.