Sports Headlines

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Sports Headlines - 17 February 2012

1. Time Warner Cable and MSG Sports Network end their standoff

....After a 48-day blackout of the MSG Network on Time Warner Cable, customers (lkie myself) will now be able to watch Knicks, Rangers and the Buffalo Sabres games on Time Warner.
2. NBA: Anthony unlikely to play aginst Hornets.
....With the Knicks on a seven-game winning streak and the worst-in-the-Western-Conference Hornets in town, rushing Anthony back makes little sense.
a. Linsanity should take Knicks above .500 tonight, but how much farther?

....Jeremy Lin likely will lead the Knicks past the Hornets for their 8th straight win tonight and a tie with the Celtics for the East's No. 7 seed, but how far can they go after that?
3. MLB: Yankees complete deal to send Burnett to Pirates.

....A.J. Burnett likely to find new life in Pittsburgh as the teams agreed to terms on a deal that will send A. J. Burnett to Pittsburgh for two minor leaguers, and the Pirates will also pick up $13 million of the remaining $30.9 million owed Burnett.
a. Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield retires after 19 seasons and 200 wings

....The 45-year-old Red Sox knuckleballer will announce his retirement after 19 years and 200 wins despite not making his big-league debut until age 25. He has the third-most wins in Red Sox history behind Cy Young and Roger Clemens, earning $56 million along the way.
b. Reunited with bseball through luck and loyalty.
....Bobby Valentine, who is about to enter his first season managing the Red Sox, reconnected with professional baseball in the 1980s, he said, quite by accident.
4. NHL: Four goals in first 10 minutes is too big a deficit for the Rangers to overcome.
....The Rangers had won eight of their previous 10 games, but the Blackhawks jumped all over them early, firing four of their first six shots past the backup goaltender Martin Biron and went on to win 4-2.
5. NCAABK: College hoops weekend preview: bracketbusters and more.

....While the rivalry between these two isn’t quite as intense on the basketball side as it is for football, that doesn’t mean that this game isn’t carrying a ton of weight in the Big Ten standings. The Buckeyes are currently sitting in a tie with Michigan State for first place in the conference, one game in front of Michigan. A loss would put the Spartans in the driver’s seat for a league title, as OSU still has to go to East Lansing this year.
6. GOLF: Mickelson looking for back-to-back wins.

....Phil Mickelson wasn’t at his best Friday at Riviera. Two shots at least helped him stay in the lead. Despite having only two birdie chances inside 15 feet, Mickelson holed out from the eighth fairway for eagle and chipped in for birdie on the par-3 16th. That carried him to a 1-under 70 and a two-shot lead in the Northern Trust Open.
7. In winter, only in New Hampshire.
....The only state in the country with a high school ski-jumping league will hold its championship on Friday in Andover, N.H.
6. NYU coach embraces winning on small stage.
....Joe Nesci has 421 career victories as men’s basketball coach at New York University, which began competing in Division III the season before he joined the staff as an assistant.

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Sports Headlines - 19 February 2012

1. NHL Hockey in America: Detroit Red Wings beat San Jose Sharks for 23rd straight home win.

....Detroit won its 23rd straight at Joe Louis Arena, setting an NHL multiple-season mark for home dominance by holding on to beat the San Jose Sharks 3-2, winning their 6th straight home game giving them an NHL high 84 points.
a. Roy scores 2 in Buffalo Sabres 6-2 win over Pitt Penguins.

....Sabres forward Derek Roy was still upset with himself after being robbed by Pittsburgh goalie Marc-Andre Fleury's pad save in the second period, but he didn't miss on his next opportunity. Roy redirected Jason Pominville's centering pass through Fleury's legs for a short-handed goal as part of Buffalo's three-goal third period in securing a 6-2 win over the Penguins.
b. Chicago Blackhawks rally past St. Louis Blues.
....Dave Bolland scored the go-ahead goal in the third period when his centering attempt hit the stick of St. Louis' David Backes and went in and the Chicago Blackhawks rallied to beat the Blues 3-1 Sunday for their third straight victory
c. A Jewish hockey player at hstory's indelible crossroad.
....An American hockey player from Minneapolis, whose Jewish family was decimated in Germany during the Holocaust, has returned to play in his ancestral homeland.
2. ESPN fires employee for Lin headline seen online.
....Network apologizes for 'offensive and inappropriate' comments referring to Knicks sensation Jeremy Lin online, TV and radio. The headline "Chink in the Armor" was used Friday on ESPN's mobile website after Lin had nine turnovers in New York's loss to New Orleans.
3. NBA: Lin notches 14 assists as Knicks beat Mavericks 104-97.

....Phenomenal guard also pours in 28 points to help end Dallas' 6-game win streak as Steve Novak made four 3-pointers in the 4th quarter. It was only the 3rd winning of the last 20 games vs. the defending NBA champions.
a. In Lin, Knicks sfind a textbook point guard.
....Jeremy Lin has transformed the Knicks’ offense by executing many fundamental elements of a traditional point guard.
4. NCAABK: No. 2 Syracuse holds off Rutgers 74-64.
....C.J. Fair scored a career-high 21 points and Scoop Jardine added 17, including a dagger 3-pointer with 1:11 to play, as No. 2 Syracuse escaped another close one.
5. MLB: A Yankee at last, Kuroda wasters no time gettng started.
....After twice turning down offers to join the Yankees, Hiroki Kuroda, the right-handed starter, was in camp ahead of schedule and explained what lured him to the Bronx.
a. Big-league professionals who aren't afraid of getting a little dirty.
....Major league groundskeepers gathered in Anaheim, Calif., to talk shop, trade war stories and, like everyone else, worry about the weather.
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Sports Headlines - 20 February 2012
1. NCAABK: Michigan State now projected as No. 1 seed?

....Fresh off road wins at Ohio State and Purdue, the Michigan State Spartans have not only grabbed first place in the Big Ten but also a No. 1 seed in this week’s bracket projection.
2. NBA: Jeremy Lin asks everyone to back off his family in Taiwan.

....Linsanity has reached Taiwan, where Lin’s grandmother and other family live and he wants everyone to back off them. He told the AP his relatives are being “bombarded” right now. “I just want people to respect the privacy of my relatives in Taiwan.
3. [/i]MLB SPRING TRAINING[/u].
a. NY Yankees: Mariano Rivera hinting at retirement after this season

....Mariano Rivera was asked this morning if this will be his final season and the 42-year-old future Hall of Famer gave an interesting answer: “I know now, but I don’t have to tell you.”
1) Yankees have deal with 40-year-old Raul Ibanez.

....the Yankees have a deal to sign Raul Ibanez, pending a physical, for $1.1 million in base salary that be worth as much as $4 million with incentives.

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Sports Headlines - 20 February 2012

1. MLB: Santana throws, stays positive about progress.
....Mets pitcher Johan Santana's 2nd outing throwing off a mound Tuesday was followed by a barrage of questions about his health.
1) Former Mets clubhouse manger pleads guilty.
....Charlie Samuels, charged with stealing team equipment over the years, will be sentenced on a lesser offense on April 16.
2) Trustee says Mets saw Madoff as house money.
....To the court-appointed trustee suing the co-owners of the Mets, the Madoff “vig” was evidence of the men’s faith in Madoff’s steady investment returns, and their dependence on them.
a. Jones eyes bigger contribution to Yankees.
....Andruw Jones said his surgically repaired knee will make him a stronger contributor to the Yankees this season.
b. Choice of free agency or spot in the Phillies fold.
....The Phillies have spent dearly to keep their stars — players like Ryan Howard, Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee — but will they have enough to retain pitcher Cole Hamels?
c. Red Sox to get Carpenter from Cubs as compensation for Epstein.

....Determining Epstein's value to the Chicago Cubs, another title-starved franchise desperately hoping to be saved by the Boy Wonder, turned out to be a complicated issue. - turns out it's Chris Carpenter, a 26-year-old RHP reliever, and a player to be named later.
2. OLYMPICS: At 40, former Olymipc champion returns with different focus.

....For Janet Evans, a five-time Olympic medalist who qualified for the trials after a 14-year hiatus from training, swimming is no longer about the results.
3. NBA: D-Will, Nets spoil Melo's return to Knicks.

....Though they were the first team to fall to Jeremy Lin’s surprising prowess, the Nets Deron Williams exploded for 38 points to help the team notch a 100-92 win and spoil Carmelo Anthony's return to the new-look Knicks.
1) Next up for Lin, Hawks' emerging point guard.
....Atlanta’s Jeff Teague has experienced the ups and downs that all first-time starting point guards in the NBA, outside of Jeremy Lin so far, seem to go through.
2) Novak and Lin flourishing in tandem.
....Steve Novak and Jeremy Lin played one game together last year in the NBA Development League and have both thrived with the Knicks of late.
a. Believing in the Spurs.
....Here comes San Antonio, a winner of 10 consecutive games and the one Western Conference team that you could reasonably argue has been Oklahoma City’s equal all season, but Tim Duncan might need more help defending inside for the Spurs to excel in the playoffs.
b. Kobe Bryant's tirade directed at highest level of Lakers management.
....While Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak released a statement Monday in response to Kobe Bryant’s rant, Bryant was actually targeting higher-ups in the Lakers’ front office, particularly executive VP Jim Buss, son of owner Jerry Buss, whose influence in basketball decisions has grown considerably.
4. NHLBack from concussion, if not all the way back.
....Marc Staal has played more than 20 minutes in only five games this season, but there have been positive signs the past few weeks,
a. Backup goalie falters quickly, and Islanders push for a playoff berth slows, losing 6-0 to the Senators.
....Kevin Poulin, the Islanders’ promising young goaltender, received limited help from his teammates and allowed two goals in 95 seconds before being pulled.
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Sports Headlines - 23 February 2012

1. NCAABK: For 41 years, town cheers Danny's boys.

....Danny Miles has coached basketball at Oregon Tech for 41 years, winning over 900 games and doing his part to keep Klamath Falls together along the way.
a. NO. 2 Syracuse beats South Florida 56-48..

....The way the Syracuse Orange were missing one shot after another, Scoop Jardine considered them fortunate to be ahead at halftime. And once South Florida rallied to close within a point, Jardine put his head down to make sure the second-ranked Orange wouldn't have to mount another comeback.
b. VCU may require some magic for sequel.
....After a surprising NCAA Final Four run, Virginia Commonwealth Coach Shaka Smart’s greatest challenge this season was making his current team forget and focus on a new season.
c. Temple in talks to rejoin Big East.
....The Big East is said to be in discussions to add Temple, a former member of the conference in football, for all sports, but legal issues will have to be cleared up.
2. NBA: Lin to Anthony for a dunk is a good sign for the Knicks, head to Miami.

....Jeremy Lin, who had 17 points with 9 assists, and Carmelo Anthony, who scored 15 points, showed signs of improvement in playing together in the Knicks’ 99-82 victory against the Hawks.
a. Linsanity may be peaking.

....Despite his outstanding play of late, the Knicks’ Jeremy Lin has at least three point guards ahead of him on the depth chart for the United States.
b. Lakers end first half in style, beat Mavs.

....Andrew Bynum had 19 points and 14 rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers hit the halfway point of their season with a 96-91 victory over the defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericks.
3. MLB: Collins disappointed Tejada hasn't arrived.
....Jose Reyes's replacement at shortstop with the Mets is at home in Panama, but is expected to arrive at training camp by Saturday.
a. Airing the sounds of the game on MLB Network.
....MLB Network will televise a spring training game between the Indians and Diamondbacks in which up to six players a team will wear microphones and every sound will be aired, on a short delay.
4. GOLF: Woods hopes one win helps cure what ails him.

.....Tiger Woods bounced back from a final-round collapse at Pebble Beach to win his opening-round match at the Match Play Championship.
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Sports Headlines - 26 February 2012

1. NCAABK: Baylor thinks big, and athletic program thrives.

....A former lightweight in the Big 12 that was hit by scandal in 2003, Baylor now boasts a women’s basketball powerhouse, a possible N.B.A. lottery pick and the Heisman Trophy winner.
a. Irish regain their fight bu lose 61-58 to Red Storm.
....Notre Dame has been one of the most surprising stories of the men’s college basketball season, but St. John’s ended Notre Dame’s red-hot run.
b. At rivalry's end, Kansas rallies to edge Missouri.
....Tyshawn Taylor made two free throws with 8.3 seconds left in overtime to give No. 4 Kansas an 87-86 victory over No. 3 Missouri.
2. MLB: A flawed policy for drug testing.
....Ryan Braun’s exoneration by an arbitration panel illustrates how Major League Baseball’s drug-testing policy falls below the most rigorous standards of effectiveness and legitimacy.
a. Rodriguez hails health regained.
....Alex Rodriguez, the Yankees’ third baseman, is willing to put in time as a designated hitter but said, “I don’t train and prepare to be a D.H."
b. Old hand behind the plate gives Rays a steady presence.
....After a dozen seasons as a backup catcher, the 36-year-old Jose Molina is the new starter for Tampa Bay.
3. NBA: Clippers on a roll with Paul at the point
....The Los Angeles Clippers’ fortunes took a sharp turn upward when they acquired the All-Star point guard Chris Paul in a trade with the New Orleans Hornets.
a. Tight-knit family shares Lin's achievement.
....Jeremy Lin’s parents navigated a winding path from Taiwan to Virginia, from Purdue University to Palo Alto, on their way to raising a global icon.
b. Thinking of retirement, Stern endorses his deputy as his successor.
....David Stern, the 70-year-old NBA commissioner, strongly endorsed Adam Silver, the current deputy commissioner, to replace him.
4. NHL: Rangers top Sabres 3-2 in overtime, now wait to see if tthey'll get help.
....With two losses in their last three games, the Rangers hardly dispelled the idea that they could not use another top skater, perhaps Columbus’ Rick Nash.
a. Players staying tuned as NHL trade deadline nears.
....NHL players have been glued to their televisions and computers as the league's Monday trading deadline approaches
5. NCAAF: A 4-team playoff that'll replace the BCS appears likely for 2011.
....College football administrators are working on the framework to determine its champion for 2014. A three-game playoff is likely.
6. New deal for Umenyiora a possibility, Giants say.
....Giants General Manager Jerry Reese said the club was willing to discuss a contract extension with defensive end Osi Umenyiora
7. NASCAR: Remains low on its main fuel.
....Sponsorships make Nascar go around, but a tough economic climate has caused some to cut back on their commitments and others are backing off as contracts expire.
a. Daytona 500 postponed until noon EST Monday.

....Rain forces NASCAR to delay the showcase race for a day, the first time in its 54-year history.
8. GOLF: Rory McIlroy no match for Hunter Mahan.

....Hunter Mahan beats 2 and 1 in the Match Play Championship final , preventing McIlroy from taking over the No. 1 world ranking.

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Sports Headlines - 1 March 2012

1. MLB: Yankees want to cut payroll to $189 million by 2014.

....Hal Steinbrenner, the managing general partner of the Yankees, said he wanted to trim down to the luxury tax threshold to avoid paying future penalties,
a. Having failed his big audition, Parnell tries to rebound.
....Bobby Parnell flamed out in his audition for the Mets’ closer job last season. But his 100-mile-an-hour fastball still makes him intriguing.
b. Additional wild cards won't solve problems; they'll compound them.
.....MLB will reportedly add two additional wild-card spots to the playoffs for 2012, The wild cards will meet in a one-game playoff for a spot in the Division Series
An official announcement is expected soon, though there is no set deadline

....The idea is to make winning a division more valuable than winning the wild card, so much so that a team will have to try to win its division. What it effectively does, though, is make winning a bad division valuable. It will be a system that metes out punishment to teams in a good division and a reward in inverse proportion to quality is a bad system.
2. NBA: Lin and Davis help each other.
....Jeremy Lin has been great for the Knicks, but Baron Davis's stepping comfortably into the backup point guard role could be the key to the Knicks' success.
a. Knicks turn slow start into an easy finish.
....After trailing by 17 in the first half, the Knicks outscored Cleveland by 29 points in the final two quarters, with Steve Novak scoring 15 points during the run, winning 120-103.
3. NFL: Vikings rach agreement on new Minnesota stadium.
....After years of fits and starts, the Vikings and Minnesota’s top political leaders unveiled a tentative agreement to build a $975 million stadium next to the aging Metrodome in Minneapolis.
4. NHL: Brothers to renew rivalry on the ice.
....The Staal brothers will face each other on Thursday for the first time since Marc sustained a concussion last year on a legal but uncharacteristically vicious check by Eric.
5. NCAABK: Led by precocious freshmen, Kentucky has talent to win title.

....There is a growing sense that Kentucky has the best player -- see Davis, Anthony -- as well as the top-ranked team in college basketball for the past six weeks, that this is the year when John Calipari's latest band of precocious freshmen will finally lead the Wildcats its rightful spot atop the game.
6. SOCCER: Defense and Dempsey's shot give US a first in Italy.
....Clint Dempsey scored the game’s only goal as the US defeated Italy in an international friendly in Genoa for America’s first win in 11 games over 78 years against the Azzurri.
7. GOLF: In return to the Honda Classic, Woods is irritated by some questioning.
....Tiger Woods, who has not played the Honda Classic since he was 17 and an amateur, clashed with a reporter during a news conference,

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Sports Headlines - 3 March 2012

1. NCAABK: Tar Heels prove too much for Duke and win ACC.

....North Carolina made a statement by blowing out Duke 88-70 and capturing the A.C.C. regular-season championship and No. 1 seed for the conference tournament this week.
2. James and the Heat put failure behind them.
....The Heat have managed to put the disappointment of last June behind them and have emerged as the clear favorite heading into the second half of the abbreviated 2011-12 season.
a. A guard emerges; sound familiar?
....Isaiah Thomas, the last player chosen in the 2011 draft, has thrived in a starting role for the Kings.
3. MLB: Only 19, Harper is dealing with expectations as the next big thing.
....As baseball’s top prospect, Bryce Harper’s fame outstrips that of most veterans and he has a very real chance to break camp as the starting right fielder for the Washington Nationals.
a. Early whiff of October for Yankees and Phillies.
....Saturday’s game in Clearwater was the first of six spring-training meetings between the teams that met in the 2009 World Series.
4. In Bertuzzi's last stop, hopes for a makeover.
....Todd Bertuzzi is now with the Red Wings, one of the least-penalized teams in hockey. Perhaps that will lessen the fallout from one of hockey’s most notorious incidents/
5. NFL: Bounties called 'inmates governing themselves'.
....The former Jet Trevor Pryce said that incentives, or bounties, were routine and informal among NFL players,
a. Alex Webster, NY Giants running back and coach. dies at age 80..
R.I.P. Alex Webster, a powerful running back who helped propel the Giants to six divisionnnn titles and an NFL championship in the late 1950s and early 60s and later coached the team.
6. GYMNASTICS: World Champion wins but does little to distance herself from US rivals.
....Jordyn Wieber was the official champion of the AT&T American Cup, but Alexandra Raisman and Gabby Douglas also performed well in a display of American depth,

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Sports Headlines - 4 March 2012

1. GOLF; McIlroy holds off Woods and shows who's No. 1.

Rory McIlroy, age 22, won the Honda Classic and became the youngest golfer to claim the No. 1 ranking since Tiger Woods in 1997.
2. NCAA: A basketball force that is still paying for a fumble.
....The Big East Conference remains strong in basketball, but the conference is paying the price for ignoring the implications of not having big-time football in its portfolio.
3. NBA: Lin who? Rondo's 20 assists burn Knicks.

....A month has changed everything, and nothing. Jeremy Lin scored 14 points, but he made just 6 of 16 shots, turned the ball over six times and was suffocated for most of the afternoon by an aggressive Celtics defense. with the Knicks losing 115-111 in overtime.
a. Deron Wiliams scores 57 to lift Nets.

....Deron Williams scored a franchise-record 57 points to lift the New Jersey Nets to a 104-101 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats.
b. Kobe gets his revenge as Lakers down the Miami Heat.

....Who was that masked man? Kobe Bryant isn't bothered by his mask, scoring 33 points as Los Angeles handles Miami 93-83.
4. NHL: Rangers make it three in a row against the Bruins, 6-3.
....With the victory, the NY Rangers opened up a 12-point lead over the Bruins in the Eastern Conference. Six weeks ago they led by a point.
a. Taking a stand to change locker room culture.
....Eight NHL players, including Henrik Lundqvist of the NY Rangers, will take part in a public-service message aimed at opening doors for gay athletes in sports.
5. MLB: For no. 1 seeds, road to title comes with bumps.
....This fall it may be even less rewarding to be top-seeded teams, which will open on the road for the first two division series games.
a. Rodriguez flashes some power, but notes that it's March, not October.
....Despite homering off Roy Halladay and going 3-for-3 on the day, Alex Rodriguez warned that it’s too soon to draw conclusions.
b. Mets await a key ruling amid more negative news.
....A judge will rule Monday on the Mets’ legal fight against the trustee for the victims of Bernard L. Madoff. He can dismiss the case or let it go to trial.
1) Mets to be cautious with Wright.
....The Mets will be without David Wright for at least their first two games of spring training as he continues to experience discomfort in the left side of his rib cage.
6. NFL: Teams could be held liable for injuries traced to bounties.
....Legal experts say individual players — and potentially teams — could be held legally responsible for opponents’ injuries in cases involving a reckless disregard for safety.
7. NCAABK: Buford burns Michigan St., shows he's essential to Ohio State's hopes.

....No. 10 Ohio State earned a last-second victory over No. 5 Michigan State to create a three-way tie (with No. 13 Michigan) for the Big Ten regular-season title. Buford finished with a game-high 25-points including the game winning jumper with a second to play.
a. No. 1 Kentudky beats Florida for perfect SEC season.

....Kentucky coach John Calipari never mentioned perfection to his team before Sunday's game at Florida. He talked about pride, but the Wildcats ended up with both. as Davis scored 22, Jones added 19 overpowering No. 16 Gators for their 22nd straight victory.

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Sports Headlines - 4 March 2012

1. MLB: Judge deals financial blow to Mets' owners.
....A federal judge rejected a bid by the Mets owners to have the remaining claims of a lawsuit in the Madoff fraud dismissed, and ruled that the trustee was entitled to collect up to $83 million.
a. Seasoned in Boston, hopeful in Houston.
....Along with Jed Lowrie, Kyle Weiland went from the Red Sox to the Astros, a team of young players that is looking forward to a future in the American League.
2. Lin's star turn demands learning in the spotlight.

....The next inevitable phase of the Jeremy Lin story is under way, in which the Knicks point guard makes the critical adjustment from instant celebrity to enduring basketball star.
a. NBA's emerging late-game weapon.

....The Western Conference has unfolded in a predictable way, with the young Thunder, carrying over nearly their entire roster from last season, distancing themselves from a pack of teams either dealing with age, injuries, controversy, protective masks (have you heard?) or general craziness.
3. NCAABK: Syracuse's next challenge: the dreaded double bye.
....Syracuse has not handled being the top seed at the Big East Tournament well in recent years, but hopes to change that this time.
a. For Hoyas, fight in China forged unity amid peril.
....Players on Georgetown’s men’s basketball team pointed to an unfortunate brawl on a good-will tour of China last summer for their strengthened bond and resurgence this season.
b. Year after Final Four, VCU back in NCAAs.

....Shaka Smart's team held off Drexel in the CAA title game, earning an automatic berth and avoiding any Selection Sunday worries.
4. NHL: Kovalchuk showing how star can also be team player.
....Whether answering an opponent’s challenge to fight or mentoring a young linemate, the Devils’ Ilya Kovalchuk does what it takes to win.
5. Ex-players confirm bounty hunters.

....Ex-Giants TE Bavaro suspects [the Buddy Ryan-coached] Eagles targeted him.
6. NCAA Wrestling: Locked in struggle for supremacy.
....Wartburg College in Iowa and Augsburg College in Minnesota have won every Division III wrestling title since 1995. Their rivalry is at once hostile and hospitable.
7. SOCCER: Chant, chant, chant for the home team.
....Nasty, boring, folkloric or funny, chants by soccer fans can create momentum, help build a rally for a goal, overwhelm an opponent or distract a referee.

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Sports Headlines - 4 March 2012

1. NCAABK: Huskies begin title defense with sluggish win, 81-67.

....Jeremy Lamb led Connecticut with 25 points, and Coach Jim Calhoun was back with the team for his second straight game after back issues.
a. St. John's struggles don't end with regular season.
....A year after making their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2002, the Red Storm were eliminated by Pittsburgh on the first day of the Big East tournament.
b. Patrick Ewing leads class of 10 into College Hall of Fame.

....Before becoming one of the NBA's best post players, Ewing was a dominant center for the Hoyas of coach John Thompson, earning consensus All-America honors three straight years and one national championship as a junior. Ewing later played for two gold medal-winning Olympic teams, and amassed more than 24,000 points and 11,000 rebounds during a Hall of Fame career for the Knicks.
2. MLB: Pirates begin to see what they have in Igarashi.
....Pirates Manager Clint Hurdle says pitcher Ryota Igarashi, the former Met, has "a real chance to make this team."
a. Santana pitches well in first appearance.
....Johan Santana pitched two innings of a spring training game, his first appearance for the Mets since shoulder surgery in 2010.
b. Yankees think that for Pineda, changeup is in good (and big) hands.
....Learning that one pitch is probably the most important thing Michael Pineda will do in spring training, and the early returns have been positive
3. NBA: Trading 'small forward' for 'scoring reboundr.'
....Advanced statistics could pave the way for the evolution of basketball's outdated system of traditional positions.
4. NFL: Madness of a different kind.
....The NFL’s version of March Madness is Commissioner Roger Goodell gearing up to throw his entire stack of legal books at the Saints.
a. Saints' coach and GM accept full responsibility.
....A statement from Saints Coach Sean Payton and General Manager Mickey Loomis promised that no bounty system would be allowed again.
1) Report: Brees 'livid' over franchise tag.

....Among allegations of bounties and reports of Randy Moss being brought in for a workout, the Saints have another issue on their hands - New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees does not intend to sign the franchise-tag deal offered by the Saints,
b. Colts plan to announce Peyton Manning's departure tomorrow.

....The Colts will officially do what has been widely expected for months and formally announce that they’re releasing Manning on Wednesday, a report said.
c. Bills among eight teams after V-Jax.

....With each day, the Chargers free agent reciever, Vincent Jackson ,gets a little closer to finding out his market value.
5. NHL: Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby cleared for contact.

....Sidney Crosby's head is clear, but the superstar's return remains murky.

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Dykstra still faces federal bankruptcy charges and is scheduled to stand trial this summer. He filed for bankruptcy a few years ago, claiming he owed more than $31 million and had only $50,000 in assets. Federal prosecutors said that after filing, Dykstra hid, sold or destroyed more than $400,000 worth of items from the $18.5 million mansion without permission of a bankruptcy trustee.

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Sports Headlines - 7 March 2012

1. NCAABK: UConn gets 2nd Big East win with OT win over W. Virginia.

....Shabazz Napier scored 20 of his 26 points in the second half as Connecticut earned its 20th victory and improved its chances for an NCAA tournament berth.
a. Georgetown cruises 64-52 into quarterfinals.
....The Hoyas showed why they are the 13th-ranked team in the country, brushing aside Pittsburgh in the second round of the Big East tournament.
2. NCAAF: Temple joining Big East for football in 2012, all sports in 2013.

....Commissioner John Marinatto announced that the Temple Owls will join the Big East. The Owls played Big East football only from 1991-2004, but were forced out; now the Big East is looking to rebuild after losing Pitt, Syracuse, WVU and TCU.
a. Michigan players may have violated NCAA rule.
Spokesman Justin Dickens confirmed Wednesday that the school's compliance department has been notified a rule may have been broken by receiver Roy Roundtree and linebacker Kenny Demens. The two posted messages on their Twitter accounts to congratulate a recruit. NCAA rules prohibit messages being sent to recruits through social media from accounts affiliated with someone from the school.
3. NFL: The man behind the bounties
....Gregg Williams, who has become the face of the Saints’ bounty scandal, engenders fierce loyalty and deep respect among those who have played for him,
a. Manning and Colts part ways.

....Colts owner Jim Irsay and Peyton Manning held a news conference to announce that Manning will look for another team to play quarterback for in 2012.
4. MLb: Not the kind of mark a pitcher wants.
.....Brian Matusz, whose 10.69 earned run average last season was the highest in history for a pitcher with at least 10 starts, trained under Brady Anderson in the off-season to get stronger.
a. With eyes open wide, teenager gets a look at the majore leaguers.
....Brandon Nimmo, a minor league outfielder who was the Mets’ top selection in the amateur draft last year, spent Tuesday in the team’s big-league camp
b. In first game, fitter Hughes finds life in fastball.
....Phil Hughes arrived in spring training in much better shape than last year, knowing he had a lot to make up for.
5. NBA: Good feelings flee Knicks against resilient Mavs.
....Tyson Chandler got his championship ring, Amar’e Stoudemire found his stride and the Knicks staged a fourth-quarter rally, but the night ended with another loss and concerns about Carmelo Anthony.

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Sports Headlines - 8 March 2012

1. NCAABK: Dion Waiters helps Syracuse survive Connectidut.

....Playing No. 2 Syracuse has become something of a high-wire act. At times it is impressive to watch, as Connecticut was for stretches of the second half, with precision, poise, and patience, but with one slip, it can all come crashing down. Connecticut left the door open just a crack for Jim Boeheim’s Orange and they kicked it down, using a 15-4 run over the last nine minutes to pull ahead and survive in the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament at Madison Square Garden, 58-55.
1) At Syracuse, this has been Boeheim's best season, and his worst.
....The Orange are 31-1 and likely to receive a top seed in the N.C.A.A. tournament, but off the court, investigations and lawsuits are threatening to tarnish Jim Boeheim's magical season.
2) A guard's quick move ends a long game for the Bearcats.
....Cashmere Wright’s floater with 7.6 seconds remaining in the second overtime lifted Cincinnati 72-70 into a Big East tournament semifinal meeting with Syracuse.
a. Plenty of Parallels for forwards in their final Big 10 tournament.

....The senior forwards Zack Novak of Michigan and Draymond Green of Michigan State, who led their teams to shares of the regular-season title, now enter the conference tournament.
b. Growing up in the military.
.....Bernard James, a 27-year-old senior for Florida State who served in Iraq while in the Air Force, is considered one of the best defensive players in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
c. Harvard encounters a rare subject.
....Harvard's success on the basketball court has added another dimension to the school's Ivy League pedigree.
d. Big 12_ Kansas, Baylor ride career days to wins.

....Baylor powered past Kansas State, 82-74, to win the teams' Big 12 tourney opener. Perry Jones III had a career-high 31 points, Brady Heslip racked up 15 for Baylor. After a win over Texas A&M, the Jayhawks will now face No. 12 Baylor.
3. Federal authorities probing Auburn's Ward for point shaving.

....Federal authorities are investigating suspended Auburn point guard Varez Ward for alleged point shaving involving in at least two games this season
2. NCAAH? Arrests prompting hard look at top hockey program.
[/img]....Two high-profile arrests of Boston University hockey players for sexual assault this season compelled the university president to form a task force to address the issue,
3. MLB: Robertson injures right foot in fall on stairs.
....David Robertson, the Yankees’ All-Star relief pitcher, was walking with a limp and had his right foot in a protective boot Thursday morning after he fell on stairs Wednesday night.
a. Harper expected to join Nationals this season - but when?

....Bryce Harper, the No. 1 pick in 2010, is a 19-year-old power-hitting prodigy, who dominatd Single-A last year but had some difficulties at Double-A. Now Nats GM Mike Rizzo is 'open-minded' about Harper making the team out of camp.
b. Wealth could be risky issue for Mets owners should they face a jury.
....Baseball will be in for something new when the owners of the Mets go to court to face charges they enriched themselves with illegitimate profits from the Madoff scam.
4. NBA: Knicks fall in a rout, despite Anthony.
....Carmelo Anthony scored 27 points, his greatest output since Jan. 20, and dazzled in a furious fourth-quarter rally, only to have the Knicks get routed by the Spurs 118-105.
5. NFL: Sorry, Tebow fans; Broncos interested in Manning.
....Dare to dream, Denver. The Broncos may be considered the longest of long shots to sign Manning, a surefire Hall of Fame quarterback. but the Broncos are expected to place a phone call to Manning's agent, Tom Condon, to gauge their chances,
1) Manning's future: Too big of a cirdus.

....Peyton Maning wants to find a new team that has as little built-in drama as possible. But Denver isn't the right fit.
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Sports Headlines - 9 March 2012

1. NCAABK: Sixth man provides big lift as Syracuse advances.
....Dion Waiters, a sophomore guard, scored a game-high 18 points as Syracuse eliminated Connecticut 58-55, the defending Big East tournament and national champion.
a. Hard-working Bearcats win 72-70 after two extra shifts.
....Cashmere Wright's floater with 7.6 seconds remaining in the second overtime lifted Cincinnati into a Big East tournament semifinal meeting with Syracuse.
b. Uncertainty at UConn.
....With UConn it is just as easy to see the Huskies cutting down the nets again in April as it is to see a chain reaction of events that could include an NCAA tournament flop.
c. No. 4 UNC, rolls, but did it lose John Henson?

....No. 4 North Carolina cruised relatively easily to an 85-69 win over Maryland in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament in Atlanta on Friday afternoon, but John Henson, UNC’s starting center and the most dominant defensive presence in the ACC, got fouled hard and fell injuring his leeft wrist.
d. Rob Wilson's epic afternoon leads Wisconsin over Indiana.

....Needing a victory to stay in contention for a protected four-seed in the NCAA Tournament, Wisconsin looked to its bench for help and found a four-year reserve player who caught fire from beyond the arc, dropping a career high 30-points in No. 15 Badger's win over No. 14 Indiana.
e. Illinois needs another help wanted ad after firing Weber.

....Illinois fired Bruce Weber, its men's basketball coach, after a downward slide ended in a 17-15 season.
2. NBA: Lineup swap won't benefit Fields or Shumpert.
....The Knicks rookie Iman Shumpert started in place of Landry Fields, uprooting two players from roles they have excelled in this season.
a. After backing a dark horse, Lin's agent is riding high.
....The sports agent Roger Montgomery had only a few clients when he took a chance on an under-the-radar talent, Jeremy Lin.
b. For Knicks, distraction by addition.
....The euphoria surrounding Jeremy Lin and the Knicks has faded as the team has gone 2-5 since Carmelo Anthony’s return from injury.
c. Celtics open to offers for Pierce.

....The Celtics are prepared to entertain offers for Paul Pierce, whose subtraction from the Boston core would be the most advantageous to the post-Big Three rebuilding effort given his age (34) and the $32 million he's owed over the next two seasons - and the most difficult to move.
3. MLB: Robertson's injury is a bone bruise.
....Reliever David Robertson, who injured his right foot when he fell down a step, is not expected to miss significant time.
4. NFL: Giants to release Jacobs.
....Brandon Jacobs, the Giants’ volatile running back for seven seasons, will become a free agent because he and the team could not agree on a new contract.
a. Broncos will do whatever to get Peyton.

....Well, so much for Tebow time. Not only are the Broncos openly courting quarterback Peyton Manning, but they’re also going to try hard to get him.
1) Manning will see Cardinalsm too.

....With each passing day that he doesn’t throw for a team, we become more curious as to whether he hopes to sign a new contract without having to do so.
2) Chiefs have offered contract to Peyton.

....Amid talk that some NFL teams will court Peyton Manning so aggressively that they’re willing to sign him without watching him throw, now comes a radio report saying the Kansas City Chiefs have already offered Manning a contract.
5. NCAAF: For Florida State center, military was a steadying influence.
....Bernard James, a 27-year-old senior for Florida State who served in Iraq while in the Air Force, is considered one of the best defensive players in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
6. ALPINE SKIING: Vonn secures World Cup title and place in history.
....The American skiier's success puts her near milestones set by some of the sport's biggest stars and gives her the potential to top the 2,000-point landmark this season,
7. OLYMPICS: American-born hurdler's switch to Britain draws criticism.
....There’s controversy surrounding the nomination of American-born hurdler Tiffany Porter as British team captain in the year of the London Olympics.