Written by Clark Gerber, contributor for WRAL Sports.

The online world is vast. Unless you are constantly connected (which is not advised), you will inevitably overlook some information.

We can complete that task. You can maintain a balanced lifestyle and still stay updated on the top sporting events of the week, with a brief overview…

#KCStrong

I had a difficult day last Wednesday.

The celebration of the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory was overshadowed by a senseless shooting that resulted in the death of one woman and injuries to 22 others, including several children.

Instead of expressing anger, which there is much reason for, I would like to briefly discuss how the Chiefs are dealing with the tragedy and how we can all contribute.

The organization has introduced “Kansas City Strong,” a relief fund designed to assist those affected by violence and their loved ones, as well as provide support for first responders. The initiative also aims to address violence prevention and offer resources for mental health.

If you would like to contribute to the Kansas City Strong fund, every donation makes a difference and can be made here.

The Madness is coming

The NCAA tournament is on the horizon with less than three weeks left in the regular season for college basketball, following the conclusion of football season. It’s time to shift focus to the upcoming tournament.

However, do not solely rely on my statement.

The Selection Committee for the Tournament recently revealed its yearly “Bracket Preview” during the weekend, showcasing three nearby teams with potential for a successful journey.

The men’s team from North Carolina bounced back from a surprising defeat against Syracuse by easily defeating Virginia Tech with a 15-point lead on Saturday. The selection committee has taken notice of the Tar Heels’ strong performance throughout the season, placing them as a No. 2 seed in their bracket preview.

Duke, as you can see, is currently projected to be on the 3 line. They got a key road win at Florida State on Saturday, thanks to an otherwordly performance from freshman guard Jared McCain.

McCain matched the record for most points scored by a Duke freshman with 35, achieving this feat against the Seminoles. An impressive 25 of those points were scored in the first half, making it one of the most remarkable shooting displays in recent history.

He set a freshman record by making eight three-pointers out of 11 attempts, just one short of JJ Redick’s program record.

The women’s team from NC State is expected to be a 2-seed, even though they narrowly avoided being upset by Georgia Tech on Sunday.

Kara Dunn, a guard for the Yellow Jackets, scored a total of 31 points in the game. She made two incredible 3-point shots during a crucial moment. On the other hand, Aziaha James also had an impressive performance with 30 points, ultimately leading the Wolfpack to a close 1-point win in overtime on their home court.

This week, the Wolfpack will face two intense road games against their rivals. They will play against North Carolina on Thursday evening, followed by a match against Duke on Sunday.

If they are able to win both of those games, NC State is likely to secure a No. 2 seed for the Big Dance.

Parker Byrd’s historic ECU debut

The college baseball season has begun in North Carolina and is already in full swing. (No, really. It always seems to sneak up on me.)

There are five teams from the same state that are included in the top 15 rankings.

NC State’s head coach, Eliott Avent, recently achieved his 1,000th victory.

In his first game for the Pirates, sophomore Parker Byrd from East Carolina achieved a noteworthy milestone in the NCAA.

On Friday, Byrd entered the game as a substitute hitter during the team’s victory against Rider in the season opener. This marked the first time in history that a person with a prosthetic leg has played Division I baseball.

In July of 2022, Byrd, who is registered as both an infielder and pitcher, was involved in a boating incident that put his life at risk. He underwent over 20 surgical procedures within 45 days, including the removal of his right leg.

Despite being from Laurinburg, the individual persevered in pursuing their goal of playing college baseball and put effort into regaining their physical condition.

In his only time at bat, Byrd received a walk and was replaced by designated hitter Jason Janesko. Janesko later crossed home plate, contributing to the Pirates’ 16-2 victory.

I received even more excitement when Jim Abbott, a former professional baseball player who was born without a right hand, tweeted his congratulations. Abbott pitched a no-hitter for the New York Yankees in 1993 and had a successful 10-year career.

The Daytona 500 was won by William Byron.

William Byron, who is from Charlotte, achieved his first Daytona 500 victory this past weekend. However, it wasn’t the exciting ending that many NASCAR enthusiasts had hoped for.

To begin with, the race was postponed until Monday evening because of bad weather on Sunday. Additionally, a collision on the last lap resulted in the race ending under caution.

Byron was announced as the victor due to being ahead at the moment of the accident, narrowly beating his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Alex Bowman to the finish line.

A few supporters compared the lackluster ending to a well-known television series, but the majority of the after-race excitement is focused on determining who is responsible for the last crash.

Initially, it appears that Ross Chastain, driving the No. 1 car, attempted a bold maneuver for the lead and made contact with Austin Cindric in the No. 2 car, resulting in both cars spinning out.

However, Cindric asserts that the cause of his accident was actually Corey LaJoie, driving the No. 7 car. The two have a past, and their interviews after the race indicate that their animosity towards each other remains.

Spicy!

Byron has made his 7th career start at the Daytona 500, but this is the first time he has successfully crossed the finish line.

Whether or not there is a warning, winning the checkered flag at Daytona is a significant achievement and an excellent start to the season. Congratulations to the driver and their team!

The matchup between Steph and Sabrina was a standout moment during the NBA All-Star Weekend.

Every year, it has become customary to voice complaints about the NBA All-Star Weekend.

The actual game is essentially just a practice for easy shots, the dunk competition is consistently underwhelming, and I have little knowledge about the other competitions.

I believed that the only redeeming factor was the 3-point competition between Stephen Curry and WNBA standout Sabrina Ionescu.

Ionescu was the first to go and had a strong start, scoring 26 points. However, Curry ultimately outperformed her with 29 points, needing a strong finish to secure the victory.

The event was enjoyable, captivating, authentically tense, and even caused some disagreement due to the commentary of TNT’s Kenny Smith.

The ex-UNC standout, with good intentions but a flawed idea, implied that Ionescu should have taken a shot from the WNBA’s 3-point line to level the playing field.

Unfortunately, it was not the Jets’ most impressive moment. Ionescu displayed exceptional skill within the given guidelines. Her 26 points could have secured her a spot in the finals of the sanctioned 3-Point Contest. However, she happened to be competing against the greatest shooter in history and still performed admirably.

There is no need to alter the regulations for her. I simply require a rematch next year.

Additionally, there is a fresh event in which Trae Young challenges fans to a $100 bet that he can successfully make a shot from their seat. I believe many of us would be interested in watching that.

Caitlin Clark sets new record for highest women’s scoring with impressive performance.

In regards to the long-range shot, Caitlin Clark, a standout player from Iowa, wasted no time breaking the record for the most points ever scored in women’s college basketball on Thursday.

She executed the action in the most effective manner she is familiar with — by making a ridiculous shot from the logo with the basketball.

Afterwards, the Hawkeyes called a timeout, giving Clark the chance to rejoice with her loved ones who were present to witness this historic moment.

Clark continued her impressive performance throughout the night, ultimately scoring a career-best 49 points in a victory against Michigan.

One could argue that women’s college basketball currently has a greater abundance of standout players than the men’s game, and Caitlin Clark serves as a prime example.

I am excited to witness the potential of this team in March under her leadership.

The College Football video game by EA Sports is making a comeback!

After eleven years of absence, college football is finally returning to video game consoles worldwide.

On Thursday, EA Sports officially announced the news through a teaser trailer. The trailer did not include any gameplay footage, but was still enough to excite fans.

Since players can now make money from their college careers through name, image, and likeness rules, it is likely that real player names will already be included. This means no more spending hours editing rosters.

EA Sports has announced that the next milestone for the game will take place in May, with a “full reveal” expected. This reveal should include details such as the release date and a preview of the gameplay.

What a wonderful day. We will meet again next week.

Source: wralsportsfan.com