Day 11 without sports 😭: Tom Brady comes to the rescue once again
The no-sports pity party has now turned into a safe haven of nostalgia.
With no March Madness games this weekend — ones that would have been securing the NCAA tournament’s Sweet 16 — CBS has been serving sports fans with a smorgasbord of some of the best college basketball games ever played.
The game slate for Sunday showcases these four blockbusters (all times in ET):
- 1 p.m.: 1985 National Championship: Villanova vs. Georgetown
- 2:30 p.m.: 1997 National Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
- 4 p.m.: 2010 National Championship: Duke vs. Butler
- 6 p.m.: 2018 First Round: UMBC vs. Virginia
The finale of those, of course, is one that happened just two years ago when No. 16 seed Maryland Baltimore County stunned top overall seed Virginia in the first round. We all know that the shell-shocked Cavaliers came back in 2019 to win the whole thing and silence doubters. But watching one of the greatest upsets in the history of sports unfold, even if we know the ending, is still quite a sight. Seeing the players and hearing the play-by-play announcers sense history unfolding is priceless.
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Tom Brady marathon
ESPN will present a seven-hour programming marathon encompassing new Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback (still feels weird saying that) Tom Brady’s championship performances with the New England Patriots over the past two decades. The combination will showcase nine seminal games — including condensed versions of all six Super Bowl victories — from Brady’s time with the Pats.
Do you believe in miracles?
Speaking of epic upsets, NBC Sports is airing a 30-minute special at 12:30 ET Sunday commemorating the 40-year anniversary of the “Miracle On Ice” that saw the U.S. hockey team upset the USSR in the 1980 Winter Olympics.
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Sports video of the day
ESPN8: The Ocho is taking over ESPN2 on Sunday, and it should be glorious. In the highlight reel below, the U.S. men’s dodgeball team stage an epic comeback from 12-2 down to beat Canada.
What you missed
Saturday’s sports offerings were obviously limited, but one event that still took place was the Louisiana Derby — a major prep race for the Kentucky Derby — without spectators, where only essential personnel was there. Afterwards, Fair Grounds racing officials announced that the Louisiana Derby card would be the New Orleans track’s final program of the season.
Sports you could be watching
WrestleMania 30 airs at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Hulk Hogan and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin kick off the 30th anniversary of the “Showcase of the Immortals.
The games we’re missing
NCAA tournament: Eight beautiful second-round games on Sunday. In USA TODAY Sports’ simulated bracket the Sweet 16 teams were: Dayton, Maryland, Duke, East Tennessee State, Gonzaga, Oregon, Michigan State, San Diego State, Kansas, Belmont, Kentucky, Creighton, Baylor, Wisconsin, Seton Hall, Florida State.
NBA
- Los Angeles Lakers at Detroit Pistons
- Denver Nuggets at Toronto Raptors
- Portland Trailblazers at Minnesota Timberwolves
- Sacramento Kings at New Orleans Pelicans
- Utah Jazz at San Antonio Spurs
NHL
- Washington Capitals at Pittsburgh Penguins
- New York Rangers at Buffalo Sabres
- Carolina Hurricanes at New York Islanders
- Nashville Predators at Chicago Blackhawks
- Winnipeg Jets at Dallas Stars
- Arizona Coyotes at Los Angeles Kings
MLS
- Philadelphia Union v. DC United
- LA Galaxy v. Orlando City SC
- LAFC v. Portland Timbers
Follow reporter Scott Gleeson on Twitter @ScottMGleeson.
