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A32 sports
Diamars 9 November 2021

Rough weekend for NFL teams atop the standings

second straight loss after a that had lost 21 of its last 23 frontrunner following their
5-2 start. games. Their high-powered convincing win on the road
offense hasn’t been sharp in against Los Angeles. But they
A couple winning teams consecutive games, includ- still have to play without
struggled to get their victo- ing last week’s victory over Henry for the long haul.
ries. The Ravens (6-2) need- Miami.
ed overtime to handle the Baltimore has overcome a
Vikings. The Chargers (5-3) Buffalo’s loss coupled with slew of injuries to lead the
beat Philadelphia on a late Tennessee’s win and a loss to AFC North. The Ravens
field goal. the Titans (7-2) last month have a difficult schedule
means the Bills have an up- over the final nine after road
Overall, division leaders were hill battle to get the No. 1 games at Miami and Chicago.
3-4 and home teams were seed in the AFC. They have
5-7. Three clubs favored to to hold off New England (5- The Bills still may have the
win by seven or more points 4) just to win the AFC East. most talented roster despite
lost outright. their recent struggles. The
(AP) - First-place teams in rookie Jordan Love’s first The Cowboys had won six in Chargers, Browns, Raiders
had a rough Sunday. start. Week 9 will serve as a prime a row before the inconsistent and Chiefs also have a shot to
example for any coach who Broncos dominated them. be there in late January.
Dak Prescott returned to the Coming off an emotional wants to issue the “any given
lineup for Dallas (6-2) and week, the Las Vegas Raiders Sunday” warning to his play- “The message is don’t take the Arizona (8-1) leads the NFC
the Cowboys didn’t score (5-2) struggled in a 23-16 loss ers before a game. Of course, cheese, and frankly we were race, but the Cardinals al-
until Denver led 30-0 in the at the Giants. they’ve heard it before. outcoached, we were out- ready lost at home to the
fourth quarter on the road. played all the way through,” Packers with Rodgers. Tom
Other winning teams had “It’s hard to win football Dallas coach Mike McCarthy Brady and the defending Su-
Josh Allen had three turn- a tough day at home. The games, no matter who you said. “This is the first time per Bowl champion Bucca-
overs and the Buffalo Bills Saints (5-3) lost to Atlanta in play,” Allen said. “We’re all I’ve felt clearly our energy neers (6-2) had a productive
(5-3) showed no discipline their first game missing Ja- grown men. We all get paid didn’t exceed our opponent. bye seeing three teams ahead
in an embarrassing 9-6 loss at meis Winston. The Rams (7- to play this game. They came That’s disappointing.” of them lose. And, the Cow-
woeful Jacksonville. 2) were routed by the AFC out. They wanted it more.” boys and Rams will bounce
South-leading Titans, who Heading into the second half, back after a loss.
Without Aaron Rodgers, won their first game since The Bills are an enigma. the conference races are wide
the Green Bay Packers (7-2) losing Derrick Henry. The They were the odds-on fa- open. This surely won’t be the last
couldn’t muster enough of- Bengals (5-4) were blown vorite to win the Super Bowl topsy-turvy weekend in the
fense to upend Kansas City out by the Browns for their but couldn’t beat a team The Titans are the AFC’s NFL this season.

Larson shares NASCAR title with supportive race school

(AP) — Anthony Martin emotional talks with Larson needed racing simulators what he went through,” An-
had just left Kyle Larson’s and believed his pain and his and Zoomed with students thony said. “We were there The Martins mingled with
NASCAR champion- apologies were sincere. Mi- on race days. He visited the from Day 1. Believed in him. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff
ship celebration, raised chelle gave him a history les- school without fanfare while Saw how down he was. We Gordon at the track and then
his arms and exclaimed, son on racial inequality that he sat out most of 2020. saw him go through all that. watched from the pits as Lar-
“We’re world champions!” spanned 400 years. And then go through all that son crossed the finish line
“Second chances are well- and win a championship?” first and confetti fluttered
Oh yes, at Phoenix Raceway, “They are a big part of my deserved for every type of down.
Larson’s first career title was life now,” Larson said Sunday human,” Michelle said. “He “I’m like a proud mom,” Mi-
shared with all who backed night. “I’m glad they were knocked this chance out of chelle said. “It makes me feel really spe-
him in his comeback. here to share with it.” the park.” cial that they were here today
The Martins had an instant and got to enjoy all the fes-
The Urban Youth Racing The Martins s tood their In a sport in which minori- bond Sunday when they met tivities,” Larson said.
School, the Philadelphia- ground as they accepted a ties are scarce at all levels, the Larson’s parents, Mike and
based program that creates driver who some had labeled Martins made it their mis- Janet, for the first time. The It was a moment that seemed
opportunities in racing for a racist back in the fold. sion to introduce inner-city Larsons told the Martins how hard to imagine when this
minorities, had founders An- youngsters, most of them much they appreciated their journey began.
thony and Michelle Martin “It wasn’t like our commu- Black, to the motorsports role in Larson’s personal
and two students at the track nity was happy that it was world with the school. The growth. “You kind of get through all
-- and they all got swept up in something that we did,” Mi- school has served more than of it and then at the end we’ll
the championship bash. chelle said. “We took a lot of 7,500 students from ages 8 to “Kyle talked to him about us. see where we truly stand and
shots, as well. One thing I 18 over the last 22 years and They knew,” Anthony said. see where we are,” Michelle
“I feel like at this point Kyle told Kyle was, if you’re will- teaches all aspects of auto “It was love.” said.
can’t be denied, on or off the ing to stand strong, we’ll racing, including driving and
track,” Michelle Martin said. stand strong with you. We Black racing history. UYRS
“We’re talking about realness just have to stand here and uses a science, technology,
here. And realness means take everything that comes engineering and math cur-
Kyle Larson.” because it’s going to come.” riculum and students are
quizzed and graded and com-
Larson used a slur while rac- Larson rewarded the olive pete for various year-end
ing online in April 2020 and branch offered by UYRS and awards.
lost his NASCAR ride, his Hendrick Motorsports with
sponsor, his multimillion- a Cup championship and Larson was already involved
dollar contract. He also wor- renewed dedication to the with the program through his
ried he lost the relationships school. Even as wins piled relationship with UYRS part-
he had forged with the kids up and championship pres- ner Chevrolet and attended a
and the school even before he sure mounted, Larson never year-end banquet in 2019.
was suspended from NAS- lost his bond with UYRS.
CAR. The Martins had deep, Larson bought the school “You have to understand