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SPORTS Tuesday 31 January 2023
Mahomes, Hurts set for historic Super Bowl matchup

By ROB MAADDI widely criticized by report-
AP Pro Football Writer ers and fans. “My first year
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Black here, (people) probably
quarterbacks have come didn’t even want to draft
a long way in the NFL since me here,” Hurts said Sun-
Fritz Pollard became the day. “It was probably one
first to play in the league of those things. But it always
in 1923 and Doug Williams handles itself.”
was the first to start and win Neither Hurts nor Mahomes
a Super Bowl following the celebrated their confer-
1987 season. ence championship wins
Now, Patrick Mahomes too much. The main goal
and Jalen Hurts will be the remains ahead. They each
first Black QBs to face off in want one more win.
a Super Bowl. Hurts puffed a victory cigar
It’s fitting that a season after the Eagles routed the
which began with 11 Black San Francisco 49ers 31-7
QBs starting in Week 1 will but he showed little emo-
end with a historic match- tion, per usual, in his post-
up. game news conference.
Mahomes can become “I don’t really know how to
the first two-time winner if feel to be honest. You work
he leads the Kansas City really hard to put yourself in
Chiefs to victory over the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes holds the Lamar Hunt Trophy after the NFL AFC this position and I’m forever
Philadelphia Eagles on Feb. Championship playoff football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023, in grateful,” Hurts said. “Only
12. Hurts aims to become Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs won 23-20. Associated Press God knows the things that
the fourth Black QB to win each individual on this
the Super Bowl, joining Wil- stereotypes to get to this started five NFC champion- after the Eagles took him in team has been able to
liams, Mahomes and Rus- point. Jackson said a scout ship games for the Eagles, the second round. Playing overcome for us to come
sell Wilson. from the Los Angeles Char- was told by some college behind Carson Wentz, Hurts together as a team and
Michael Vick was the first gers asked him to run routes scouts that he had to play had 12 rushing attempts, do something special as a
Black QB selected No. 1 at the NFL combine in 2018. running back or wide re- one catch and threw just group. That’s what means
overall in the draft in 2001. The Baltimore Ravens end- ceiver. He wouldn’t switch three passes in his first nine the most. I always want to
McNair became the first ed up selecting him with positions, went to Syracuse games before taking over go out there and give my
Black QB to win MVP in the 32nd pick in the first to play quarterback and as Philadelphia’s QB. best regardless of what’s
2003. Mahomes and Lamar round and he was MVP in was drafted No. 2 overall in He clearly has not forgot- going on because I don’t
Jackson won it back-to- his second season. 1999 by Philadelphia. ten that the decision to want to let down the guy
back years. Donovan McNabb, a six- Hurts began his NFL career draft him in the second next to me. That makes us
They all had to overcome time Pro Bowl QB who in 2020 as an all-purpose QB round of the 2020 draft was all go harder.” q

Djokovic back at top of ATP rankings; Sabalenka No. 2 in WTA

By HOWARD FENDRICH than I have, maybe ever in trophies. 5 after getting to the quar- ing against Djokovic. Paul’s
AP Tennis Writer my career. I don’t take it for Alcaraz slid to No. 2. He terfinals. showing in Melbourne lifted
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) granted.” had become the youngest Cracking the top 20 for the him 16 spots from No. 35 to
— Novak Djokovic’s Aus- Aryna Sabalenka’s first ma- man to be No. 1 when he first time is Tommy Paul, a No. 19.
tralian Open championship jor title moved her up from took over at age 19 after 25-year-old American who He is one of 10 U.S. men in
returned him to a rather fa- No. 5 to a career-best- winning the U.S. Open last reached his first Grand the top 50, something that
miliar spot on Monday: No. equaling No. 2 in the WTA September. Alcaraz missed Slam semifinal before exit- last happened in 1995.q
1 in the ATP rankings. rankings, behind only three- the Australian Open be-
His four-place rise from No. time major champion Iga cause of a leg injury.
5 to replace Carlos Alcaraz Swiatek. Nadal, who hurt his left hip
at No. 1 is the largest jump Ons Jabeur, twice a finalist flexor during a second-
to the top spot in the 50- at Slams in 2022, went from round loss to Mackenzie
year history of the comput- No. 2 to No. 3, followed by McDonald of the United
erized rankings for men’s No. 4 Jessica Pegula, No. 5 States, dropped from No. 2
tennis. Caroline Garcia and No. 6 to No. 6.
“You never know how Coco Gauff. Tsitsipas went from No. 4
much more time you have The player Sabalenka beat to No. 3 because of his run
left, so, of course, I nurture in Saturday’s Australian in Melbourne; he would
and celebrate these mo- Open final, Elena Rybakina, have been No. 1 for the first
ments of becoming No. makes her top 10 debut at time if he had managed
1 again and Grand Slam No. 10, up from No. 25. to win the title. Casper
champion,” the 35-year- This marks Djokovic’s 374th Ruud, a two-time Grand
old Djokovic said after week leading the ATP, add- Slam runner-up who lost in Novak Djokovic of Serbia hugs the Norman Brookes Challenge
beating Stefanos Tsitsipas ing to his record. He earned the second round to Jen- Cup in the locker-room after defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas of
6-3, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5) in the fi- a 10th title at the Austra- son Brooksby of the United Greece in the men’s singles final at the Australian Open tennis
nal at Melbourne Park on lian Open and tied Rafael States, went from No. 3 to championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan 30, 2023.
Sunday night, “even more Nadal with 22 Grand Slam No. 4. Andrey Rublev is No. Associated Press