Team USA reveling in chance to play 4 Nations ‘villain’ in highly anticipated Canada matchup
NY Post
MONTREAL — The only guarantee in this 4 Nations Face-off is the hostile atmosphere that will follow Team USA.
Skating out to boos, while Finland was met with cheers, in their opening game came as no surprise. But if you thought the Americans were the Bad Guys on Thursday, just wait until they take the ice Saturday night for the crème de la crème matchup of the tournament with Team Canada.
Animosity between the two largest countries on this side of the globe has been brewing, as threats of tariffs and suggestions of Canada sacrificing its sovereignty to become the 51st state have rumbled.
Politics always find a way into sports. Things that transcend hockey.
And the United States of America has its role.
“I’m excited to be playing the villain that night,” Brady Tkachuk, who otherwise captains the Ottawa Senators, said with a grin after he and his brother, Matthew, combined for four goals and five points in Thursday’s 6-1 win.
PORT ST. LUCIE — Frankie Montas’ triceps soreness following his first bullpen session last week has turned into a rotation vacancy for the Mets to begin the season.
PORT ST. LUCIE — Juan Soto’s one-season stop with the Yankees may have served as the perfect primer for the All-Star outfielder as he begins the first of potentially 15 spring trainings with the Mets.
Former Dolphins offensive lineman Richie Incognito went on a tweet spree Sunday after former Miami teammate Jonathan Martin, whom he was accused of bullying in a scandal that led to Incognito being suspended by the NFL, told ESPN that he never felt bullied.
I am trying to envision Adam Silver’s reaction — just a few hours before he called “the state of the game excellent” — to hearing that Draymond Green, a high-profile employee and active NBA participant, labeled his league “very boring.”
The allegations against Justin Tucker keep growing.
BOSTON — The 4 Nations Face-Off is giving the NHL its moment.
TAMPA — This will begin with your recency bias alert. Because, yes, I do not watch much hockey, and yet I could not take my eyes off the USA-Canada game Saturday night.
Draymond Green did not hold back when giving his view of the NBA All-Star Game’s new format.
Dion Jordan’s NFL career didn’t go quite as planned.
TAMPA — Devin Williams is used to it by now.
SAN FRANCISCO — Jalen Brunson isn’t ruling out a return to the 3-point competition after losing in his second try.
Giants — and NFL — history nearly looked very different.
MONTREAL — Canadian coach Jon Cooper put it better than anyone.