Super Bowl XLVI
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.
DeMarco: Plug in a well-heeled ownership group and negotiate one of those mega-bucks TV deals that are going around, and the Dodgers could become the west coast version of the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox.
Pavel Datsyuk and Todd Bertuzzi scored shootout goals to give Detroit a 2-1 win over Anaheim on Friday. The victory was the Red Wings' 19th consecutive at home, one shy of the NHL record.
Jeremy Lin had the most astounding performance of his remarkable week, scoring a career-high 38 points and outdueling Kobe Bryant as the New York Knicks held off the Los Angeles Lakers 92-85 on Friday night.
Arc's weekend preview: The way you beat Kentucky is by getting physical with their big guys, and the Wildcats don’t have much depth up front.
CFT: Jordan Jefferson makes it clear he wasn't happy with LSU's game plan in the Tigers' BCS Championship Game loss to Alabama.
Despite an injury scare and a few missed opportunities at Monterey Peninsula CC, Tiger Woods remains in contention at the AT&T.
John Isner jolted Roger Federer with his big serve and booming groundstrokes Friday, winning 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-2 to give the United States a 2-0 lead against Switzerland in the first round of the Davis Cup.
Manchester City will find at least three highly motivated players in its way Sunday when it tries to improve upon its flagging away form in the Premier League at Aston Villa.
All that stuff about the Olympic ideal, how it's all about taking part, not winning, can often seem like so much hot air, rendered hopelessly quaint and outdated by the ultra-competitive and mercenary world of modern sport. Until, that is, you speak to Kieran Behan.
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
LARAMIE, Wyo. - Andy Dalton made a bet over the summer with his TCU teammates that he was hoping to lose. Win 10 straight and the junior quarterback vowed to shave his flame-red hair.
The Horned Frogs did and Dalton honored the pact, showing up last week with a pseudo Mohawk and “TCU” etched into the side. But all future bets regarding Dalton’s locks are off.
That’s probably wise given the way No. 4 TCU is playing. The Horned Frogs are off to their best start in 71 years after routing Wyoming 45-10 on Saturday.
The win keeps TCU (11-0, 7-0) in the thick of BCS contention and clinches at least a share of the Mountain West Conference crown. TCU last went 11-0 in 1938, capped off by a win over Carnegie Tech and a No. 1 final ranking in the AP poll. The Horned Frogs have not won a national title since, but they still have an outside chance this season.
All that stands in the way of the Frogs and a perfect regular season is a win over struggling New Mexico next week.
As for getting caught looking too far ahead — dreaming of a possible big-money BCS bowl game — defensive lineman Jerry Hughes said that’s not possible.
“This team has done a great job blocking out all distractions,” he said. “We’re all focused on winning the next game. ... We’ve just got to take care of business now. When you start looking too far into the future, things start to get away from you.”
That almost was the case Saturday — at least early.
TCU found itself tied at 10 after Wyoming’s Chris Prosinski scooped up a fumble and raced 98 yards for a score midway through the second quarter. But the tie lasted all of 16 seconds as Greg McCoy returned the ensuing kickoff 81 yards for a score.
Then, minutes later, Dalton found a hole in the Cowboys zone and hit Jeremy Kerley in stride, the receiver taking it from there as he sprinted 45 yards for a score and a 24-10 lead.
In a flash, the Frogs turned a potential scare into some breathing room.
This wasn’t the most polished victory TCU has turned in this season, the team turning the ball over four times. But the Frogs broke open a tight game by scoring 35 unanswered points, and have now outscored opponents 278-63 over the last six contests.
“It looks like we lucked out again,” said TCU coach Gary Patterson, tongue firmly in cheek. “We turned the ball over, but we did what we needed to do today. It could have been worse.”
Patterson reminded his team all week to not let all the BCS scuttle distract them from the task at hand. Except for a sluggish start, the Frogs didn’t.
“Today was getting ourselves ready,” Patterson said. “This group has done a great job of taking the next ball game. That’s why we are at where we’re at right now.”
Wyoming (5-6, 3-4) had just 178 yards of total offense and five first downs against a stingy TCU defense.
Austyn Carta-Samuels finished 4 of 10 for 83 yards and threw an interception. He eventually gave way to Robert Benjamin, who couldn’t move the sputtering offense, either.
“There’s no question that TCU deserves that No. 4 ranking,” said Wyoming coach Dave Christensen, whose team remains a win from becoming bowl eligible. “They are an excellent football team and we knew all along that they have no weaknesses and are very strong in all areas. ... It was a tough game.”
Matthew Tucker rushed for a career-high 134 yards and two touchdowns, while Joseph Turner also scored twice.
Turner was dinged up early in the game when two Wyoming players fell on him, but returned after halftime.
“I had to sit out a little bit and make sure I wasn’t too dizzy,” Turner admitted. “It was real hard to sit out.”
Dalton had a solid day, leading an offense that gained more than 500 yards. He was 10 of 19 for 168 yards through the air, his only real blemish an interception deep in Wyoming territory in the first quarter.
He was even more effective with his feet. Wyoming left the middle of the field wide open, allowing Dalton to run quite a few quarterback keepers and finish with 88 yards.
Dalton then got to sit back and watch the action in the fourth quarter.
The quietly confident Dalton carved his name deeper into the TCU history books. His 28 wins are one shy of matching the school record that Slingin’ Sammy Baugh set from 1934-36.
“It’s pretty cool to be considered with a guy like that. He did an unbelievable job with this program,” Dalton said.
As for the BCS talk, Dalton said he’s tuning it out.
“It’s all speculation who will go and then who should go,” Dalton said. “Each team thinks they should have the shot. We can only focus on the game.”
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 |
Jeremy Lin had the most astounding performance of his remarkable week, scoring a career-high 38 points and outdueling Kobe Bryant as the New York Knicks held off the Los Angeles Lakers 92-85 on Friday night.
Plenty of people are telling the Jeremy Lin story, because it's just a good story. The underdog, the unexpected and the first player since LeBron James nearly a decade ago to put up at least 20 points and eight assists in his first two NBA starts.
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.