The Chiefs have achieved dynasty status with their third Super Bowl title in five years

Super Bowl 58 MVP, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, center, greets fans on Main Street, US, during a cavalcade through Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., Monday. (AP)
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Updated 13 February 2024
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The Chiefs have achieved dynasty status with their third Super Bowl title in five years

  • With their come-from-behind overtime win over the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl on Sunday night, the Chiefs raised their third Lombardi Trophy in four trips over a five-year span
  • The Chiefs will celebrate their latest Super Bowl triumph with a parade through downtown Kansas City

LAS VEGAS: This was supposed to be the year when the Kansas City Chiefs were vulnerable. Their wide receivers were dropping passes, their offense was committing penalties, Travis Kelce was supposedly getting old and there was no way that Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes could possibly overcome all of that.

Yet they did, and wiped away any doubt that the Chiefs are the new NFL dynasty.

With their come-from-behind overtime win over the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl on Sunday night, the Chiefs raised their third Lombardi Trophy in four trips over a five-year span. And they became the first team since the New England Patriots with Tom Brady two decades ago — the last great football dynasty — to successfully defend their title.

Even Mahomes, when asked whether the Chiefs had become a dynasty, replied: “It’s the start of one.”

“It’s a little bit surreal,” Reid said. “I don’t know what a dynasty is. You guys have the thesaurus, so you can figure it out. It’s a great win because I know how hard it is to do and how hard the season was, the ups and downs of the season, and how proud I am of the guys for just hanging with each other and staying positive with each other.”

Never before has an underdog in back-to-back Super Bowls won both, and that may best illustrate two important facts: The Chiefs were eminently beatable this season, and nobody was able to beat them when it mattered.

Start with the roster, which had to be creatively put together by general manager Brett Veach around $37 million in salary cap space taken up by Mahomes, the biggest cap hit in the NFL this season. Yet the architect of each of their last three title runs was able to find bargains such as Jerick McKinnon and Drue Tranquill who contributed far beyond their monetary value.

Look at their wide receivers, youngsters and journeymen who dropped more passes than any team in the league this season. Yet they galvanized around a quiet rookie, Rashee Rice, who not only became their No. 1 option but a bona fide star.

It goes beyond personnel, though. Consider the road Kansas City had to navigate this season.

At one point, the Chiefs played six consecutive games in which the other team had extra days of rest, the only time that has happened in NFL history. They had to play in Germany, beating the Dolphins in Frankfurt in a preview of a future wild-card game, and at one point lost five of eight midway through the season to drop to the No. 3 seed for the playoffs.

After beating the Dolphins in the fourth-coldest game in NFL history, the Chiefs hit the road in the postseason for the first time in six years with Mahomes as the starter. But as underdogs in Buffalo and Baltimore, the Chiefs embraced their newfound status as hunters rather than the hunted, and they responded by playing their best football of the season.

In terms of strength of opposition, the Chiefs successfully navigated the toughest path to the Super Bowl in history.

Then came a fitting finale in Las Vegas.

The Chiefs started off by making the same silly mistakes that dragged them down too often during the regular season, and they fell behind San Francisco by double digits, just as they did in each of their four Super Bowls with Mahomes under center. But just as they did in beating the 49ers four years ago, and the Eagles last year, the best team of its era rallied around what is fast becoming the best quarterback of any era to mount a comeback to remember.

Mahomes drove the Chiefs for a field goal to tie the game 16-all with about 5 1/2 minutes to go. He drove them for another field goal with 3 seconds left to force overtime. And he answered a field goal by San Francisco to start the extra session with a gutsy drive that Mahomes capped with his winning touchdown throw to the much-maligned Mecole Hardman.

“Same as always,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said of Mahomes afterward. “He’s unbelievable.”

Same as always for the Chiefs: unbelievable.

“They’re all tough. I’m not going to say one’s tougher than the other,” Mahomes said of the championship run. “It takes your best, and I think for me, personally, it was just battling through adversity throughout the season, whenever the offense wasn’t playing like I wanted it to play, and just to believe and fight. But all these games are tough. It takes your best football.”

Reid and Kelce assuaged some concerns among Chiefs fans that they would retire after the Super Bowl, saying late Sunday both planned to be back next season. Mahomes and most of their key players also will be back, though some difficult decisions loom when it comes to pending free agents.

All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed will demand massive contracts, and the Chiefs need to be mindful of next year, too, when they have several more important players reaching free agency.

The Chiefs will celebrate their latest Super Bowl triumph with a parade through downtown Kansas City on Wednesday, and after a brief exhale, Veach will join Reid and the rest of their brain trust in getting back to work. The cycle will begin anew.

Because sustained success — the kind the Chiefs have achieved, year after year — is what turns great teams into a dynasty.

“I mean, I’m going to celebrate tonight. I’m going to celebrate at the parade,” Mahomes said after earning his third Super Bowl MVP award, “and then I’m going to do whatever I can to be back in this game next year, and try for that three-peat.

“I think Tom said it best: Once you win that championship, and you have those parades and you get those rings, you’re not the champion anymore,” Mahomes added. “You have to come back with that same mentality, and learn from guys like that that have been the greatest of all time, at the top level, and so that is my mindset. I’m going to celebrate with my guys because of how we’ve done this, but then we’re going to work our way back to this game next year.”


Al-Ain set to host fourth UAE National MMA Championship

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Al-Ain set to host fourth UAE National MMA Championship

  • The event will take place on May 24-25 at ADNEC Centre Al-Ain

ABU DHABI: The UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation will host the fourth UAE National MMA Championship at ADNEC Centre Al-Ain on May 24 and 25.

The event is expected to draw around 300 male and female athletes from across the UAE, representing various age categories and clubs.

The federation’s decision to organize the event in Al-Ain Region is part of an initiative to popularize mixed martial arts across the UAE. It also seeks to expand the sport’s grassroots base and provide a professional setting for young athletes to improve their technical and physical talents.

The championship features multiple divisions, including Youth D (ages 10–11), Youth C (ages 12–13), Youth B (ages 14–15), Youth A (ages 16–17), and the adult category (ages 18 and above), offering athletes a platform to compete, improve, and progress toward elite-level representation.

Mohammed Jassim Al-Hosani, a member of the federation’s Mixed Martial Arts Committee, said: “The UAE National MMA Championship, which has five rounds throughout the year, is vital to our championship calendar. Its growth in participation and geographic variety highlights the success of our nationwide development initiatives.

“Hosting this round in Al-Ain shows our commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity for athletes nationwide. With the inclusion of the adults division, the championship’s intensity is increased, and athletes are exposed to a variety of competitive methods and skill sets.”


France's Caroline Garcia says will retire from tennis

Updated 23 May 2025
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France's Caroline Garcia says will retire from tennis

PARIS: France’s former world number four Caroline Garcia said on Friday she will retire from tennis, with the French Open starting this weekend her last time at Roland Garros.
An 11-time title winner on the WTA tour and former French Open women’s doubles champion, Garcia wrote on social media that she has “a few tournaments left” and will then call it quits.
“Dear tennis, it’s time to say goodbye,” the 31-year-old said.
“After 15 years competing at the highest level, and more than 25 years putting pretty much every second of my life into it, I feel ready to start a new chapter.”
Garcia has earned nearly $19 million in prize money and won the season-ending 2022 World Tour Finals, seen as the next rung down from Grand Slams.
That same year she won the French Open doubles title for the second time with compatriot Kristina Mladenovic.
Her best run in singles at a major was the semifinals of the US Open, also in 2022.
She reached a career-high four in the world but is now ranked 145th.
“My tennis journey hasn’t always been easy. Since my early days, tennis has been much more than just winning or losing. It’s been love or hate. Happiness or anger,” she wrote.
“But now it’s time for something else. My body and my personal goals need it.
“Still, this is not over — not just yet. I have a few tournaments left,” she said.
The first will be at Roland Garros when the tournament starts on Sunday.


UEFA apologizes after running out of medals during Europa League final ceremony

Updated 23 May 2025
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UEFA apologizes after running out of medals during Europa League final ceremony

  • Spurs captain Son Heung-min and two other players, the last to line up for individual medals, were left empty-handed
  • Tottenham Hotspur beat Manchester United 1-0 to win the club’s fourth European title on Wednesday

UEFA has apologized for running out of winners medals during the Europa League final trophy ceremony on Wednesday after more Tottenham Hotspur players than expected lined up to receive their individual prizes.
Spurs captain Son Heung-min and two other players, the last to line up for individual medals, were left empty-handed after their team beat Manchester United 1-0 to win the club’s fourth European title on Wednesday.
Son lifted the trophy without a medal around his neck.
“To our great displeasure, we did not have enough medals available on stage during the trophy ceremony presentation due to an unexpected discrepancy in the player count ...” British media quoted European soccer’s governing body as saying on Thursday.
“More team members – including injured players – participated in the ceremony than initially anticipated.
“The missing medals were promptly delivered to the winning team in the dressing room, along with our sincerest apologies for the oversight.”


Gilgeous-Alexander leads Thunder to 2-0 lead over Minnesota

Updated 23 May 2025
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Gilgeous-Alexander leads Thunder to 2-0 lead over Minnesota

  • Gilgeous-Alexander was presented with his MVP award on court before the game but any suggestions that the celebrations would distract from the task at hand quickly evaporated
  • OKC head to Minnesota on the back of their 60th win by double figures this season and in buoyant mood

WASHINGTON: Newly crowned NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Oklahoma City Thunder to an imposing 118-103 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves to open up a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals on Thursday.

Gilgeous-Alexander was presented with his MVP award on court before the game but any suggestions that the celebrations would distract from the task at hand quickly evaporated.

Roared on by a loud and passionate home crowd, the Canadian top-scored for the Thunder with 38 points and added eight assists and three rebounds.

OKC head to Minnesota on the back of their 60th win by double figures this season and in buoyant mood.

The Timberwolves will take some encouragement from a strong showing from Anthony Edwards, who after disappointing in Game 1, posted 32 points with six assists and nine rebounds.

But if they are to fight their way back into this series they will need to tighten up their defense, improve on 41.4 percent field-goal shooting and get more out of Julius Randle who was restricted to six points.

After a tight first half, the game was won by a blistering third quarter from the Thunder, who outscored Minnesota by 14 points.

A Chet Holmgren alley-oop dunk with 2:54 left in the quarter opened up a 17-point 82-65 lead.

Although the Timberwolves were able to reduce the deficit to 10 points in the fourth, the outcome was never in real doubt.

Jalen Williams had 26 points and 10 rebounds and Holmgren added 22 points for the Thunder.

Gilgeous-Alexander said the team’s ability to go on strong runs had its roots in their strong defense.

“It feels good. It starts with getting stops though, it always does. We get stops, we’re able to play fast, play to our strengths, play in the open court, be special,” he said.


Anti-doping bodies condemn ‘dangerous’ drug-fueled Enhanced Games

Updated 23 May 2025
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Anti-doping bodies condemn ‘dangerous’ drug-fueled Enhanced Games

  • The Enhanced Games will be staged in Las Vegas in May 2026, with athletes participating in three sports — athletics, swimming and weightlifting
  • Aron D’Souza, the Australian entrepreneur who is the founder of the event, says the Enhanced Games are an exercise in testing the boundaries of human performance

LOS ANGELES: Anti-doping bodies on Thursday condemned plans for the first edition of the Enhanced Games in Las Vegas, an Olympics-style event where athletes will be free to use performance-enhancing drugs.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and bodies across the world have taken aim at the event after organizers revealed the date, venue and format for the competition.

The Enhanced Games will be staged in Las Vegas in May 2026, with athletes participating in three sports — athletics, swimming and weightlifting.

Athletes will be allowed to use drugs which are banned across international sport such as steroids and human growth hormones, with winners of each event receiving $250,000, and a bonus of $1 million for anyone who breaks a world record.

Aron D’Souza, the Australian entrepreneur who is the founder of the event, says the Enhanced Games are an exercise in testing the boundaries of human performance.

“The Enhanced Games is renovating the Olympic model for the 21st century,” D’Souza said on Wednesday as details of the games were revealed.

“We are here to move humanity forward,” D’Souza said. “The old rules didn’t just hold back athletes, they held back humanity.

“We are not just organizing competition, we are in the business of unlocking human potential. We are the vanguard of super-humanity.”

The Enhanced Games will take place from May 21-24 at the Resorts World hotel in Las Vegas.

Swimming will hold 100m and 50m freestyle events, along with 100m and 50m butterfly.

Athletics events include the 100m and 100m and 110m hurdles. Weightlifters will compete in the snatch and clean & jerk disciplines.

WADA, the global anti-doping watchdog, on Thursday condemned plans for the event as “dangerous,” voicing concern it could lead athletes around the world to dabble in illicit substances with potentially deadly consequences

“WADA condemns the Enhanced Games as a dangerous and irresponsible concept,” the agency said in a statement. “The health and well-being of athletes is WADA’s No. 1 priority.

“Clearly this event would jeopardize that as it seeks to promote the use of powerful substances and methods by athletes for the purposes of entertainment and marketing.

“There have been many examples of athletes suffering serious long-term side-effects from their use of prohibited substances and methods. Some have died.”

Travis Tygart, the head of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), said the event was a “dangerous clown show that puts profit over principle.”

Australia’s anti-doping body, Sport Integrity Australia (SIA), also condemned the risks posed to athletes participating in the Enhanced Games.

“We work to ensure that sport is safe and fair to all,” SIA chief executive Sarah Benson said in a statement. “The Enhanced Games is promoting the complete opposite and poses a significant risk to athlete health and safety.”

USADA’s chief science officer, Matt Fedoruk, highlighted that many substances had been banned in conventional sporting events because they were proven to be dangerous.

“These things aren’t just banned because they’re effective at making athletes stronger or faster,” Fedoruk said in a post on USADA’s website.

“Many are banned because they’ve been proven to be dangerous for athletes, with some harmful side effects being potentially irreversible.”

Enhanced Games founder D’Souza however has pushed back on those criticisms, insisting that the competition would be conducted “safely.”

“We live in a world transformed by science — from vaccines to AI,” said D’Souza.

“But sport has stood still. Until today. We are not updating the rulebook — we are rewriting it. And we’re doing it safely, ethically, and boldly.”

The Enhanced Games have received financial backing from investors who include billionaire PayPal founder Peter Thiel as well as investment firm 1789 Capital, in which Donald Trump Jr. is a partner.