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A16 sports
Saturday 30 January 2021
Chiefs trying for first Super Bowl repeat win in 16 years

By BARRY WILNER But Brady was the man in a
AP Pro Football Writer weird Super Bowl in Hous-
Do it again? ton, when no points were
Not in the NFL, at least not scored in the opening or
lately. third quarter. But 61 points
On Feb. 7, the Kansas were packed into the oth-
City Chiefs will be the lat- er two periods, and Brady
est franchise to attempt went 32 for 48 for 354 yards
winning successive Super with three touchdowns and
Bowls when they take on one interception.
the Buccaneers. In Tampa, After the Panthers tied it 29-
of all places. Against Tom 29, John Kasay kicked off
Brady, of all people. out of bounds. From there,
It’s an achievement simply Brady led the winning drive
to get this far once again. to Adam Vinatieri’s 41-yard
“The thing I can see as a field goal.
positive is the record, that “I don’t know how I do
we’ve persevered through it,” Brady said then, with a
some tough games,” Chiefs laugh. “We just were trying
coach Andy Reid said, to keep our poise. You real-
“and so the mental tough- ize in games like this you’ve
ness to do that individually got to play for 60 minutes.
each week was important, We made enough plays
knowing that you’re going In this Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021 file photo, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, right, watches toward the end to win it. ...
to get people’s best shot, quarterback Patrick Mahomes warm up before an NFL divisional round football game against the That’s what happens in Su-
and there’s the respect Cleveland Browns in Kansas City. Associated Press per Bowls.”
factor. As it did against the Rams a
“They didn’t question each the 2014 season — against were the 1988 and ‘89 suffered a chest injury in couple of seasons before.
other, they didn’t question New England, no less; re- champions; Dallas and its the second game of the “Maybe it was a little deja
the coaches, they stayed member Malcolm Butler’s Hall of Fame Triplets of Em- schedule. After missing the vu of two years ago,” Vi-
focused and delivered. goal-line interception? — mitt Smith, Troy Aikman and playoffs entirely in 2002, the natieri said then. “Tom did
However, that falls in, I’m and the Patriots in the 2017 Michael Irvin pulled off the Patriots were primed for an- it again, he’s amazing. This
not sure how to catego- season, the Super Bowl fea- double in 1992 and ‘93; other championship chal- supporting cast did it again
rize that, but I just think that turing the Philly Special. then John Elway finished off lenge the next year. They and gave me a chance.”
might have been the big- Super Bowl repeats once his illustrious Broncos career put together a league- After winning the 2001 title,
gest challenge. You’ve were relatively common. with two straight NFL titles in best 14-2 record sparked New England faltered and
seen that with teams, when The first two went to the 1997 and ‘98. by the defense (238 points failed to make the postsea-
things aren’t going right, Lombardi Packers. Don But since Tom Brady took allowed, an NFL low) at a son the next year. Applying
they just kind of fall apart Shula’s Dolphins soon repli- New England to the top time when Brady was not lessons they learned from
there. Our guys have not cated the feat, even throw- 2003 and ‘04, nothing. yet an offensive force. that disappointment, the
done that, they all stuck to- ing in a perfect season for “It’s hard, you know?” That defense featured one Patriots again went 14-2 in
gether and trusted.” 1972. And Pittsburgh’s Steel Brady has said — and he is Pro Football Hall of Famer, 2004. Brady was becom-
Only twice since the Patri- Curtain not only went back heading to his record 10th cornerback Ty Law; a 2021 ing more of a presence as
ots pulled off the most re- to back in the 1974 and ‘75 Super Bowl. finalist for the hall, lineman a passer, though his targets
cent repeat in the 2003 and seasons, they did so again Brady led New England to Richard Seymour, and such weren’t standouts; Randy
2004 seasons has a cham- in 1978 and ‘79. its first NFL title in the 2001 other notables as Tedy Brus- Moss, Rob Gronkowski and
pion gotten back to the We’re not done. The Bill season, a second-year chi, Rodney Harrison, Willie Julian Edelman weren’t yet
big game. Seattle failed in Walsh/Joe Montana 49ers backup until Drew Bledsoe McGinest and Mike Vrabel. aboard.q

Griffey hired as MLB senior adviser for youth development

NEW YORK (AP) — Ken Griffey Jr. has been hired
as a senior adviser to baseball Commissioner Rob
Manfred.
The Hall of Fame outfielder will work in baseball
operations and on youth baseball development.
He is tasked with improving diversity at amateur
levels, Major League Baseball said Friday,
Griffey will work as an MLB ambassador at youth
initiatives and at its special events, including the
postseason and the All-Star Game.
“We welcome the perspective and insights that
Ken gained as an historic player, as a parent, and
as someone who has spent his life in and around
our great game,” Manfred said in a statement.
Griffey was a 13-time All-Star who hit .284 with 630
home runs and 1,836 RBIs in 22 seasons for Seattle
(1989-99, 2009-10), Cincinnati (2000-08) and the National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Ken Griffey Jr. speaks during induction ceremonies in
Chicago White Sox (2008). He was elected to the Cooperstown, N.Y., in this Sunday, July 24, 2016, file photo.
Hall in 2016.q Associated Press