| | | | | | | | | | | Axios Sports | | By Kendall Baker ·Feb 18, 2021 | | 👋 Good morning! Let's sports. 💤 While you were sleeping: Novak Djokovic beat Aslan Karatsev, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2, to reach his ninth Australian Open final. He'll play either Stefanos Tsitsipas or Daniil Medvedev. Today's word count: 1,952 words (7 minutes). | | | | | | 1 big thing: 🎾 Naomi ousts Serena |  | | | Photo: William West/AFP via Getty Images | | | | Naomi Osaka shook off a slow start to beat Serena Williams, 6-3, 6-4, and advance to the Australian Open final. - Osaka is vying to win her fourth Grand Slam title at age 23.
- Williams' pursuit of Margaret Court's record of 24 major singles titles ends in the semifinals for the second straight Grand Slam.
Between the lines: Osaka looked nervous in the early going, but quickly settled in and surged past her idol, finishing with 20 winners to Williams' 12. - Williams' serve, the best in women's tennis history, continued to drag her down. Osaka broke her four times, including twice in the first set.
- Osaka is now 4-0 in Grand Slam semifinals and has won the championship in her previous three trips to the finals.
What they're saying: - Williams, via Instagram: "Melbourne and my Australian fans — Today was not the ideal outcome or performance but it happens ... I am so honored to be able to play in front of you all. ... I love you. I love you. I love you. I adore you."
- Osaka: "Every time I play her, I feel like it's something I'll definitely remember a lot. I want her to play forever. That's the kid in me, I guess."
Jennifer Brady. Photo: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images What's next: There will be an American in Saturday's final, but it will be Jennifer Brady, 25, who defeated Karolina Muchova 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the other semifinal. - Osaka vs. Brady is a rematch of the 2020 U.S. Open semifinal, which was probably the best women's match of last season.
- This is Brady's first Grand Slam final.
🎥 Watch: Serena leaves presser in tears (Twitter) |     | | | | | | 2. ⚾️ MLB projected standings, playoff odds |  Data: FanGraphs; Table: Andrew Witherspoon/Axios Fangraphs unveiled its projected MLB standings and playoff odds, giving us a glimpse at what analytics think about each team's chances, Axios' Jeff Tracy writes. - Three teams have over a 90% chance of making the playoffs: Dodgers (97.8%), Padres (92.7%) and Yankees (92.1%).
- Eight teams are under 5%: Mariners (2.4%), D-backs (2.0%), Rangers (1.9%), Tigers (1.8%), Marlins (0.7%), Pirates (0.3%), Rockies (0.2%) and Orioles (0.0%).
Of note: The NL Central could be MLB's answer to the 2020 NFC East. It's been 13 years since a division winner had fewer than 87 wins (2008 Dodgers; 84-78), but the Cardinals and Brewers are projected to tie atop the division with just 79. ICYMI ... - The Blue Jays will start the 2021 season playing home games at their spring training facility in Dunedin, Florida.
- Tim Tebow has retired from baseball after five years in the Mets' farm system. He finishes his career with a .223 average and 18 HR in 287 games.
| | | | | | | | 3. 🏈 Tim Brown and the Heisman Hall of Famers |  Photos: Getty Images; Table: Andrew Witherspoon/Axios 10 players in football history have won the Heisman Trophy and been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. - QB: Roger Staubach
- RB: O.J. Simpson, Doak Walker, Paul Hornung, Earl Campbell, Tony Dorsett, Marcus Allen, Barry Sanders
- WR: Tim Brown
- DB: Charles Woodson
Driving the news: Brown, the longtime Raiders wideout and Notre Dame star, is executive producing a documentary called "The Ten," which will highlight the achievements of this exclusive club. - The film, which is being produced by Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment in partnership with NFL Films and Elite Holdings, is set to premiere next year.
- Of note: Doak Walker and Paul Hornung passed away in 1998 and 2020, respectively. The other eight members are alive.
Photo: Bettmann Archives/Getty Images 🎙 Interview ... I spoke with Brown about the "H2H" club. On what to expect from the documentary: "We're hoping to get the remaining guys in a room to talk about their stories. Even though we have Heisman and Hall of Fame events, it's hard to get everyone together in one place, so this will be a unique opportunity." On the experience of winning the Heisman: "The ceremony was only like 30 minutes back then, so there wasn't this big fanfare like they do now. Everything happened so quickly ... then you have to make this big speech. It was a whirlwind." "And for me, it was an overwhelming feeling. Two years before I won, I was just a guy in college football. I didn't play every down, I wasn't the starter going into my junior year — so to win the Heisman was almost miraculous." On the experience of being elected into the Hall: "When they knocked on my door, I was in the bathroom. I thought they'd call first, so I told my son to get it, not thinking it was important. Then I hear him say, 'Dad...' I peak around the corner and there's big Dave Baker." "Of course, he goes into his soliloquy: 'Over 30,000 men have played the game...' But by then, you don't hear anything because you're crying so hard. I did hear him say, 'Welcome to the Hall of Fame,' and that's all I needed to hear." On how one feat helped him achieve the other: "If I hadn't won the Heisman, I don't think I would have had the NFL career that I had. When I was having some tough years, coming home and seeing that trophy reminded me of who I could be on the football field." "I never thought I'd play 17 years in the league, and I really didn't think about the Hall of Fame until I got my 1,000th catch. But along the way, the Heisman pushed me. It kept me going." | | | | | | | | A message from Axios | | Your new morning habit | | |  | | | | Start your morning with Axios Today. Hear the latest scoops from the White House and Congress, analysis on the economy and insights into trends shaping your world. - In 10 minutes, you'll catch up on today's news that matters.
Download for free. | | | | | | 4. 🏀 The Jazz are simply incredible | | Photo: Found Image Press/Corbis via Getty Images The Utah Jazz — led by a trio of All-Star candidates (Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Mike Conley), plus one of the NBA's best sixth men (Jordan Clarkson) and coaches (Quin Snyder) — are in the midst of a historically great stretch. By the numbers: With a 114-96 win over the Clippers on Wednesday, the Jazz have now won nine straight games — and 20 of their last 21. - 19 of those 21 wins were by double-digits, the most ever in a 21-game stretch.
- Utah went 19-1-1 against the spread in those games (!!!), which is insane.
Around the NBA ... - 📊 Triple-doubles: Domantas Sabonis (37-17-10), Jimmy Butler (13-12-11), Russell Westbrook (12-13-12).
- ⭐️ 40-point nights: Damian Lillard (43), Jerami Grant (43), Trae Young (40).
- 💪🏿 Shaq 2.0: Zion Williamson is the second player over the last 25 seasons to score 20 paint points in five straight games, joining Shaquille O'Neal.
| | | | | | | | 3. 🎂 ESPN's "The Jump" turns 5 |  | | | Rachel Nichols. Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images | | | | "The Jump," ESPN's daily NBA show hosted by Rachel Nichols and a rotating cast of former players, insiders and analysts, turns five today. - The show has grown its presence each year, and is now regularly on-site at the league's biggest events.
- Last season, "The Jump" was in China during the preseason and was the only daily TV show coming out of the Disney World bubble.
🎙 Interview ... I spoke with Nichols about the show, which made its ESPN debut on Feb. 18, 2016 and has since aired over 1,000 episodes. - On the NBA news cycle: "I always say the NBA is like a high school cafeteria. Who's talking to who? Who's sitting with who? It changes all the time. There's just that vibe around the league, and it's magnified by social media."
- On "The Jump" team: "It's a smaller group than most ESPN shows, so it makes what our team does all the more impressive. The tone of the show — that comes from our producers. And they just blow me away week after week."
- On her on-air colleagues: "It's been so fun working with Tracy McGrady, Scottie Pippen, Paul Pierce, all those guys. ESPN reporters have also played an integral part in the show's success. Brian Windhorst was on our first show and will be on our anniversary show, as well."
- On her favorite episode: "One of Kobe Bryant's last major interviews was to sit down with me and Tracy and talk about the old days. That was really special."
🎥 "The Jump" highlights: | | | | | | | | 6. 🎓 NIL legislation: Where states stand |  Reproduced from Student Player; Cartogram: Axios Visuals This week, we're examining the NIL landscape and the future of college athletes' rights. Iowa introduced a bill two weeks ago to govern its student-athletes' name, image and likeness rights, becoming the 29th state with active NIL legislation, Jeff writes. "Now that we're seeing multiple states moving ahead, we want to make sure no Iowa athlete is left behind." — Sen. Nate Boulton (D), the bill's author The state of play: In addition to the 29 states with active bills, six other states have already passed NIL legislation. - Florida (goes into effect in July 2021)
- Michigan (2022)
- California (2023)
- Colorado (2023)
- Nebraska (2023)
- New Jersey (2025)
Between the lines: There's also a federal bill, introduced on Feb. 4 by Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Rep. Lori Trahan (D-Mass.), which would preempt any state legislation if it passes. 📆 Coming up ... Axios Sports has partnered with The Aspen Institute on a series called "Future of Sports," and Trahan is speaking at our virtual event this Friday. - Topic: Future of College Sports; Reimagining Athletes' Rights.
- Speakers: Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Rep. Lori Trahan (D-Mass.), Opendorse CEO Blake Lawrence and longtime college football coach Tony Franklin.
✍️ Wanna come? Register here. | | | | | | | | 7. 🌎 Photos 'round the world | | Photo: Steph Chambers/Getty Images PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — The Genesis Invitational begins today at the iconic Riviera Country Club. Dustin Johnson enters as the Vegas favorite at 6-1. Photo: Alexandre Simoes/Borussia Dortmund via Getty Images SEVILLA, Spain — Erling Haaland scored twice to lift Borussia Dortmund past Sevilla, 3-2. The 20-year-old has now scored 18 goals in 13 career Champions League matches. - Fun fact: Since the start of the 2019-20 season, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have 15 Champions League goals. Haaland and Kylian Mbappé have 28.
Photo: Michal Cizek/AFP via Getty Images TEPLICE, Czech Republic — Czech freediver David Vencl is training to break the Guinness world record for the longest swim under ice. - By the numbers: The current record is 76.2 meters, and Vencl — who can hold his breath for eight minutes — says he aims to swim 80.
| | | | | | | | 8. 📆 Feb. 18, 1979: "The Famous Finish" | | Cale Yarborough (white) hits Bobby Allison (blue) with his helmet. Photo: ISC Archives/CQ-Roll Call Group via Getty Images 42 years ago today, the Daytona 500 ended with a crash and a fight, helping propel NASCAR to the juggernaut it remains today. What happened: In the final lap, Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison were locked in a battle for first place when they collided and spun out, opening the door for Richard Petty to win a record-extending sixth Daytona 500. - Angry, but measured, they got out of their cars to discuss the crash when Allison's brother, Bobby (also in the race), came to check on Donnie.
- Suddenly, Bobby and Cale were brawling, effectively cementing the race's legacy.
Donnie Allison (No. 1) leads Carl Yarborough (No. 11). Dale Earnhardt (No. 2) finished eighth. Photo: ISC Archives via Getty Images The legacy: This was the first major stock car race broadcast live on TV in its entirety, and thanks to that chaotic ending, it changed NASCAR forever. - "It was the first time people stood around water coolers on Monday and talked about seeing a race on TV," recalled announcer Dick Berggren.
- "It took a while — years, maybe — to realize how important it was."
🎥 Watch: Final lap and fight (YouTube) | | | | | | | | 9. ⚾️ MLB trivia |  | | | Photo: Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images | | | | Fernando Tatís Jr.'s 14-year, $340 million deal gives the Padres two of the seven richest MLB contracts ever (Manny Machado: 10 years, $300 million). - Question: Can you name the rest of the top seven?
- Hint: All five players are active. One is a pitcher.
Answer at the botttom. | | | | | | | | 10. 🏒 Good read: Hockey's goalie problem |  | | | Ken Dryden. Photo: Denis Brodeur/NHLI/via Getty Images | | | | Hockey goalies are getting so big — both in stature and equipment — that they're changing the very nature of the game. The latest: Ken Dryden, who won six Stanley Cups as a goalie with the Canadiens in the 1970s, wrote a fascinating essay in The Atlantic on this topic. "This story is not about any particular goalie, but about the position itself and how it increasingly dominates the way hockey is played, and not for the right reasons. This story is about goalies and their equipment, and about how they've learned to use it." "I like goalies. But I also like to see the remarkable, hard-earned skills of the other players rewarded, skills that have never been greater, and that, if undiscouraged, will be greater still. Push these forwards and defensemen, challenge them ... make them be more. But make the goalies be more, too." Keep reading. | | | | | | | | A message from Axios | | Your new morning habit | | | | | | | | Start your morning with Axios Today. Hear the latest scoops from the White House and Congress, analysis on the economy and insights into trends shaping your world. - In 10 minutes, you'll catch up on today's news that matters.
Download for free. | | | | Talk tomorrow, Kendall "Dinner on Fernando" Baker Trivia answer: Mike Trout ($426.5M), Mookie Betts ($365M), Bryce Harper ($330M), Giancarlo Stanton ($325M), Gerrit Cole ($324M) 🙏 Thank you for reading Axios Sports. Follow me on Twitter for more updates throughout the day, and be sure to refer friends using your link below. | | Invite friends to follow Axios Sports Use your personal link to track how many readers you bring into the community  You currently have 00 referrals. Share with a friend For questions email referralsupport@axios.com. Participation in the Axios Sports Referral Program constitutes your acceptance of the Axios Terms and Conditions of Use, which can be viewed here. | | | | Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters.
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