The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Chen wins fifth straight U.S. title
Dick Button has always been the measuring stick for American men figure skaters. And no wonder, with seven straight U.S. titles and two Olympic gold medals.
Nathan Chen has leapt into Button territory.
Even with an error at the beginning of his free skate, Chen was unbeatable Feb. 17, winning his fifth straight U.S. Figure Skating Championship. Not since Button won each title from 1946-52 has any American man had such a streak of success. Throw in two world championships and being unbeaten since not medaling at the 2018 Olympics, and Chen already has a resume for the ages. At age 21.
“It’s incredible to try to follow in his footsteps,” Chen said of Button. “It means the world. Dick is a true skating icon, and it just feels incredible to be trying to chase something that someone like that has done.”
Golf
NA RALLIES TO WIN » Three shots behind with six holes to play, Kevin Na birdied three straight holes and finished with an up-and-down birdie from behind the 18th green for a 5-under 65 and a one-shot victory in the Sony Open.
Na won for the fifth time in his PGA Tour career, and this one looked unlikely when he threeputted for bogey on the 12th hole at a time where there was no room for mistakes.
He answered with birdie putts of 15, 10 and 6 feet, and the winning shot was out of the right rough on the par-5 closing hole at Waialae and ran just over the back of the green. He chipped to tapin range for his last birdie.
NBA
VIRUS CONCERNS CONTINUE » Another NBA game was called off because of coronavirus concerns, and the Grizzlies said center Jonas Valanciunas will not play Jan. 18 because of the league’s health and safety protocols.
The NBA said the Philadelphia at Oklahoma City game, scheduled for Jan. 17, could not be played because the 76ers did not “have the league-required eight available players to proceed” because of contact tracing.
It was the 13th game called off since Jan. 10 because of virus issues.