UNC signs Davis to 2-year extension

North Carolina coach Hubert Davis has another two years on his deal and a new general manager to help the blue blood men’s basketball program deal with the changing landscape of college athletics. Davis has signed a two-year extension running through the 2029-30 season to lead his alma mater. And on Tuesday, the school announced Davis had hired basketball agent Jim Tanner as the program’s first-ever executive director and GM. The deal reached in July and signed in December pays Davis an average of $3.2 million in base salary and supplemental pay, up from about $2 million on the previous deal reached in July 2022 that ran through the 2027-28 season. Notably, the base salary increased from $400,000 annually to $1.25 million. It also includes $750,000 in additional pay from an apparel deal with Nike and a media-rights deal with Learfield, a $50,000 expense allowance and another $1.25 million in annual available bonuses. The 54-year-old Davis played for the Tar Heels under Dean Smith. Davis’ tenure as coach began with an unexpected first-year run to the NCAA title game.

Chiefs GM: Kelce ‘fired up’ for return

It appears Travis Kelce is leaning toward a return to the Chiefs for the 2025 season. Speaking to reporters at the NFL scouting combine on Tuesday in Indianapolis, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said Kelce is “fired up” about playing next season. “We left it as, he’d be back and we’re excited to get him back and get him going,” Veach said. The 35-year-old Kelce, above, was mulling whether to retire or make another run. The four-time All-Pro professed his love for football several times leading up to the Super Bowl. He also has laid the groundwork for a career in TV and has a podcast with his brother, Jason Kelce. Coach Andy Reid said he talked to Kelce about his future. “Get out of town and relax. … I think that’s what he’s doing,” Reid said. Kelce has one more year remaining on his contract. The 2024 season was one of career-lows for Kelce between his 97 receptions for 823 yards and three TDs. Still, Kelce already has cemented himself among the NFL’s greatest tight ends. He ranks third all-time in catches (1,004) and yards (12,151) and fifth in TDs (77).

MLS hits Messi with fine for incident

Major League Soccer fined Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi an undisclosed amount on Tuesday for placing his hand on a New York City FC assistant coach’s neck. The incident happened during Saturday’s 2-2 draw. Messi was exiting the pitch following the full-time whistle after receiving a yellow card for a verbal exchange with referee Alexis Da Silva. The reigning league MVP had some words with New York assistant coach Mehdi Ballouchy and covered his mouth as two Miami assistants intervened. Messi started to walk away, then turned back toward Ballouchy. He put his right hand on the back of Ballouchy’s neck and squeezed hard enough that it appeared to stun him. The league also fined Inter Miami forward Luis Suárez an undisclosed amount for violating the hands to the face/head/neck of an opponent policy in a separate incident in that match. He grabbed New York defender Birk Risa by the back of the neck during a skirmish following the halftime whistle. —Associated Press