Mahoming Pigeon

I still cover the news, but I spend every other minute drowning it out by watching sports. After a long NFL season (especially for us 49er fans), the SuperBowl matchup is set between the Eagles and the Chiefs. And the big story is Kansas City’s quest for an unprecedented three-peat. Patrick Mahomes should now be referred to as a Mahoming Pigeon. He always finds his way back the Super Bowl. (As if this era wasn’t horrific enough, now god is going to make me root for the Eagles.)

+ Before Bills’ fans even had a chance to shed a tear, employees in a small factory in Ada, Ohio were already making the balls for America’s biggest game. Super Bowl footballs are ready to go within hours of the matchup being set.

+ As amazing as it is that the Chiefs made it back to this game, how they did it is even more amazing. “The AFC championship game gave the Chiefs 17 consecutive victories in contests decided by one score, a probabilistic anomaly that cannot be dismissed as a fluke. In the moments that decide games and determine legacies, the Chiefs have consistently delivered.” The Chiefs have conquered the NFL by sustaining the unsustainable. (Which is even more impressive considering the new administration outlawed sustainability.)

+ In other sports news (maybe we should just do all sports in this newsletter?), Madison Keys played the long game and won her first tennis major after more than a decade of trying. And she did it by beating the best players in the world. Madison Keys’ Australian Open championship run was too good to be true, then it happened. Meanwhile, Janik Sinner looked unstoppable in his demolition of the field including fellow finalist Alexander Zverev. But he may be stopped for a drug violation that he had been previously cleared of. Jannik Sinner’s defiant move as World No.1 faces suspension after Australian Open triumph.