Just 33 mushers will line up for the 51st Iditarod this weekend in Willow, Alaska.
Why it matters: That's the smallest field in the race's 51-year history, continuing a downward trend of participation that raises concerns about the future of the iconic event.
The best hockey player on the planet has never been hotter than he is right now. Few athletes ever have.
Driving the news: Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid scored two goals on Wednesday to become the fifth player in National Hockey League history with five straight multi-goal games, joining Punch Broadbent, Joe Malone, Alexander Mogilny and Mario Lemieux.
Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter — a projected top pick in the upcoming NFL Draft — was charged Wednesday with reckless driving and racing for his involvement in a January crash that killed two others.
Driving the news: The wreck, which killed Carter's teammate Devin Willock and Georgia recruiting analyst Chandler LeCroy, happened hours after the Bulldogs celebrated winning their second straight national championship.
The family of Kobe Bryant reached a multimillion-dollar settlement with Los Angeles County over a lawsuit involving photos taken at the scene of the helicopter crash that killed Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others.
The big picture: A federal jury last August awarded $15 million in damages to Vanessa Bryant over emotional distress caused by the photos.
When the college basketball season began, 37 men's Division I programs had the same ultimate goal: make their first-ever NCAA Tournament.
State of play: With at-large bids reserved mostly for power conference teams, members of the "Never Made The Tourney" club must win their conference tournament and secure an automatic berth if they hope to reach March Madness.
