Weekend Filled With Sports

All-Star games generally don’t mean much, but this one did. The MVP of the NHL’s All-Star game doesn’t even play in the NHL.

John Scott, a former NHL player known mostly as an enforcer, was voted into the series of mini-games the NHL staged in Nashville by the fans and was named the MVP after scoring two goals. That brought his team a check for $1 million.

“You can’t put it into words. You can’t write this stuff,” said Scott, who is playing in the minors in Newfoundland.

But wait, there’s more. His wife Danielle will be delivering twins in the next week or so.

The NFL played its excuse for an All-Star game – the Pro Bowl. With many stars absent and the teams no longer representing the conferences, fans on social media expressed distaste for the whole enterprise. One of the hand-picked teams beat the other 49-27 and Russell Wilson threw three touchdown passes for that lucky group, earning MVP honors. This ship is sinking.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

No, 1 Oklahoma rallied from a 14-point deficit to beat LSU 77-75 on Saturday. Buddy Hield hit seven of eight 3-point attempts in the second half. … No. 2 North Carolina erased Boston College 89-62. … No. 4 Kansas beat No. 20 Kentucky 90-84. … No. 11 Virginia raced out to a big lead and topped No. 16 Louisville 63-47. … In women’s college basketball, No. 2 South Carolina extended its record to 21-0 by beating Texas A&M 70-63.

TENNIS

Novak Djokovic won his sixth Australian Open, defeating Andy Murray in the final. On the women’s side, Angelique Kerber shocked Serena Williams in three sets to win her first major. Williams had won her last eight finals in majors.

GOLF

Bad weather forced the Farmers Insurance Open into a Monday finish. Brandt Snedeker is the leader in the clubhouse.

ELSEWHERE
Detroit Lions receiver Calvin “Megatron” Johnson is said to be seriously considering retirement after nine seasons. … The Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers arrived in Northern California to finish their preparations for Super Bowl 50 on Sunday. … The United States Men’s National Team – (that’s soccer) posted a 3-2 victory over Iceland as Steve Birnbaum headed in the winner in the 90th minute in Carson, California.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman