Lamar Jackson wins MVP unanimously
Last Monday, Lamar Jackson, quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens, earned the Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player Award for the 100th season of the NFL. Jackson won this award unanimously, an accomplishment that has only been reached once before by New England Patriots quarterback, Tom Brady, in 2010. Jackson received all 50 votes from a nationwide panel of media members who regularly cover the NFL.
College football coach resigns after comment made in interview
Morris Berger, the ex-offensive coordinator for Grand Valley State, resigned after stating he would dine with Adolf Hitler in an interview. Late last month, Berger had an interview with the Grand Valley Lanthorn, the college’s student-run newspaper, in which he was asked the question, “If you could have dinner with three historical figures, living or dead, who would they be?” Berger responded with Adolf Hitler and stated in the interview that “it was obviously very sad and he had bad motives, but the way he was able to lead was second-to-none.” Three days following the interview, Berger was suspended on behalf of the school, and last Thursday, Berger announced his resignation. Berger was hired as the offensive coordinator on Jan. 20 after serving as a tight end coach at Texas State.
Vaporfly shoe permitted for Olympics
On Jan. 31, the world governing body for track and field announced that Nike’s Vaporfly shoe, the preferred footwear for many marathoners, will be permitted for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics despite the backlash over performance enhancing effects. The performance enhancing effects in question were in regards to the shoes being constructed with extra-thick soles and spring-like carbon fiber shanks that spring the runner forward. Despite the advantage, the governing body did not ban the shoe wear, but instead issued rule modifications. The modification stated that after April 30, elite runners cannot perform in prototype shoes and can only use products that have been on the open market for at least four months. The rule modifications have no effect on the Olympic Trials Marathon due to it taking place on Feb. 29.
New Houston Astros manager
On Jan. 29, the Houston Astros announced that Dusty Baker will become the club’s new manager on a one-year deal with a club option for a second year. Earlier last month the Astros fired manager A.J. Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow for a scandal in which the team devised a system to illegally steal signs throughout its 2017 World Series championship season. The Astros were further fined $5 million, the maximum fine under the MLB’s constitution. Baker was chosen among nine other candidates to help the team through this tumultuous period.
Photo: A. Mertz
