SCOTT SIMON, HOST: And now it's time for sports. (SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) SIMON: Championship weekend with NFL Conference games and the Aussie Open.

SCOTT SIMON, HOST: And now it's time for sports. (SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) ... SIMON: The NFL playoffs begin today - six games on the schedule, but it's not just business as usual.

SCOTT SIMON, HOST: And so nice to say - and now it's time for sports. (SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) SIMON: Remembering the holiest of soccer fans, the NFL draft, the NHL playoffs.

SIMON: The Mariners make the playoffs for the first time since cargo pants were popular. U.S. women's basketball team dominates again, but another horrific injury in the NFL. Tom Goldman joins us.

NPR's Scott Simon speaks to Meadowlark Media's Howard Bryant about the drama at the Australian Open, and also about the NFL playoffs kicking off this weekend.