Sports Writing, March 1 The LVI Superbowl won by the Los Angeles Rams over the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 and the start of the Copa Libertadores focused the sports spotlight on America during the month of January. The Rams clinched the NFL’s Vince Lombardi Trophy by winning with a minute and a half to go after the Bengals rallied from a 3-13 deficit to take a 20-16 lead. The game attracted the attention of 112.3 million fans in the United States, the best result in the last five editions of the NFL final game. The broadcast of the game had an average of 101.1 million viewers and 11.2 on online platforms, according to information from the NFL. This is the best result since Tom Brady’s New England Patriots beat the Atlanta Falcons in Superbowl LI in 2017, when there was an average of 113.7 million viewers. FOOTBALL: ROLL THE BALL IN THE COPA LIBERTADORES Phases 1 and 2 of the Copa Libertadores were played in the second month of the year. Barcelona qualified in a penalty shootout and eliminated Montevideo Torque after two draws in Montevideo and Guayaquil. Bolívar got rid of the Venezuelan Deportivo Lara as well as Olimpia, who overwhelmingly beat the Peruvian César Vallejo. Everton have a good advantage against the Venezuelan Monagas after their 3-0 thrashing in the first leg. Fluminense took all the loot from the El Campín stadium in Bogotá by beating Millonarios 1-2 in the first leg. The Uruguayan Plaza Colonia defeated The Strongest 2-0 at the Centenario Stadium. The Brazilian America lost 0-1 at home against the Paraguayan Guaraní. Bolívar and Universidad Católica de Chile tied 1-1 in La Paz, Audax Italiano won 1-0 over Estudiantes de la Plata, Barcelona 2-0 over the Peruvian Universitario and Olimpia 3-1 over Colombian Atlético Nacional. In March, the qualifiers for the group stage will be defined and the draw for the 2022 Copa Libertadores will be held. BASKETBALL: NBA NOMINATES MANU GINOBILLI FOR THE HALL OF FAME The Argentine Manu Ginóbili, four-time NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs, entered the 2022 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class of finalists list, announced on February 18 in Cleveland, Ohio, before the start of All-Star weekend. Ginóbili, who retired in 2018 in which he hung Olympic gold in Athens 2004, is part of a list of finalists that also includes Tim Hardaway, winner of the gold medal at the 2000 Games. After adding to the Hall of Fame legends such as Kobe Bryant, Paul Pierce or Kevin Garnett in the last two years, Ginóbili is one of the favorites to be part of the chosen ones of 2022. The selected ones who will finally be induced will be known on April 2 during the Final Four of the NCAA, the semifinals and the final of the university championship of the United States, to be held in New Orleans. FOOTBALL: PALMEIRAS RUNNER-UP IN THE WORLD CLUB CHAMPION Palmeiras, two-time champion of the Copa Libertadores de América, fell 2-1 to English Chelsea in the final of the Club World Cup played in the United Arab Emirates. The goals of the European champion were converted by the Belgian Romelu Lukaku and the German Kai Havertz, from a penalty, while Raphael Veiga, also from 11 meters, discounted for Palmeiras. The 2 teams reached the final with the frustration of having lost the title in previous editions. Chelsea fell in 2012 just before the Brazilian Corinthians, Palmeiras’ historic backyard rival, which was eliminated in the semifinals last year. They also lost in 1999 against the English Manchester United in the Intercontinental Cup, which was replaced by the Club World Cup. EFE cav/hbr (photos)
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