G'day sports fans,

Classic quote: "They kill you with love." - Brett Lee on India's fanatical cricket fans

In today's edition of Sport Journal (Lite)

💰 Spending your first million in the NFL

👕 Wilder's Heavy outfit is to blame

🏉 Ponga's big money offer

⛳️ Golf

Last week: Viktor Hovland sank a 25-foot birdie putt on the final hole to win the Puerto Rico Open and become the first Norwegian winner in PGA Tour history...Meanwhile, in Mexico City, Patrick Reed blocked out the noise to win the WGC-Mexico Championship. (Yahoo)

This week: The start of the Florida Swing is next on the schedule for the PGA TOUR, starting with this week’s trip to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, for The Honda Classic at PGA National’s Champion course. The course will play as a par-70, measuring 7,125 yards, and move back to Bermudagrass greens this week.

In all, six of the top twenty players in the OWGR will tee it up at the Champion Course at PGA National, which is traditionally considered one of the most difficult layouts on the PGA Tour schedule. Consistent winds combined with a hazardous three-hole stretch (No. 15 through No. 17) known as The Bear Trap traditionally equals high drama at the Honda. (Sports illustrated)

3 to watch: Brooks Keopka ($13.0), Justin Rose ($25.0) & Billy Horschel ($25.0)

🏉 NRL

Knights offer Ponga $4.5m deal — and leave door ajar for All Blacks switch at 2023 RWC

Superstar fullback Kalyn Ponga has been offered a record four-year, $4.5 million deal by the Knights that includes an escape route to allow him to play for the All Blacks at the 2023 RWC. (Fox)

King’s been left ‘shattered’ by ACL injury. This is what the Sharks must do next

Wade Graham has spoken of the devastation felt by Cameron King following the hooker’s season-ending knee injury, while Michael Ennis has called on the club to hit the market. (Fox)

🥊 Boxing

Welcome to the Hall of Shame, Deontay Wilder.

The American heavyweight has sensationally admitted his illustrious 20kg walkout suit was too heavy and meant he had “no legs” from the start of what turned out to be a comprehensive loss to Tyson Fury in their world title fight.

The outfit reportedly cost in the region of US$40,000 and was designed to celebrate Black History Month as he did his ring walk.

Wilder was outclassed in every way by Tyson Fury as the Gypsy King secured a 7th round technical knock out when Wilder’s corner threw in the towel.

But it’s now come to light that apparently the costume, which came included with a light-up helmet, was too much for the formerly undefeated champion to cope with.

After the fight, the Bronze Bomber told Yahoo Sports: “He didn’t hurt me at all, but the simple fact is … that my uniform was way too heavy for me.

“I didn’t have no legs from the beginning of the fight. In the third round, my legs were just shot all the way through.

“But I’m a warrior and people know that I’m a warrior. It could easily be told that I didn’t have legs or anything.

“A lot of people were telling me, ‘It looked like something was wrong with you.’ Something was, but when you’re in the ring, you have to bluff a lot of things.

Deontay Wilder to trigger rematch clause for third Fury fight

Yahoo Sports are also reporting that Wilder said he will go to Africa at the end of March on vacation and plans to exercise his rematch clause for a third fight with Fury.

🏏 Cricket

Didn’t know GOATs could fly! Lyon takes ‘ripper’ of a catch to stun Shield fans

Australian Test offspinner Nathan Lyon has long been noted for some superlative fielding performances off his own bowling, but this hanger surely rates as his greatest catch ever.

🇦🇺 AFL

AFL 2020: Every club strategic plan, Melbourne strategic plan, how clubs are trying to win premiership (Fox)

🇺🇸 'Merica

How to spend a million bucks

“Being able to just, ‘Hey mom, I’ve got a surprise for you, here’s a house,’” Haskins recalled. “Definitely made those 14-plus years of hard work worth it.”

The 22-year-old committed about $70,000 to jewellery as well as having an estimated $10,000 in murals at his place and spent about $40,000 on clothes, including some suits to wear on game day and to events.

Learning to say no to those who try and attach themselves to you after signing a deal can be the hardest part for young athletes, but Haskins quickly knew how to say no and only spent money on his loved ones.

But as Haskins said repeatedly throughout the interview: “taxes are no joke”. And that’s where a total of $550,000 of his first million ended up.

⚽️ Football

UEFA Champions League: Chelsea v Bayern Munich

Chelsea's N'Golo Kante will miss Champions League last-16 first leg with Bayern Munich. The midfielder is expected to be out for about three weeks with an adductor injury.

Christian Pulisic, Pedro and Callum Hudson-Odoi are also unlikely to feature, but Ruben Loftus-Cheek is available after returning to the bench against Tottenham on Saturday.

'Bayern can win competition'

Tottenham were on the receiving end of a 7-2 thrashing by Bayern Munich in the Champions League group stages in October, and Lampard was full of praise for the current Bundesliga leaders.

"Bayern are for sure a team that can win the title, when you go through their team and look at the talent and unity within it"

Chelsea ($4.2), Draw ($4.1), Bayern ($2.0)

UEFA Champions League: Napoli v Barcelona

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has said off-field issues will not distract the team in their Champions League last-16 first leg.

Barca fans protested against club president Josep Maria Bartomeu during Saturday's 5-0 victory over Eibar after the club were accused of manipulating social media coverage of the team.

"We know the waters will not be calm if the results are not good," said Pique.

"This match is too important to be thinking about other things."

The Spanish centre-back added: "We will concentrate on what we control, which is what happens on the pitch,"

Napoli manager Gennaro Gattuso described Barcelona forward Messi as "the greatest" before the game - and compared him to club legend Diego Maradona.

"He does things that only exist on the PlayStation, unthinkable things," said the former Italy international. "I know the champion [Maradona] was... Today I see Messi doing things that Maradona was doing."

Napoli ($3.3), Draw ($3.75), Barcelona ($2.3)

📚 Book recommendation

The Mamba Mentality: How I Play: Kobe Bryant — www.amazon.com.au

Incredible insight into the mind of a champion

We'll be back bright and early on Friday!

📺 Live sport

Wednesday

🎾 22:00 (last night) - WTA Qatar Open, Round 2, Day 3 (BeIN Sports 3)

⚽️ 06:45 - English Championship - Cardiff City v Nottingham Forest (BeIN Sports 2)

⚽️ 07:00 - UEFA Champions Lge - Napoli v Barcelona (Optus Sport 2)

⚽️ 07:00 - UEFA Champions Lge - Chelsea v Bayern Munich (Optus Sport 1)

🎾 09:00 - WTA Abierto Mexicano, Round 1, Day 2 (BeIN Sports 3)

🏀 11:30 - NBA - Toronto Raptors v Milwaukee Bucks (ESPN 1)

🏒 12:00 - NHL - St. Louis Blues v Chicago Blackhawks (ESPN 2)

🏀 14:00 - NBA - Los Angeles Lakers v New Orleans Pelicans (ESPN 1)

🏏 15:00 - Women's T20 World Cup - England v Thailand (Fox Cricket)

🐴 15:00 (TBC) - Group 3, Launceston Cup, 1,600m - WFA (Sky Racing 1)

🏅 17:00 - Bowls Premier League, Night 2 (Fox Sports)

🏀 18:30 - WNBL Semi-Final Series - Southside Flyers v Adelaide Lightning (Fox Sports)

🏏 19:00 - Women's T20 World Cup - West Indies v Pakistan (Fox Cricket)

🏏 19:30 - ODI Series - Sri Lanka v West Indies (Fox Sports)

🏀 20:30 - WNBL Semi-Final Series - UC Capitals v Melbourne Boomers (Fox Sports)

🎾 22:00 - WTA Qatar Open, Round 2, Day 4 (BeIN Sports 3)

Thursday

🚴🏼‍♂️ 04:20 - Track World Track Championships, Day 1 (Fox Sports)

⚽️ 06:45 - English Championship - Millwall v Birmingham City (BeIN Sports 2)

⚽️ 07:00 - UEFA Champions Lge - Real Madrid v Manchester City (Optus Sport 1)

⚽️ 07:00 - UEFA Champions Lge - Olympique Lyonnais v Juventus (Optus Sport 2)

🎾 09:00 - WTA Abierto Mexicano, Round 2, Day 3 (BeIN Sports 3)

🏀 11:30 - NBA - San Antonio Spurs v Dallas Mavericks (ESPN 1)

⚽️ 11:30 - Recopa Sudamericana - Flamengo v Independiente del Valle (BeIN Sports 2)

🏀 14:00 - NBA - Utah Jazz v Boston Celtics (ESPN 1)

🏒 14:30 - NHL - Vegas Golden Knights v Edmonton Oilers (ESPN 2)

🏏 15:00 - Women's T20 World Cup - India v New Zealand (Fox Cricket)

🏅 17:00 - Bowls Premier League, Night 3 (Fox Sports)

🏌🏻‍♂️ 17:30 - European Tour - Oman Open, Round 1 (Fox Sports)

🏏 19:00 - Women's T20 World Cup - Australia v Bangladesh (Fox Cricket)

⚽️ 19:30 - W-League - Adelaide United Women v Newcastle Jets Women (Fox Sports)

🏌🏻‍♂️ 21:30 - European Tour - Oman Open, Round 1, Part 2 (Fox Sports)

🎾 22:00 - ATP Dubai Championships, Quarter-Finals, Day 4 (ESPN 2)

🎾 23:30 - WTA Qatar Open, Quarter-Finals, Day 5 (BeIN Sports 3)