Sports

MVP award. I don’t win that if he’s not here — from what I’ve learned from him the past two years playing with him on a daily basis last year. He makes everyone around him better. When he’s on defense, he makes a great play, you’re just like, ‘I better not mess this up.’” As the Cardinals’ abrupt exit from the playoffs started the offseason earlier than they imagined, Arenado returned to California to make a decision that would shape more than the next few months for the Cardinals. An opt-out gave him the right to become a free agent. He said many teammates, including Wainwright and Goldschmidt, urged him to stay.

When last we saw the Chiefs in a playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium, they were trudging off the field after bungling a 21-3 lead against the Bengals and falling 27-24 in overtime. Instead of a third straight Super Bowl berth, instead of reassurance that such haunting postseason plummets from commanding leads had been purged in the Patrick Mahomes era, the Chiefs and their fans were delivered a nasty reality check.

EDMOND -- Ponca City’s varsity basketball teams are scheduled to participate in the Bruce Gray Invitational Tournament at Deer Creek High School Thursday through Saturday. The Wildcat boys team drew Holland Hall in the first round and is scheduled to play at 11:30 a.m.

WASHINGTON — Jordan Poole played Robin to Stephen Curry’s Batman Monday afternoon in the Warriors’ 127-118 win over the Washington Wizards. Curry and Poole combined for 73 of the Warriors’ points, including 13 3s, and Draymond Green contributed 17 points, 10 assists and six rebounds to help Golden State bounce back from an embarrassing loss 24 hours earlier in Chicago and earn its fifth road win of the season.

Jan. 16—Oklahoma State men’s basketball coach Mike Boynton remembers his introduction to Bedlam. Then an assistant under former Cowboys coach Brad Underwood, a few particular things have stuck with Boynton since that day.

They were left in a state of despair both times. They were close games the Lakers were unable to win.

TAMPA, Fla. — There’s been almost no quit this year in Tom Brady, but if he does decide to retire for good this time, the Bucs’ 31-14 loss to the Cowboys in an NFC wildcard game may not have been a proper send-off for the seven- time Super Bowl winner.