Morning all,

"I shouldn't say this in front of the cameras, but is very, very difficult to see where we're going to lose a game" - Former AFL player and coach, Mick Malthouse in March. Carlton went on to lose 8 of their first 9 and Malthouse was gone by May.

In today's edition of Sport Journal:

🎾 Barty Exits

🏉 Super Rugby & 6 Nations

🏏 Big Bash knockout games

Editor's note on a previous edition: That's the dream

Guys, I want to address one point in the previous edition.

Our ambition was to show the impact the tragedy had across the world and to acknowledge all the victims.

Before we send each mail, one of the last things we do is to reduce down the stories, to make them more digestible for you. In my haste, I unintentionally removed the paragraph I had in place to remember Gianna Bryant (Kobe's daughter).

I'd like to add it in today's...

Gianna Bryant, aka. "Gigi," was already known in basketball circles as a budding star with an uncanny ability to create open shots and had dreams of playing at UConn and in the WNBA.

• Kobe said it was Gigi's interest in basketball that brought him back to the game after retiring in 2016.

Proud dad: During a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel, Kobe gushed about Gigi's basketball talent and confidence.

"The best thing that happens is when we go out and she'll be standing next to me and fans will come up to me like 'Hey, you gotta have a boy, you and (Vanessa) gotta have a boy — somebody to carry on the legacy.'

"And (Gigi) will be like 'Oy, I got this. We don't need a boy for that. I got this!' I'm like, 'That's right, yes you do. You got this.'"

Today's Edition

🎾 Australian Open

Her Australian Open dream is over for another year, but Ash Barty departs Melbourne Park feeling like a different player after absorbing an enormous amount of pressure in the past few weeks. Following her 7(8) - 6(6), 7-5 loss.

“I put myself in a position to win the match today and just didn’t play the biggest points well enough to be able to win,” Barty said in her post-match press conference.

But after soaking up intense media scrutiny and a city consumed by her chances of breaking a 42-year title drought, the 23-year-old is satisfied with a summer that reaped her first title on home soil at the Adelaide International and her best result yet at her home major.

Sofia Kenin apologised to local fans for beating Ash Barty in a dramatic semi-final, but says Australia has a “special place” in her heart and hopes to have some support in her first Slam final.

In the other semi final - Garbiñe Muguruza bt Simona Halep 7(10) - 6(8), 7-5.

Garbine Muguruza will aim to become the first unseeded women's Australian Open champion since Serena Williams in 2007.

An 8th AO Final for Novak!

The world number two will try to win an unprecedented eighth Australian Open title on Sunday against either Dominic Thiem or Alexander Zverev. If Djokovic wins, it will be the 13th consecutive Slam title for a member of the big three.

Federer looked better than expected after an energy-sapping tournament and there were whispers he wouldn’t even be ready to play on Thursday night, but Djokovic still prevailed 7-6(1) 6-4 6-3.

‘Today was horrible’: Federer gave himself a ‘3 per cent chance’ of winning and hated the match (Fox)

🇺🇸 USA

🏈 Super Bowl LIV

The 54th Super Bowl in the 100th season. The NFC champion, San Francisco 49ers (15-3) will play the AFL champion, Kansas City Chiefs (14-4).

The first time these two teams have met in the Super Bowl.

• When: Monday, 3rd February 2020, 10:30am.

• Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, United States

• Halftime shows: Jennifer Lopez, Shakira

• Cost of 30-second commercial: $5.6 million (US$176,000 a second)

We'll have full match preview in Monday's edition.

🏀 NBA Handbags

The New York Knicks have hit a new low with another basket-brawl, sexist comments and renewed calls to ‘sell the team’. (Twitter)

💰 Sports Biz: Barstool Sports

Casino operator Penn National Gaming has agreed to buy a stake in Barstool Sports that values the blog/gambling/podcast/merch machine at US$450 million.

• In his video announcing the deal, Barstool President Dave Portnoy encouraged his followers to buy Penn National stock. And despite the 3 minutes and 18 seconds of legal disclaimers that followed, shares spiked 11%.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for legal sports betting in 2018, Americans have placed more than US$17 billion in sports wagers generating $1.2 billion in revenue for sportsbooks.(from Morning Brew).

Super LIV could have up to US$6.8Billion on it.

⚽️ Football

Sydney FC v Brisbane Roar: (full preview) Brisbane Roar are the next team looking to halt the Sydney FC juggernaut when the two sides clash.

Newcastle Jets v Western United FC: (full preview) It’s been a tumultuous period for the Jets but they’ll be hoping the start of a new month leads to a fresh start.

Adelaide United v Melbourne City: (full preview) Adelaide United and Melbourne City have developed quite a tasty rivalry in recent seasons and Saturday night promises to be another intriguing clash at Coopers Stadium.

Perth Glory v Melbourne Victory: (full preview) They may have enjoyed continental success in midweek but Melbourne Victory face a major hurdle against Perth Glory.

Central Coast Mariners v Western Sydney Wanderers: (full preview) Battle of the triple-barrel-names. WSW begin life post-Markus Babbel with a must-win clash against Central Coast Mariners.

✅ Transfer complete: Manchester United have got their man - Bruno Fernandes has signed on a five-and-a-half year deal from Sporting Lisbon for a report (£47m) rising to (£67m). The midfielder scored 64 goals in 137 matches in all competitions for Sporting and won the Portuguese Cup in 2018-19. (bbc)

🔁 Everton have rejected an offer of 100m euros (AU$164m) from Barcelona for Brazil forward Richarlison. (Sky Sports) - Not sure which part is more odd, Barcelona's bid or Everton turning it down. 

🏏 Cricket

Sydney Thunder blow Hobart Hurricanes away

Some headlines write themselves...Alex Hales and Usman Khawaja spearheaded Sydney Thunder to a convincing 57-run BBL elimination play-off win over the Hurricanes in Hobart.

The openers combined for a blistering 103-run stand and both hit half-centuries as the Thunder posted 5-197 last night

In reply, Hobart big guns Matthew Wade (14) and D’Arcy Short (35) were both undone by the spin of Jono Cook (4-21) as the hosts were bowled out for 140.

🏉 Rugby

A lot of rugby to get through this morning. This weekend see's the start of the Super Rugby season, Sydney 7's tournament & The Six Nations in Europe.

Super Rugby

Preview: ACT Brumbies, After falling just short of a Super Rugby final last year, a relatively settled squad – particularly by post-World Cup standards – has the Brumbies primed for a similarly successful 2020 season.(Continue reading preview)

Key Player: Noah Lolesio Debut season at Flyhalf

Prediction: First in the Australian conference.

Preview: Melbourne Rebels, Having fallen just short of a maiden Super Rugby finals appearance two years in a row, the Melbourne Rebels will be desperate to break their duck – and they just might have the talent to make it happen in 2020.(Continue reading preview)

Key Player: Reece Hodge

Prediction: Second in the Australian conference

Kiwi teams dominate the favourites. 10-time winners Crusaders are going for a 4th win on the spin and are ($2.10) favourites. There may bit a bit of value in last year's beaten finalists, the Argentinian Jaguares ($15.0)

In the try scoring stakes; Crusaders flyer, Sevu Reece leads the market ($14.0) after scoring 15 last season. In what could be a comeback season (seems weird calling it a comeback for a 22 yr old) Rieko Ioane ($17.0), may push him close, now that he has Beauden Barrett pulling the strings inside him at the Blues.

The personal motivation fuelling Aussie women at the Sydney 7s

After finishing fourth over the weekend in Hamilton, the Australian women head into the Sydney leg of the world sevens tournament ranked second behind New Zealand.

“This tournament has a very special feeling about it and is one that every player really cherishes.”

Following the devastating bushfires, the tournament will take on added significance, with Rugby Australia announcing a series of fundraising initiatives, including free tickets for firies and a commitment by World Rugby to match RA’s pledge of $500 for each try scored by the Aussie men’s and women’s team.

“It has been so hard to see what has happened to where she grew up. When the fires started you could see in her eyes that she knew it wasn’t going to be the best,” Shannon Parry says.

Six Nations

England - Go in as Favourites after their showing at the World Cup - Their team is pretty settled - Eddie Jones has brought in a mobile back row, pointing at a more attacking style of play.

Ireland - Andy Farrell's (England's Owen Farrell's Dad) takes charge of his first tournament in charge. He has resisted calls from the fans for sweeping changes and they look pretty similar to the World Cup outfit.

France - are already looking forward to World Cup 2023 (as hosts), with 19 uncapped players in the squad. They've also poached former Wales defensive maestro, Shaun Edwards. Likely they'll cause a big upset somewhere along the line.

Scotland - Maverick Finn Russell is suspended for having too many 🍺 in an off-week. New captain Stuart Hogg has some work on his hands to pull this side around.

Italy - Another season, another coach for the Azzurri. They do have some long talent but a single win would be a successful tournament.

Wales - Current Grand Slam Champions - A new, more attacking coaching ticket will take charge of Wales. A few injury problems (J.Davis, Gareth Anscombe), may curtail their title charge.

In the Women's event, England (fully professional since last season) averaged 40 points a game in 2019 and are firm favourites to make it 3 Grand Slams in 4 years.

Week One:

• Grand Slam champions England head to France

• Ireland host Scotland and Wales welcome Italy

To progress the women's game, organisers are looking at including countries outside the Men's tournament (such as Spain).

🐴 Racing

Alizee, Kolding headline Expressway Stakes at Randwick

The decision to extend nominations for the Saturday's Expressway Stakes at Randwick has paid dividends with Group I heavyweights Alizee and Kolding headlining a bolstered field for the 1200m feature. (racenet)

🏎 W Series

Winner of female-only series will earn 15 F1 super licence points

The winner of this year's W Series will earn 15 points towards a 'super licence' that entitles a driver to take part in Formula 1.

The total needed to race in F1 is 40 points over a three-year period, with 25 needed for practice sessions.

📺 Today's sport

🏌🏻‍♂️ PGA Phoenix Open, Round 1 (7am)

🏀 NBA regular season matches (from 11am)

🏉 World Series 7s - Sydney (11am)

🏉 Super Rugby 2020 opener - Blues v Chiefs (5pm)

🏉 Super Rugby - Brumbies v Reds (7:15pm)

🎾 Men's AO Semi Final, Zverev v Thiem (7:30pm)

⚽️ A-League - Sydney FC v Brisbane Roar (7:30pm)

🏀 NBL - Cairns Taipans v Illawarra Hawks (9pm)

🏌🏻‍♂️European Tour - Saudi International, Round 2 (10:30pm)

Back on Monday with a Super Bowl preview!

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