NHL Players Return To Winter Olympics

     The players in the National Hockey League will return to play in the Winter Olympics. It has been agreed between the NHL and the NHLPA that the players will participate in the next two Olympics in 2026 in Italy and 2030 in an undetermined site. 

     The NHL players last played in the Olympics back in 2014. National Hockey League players were used in the 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics. 

Heat Wash Out Wizards

     The Miami Heat knocked off the Washington Wizards 110-102 on Friday night at Captial One Arena. It was the Heat's only road contest in a seven-game stretch. The Wizards have the second worst record in the NBA. 

     Washington(9-39) scooted out to a 7-2 lead and had a 33-31 lead at the end of one quarter. The Wizards were ahead 59-56 at halftime. 

     Miami(26-23) got on a 23-6 run at the end of the third quarter and moved ahead 87-74. The Heat remained in front and were challenged in the final two minutes of the final quarter. 

     Jimmy Butler fell short of a double-double with 24 points and nine rebounds. Bam Adebayo did have a double-double with 20 points and 14 rebounds. Tyler Herro and Terry Rozier added 15 points each. Kevin Love finished with a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds. 

     The Wizards were led by Corey Kispert with a club-high 26 points and Jordan Poole had 16 points and 10 assists for a double-double. 

Bam Adebayo In NBA All-Star Game

     Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo has been named an Eastern Conference reserve player for the upcoming 2024 NBA All-Star Game. The contest will be held in Indianapolis on February 18. 

     Adebayo has been with the Heat since the 2017-18 season. He has compiled 20.6 points per game and 10.6 rebounds per game in 38 games during the 2023-24 campaign with Miami. 

Nationals Ink Richard Bleier

     The Washington Nationals have signed former Miami Marlins relief pitcher Richard Bleier to a minor league contract. He was with the Boston Red Sox last season.  

     Bleier played for the Marlins from 2020 until 2022. He ended up with a 6-5 record with a 3.16 earned run average in 142 appearances with the Fish. 

Al-Nassr Wallops Inter Miami CF

     The rivalry between two of the best players in world soccer history did not happen as Inter Miami CF was shut out by Al-Nassr 6-0 at Kingdom Arena Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Thursday. 

     Cristiano Ronaldo of Al-Nassr did not participate due to an injury. Lionel Messi of Inter Miami CF played in the last six minutes of the game. 

     It was the fourth game of the seven-game preseason schedule for Inter Miami CF. They will play their next contest in China. 

NHL All-Star Game Draft

     The 2024 NHL All-Star Game Draft was held at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Thursday. There will not be teams by their four different teams for this year's event. 

     Connor McDavid chose two Florida Panthers players for his Team McDavid roster. He selected center Sam Reinhart in the fifth round and goalie Sergei Bobrovsky in the sixth round.  

     Two other former Panthers will also play in the contest. Vincent Trocheck of the New York Rangers is with Team Mathews while Frank Vatrano of the Anaheim Ducks joins Team Hughes. 

Jazz Chisholm Jr. Loses Arbitration

     The Miami Marlins won the arbitration hearing against outfielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. He will make $2.625 million in 2024. Chisholm was asking for $2.9 million at the arbitration hearing. 

     Chisholm played in 97 games during the 2023 season and helped them reach the postseason. He compiled 19 home runs, 51 runs batted in and a .250 batting average.