Sports - The Boston Globe

Mac Jones at least will have a chance to succeed next season — which he didn’t have this season

In his second year as a Patriot, he was failed miserably by his coaches, but that won't be case under offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien.

sports betting

Johnny Damon sported his Red Sox jersey as he placed one of the first legal sports bets in Massachusetts, at Encore Boston Harbor Tuesday.

It was a star-studded morning at Encore as the first legal sports bets were placed

Johnny Damon and Cedric Maxwell were part of the ceremonies at one of three locations in Massachusetts to offer in-person betting as it began.

christopher l. gasper
With an eye toward June, here are five thoughts on the state of the Celtics
Jayson Tatum is a legitimate MVP candidate, but it's not as if this is a team with one transcendent leading man and a bunch of basketball backup singers.

CELTICS
‘We’re just extremely proud’: Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla’s All-Star nod is big news for those around him, even if the coach is staying stoic
Asked Tuesday morning what it meant to him to coach an All-Star team, Mazzulla's face remained straighter than a free-throw line. "Nothing,” he deadpanned. 7:12 p.m.

Red Sox
Matt Barnes didn’t expect to leave the Red Sox, but he’s ready for a fresh start in Miami
“I’m incredibly thankful for everything that they’ve given me and the opportunities that they’ve given me,” Barnes said. “We did a lot of really, really good things in that city.” 2 hours ago

bruins notebook
Brad Marchand dismisses Bruins’ losing streak: ‘We’re not concerned’
The winger pointed out that opponents are giving the Bruins their best, and he expects the team to bounce back against Toronto.

NFL
Why BC receiver Zay Flowers’s NFL draft stock continues to rise, with many feeling he’ll be picked in the first round
Flowers used an additional college season to hone two areas of his game: competitive catches and blocking. 7:41 p.m.

women's college basketball notebook
Stonehill women’s basketball star Emily Bramanti already pointed toward a coaching career
Bramanti is looking like another branch of the coaching tree cultivated by current Stonehill coach Trisha Brown, predecessor Kelly Hart, and program founder Paula Sullivan.

BC 62, Clemson 54

BC guard Makai Ashton-Langford (center) had two key driving baskets in the closing two minutes and finished with 15 points.

Boston College tops No. 20 Clemson in men’s college basketball, holding Tigers to one field goal in final 13:16

The only Clemson field goal made in the final 13:18 came with 18 seconds left. 33 minutes ago

stan grossfeld

Brian McConnell, who traveled from New Jersey to watch the Bruins, celebrates Boston's winning goal late in the third period against the Maple Leafs Jan. 14.

Bruins and Celtics share an arena but not necessarily the same fan base

Fans of both first-place teams are passionate, but there also are some differences.

NFL

Sean Payton remained under contract with New Orleans after stepping down from the Saints last season and working in broadcasting this season.

Sean Payton to be named head coach of the Broncos

The Broncos will send their first-round pick, No. 29 overall, in this year’s draft to the Saints along with a future second-rounder.

NFL notebook

DeMeco Ryans led a 49ers defense that led the NFL this season by allowing just 300.6 yards a game.

DeMeco Ryans named head coach of the Texans

Ryans joins the Texans from the 49ers, where he spent the past two seasons as their defensive coordinator.

Gary Washburn | On basketball

"As we’ve said many times, and we’re going to continue to say, our society has to do better,” said Jaylen Brown reflecting on the death of Tyre Nichols.

Tyre Nichols’s death has shaken the NBA community, another grim reminder of the burden players carry

Being professional athletes does not make NBA players untouchable. It doesn’t make them above the fear of running into the wrong officer or being caught in the wrong situation.

Baseball

Jeff McNeil led the majors with a .326 average last season.

Mets lock up batting champion Jeff McNeil on four-year, $50 million deal

It is the latest move by the high-spending Mets who added pitcher Justin Verlander and spent $162 million to retain outfielder Brandon Nimmo.

NASCAR

NASCAR bans Ross Chastain’s wall-hugging move at Martinsville, which was dubbed the ‘Hail Melon’

Chastain last year mashed the gas and deliberately smashed into the wall so that the energy would speed his car past his rivals.

Women's basketball

Diana Taurasi (left) and Brittney Griner were on Team USA at the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Diana Taurasi, 40, to take part in women’s USA Basketball training camp, but not Brittney Griner

Griner hasn’t been out in public much since a prisoner swap in December brought her home from Russia.

Marathon

Georgina Rono (left), running Boston in 2012, had all her results since May 27 stripped from her record.

Kenya’s Georgina Rono, third in 2012 Boston Marathon, banned four years for evading doping test

Rono, banned until Jan. 25, 2027, is among more than 50 athletes from the East African country currently suspended.

Ben Volin | On Football

John Hussey (left) led the "all-star" crew that officiated the 49ers-Eagles game. The Eagles got the most first downs by penalty in a playoff game since 2002.

The NFL’s ‘all-star’ officiating crews are ruining the playoffs

Using “all-star” crews — a demand of the Referees Association in the last CBA — leads to combinations of officials who haven't worked with each other. The result? Embarrassing mistakes like we saw Sunday.

Sports betting opens in Massachusetts on Tuesday. Here's what you need to know →

LATEST HEADLINES

Vinnie Pasquarosa celebrates 16th birthday in style with winning goal for Franklin boys’ hockey in OT nonleague win vs. Archbishop Williams

Boston College tops No. 20 Clemson in men’s college basketball, holding Tigers to one field goal in final 13:16

Brookline’s Geanna Bryant has a career night in Bay State Conference girls’ basketball road win at Framingham

Boys’ basketball roundup: Tristan Rodrigues (18 points) leads fifth-ranked Archbishop Williams in nonleague win over Latin Academy

Girls’ basketball roundup: North Andover’s Hannah Martin hits a grand scoring milestone in Merrimack Valley win over Haverhill

GIRLS' HOCKEY NOTEBOOK

Stick salute: Notre Dame Academy-Hingham hockey standouts (from left to right) Maggie Donahue, Ava O'Donahue and Avery Engle have helped the second-ranked Cougars get off to an 8-4-0 start.

Girls’ hockey notebook: At Notre Dame Academy, an aggressive system of defense has led to offensive opportunities, an 8-4-0 start

"It makes the girls that play [defense] more aggressive, and it makes the forwards understand they have a responsibility in the defensive zone,” said NDA (Hingham) coach John Findley.

EMASS GIRLS' HOCKEY: PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

EMass girls’ hockey: With goals in three straight games, Barnstable’s Emma DaSilva headlines Players of the Week

The eighth-grade defender scored in three consecutive games for the Red Hawks.

MIAA SPORT COMMITTEES

The Arlington High girls' hockey team celebrated a 2-1 win over Shrewsbury in the Division 1 semifinals at Gallo Arena last March.

Seeking ‘great events’, MIAA books Lowell, Framingham, and Bourne for state hockey semifinals

“We’re going to outside venues that we don’t control, but we do know that Tsongas, Loring, and Gallo love to host these events and they do a great job," said Scott Paine, MIAA hockey tournament director.

GIRLS' BASKETBALL: BROOKLINE 56, FRAMINGHAM 44

Framingham’s Selina Monestime (center) splits the defense of Brookline's Faith Rothstein (left) and Gigi McMahon (right) in Tuesday night's 56-44 Bay State Conference home loss.

Brookline’s Geanna Bryant has a career night in Bay State Conference girls’ basketball road win at Framingham

Bryant went off for a career-high 31 points, including eight makes from 3-point range, in a 56-44 victory for the Warriors (9-3 overall, 6-3 Bay State) over the host Flyers (10-6, 6-3). 46 minutes ago

TUESDAY'S SCHOOLS ROUNDUP

Vinnie Pasquarosa celebrates 16th birthday in style with winning goal for Franklin boys’ hockey in OT nonleague win vs. Archbishop Williams

Pasquarosa fired a game-winning snipe to the top left corner of the net, fueling a 4-3 nonleague win for the 11th-ranked Panthers at Pirelli Veterans Arena. 27 minutes ago

Men's College Basketball Notebook

Joe Gallo is building another contender at Merrimack.

Behind Joe Gallo’s zonal chaos, Merrimack men’s basketball is on the rise again

Teams try to get tricky and think of new ways to attack the Warriors' defensive scheme, but there's little they haven’t encountered before.

CELTICS

Joe Mazzulla, who wasn’t supposed to be the Celtics’ coach five months ago, will coach the All-Star Game

He becomes the eighth Celtics coach to serve as an All-Star coach, joining Red Auerbach, Tom Heinsohn, K.C. Jones, Doc Rivers, Chris Ford, Bill Fitch, and Brad Stevens.

college hockey

Katey Stone is seen behind the bench in January at Harvard's home arena, the Bright-Landry Center. A review following a tirade during a practice triggered a backlash that continues to reverberate among former players who say Stone has emotionally damaged them.

‘A culture of complete fear’: Harvard women’s hockey coach Katey Stone under fire for alleged abusive behavior

Stone has turned the Crimson into a national powerhouse, but 16 former players fault Harvard for keeping her on the job despite numerous complaints about her alleged abusive coaching practices.

Kevin Paul Dupont | On hockey

Bobby Hull, who died Monday at 84, is photographed in his Black Hawks gear Oct. 24, 1957, the first of his 23 seasons in professional hockey.

Bobby Hull was a hockey legend whose personal life fell far short of that

On the ice, Bobby Hull was a force, a blazing menace off the wing possessing a thunderous, near-mythical, slap shot.

hockey

John Grzelcyk was taken by surprise to learn that he would be inducted into the Beanpot Hall of Fame.

The Bruins’ Matt Grzelcyk is headed to the Beanpot Hall of Fame, and in a surprise, so is his father

John Grzelcyk, who has spent 55 years as a member of the bull gang, will be honored along with his son in a ceremony before the championship Feb. 13.

Sunday notebooks

With Matt Barnes being designated for assignment, Rafael Devers is one of the few champs remaining on Red Sox
Barnes leaves the Red Sox third in team history with 429 appearances and with a World Series ring.

Does paying big money to an NFL quarterback do more harm than good?
This year’s playoffs certainly raise the question of whether it’s better to keep drafting a quarterback every few years and spend the money elsewhere.

Trade of Rui Hachimura looks a smart one for the Lakers, but another failure for the Wizards
The Lakers are trying to improve without trading away a first-round pick, or making commitments that would affect their ability to sign a maximum free agent this summer.

Why coach Jim Montgomery’s positive mojo has worked with the Bruins
Montgomery's had nary a discouraging word to say, but his Bruins own the league’s best record and went into Saturday as the only NHL club yet to suffer back-to-back losses.

NEWSLETTERS

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Exclusive analysis and insight on the Patriots and the NFL, delivered to your inbox three days a week.

At a glance

Darkness on the edge of the Patriots dynasty

Death and distress haunt members of the Patriots' 2001 title team. Seven of the players have died between the ages of 35 and 50, strikingly young even for veterans of professional football. For some who have made it to middle age, it hasn't been easy.

The iconic Red Sox pitcher's heart stopped during a game with the Savannah Bananas in August. By September, he was back on a baseball diamond in New Hampshire. “I always thought I’d die on the field," he said, "but not in the [expletive] bullpen."

Zdeno Chara retires

Interactive

24 seasons of defensive dominance

Zdeno Chara — Big Z, and he was belovedly known in his time with the Bruins — is hanging up his skates. Let's take a look at the stats that made the difference.

Baseball Hall of Fame 2022

Interactive

David Ortiz hit 558 regular-season and postseason home runs.

David Ortiz's long drives to Cooperstown

David Ortiz is in the Hall of Fame. Explore all 558 home runs that helped get him there.

⚾️ Hall of Fame 2022: Learn more about David Ortiz’s induction →

BEST OF GLOBE SPORTS

college hockey

‘A culture of complete fear’: Harvard women’s hockey coach Katey Stone under fire for alleged abusive behavior

Stone has turned the Crimson into a national powerhouse, but 16 former players fault Harvard for keeping her on the job despite numerous complaints about her alleged abusive coaching practices.

Stan Grossfeld

Bill Lee collapsed on the baseball diamond. It didn’t slow him down.

The iconic Red Sox pitcher’s heart stopped during a game with the Savannah Bananas in August. By September, he was back on the diamond in New Hampshire. “I always thought I’d die on the field,” he said, “but not in the [expletive] bullpen.”

celtics

Why did the Celtics choose Joe Mazzulla to lead them out of crisis? It starts with his journey.

When he trained with other pro hopefuls at West Virginia, Mazzulla relished helping them more than working on his own game. He almost passed up an NBA opportunity because he loved what he was doing at his Division 2 program. But his family knew he was ready — and the Celtics believe he is, too.

Bruins

The loudest kid at his Montreal hockey camp. A man who put his life back together. Meet Jim Montgomery, who is ready to lead the Bruins.

Whether it was a junior A team in Ottawa, or at Maine, Montgomery knew how to help the players around him succeed. “He said the right things,” a former coach said. “He brought out the best in people.” Now, he'll have to do it with the Bruins.

patriots

Rhamondre Stevenson knows he has ‘a very special story.’ It’s time to tell it.

Six years ago, the running back found himself working at Wal-Mart, his dream to play football derailed. Hard work and a supportive family helped him find his way to the Patriots.

In Tampa, Tom Brady will be reunited with offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich (right) — but Bruce Arians will not be the head coach.

ben volin | on football

A secret plan, a bombshell lawsuit, and a soccer match: Inside Tom Brady’s un-retirement

If Brady had his way, he would have been running — and potentially quarterbacking — a Patriots division rival. Instead, a series of unforeseen events led him back to Tampa.

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Mac Jones at least will have a chance to succeed next season — which he didn’t have this season

It was a star-studded morning at Encore as the first legal sports bets were placed

christopher l. gasperWith an eye toward June, here are five thoughts on the state of the CelticsJayson Tatum is a legitimate MVP candidate, but it's not as if this is a team with one transcendent leading man and a bunch of basketball backup singers.

bruins notebookBrad Marchand dismisses Bruins’ losing streak: ‘We’re not concerned’The winger pointed out that opponents are giving the Bruins their best, and he expects the team to bounce back against Toronto.

NFLWhy BC receiver Zay Flowers’s NFL draft stock continues to rise, with many feeling he’ll be picked in the first roundFlowers used an additional college season to hone two areas of his game: competitive catches and blocking. 7:41 p.m.

women's college basketball notebookStonehill women’s basketball star Emily Bramanti already pointed toward a coaching careerBramanti is looking like another branch of the coaching tree cultivated by current Stonehill coach Trisha Brown, predecessor Kelly Hart, and program founder Paula Sullivan.

Boston College tops No. 20 Clemson in men’s college basketball, holding Tigers to one field goal in final 13:16

Bruins and Celtics share an arena but not necessarily the same fan base

Sean Payton to be named head coach of the Broncos

DeMeco Ryans named head coach of the Texans

Tyre Nichols’s death has shaken the NBA community, another grim reminder of the burden players carry

Mets lock up batting champion Jeff McNeil on four-year, $50 million deal

NASCAR bans Ross Chastain’s wall-hugging move at Martinsville, which was dubbed the ‘Hail Melon’

Diana Taurasi, 40, to take part in women’s USA Basketball training camp, but not Brittney Griner

Kenya’s Georgina Rono, third in 2012 Boston Marathon, banned four years for evading doping test

The NFL’s ‘all-star’ officiating crews are ruining the playoffs

Sports betting opens in Massachusetts on Tuesday. Here's what you need to know →

LATEST HEADLINES

Vinnie Pasquarosa celebrates 16th birthday in style with winning goal for Franklin boys’ hockey in OT nonleague win vs. Archbishop Williams

Boston College tops No. 20 Clemson in men’s college basketball, holding Tigers to one field goal in final 13:16

Brookline’s Geanna Bryant has a career night in Bay State Conference girls’ basketball road win at Framingham

Boys’ basketball roundup: Tristan Rodrigues (18 points) leads fifth-ranked Archbishop Williams in nonleague win over Latin Academy

Girls’ basketball roundup: North Andover’s Hannah Martin hits a grand scoring milestone in Merrimack Valley win over Haverhill

Girls’ hockey notebook: At Notre Dame Academy, an aggressive system of defense has led to offensive opportunities, an 8-4-0 start

EMass girls’ hockey: With goals in three straight games, Barnstable’s Emma DaSilva headlines Players of the Week

Seeking ‘great events’, MIAA books Lowell, Framingham, and Bourne for state hockey semifinals

Brookline’s Geanna Bryant has a career night in Bay State Conference girls’ basketball road win at Framingham

Vinnie Pasquarosa celebrates 16th birthday in style with winning goal for Franklin boys’ hockey in OT nonleague win vs. Archbishop Williams

Behind Joe Gallo’s zonal chaos, Merrimack men’s basketball is on the rise again

Joe Mazzulla, who wasn’t supposed to be the Celtics’ coach five months ago, will coach the All-Star Game

‘A culture of complete fear’: Harvard women’s hockey coach Katey Stone under fire for alleged abusive behavior

Bobby Hull was a hockey legend whose personal life fell far short of that

The Bruins’ Matt Grzelcyk is headed to the Beanpot Hall of Fame, and in a surprise, so is his father

Sunday notebooks

With Matt Barnes being designated for assignment, Rafael Devers is one of the few champs remaining on Red SoxBarnes leaves the Red Sox third in team history with 429 appearances and with a World Series ring.

Does paying big money to an NFL quarterback do more harm than good?This year’s playoffs certainly raise the question of whether it’s better to keep drafting a quarterback every few years and spend the money elsewhere.

Trade of Rui Hachimura looks a smart one for the Lakers, but another failure for the WizardsThe Lakers are trying to improve without trading away a first-round pick, or making commitments that would affect their ability to sign a maximum free agent this summer.

Why coach Jim Montgomery’s positive mojo has worked with the BruinsMontgomery's had nary a discouraging word to say, but his Bruins own the league’s best record and went into Saturday as the only NHL club yet to suffer back-to-back losses.

NEWSLETTERS

Get the best breaking news, opinion, and features from Globe Sports

🏀 Sign up for Court Sense, our Celtics/NBA newsletter

Sign up for 108 Stitches, our Red Sox/MLB newsletter

Sign up for Point After, our Patriots/NFL newsletter

At a glance

NFL

NHL

NBA

Baseball

High schools

College hockey

College basketball

College football

Golf

MLS

Premier League

Tennis

WNBA

Snowsports

World Cup

Viewers' guide

In case you missed it

Darkness on the edge of the Patriots dynasty

24 seasons of defensive dominance

David Ortiz's long drives to Cooperstown

⚾️ Hall of Fame 2022: Learn more about David Ortiz’s induction →

BEST OF GLOBE SPORTS

‘A culture of complete fear’: Harvard women’s hockey coach Katey Stone under fire for alleged abusive behavior

Bill Lee collapsed on the baseball diamond. It didn’t slow him down.

Why did the Celtics choose Joe Mazzulla to lead them out of crisis? It starts with his journey.

The loudest kid at his Montreal hockey camp. A man who put his life back together. Meet Jim Montgomery, who is ready to lead the Bruins.

Rhamondre Stevenson knows he has ‘a very special story.’ It’s time to tell it.

A secret plan, a bombshell lawsuit, and a soccer match: Inside Tom Brady’s un-retirement

FROM OUR PARTNERS

red sox & MLB news

Matt Barnes didn’t expect to leave the Red Sox, but he’s ready for a fresh start in Miami

Matt Barnes is gone, but the Red Sox salvage another reliever in a trade with the Marlins

Yes, the Red Sox have some depth in the rotation. But will they be able to rely on it?

With Matt Barnes being designated for assignment, Rafael Devers is one of the few champs remaining on Red Sox

Patriots & NFL news

Why BC receiver Zay Flowers’s NFL draft stock continues to rise, with many feeling he’ll be picked in the first round

christopher l. gasper
With an eye toward June, here are five thoughts on the state of the Celtics
Jayson Tatum is a legitimate MVP candidate, but it's not as if this is a team with one transcendent leading man and a bunch of basketball backup singers.

bruins notebook
Brad Marchand dismisses Bruins’ losing streak: ‘We’re not concerned’
The winger pointed out that opponents are giving the Bruins their best, and he expects the team to bounce back against Toronto.

NFL
Why BC receiver Zay Flowers’s NFL draft stock continues to rise, with many feeling he’ll be picked in the first round
Flowers used an additional college season to hone two areas of his game: competitive catches and blocking. 7:41 p.m.

With Matt Barnes being designated for assignment, Rafael Devers is one of the few champs remaining on Red Sox
Barnes leaves the Red Sox third in team history with 429 appearances and with a World Series ring.

Does paying big money to an NFL quarterback do more harm than good?
This year’s playoffs certainly raise the question of whether it’s better to keep drafting a quarterback every few years and spend the money elsewhere.

Trade of Rui Hachimura looks a smart one for the Lakers, but another failure for the Wizards
The Lakers are trying to improve without trading away a first-round pick, or making commitments that would affect their ability to sign a maximum free agent this summer.

Why coach Jim Montgomery’s positive mojo has worked with the Bruins
Montgomery's had nary a discouraging word to say, but his Bruins own the league’s best record and went into Saturday as the only NHL club yet to suffer back-to-back losses.