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Big boys already hurting new CFP

By Ralph D. Russos The Associated Press The College Football Playoff unveiled a 12-team format in the spring of 2021 that looked like an exciting step in the evolution of the postseason, with potential to lift the sport’s national profile even further while boosting all five power conferences and keeping the other five relevant. Three years later, the expanded playoff fans were promised is not what they are getting. It has been twisted and distorted by conference realignment and greed, with more changes being proposed that nobody outside of a few beneficiaries want. There will ...

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Treat officials with respect they deserve As winter sports draw to a close, and spring sports just around the corner, it’s a great time to remind sports fans across the area about good sportsmanship toward game officials. The men and women who put on the stripes do so to give back to the game they love and to ensure your student-athlete enjoys their experience. Their preparation goes far beyond the courts and fields, more than the casual fan ever notices, such as in-season meetings, exams and rules meetings. As the average age of officials climb, more and more retire or ...

Behind the scenes, it’s ‘super,’ too

By Ira Kaufman For the Mirror Is it possible to enjoy yourself at the Super Bowl without even going to the game? Yes! Last weekend I was in Las Vegas for all the Super Bowl festivities — parties, music, food and rubbing elbows with current and former NFL players. As the ultimate NFL fan, I was like a kid in a candy store, meeting and talking to so many current and former players, in a relaxed setting. On Friday afternoon, I went over to the Aria Hotel (where many of the players stayed), and at one point, while CeeDee Lamb and Ezekiel Elliot were playing blackjack right in ...

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DeLeo’s work worthy of recognition I am writing to show my appreciation to a man who has covered area sports for the last 40 years on radio, television and as a public-address announcer. That man is Rich DeLeo. Rich covered Altoona Area High School basketball in the beginning of his career and now is known as the voice of Bishop Guilfoyle football and basketball. In between, he has been the PA announcer for the Altoona Curve and Saint Francis basketball. He has a weekly television sports show and has hosted radio shows in the past. The ...

Don’t count Belichick out just yet

By Rob Maaddi The Associated Press Bill Belichick has won more Super Bowls than any coach and more games than everyone except Don Shula. Still, he didn’t land a new job. An iconic coach who built a two-decade dynasty in New England and teamed with Tom Brady to lead the Patriots to six championships somehow got shut out in a hiring cycle that started with eight openings. “I was surprised. I thought there would be quite a bit of interest in someone who has won that much and is available,” Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy told the AP. “Coach Belichick is obviously a legend ...

Don’t write Djokovic off just yet

By Howard Fendrich The Associated Press It might be tempting to see some tidy symbolism and greater significance in Novak Djokovic’s loss to Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open semifinals. The end of the thirtysomething Djokovic’s 33-match winning streak at Melbourne Park. The end of his bid for an 11th championship there and 25th Grand Slam trophy overall. The breakthrough for the twentysomething Sinner, an up-and-coming talent who will now get to play in his first major final, against Daniil Medvedev on Sunday. Then again, that was the sort of passing-of-the-torch ...