Rotoworld: Oregon RB LaMichael James and Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon among top 10 players who are being overhyped for the 2012 draft.
SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?
The Detroit Red Wings equaled an NHL record with their 20th straight win at home, beating the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 Sunday night on the strength of Johan Franzen's tiebreaking goal early in the third period.
PBT: Boston's Rajon Rondo continues to be named in trade talks, which is madness. The Celtics guard creates offense and makes everyone around him better, which was evident in Sunday's win over the Bulls.
Arc's five up, five down: After No. 11 Michigan State's 58-48 upset of No. 3 Ohio State, you'd be a fool to discount the Spartans' national title chances now.
Miami coach Al Golden says the worst is behind him, but his headaches figure to continue now that former booster Nevin Shapiro, now in jail, says his involvement with the Hurricanes program will result in stiff penalties.
Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods greeted their Sunday pairing at Pebble Beach with optimism. But the day would end happily only for one.
The United States completed a 5-0 rout of Switzerland in the Davis Cup on Sunday, with 19-year-old Ryan Harrison and John Isner winning closing singles matches.
Zambia has won the African Cup of Nations, beating pre-tournament favorite Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in a dramatic final at Stade de l'Amitie.
Tessa Worley of France fought off gusting winds to win a second consecutive World Cup giant slalom Sunday in the Andorran Pyrenees. Overall leader Lindsey Vonn was more than a second behind and finished eighth.
Robins: It’s the Year of the Dragon on the Lunar calendar, and this Chinese influence could extend to it also being the year of the Pekingese on the green carpet at the 136th Westminster Dog Show on Tuesday.
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Last month, when Clemson fired Tommy Bowden, an agent told me the quick hook could spiral into one program following the next. In other words, if big-money boosters see it can be done, the pressure on university presidents and athletic directors significantly increases.
Kansas State's Ron Prince followed Bowden and Phil Fulmer as surprising resignations (see: forced firings) this fall. There are almost certainly others out there we're not seeing.
Among the possibilities:
Jim Leavitt, South Florida: The guy who could've had most any job he wanted a few years ago — Alabama came after him during two different coaching searches — is now facing some tough times in Tampa.
Last year's meltdown from the No. 2 ranking — three straight Big East losses — concluded with an embarrassing 35-point loss to Oregon (using a third-team quarterback) in the Sun Bowl. This fall, the Bulls started 5-0 but have lost three of their last four.
The last two seasons, what looked like a certain Big East championship turned into a trip to a meaningless bowl game. Is it crazy to think USF would fire the guy who built the program in such a short time? Of course it is.
It's also crazy to think Tennessee would fire a coach with nine 10-win seasons in 15 years.
Steve Kragthorpe, Louisville: I understand Krags dealt with some serious personality clashes among personnel when he arrived at Louisville. But the reality is, he was handed an Orange Bowl champion with 19 returning starters last season. He has gone 11-9 with two losses to one of the five worst teams in college football (Syracuse).
No matter what you think of Bobby Petrino's vagabond ways, there's no way he'd be 11-9 over the same stretch of games. Check out the rest of the schedule: at Pitt, Cincinnati, West Virginia, at Rutgers. The Cardinals will be underdogs in every game.
Al Groh, Virginia: Though many believe this season has been Groh's best coaching job in Charlottesville — and I'm part of that faction — the last three weeks of the season will decide his fate. The schedule: at Wake Forest (desperate for a win to salvage a souring season), Clemson (playing well under Dabo Swinney), at Virginia Tech (Groh is 1-6 vs. rival Hokies).
Who knows what you're getting from the Cavs week to week? UVA could easily win out, and Groh would get votes for coach of the year in the ACC. Or they could lose out, and Groh would get fired.
Top five on the hot seat:
1. Tommy Tuberville, Auburn: Only wins over Georgia and Alabama can save Tubs now.
2. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa: Beat Penn State, and lock in another year. Lose, and things get dicey with another 6-6 finish looming — and a 2-7 record vs. ranked teams since the 2005 season.
3. Joe Glenn, Wyoming: Cowboy Joe is out of a job the Monday after the season ends.
4. Chuck Long, San Diego State: Forget about the vote of confidence; this team is unprepared and unmotivated every week.
5. Mike Sanford, UNLV: Another in a line of elite coordinators that, for one reason or another, have struggled with the transition to head coach.
Miami coach Al Golden says the worst is behind him, but his headaches figure to continue now that former booster Nevin Shapiro, now in jail, says his involvement with the Hurricanes program will result in stiff penalties.
CFT: Jordan Jefferson makes it clear he wasn't happy with LSU's game plan in the Tigers' BCS Championship Game loss to Alabama.
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The Week in Sports Pictures The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more. more photos |
Zambia has won the African Cup of Nations, beating pre-tournament favorite Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in a dramatic final at Stade de l'Amitie.
Wesseling: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for AFC teams.
The Red Wings have finally started to embrace a record they've been chasing.
