GEAR MAG

The pinnacle of Roman numerals.

The grandest stage in sports.

We're talking about the Super Bowl, of course.

Of the NFL's 32 teams, 28 have reached the big game that spawns big theatrics. Quarterback Joe Namath predicted his New York Jets would upset the BaltimoreColtsin Super Bowl 3, then delivered with a 16-7 victory. The New England Patriots rallied past the Atlanta Falcons despite trailing 28-3 in Super Bowl 51. And at the halftime show at Super Bowl 38, Janet Jackson experienced her infamous wardrobe malfunction.

And speaking of malfunction…

Four NFL teams have failed to play in the big game, much less win it. That sad fact may change when the 60th Super Bowl is played Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, California, at Levi's Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers.

So without further adieu, let's meet those sad-faced teams.

Cleveland Browns

The Browns have suffered heartache, none so intense as in 1986, 1987 and 1989 – their three appearances in the AFC championship game. They lost all three to theDenver Broncos.

The most painful one involved "The Drive." Broncos quarterback John Elway drove Denver 98 yards on 15 plays and, with 37 second left in regulation, the Broncos tied the game at 20-20.

The Browns lost in overtime, 23-20.

In 1995, Cleveland turned its collective fury on Browns owner Art Modell when he announced he was moving the team to Baltimore. When the NFL awarded Cleveland an expansion franchise in 1999, some fans thought with Modell gone, the Super Bowl drought might finally end.

Since then, the Browns have won only one playoff game.

Nothing captures the Browns' version of dysfunction more than the team having had 42 starting quarterbacks since 1999. That includes Deshaun Watson, who the Browns acquired in 2022 through a blockbuster trade that turned out to be a blockheaded trade.

Watson will go down in Browns infamy, a crowded room reserved for the likes of Johnny Manziel and Tim Couch.

But can Shedeur Sanders, the Browns' 42nd starting quarterback since 1999, lead the Browns to the Promised Land?

Super Bowl VII (Dolphins 14, Washington 7): Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Manny Fernandez (75) tackles Washington running back Larry Brown (43) in Super Bowl VII at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Dolphins completed a 17-0 undefeated season with the win.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Super Bowl XVII (Washington 27, Dolphins 17): Washington running back John Riggins (44) breaks loose from Miami Dolphins defensive back Don McNeal (28) on a 43-yard touchdown run during Super Bowl XVII at the Rose Bowl.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Super Bowl XVIII (Raiders 38, Washington 9): Los Angeles Raiders running back Marcus Allen (32) carries the ball against Washington safety Mark Murphy (29) during Super Bowl XVIII at Tampa Stadium.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Super Bowl XXII (Washington 42, Broncos 10): Washington quarterback Doug Williams (17) looks to throw against the Denver Broncos during Super Bowl XXII at Jack Murphy Stadium.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Super Bowl XXIV (49ers 55, Broncos 10) : San Francisco 49ers running back Roger Craig (33) celebrates with teammates against the Denver Broncos at the Superdome. The 55 points scored by the 49ers remains a Super Bowl record.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Super Bowl XXVI (Washington 37, Bills 24): Washington cornerback Alvoid Mays (20) hits Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly (12), causing him to fumble during Super Bowl XXVI at the Metrodome.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Super Bowl 51 (Patriots 34, Falcons 28 - OT): New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman hauls in a catch off a deflected pass that would help New England mount the largest comeback in Super Bowl history. The game also featured the first ever overtime in a Super Bowl.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Super Bowl 53 (Patriots 13, Rams 3): Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore makes a pivotal interception in the fourth quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. With the win, the Patriots tied the Steelers for most Super Bowl victories (six).

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Super Bowl 55 (Buccaneers 31, Chiefs 9): Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski spikes the football after catching a touchdown pass during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Super Bowl 56 (Rams 23, Bengals 20): Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp catches the game-winning touchdown pass as Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Eli Apple defends at SoFi Stadium.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Super Bowl 57 (Chiefs 38, Eagles 35): The Chiefs' Kadarius Toney (19) is tackled by the Philadelphia Eagles' Nakobe Dean (17) and Arryn Siposs (8) after a Super Bowl-record 65-yard punt return at State Farm Stadium.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Super Bowl 58 (Chiefs 25, 49ers 22, OT): Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman Jr. (12) celebrates with quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) after the game-winning touchdown in overtime against the San Francisco 49ers.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Super Bowl: One great image from each game

Detroit Lions

The Lions know abject losing, cruelty and squandered opportunity.

Case in point: During the Hall of Fame career of Barry Sanders, the Lions won a single playoff game.

In 2023, the Lions reached the NFC championship game for only the second time in franchise history and at halftime led the San Francisco 49ers 24-7. Did we mention squandered opportunity?

The Lions lost the game, 34-31.

Last year, the Lions entered the playoffs widely regarded as a favorite to win the Super Bowl. And they were 9.5-point favorites against theWashington Commandersin their playoff opener in Detroit.

Then history reared its ugly head, and the Lions suffered a stunning 45-31 loss.

The team's all-time playoff record is 9-15, which did not need to be updated this season after the Lions failed to make the postseason.

Houston Texans

The Texans have not suffered the same shame and misery as have the Browns and Lions. After all, the Texans didn't have their inaugural season until 2002, meaning they've only been eligible for 25 Super Bowls, counting the one being played this year.

Houston is two victories away from reaching the big game. It would require the Texans to beat the New England Patriots in a divisional playoff matchup and then prevail in the AFC championship game against the winner of the divisional matchup between theBuffalo Billsand Denver Broncos.

The Texans have never played in the AFC championship game; the team has won only wild card games.

The team's all-time playoff record is 7-8 − 7-2 in wild card games and 0-6 in divisional games.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Like the Texans, the Jaguars deserve some grace. The team did not make its NFL debut until 1995. Remarkably, the Jaguars reached the AFC championship game in only their second season before losing to the New England Patriots.

The Jaguars have reached the AFC championship game twice more, losing to the Tennessee Titans 33-14 in January 2000 and squaring off against the Patriots again in January 2018.

The Jaguars led the Patriots 20-10 early in the fourth quarter on the road before Tom Brady rallied the Patriots to a 24-20 victory.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Which NFL teams have never played in the Super Bowl? The list

He's an NBA champion, but on this day, he wants to talk about theTexas Rangers' World Series championship.

He's a 10-time All-Star and six-time first team All-NBA player, but is reminiscing about the lunch he had one day with Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez.

He's a two-time Olympic gold medal winner, but is looking forward to the upcoming World Baseball Classic.

He is considered one of the greatest players in basketball history, but worships his three favorite Oakland A's heroes: Vida Blue, Rickey Henderson and Dave Stewart.

He was a teammate in the Olympics with Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Kevin Garnett, but still is in awe of taking batting practice one afternoon with Mark McGwire when the St. Louis Cardinals came to Phoenix.

He has been the head coach for three NBA franchises, but reveres Baseball Hall of Fame manager Tony LaRussa.

He's in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, but was thrilled to see Vallejo, California, native CC Sabathia inducted last summer into Baseball's Hall of Fame.

He is NBA Hall of Famer Jason Kidd, head coach of theDallas Mavericks.

He's on the phone Wednesday afternoon, hours before the Mavericks played the Denver Nuggets at home, and is talking all things baseball.

Yes, one of the greatest point guards in NBA history is a fanatical baseball fan.

Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement

He can tell you all about Randy Johnson's Cy Young seasons, Barry Bonds' home runs and Henderson's stolen bases.

He was a baseball player himself, right up until college when he snubbed powers like Kentucky and Kansas to enroll at Cal-Berkeley, where he grew up, largely because he was promised he could play basketball and baseball.

"I grew up loving baseball,'' said Kidd, a catcher and outfielder. "I love it. That's one of the reasons I came to Cal, because they said I could play baseball after basketball season. I never got the opportunity, though. When I was working out with the guys in basketball, they advised me to pass on baseball in case I got hurt.

"It's one of the few times I listened.''

Kidd became a star at Cal, was drafted with the No. 2 pick by the Mavericks, was co-rookie of the year with Grant Hill, and became a superstar in the NBA.

Certainly, he knew he made the right choice picking basketball over baseball, but never lost his passion for baseball.

He is now launching JK Select Baseball, a nationwide youth baseball initiative under the umbrella of the Jason Kidd Foundation.

The program is designed to help create opportunities for kids to receive the best instruction for baseball while receiving mentorship and guidance, whether they want to pursue sports or other careers. Kidd hopes that the baseball initiative builds off the success of the JK Select Girls Basketball program, which has produced more than 45 NCAA Division I athletes.

"Watching the young ladies play basketball, I started wondering if I should participate in youth baseball," Kidd said. "I started talking to my wife and others who were in the baseball world. I thought if I could help in women's youth basketball, I can help in youth baseball. This conversation started getting traction.''

The baseball initiative will have a three-tiered model for athletes from 7 to 18 years old, emphasizing skill development and education. It will begin with 150 teams in the Dallas area with hopes of expanding to Washington, California and Pennsylvania.

"I'm in a position to give back and with youth sports,'' Kidd said, "and sometimes we forget how important coaches are. A lot of us were blessed to have good coaches to help us go where we want to go. That helps create not just athletes, but lawyers and doctors and teachers. If the coaches are better, our youth will be better.''

Kidd, who played travel baseball himself − although those trips never went further than two hours and not two time zones − also has been reacquainted with youth baseball through his 15-year-old son, Chance. He's a 6-foot-4, 225-pound catcher who has been drawing attention. He has been invited to MLB's Dream Series this weekend in Tempe, Arizona, a program designed to help develop minority pitchers and catchers.

"I love watching baseball, it's just such a great game,'' Kidd said. "It's a game of failure. How do you deal with failure? And learning how to deal with failure helps you in all phases of life.''

Kidd, 52, marvels at the athletes who have been able to have success at both sports. He raves about Kenny Lofton, who led the University of Arizona to the Final Four in 1988, and became a six-time All-Star center fielder who played in the 1995 World Series with Cleveland. He teases Chris Young, the Texas Rangers' president of baseball operations, saying he should have gone to the NBA. Young was an All-Ivy League center for Princeton's basketball team before becoming an All-Star pitcher. Sabathia and Jimmy Rollins, who grew up in Oakland, were fabulous multi-sports athletes.

"Growing up in the Bay Area, we were rich in athletes that can play multiple sports,'' Kidd said. "I'm hoping with our program, we can help kids do whatever they choose. If they don't want to play sports, helping them become doctors and lawyers and teachers would be great, too.

"I just want to give them the opportunity to grow, not just as players, but as people.''

Follow Nightengale on X:@Bnightengale

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Mavericks coach Jason Kidd launching youth baseball initiative

He got burned.

A Madrid with youngsters who played for Arbeloa on Madrid's reserve teamcrashed out of the Copa del Reyround of 16 to second-division Albacete 3-2 on Wednesday.

Arbeloa was promoted from within on Monday toreplace the fired Xabi Alonsoand, following his nightmare debut, Thursday's front page of Spanish sports daily Marca read "Total Debacle" over a photo of a despondent-looking Arbeloa.

If anyone should know the dangers of underestimating the pitfalls of the Copa del Rey, it should be Arbeloa.

While he won multiple titles with Madrid as a hard-working right back, he was also part of one of the worst defeats in the club's glorious history, 4-0 to third-tier Alcorcón in 2009 that ever since has been known in Spanish sports as the "alcorconazo."

Now he must revive a team that has yet to win a major title since Kylian Mbappé arrived two summers ago to show its full potential and lift either the La Liga or Champions League trophy. Alonso proved unable to inspire a group that finished last season trophyless under Carlo Ancelotti.

Arbeloa and his players can expect a rough welcome on Saturday from disgruntled Madrid fans when Levante visits in La Liga.

"If anyone is responsible for this defeat it's me, as I'm the one who made the decisions regarding the lineup, how we wanted to play, the changes," Arbeloa said after the Albacete defeat. "I'm trying to get them (the players) back on their feet, both physically and mentally. We have to improve and go for Saturday's game."

Key matches

Relegation-threatened Levante looks like an easy win for Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu. But the same was said of Albacete, which sits in 17th place in the 22-team second-division standings.

Levante also has its reasons to hope for delivering another upset of the reeling giant. The Valencia-based team is unbeaten in three games and its last away game was a 3-0 victory at Sevilla in the debut of coach Luís Castro.

Madrid is in second place, four points behind Barcelona, which visits a Real Sociedad on Sunday that hasn't lost in two games under American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo.

Third-placed Villarreal is at Real Betis on Saturday. It is four points behind Madrid and a game in hand.

Players to watch

The entire Madrid squad will be under scrutiny against Levante following consecutive defeats to Barcelona in the final of the Spanish Super Cup, which was Alonso's last game, and Albacete.

But all eyes also will be on Arbeloa's decision making. He left star Jude Bellingham, regular starter Aurélien Tchouaméni and forward Rodrygo entirely off his squad for the Albacete game and included only heavyweights Vinícius Júnior and Federico Valverde in his starting lineup.

So it would be a surprise not to see Bellingham and Tchouaméni return to the midfield and Thibaut Courtois back in goal at kickoff on Saturday.

Out of action

Mbappé was ruled unavailable for the Albacete match as he tries to fully recover from a left knee sprain. The league top scorer has made only one brief appearance – the final 15 minutes against Barcelona – while otherwise missed three games for Madrid already this month. It is not known if he will be ready to go against Levante.

Off the field

Speaking after his team's embarrassing loss, Arbeloa said the team he inherited from Alonso was far from top form.

"Physically, we have a lot of room for improvement and that's what (trainer) Antonio (Pintus) is there for, to give us something extra," he said. "We need to get back to our best footballing form for me and physically for Antonio, which I think we need."

AP soccer:https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

While 95% of Republicans continue to ​approve of Trump's performance as president, the poll conducted on Monday and Tuesday suggests a significant slice of Trump's backers are wary of ‌his administration's aggressive approach to immigration enforcement. The poll found American approval of Trump's approach to immigration at its lowest point since he returned to office a year ago.

Poll respondents were asked to ‌pick whether immigration officers should prioritize reducing harm to people even if this limits the number of arrests, or if they should be willing to use force even if there is a risk of serious injury or death.

Some 59% of Republicans favored a policy prioritizing arrests even if people get hurt, while 39% said officers should focus on reducing harm to people even if it means fewer arrests. Democrats were unified, with 96% focused on avoiding injuries and 4% saying immigration officers should ⁠focus on arrests. A handful of respondents did not answer ‌the question.

Americans are following the matter closely. Trump's campaign to deport unauthorized immigrants has become the signature issue of his administration. Masked immigration officers, often in tactical military-style gear, have become a common sight across the country. The Reuters/Ipsos poll showed ‍nine in 10 Americans have heard at least a little about the January 7 shooting death in Minneapolis of 37-year-old Renee Good, who was filmed criticizing immigration officers from her car before an officer fatally shot her in what Trump administration officials have described as an act of self-defense.

'SOMEONE DIED IN AN ALTERCATION WITH ICE'

The Trump administration has called ​Good a "domestic terrorist" who tried to run the Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer over with her vehicle. Local leaders and protesters across the country have ‌condemned the shooting, saying the fact that Good turned her wheels away from the ICE officer as she drove past him proved her peaceful intentions.

Jason Cabel Roe, a Republican political strategist who has been critical of Trump, said Good's killing put a human face on the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.

"Someone died in an altercation with ICE. That is not what anyone wants to see happening."

The controversy has sparked protests across the country, adding to the ongoing conflicts between demonstrators and immigration officers outside of government buildings. On Tuesday, small bands of protesters near a federal building in Minneapolis shouted obscenities at ICE officers, who used tear gas ⁠and flash-bang devices against demonstrators, with officers wrestling some of them to the ground, ​Reuters photos and video of the clashes show.

NEW LOW ON IMMIGRATION

Immigration policy has been a regular ​bright spot among Trump's approval ratings since he returned to the White House. He campaigned ahead of the 2024 presidential election on promises to enact the biggest deportation drive in decades, and his approval rating on immigration touched as high as 50% in ‍February 2025, compared to his highest overall ⁠approval rating of 47% in the first days of his administration.

Trump's overall approval rating in the latest poll slipped to 41%, down from 42% in a poll conducted earlier in January, while his approval on immigration slipped to a record low of 40%, from 41% when that question ⁠was last asked in December. Even with the decline, however, Trump's approval on immigration remains higher than the ratings Americans gave his predecessor, Joe Biden, during most of the Democrat's 2021-2025 administration.

The latest ‌Reuters/Ipsos poll gathered responses from 1,217 U.S. adults nationwide and had a margin of error of 3 percentage points.

(Reporting by Jason Lange ‌in Washington, Additional reporting by Tim Reid; editing by Scott Malone, Rod Nickel)