BRONCOS EMBARASSED IN SUPER BOWL 48
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) – The Seattle Seahawks have won their first Super Bowl title, crushing the favored Denver Broncos 43-8. Linebacker Malcolm Smith returned an interception of Peyton Manning 69 yards for a touchdown late in the first half yesterday, and Percy Harvin returned the opening kickoff of the second half 87 yards for another TD.The Seahawks led 36-0 before Denver finally scored on the last play of the third quarter.Manning was 34 of 49 for 280 yards, but most of that came after Seattle had all but put the game away. He was flustered by Seattle’s fierce defense for most of the first half, throwing two interceptions. The second fluttered into Smith’s hands after Cliff Avril struck the five-time NFL MVP’s arm as he was releasing the ball.Second-year quarterback Russell Wilson was coolly efficient for the Seahawks, throwing for two touchdowns.
SUPER BOWL-BUMBLING BRONCOS
Nerves, Seahawks get better of Broncos 43-8
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) – All those records, all for naught.
Peyton Manning couldn’t cap the greatest season any NFL quarterback ever had or secure his legacy as the best QB in history because his Denver Broncos came down with a case of the yips last night.They lost to Seattle in the Super Bowl 43-8 by falling behind right from the start and never recovering.The bumbling Broncos trailed before Manning ever got his hands on the ball because Manny Ramirez’s bad snap went for a safety 12 seconds into the game.It only got worse for the league’s most prolific point producers.
Dominated in every way, the Broncos (15-4) trudged through the tunnel trailing 22-0 at halftime, then watched Percy Harvin return the second-half kickoff for a TD.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL/COLORADO
BOULDER (AP) – Arielle Roberson had 18 points and eight rebounds to lead Colorado over Utah 61-45 yesterday. The Buffaloes (13-8, 3-7 Pac-12) closed the first half on an 11-0 run to take a 33-16 advantage at halftime and led by no less than 13 in the second to cruise to victory. Brittany Wilson added 10 points and seven rebounds, while Haley Smith had eight points and eight rebounds as Colorado outrebounded Utah 51-35. Utah (10-11, 3-7) never led and shot only 25.9 percent from the field. The Utes struggled during a scoreless drought to close the first and open the second, during which they missed six field goals and three free throws while turning the ball over three times. Danielle Rodriguez led Utah with 11 points and Emily Potter had eight rebounds.
ELSEWHERE IN SPORTS….
UNDATED (AP) – Syracuse is the top team in the new Associated Press men’s basketball poll getting all 65 first place votes with a 21-0 record. The Orange have replaced Arizona, which dropped to second after it lost to California over the weekend.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) – New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter has taken on-field batting practice for the first time since his 2013 season was cut short by injuries. Jeter hit with authority to all fields during a five-round, 39-swing session Monday at the Yankees’ minor league complex. Jeter also took grounders at shortstop for the first time this year, fielding 34 balls at his usual position.
PHOENIX (AP) – The Arizona Diamondbacks have extended the contracts of manager Kirk Gibson and general manager Kevin Towers, which were set to expire after the coming season. Team President Derrick Hall says he thought it was important to avoid any speculation about the pair’s jobs during the coming season, and says they both deserve the deals.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Jeremy Hellickson has undergone surgery on his pitching elbow and is expected to miss the first six-to-eight weeks of the season. The 2011 AL Rookie of the Year experienced discomfort in his elbow after beginning his offseason throwing program in December.
NEW YORK (AP) – Fox’s Super Bowl telecast of the Seahawks’ victory of the Broncos is a record-breaker, becoming the most-watched television event in U.S. history. The Nielsen company says the telecast drew 111.5 million viewers on Sunday night, topping the previous record set two years ago in the game between the Giants and Patriots.
