MLB
Cubs unveil Clark, their first mascot since a live bear
CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs’ newly minted mascot made his debut at a Pediatric Developmental Center of a hospital near Wrigley Field.
Clark, a young bear wearing a Cubs jersey and backward blue baseball cap, was accompanied Monday at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center by a dozen team prospects.
The mascot is named after the North Side Chicago street on which Wrigley Field is located. Team officials said they held focus groups before deciding on Clark, and fans told them they wanted a more family-friendly atmosphere at Wrigley Field.
Clark will greet fans at Wrigley before and during games, and the mascot will have a Facebook page and Twitter account.
The Cubs had a live bear mascot in 1916, nine years after formally adopting the Cubs moniker.
NFL
Judge’s decision means NFL may have to pay more
NEW YORK – The NFL’s concussion settlement popped back into the national consciousness Tuesday – and it’s no closer to being resolved – just as the league was set for a big couple of weeks.
On the cusp of a championship weekend with two appealing matchups ahead of the first Super Bowl in the New York area, the NFL is facing the possibility that it will have to pay more money to reach a settlement on the concussion issue.
The league’s deal with former players hit a snag when a federal judge asked both parties to back up their assertions that the settlement is fair to both sides. Based on the 12-page ruling issued by Judge Anita B. Brody on Tuesday, the NFL may have to pay out more money. Brody denied a motion that was meant to serve as a preliminary approval for the settlement, seeking more information.
Whisenhunt chooses Titans; Lions settle on Caldwell
ALLEN PARK, Mich. – The Detroit Lions wanted to replace Jim Schwartz with someone with experience as a head coach.
The Lions landed one, though he appears to be Plan B.
The team said Tuesday that Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell was hired as the new coach and will be introduced at a news conference Wednesday. San Diego Chargers assistant and former Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt seemingly was Detroit’s top choice, but he chose to take the head coaching job at Tennessee on Monday night.
Caldwell helped the Indianapolis Colts reach the Super Bowl after his debut season in 2009 but was fired two years later after a 2-14 season while Peyton Manning was injured, dropping his three-year mark to 26-22.
WNBA
San Antonio franchise only has Stars in its eyes
SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio’s WNBA franchise is changing its name from the Silver Stars to the Stars.
The team will be playing its 12th season in the city and felt dropping the Silver from the nickname would make for a cleaner look.
One of the league’s original eight teams, the franchise was founded in 1997 as the Utah Starzz. The team moved to San Antonio in 2003 and was rebranded the Silver Stars with the black-and-silver motif of its owners, the San Antonio Spurs of the NBA.
World Cup Ski Racing
Vail-Eagle teenager wins her third slalom this season
FLACHAU, Austria – American teenager Mikaela Shiffrin cemented her status as the best slalom skier in the women’s World Cup on Tuesday, winning a night race just 38 days before the same event at the Sochi Olympics.
Shiffrin held on to a commanding 0.90-second first-run lead to earn her third victory this season and seventh overall.
The 18-year-old racer from Eagle-Vail overcame two mistakes in her final run to finish in a combined time of 1 minute, 45.83 seconds and beat Swedes Frida Hansdotter by 0.83 and Maria Pietilae-Holmner by 1.14.
Associated Press
