Sports briefs
Ravens’ Jackson wins NFL MVP
Lamar Jackson’s stunning season not only earned him the Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player Award, but he won it unanimously.
That’s right: The second-year quarterback of the Baltimore Ravens joins Tom Brady as the only players to receive every vote for MVP.
Jackson drew all 50 votes from a nationwide panel of media members who regularly cover the league. Baltimore’s All-Pro set an NFL record for yards rushing by a quarterback (1,206) and led an offense that compiled more yards on the ground (3,296) than any in league history. The Ravens won their final 12 games of the regular season to finish at 14-2, the league’s best mark.
The Ravens were big winners at NFL Honors on Saturday. John Harbaugh won coaching honors, and his offensive coordinator, Greg Roman, took best assistant coach honors.
Tennessee’s Ryan Tannehill earned the Comeback Player award by one vote over Jimmy Garoppolo, who will quarterback the 49ers in Sunday’s Super Bowl. New Orleans’ Michael Thomas took top offensive player honors, while New England’s Stephon Gilmore grabbed the defensive player award.
Rookie honors went to 49ers edge rusher Nick Bosa and Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, the top overall pick in last April’s draft.
American Kenin
wins first major title
This, essentially, was where Sofia Kenin was going to win or lose the Australian Open final: Down love-40 while serving at 2-all in the third set against two-time major champion Garbiñe Muguruza.
Kenin came through in spectacular fashion. She won the next five points, each with a winner – one an ace, the others clean groundstrokes to cap exchanges of 11 shots or more.
The American wouldn’t lose another game on her way to earning a Grand Slam title at age 21.
Demonstrative as can be – whether spiking a ball, dropping her racket or slapping her thigh – the 14th-seeded Kenin won the first major final of her career Saturday by coming back to beat a fading Muguruza 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 at Melbourne Park.
Kenin was so magnificent when it mattered the most, saving 10 of 12 break points she faced, while converting 5 of 6 that she earned.
In the NHL
Two days after smashing his stick in frustration, Sabres captain Jack Eichel held his arms up in celebration.
Eichel scored 36 seconds into overtime to secure Buffalo’s 2-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday. At the other end end of the ice, goalie Carter Hutton was being mobbed by his teammates for snapping an 0-8-4 skid and earning his first win since Oct. 22.
- Quinn Hughes scored twice, including his eighth of the season 42 seconds into overtime, and the Vancouver Canucks beat the New York Islanders 4-3 for their fifth consecutive victory.
- Jeff Petry had four assists, Carey Price made 29 saves and the Montreal Canadiens beat the Florida Panthers, 4-0.
In the NBA
Kawhi Leonard scored 31 points, his ninth straight game with at least that many, and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 118-106 Saturday.
Karl-Anthony Towns countered with 32 points and 12 rebounds for the Timberwolves, his fourth consecutive game with 30 or more points, but it wasn’t enough to keep Minnesota from losing its 11th in a row, matching the team’s skid from December.