Welcome back to another edition of Snagged Sports, where we ✨snag✨ all the best stories in sports and serve them to you on a screen near you. In today's edition, basketball is officially back, the oldest sport in America gets some fresh new rules, and don't look now but the Cover Corner is heating up. Let's get into it.

🏆 The Main Character: Basketball

Now that football is officially behind us, it's basketball's turn to take center stage. Sports fans across the nation turned the proverbial page to the next proverbial chapter in the proverbial book of sports.

The NBA is approaching its All-Star break and teams are finally starting to hit their stride. Meanwhile, college hoops is in the heat of conference play and we are not too far off from the single greatest sports tournament in March Madness.

Kyrie and Luka Make D-town Debut

77 and 2 teamed up in American Airlines Center for the first time all season, and boy are they going to be a fun duo to watch for the rest of the season. But the debut was spoiled by Minnesota due to the T-Wolves own dynamic duo in Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert.

The Mavs pair put up a combined 69 points with 26 of those coming from Kyrie's franchise record breaking 4th quarter. It wasn't enough at the end as neither Doncic or Irving could get a shot off before the final buzzer sounded.

Oh, and a happy valentine's day to all! There was love in the Dallas air as this lucky couple got the ceremony I'm sure they'll never forget.

Check Your Watch, It's Dame Time ⏰

The Trail Blazers sure are lucky to have Damien Lillard, because without him, they would surely be a bottom tier team. Lillard went for 30 in just the first half which included this buzzer beater before the teams headed to the locker room.

On the other side, a Lebron-less Lake show is not a matchup many teams around the league are too concerned about. The addition of Rui Hachimura definitely helps, but without King James, this team isn't going anywhere.

Red Raiders Hook the No. 6 Horns

They say the teams that catch fire late in the season are always the most dangerous. Well, don't look now, but Texas Tech just beat its 2nd Top 15 team this week. De'vion Harmon and Kevin Obanor of the Red Raiders combined for 44 of the team's 74 points and the Longhorns had no answers.

The Big 12 has produced the past two NCAA Champions, and with such a loaded conference again this year, could Texas Tech be in the mix for a future Cinderella story? Only time will tell.

Roll Tide Roll...In March?

Can't Alabama just give everyone a break? Yes, they haven't been as dominant in football since the Dawgs came along, but for the first time in 20 years, Alabama basketball is Number 1 in the AP Poll.

Their 22-3 record speaks for itself, and the SEC isn't a cake walk of a conference. They had a little help from Northwestern, as they beat previous no. 1 Purdue and thanks to Houston's strength of schedule, Bama was given the nod for the top spot.

In a month, this will probably come to mean absolutely nothing, but for now Bama fans, you can say you are the best in college basketball.

You May Not Have Seen THIS 👀

If you're wondering why you are seeing a baseball player in a baseball stadium, you might be surprised to learn that pitchers and catchers participating in the 2023 World Baseball Classic had to report to MLB Spring Training on February 13th. Crazy!

That means it's time to get back in the swing (nice) of things for all 30 clubs around the MLB.

With spring training comes the implementation of new rules set to launch this season. These rules include:

• A 15 second pitch clock with no runners on base and 20 seconds with runners on

• Limited pickoff attempts to 2 per batter

• No infield shift - all teams must have two infield players on each side of 2nd base

• Increasing the base size from 15 inches to 18 inches.

Now, I'm no baseball purist, but with minimal rule changes since the dawn of baseball back in the late 1800's, my guess is that these rules will be met with some resistance. Most players are not happy, but the MLB is shifting (nice again) to these rules ASAP to help integrate before the regular season begins.

🤍 Wholesome Content 🤍

Do you remember the first time you went to a game to cheer on your favorite team? Well, George from Detroit had an experience he won't soon forget.

The atmosphere inside stadiums can make or break an experience of a game, but these Red Wings (and a few Canucks) fans brought the energy and gave this family something awesome to remember.

💰 The Cover Corner 💰

About Last Night: Well well well. How 'bout some 2-0 action huh?! After I made the Miami pick, there was a lot of sharp money that came in on North Carolina. I won't lie, I really started to get nervous, but it goes to show that there is no one sharper than a diabetic that takes 4 shots a day. Miami is the better team and they proved it.

Hitting that back door over with the Red Wings putting up 3 in the third was a god send. There was a little bit of a sweat but nothing 'ol Covers can’t handle!

🏀 CBB: Creighton vs. Providence +2.5

• The Friars have been rock solid at home in the past 3 seasons. They are 13-0 so far this season, and have won 29 of their last 30. Simply playing the statistic here. Last week, I went against the home conference dog, but for today, I am here to play man's best friend. Give me the home dog and if you're feeling bold, go ahead and take that moneyline.

🏒 Florida ML -125 vs. St. Louis

• I have no idea how this line is where it's at. The Blues are atrocious - they can't score, and can't stop giving up goals. I think the Panthers win big here. Give me a Florida 4-1 win, and hell, sprinkle a little on the Panthers -1.5 too. Again I say, the Blues. Are. Not. That. Good.

As per usual, do what you must with this valuable information.

🐣 Tweet of the Day 🐣

Mahomes really did make true on his promise and headed to Disney World after the Chiefs' Super Bowl win. The Happiest Place on Earth got a little happier with this family in the house.

🔥 Hot Takes Tuesday 🔥

It's Tuesday which means it's time to fire off some spicy takes and see if they stick! Disclaimer: All takes subject to change. I cannot and will not hold myself responsible for this later on down the line if these turn out to be incorrect.

⛳️ This year is Homa's year. With one win already under his belt this season, Max Homa is quickly emerging as one of golf's next stars. I think this is the year he breaks through that glass ceiling and wins his first major, and if I could be specific, and I will, the U.S. Open is the one I would watch for.

🪶 Lamar goes down to the ATL. Same quarterback, different bird. Mr. Jackson has been in contract negotiations for what seems like forever, and with guaranteed money being the issue, it's no sure thing he returns to Baltimore. Harbaugh and the rest of the Ravens' front office seem confident, but I'm not completely sold.

🐴 It's a Mavs World. Now I know they are just coming off of a home loss to the Timberwolves, but hear me out. Kyrie and Luka still need to build that chemistry and still have plenty of time to do so. The addition of Justin Holiday provides a deeper lineup the suits the bench well. Players like Bullock, Powell, and THJ just need to be competent and support the star duo. The Western Conference is stacked, but to me, this team is the most complete to make a run.

I will continue to track each take from every Tuesday edition, and for each one I get right, I will boast about it on here because you can't stop me. Stay tuned.

Quick Hits 🥊

• Super Bowl ad and meme reviews took over the day. This one was a personal favorite.

• In-game viewership of Super Bowl LVII topped out at 113M. Rihanna drew in 118.7M.

• Derek Carr released from Las Vegas making him officially on the market.

• Michigan State cancels all athletic events after shooting. Prayers for East Lansing.

• Reminder from The Rock: football isn't over

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