>>NFL Wild Card Weekend Recap
(Undated) — The NFL’s Wild Card Weekend is in the books. On Sunday, the Saints held off the Panthers 31-26 and the Jaguars defeated the Bills 10-3. The Titans rallied to beat the Chiefs 22-21 and the Falcons took down the Rams 26-13 the day before. The Divisional Round pits the Eagles against Atlanta and the Vikings versus New Orleans in the NFC. The AFC features the Steelers opposite the Jaguars and the Patriots battle Tennessee.
>>Titans Sticking With Mularkey
(Undated) — The Titans beating the Chiefs is helping head coach Mike Mularkey keep his job. Controlling owner Amy Adams Strung released a statement backing Mularkey after the Wild Card round victory. There had been rumors if Tennessee lost that Mularkey would get fired.
>>Georgia, Alabama Clash In CFB National Championship Tomorrow
(Atlanta, GA) — It will be an All-SEC title game tonight as the Georgia Bulldogs meet the Alabama Crimson Tide in College Football Playoff National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Third-seeded Georgia knocked off two-seeded Oklahoma, 54-48, in the semifinals on New Year’s Day, while Alabama ripped Clemson, 24-6 to advance. The Crimson Tide have won four championships under Nick Saban since 2009.
>>LaVar Ball Rips On Luke Walton
(Birstonas, Lithuania) — LaVar Ball is making waves within the Lakers’ universe again. Ball told ESPN in an interview from Lithuania that the Lakers’ players aren’t giving it their all for head coach Luke Walton anymore. Lonzo Ball, LaVar’s oldest son, is a rookie for Los Angeles. LaVar complained about how Walton was using Lonzo in the rotation. He also claimed the Lakers are currently a good team despite their 12-and-27 record.
>>Mavs Head Coach Rick Carlisle Criticizes ESPN For Ball Coverage
(Dallas, TX) — Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle has had enough of the LaVar Ball sideshow. Carlisle criticized ESPN for posting a story about Ball going after Lakers head coach Luke Walton. Carlisle spoke before Dallas played the Knicks at home on Sunday night. He defended Walton’s track record going back to his time filling in for Steve Kerr with the Warriors.
>>Bulls Host Rockets
(Chicago, IL) — The Bulls are back at the United Center to face the Rockets tonight. Chicago split a two-game road trip with a win at Dallas and a 125-86 loss to the Pacers. The Bulls have lost four-of-five to drop to 14-and-26. Houston is 2-and-7 in its last nine. They’re 27-and-11.
>>Blues Lose To Caps In OT
(Washington, DC) — The Blues lost both ends of their two-game road trip, falling 4-3 in overtime at Washington on Sunday. They opened the swing with a 6-3 loss at Philadelphia. St. Louis is second in the Central Division with 55 points, two behind Winnipeg. The Blues host Florida tomorrow.
>>Blackhawks Clip Oilers
(Chicago, IL) — Two early goals put the Blackhawks up for good as they clipped the Oilers, 4-1, in Chicago. Nick Schmaltz lit the lamp just past eight minutes into the game, and Alex DeBrincat [[ deh-BRIHN-kiht ]] tallied less than 90 seconds later. Anton Forsberg notched 32 saves for Chicago, which has won five of its past six games at home. They’re at the Senators tomorrow night.
>>Illinois Can’t Hang With Michigan On Saturday
(Ann Arbor, MI) — Illinois is still winless in Big Ten play after a 79-69 loss to Michigan in Ann Arbor on Saturday. The Fighting Illini weren’t able to hold onto an early eight-point lead in the first half as they dropped to 10-and-7 and 0-and-4. They host Iowa on Thursday. It’s Illinois’ only game this week.
Coming up this Friday night on Talk 101, it’s the Talk 101 High School Game of the Week presented by Landmark of Taylorville as the MacArthur Generals travel cross town to take on Eisenhower. The Dale’s Southlake Pharmacy Pregame Show gets underway at 7:15p.m. and the tip-off follows at 7:30p.m. Join Scott Busboom and Kevin Hale with the call this Friday night on Talk 101 FM!