Gorman will deliver poem as part of Super Bowl Sunday
The NFL has selected three people who have served during the coronavirus pandemic as honorary captains for the Super Bowl along with inaugural poet Amanda Gorman for an original poem.
Commissioner Roger Goodell announced Wednesday that educator Trimaine Davis, nurse manager Suzie Dorner and Marine veteran James Martin will take part in the coin toss on Feb. 7 in Tampa, Florida. The trio was picked for embodying the NFL’s message of “It Takes All of Us” this season.
Gorman, the country’s first National Youth Poet Laureate, recited “The Hill We Climb” at the Biden inauguration Jan. 20. She will recite her poem about the trio’s impact before the game, which will be televised and shown inside Raymond James Stadium.
Davis made sure to get his students and their families in Los Angeles devices and internet access, and he also hosted tech workshops to help people learn how to use the devices.
WITTEN WILL SIGN WITH COWBOYS, THEN RETIRE » The Las Vegas Raiders’ plans going forward in 2021 will not include tight end Jason Witten.
Witten, 38, told ESPN he was retiring this offseason, but not before he signs a one-day contract with the Dallas Cowboys as a ceremonial gesture when the league year starts in March.
The Raiders signed Witten to a one-year contract worth $4 million in 2020 — a princely sum for a backup tight end — but believed it was worth it for a potential Hall of Fame-bound player who would play as a reserve and mentor young talents Darren Waller and Foster
Moreau.
LIONS HIRE EX-CHARGERS COACH LYNN AS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR »
The Detroit Lions have hired offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn, who led the Chargers for four seasons before being fired earlier this month.
Detroit added Lynn to first-year coach Dan Campbell’s staff on Wednesday, days after hiring Aaron Glenn to be their defensive coordinator.
Lynn had a 33-31 record in the regular season and was 1-1 in the playoffs with the Chargers from 2017 to 2020. He was 0-1 as interim coach of the Buffalo Bills in 2016 when he also served as offensive coordinator for 14 games. Lynn played running back for Denver and San Francisco from 1993 to 1999.
MLB
YANKS FINALIZE DEALS WITH KLUBER, LEMAHIEU, AGREE WITH O’DAY » The retooling New York Yankees finalized a $90 million, sixyear contract to retain AL batting champion DJ LeMahieu and completed an $11 million deal to add right-hander Corey Kluber.
The Yankees also reached a $2.5 million, one-year deal with submarining
right-handed reliever Darren O’Day. Day’s deal is subject to a successful physical.
LESTER FINALIZES $5M, 1-YEAR DEAL WITH NATIONALS » Left-handed starter Jon Lester and the Washington Nationals finalized a $5 million, one-year contract, giving the team a fourth member of a rotation led by Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin.
Lester and the team had an agreement in principle in place last week, pending the successful completion of a physical exam. TWINS, SIMMONS AGREE TO $10.5M DEAL » The Minnesota Twins and slick-fielding shortstop Andrelton Simmons agreed to a $10.5 million, one-year contract, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.
The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal is subject to a physical exam.
NBA
NBA ALL-STAR VOTING STARTS THURSDAY » NBA All-Star voting opens Thursday, without any final determination yet if there will be an actual All-Star Game this season.
The league said that “discussions surrounding a potential NBA All-Star Game are ongoing.” The Associated Press reported Monday that there have been talks about having an All-Star Game that would benefit historically Black institutions and COVID-19 relief, though no plan has been finalized.
MURRAY FINED $25,000 FOR STRIKING HARDAWAY’S GROIN » Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray was fined $25,000 by the NBA for a shot to the groin area of Dallas’ Tim Hardaway Jr.
Murray was ejected after the apparently intentional act in the third quarter of a game Monday night. The Nuggets won 117-113.
College football
NORTHWESTERN, FITZGERALD AGREE TO LONG EXTENSION » Northwestern and coach Pat Fitzgerald have agreed to a new contract through the 2030 season.
The 46-year-old Fitzgerald is by far the program’s winningest coach with a 106-81 record since he took over at his alma mater in 2006. The Wildcats have played in 10 bowl games during his tenure and won five. Northwestern captured its second Big Ten West championship in three years and beat Auburn in the Citrus Bowl last season.
JOSH HEUPEL HIRED AS NEW TENNESSEE COACH » Josh Heupel was hired as Tennessee football coach, giving the Vols a package deal with his athletic director, who was hired only six days ago himself.
Athletic director Danny White announced he has hired Heupel as Tennessee’s 27th head coach. He’s now the Vols’ fifth different head coach, not counting interim or acting coaches, since the end of the 2008 season.