Sports Headlines

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Sports Headlines - 26 January 2012
1. NFL: Bucs hire Rutgers's Schiano as coach.

....Tampa Bay has announced it has hired Greg Schiano, who had lifted Rutgers from the dregs of college football into a perennial contender in the Big East.
a. Family ties a plus for Mannings.

....Eli and Peyton Manning, elite quarterbacks born less than five years apart, act close and loving and are barely competitive, bucking the conventional wisdom of birth order.
2. AUSTRALIAN OPEN: Nadal vs. Federer: breaking it down.

....In four sets, Rafael Nadal extended his career edge over his archrival, Roger Federer, to move to the men’s final at the Australian Open. Roger Federer had had a brilliant Australian Open, but was too aggressive going to his forehand against Rafael Nadal's forehand.
a. Djokovic downplays injury scare ahead of Murray rematch.

....Defending champion Novak Djokovic shrugged off an injury scare to beat fifth seed David Ferrer in the Australian Open quarterfinals on Wednesday, setting up a last-four rematch with 2011 runner-up Andy Murray.
b. Sharapova vs. Azarenka: No. 1 rivals to battle for Australian Open title.

....Maria Sharapova has won three grand slams, and Victoria Azarenka has none. Both can become world No. 1 on Saturday.
3. NHL: Canada, a sports juggernaut missing one thing: winning teams.

....Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment is Canada’s largest sports empire, but there is discontent about its high ticket prices and lackluster teams.
4. MLB: Tigers' infield defense could be brutal.
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...Miguel Cabrera is set to slide over to third base for the Tigers to make room for Prince Fielder. The pair of poor defenders could be a liability while in the field.
5. SOCCER: US women face final hurdle before Olympics.

....The US women’s soccer team could provide a riveting story line at the 2012 London Olympics, but it must first defeat Costa Rica in the qualifying tournament.
6. GOLF: McIlroy outduels Woods and shares lead in Abu Dhabi.

....Rory McIlroy, opening his season, fired a three-under 67 while playing with Tiger Woods, who struggled on the greens but shot a 70

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Sports Headlines - 27 January 2012
1. NFL: The circus starts early in Indianapolis.

....Colts owner Irsay launches hissing war with Peyton Manning in Indianapolis while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers confuse everyone by hiring Greg Schiano from Rutgers as their new head coach.
a. Mara rides whirlwind clear into Super Bowl.
....John Mara, the Giants’ co-owner, weathered the NFL lockout along with his team’s ups and downs, including calls to fire his coach, and was rewarded with a trip to the Super Bowl.
2. NCAAF: Yale qurterbak denies Rhodes candidacy was suspended because of allegation.
....A statement released by a firm representing Patrick Witt confirmed that an allegation of sexual assault was made, but “yielded no disciplinary measures.”
a. Strong words resound at tribute to Paterno.

....The memorial service for Joe Paterno at Penn State featured remembrances from his son, Jay Paterno, players, and included a speech by Nike’s chairman, Phil Knight, that lambasted the board of trustees.
3. NBA: Injuries send Knicks' Anthony to the sideline; Wade questionable for Heat.
....Carmelo Anthony will miss Friday night’s game against Miami and Saturday’s game in Houston because of injuries to his left wrist, right ankle and right thumb.
4. MLB: Bidding for troubled L.A. Dodgers may top $1 billion.

....The troubled Los Angeles Dodgers, one of baseball's most storied franchises, began receiving bids from potential buyers this week in a sale that's expected to set a Major League record at more than $1 billion.
b. MLB to decide division ties with one-game playoff.
....A person familiar with the talks says baseball players and owners have reached an understanding that ties for division titles will be broken on the field under the new playoff format. Both sides agreed the difference between first place and a wild-card berth is too important to decide with a formula and a tiebreaker game would be played.
a. Tests on pitcher found five banned substances.
....Dustin Richardson, a former Boston Red Sox reliever, was suspended this week for 50 games after a random drug test came up positive for performance-enhancing drugs.
5. AUSTRALIAN OPEN: Azarenka vs. Sharapova: Time to reach for the mute button?
....The women's final at the Australian Open will bring front and center the issue of grunting in women's tennis because Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova are among the loudest players on the tour.
6. SOCCER: Taking on soccer violence one derogatory chant at a time.

....The Scottish government recently passed a law making it illegal for fans to attack each other using religious or ethnic slurs in chants, Internet postings and even stray remarks at the pub.
7. GOLF: Woods surges into contention as a Dane grabs the spotlight.

....Tiger Woods is two shots behind the leader, Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark, after the second round of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.

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Sports Headlines - 28 January 2012

1. AUSTRALIAN OPEN: Azarenka cruises to Aussie title.

Victoria Azarenka had produced one of the most lopsided Australian Open final victories to capture a Grand Slam title and the No. 1 ranking for the first time. She routed three-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova 6-3, 6-0 in 1 hour, 22 minutes on Saturday night, winning 12 of the last 13 games after dropping her first service game and falling behind 2-0.

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Sports Headlines - 29 January 2012

1. NFL: Kiwanuka goes home, but his heart is far away.

....Giants linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka is returning to his hometown, Indianapolis, for the Super Bowl. But he is drawn to Uganda, where his grandfather was a historic figure.
a. For Giants, quarterback and coach together in excellence.
....Coaches and quarterbacks often have their fates - and histories - tied together, and the Giants' Tom Coughlin and quarterback Eli Manning are no different.
b. Back with Patriots, Branch returns to familiar stage.

....Deion Branch, a former Super Bowl M.V.P. with the Patriots, is excited to be playing in the title game a third time, in his second stint with New England.
c. Playing against type, Belichick is in jovial mood as team arrives.

....The good cheer of Bill Belichick, who coaches a team known as the most buttoned-up in the N.F.L., set a relaxed tone with a rare joke as the Patriots arrived in Indianapolis.
d. Giants-Paatriots: four years later.
....While a lot has changed since the Giants met the Patriots in Super Bowl XVII, much of the game plan remains the same for both teams heading into this year’s matchup.
e. The dream may be over for Irsay and the Colts.
....The Indianapolis Colts are hosting next Sunday's Super Bowl while the club and the owner Jim Irsay contemplate tectonic shifts in the fortunes of the franchise.
f. Marshall's monster day carries AFC in Pro Bowl.

....Brandon Marshall caught six passes for 176 yards and a Pro Bowl-record four touchdowns and the AFC used a second-half surge to beat the NFC 59-41.
2. AUSTRALIAN OPEN: Djokovic tops Nadal in five sets to win title.

....A fatigued Novak Djokovic stared down a ferocious challenge from Rafael Nadal to defend his Australian Open in the longest grand slam final ever played.
3. NBA: For young Wizards, a difficult season and a shaky future.
....A young team, Washington started the season 0-8 and has improved to 4-16, but uncertainty surrounds its lineup.
4. NHL: Gaborik touches off a typical goalfest.

....Marian Gaborik of the NY Rangers scored a hat trick as Team Chara beat Team Alfredsson, 12-9, in the N.H.L. All-Star Game, while Chara scored the winning goal.
5. NCAABK: Boatright returns but can't lift UConn.
....Ryan Boatright returned after an N.C.A.A. investigation and provided a boost for Connecticut, but the Huskies could not overtake the Fighting Irish, losing 50-48.
6. OLYYMPIC GAMES: Energy, charm and ample ambition.
....The gold medalist Rulon Gardner is 40 years old and overweight, but he believes that he can qualify to wrestle at the Summer Games in London.
a. London-bound, US keeps foot on the gas.
....Alex Morgan scored two goals and set up two others as the Americans completed their perfect run through the Concacaf Olympic qualifying tournament.
7. GOLF: Young golfers emerge as Woods fades from view.

....As Tiger Woods continues his struggles, young golfers like Kyle Stanley, who won the Farmers Insurance Open, put their stamp on the game.
8. FIGURE SKATING: Abbott dazzles the audience and the judges.

....Jeremy Abbott took his third title at the US Figure Skating Champhionships in San Jose, Calif., with mesmerizing grace for his final score the best ever in the championships.
9. New playbook for post-career success.
....George Washington University School of Business STAR E.M.B.A. program is the first executive M.B.A. for professional athletes.

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Sports Headlines - 30 January 2012

1. NFL: Takes a minute to address head injuries.
....The league will use part of its own commercial time during the Super Bowl to review the evolution of the game’s rules and equipment and note its hopes for improved safety.
a. O Say: How fast can Kelly Clarkson sing the anthem?
....Betting on the length of the national anthem performed at the Super Bowl has become popular in recent years.
b. Wilfork provides Patriots' punch.

....The Patriots' defense gains its identity from hard-working Vince Wilfork.
2. NCAAF: Florida International coach pullsout of Rutgers job search.
....Florida International’s Mario Cristobal is said to have declined the chance to replace Greg Schiano as the coach of the Scarlet Knights.
3. NBA: Heating up.
....Miami shakes off a slow start to run away from New Orleans 109-95.

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Sports Headlines - 31 January 2012

1. NFL: Opens up media day ($25) and it's win-win.

....The annual Super Bowl Media Day is catnip for attention junkies, self-promoters, and other hangers-on. For this year’s Super Bowl in Indianapolis, the NFL sold 7,300 media day tickets online for $25.
a. Secret of a coach's success? Ivy League recruiting battles.
....The Giants’ receivers have had spectacular and unexpected success this season. The unit’s coach, Sean Ryan, traces it to his experience recruiting players for Harvard.
b. Not center of attention and not complaining.
....Since shunning attention after joining the New England Patriots, Chad Ochocinco has transitioned from flamboyant star to diminished afterthought.
c. NFL Super Bowl ad will stress safety.
....The league’s commercial will review the evolution of the game’s rules and equipment and note its hopes for improved safety.
d. Eli Manning talks about Peyton, but not his future.
....Giants quarterback Eli Manning faced a barrage of questions about his brother Peyton, whom he credited for much of his competitiveness.
e. All eyes on Gronk's ankle.

....The walking boot was gone but will Rob Gronkowski be ready Sunday? The Pats tight end repeatedly sidestepped questions about his availability.
2. NCAAF: After rejection, Rutgers taps interim coach.
....Kyle Flood agreed to replace Greg Schiano as the Rutgers football coach after Florida International’s Mario Cristobal reportedly turned down an offer.
3. NBA: Knicks, short on players and time, feel urgency.
....As they approach the one-third mark of the season, the Knicks, who have lost nine of their last 10 games, are uncomfortably situated in 10th place in the Eastern Conference.
a. Melo returns as Knicks beat woeful Pistons 113-86 in Detoit.

.... Amare Stoudemire leads the Knicks with 22 points and eight boards in a laugher in Detroit.
4. NHL: Brodeur remains Devils' gatekeeper.
....Goaltender Martin Brodeur, who will turn 40 in May, has indicated that he would like to play at least one more year, but acknowledged that he had thought a lot about the end of his career.
a. Crosby injury may lead to neurological problems.

....Sidney Crosby has a soft tissue injury that may cause neurological problems, but a spinal expert found no evidence he suffred a neck fracture. The injury is treatable and Croby will return when sympton-free.

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Sports Headlines - 1 February 2012

1. NCAABK: Duke's Cameron Crazies losing their enthusiasm.

....Attendance has declined in the student section at Duke’s Cameron Indoor Stadium, leading the university to regularly sell hundreds of those seats to nonstudents.
a. Fab Melo returns to Syracuse Saturday/i].

.... Fab Melo will be back in the lineup when the Orange play St. John’s Saturday in a noon tip-off at Madison Square Garden, after missing three games, including the Cuse's only loss (to West Virginia).
2. NCAAF: New coach at Rutgers hits ground phoning in bid to keep recruits.
....Rutgers introduced its new head football coach, Kyle Flood and he has already had to face the challenge of keeping intact his team’s highly regarded recruiting class.
a. NCAA puts Nebraska on probation in books case.
....The NCAA has put Nebraska on two years' probation and agreed to a self-imposed fine of $38,000 as part of an impermissible benefits case involving textbooks and school supplies. Last July, the school acknowledged that it had improperly distributed nearly $28,000 in textbooks and other school supplies to athletes from 2007-10.
3. NFL: Leading off: If Peyton Manning is leaving, he isn't going quietly.

....Talk about Colts quarterback Peyton Manning's future in Indianapolis has dominated the first two days of Super Bowl week.
a. Small town in Alabama has big connection to the Giants.

....When the Super Bowl kicks off on Sunday, a sleepy part of the South will have a strong rooting interest for a New York team - Troy State Coach Larry Blakeney has three former players who will be in Sunday's Super Bowl with the Giants - No. 9 (placekicker Lawrence Tynes, 1997-2000), No. 72 (defensive lineman Osi Umenyiora, 1999-2002) and No. 12 (rookie receiver Jerrrel Jernigan).
1) Umenyiora is fined for missing media session.

....Osi Umenyiora of the New York Giants was fined $20,000 by the N.F.L. for missing a mandatory session with the media.
2) Eli has found the magic touch.

....Eli Manning has greatly improved his accuracy since the Giants' 2008 title, ex-WR Amani Toomer says.
3) Terrific trio are Giants' best ever.

....This year’s Giants receivers are so special, they might be the best receiving corps the team has ever assembled.
b. An overlap of coaches has the Patriots covered.
....Bill O’Brien is the offensive coordinator who is leaving for Penn State. Josh McDaniels is the offensive coordinator who is returning. They will work together to prepare New England for the Super Bowl.
4. MLB: Now they cn deal with each other, and give each other credit.
....Brian Cashman and Theo Epstein could never make trades between their clubs when they ran the Yankees and the Red Sox. With Epstein in Chicago, that may change.
5. NHL: For Devils, a bad bounce lands in the win column.
....Ilya Kovalchuk scored the only goal of the shootout, and goaltender Martin Brodeur made three critical stops to lift the Devils 4=3 over the first-place Rangers for the first time this season.
a. Minnesota man arrested for DUI...on a Zamboni.

....A 34-year-old Minnesota man was arrested Monday for allegedly driving a Zamboni drunk. Fortunately, he wasn’t pulled over on the highway.

6. NCAAH: A bruising weekend for Minnesota-Duluth.
....The University of Minnesota-Duluth hockey teams, ties and loses to Michigan Tech--and falls behind Minnesota in one poll. The Bulldogs are still projected to be the top seed in the N.C.A.A. Tournament.
7. TENNIS: Former #1 Wozniack fires coach after two months.

....Former World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki has fired Spanish coach Ricardo Sanchez after just two months and decided to return to working with her father Piotr.

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Sports Headlines - 2 February 2012

1. NFL: Where Coughlin first laid down the law.

(Coughlin, 2nd from right)
....Coughlin’s intensity is famous. Announcers talk about it, fans laugh about it and players endure it, mostly because they realize it is genuine. Tom Coughlin’s intensity when it comes to detail goes all the way back to his first head coaching job, at Rochester Institute of Technology, 1970-73.
a. The Giants are inspiring because they suffer, then succeed.
....Much as they did four years ago when they upset the Patriots, the Giants have overcome adversity, and they have won when they needed it most.
1) Shuttered oasis lives on.
....Paterson Catholic High School, where Giants receiver Victor Cruz played football, was unable to survive the economic decline of Paterson, N.J. and was closed in 2010.
b. A Patriot dependable in all typse of cases.
....Since signing with New England in 2008 as an undrafted free agent, running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis, 26, whose nickname is The Law Firm, has become a fan favorite.
1) Tom Brady - bouncing back up.

....Tom Brady was intercepted twoice and did not throw a TD pass in the Pats' AFC title game win, arguably his worst postseason game in his caareer. But don't let his calm demeanor fool you.
c. Graphics company has Indianapolis under wraps.
....Sport Graphics, a company based in Indianapolis, produced the signs and created the vinyl adhesive building wraps that have transformed the city for the Super Bowl.
d. Super Bowl playbook: Getting into the secondaires.
....The Giants' secondary can be considered average, but it is good enough to keep the Patriots from relying only on offense to win the Super Bowl.
e. Kurt Warner: Tebow can't go this way forever.

...."If there's one guy who I definitely feel will work and do everything he can to get better I think its Tim. But I don't believe he can sustain a long career playing the way that they played this year."
f. Report: Peyton Maning medically cleared to resume FNL career.
....There are plenty of questions to be answered before Peyton Manning can resume his career as an NFL quarterback, but a big one was put to rest today.
2. NHL; Time stops, Kings score, NHL despairs.
....The NHL's latest controversy arises over a mysteriously frozen game clock that allowed the Kings to score a game-winning goal against Columbus at Staples Center that should not have counted.
a. Howe's sons deny reports that he has dementia.
....The hockey Hall of Famer Gordie Howe, at 84, occasionally has memory loss, according to members of his family.
3. NCAAF: Tressel returns to Ohio, reunites with Akron.
....Jim Tressel, the former football coach at Ohio State University, is now the vice president of strategic engagement at the University of Akron.
a. Back in action, ace recruiter Meyer assembles stellar Ohio State class.

....Despite a tattoos-for-memorabilia scandal that cost revered coach Jim Tressel his job last spring, an uncharacteristic 6-7 season and an NCAA-mandated 2012 postseason ban, Ohio State landed the nation's fourth-ranked recruiting class Wednesday.
b. Things are looking up at Vanderbilt under James Franklin

....Vanderbilt surprised with a bowl birth in 2011, then surprised again with an impressive 2012 recruiting class that could make history at a school aching for wins.
4. MLB: Woman is accused of stalking Yankees' Cashman.
....Louise Neathway was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court on charges of grand larceny, aggravated harassment and of stalking Brian Cashman, the Yankees’ general manager.
a. Financial relief for Mets may come from TV partners.
....Steven A. Cohen, a hedge fund manager pursuing the purchase of the Los Angeles Dodgers, is expected to buy a limited partnership in the Mets for $20 million.
b. Rangers slugger Hamilton has alcohol-related relapse.

....The Dallas Morning News is reporting Rangers outfielder and recovering drug addict Josh Hamilton had a relapse earlier this week when he drank alcohol at a bar.
c. Jackson strikes deal with Nationals.

....The Nationals are heading to spring training with what appears to be one of the deepest starting staffs in the major leagues. Edwin Jackson agreed Thursday to a one-year contract with Washington, a deal that gives the Nationals seven potential starting pitchers.
5. NBA: After up-and-down start, Celtics begin to look like themselves again.
....After a stretch marked by injuries and inconsistency, Boston has found its groove. The Celtics have won six of seven entering Friday’s game with the Knicks
a. Chicago Bulls hand NY Knicks their 4th loss in five games.
....Derrick Rose scored 32 points to outduel fellow All-Star starter Carmelo Anthony, and the Chicago Bulls beat the New York Knicks 105-102/
6. Police accused of ignorance as Egyptian soccer faces bleak future.

....In the wake of riots that left 73 football fans dead, Egypt's domestic league is suspended indefinitely, and the entire leadership of the Egyptian Football Association sacked.
7. BOXING: Psychology and guile in a one-two punch.
....Angelo Dundee, who died Wednesday at 90, was a master craftsman in the boxing trade.

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Sports Headlines - 3 February 2012

1. NFL: Giants are inspiring because they suffer, then succeed.

....Much as they did four years ago when they upset the Patriots, the Giants have overcome adversity, and they have won when they needed it most.
a. Behind Giants' coach, a bodyguard with a sideline view.
....Mike Murphy, who has escorted five Giants head coaches on and off the field since 1991, says the occasional splash of a Gatorade shower is one of the perks of being the team’s chief of security.
b. Blocking for the Patriots coach so he can do his job.
....Berj Najarian, the Patriots’ director of football/head coach administration, is the gatekeeper to Coach Bill Belichick and a key figure in the team’s inner circle.
c. The No. 1 pick? Robert Griffin III has a message - Don't just presume it's going to be Andrew Luck.

....Like the Heisman race, RGIII is out to prove he's the best choice. He would love to be drafted by the Colts - and learn under Peyton Manning.
d. NFL to expand schedule of prime time games on Thursday night.
....Commissioner Roger Goodell said that there will be Thursday night games on the NFL Network from the second to the 15th week of the season, giving all of the league's teams a chance to appear in prime time on some outlet.
2. CYCLING: Inquiry onf Lance Armstrong ends with no chargers.

....Federal prosecutors closed an investigation of the seven-time winner of the Tour de France nearly two years after they began looking into allegations of illegal doping.
3. NHL: In Vancouver, a night for Gordie Howe.
....Gordie Howe will be back at the Pacific Coliseum, in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Friday for the annual Gordie Howe night.
4. NBA: Nowitzki's slow start should cost him All-Star berth.
....Dallas's Dirk Nowitzki seems certain to be omitted from the NBA All-Star roster after a 10-year run.
5. NCAABK: UConn's Jim Calhoun taking indefinite medical leave.

....Calhoun is taking an indefinite medical leave of absence, as he has been suffering for several months from spinal stenosis, a spinal condition that causes him severe pain and hampers mobility.
6. TENNIS: No. 1 Azarenka to face Williams sisters in Federation Cup opener.

....Victoria Azarenka will take to the court this weekend for the first time since she clinched the Australian Open title and rose to the top of the world rankings. Azarenka will be part of the Belarus squad which takes on the U.S. in the Fed Cup in California.
7. CURLING: Everything Indy: a little bit of curl power.
....During Super Bowl week in Indianapolis, a curling demonstration allows visitors the chance to kneel at the hack and learn the meaning of bonspiel.

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Sports Headlines - 5 February 2012

1. NFL: For the Giants, it's different this time.

....Most Giants who played in the team’s memorable Super Bowl victory over the Patriots in 2008, including Eli Manning emphasized what has changed.
a. Eli Manning, enduring under pressure
....As the Giants weaved through this inconsistent season of failure and well-timed flourishing, Eli Manning displayed a personal grit that most Giants fans had not necessarily seen before.
b. Catching on after a last chance.

....Victor Cruz, the Giants’ leading receiver, followed a winding road to the N.F.L., including twice being kicked out of UMass for academic reasons.
c. Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are a winning combination.
....New England’s Bill Belichick and Tom Brady have won 124 regular-season games, more than any head coach-quarterback combination in N.F.L. history.
d. Martin elected to Hall of Fame, but Paarcells misses the cut.

....The former Patriots and Jets running back Curtis Martin was among six players elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Another finalist, the former coach Bill Parcells, did not make it.
e. Rodgers wins MVP by landslide.

....Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers has won the 2011 Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player award in a landslide.
f. Brees, Newton among NFL award winners.

....Drew Brees' record-setting season has earned the New Orleans quarterback the 2011 Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year award. Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has won the 2011 Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller has won a two-man race with 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith for the 2011 Associated Press NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award. San Francisco's Jim Harbaugh has won the 2011 Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year award for leading the 49ers back to the playoffs. Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford has won the 2011 Associated Press NFL Comeback Player of the Year award. Baltimore linebacker Terrell Suggs, the most dynamic player on the Ravens' staunch defense, has won the 2011 Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year award.
g. Ravens center Birk wins NFL's man of the year award.
....Baltimore Ravens center Matt Birk is the Walter Payton Man of the Year. The award honors a player for his off-the-field work as well as for his playing excellence. Birk, a 14-year NFL veteran, has made 96 consecutive starts and is one of the Ravens team leaders. He also supports youth literacy with a program called "Ready, Set, Read," through his HIKE Foundation. Birk also has agreed to donate his brain and spinal cord tissue to the Boston University's Center for Traumatic Encephalopathy, which researches the effects of repetitive head trauma.
2. NBA: Lin sparks Knicks, 99-92, to crowd's delight and D'Antoni's relief.
....Jeremy Lin had a team-high 25 points, nearly doubling his previous career high of 13, and finished with 7 assists and 5 rebounds, in the Knicks’ victory against the Nets.
a. Clippers give NBA a jolt that just might endure.
....With the addition of Chris Paul, the Clippers have become a hit in Los Angeles, capable of going beyond mere highlights, as in last Monday’s victory over Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City.
3. NCAABK: With depth and a zone, Syracuse rolls over St. John's.
....Syracuse easily defeated St. John’s at Madison Square Garden, finding a welcome reception from the flailing Red Storm and orange-clad supporters.
4. MLB: David Ortiz wants multi-year deal from Red Sox.
....Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz wants to avoid arbitration and sign a multi-year deal with the team.
a. Dodgers ask judge to dismiss beaten fan's claim.
....The Los Angeles Dodgers asked a US Bankruptcy Judge to disallow claims against the team filed by Bryan Stow, the San Francisco Giants fan nearly beaten to death outside Dodger Stadium last spring.
5. TENNIS: Azarenka pulls out with injury, and the US takes advantage.
....The Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka of Belarus withdrew from her Fed Cup match against the US.
6. SKIING: Vonn avoids crash and earns 50th victory.
....Lindsey Vonn captured the downhill in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, for her ninth World Cup win this season.

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GIANTS WON, GIANTS WON 21-17

Eli Manning and the Lombardi Trophy

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Sports Headlines - 13 February 2012

1. Westminster Dog Show: A long campaign trail of glossy photos and well-groomed hair.
....Some owners aggressively market their show dogs, spending thousands of dollars on multi-city tours and splashy spreads in trade publications.
a. Spirit of a racer ina dog's blood.
....A Siberian husky in the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, which begins today, is the descendant of an overlooked hero of the 1925 race to deliver lifesaving diphtheria serum to icebound Nome, Alaska.
2. NCAABK: Breaking out: Syracuse beat Louisville 52l-51.

....Sophomore C.J. Fair and Syracuse won at Louisville (Ky.) since the Cardinals became Big East members, as No. 2 Syracuse slipped pass No. 19 Louisville, snapping a seven-game losing streak.
a. Honor times two.
....Sports Illustrated has named Duke's Mike Krzyzewski and Tennessee's Pat Summitt its 2011 Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year.
3. MLB: $36 million deal with Cuban defector puts spin on Athletics' "Moneyball"

....Oakland appears to have reached a four-year, $36 million contract agreement with the Cuban defector Yoennis Cespedes, making him the team’s highest-paid player.
4. NHL: It's risky, but blocking shots is a growing NHL tacktic.
....The defensive strategy of using a foot or a leg to block a slap shot is a dangerous way to prevent a goal, but it can also be an effective one.
a. Red wings tie NHL record for consecutive home wins.
....The Red Wings won their 20th straight victory at home Sunday night with a victory over Philadelphia, tying an NHL record.
b. NY Rangers stay hot as Prust finds shut.
....Besides completing a perfect weekend with a victory 3-2 against the Capitals, the Rangers were pleased that Brandon Prust scored his first goal since Oct. 20.
5. NBA: For Lin, erasing a history of being overlooked.
....Despite a stellar high school career, Jeremy Lin eluded the radar of top college programs. Lin received no Division I scholarship offers. The story of Jeremy Lin, a committed Christian, has worked its way into church services — notably those in New York with large numbers of Asian-American congregants.
a. Carmelo Anthony: Jerem Lin "Like a dream come true to me.
....New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony could return to action toward to the end of the week but he doesn’t expect to take much attention away from Jeremy Lin.“When I get back Jeremy will have the ball in his hands and I’m playing off of that,” Anthony said.
6. NCAAF: A Conference that spans a hemisphere.
....Conference USA and the Mountain West have announced they are joining forces with the schools remaining in their midst, creating a conference that will span from Hawaii to the Carolinas
7. GOLF: Sunday troubles for Tiger Woods.

....Phil Mickelson’s improbable nine-stroke victory over Tiger Woods at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am has to test the thinking that Woods’s career swoon is only temporary.
8. OLYMPICS: NBC is looking for big payoff on Olympics.
....NBC Universal paid $1.18 billion for the right to carry this year’s Summer Games. So far, sales appear to be off to a strong start

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Sports Headlines - 14 February 2012

1. NBA: NY Knicks pioneer roots for the underdog in Lin.
....Wat Misaka, 88, the first Asian-American player in the NBA, said he roots for Jeremy Lin because of his guard skills, not their shared heritage.
a. Where Linsanity loses some sanity.
....The Jeremy Lin phenomenon picks up detractors as Linsanity spreads; Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks show they are not quite done and the Clippers that they haven't quite arrived.
b. D'Antoni finds object of basketball affection.
....Coach Mike D’Antoni had a great guard in Phoenix to power his wide-open offense, Steve Nash. With the Knicks, it is Jeremy Lin who is playing that role.
c. After watching Lin, Knicks' stars are set to team with him.
....Amar’e Stoudemire, who returned to the Knicks on Monday, said he enjoyed every minute of Jeremy Lin’s uncanny streak.
d. In Toronto, celebrating the Knicks' newest star.
....The Raptors will hold Asian Heritage Night on Tuesday, when the Knicks and point guard Jeremy Lin, who is of Taiwanese ancestry, are in town.
2. Westminster Dog Show: Postgame interviews provide their own entertainment.
graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2012/02/14/sports/subWESTMINSTER/subWESTMINSTER-thumbStandard.jpg[/img]....At the dog show at Madison Square Garden, the winners get their own equivalent of the jubilant locker room celebration.
3. NCAABK: Big East: from powerfouse to pedestrian.
....Big East, the beast of men's college basketball last year, has been reduced to five solid NCAA picks and a few bubble teams clawing for tournament bids.
a. For Butler, a bumpy rod back.
....Coach Brad Stevens led Butler to the men’s college basketball national championship game the past two seasons, but this season’s journey has not been as smooth.
[/i][/color]

[pegasus]

Sports Headlines - 15 February 2012

1. NBA: Lin's legend grows.

....Jeremy Lin added more believers in his game at Toronto, sparing sports fans from fixating on the Dwight Howard drama and Peyton Manning's breakup with the Colts,
a. At the buzzer, it's all Lin.
....Another chapter in the legend of Jeremy Lin was written on Tuesday night with a dramatic game-winning 3-pointer against the Raptors that brought the Knicks to a 6-game winning streak, but there were flaws on display for the Knicks despite the six-game winning streak.
2. MLB: Yankees get ready to trade another disappointing pitcher.
....A.J. Burnett was a star when he first signed with the Yankees in 2009. Now the team is looking to send him to Pittsburgh.
a. For Murphy, some help at 2nd from Teufel.
....Daniel Murphy, the Mets’ presumptive starter at second base, is hard at work with a former Mets second baseman, Tim Teufel, on improving his play in the field
b. AL West spring training preview - Darvish, Pujols main attractions.
....Yu Darvish was a sensation in Japan but it remains unclear how he'll fare against big league hitters.
c. Hall of Famer Gwynn has cancer surgery.
....Tony Gwynn had surgery to remove a new cancerous tumor inside is right cheek and has it on his use of smokeless tobacco.
d. Dodgers bidders to meet with MLB ownership committee.
....Remaining bidders for the Los Angeles Dodgers have been told they will be scheduled for meetings with Major League Baseball's ownership committee early next month.
3. NFL: As Colts near deadline on Manning, more troublesome details emerge[u/].
....While the decision-making process regarding Peyton Manning's future in Indianapolis continues to unfold, new details about his problematic neck issues and his attempts to deal with them have surfaced - a fourth, unreported, medical procedure in the past two years, not three as has been widely known.
4. Jaworski calls departure from 'Monday Night Footbal' Football' "bitterswweet.

....The news came as a surprise - after five years on 'Monday Night Football,' Ron Jaworski is out, and a two-man group of Mike Tirico and Jon Gruden will call the games.
5. Prize Peke tired a day after Westminster win.

....The bitty 4-year-old with the smushed-in face, flowing fur and slower-than-slow walk kept falling asleep during a visit to Sardi's restaurant in the Theater District. He also passed up the traditional day-after steak lunch after eating his regular meal of chicken and rice. He snores by the way.
6. GOLF: Mickelson full of confidence and momentum.

....With that Pebble Beach victory fresh, the Masters just around the corner, and nobody jumping off to a hot start so far this PGA Tour season, it’s all there for Mickelson. And wouldn’t it be just like the big fella to fashion his best season in the year that he is enshrined into the Hall of Fame?
7. The Barn closes its doors on hockey after 87 years.

....From its inception in 1925 as the Border Cities Arena, Windsor Arena has been in constant use for hockey, hosting pickup games, youth leagues, junior hockey and even the NHL.

[pegasus]

Knick's 7-game streak is a little Linsane

For the sensation that is Jeremy Lin to be unleashed — from the wins to the mania that gripped New York and spilled over into popular culture — it takes more than just the fantastic play of Lin. Although that is certainly the catalyst. But it takes a perfect storm of things coming together.
That storm washed over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night and swept them out in a 100-85 win for New York. And it wasn’t that close. But that is what the storm of Linsanity brings now to lesser teams. Lin finished with 10 points on 4-of-6 shoointg, a career-best 13 assists and was a plus-19 on the night.
At some point Lin will come back to earth a little, all storms eventually die out. But what he has brought to the Knicks in terms of balance and creativity could last, and could carry them a long way in the future. They look like the team we all expected them to be right now.[/i][/color]