NYC Sports Booster

03/24/2022

By: Jeff Yoder

Good Morning,

The second weekend of the NCAA Tournament tips off tonight with the Sweet 16. My Final Four is still in tact, but it’s only a matter of time. How’s your bracket holding up? Reply to today’s newsletter with your Sweet 16 takes and you might get a shoutout in tomorrow’s edition.

Letter Rip!

NCAA TOURNAMENT

Sweet 16 Schedule

Tonight

#1 Gonzaga vs. #4 Arkansas (7:09 pm ET, CBS)

#2 Villanova vs. #11 Michigan (7:29 pm ET, TBS)

#2 Duke vs. #3 Texas Tech (9:39 pm ET, CBS)

#1 Arizona vs. #5 Houston (9:59 pm ET, TBS)

Tomorrow

#3 Purdue vs. #15 Saint Peter’s (7:09 pm ET, CBS)

#1 Kansas vs. #4 Providence (7:29 pm ET, TBS)

#4 UCLA vs. #8 North Carolina (9:39 pm ET, CBS)

#10 Miami vs. #11 Iowa State (9:59 pm ET, TBS)

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SPORTS

The Unvaxxed Are Back

Photo: Adam Glanzmann / Getty Images

New York City Mayor Drops Mandate Allowing Mets, Yankees & Kyrie Irving to Play Home Games

One of the last remaining sports hurdle in the era of COVID-19 has finally been eliminated. Later today, New York City mayor Eric Adams is expected to announce the private-sector vaccine mandate will no longer apply to performers and athletes in local venues. The news will allow unvaccinated players to participate in home games. That includes both Mets and Yankees players, as well as the Brooklyn Nets’ high-profile star, Kyrie Irving.

Kyrie Irving: The Nets (38-34) are currently 8th in the Eastern Conference and desperately need Irving back for the stretch run and postseason. Irving has spent the entire 2021-22 NBA season participating only on road trips. The mandate reversal should give Brooklyn a boost just in time for the playoffs.

Mets & Yankees: It’s not known which Mets and Yankees players are unvaccinated, but the timing of the news means no one will know as 100 percent of players will be full participants on Opening Day.

The Border Exception: When it comes to sports, Canada-based teams present the final COVID-19 hurdle with international travel restrictions. Unvaccinated players will still be unable to participate in games based in Toronto (ie. Raptors and Blue Jays). Should the Nets draw the Raptors in the playoffs, Irving’s status could become a factor. As for the upcoming NHL Playoffs, only four NHL players reportedly remain unvaccinated.

Additional Storylines

USA Today: NYC to Lift Mandate, Paving Way for Unvaccinated Players

NY Post: Mayor’s Vaccine-Mandate Change a Win for NYC Sports—But Clear Double Standard

House of Highlights: Kyrie Irving Goes for 43 Against Grizzlies After NYC Mandate News (Video)

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NFL

Dolphins Swing Deal for Speedster

Photo: Harry How / Getty Images

Dolphins Acquires WR Tyreek Hill from Chiefs, Then Give $120 Million Extension

Another blockbuster NFL deal has been made. After acquiring WR JuJu Smith-Schuster over the weekend, the Chiefs traded WR Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins in exchange for a haul of five picks, including three in the top 100 of next month’s draft. The Dolphins add the speedy wideout to partner alongside second-year receiver Jalen Waddle, and they’ve given QB Tua Tagovailoa an abundance of weapons to sink or swim in 2022. Within hours after the trade, Miami also gave Hill a four-year, $120 million extension that included $72 million guaranteed. Two of the game’s best receiver — Hill and Davante Adams — have moved within a week.

Trade Details

Dolphins Get: WR Tyreek Hill

Chiefs Get: 1st-Round Pick (2022), 2nd-Round Pick (2022), 4th-Round Pick (2022), 4th-Round Pick (2023), 6th-Round Pick (2023)

Additional Storylines

NFL: Winners & Losers From Tyreek Hill Trade

CBS Sports: Trade Grades: Dolphins Give Up King’s Ransom to Acquire Explosive Hill

FTW: Tyreek Hill Trade Means Gap Between Chiefs & Rest of AFC West Continues to Close

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PGA

Golf’s Own ‘March Madness’

Photo: Michael Reaves / Getty Images

WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play Brings Brackets to the Golf Course

The bracket madness isn’t just for hoops. The WGC Dell Technologies Match Play tournament teed off yesterday in Texas with the world’s top 64 players. Day 1 of group play is in the books, but there’s no traditional leaderboard like we’re used to on event weekends. Instead, the rules of the game are different. Meet golf’s own version of March Madness…

How the Match Play Bracket Works

Each of the top 64 players in the world were invited to Austin Country Club. They were divided into 16 groups of four for three days of match play within their groups. After Friday’s round, the winner of each group will advance to the knockout stage. Saturday features the Round of 16 with quarterfinals in the afternoon. Sunday brings the semifinals and finals to determine the individual winner.

Full Leaderboard (Round 1)

Schedule

Thursday: Group Play

Friday: Group Play

Saturday: Round of 16 (AM) / Quarterfinals (PM)

Sunday: Semifinals (AM) / Finals (PM)

Additional Storylines

PGA: 5 Matches to Watch Thursday at WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play

Golf Channel: From Format to Field, How the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play Works

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THE STORYLINES

NCAA Sweet 16: By the Numbers

The 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is pushing forward into its second week, beginning with the Sweet 16 on Thursday. Here are the numbers to know ahead of Thursday’s matchups. (FOX Sports)

NFL Free Agency’s Most Improved

The 2022 NFL free agency deals are just now starting to slow down. Numerous playmakers and impact talents have agreed to terms for 2022 and beyond. Which moves stand out so far, and what have we learned from a week of players headed to new teams? (ESPN)

Winners & Losers of NHL Trade Deadline

The run-up was interminable. But once it arrived Monday, the NHL’s annual trade deadline veered a bit closer to frantic. Monday’s top-line buzz came courtesy of Marc-Andre Fleury. Here are the biggest winners and losers at the NHL trade deadline. (Bleacher Report)

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THE HEADLINES