BALTIMORE – The AP MVP race takes center stage in Week 8 of the NFL regular season: He’s the Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson – and everyone else.

Even by Jackson’s exceptionally high standards, the All-Pro superstar was so sensational during the Ravens’ five-game winning streak that he established a large lead over the remainder of the field. Jackson’s performance is the biggest reason why Baltimore (5-2), AFC North co-leaders with the Pittsburgh Steelers, leads the league in total offense, rushing attack and is tied for first in points with the Washington Commanders.

Of course, Jackson’s play is not the only reason the Ravens are thriving. At this point, Jackson’s closest competitor for the AP MVP award could also be certainly one of his teammates from Baltimore’s offensive defense.

After joining Baltimore in free agency, the All-Pro running back Derrick Henry leads the NFL in rushing again. The Ravens’ signing of Henry turned out to be the best move of the NFL offseason (Dallas Cowboys fans can attest to that) because Henry complemented Jackson well, to say the least.

Without a doubt, on condition that passionate fans of the franchise have a lot to root for, these are strong moments for the Ravens, who travel on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns (1-6). Ultimately, though, Jackson’s legacy might be defined by how he performs in the postseason. There continues to be much work to be done in this effort.

To his credit, Jackson sees the larger picture.

“I’m chasing something right now,” Jackson told reporters Monday night after visiting the game in which Baltimore won 41-31 over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“Every match will be the same for me. I will be the same person. I try to win every match.”

In the opening of the NFL season, the visiting Ravens lost to the two-time defending Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs. After that loss, the Ravens and Jackson faced the Chiefs, led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes, to 1-5.

Then in the second game, Baltimore lost at home to the Las Vegas Raiders.

Since then, nevertheless, the Ravens have been unstoppable: Among the victories in this series are convincing victories over the Buffalo Bills, who lead the AFC East commanders and Washington, who occupy first place in the NFC East. Against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 7, Jackson had 281 passing yards, five touchdown passes and 52 rushing yards.

While some may consider it a stretch to suggest that the two-time MVP has never played higher, well, facts are facts.

Baltimore coach John Harbaugh disagrees with that assessment.

“He does it at a very high level,” Harbaugh said. “I’m proud of him. I’m happy for him. He’s a great leader and a great player.”

After spending his first eight seasons with the Tennessee Titans, Henry is seeing greatness – as close as possible – at the most significant position.

“He’s the type of guy who can have a really fantastic game and doesn’t even know his stats,” Henry said of Jackson. “All he knows are the guys he threw to and the guys who scored. Dude is just amazing. A few weeks ago in an interview I said, “This is definitely the GOAT (biggest ever).” “

In his position, Henry can be climbing the all-time scoring ladder.

The Ravens aggressively pursued Henry this offseason, believing that he and Jackson – the biggest dual-threat quarterback in league history – could mix to form a historic offensive line. The Ravens appear to have nailed it.

Henry, 30, led the NFL in rushing in consecutive seasons (2019, 2020). During his final season with the Titans, he scored nearly 1,200 yards (1,167), rushing for 12 touchdowns and leading the league with 280 carries.

Already this season, Henry has scored 10 touchdowns, including eight rushing. The 2020 AP Offensive Player of the Year has a personal-best average of 6.5 yards on 134 rushing attempts in the NFL, and has two rushes of at the very least 81 yards.

If Henry maintains his current pace of 124.7 yards per game, he’ll finish with 2,120 rushing yards and break the single-season league record of two,105 yards set by Los Angeles Rams running back Eric Dickerson in 1984.

“The offensive line is doing a great job,” Henry said. “All the credit goes to them.”

Jackson cheers on his teammate.

“It’s there. I feel like (Henry) has a great chance to do that,” Jackson said. “He can do it. I believe he can do it.”

The Ravens defense was historically great last season. He’s not as dominant statistically this season: Baltimore’s opponents are averaging 25.7 points, which ranks twenty seventh in the league, and their defense is last in passing.

Fortunately for the Ravens, the combination of Jackson and Henry allowed Baltimore to compensate for offense.

“When you put the team first and focus on execution and defining who we want to be as a team, then the individual stuff is just window dressing,” Henry said. “It will take care of itself.”

On social media, Ravens doubters rightly indicate that the team has been here before.

Once again, Baltimore is racking up yards and points in bunches on their technique to potentially clinching the top overall seed in the AFC playoffs. During Jackson’s time in Baltimore, the Ravens twice failed to succeed in the Super Bowl despite having home field advantage. Despite being favored in last season’s AFC Championship Game, the Ravens lost to the Chiefs 17-10 at M&T Bank Stadium.

For now, though, the Ravens are having fun with their winning streak, Jackson’s pursuit of his third AP MVP award and second in as many seasons, and Henry’s pursuit of the NFL’s fastest single-season mark. The postseason just isn’t the Ravens’ primary goal. But there’s a very good probability it is going to occur again soon.

And the query might be whether the Ravens will finally win the most significant thing with Jackson at the helm.

Director of Athletics at Morehouse College Harold Ellisformer Maroon Tigers basketball standout, recalls that as a student-athlete, he made quite a few calls to scouts and agents, asking for a likelihood to play in the NBA. Now Morehouse basketball players will get the opportunity Ellis wished that they had in college.

Morehouse and Tuskegee University, Division II compete in the competition Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conferencewill participate in the NBA HBCU Classic 2025 during NBA All-Star Weekend in San Francisco, the NBA announced Thursday. The two historically black universities will play on Feb. 15, 2025, at the Oakland Arena, one in all several Bay Area locations that will host NBA All-Star events.

“Getting the (athletic director) job and bringing the NBA (HBCU Classic) to Morehouse since I’ve been working there has been unbelievable,” said Ellis, who’s the athletic director the only athlete in Morehouse history play in the league. He also spent several years in the Detroit Pistons front office as an expert personnel evaluator.

“When I was in school at Morehouse, my only goal was to work in the NBA. Everyone knows it,” Ellis said. “It’s good for these kids. …We didn’t have that option. And now that the NBA is taking over the HBCU space and taking ownership of it, it’s amazing. … It’s important for them to come to our campus because they’ll really be able to see, ‘Hey, the NBA is here.’ We can work in the NBA, be a part of NBA life.” ”

SIAC is the fourth HBCU conference played as a part of the NBA HBCU Classic. Morgan State University and Howard University represented the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in the inaugural match in 2022Grambling State University and Southern University represented the Southwestern Athletic Conference in 2023, and Winston-Salem State University and Virginia Union University represented the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association in the February game.

SIAC, which incorporates 15 institutions, is the largest of the 4 HBCU conferences, and the conference’s founding members include Morehouse and Tuskegee. SIAC Commissioner Antoni Holloman said he is worked up to showcase one in all the conference’s historic rivalries and the SIAC brand of basketball.

We have teams that perform at a high level defensively and I believe the athleticism and grit with which our teams play will be shown. … This is a very good opportunity for the world to see HBCU basketball,” Holloman said. I do know there are players who can play skilled basketball. This is a likelihood for somebody to showcase themselves in the G League (or) playing overseas.

The rivalry between the two HBCUs has an extended history. Tuskegee was inaugural SIAC 1934 men’s basketball champion and the university’s Golden Tigers NCAA Division II Tournament in 2023. Tuskegee defeated Morehouse in football on October 5and Tuskegee athletics director Reginald Ruffin in search of an identical result in basketball.

“When you talk about the history of two of the greatest institutions, Tuskegee University and Morehouse College, because of the contributions they have made to society, now we have a chance to be part of the celebration with the NBA,” Ruffin said. “It’s all the time a contest. We did what we had to do football-wise. Now we concentrate on basketball and keep the same energy.

NBA and league partners will each donate $100,000 to Morehouse and Tuskegee to support academic resources, athletics and wellness services. The league also offers NBA HBCU Scholarship Programwhich provides HBCU undergraduate and graduate students with opportunities to advance their basketball careers. Scholarship participants work at the NBA HBCU Classic, and previous scholarship recipients have been heavily involved in game preparation, from event planning to merchandising.

“One of our core values ​​at the NBA is to innovate with purpose,” he said Lesley Slaton BrownNBA Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. “That’s why we’re bringing that talent into the team who already has a certain level of understanding of the league experience and/or team experience. and we say, “Help us create a better experience.” Introduce latest ideas.

“We will continue to make commitments and challenge ourselves to be better, do better and create an experience that truly strengthens the HBCU space and excites people.”

For the past 10 years, Morehouse has led Tuskegee head-to-head 11-3. The teams have split their last 4 games 2-2with each competition being decided by single digits.

Morehouse men’s basketball coach Douglas Whittler remembers the intensity of the game against Tuskegee when he played basketball for the Maroon Tigers, and Whittler and Ellis spent a long time participating in the rivalry as players and members of the athletic staff.

Ellis believes the NBA HBCU Classic will be one other close battle.

“I never lost to Tuskegee. I know I had some better games against Tuskegee. “We said we were going to beat these guys to sleep,” Ellis said. “It’s a basketball rivalry, but these are two historic institutions. … We’re both national brands, and I think the fans will really respect that, and the fans will come out and understand that it’s a rivalry.”

BOSTON – Jayson Tatum all the time likes seeing Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett sitting courtside at Boston Celtics games. The Celtics forward notes the love fans show him, which is greater than just respect for being a Hall of Famer who dons the green and white. The respect and admiration comes from “The Truth” and “KG” playing a major role in bringing the 2008 NBA Championship to Boston.

After winning a title himself in Boston in 2024, Tatum feels amazing about having a “footprint” in Celtics lore and envisioned himself sitting courtside at TD Garden and receiving essentially the most love from fans after his retirement.

“In real time, I feel different, like I’m a part of history,” Tatum told Andscape after Celtics practice on Oct. 11. “You see when Paul Pierce, KG, all these guys come back, the pride they’ve because they’re rooted in history. You just feel the energy when these guys come back. They know they did something special. This is what you have all the time desired to do. I do know within the championship I’m on this room. I understand the energy they feel once they come back. It’s a sense of pride, a sense of joy, like you have achieved something special. I hope it is not just me.

To be a a part of Celtics history, you’ve to win a championship. We have already got 18. All the very best players here have won the championship. You are kept to the best standard. You need to win at the least one. It was nice to get it. I’m comfortable about it.”

Given the Celtics’ storied history, Tatum felt a huge weight lifted after winning the championship. He entered the 2024 NBA Finals with five conference finals appearances, one NBA Finals appearance and no rings. Tatum said he was “devastated” after losing to the Golden State Warriors in six games of the 2022 NBA Finals, believing he was playing his best basketball and had a great work ethic.

The five-time NBA All-Star, who scored 11,852 points over seven seasons, is predicted to ultimately go down in history as considered one of the best Celtics ever. But without the title, Tatum knew he really couldn’t be a part of the conversation between the Celtics’ champions. While the 26-year-old is not satisfied with one ring and still has a lot of catching as much as do, he felt winning the title in Beantown finally gave him the chance to face alongside Pierce, Garnett, Bill Russell, Bob Cousy and Larry Bird. , Kevin McHale and other Celtics legends.

“It was a big burden. I used to be close again and again,” Tatum said. “I felt, ‘Damn, perhaps it wasn’t imagined to be this fashion.’ These thoughts creep into your mind. In essentially the most difficult moments, doubts appeared. But nonetheless, I knew we’d tear it down at some point. When we did it, it meant every little thing.

On Tuesday night, Tatum and the Celtics will raise the NBA Championship banner in Boston once they tackle the New York Knicks within the first game of the season. The Celtics have won a record 18 NBA championships, yet one more than their rival Los Angeles Lakers. It may even be the first title banner displayed in Boston since 2008.

Tatum is happy to win his first NBA championship ring and at last see the banner he’s a a part of hanging from the rafters of TD Garden.

“I’ve seen opening nights in the NBA for many years,” Tatum said. “I saw teams raise the banner and receive rings. I’m like, “Man, I want that to be me someday.” I have not seen what the rings look like. It can be a surprise for all of us. I could have my family there. My mom and (my son) Deuce (Jayson Jr.) can be on the court with all of the fans who’ve supported us over time.

“This moment can be special. It can be something I’ll treasure for the remaining of my life. You will all the time remember the moment if you won, got your first ring and needed to put it on. That’s what all my favorite players did.

On July 1, Tatum signed a gigantic five-year, $315 million supermax contract extension with the Celtics. Last season, the 6-foot-8-inch, 210-pounder averaged 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists and shot 47% from the sphere and earned First-Team All-NBA honors for the third straight season. Tatum has already earned $121 million in his NBA profession, not including off-the-court sponsorships.

Coming from St. Louis, entering his eighth yr in Boston, feels at home in Beantown and is grateful for the way much town and the club have given him on and off the sphere.

“Time flies,” Tatum said. “I used to be drafted in 2017… My son was born here. I purchased my first automobile here. And for me, I love and love the relationships I’ve inbuilt the organization, all of the coaches I’ve had, obviously within the front office, the safety guards, the trainers, the chefs, the fans, the people working on the Garden, the ball boys who do our laundry. The relationships I’ve built during the last seven or eight years, I can not imagine starting over and leaving them or this place.

“Of course, it’s so much more than that and I’m grateful for everything that’s happened to me. But more importantly, they want me to be here. I understand that I have made my mark by helping to build the Celtics legacy. A small part that I feel like I am a part of. There’s a group of 10-year-olds in Boston who will feel like I’m a part of their childhood. “I grew up watching him play at the Garden. I grew up watching him win championships. To be a part of a sports city like Boston is something special.”

With a latest contract and championship in hand, Tatum was next scheduled to move to the 2024 Paris Olympics to play for Team USA Basketball. All the recent joy on the championships was followed by disappointment as Tatum played sparingly en path to winning his second gold medal. Tatum averaged 5.3 points on 38.1% shooting in 4 Olympics and missed two contests.

While Tatum was admittedly disenchanted by the dearth of playing time, he put the Olympics into perspective.

“It was a learning experience. Some things you’ll be able to’t control,” Tatum said. “Everything happens for a reason, whatever that reason may be. But when I look back on my career, two gold medals, winning a championship, All-Star for five years. I’m doing well in life.”

With all due respect, Pierce and Garnett were only in a position to win one championship they usually exceeded expectations. The NBA’s all-time winningest player was Russell with 11 titles. Sam Jones scored 10 for Boston, while Tom Heinsohn, KC Jones, Satch Sanders and John Havlicek each scored eight. Cousy won six. The bird won three. Can Tatum be greater than just a one-time championship wonder?

The Celtics also had not repeated as champions since 1968 and 1969. The last NBA team to repeat as champions was the Warriors in 2018 and 2019. New contract, youth and talented roster, including 2024 NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, defensive standouts Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis Tatum believes the favored Celtics are ready for one more banner and says it’s “lots of things” it is advisable listen to for this to occur.

“First of all, it’s our time to understand and take ownership,” Tatum said. “We have amazing opportunities so long as we’ve got this core group together. And constructing last (season). We won’t get credit for it, but we had an historic season in history. We played the fitting way. We played selflessly. The boys continued to attain individual success. We understood the moments when we wanted everyone.

“D-White scored 38 points within the playoffs against Miami. Can we proceed to want more? This just isn’t the time for us to attend for people to attack us. NO. What we did last season (season) was exceptional. But after the ring night (expletive), because in the brand new season everyone seems to be fighting for the championship. We need to play higher from game to game. That’s once we were at our greatest last yr. We didn’t skip any stage. We didn’t care about anyone.

“We struggled in the 2022-2023 season, just wanting to get back to the Finals, but we fell short of Miami. But last season (the season) it was like, no, we have to get better every day, whether we were playing the Lakers and LeBron (James) on Christmas Day or the bottom seed on League Pass. We were closed. It was visible. We only lost 20 games throughout the season, including the playoffs. It was impressive.”