Carlos Alcaraz makes history at Australian Open; Raiders and Cardinals choose coaches

This is an article version of the CBS Sports HQ AM newsletter, the ultimate guide to every day in sports. You can sign up here to receive it in your inbox every weekday morning.

Welcome to February, everyone! This is Zach Pereles excited to deliver the first newsletter of what will be an exciting month. Whatever your sport, February has something for you. Super Bowl. Winter Olympics. NBA trade deadline and All-Star weekend. Unparalleled. College basketball. Golf. Football. Tennis. Hockey. UFC. Hey, even Spring Training is just a few weeks away. So whether you’re shoveling yourself out of the snow or enjoying nice weather (and if the latter is the case, I’m jealous) or somewhere in between, make sure you treat yourself to plenty of sporting events too.

Let’s get started right away.

👀 Five things you need to know on Monday

1. The Cardinals have their new coach and the Raiders have theirs in sight. The historically great coaching carousel has (almost) come to a standstill. The Cardinals hired Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur be their coachand the robbers plan to do the same with Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, although that can’t become official until after the Super Bowl. Once Kubiak becomes official, all ten positions will be filled. It tied for the most coaching turnover in a single offseason in NFL history, and Tyler Sullivan reviewed each hire.
2. Carlos Alcaraz and Elena Rybakina are Australian Open champions. Once again Carlos Alcaraz stands alone. The 22-year-old superstar Spaniard defeated Novak Djokovic, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5, in the final of the Australian Open men’s singles to become the youngest man to complete the Grand Slam career. Alcaraz now has seven major titles, the most before she turned 23. A day earlier, Elena Rybakina upset Aryna Sabalenka, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, for her second career major title.
3. The NBA suspended Paul George for 25 games for contrary to the terms of the league’s anti-drug policy. In a statement, George said he took “full responsibility” for the suspension and explained that he was taking “improper medication” to combat mental health issues. The 76ers are sixth in the East.
4. The NBA trade deadline is approaching. The deadline is Thursday afternoon and the Cavaliers, Kings and Bulls wave one trade that sends Keon Ellis and Dennis Schröder to Cleveland, De’Andre Hunter to Sacramento and Dario Šarić and two second-round picks to Chicago. In his trading qualitiesSam Quinn says the Cavs came out on top by a wide margin.
5. Alexander Volkanovski makes his GOAT case at UFC 325. A significant argument can be made following Volkanovski’s featherweight win over Diego Lopes. The judges scored the fight 49-46, 49-46, 50-45 in favor of Volkanovski to defend his title. Here’s what could be next.

🏀 Don’t Miss: LeBron James Gets an All-Star Nod for a 22nd Season, But Does He Deserve It?

I don’t know about you, but Le Bron James feels 22 straight All-Star Game selections. The Lakers star made the All-Star Game as one of 14 reserve selections announced on Sunday evening.

• West: Anthony Edwards, Jamal Murray, Chet Holmgren, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Deni Avdija, LeBron James
• East: Donovan Mitchell, Jalen Johnson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Pascal Siakam, Norman Powell, Scottie Barnes, Jalen Duren

They join the startersthat were announced a few weeks ago:

• West: Luka Doncic, Stephen Curry, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama
• East: Tyrese Maxey, Jalen Brunson, Cade Cunningham, Jaylen Brown, Giannis Antetokounmpo

As with any selection process, there are snapsat. And the most striking one, Brad Botkin writes: plays in the same city as James and the same arena where the festivities will take place in just under two weeks.

• Botkin: “Kawhi Leonard — Leonard is having a career season for a Hair clippers team that has been crushing teams over the past two months. His 27.7 PPG is a career-high. He is on his way to joining the ultra-exclusive 50/40/90 shooting club. His 94% clip at the free throw line leads the league, as does his 2.1 steals per game. The side-by-side vs. LeBron isn’t even close.”

I completely agree. Leonard certainly deserves a spot. He’s been in the league’s top 10 for the past two months — but he’s not even a top 12 player in the West? Don’t like that. I like Powell and Avdija’s nods. Well deserved.

There is a good chance that an injury replacement will be needed for Antetokounmpo, but Antetokounmpo’s biggest headlines remain whether or not he is traded before Thursday’s deadline.

🏈 Super Bowl week is here!

The Seahawks and the Patriots headed to the Bay Area Superbowl LXAnd Opening night is tonight. We’ll hear it again Roger Goodell and both teams.

Of course, that also applies to the NFL’s leading receiver, Jaxon Smith-Njigba. I loved Chris Hummer’s feature film about Seattle’s breakout star.

I also liked Doug Clawson’s 60 crazy stats heading into Super Bowl 60.

Oh, and by the way, I’ve made my choice. Signed, sealed and delivered. Take it to the bank:

• Pereles: “Expect some nerves early on, especially from the quarterbacks, but as they both come into their own, this should be a great, exciting battle between a rising star and an unlikely star. … Ultimately, the Seahawks defense gets a few timely stops and Seattle leaves with its second championship.” Choice: Seahawks 24, Patriots 20“

🏀Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan are among the big winners in men’s college basketball

So maybe It’s not all doom and gloom No. 14 Kansas And Kentucky. This weekend proved it. The Jayhawks were on top No. 13 BYU, 90-82and by the confrontation between likely top-two choices Darryn Peterson (18 points in 20 sparkling minutes) And AJ Dybants (17 points). cut short due to a new Peterson injury, Bill Himself should feel great about it Melvin Raad And Bryson Tiller carrying the burdenwrites Isaac Trotter.

Kentucky also had perhaps its best win of the year, going into and knocking off Fayetteville Well, 15 Arkansas (and former Kentucky coach John Calipari), 85-77. “This is the kind of win that could change things,” writes Cameron Salerno.

Elsewhere in the SEC, Todd Golden And No. 19 Florida talked the talk and then walked the walk. Days after shout Alabama And Nate Haver for playing Charles of Bedia — who signed multiple NBA contracts — Golden saw his Gators toss the Crimson Tide, 100-77. Don’t look now, but the reigning champions are starting to get it together.

We have weekend winners and losers from Gentlemen And women basketball, what about? Michigan hit State of Michigan in both?!

👍👎 The best (and not-so-best) of the rest

📺 What we’ll be watching on Monday

🏀 Syracuse at No. 16 North Carolina (M)7pm on ESPN
🏀 Auburn at No. 17 Ole Miss (W)7pm on SEC Network+
🏀 Timberwolves at Grizzlies7.30 pm at Pauw
🏀 Unparalleled: vinyl at Hive7:30 PM on TNT/truTV
🏒 Canadiens in Wild7:30 PM on ESPN+
🏀 No. 3 South Carolina at Texas A&M (W)8 p.m. on ESPN2
🏀 Unparalleled: missing at laces8:45 PM on TNT/truTV
🏀 No. 14 Kansas at No. 11 Texas Tech (M)9pm on ESPN
🏒 Red Wings at Avalanche9 p.m. on ESPN+
🏀 76ers at Clippers10 p.m. Peacock