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: Syracuse is among a solid group of No. 1 seeds in our latest tournament projections, but the middle of the pack is much more murky.
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.
AP"I love his focus on the golf course and his demeanor," renowned tennis coach Nick Bollettieri said. "He's always complimentary of the game.
"When he's asked how he's doing, he says it in a very humble way, but a very proud way. He puts a lot of time and effort into it. He's an inspiration for boys and girls on how to act on the golf course. For that matter, on how to act on the tennis court.''
Yes, focus. That's what Butler basketball coach Brad Stevens cited. Same for Baltimore Ravens tight end Todd Heap: "I would pay to watch that. Because that's what every athlete tries to do."
That's what impresses Milwaukee Bucks coach Scott Skiles: "I would pay to watch Tiger in person. Because his skill and will are so superior. I would like to go to the Masters or British open to watch him."
That's why John Tortorella, a former NHL coach, chose Woods, even though he isn't a golf nut.
"He's an athlete I love to watch, but I hate the sport," Tortorella said. "I think he's the most mentally tough athlete ever. I love watching him. I never watch golf until Sunday, when everybody's chasing him. I think his mental toughness ... there's no one like that.''
Few have come close to that focus. Jordan was one. But even a basketball guru like Louisville coach Rick Pitino calls Woods "the greatest athlete of all time — of any sport."
Some couldn't decide between Jordan and Woods. Even Gators disagreed.
Billy Donovan and Urban Meyer have each won two national championships at the University of Florida, coaching the basketball and football teams, respectively.
Donovan? Woods. "The ways he finds to rise up are something you don't see anywhere else."
Meyer? "That's an easy one. Michael Jordan. The ultimate winner. He raised everyone else's level of play. He took those other four guys along with him to all those championships. My gosh. I can't even remember their names.''
How would former NBA All-Star guard Penny Hardaway settle it?
"Watch Tiger play in the afternoon, and Michael play that night,"
Hardaway said.
Others went off the board, however.
Some went old-school.
"If you want to go back to me growing up, I would've loved to have seen Bob Gibson pitch a game live," Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "Just the nature of this man, the intensity of this man when he pitched, you could see it even through our black-and-white TV.''
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New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora couldn't choose between hundreds: "Muhammad Ali in his prime. Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell. Jesse Owens. But I'm a huge Yankee fan and a huge baseball fan so I'll say Thurman Munson, Dave Winfield and Reggie Jackson in October."
Eddie Sutton, the former NCAA basketball coach, also mentioned Ali.
"To me, he epitomized what a champion should be," Sutton said. "He developed his talent to the fullest."
So did Hank Aaron, until recently the all-time home run champion. His three choices? "A-Rod, he's selling me more and more. Derek Jeter, I always like to watch him. And that kid in Philly, Chase Utley. He is everything you want to see. They are the only three I'd put down my dime to see."
Some current athletes don't have to pay anything to see the guy they chose. They face that guy on the field or court on a semi-regular basis.
George Sherrill, the Baltimore Orioles closer, also picked Alex Rodriguez.
Joakim Soria, the Kansas City Royals closer, chose New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, in part because "some people talk about the comparisons between us. I don't know about that, but he's always been one of my favorites."
O.J. Mayo, the Memphis Grizzlies rookie, took LeBron James: "Just look at him. He's 6-8, runs a 4.3 and has moves that are out of this world."
And yet, many others looked outside their preferred sport.
Bob Knight, the NCAA's all-time men basketball wins leader, selected Albert Pujols, who plays for Knight's friend Tony LaRussa with the St. Louis Cardinals: "He will go down as one of the great players in baseball history. He's a remarkable asset for the city of St. Louis. You can see his work ethic. You know he shows up to play every day. I'd pay to see him play and I'd study everything he does.''
Pat Summitt, the NCAA's all-time women basketball wins leader, went with someone she watched grow up: "I'm a Peyton (Manning) fan, obviously dating back to his Tennessee days. But what he does for the Colts is something to see. His intelligence and preparation are off the charts.''
Matt Doherty, the SMU basketball coach, split his vote between Manning and Tom Brady: "For their excellence, their intelligence, but mostly for their class and demeanor and the way they represent the game.''
Some might have been influenced by the timing of the question.
Derrick Rose, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft, voted for Roger Federer.
"He's been the best for a long time," said Rose, now a Chicago Bulls rookie. "I'd just want to study what makes him that."
Rafael Nadal has since edged past Federer in tennis's world rankings.
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.
NEW YORK (AP) - As the glow fades from the Giants' Super Bowl triumph, some New York sports fans are tuning in to basketball and hockey, with the Rangers in first place and the Knicks' overnight sensation, Jeremy Lin, sparking "Lin-sanity.''
Robins: This year, six new breeds will be making their debut on the green carpet for the Westminster Dog Show, which begins Monday.
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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.
Silva: 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 NFC teams.
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.
