Mammoth Sports Fan: October 2008

Friday, October 31, 2008

Billy Donovans Gators ranked 19th in both preseason polls

Florida will begin the season ranked in both major college basketball polls.

The Gators were selected No. 19 in the preseason AP (writers) poll Friday, one day after being ranked No. 19 in the ESPN/USA Today (coaches) poll.

Florida returns four starters, including SEC co-freshman of the year Nick Calathes, from a team that finished 24-12 and made the NIT semifinals last season. It was the first time the Gators failed to reach the NCAA Tournament since 1998.

"It's hard to come up with a lot of reasons why we're ranked in the top 20, but we'll take it and we'll go from there," Florida coach Billy Donovan said. "It's great to have those type of expectations."

North Carolina was the unanimous No. 1 pick, receiving all 72 first-place votes. The Tar Heels were followed by Connecticut, Louisville, UCLA and Pittsburgh.

Tennessee, the preseason pick to win the Southeastern Conference, was ranked No. 14, The Vols and Gators were the only two teams from the SEC that made the preseason top 25.

Miami, which returns four starters from a team that made the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season, was ranked No. 17. source>>>

NASCAR's Chase for the Sprint Cup can be as much a mental game as it is a competition on the track.

Sleep sometimes comes hard for Jimmie Johnson, despite his big points. And some of Johnson's closest pursuers say they are spending as much time thinking about scenarios to catch the leader as they are getting their race cars prepared for the hunt.

One thing all of them agree on is that NASCAR's 10-race Chase for the championship never strays far from their minds.

"I have to work harder to ignore the Chase and what's going on than anything else in my life right now. I'm sure it's the same way for anyone that has a shot at this thing,'' Johnson said Friday at Texas Motor Speedway, where he will go into Sunday's race with a daunting 183-point lead over runner-up Carl Edwards.

With only three races remaining, lots of people have already conceded Johnson his third straight Cup title. But that doesn't make things any more comfortable for the Hendrick Motorsports driver.

"I have found that trying to manage my own mind, manage my emotions, it's a full-time job,'' Johnson said. "If you ignore it during the week and show up here on Friday, it's going to hit you hard and you're going to be overloaded with it. ... I try to keep myself occupied. I try to keep myself busy during the week and try to ignore as much as possible what's going on.''

Greg Biffle, third in the standings just two points behind Edwards, also finds it hard to put the chase and the possibilities out of his mind.

"You think about it all the time because this is your life, this sport, and it's a lot of fun,'' Biffle said. "I try and do stuff to try and take my mind off of it and do other stuff, but we're thinking about it all the time.

"We'll think about what races are left 'OK, Texas, Phoenix, Homestead how are we gonna run there?' You kind of play those races through your head. We won here in '05 and certainly we feel like we can win here again. We feel like we can win in Phoenix and Homestead.''

That's what keeps Biffle optimistic in the face of his big points deficit.

"You play those scenarios through your head that we know we're so many points behind, but we feel like we're going to be competitive in the next three,'' Biffle said. "So, you think about it a lot.''

Fourth-place Jeff Burton, 218 points behind Johnson, is the longest of the long shots for this year's title. But he, too, can't get his mind off what could be.

"You constantly think about the Chase,'' he said, adding it's a year-around thing. "You constantly think about making sure you're in the Chase (and), if you're not in one of those cars, how to get there. If you are, how to stay there once you get into it. It feels like a whole new year. ... If your goal is to win the championship and be the best team out there, then you're constantly thinking about the Chase.''

If Johnson finishes ninth or better in the remaining races, he will join Cale Yarborough (1976-78) as the only Cup drivers to have won three straight titles. But Johnson has been around long enough to know just how fast things can turn sour in NASCAR.

John Utley Joins Mizzou Men's Golf Staff

Mizzou Men's Golf Coach Mark Leroux announced on Friday that former Tiger John Utley has joined the MU men's golf staff. Utley, a 1990 graduate of the University of Missouri, will serve as a volunteer assistant for the Tigers.

"We are fortunate to have someone like John involved with our team," Leroux said. "He is a very well-respected instructor and we are looking forward to him sharing his knowledge of the game with our players."

Utley played professionally for 10 years, competing in over a dozen Nationwide Tour events and one PGA tournament. He has been an instructor since 2000, working with noted golf teachers Jim Hardy, E.J. Pfister and his brother, Stan Utley.

"I am excited about the direction the men's golf team is headed," Utley said. "With the players we have here and the facilities that we have at Old Hawthorne, it is an exciting time at MU. I appreciate the invitation to join the program and look forward to being part of the Mizzou team."

Utley was a member of the MU men's golf team from 1986-90 and earned All-America honors in 1990 after finishing 23rd at the NCAA Championships. source>>>

Roger Staubach says Super Bowl to have $1B impact

The economic impact of Super Bowl XLV could approach $1 billion, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach said Friday.

Two-time Super Bowl winner Staubach talked about the tangible and intangible economic benefits of the Super Bowl, which will be played at the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium in 2011, at the 27th annual Stemmons Corridor Business Association luncheon.

The benefits, he said, include not only national attention on the area, but also the 125,000 people that are expected to attend the game, and the 300,000 people expected to be in the area because of the game.

"At the end of the day, the taxpayers will benefit from this," Staubach said.

The $30 million budget for Super Bowl XLV is comprised of sponsorships and other fundraising. Staubach said 15 founding sponsors, or members of the committee's "Million-dollar club" will each pay $1 million over the course of three years. Other sponsors will also contribute to the cause, he said.

The North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee, chaired by Staubach, will team up with the NFL to have 61 events in the year leading up to the game, encouraging even more economic benefit.

The host committee will also team up with the NFL to raise $1 million, which the NFL will match, to construct and endorse a Youth Education Town, expected to be a permanent legacy of the Super Bowl. source>>>

2008-09 College Basketball season to get started in less thantwo weeks with heavy favorite N C

North Carolina will be looking at a season of trying to live up to a pretty big billing. Players and officials will be looking down for a while trying to get used to the new 3-point line. A lot of fans will be looking back at the Hall of Fame career of a coach who left quite a mark in the desert.

The 2008-09 college basketball season starts in less than two weeks with all the usual questions about how good teams are and how powerful conferences can become. But there are a few things that make this season different right from the start.

North Carolina's season ended with a school-record 36 wins, an Atlantic Coast Conference title and a Final Four appearance. The disappointment over the 18-point loss to eventual champion Kansas was quickly soothed when national player of the year Tyler Hansbrough decided to return for his senior year, along with teammates Danny Green, Wayne Ellington and Ty Lawson. A stellar recruiting class featuring McDonald's All-Americans Ed Davis, Tyler Zeller and Larry Drew II has lifted the Tar Heels into the conversation of teams so loaded, not only is a national championship on people's minds, but so is a perfect season.

"We have to do the job every single day, and at the end of the year, we'll add it up and see what it is,'' coach Roy Williams said at ACC media day. "But I'm not going to put myself in the boat that says, 'We have to do this.'''

Hansbrough is the only first-team All-America to return to school, and he is the first reigning player of the year to come back since Shaquille O'Neal went back to LSU for the 1991-92 season.

Hansbrough's senior season got off to a tough start when it was announced he would be held out of practice indefinitely after an MRI on Thursday discovered a stress reaction in his right shin. There was no timetable set for his return to practice.

While underclassmen Michael Beasley of Kansas State, D.J. Augustin of Texas, Chris Douglas-Roberts of Memphis and Kevin Love of UCLA moved on to the NBA, Hansbrough and his averages of 23.0 points and 10.4 rebounds returned for a chance at winning North Carolina's fifth national championship.

College Football Betting: Pittsburgh at Notre Dame

This Saturday's challenge is the Pittsburgh Panthers, giving the Irish a chance to beat a team playing better than .500 for the first time this year.

Notre Dame enters the game as 5-point favorites but it should be noted that Pitt is a perfect 3-0 on the road this season. They also have one of the best running backs in the country in LeSean McCoy. McCoy has rushed for 861 yards, 14 touchdowns and is the leading scorer in the nation.

The Irish could catch a break if Pitt quarterback Bill Stull can't play. Stull suffered a concussion in a loss to Rutgers and he spent Saturday evening in the hospital. source>>>

Golf- Peter Lonard, Robert Allenby and Ken Duke share lead at Ginn sur Mer Classic

Australians Peter Lonard and Robert Allenby and American Ken Duke charged into the early second round lead in difficult scoring conditions at the Ginn sur Mer Classic on Friday.

Lonard and Duke carded three-under 69s on the Conservatory course in Palm Coast, Florida to top the leaderboard while Allenby battled to a one-under 71 to grab a share of the clubhouse lead at five-under 139.

American Ryan Palmer was also on five-under, after going even par through nine holes, along with Michael Letzig.

First round leaders Letzig and Kent Jones, who began the day with a two-shot cushion, saw their advantage quickly slip away in a barrage of bogeys.

Letzig, a PGA Tour rookie chasing a first win, suffered a bogey, double-bogey, bogey start before hitting back with birdies at his fourth and fifth holes to sit two-over after six.

Playing the back nine first, Jones stumbled after the turn with a double-bogey at the second followed by three consecutive bogeys on his way to a five-over 77 that left him two-under.

Sweden's Daniel Chopra, who opened the defence of his Ginn title with a nine-over 81, continued to struggle by going three-over through eight holes after a bogey and double-bogey. source>>>

world champion Martin Thompson on verge of joining UFC

Newly crowned world champion Martin Thompson could be just a phone call away from appearing in the UFC.
kthom
Top of the belts: Martin, left and Kevin Thompson from Whitehaven with Ian Chambers, the owner of the Powerhouse Gym where the brothers do their strength training

Thompson, who clinched the Strike and Submit heavyweight world championship at the weekend, has beaten most of the top mixed martial arts prospects in this country.

And his brother Kevin, also an ultimate fighter, believes a UFC contract could be waiting round the corner for Martin.

"He has beaten most of the top fighters in this country, and that would be the next step," admitted Kevin.

Martin, just 23, took just 16 seconds to defeat former UFC star Colin Robinson in the clash in Newcastle and claim his fifth title.

The Wath Brow Hornets player is now rated as number one in the UK and was third in Europe ahead of the bout.

The next big step for Martin would be to get the call from the UFC, in America, but he is patient about securing his dream.

"I am just waiting to see if it will happen," said Martin. "There are not many others in the UK for me to beat.

"I got a call to say the UFC were watching me to see how things go so all I can do is wait and see."

Martin, along with brother Kevin, have been involved in MMA for five years and they have racked up the wins between them.

Martin currently holds European titles at both heavyweight and light heavyweight in the Strike and Submit competition and also British heavyweight belts in Cage Gladiators and Ultimate Force.

Kevin, 27, who is also training with the Great Britain Community Lions rugby league side, has two titles, both British light heavyweight, for Strike and Submit and also Total Combat.

And he is set to try and clinch a third as he takes on Denniston Sutherland for the Ultimate Force British light heavyweight title at Doncaster Dome.

This is a tough sport and the brother train up to six times a week in order to get fit to fight.

They train under the guidance of Ian Chambers, of the Powerhouse Gym, at Hensingham, twice a week and he works on their strength and conditioning, plus nutrition.

Then it is on to their jujitsu workouts with Trevor Cunningham at the Grapple & Strike club, on Bransty, which they fight out of.

And finally they also work on their boxing technique, with a third coach, Paul Wilson.

"We are really grateful to all of our coaches and sponsors and also to our training partners who come to the club and help us out," said Kevin.

The next fight for Martin will be when he takes on Rob Broughton at the end of November to defend his Cage Gladiators title at Liverpool. source>>>

NFL fines Patriots Vince Wilfork 35 Gs for late hit

New England Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork was fined 35,000 dollars by the National Football League on Thursday for a late hit but not handed a suspension.

Wilfork's late hit on Denver quarterback Jay Cutler in a 41-7 victory on October 20 brought the fine. The Broncos claimed that television replays showed Wilfork elbowing Cutler in the helmet.

The fine came a day after Wilfork, who was fined a total of 35,000 dollars last season, met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in New York to discuss the matter.

Goodell was said to have avoided slamming Wilfork with a ban as well because he said Wilfork, a fifth-season veteran, understands the NFL's tightened emphasis this season on player safety.

The Patriots will face Indianapolis on Sunday. source>>>

Ex-NFL star Michael Vicks video plea request denied

-- Michael Vick has reached a deal to plead guilty to state dogfighting charges, but he will have to appear in court in person rather than by video conference call to submit his guilty plea.

The Virginian-Pilot newspaper reported here Thursday that Surry County Circuit Court Judge Samuel Campbell denied the request by the former National Football League superstar quarterback to appear in court by a video link.

Vick is currently serving a prison sentence in Kansas after pleading guilty 14 months ago to federal dogfighting conspiracy charges connected to his financing of a dogfight ring based in kennels on land he owned in the area.

Campbell said at a hearing that there is no provision in Virginia state law allowing for a plea by video conference.

As a result, Vick was ordered to appear in person at a November 25 hearing to enter his plea, although Campbell did say a deal for a guilty plea had been reached between prosecutors and Vick's attorneys.

Vick, 28, hopes he might be able to leave prison sooner by pleading guilty to the state charge. Vick was sentenced last December to 23 months in prison but could have that sentence trimmed to 18 months with good behavior.

That could enable Vick to be released from prison in time for the start of National Football League team training camps next July, although he would need support from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and interest from a team to return to the league. source>>>

NFL Preview - New England (5-2) at Indianapolis (3-4)

As the two measures of success in the AFC during this decade, the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts have had some memorable head-to-head battles in recent years. The hype doesn't figure to be quite the same when the prestigious clubs face off at Lucas Oil Stadium this Sunday in a nationally-televised clash.

While the Patriots have successfully overcome superstar quarterback Tom Brady's year-ending knee injury to remain at the top of the AFC East heap, the Colts have slumped to a 3-4 record heading toward this season's midway point. That's a shocking development for a team that has not lost more than four regular-season contests in any campaign since head coach Tony Dungy's debut in Indianapolis in 2002.

The Colts' stranglehold on the AFC South division appears to be a thing of the past as well. After Monday's 31-21 setback to still-unbeaten Tennessee, Dungy's club now stands four games back of the 7-0 Titans for first place in the standings.

On the positive side, Indianapolis is expected to get back some key reinforcements for Sunday's all-important tilt. All-Pro safety Bob Sanders will return to action after sitting out the team's last five games due to September knee surgery, while running back Joseph Addai's two-game absence caused by a hamstring strain is scheduled to end as well.

Sanders, the 2007 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, will be counted on to bolster a defense that ranks 26th in the league against the run.

In addition to the usual high-stakes status of the games, what has made the Patriots-Colts rivalry so intriguing is the individual showdown between marquee quarterbacks Brady and Peyton Manning. But with New England's primary triggerman currently recovering from a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee, replacement Matt Cassel just doesn't provide the same star power.

Cassel has done a credible job as the Patriots' new field general, however. The defending AFC champions have won four of the six games the previously- unknown quarterback has started, including last Sunday's hard-fought 23-16 home win over St. Louis in which Cassel engineered a pair of scoring drives in the fourth quarter.

New England has won two of its three road tests with Cassel under center as well, while the Colts are just 1-2 so far in the inaugural season at Lucas Oil Stadium. That lone victory was an impressive one, however, a 31-3 rout of Baltimore back in Week 6 in which Manning threw for 271 yards and a season- best three touchdowns.

SERIES HISTORY

The Patriots hold a 42-26 edge in their all-time regular season series with the Colts, including a 24-20 road victory when the teams last met, at the RCA Dome in Week 9 of last season. The teams were a combined 15-0 heading into that much-anticipated matchup. Indianapolis won the previous two regular season meetings, both in New England, in 2005 and 2006. The Pats are 3-0 in regular season games played in Indianapolis since last losing such a matchup in 2000.

The Patriots and Colts have met three times in the postseason, with New England taking a 24-14 decision in the 2003 AFC Championship and a 20-3 triumph in a 2004 AFC Divisional Playoff prior to the Colts' 38-34 home win in the 2006 AFC Championship.

The Patriots are 32-12, including playoffs, against Indianapolis since the Colts moved from Baltimore following the 1983 season.

New England head coach Bill Belichick is 10-6 against the Colts all-time (including 8-3 with the Patriots), while Dungy is 5-5 versus New England (including 3-5 with the Colts). Dungy is 4-5 head-to-head against Belichick, including a victory for Dungy's Buccaneers team in the 2000 campaign.source>>>

NFL's best pass pickers on display come Sunday

The odds are better than good that Kerry Collins or Aaron Rodgers -- possibly both -- will be intercepted come Sunday.

It's not that the quarterbacks are turnover-prone this season. In fact, just the opposite, with Collins having been intercepted three times in six starts for Tennessee, and only one of Rodgers' four interceptions coming over the past three games for Green Bay.

Unfortunately, these quarterbacks will find themselves on the field Sunday with some of the NFL's best ballhawks. The Packers lead the league with 13 interceptions, trailed by Tennessee's 12, and this game features four of the five defensive backs tied for best in the NFL with four interceptions apiece.

"It's good to be anything but a quarterback now," Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan said with a laugh Thursday.

Finnegan picked off four passes over the first three games, one returned 99 yards for a touchdown. Titans safety Michael Griffin joined him by the fifth game, and the Titans lead the NFL in turnover differential, with cornerback Nick Harper having two interceptions. Safety Chris Hope picked off Peyton Manning twice in a 31-21 win over Indianapolis on Monday night.

"We're also trying to catch up," Hope said. "Plays are going to come. We just have so many playmakers sometimes you might go a few games without making a play."

Charles Woodson, despite a broken toe, and safety Nick Collins have taken their picking to a new level for the Packers. Both have two TDs on interception returns, including Collins' 62-yarder on Oct. 19 in a 34-14 win over the Colts. Tramon Williams has three interceptions, and backup safety Aaron Rouse had a TD off an interception against Indianapolis as well.

The Packers also may have safety Atari Bigby back from a hamstring injury after missing five games. Cornerback Al Harris is being checked by doctors Friday for a likely return from a spleen injury that threatened to end his season. Harris has 19 career interceptions.

"Our defense has been playing pretty good," said Bigby, who intercepted his lone pass this season in the opener. "Hopefully, we can raise it up a notch and improve. Any improvement is good for us right now."

Titans coach Jeff Fisher thinks adding Bigby, who had five interceptions last season, can only make the Packers better.

"He's a good player, but there's no holes in their defense," Fisher said.

Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy credits the turnover success to the defensive lines. The Titans rank eighth with 18 sacks, led by tackle Albert Haynesworth with six, while end Aaron Kampman has six of Green Bay's 12 sacks.

"Their defensive line is playing at a very high level, and we've picked it up up front defensively here during the last couple weeks before the bye, so it's given our perimeter people opportunities to make plays on the ball," McCarthy said.

Details on Steve Austin breaking nose of MMA fighter Paul Lazenby

Earlier this week, we reported on an accident involving Steve Austin and a fellow actor during the filming
of a fight scene for Austin's next movie, "Damage." During the filming in Canada, Austin was filming a scene with MMA fighter Paul Lazenby when he accidentally clipped Lazenby on the nose with a left-hand jab.

TMZ.com picked up on the story and reported that Lazenby was bleeding from the nose for 20 minutes while medical staff tended to his nose. Lazenby wrote on his personal blog that the incident was an accident and the issue has been resolved.

"I want to stress that this was NOT a case of negligence or incompetence, just one of those things that can happen even between skilled performers when they're swinging their fists at one another," Lazenby wrote. I don't blame Steve at all, he just made a mistake that even the best stunt performers can make (and one of which I'm certainly not innocent)."

Lazenby continued that Austin was upset about his mistake and eventually they had a good laugh about it when Austin showed up later with his arm in a sling requesting a trip to the hospital, claiming that his left hand was injured. source>>>

Additional Bouts Confirmed For UFC 92

The UFC has officially confirmed additional bouts for UFC 92 "The Ultimate 2008"", which takes place on December 27th in Las Vegas and features Forrest Griffin vs. Rashad Evans, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Frank Mir, and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson vs. Wanderlei Silva.

Added to the pay-per-view televised main card are bouts featuring The Ultimate Fighter 7 Finalist CB Dollaway against Mike Massenzio and heavyweight contender Cheick Kongo against UFC newcomer Mustapha Al-Turk.

Matt Hamill vs. Reese Andy, Yushin Okami vs. Dean Lister, Ryo Chonan vs. Brad Blackburn, Antoni Hardonk vs. Mark Burch, and Dan Evensen vs. Pat Berry were all announced for the unaired preliminary card. source>>>

Seahawks Pro Bowl defensive end Patrick Kerney is out indefinitely

Pro Bowl defensive end Patrick Kerney is out indefinitely and getting a second look at what's wrong with his surgically repaired shoulder. It's the latest in an epidemic of injuries for the teetering Seattle Seahawks.

Coach Mike Holmgren said Friday morning on his radio show that Kerney is returning to Alabama to see Dr. James Andrews. Andrews is the surgeon who repaired torn labrum cartilage in Kerney's left shoulder after last season. The Seahawks' top pass rusher re-injured the shoulder in last weekend's win at San Francisco.

Holmgren told KIRO he hoped to know when -- or if -- Kerney can play again this season by Tuesday. Darryl Tapp and rookie Lawrence Jackson will start at ends in Sunday's game against Philadelphia. source>>>

LA Dodgers, Ramirez, Lowe among 65 MLB free agents

As the Philadelphia Phillies were basking in the glow of their World Series victory, the rest of Major League Baseball began focusing on the 2009 season.

A total of 65 players filed for free agency on Thursday, the first day on which those eligible were permitted to do so under the league's basic agreement.

The free agency filing period runs through November 13.

While the St. Louis Cardinals led the way with six players filing, the Los Angeles Dodgers boasted the most attractive player in Manny Ramirez. The slugger, who was acquired from the Boston Red Sox at the July 31 trade deadline, was exactly what Los Angeles needed in its run to the National League West Division title.

In 53 games with the Dodgers, the explosive Ramirez belted 17 homers and drove in 53 runs while hitting .396 (74-for-187). The 36-year-old added two blasts and three RBI in Los Angeles' three-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs in the NL Division Series before homering twice and plating seven runs in its five-game loss to Philadelphia in the NL Championship Series.

The Dodgers also stand to lose righthander Derek Lowe, who also filed Thursday. Lowe, 35, went 14-11 with a 3.24 ERA in 34 starts during the regular season before going 1-1 in three playoff outings.

The neighboring Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim also may lose a slugger as Mark Teixeira has elected to test the free-agent market.

Olympic gold medalist Satoshi Ishii is giving up judo to take up a career in mixed martial arts,

Olympic gold medalist Satoshi Ishii is giving up judo to take up a career in mixed martial arts, according to a published report.

Ishii, who won the gold medal in the men's over-100-kg event at the Beijing Olympics, informed Japanese judo officials on Friday of his decision to become a professional mixed martial arts competitor, Nikkansports said.

I don't know who Ishii is and I didn't watch his performance (or much of the Beijing Olympics for that matter -- partly on principle) but I assume he's got skills if he came away with a Gold.

There are definitely examples of Judokas who have enjoyed success in MMA though two prime examples in the UFC -- Karo Parisyan and Sokoudjou -- are struggling right now.

I'd have to believe Ishii will fight in Japan, at least initially, so I was pleased to see this story make the front page of ESPN.com given how little interest the story will probably generate in the US. Regardless, it's good to see the Worldwide Leader in Sports taking such an active interest in MMA. I've even seen MMA results crawling along the bottom ticker on their television programming.source>>>

Cold Weather Golf

Well, once again, November is breathing its chilly breath on all golfers in the northern latitudes. I'm not happy about it, but what can you do?

Now, those of you with true four-season golf weather will have trouble relating to this one. But for all my fellow northern golfers who have either already put up the clubs for the season or are contemplating doing so in the near future. To them, I say, don't do it.

Yes, the best golf of 2008 is probably behind us, but we can still get out there and win a few bucks from our friends, or, at the very least, chase a few Canada Geese around the fairway. I say, if you can get out there without icing up, why not tee it up. Throw on a few, or several, layers. Start with a warm, thin mockneck and build from there.

Not convinced that cold weather golf can be fun? Here are five reasons to play golf all year long.

Number Five: Prove You're a Man (or an Idiot)
OK, so this one is a little like the scene in Tin Cup where Cup is bragging that he just shot par on the back nine with a 7-iron. When Cup asks Simms if he's ever parred the backside with a 7-iron, Simms replies, "Well shoot, Cup, it never occurred to me to try."

Bare trees mean wider fairways.

There's a certain cachet to playing cold weather golf - and I'm talking the 30-40° here or less - but just don't expect everyone (or most people) to understand. If you can shoot a decent score on a frozen course in February when the holes haven't been moved since late November and your nose has been running since you stepped out of your car, that's definitely something to proud of.

Number Four: Tempo, Tempo, Tempo
Perhaps the most important factor in a golf swing is tempo, but most of us struggle to keep a our swings in tempo, even in warm weather. So what can cold weather do for you and your tempo? Very simply, if you can swing with a reasonable tempo as the wind chill hits something in the 20s, that should only help you when summer finally comes around.

Cold air throws off your tempo by making your transitions quicker. Swinging your arms away from your body exposes your torso and underarms to more cold air, making you want to get done with the swing as quickly as possible. Keeping your body under control in these kinds of conditions will pay dividends when the mercury rises.

Number Three: Boing... Boing...
Do you struggle to hit the ball over water? Are you one of those people who routinely dig out an old ball on par threes with a pond fronting the green? Winter might just be the time of your golfing life.

There's nothing like the relief - and humor - that results from getting a good bounce off a frozen creek or pond. Balls that dribble out onto the ice can slide forever. If the ice is thick enough, you might even be able to save par, but it's generally not worth chancing the dunk in ice cold water.

Number Two: Getting Ready for Next Summer
There are a few ways that you can actually improve your golf game, even when you're wearing too much thick clothing to make a truly free and proper swing. The first, tempo, we've already covered.

The second reason to play cold weather golf: it's good for you. As the mercury drops, your body burns more calories just maintaining it's own normal temperature than in it would in warm weather. It's a minor workout just being out in the cold. Make it even better and keep yourself warmer, by shunning the cart (even if you have a cart heater and one of those cart covers) and walking. If you dress in layers, you'll find that you'll probably have to shed a layer after walking a few holes. You may find that temperatures that you'd never considered golfable are actually fairly comfortable, provided the precipitation stays away and the wind isn't too strong.

Number One: More Room to Hit It
The best thing about cold weather golf is that you'll have plenty of room to play. Courses are virtually empty when the temperature drops below 50°. You'll find yourself playing in close to three hours easily (that cold air makes you walk a little quicker).

Wind = coldThere are three factors to take into account on top of the obvious (is the course covered with snow?): sun, wind, and precipitation. If the sun is out and the wind is low, you may that temperatures as low as the 20s are cold but playable. As the wind increases and the amount of sun decreases, your comfort factor will drop appreciably. Playing golf as it snows is a pretty cool experience, and can be reasonably comfortable to do. But playing in the rain, especially if it's windy as well, can be a miserable experience.

There's one more way that the golf course provides more room in the winter than it does in the summer. If you believe that trees are 90% air in the summer, what must they be in winter? 99%? If your experiences parallell mine, you'll find that hitting that one little twig that sticks out slightly into the path of your otherwise perfect shot is an incredibly easy thing to do. source>>>

Used golf balls will boost your wallet and May lower your score!

What separates the difference between new golf balls and used golf balls is just a stroke off your putter when you hit your first shot and a bigger hole in your wallet when playing your game.

Why purchase used golf balls when you can buy new ones? You have seen tons of website selling them but is there really a need for them? Golf balls are a really interesting topic and much more technical than the other equipment. In fact it can also become the most expensive golf equipment you ever need.

If you are Bill Gates or Warren Buffet, forget about what i said. Shelling out money for them is not that much of a problem. A couple of golfers i know would not mind purchasing $30 a dozen for golf balls and losing almost all for a start. But after some rounds around the range, they felt the pinch. Their new golf balls ended up in water hazards and thick bushes!

For a start, lower your ego and pride if that is what is stopping you from using used golf balls to improve your game. Your high score is nothing to be proud of for a start! Used golf balls can help you improve your skills and enhanced your techniques before you purchase new ones. They are much more worth it and ease your mind off the bucks you would lose when your balls drown in the pond to concentrate your game!

Something a inexperienced golfer should know. Your golf balls will lose performance after rounds of playing with them. Hence, used golf balls are in handy but get them at a good quality with still plenty of rounds left in it or you will be wasting your money.

Where do you find these used golf balls?

Friday’s best NHL bets

Last season the Dallas Stars raised some eyebrows when Mike Smith stole a bunch of starts from veteran netminder Marty Turco before the youngster was shipped to Tampa as a part of the deal that brought Brad Richards and Johan Holmqvist to Dallas. Turco may have to fend off Tobias Stephan for playing time this year if he doesn't turn his season around in a hurry.

Stephan made 19 saves to earn his first NHL win Wednesday night, while Turco watched from the bench with his 4.26 goals against average and .842 save percentage keeping him company.

Goaltending issues and an offense that's starting to click means cash for over bettors. Seven of Dallas' 10 games to date have topped the total.

Pick: over

Vancouver at Anaheim odds provided by betED (-170, 5.5)

Sometimes an early road trip is just what a team needs to get back on track. The Ducks were 1-4 before they reeled off four straight road wins, then topped the trip off by beating the Red Wings back at home in overtime.

A reenergized offense sparked the streak. Anaheim's big line of Chris Kunitz, Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf caught fire on the trip and the club's power play is connecting at a 35 percent clip over the last five games. Not good news for Vancouver.

The Canucks are also playing the second part of a back-to-back, after kicking off their road swing Thursday night against Los Angeles.

Pick: Anaheim source>>>

UFC Fans Want Chuck Liddell-Anderson Silva, but Does Dana White

Of all the possible fights the UFC could put together, I'd say the one I've heard the most fans express interest in is Chuck Liddell vs. Anderson Silva. Liddell is the former light heavyweight champ who still might be the company's most popular fighter, while Silva is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Sounds perfect.

But Kid Nate at Bloody Elbow lays out all the reasons that it's a fight that doesn't appear close to happening. And the biggest reason is simply what Kevin Iole of Yahoo has reported: UFC President Dana White just doesn't seem all that interested in it.

The fight would be a very big deal and would put a lot of money into the UFC's coffers, but I suspect that White's apprehension is a concern that whoever loses the fight would no longer be a pay-per-view draw. If Liddell loses, the UFC would be trying to promote a 39-year-old who has lost four of his last five fights. If Silva loses, the UFC would look bad because the guy it's been passing off as the best fighter in the world now has a loss and an uninspiring win in his last two fights.

Having said that, I still think it's the fight that the UFC should do. Silva doesn't have any interesting fights left at 185 pounds, and of the 205-pounders in the UFC stable, Liddell is the only one who has a high profile and who doesn't already have another fight scheduled. And the last thing I want to see is Liddell trying to repair his image by fighting tomato cans.

So yes, Silva vs. Liddell should happen. I just wish I could say with confidence that it will. source>>>

Europe's best golfers are trying not to spoil one last good walk through the cork trees of Valderram

Europe's best golfers are trying not to spoil one last good walk through the cork trees of Valderrama Golf Club in Spain.

Men like Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Sergio García are saying adios to the season-ending Volvo Masters and hoping, above all, that they will not soon be saying the same to another Spanish golfing institution.

More than any modern golfer, Seve Ballesteros helped the European Tour establish credibility, both with his swashbuckling victories in five major championships and with his profound influence on the Ryder Cup.

On Friday, Ballesteros, now 51, was in intensive care in La Paz hospital in Madrid, breathing with the help of a tracheotomy, after undergoing three rounds of surgery for a brain tumor.

There have been encouraging comments in the past week from Spanish medical officials, but it is still difficult to imagine a man as proud and vital as Ballesteros in such a vulnerable state in what should still be the prime of life. The image runs counter to the currents of a year in which Greg Norman, Ballesteros's contemporary, came close to winning the British Open at age 53.

But the fundamentals of Ballesteros's risky, magnetic game long ago deserted him, causing him to retire from all competitive golf last year. And now his health has deserted him, too, allowing his successors and former rivals the bittersweet occasion to reflect on how much they and the game owe him and his personality.

Golf seems more safe and conservative today than when Ballesteros was scrambling to play it, which is quite a statement considering how hard and far today's golfers drive it.

"I think worldwide, he took the game to a different level; not only playing, but charisma-wise, and it was awesome to watch," said García, who dedicated his victory Oct. 26 in the Castello Masters to his ailing compatriot.

Loss to Purdue would snap Michigan's bowl streak

Michigan and Purdue enter Saturday's game in the unusual position of having to win out to earn postseason consideration.

Both perennial bowl qualifiers have 2-6 records, and at best could win the six games necessary to draw a look.

A Michigan loss would end the school's streak of 33 consecutive bowl appearances and give the Wolverines their first losing record since 1967.

"We're struggling a little bit," first-year coach Rich Rodriguez said. "It's been a long time since our guys -- maybe the first time our guys -- have been and a long time since I've went through something like this, but it's not the end of the world."

The schedule doesn't help the Wolverines. After Saturday, the Wolverines play at No. 20 Minnesota, at home against Northwestern, and at No. 13 Ohio State.

Purdue has reached postseason play in 10 of the past 11 seasons under Joe Tiller. The Boilermakers close at No. 22 Michigan State, at Iowa and at home against Indiana.

The Boilermakers don't plan to give up on going to a bowl game.

"I don't think you're out of it until you're out of it," Tiller said. "As a competitor, whether you're at the University of Michigan or Purdue University or any other university that has the opportunity to be involved in postseason play, you think about it and that is the focus of your attention."

BCS Bowl Forecast

BCS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: January 8, Dolphin Stadium, Miami
Matchup: Texas vs. Penn State (Odds: Texas 70%, Penn State 80%)
Outlook: The No. 1-ranked Longhorns will have their toughest remaining game this week at Texas Tech. A victory should send Texas smooth sailing into Key Biscayne. Penn State has an even easier slate, but it still needs Alabama to lose one game.

ROSE BOWL: January 1, Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif.
Matchup: USC vs. Ohio State (Odds: USC 90%, Ohio State 50%)
Outlook: The Tournament of Roses red coats don't want this rematch - it would be the third time these two teams meet in 12 months - but it will have to really think outside of the box to avoid it. If Penn State somehow doesn't make it to the BCS title game, fine. If USC somehow doesn't win the Pac-10 outright, fine. But would the Rose Bowl dare to invite an SEC team to finally matchup with the Trojans in a bowl game? That would be nice, but that would also risk ticking off the Big Ten. Just remember, these guys invited Illinois last year. The track record isn't good.

FIESTA BOWL: January 5, University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.
Matchup: Alabama vs. Utah (Odds: Alabama 20%, Utah 60%)
Outlook: Say what? You ask. Well, this is going on the assumption that Oklahoma would be the obvious second choice from the Big 12 and the Fiesta Bowl doesn't want a third consecutive appearance by the Sooners. The quandary here is that although the Fiesta would get the first pick if it loses Texas to the BCS title game, it pretty much has no way of avoid taking a non-BCS automatic qualifier, be it Utah, TCU, Boise State or even Tulsa.

SUGAR BOWL: January, 2, Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans
Matchup: Florida vs. Oklahoma (Odds: Florida 40%, Oklahoma 50%)
Outlook: If the Fiesta does pass on Oklahoma, then the Sooners land here to play the SEC champion. If Oklahoma is gone, then the Sugar will be forced to take the Big East champion, leaving the second SEC team for the Orange Bowl. If the SEC champion somehow ends up in the BCS title game, then the Sugar will take the Big 12's second team.

Florida-Oklahoma would be awesome. And even though the Trojans blew them out earlier this season, I'd be interested in an OSU-USC rematch with Terrelle Pryor playing the entire game under center for the Buckeyes. source>>>

NFL championships are won by defense, not offense

I have the privilege of spending the next couple of days in Denver. Aside from all the Yankee hats (doesn't Denver have a baseball team?), the people out here are pretty nice.

And contrary to what I've been told, the late October weather is pretty fantastic. It's been 70 degrees and sunny since I got here, and it's not supposed to change before I leave.

Given my responsibility as a Sports Central columnist, I've been watching the local sportscasts and talking to sports fans in local bars in an attempt to get a feel for what people out here think of the Denver Broncos.

As long as I don't tell them I'm from New England, I get a pretty honest response. The people out here are generally optimistic, but there seems to be an underlying lack of confidence.

It's not because of the offense. They love Jay Cutler. He's not on Elway's level, but nobody's on Elway's level out here. He may, however, be as close as anyone's going to get.

They don't worry about the turnovers, they don't worry about the lack of a great running back, and they aren't all that worried about Brandon Marshall's off-field issues (unless it results in another suspension).

It's when you bring up the defense that they pause.

You don't have to look at stats when judging the Broncos' defense. All you have to do is watch. When they turn the 2008 Patriots into the 2007 Patriots, you know there's a problem.

It's amazing to me that people were calling the Broncos a potential Super Bowl threat earlier this season.

Have we learned nothing from this decade?

In 2000, the Baltimore Ravens won the Super Bowl with Trent Dilfer and a "just stay out of the way" offense.

In 2001, the New England Patriots won the Super Bowl with a not-yet-Tom Brady and a dominating defense.

In 2002, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the Super Bowl after allowing only 196 points, an average of only 12.2 points per game.

In 2003, the New England Patriots won the Super Bowl after giving up only 14 points per game and averaging 1.1 more takeaways than turnovers per game.

In 2004, the New England Patriots won the Super Bowl after giving up only 177 points all season, a ridiculous average of 11.1 points per game.

In 2005, the Pittsburgh Steelers won the Super Bowl after finishing third in point against, and fourth in overall defense.

In 2006, Peyton Manning's Indianapolis Colts finally got their Super Bowl. Not because Manning changed, but because his defense went from a laughing stock in the regular season to a team that gave up 8, 6, and 10 points on defense (the Bears scored a touchdown on special teams in the Super Bowl) in the playoffs against teams not quarterbacked by Tom Brady.

In 2007, the New York Giants knocked off the greatest offensive team in NFL history in one of the most improbable Super Bowl upsets ever. How? They dominated on defense.

See a pattern?

That's why teams like the Cowboys, Broncos, Chargers, and Cardinals (among others) don't interest me this season. Why bother putting effort into teams that have absolutely no shot of achieving any significant playoff success?

Yes, they may be good for a few exciting wins in the regular season, but the formula just doesn't work in the playoffs.

The Titans, Steelers, Giants, and Bucs are far more intriguing come playoff time. There are teams built to win in the regular season and teams built to win in the playoffs.

Every season, people fall in love with the great offensive teams. For a long time it was the Colts. Now it's the Cowboys. Those teams never, ever win Super Bowls. Even last season's Patriots, the best offensive team ever, were beaten by a great defensive team.

The formula isn't simple, but it's well defined. It's been proven over and over again. Yet, for some reason, it's only followed by a handful of NFL teams. Defense over offense, every time. Build the defense first, let the offense come along for the ride.

In other words, don't be the Lions or the Bengals, be the Giants or the Steelers.

Anyway, what's the point of all this?

I pay attention to history. History tells me teams like the Cowboys and Broncos will fail come playoff time.

And barring a major injury or a quarterback switch (no defense is good enough to carry Vince Young), the Tennessee Titans are going to win the Super Bowl. source>>>

UFC 91 Fighter Matt Riddle Out Due to injury

The welterweight debut of former "Ultimate Fighter" 185-pound cast member Matt Riddle will have to wait. He has suffered a knee injury that will force him out of his upcoming bout against Ryan Thomas on the undercard of UFC 91 on Nov. 15.

Riddle's injury was confirmed to MMAWeekly.com by sources close to the situation.

Riddle made a great impression on fans during his time on The Ultimate Fighter and after the show wrapped up filming, he relocated to Arizona to train alongside former housemate C.B. Dollaway at Arizona Combat Sports.

In his first official fight in the UFC, Riddle won a decisive unanimous decision over Dante Rivera at The Ultimate Fighter finale show in June.

For the fight in November, Riddle was cutting weight and making his 170-pound debut, but during training for the bout the young fighter fell victim to a knee injury that will likely require surgery and could keep him on the shelf for the better part of six to eight weeks.

No word has come down from the UFC about a possible replacement to step in for Riddle to take on Ryan Thomas at this time. source>>>

Concert , Sports and Family Tickets Onsale today 10/31/08

For the complete list of 542 show visit TicketsOnsaleToday.com

Lisa LampanelliByham Theater Pittsburgh 10/31/2008 9:00:00 AM EST
2008 Christmas Choral Extravaganza St Martin of Tours Louisville 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
A Ledisi Christmas The Fillmore Detroit Detroit 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Acdc's Back In Black House of Blues Orlando Orlando 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Acid Mothers Temple, Sonic Suicide Squad Middle East Cambridge 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Arlo Guthrie Carnegie Library Music Hall of Homestead Homestead 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Arnez J and Earthquake Florida Theatre Jacksonville Jacksonville 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Badfish, Uncle Billy's Smokehouse Middle East Cambridge 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Banks & Shane Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre ATLANTA 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
BJ Novak Clowes Memorial Hall Indianapolis 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Blue Oyster Cult House of Blues Cleveland Cleveland 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Buddy Guy Palace Theatre Greensburg 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Candlebox Landmark Theatre Syracuse 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Candlebox BLONDIES Detroit 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Contagious~Riot Squad Wild Bills Duluth 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Countdown to 2009 Peabody's Virginia Beach 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Crystal Gayle Turning Stone Resort & Casino Showroom Verona 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Exodus Peabody's Downunder Cleveland 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Exodus Rex Theatre Pittsburgh 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Flaw Masquerade Atlanta 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Get Back! The Cast of Beatlemania The Palace of Auburn Hills Auburn Hills 10/31/2008 10:00:00
Get the Led Out, Led Zeppelin Tribute Turning Stone Resort & Casino Showroom Verona
Gretchen Wilson Wild Bills Duluth 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Gretchen Wilson Coca-Cola Pavilion at Destination Daytona Ormond Beach 10/31/2008 10:00:00
Hinder Bogarts Cincinnati 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Hollywood Undead Bogarts Cincinnati 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Horna Bloodfire Dusk BLONDIES Detroit 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Jack Ingram House of Blues Houston Houston 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Jagermeister Music Tour feat. Hinder with Trapt and Revelation Theory Pepsi Coliseum Indianapolis 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Jim Norton State Theatre Falls Church 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Jukebox the Ghost Middle East Cambridge 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Kreator Bluebird Theater Denver 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Kreator SONAR AND TALKING HEAD CLUB AT SONAR Baltimore 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Lou Gramm House of Blues Dallas Dallas 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Mustard Plug Agora Theatre & Ballroom Cleveland 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
New Year's Eve Celebration Atlanta Civic Center Atlanta 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Nonpoint, 12 Stones, a New Revolution, Midnight To Twelve Crocodile Rock Allentown 10/31/2008
One Sweet World, Dave Matthews Tribute Turning Stone Resort & Casino Showroom Verona
Paul Wall Hayloft Mt. Clemens 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Paul Wall Crocodile Rock Allentown 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Paul Wall SONAR AND TALKING HEAD CLUB AT SONAR Baltimore 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM
Pharoahe Monch SONAR AND TALKING HEAD CLUB AT SONAR Baltimore 10/31/2008 10:00:00
Radar Bros Middle East Cambridge 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Rick Springfield Wild Bills Duluth 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
RODNEY ATKINS The National Richmond 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Soilwork Rex Theatre Pittsburgh 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Stephen Dubner Vanderbilt University Student Life Center Nashville 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
T.I. Hammerstein Ballroom New York 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Tarja The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza New York 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
The Black Lips Variety Playhouse Atlanta 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
The Breakfast Middle East Cambridge 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
The Cham-Peons Middle East Cambridge 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
The Machine Pink Floyd Ultimate Tribute Band Penn's Peak Jim Thorpe 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM
The Ultimate Tribute Seriers Tour Featuring Back In Black (AC/DC) & Appetitie for Destruction (Guns & Roses) House of Blues Orlando Lake Buena Vista 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Theory of a Deadman Madison Theater Covington 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Theory of a Deadman House of Blues Cleveland Cleveland 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Theory of a Deadman Masquerade Atlanta 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Wilco Lyric Opera House Baltimore 10/31/2008 10:00:00 AM EST
Anthony Hamilton House of Blues Houston Houston 10/31/2008 11:00:00 AM EST
Anthony Hamilton MUSIC CITY GREENSBORO 10/31/2008 11:00:00 AM EST
Anthony Hamilton House of Blues Dallas Dallas 10/31/2008 11:00:00 AM EST
Appetite for Destruction House of Blues Chicago Chicago 10/31/2008 11:00:00 AM EST
Appetite for Destruction & Back In Black House of Blues Dallas Dallas 10/31/2008 11:00:00 AM
Back In Black and Appetite for Destruction House of Blues New Orleans New Orleans 10/31/2008
Chief Illiniwek : the Next Dance Assembly Hall Champaign 10/31/2008 11:00:00 AM EST
Chief Xcel Durty Nellies Palatine 10/31/2008 11:00:00 AM EST
Colbie Caillat House of Blues Dallas Dallas 10/31/2008 11:00:00 AM EST
Gary Allan River Center Davenport 10/31/2008 11:00:00 AM EST
House of Blues Tribute Series Tour presents Back In Black House of Blues New Orleans New Orleans 10/31/2008 11:00:00 AM EST
Jesse McCartney Eagles Club/The Rave/Eagles Ballroom Milwaukee 10/31/2008 11:00:00 AM
Kreator w/ Exodus, and Belphegor House of Blues Chicago Chicago 10/31/2008 11:00:00 AM EST
Michael W. Smith Alerus Center Grand Forks 10/31/2008 11:00:00 AM EST
Movimiento Sonidero : Carrow Show y Fruko Aragon Ballroom Chicago 10/31/2008 11:00:00 AM
No Limit Hold Em Poker Tournament Club Regent Casino Winnipeg, MB 10/31/2008 11:00:00 AM
Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular Verizon Wireless Theater Houston 10/31/2008 11:00:00 AM EST
Platinum Package Admission Platinum Package Waukegan 10/31/2008 11:00:00 AM EST
Ron Kelly's Blues Cafe Feat: Marvin Sease, Rude and Denise LaSalle Baton Rouge River Center Arena Baton Rouge 10/31/2008 11:00:00 AM EST
Stoney Larue Cowboys Dancehall San Antonio 10/31/2008 11:00:00 AM EST
Amebix Bowery Ballroom NEW YORK 10/31/2008 12:00:00 PM EST
Amos Lee with Delta Spirit Bluebird Nightclub Bloomington 10/31/2008 12:00:00 PM EST
Appetite for Destruction Theatre of Living Arts Philadelphia 10/31/2008 12:00:00 PM EST
Ashford & Simpson Birchmere Alexandria 10/31/2008 12:00:00 PM EST
Black Market Empire / Goodbye Champion Bluebird Theater Denver 10/31/2008 12:00:00 PM EST
Brian Culbertson's a Soulful Christmas Birchmere Alexandria 10/31/2008 12:00:00 PM EST
Cowboy Junkies Birchmere Alexandria 10/31/2008 12:00:00 PM EST
Del McCoury Band Birchmere Alexandria 10/31/2008 12:00:00 PM EST
Derek Trucks Tampa Theatre Tampa 10/31/2008 12:00:00 PM EST
Funeral for a Friend Theatre of Living Arts Philadelphia 10/31/2008 12:00:00 PM EST
Girl Talk JAKES Bloomington 10/31/2008 12:00:00 PM EST
Joan Osborne Birchmere Alexandria 10/31/2008 12:00:00 PM EST
Kevin Costner & Modern West Birchmere Alexandria 10/31/2008 12:00:00 PM EST
King's X Blender Theater at Gramercy New York 10/31/2008 12:00:00 PM EST
Knockout Drops Mercury Lounge New York 10/31/2008 12:00:00 PM EST
Monster Jam Sun Bowl Stadium El Paso 10/31/2008 12:00:00 PM EST
Ottmar Liebert and Luna Negra Birchmere Alexandria 10/31/2008 12:00:00 PM EST
Rob Riggle Theatre of Living Arts Philadelphia 10/31/2008 12:00:00 PM EST

NBA sets '10 All-Star Game at new Cowboys stadium

DALLAS -- The NBA All-Star Game is coming to the new Dallas Cowboys stadium in 2010 and plenty of good seats are available -- more than 100,000.

Danny Turner/ESPN.com

More than 100,000 seats could be available for the 2010 NBA All-Star Game at the soon-to-be completed, $1.1 billion Cowboys stadium.

Living up to the old adage about doing things bigger in Texas, the Dallas Mavericks and Cowboys are collaborating on hosting next season's showcase event. It will be among the first major events at the soon-to-be-completed, $1.1 billion facility in nearby Arlington.

Citing sources, ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported Tuesday that the Mavericks with the NFL's Cowboys would host the 2010 All-Star Game.

And if all goes according to plan, this event will set the record for the largest crowd ever to watch an NBA game, shattering the mark of 44,735 set at the 1989 All-Star Game, not-so-coincidentally held at another Texas-sized venue, the Houston Astrodome.

"It's totally outrageous," NBA commissioner David Stern said.

Just wait until he hears Mavs owner Mark Cuban's idea about putting the record out of reach.

"If we can get people to sit on each other's laps, it could be 200,000," Cuban said, laughing.

The 2010 All-Star weekend is being hyped as a collaboration between teams and cities. Some events will be held at the Dallas Convention Center, with the Mavericks' arena hosting the rookie game on Friday night and the Saturday night festivities, which include the 3-point and dunk contests.

The marquee game will be Sunday, with center court right at midfield of the football stadium.

"We've got complete flexibility with the configuration," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. "That's what we spent a lot of money on, to adapt it to these kinds of events."

The Cowboys are also trying to lure Final Fours. They've already landed the 2011 Super Bowl, as well as the Cotton Bowl, starting Jan. 1, 2010.

The All-Star announcement came during an outdoor news conference that was as over-the-top as the attendance goal. Marv Albert was the master of ceremonies, the Mavericks dancers took part and it ended with a 10-second countdown to the unveiling of the game's logo, which features a version of the Cowboys' star logo in blue and green, the Mavericks' colors.

Cuban used to be against hosting the All-Star Game because he couldn't accommodate his fans and the league's commitments. But having it in Jones' stadium makes everyone happy.

"I started thinking about it the minute I heard of [the stadium plans]," Cuban said. "It was just a question of whether the NBA would go along with it."

Mavs president Terdema Ussery said it took Stern four months to approve their proposal.

"I just wanted to make sure my guys didn't think it wasn't so crazy, and I didn't think it wasn't so crazy," Stern said.

The game will be on Feb. 14, 2010. This season's game will be in Phoenix.

The All-Star Game was in Dallas once before, in 1986. The 3-point contest started that year as the brainchild of a team executive and local product Spud Webb won the dunk contest.

The last football stadium to host the NBA All-Star Game was San Antonio's Alamodome in 1996.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

World Golf Hall of Fame a Must for St. Augustine Hotel Visitors

For travelers staying in St. Augustine hotels or Florida golf resorts such at the Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village, a visit to The World Golf Hall of Fame is a must during your trip. Located in St. Augustine, Florida, the Hall of Fame opened in 1998 in order to pay tribute to the greatest men and women golfers in the world. The museum is a non-profit organization and is supported by golf organizations from all over the world.

At the Hall of Fame museum, visitors of Florida golf resorts will find permanent displays as well as a variety of temporary, rolling exhibits. Those staying at St. Augustine hotels can tour the museum to learn about the game's history, heritage, and techniques as well as the players themselves, golf course design, equipment, clothing, and newer topics such as environmental concerns.

Membership into the Hall of Fame is considered to be among the highest honors in golf. A place in the Hall of Fame is not only reserved for professionals, but amateurs, architects, journalists, and others who have positively impacted the game of golf. St. Augustine hotel guests can be part of a real treat when the annual induction ceremony is held this year on November 10, 2008.

Members of the Hall of Fame are selected based on established criteria in five categories: PGA Tour, International Ballot, LPGA Point System, Lifetime Achievement, and Veterans. A board of directors chooses each year's inductees. At the induction ceremony, special vacation packages are available to those looking to plan a very special Florida golf resort vacation. This year, six new members will be inducted, bringing the total to 126 members.

If you love golf, plan a trip to The Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village the signature Florida golf resort of the World Golf Village, home of the Hall of Fame. Admission to the Hall of Fame gives you access to the museum, a round on the putting course, and a film in the IMAX theater. Cap off your visit with a stop for lunch and maybe follow it with your own memory-making round of golf at one of the nearby Florida golf resorts source>>>

Team 48 Texas preview

With three races remaining in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Jimmie Johnson and Team Lowe's Racing head to Texas Motor Speedway, where they earned a second-place finish in the spring.

Of the seven Chase events thus far, Johnson has five finishes in the top five. He is 183 points ahead of Carl Edwards in the standings and hopes to add a second win to his Texas Motor Speedway resume by driving his Kobalt Tools Impala SS to Victory Lane in Sunday's race.

JIMMIE JOHNSON QUOTES

TALK ABOUT TEXAS AND WHAT WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE THIS WEEKEND: "I'm just excited. The races are winding down and we're sitting in a good position. Texas was a great race for us in the spring when we ran there -- we ended up second. It was a period of time when we were making a lot of progress with this car and understanding things a little better, so we have a good baseline to go back with. Plus, I feel that we've made our cars better, and I'm optimistic and excited to go to Texas this weekend."

REGARDING HALLOWEEN, DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT COSTUMES YOU WORE AS A KID? DID YOU EVER DRESS UP AS A RACE CAR DRIVER? "I remember my mom doing all this exotic face-painting stuff. She was pretty good at it. I remember my brother, Jarit, and I winning a competition at our elementary school; it was some type of Grim Reaper thing. When I really think about doing it up and dressing up, that was back in my younger days, and I don't recall going as a race car driver or anything like that."

RACE NOTES

Texas Motor Speedway

In 10 starts at Texas Motor Speedway in his Cup Series career, Johnson has one win, five top-five finishes and eight top-10s.

Johnson has collected more points at Texas Motor Speedway than any other driver over the last two races.

The Team Lowe's Racing driver has completed 97.8% (3,276 of 3,350) of competition laps and has led 77.

He has an average start and finish of 9.1 and 8.5.

Chassis

Chassis No. 504, which Johnson drove in last weekend's Atlanta Motor Speedway event, will be the primary for Sunday's race. Johnson has won three races from the pole in that chassis this season: Indianapolis, California and Kansas. The other three results were a second and two sixth-place finishes.

Johnson's backup chassis, No. 502, was last driven to a third-place finish at Pocono Raceway in August.

CAREER NOTES

Wins

Johnson has 39 wins in his Sprint Cup Series career, his most recent coming at Martinsville Speedway on Oct. 19.

The El Cajon, Calif., native is 16th on NASCAR's all-time wins list.

He has the third-highest win total among active drivers, behind Jeff Gordon (81) and Bill Elliott (44).

Johnson has won at least three Cup races a season since he posted his first victory in 2002. He is the only driver in the modern era to win at least three races in each of his first seven full-time seasons.

Johnson has won Sprint Cup Series races at all but six (Bristol, Michigan, Infineon, Chicago, Watkins Glen, Homestead) of the 22 tracks on which the series competes.

Johnson's 10 wins in 2007 was the highest number recorded in a single season since Jeff Gordon posted 13 victories in 1998.

The four consecutive wins scored by the No. 48 team in the 2007 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup ties a modern-era NASCAR record.

Poles

Johnson has collected 18 poles in his Sprint Cup career.

The championship driver has earned at least one pole a year since his first full-time season, 2002.

He has a career-high five poles this season.

Johnson's most recent pole position was in the Sept. 28 event at Kansas Speedway.

Miscellaneous

Johnson has finished in the top five in the Sprint Cup Series point standings each year since his first full season, 2002.

This is Johnson's fifth consecutive year in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

In 252 Sprint Cup Series starts, Johnson has posted 100 top-five and 155 top-10 finishes.

He has a top-five finish at every track on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series circuit.

Johnson has led a total of 7,220 laps (of 72,559) in his Sprint Cup career, covering more than 97,158 miles.

He has finished on the lead lap 194 times. source>>>

NASCAR faces troubles in '09

NASCAR is facing some serious issues as it begins to think about next year.
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A dismal economy, troubles within the automobile industry, questionable rulings by NASCAR itself and a disinterested fan base have combined to make 2009 an extremely important year for the sport.

"This economy affects everybody," said Jeff Gordon, a four-time champion. "It affects me, it affects you, it affects sponsors, it affects race teams, and it affects everybody."

So here are five major issues NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series faces as it heads into an uncertain future.

1. The Car of Tomorrow. The race car being run at every race this season has been much maligned for its reliability on aerodynamics -- track position is everything -- and its inability to turn in the corners.

NASCAR has already said that it will not make any rules changes for the car in 2009, thinking that it will give race teams less to worry about.

That is absolutely the wrong idea. NASCAR should let teams come to them and present ideas with how to make the race car better. Trust me, there is a lot more knowledge in that garage area than there is at NASCAR's Research and Development Center.

2. Empty grandstands at race tracks. Race tracks, many of which have been overbuilt, have to be fearful of the sudden surge in empty grandstands during Sprint Cup races.

If a TV viewer switches to the race and sees nothing but empty seats, he or she will probably change the channel. If it's not good enough to watch live, why should they watch it on TV?

The answer? Get creative with family package deals, negotiate with area hotels to prevent price gouging and drop the prices of concessions to much more realistic ones.

3. NASCAR itself. This year started off promising, with NASCAR insisting that it was "going back to the basics," before the season-opening Daytona 500.

Matt Kenseth Says Jimmie Johnson is NASCAR's best; deal with it !

Give Matt Kenseth a ton of credit. NASCAR created the Chase for the Sprint Cup playoff system because of him and he's now defending the format, even though it's only working in Jimmie Johnson's favor.

"Me being a driver and competitor, at the end of the year I want the best driver, team, organization, combination to win the championship, you know," said Kenseth, who trails Johnson by 413 points with three races left. "And I think that if Jimmie wins it this year, I think the best, you know, team, driver, all that deal won the championship."

Critics blasted Kenseth when he won the Winston Cup title in 2003 because he had only one win. His "boring" run to the tile - Kenseth led the standings for 33 straight weeks -- was panned by NASCAR insiders and outsiders.

They said Kenseth was too boring, too dull, too dominant.

Sound familiar? We're hearing the same thing about Jimmie Johnson's run to third straight championship. Calls for change have been loud and clear.

But they're not coming from Kenseth. He respects Johnson's dominance.

"They've proven to be the best not just over the last three year that's row, but over the last five or six however long him and (Chad Knaus) have been together," Kenseth said. "If you go to the racetrack, you know if you're going to have a chance to win that day or if you're going to have a chance to win a championship, you have to go through them guys.

"They've been the best team." source>>>

Race number eight of the Chase for the Sprint Cup

A NASCAR tripleheader at Texas Motor Speedway, the final race of the Formula One season, the NHRA in Las Vegas and the World of Outlaws World Finals in Charlotte headline the racing calendar.

Race number eight of the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship is the highlight of the Texas weekend with Sunday's Dickies 500.

Jimmie Johnson brings a 183-point lead over Carl Edwards into Sunday's race at the 1.5-mile speedway. Johnson won last year's Dickies 500 while Edwards took the checkered flag at Texas back in April.

RacingOne will have comprehensive coverage from Texas including Live Qualifying for the Dickies 500 Friday afternoon at 4:40 p.m. (ET). source>>>

Cincinnati Bungels tops the NFLs Bottom Ten

It was a stunning set of events. First, San Diego (once considered a Super Bowl contender by some) tumbled to 3-5 after a 32-37 loss to New Orleans. Then, Saints back Deuce McAllister carried off all 52 of his teammates on his back.

Where does he get that strength?

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Elsewhere, the Cincinnati Bungles (0-8) reached the halfway point in their drive to record the first 0-16 season in NFL history. And Detroit (0-7) lost a home game to Washington that was blacked out in the Motor City for the good of the community.

While the Bungles and Lions vie for the Bottom Ten title (U.S.), Hamilton (3-14) and Toronto (4-12) are duking it out for the Canadian Football League BT title. Negotiations are reportedly underway for the chumps of each league to meet for the North American championship in a suitable location -- perhaps in Flushing Meadows, N.Y.

Wreck, Record; Last Loss; Next Week

1. Cincinnati (0-8); 6-35, Houston; Jacksonville

2. Detroit (0-7); 17-25, Washington; Chicago

3. Oakland (2-5); 10-29, Baltimore; Atlanta

4. San Diego (3-5); 32-37, New Orleans; Hiding

5. San Francisco (2-6); 13-34, Seattle; Healing

6. Kansas City (1-6); 7. Jacksonville (3-4); 8. Minnehaha (3-4); 9. (tie) AFC West (10-19) and NFC West (10-19).

* Crummy game of the week: Cincinnati (0-8) vs. Jacksonville (3-4).

* Fantasy flops: Dallas wide receiver Terrell Owens, five catches for 33 yards and no touchdowns (third week in a row on the FF team!). source>>>

Plaxico Burress' best move is to Follow Amani Toomer's lead

Well, at least Plaxico Burress sounds like he gets it.

The Giants receiver yesterday came as close to sounding contrite about all the distraction he has caused around the team with the suspension and myriad fines that he has accrued in recent weeks. In fact, Burress even admitted to screwing up.

"I'm human," he said. "I have made some mistakes. I haven't made the best of decisions. I'm aware of that, and I am the first one to look myself in the mirror, be honest with myself and say that."

It certainly beats the dismissive attitude Burress has displayed up to this point, when he said after returning from a two-week suspension that he "didn't lose any sleep over it. I got some rest. I was able to get away for a little while, chill out and relax. Things like that happen."

Maybe, just maybe, he realizes that his actions have meaningful consequences for what goes on in the locker room of the defending Super Bowl champions. That it's time he started paying attention to the rules and did what was necessary to be there - all there - on game day.

But if Burress needs any further proof of what it is to be a true professional, he need only look a few feet away from his own locker. That's where you can find Amani Toomer, who has toiled for the Giants for all of his 13 NFL seasons. And in that time, all you've seen is a man who comes to work, busts his tail, shows up on game day and does whatever he has to do to help his team. Even at 34, there are still plenty of big catches left.

Like the one on Sunday against the Steelers, when Toomer made what might have been the game-changing catch. On fourth-and-6 from the Steelers' 34, he ran a "go" route and made a diving catch to get to the Steelers' 4. The Giants eventually kicked a field goal to cut their deficit to 14-12, and stopped the Steelers on their next possession. On fourth down, Pittsburgh committed a safety on a high snap that went over punter Mitch Berger's head. The Giants eventually won, 21-14, to improve to 6-1 in advance of Sunday's pivotal matchup against Dallas.

Toomer knows the Giants' receivers stack up as well as anyone in the NFL, but only if Burress is a productive member of that group. Toomer knows Burress can't simply continue to run afoul of Tom Coughlin's rules, especially if it means him not being on the field. Burress was benched for the first three series against the Steelers because he missed a rehab session for his neck problem.

Pitt men's basketball team ranked No. 6

The Pitt men's basketball team is ranked No. 6 in the USA Today/ESPN preseason coaches' poll that was released today.

North Carolina, Connecticut, Louisville, UCLA and Duke, respectively, took the top five spots.

Four Big East teams are ranked in the top 10 and seven teams from the 16-team conference are in the top 25.

Other ranked Big East teams include No. 9 Notre Dame, No. 17 Marquette, No. 18 Georgetown, and No. 25 Villanova.

The Big East sent eight teams to the NCAA tournament last season. source>>>

NHL: Parking costing Wild winger big bucks

The good news is Minnesota Wild right-winger Cal Clutterbuck is starting to earn a National Hockey League salary.

The bad news is that every day he spends with the Wild, rather with Houston of the American Hockey League, it's costing him money.

But the 20-year-old isn't complaining.

"The day I was called up, I was moving into my new apartment, so all my stuff's in my car at the Houston airport right now," Clutterbuck told the Minneapolis Star Tribune "It's like 30-something bucks a day, and I've been here 12 or 13 days, so you do the math."

Clutterbuck is earning a prorated NHL salary of US$558,000, so it won't be much of a problem to pay the huge parking tab.

But if he stays with the big club too much longer, he'll have to ship his keys back to Houston to have one of his Aeros teammates retrieve his car.

"It's kind of difficult at first being a call-up," he said. "Right away you feel like you're kind of just temporary and a fill-in. Now that I know the guys, I can have a regular conversation with them as opposed to last year when I was kind of tiptoeing around here and never really got comfortable. I feel like I'm part of this."

Clutterbuck has gone pointless in five games, with an average ice time of 12:08. He leads the team in hits with 18. source>>>

NHL Betting – Devils To Beat Up On Toronto, Wild and Wings in Action

Leafs Don't Stand A Chance in Hell

The Leafs dropped a game to the unearthly bad Tampa Bay Lightning last night. What does that mean? That they're just as hopeless, if not worse. The Devils are coming off back-to-back losses to a scrappy Flyers squad. When Toronto visits New Jersey tonight, they will try to reverse the 1-4 SU record they have against the Devils in their last 5 games.

Toronto has gone 8-4 SU in their last 12 games on the road, but have been utterly hopeless against the Devils in the past. There is a very slim chance that they squeeze by so lobbying for them as a massive road dog may be tempting, but the Devils are 6-3-0-1 SU in their last 10 meetings with the Blue Leafs. Side on the smart side of life when the Leafs get burned at the Devils' house.

NHL Free Pick: New Jersey -210 (UNDER)

Wild To Strike Stars At Right Time

The Minnesota Wild have yet to lose in regulation, going 6-0-1 SU this season. Dallas, while they will end up being a contender by season's end, is not who you think they are. Dallas has gone 3-7 SU in their last 10 games and have stumbled at home going 1-4 SU in their past 5 home stands.

Minnesota has thundered to a 6-1 SU record in their past 7 games and is the type of power skating team that can slice through Dallas's vaunted team defense. AS good as you think Turco and the Stars' defense can be, they're still allowing 4.22 goals against on 26.44 shots against. That means that quality shots are getting to Marty Turco, and he's not doing an ample job

NHL pushes back trade deadline

ational Hockey League teams will have one extra day to complete deals as the league on Wednesday pushed back this season's trade deadline one day to Wednesday, March 4.

The NHL and the Players' Association came to the agreement largely due to the fact the original date of the deadline, March 3, has 12 games scheduled. The following day, only two contests are on the slate.

Deadline day has seen a plethora of trades take place in recent seasons. In each of the last three years, 25 deals have taken place, with 2008 seeing a total of 45 players switch organizations. source>>>

What does Florida-Georgia have in store one year after the stomp

Everyone zipped their lips. But why?

Why, on the eve of the Florida-Georgia game with the highest stakes in years, did the Gators and Bulldogs stop talking about the stomp? Seventy Georgia players stormed the field in Jacksonville to celebrate the team's first touchdown last year. The officials ran out of things to throw. The act inspired debate on talk radio, television and bar stools across the nation.

Yet all of a sudden, the Gators and Bulldogs are mum.

In his authorized biography, Urban's Way, Florida coach Urban Meyer swore vengeance, Bob Dole-style: "That wasn't right. It was a bad deal," Meyer said. "And it will forever be in the mind of Urban Meyer and in the mind of our football team. ... So we'll handle it. And it's going to be a big deal." This week, Meyer called the stomp "old news."

Georgia coach Mark Richt offered a lengthy explanation of the circumstances surrounding the stomp in July at SEC media days. Short version: He ordered his players to draw an excessive celebration penalty, but he never imagined the whole team would charge the field; he apologized and said he'd never do anything like it again. And Richt has referred everyone back to those comments this week.

So the biggest subplot in one of the biggest games in the rivalry's history is off-limits. That could only mean one thing. Something huge is about to happen.

With no one talking, I sent word through the college football grapevine that I was searching for clues as to what the two teams had in store for the Planet's Biggest Solar-Powered Libation Celebration (we can't call it the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party anymore, you know). Sure enough, I got some answers ...

The first envelope arrived with a Tallahassee, Fla., postmark. So much for subterfuge. Inside was a single sheet of paper with a yellow Post-It note attached. Here's what the note said:

Rutgers U Basketball Single Game Ticket and Mini-Package Pre-Sale Begins Friday

- The Rutgers Athletics ticket office has announced that men's and women's basketball single game tickets and mini-packages will be on-sale to the general public beginning with an internet pre-sale that will launch this Friday, October 31, at 6:00 p.m. Orders may be placed by phone or in person at the RAC ticket office starting Monday, November 3, at 8:30 a.m.
Fans may go to http://tickets.scarletknights.com to purchase tickets. Returning online customers may login with their customer number or email address and password. New online customers will be asked to create an account (or may call the ticket office during normal business hours to receive a PIN number to link an existing account).

Among the options being offered for this season are the "Pick 3" and "Pick 5" packs for the men, and a "Pick 3" pack for the women. The "Pick 3" package applies to both the men's and the women's schedules. It allows Scarlet Knights fans to pick any three games on the schedule and save $3.00 per game, per ticket (max 10 tickets per order). New to 2008-09 is the "Pick 5" that allows fans to choose any five games on the men's schedule and receive a $5.00 discount per game, per ticket (max 10).

Back by popular demand is the "Family 4 Pack." Available for selected men's and women's games, it includes four tickets, four hot dogs, and four sodas for one low price! The price of the package for men's games is $60.00, while the women's price is $40.00. The "Family 4 Pack" is only available this season online through http://tickets.scarletknights.com.

All games are also on-sale individually. The pricing for men's games starts at $20.00 for adults and $18.00 for youths/seniors. Seating for men's games is reserved. Tickets for the women's slate start at $15.00 adults/$10.00 youth & seniors. Single game seating for the women's games is general admission, with the exception of sections 213, 214, 215. The entire house will feature reserved seating for the women's games against Georgia, Tennessee, and Connecticut.

Fans may call 866-445-GORU (4678) with questions or to place an order. source>>>

Big Ben Roethlisberger standing up — so far — to weekly poundings

When the Pittsburgh Steelers won the Super Bowl three seasons ago, Ben Roethlisberger's protectors included All-Pro guard Alan Faneca, All-Pro center Jeff Hartings, plus a first-round and a second-round draft pick.

When Roethlisberger went under center Sunday during a 21-14 loss to the Giants -- sometimes, the only time during a play he was on his feet -- there were new offensive line starters at four of five positions from a year ago.

Right tackle Darnell Stapleton? Wasn't drafted out of Rutgers two years ago. Right tackle Willie Colon? The former Hofstra lineman had game-long problems with Giants pass rusher Justin Tuck and was called for holding to nullify a touchdown pass.

Center Justin Hartwig? Was cut after last season by Carolina. Left tackle Max Starks? Was buried deep on the bench until Marvel Smith was hurt. Left guard Chris Kemoeatu? As Faneca's backup, he started only two games in three seasons until this year.

Despite playing behind a reworked line, Roethlisberger is holding up so far as the Steelers (5-2) lead the AFC North despite that Giants loss. The question is whether he can hold up under nine more weeks of regular season pounding like what he's gotten so far.

"We are 5-2, and he's a big reason why," coach Mike Tomlin said.

Roethlisberger has been sacked 23 times and is on pace to go down 53 times, which would tie Cliff Stoudt's 1983 club record. In the last 2 1/2 seasons, Roethlisberger has been sacked a remarkable 116 times; only Jon Kitna (129) has gone done more times, according to STATS, Inc.

For comparison's sake, Marc Bulger (108) is the only other QB to be sacked more than 100 times since 2006. Donovan McNabb, the No. 4 most-sacked quarterback since then, has gone down 77 times -- almost 40 fewer than Roethlisberger.

Kitna and Bulger, of course, play for losing teams that often fall behind early and must throw to get back into games. Roethlisberger plays on a strong team that runs the ball as much as it throws.

Still, the poundings go on and on for Roethlisberger, who has been sacked three or more times in four games this season, including a season's high eight against the Eagles. The Giants sacked him five times and put him to the turf twice as many times as that on plays he wasn't sacked.

Tar Heels are unanimous No. 1 in coaches' poll

- As expected, the return of Tyler Hansbrough has set some lofty aspirations for North Carolina.

The Tar Heels were selected as the unanimous No. 1 for the preseason USA Today/ESPN coaches' poll released Thursday.

Armed with the return of the reigning national player of the year, North Carolina captured all 31 of the first-place votes and 775 points.
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Choosing to spur the popular route of most top players of leaving school early, Hansbrough is back for a Tar Heels' squad that set a school record for wins during a 36-3 campaign but was left wanting more after a disappointing effort against Kansas in the national semifinals.

Along with the return of Hansbrough, North Carolina welcomes back quicksilver point guard Ty Lawson, sharpshooter Wayne Ellington and the energetic Danny Green to make it one of the
top offensive teams heading into the season. The Tar Heels will open against Pennsylvania on November 15.

Leading a group of four Big East Conference teams in the top 10 is Connecticut, which is second with 707 points.

The Huskies are aiming for an improved season after finishing last year's 24-9 campaign out of the poll following a surprising loss to San Diego in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Louisville (27-9) is third, while Pittsburgh (27-10) is sixth and Notre Dame (25-8) ninth.

A Final Four team each of the previous three seasons, UCLA (35-4) is fourth despite a major exodus that included star freshman Kevin Love, athletic guard Russell Westbrook and defensive stalwart Luc Richard Mbah a Moute.

Golfer Michel Letzig grabs early lead at Ginn sur Mer Golf Classic

American Michael Letzig fired a bogey-free seven-under 65 to grab the early first round lead at the Ginn sur Mer Classic on Thursday.

Letzig, who has had four top-10 finishes this season, took control of the leaderboard with the help of three consecutive birdies from the sixth on the Conservatory course in Palm Coast, Florida.

The PGA Tour rookie is being pursued by compatriot Ryan Palmer, who lurks two shots adrift signing for a five-under 67.

Americans James Driscoll and Cameron Beckman sit one stroke further back.

Daniel Chopra got the defence of his title off to a terrible start, slumping to a nine-over 81 that included a pair of double-bogeys to send the Swede crashing to the bottom of the leaderboard.

The penultimate event on the PGA Tour calendar, the stakes are high at the Ginn Sur mer Classic with many in the field fighting to squeeze their way into the top 125 on the money list and retain their playing privileges for next season.

That desperation was underlined by American Jeff Overton.

Sitting 126th on the money list, Overton was playing in the Ginn sur Mer event just nine days after undergoing an emergency appendectomy, opening his account with a battling one-under 71.source>>>

Bobby Lashley MMA debut for Mixed Fight Alliance set for Dec. 13

Former WWE superstar Bobby Lashley will make his long awaited mixed martial arts debut at Mixed Fight Alliance: "There Will Be Blood" at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Fla., on December 13. source>>>

Martial arts student uses skills to ward off carjacker

A martial arts center in northern Fort Lauderdale offers Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, which the studio claims is the most effective self defense in the world.

Wednesday night, one of its students -- 19-year-old Kyle Yates -- found himself in need of the training.

Yates fought off a knife-wielding carjacker in the center's parking lot and was able to speed away without injury, according to Fort Lauderdale police.

His attacker remained on the loose Thursday.

Reached by phone, Yates, of Fort Lauderdale, said his reaction was half-instinct, half-skill.

''The windows were down,'' Yates said, 'and I was thinking, `He ain't getting in my car.' ''

Here's how Fort Lauderdale police and the victim said it happened:

About 7 p.m., Yates was leaving Pablo Popvitch's Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Center, 1594 E. Commercial Blvd., following a practice.

As he got into his white Thunderbird, a man in his 20s approached, held a knife to Yates' neck, then demanded his car.

The demand was declined.

Yates shoved the thief's arm away, knocking him backward, then threw the car in reverse.

He later called police and told them what happened. There were no witnesses and the knife was not recovered, according to police.

Despite having a knife to his neck, Yates was nonchalant a day later.

''I really didn't take it seriously at all,'' he said.

The art student began his martial arts training earlier this year during a brief stint in the military. After his discharge in March, he started attending sessions at Pablo Popovitch's center.

The facility also offers classes in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, kickboxing/Muay Thai and Mixed Martial Arts.

''Since I've been there, I've been more of a calm person,'' Yates said. ``I react faster and make more rational decisions.''

His quick decision Thursday night may have saved his Thunderbird. source>>>

In college football, a single loss can disqualify a top program from the ultimate goal

With an unorthodox mix of fun, empathy and unbridled silliness -- not to mention traditional football smarts -- U.S.C. Coach Pete Carroll has forged the team of the decade, writes Michael Sokolove. But in college football, a single loss can disqualify a top program from the ultimate goal -- a national title. And despite the Trojans' abundance of talent, upset losses in each of the past two seasons have derailed their chances. So is there a limit to the power of positive coaching. source>>>

University of Memphis could play Duke, UNC in basketball

The University of Memphis is negotiating a home-and-home men's basketball series with the University of North Carolina and Duke University, which could start as early as the 2009-10 season, according to the University of Memphis athletic department.

The Duke deal would be a three year series, with the first game taking place in Chicago next season, in Memphis for the 2010-11 season and in Durham, N.C., in the 2011-12 season.

The North Carolina series would start in 2009-10 in Memphis and be held in Chapel Hill for the 2010-11 season. Negotiations are ongoing for the length of that deal.

The University of Memphis is also reportedly negotiating with the University of Louisville.

The Tigers' first home game is the annual exhibition against Christian Brothers University Nov. 4. The season officially tips off Nov. 15 at home against Fairfield. source>>>

Explosive McDaniel leads Madison County into "Bowden Bowl"

Jacobbi McDaniel is blessed with one great set of hips. They pivot quickly, tracking the ball carrier who seeks a crease in the line. They swivel like Chubby Checker dancing the Twist.

To say McDaniel can bust a move dancing the Wu-tang to the hip-hop beats of Pretty Ricky is an understatement.

"The girls love my dance moves," he said, laughing.

McDaniel, a defensive tackle at Madison County High in Madison, Fla., has the right moves on the field, too. He is a throwback player who sacks the notion that size (he's 6-foot-2, 280 pounds) always matters.

"Never mind his size; he's generates so much power from those explosive hips," Madison County coach Frankie Carroll said.

Those hips nearly powered him into another sport.

McDaniel, a left-handed hitter and third baseman, was a pro baseball prospect who regularly launched parabolic shots into the Florida night. Despite slugging 13 home runs and batting nearly .600 as a junior, McDaniel isn't the next Prince Fielder.

He says explosive hips and bat speed helped him drive tape-measure homers. As for football, "my hips enable me to beat double- and triple-teams while using proper hand technique."

McDaniel retired his bat and glove this past spring and will concentrate solely on football at Florida State. He'll enroll in January, and the next long ball he'll encounter will be one uncorked by a quarterback.

High School Bowden Bowl
The Seminoles have already received 19 verbal commitments, including 14 from the state of Florida. Here's a thumbnail of the three Florida State recruits (analysis provided by ESPN Scouts Inc.):

- McDaniel: "Overcomes his size deficiencies by routinely winning the leverage battle; defeats many bigger opponents by getting into a blocker's frame quickly, staying low and getting under his man's pads."

- Thompson: "Runs with a low center of gravity... Bounces off tackles and is surprisingly productive after contact. Has the speed and second gear to split defenders on the second level. He's very elusive in the open field and loses little on his lateral cuts."

- Downs: "Has a very wide catch radius and quick hands. Catches everything with his hands extended away from his body -- a big edge in traffic or jump-ball situations. Attacks the ball and is very competitive in every phase of the game."

Thompson, who rushed for more than 2,200 yards as a junior, is off that pace this year and is recovering from an ankle sprain but is expected to have plenty of touches against Godby.

"He's fought through adversity and he won't it get to him; the injury has tested his character," Carroll said.
-- Lawlor

With McDaniel, the No. 1 defensive tackle prospect in the ESPN 150, nearly 100 percent following an ankle injury suffered last month, Madison County, No. 39 in the ESPN RISE 50 national rankings, is headed for prime time.

Friday's game against Godby (Tallahassee), broadcast at 8 p.m. ET on ESPNU, will give Florida State faithful a glimpse of their future. McDaniel and teammate Chris Thompson will oppose Godby's slick wide receiver Willie Downs in the "Bowden Bowl," referring to Bobby Bowden, the trio's future college coach.

Besides providing Great Bend bragging rights, the game pits two of Florida's top-ranked undefeated small schools. Madison (6-0), the defending Class 2A champion, is No. 7 in Florida's all-class poll, while Godby (7-0) is No. 17.

"Win, lose or draw, a game like this can only help both teams," Godby coach Shelton Crews said. "Playing a team the caliber of Madison only prepares you down the road for the state playoffs."

Said Carroll: "It's been crazy here all week. People calling for tickets, but the game's on ESPN. How many high school kids get that opportunity?"

When the opportunity arose for McDaniel to fulfill a lifelong dream to sign with the Seminoles, he jumped.

"How many players his size consistently run a 4.7 in the 40?" Carroll said.

McDaniel spurned offers from Alabama, Clemson, Florida and Georgia. He chose the Seminoles for several reasons but mostly because the program traditionally places several down linemen and defenders in the NFL.

In the past five years, Florida State has sent 10 defensive linemen or ends to the NFL. Over the years, the Seminoles have produced defensive standouts such as Deion Sanders, Derrick Alexander, Derrick Brooks, Bobby Butler and Corey Simon. McDaniel favors former Noles defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley, now of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Florida State's proximity to Madison (Tallahassee is a 45-minute drive), coaching staff (notably defensive tackle coach Odell Haggins) and NFL lineage were key recruiting factors.

"I'd be lying if playing in the NFL isn't a personal goal, and coach Haggins is one of the best," McDaniel said.

Haggins has coached four first-round picks since 1998 -- Bunkley (2006), Travis Johnson (Houston, 2005), Simon (Philadelphia, 2000) and Andre Wadsworth (Arizona, 1998).

McDaniel, who along with Thompson will play in the Under Armour All-America Game on Jan. 4 at Orlando's Citrus Bowl, aspires to that lofty level but remains focused on repeating as Florida's 2A state champions and positive results against Godby.

The Godby Cougars are riding high entering Friday's game and mostly recently clobbered Wakulla 40-0. Downs might be the team's most versatile game-breaking player, Crews said, but 6-4 quarterback A.J. Graham, a three-year starter and major prospect, is the linchpin.

"It all starts with [A.J.]," Crews said. "We hope to protect him, give him time to pass. Defending a player like Jacobbi is like playing against 12 players.

"He's undoubtedly the best at his position in the nation. He has great feet and is strong as an ox and makes their defense go."

Last week, Downs made five catches for 82 yards and a touchdown while Graham threw for 293 yards and two scores and ran for another against Wakulla. Junior running back Lavorie Johnson, another weapon for the Cougars, ran for 89 yards and two TDs.

Godby's multifaceted offense starts with the spread, but its athleticism allows it to shift into formations rooted in the West Coast, Power and Arena League with Graham as the firing pin.

Tom Luginbill, the national recruiting director for ESPN Scouts Inc., likes the exceptional athleticism on both sidelines.

"This is one of the best matchups we've shown [on the ESPN family of networks] this year," he said. "There is so much skill on the field, plus this is a small-town America game. This town is high school football all the way, with a big college atmosphere and feel. You can't ask for anything more."

Carroll estimates at least 5,000 will pack Madison County's field, known as Boot Hill. Madison has a population of 3,195 and is the county seat of Madison County.

With three future Seminoles on the field, led by McDaniel, talent abounds. source>>>

Thiago Alves isThe Real Deal and a true Contender

Thiago Alves proves to be a true contender: Have to admit that I wasn't sold. Before his fight against Matt Hughes, I was sure that Alves would get taken down and pounded on. Didn't happen. Then when I heard he was going to take on Josh Koscheck, well, the same thing came to mind.

Again, didn't happen.

Rather, Alves made both Hughes and Koscheck look small as he sprawled out of takedowns and tore through them on his feet. Sure, the Koscheck fight was more competitive than his match against Hughes, but the bottom line is clear now.

Alves has some of the best kicks in the business and new and improved takedown defense to go along with it. That plus his size and athleticism makes him a tough out for anyone, Georges St. Pierre included. Who, by the way, recently wrote the following regarding him:

"I was very impressed by the performance of Thiago Alves. He showed everybody why he belongs in the top fighters in the welterweight division. Of course, it's up to the UFC, but I think he will be one of my next opponents pretty soon."

So after the UFC Welterweight Champion throws down with B.J. Penn, it appears that someone will be waiting in the wings for his title shot. And this guy has even more size than the current champion.

Goodbye to EliteXC: Well, it was fun while it lasted. The bottom line is that they spent too much money too fast and put way too much stock into an unproven MMA fighter in Kimbo Slice. When he lost, that was likely the last straw.

Still, you have to wonder why so many hardcore MMA fans seemed to want EliteXC to fail. You can understand the frustration with Slice getting main events without proving his worth -- even trainer Bas Rutten acknowledged that he hoped Slice would stay out of main events in the immediate future following his loss to Seth Petruzelli -- but wanting MMA's first foray into network television to fail seems strange.

What happens to female MMA?: Now that the number one U.S. proponent of female MMA is gone, you've got to wonder where and when we'll the next see Gina Carano fight. Will the UFC finally get involved? It's doubtful until the female talent pool gets bigger. Which leaves us with Strikeforce. Speaking of Strikeforce. . .

Strikeforce continues to make money: We've said this before on MMA Fastball. Still, it seems worth noting once more. As all of the competing organizations fail from overspending, Strikeforce continues to make money. That's an outfit with people that simply know what they're doing.

Start small, people! source>>>

The Five fighters the UFC should sign, Quick

UFC President Dana White is a lot of things, but a gracious winner isn't one of them.

When ProElite -- a competitor he claimed to have never taken seriously -- announced it would be filing for bankruptcy last week, White gloated like a kid who'd just won at kickball. Magnanimous it wasn't, but if we expected anything different from the outspoken White we have only ourselves to blame for our disappointment.

As much as it pleases White to see another competitor go under, the reality is that it leaves a lot of people unemployed in lean economic times. And no, I'm not just talking about Kimbo Slice's entourage. I'm talking about the many fighters who fought under the ProElite umbrella who are still trying to figure out what their future holds.

At the moment, no one is going anywhere until the murky contract situation gets cleared up. But when it does, as it eventually must, there are five fighters the UFC should sign, and quick:

1. Jake Shields

The most talented fighter on the ProElite roster, the welterweight champ is almost certain to find himself in the Octagon. He doesn't come with an exorbitant price tag (which is always a bonus for Dana White & Co.), and he's a fresh face for a division that threatens to be cleaned out by Georges St. Pierre within a year or so. It's a no-brainer.

2. Nick Diaz

Two Diaz brothers in the UFC? Isn't that just a little too hardcore for one company? I sure hope not. The Diaz brothers may be a constant headache and a roaming sideshow, but they also put on a show every time they step in the Octagon. Nick might have to come down on his asking price a little and maybe even give up his medical marijuana card, but the UFC could certainly use him. Besides, he's going to be at all his brother's fights causing trouble anyway, so why not make him an employee and get the benefits along with drawbacks?

3. Robbie Lawler

Like Diaz, he had his run in the UFC before his EliteXC days. But Lawler has become a different fighter since then. Hard-nosed, hard-hitting and no-frills, he could bring something new to a middleweight division that is painfully thin right now. As long as he doesn't price himself out of the running, there is no reason for the UFC to let him get away.

4. Brett Rogers

No one suffered more from Slice's collapse against Seth Petruzelli than Rogers, who had been begging for the opportunity to expose Slice for months. EliteXC wouldn't have even had to pay him extra to stay off the ground, but somehow the promotion screwed that one up. Rogers is still an up-and-comer who needs some polish, but he's a big heavyweight with powerful striking. And he comes cheap. The UFC has built contracts on frailer ground than that before.

UFC & Verizon announce video-on-demand service tru FIOS TV

While upstart mixed martial arts promotions crash and burn due to an inability to generate income, the Ultimate Fighting Championship announced plans for a new revenue stream on Thursday in conjunction with communications giant Verizon. The two companies have signaled their intent to launch a new video-on-demand service that will be distributed via Verizon's FiOS TV.

"As UFC continues to thrive in sports, we constantly look for new ways to deliver the UFC experience to our loyal fans around the world," UFC President Dana White is quoted as saying in a press release. "The VOD program will provide more information on the UFC, training techniques, and some of the greatest fights in history available 24/7 through UFC On Demand."

"Verizon's FiOS TV customers are getting the ultimate entertainment experience with our industry-leading video-on-demand library," added Terry Denson, Vice President of FiOS TV Content and Programming. "And now our FiOS TV customers have access to all of the best ultimate fighting action from UFC, available at any time."

FiOS is a competitor to both cable and satellite with premium television content delivered to the home via Verizon's high-speed phone lines. The service is currently available to 8.2 million subscribers in 14 states such as California, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Massachusetts.

As a part of the the announced deal, the UFC will make content available to Verizon customers on an in-demand basis through a triple-tiered offering of three distinct services: UFC Free Zone, UFC Fight Zone and UFC Event Zone.

UFC Free Zone will feature free content that will consist of UFC Countdown shows, event previews, as well as short features that will educate newer fans about MMA rules and different fighting techniques.

The Fight Zone tier will make the UFC's vast library of fights available to viewers on an in-demand basis at a cost of $2.99 per fight.

The package's other premium tier, the Event Zone, will allow viewers at a cost of $4.99 per title to order replays of past events, DVD releases, as well as "UFC Classics" from 1993-1998.

If this the new VOD service is a success, it could allow the UFC to bring the concept to other major premium television providers. If the service became available on a widespread basis, it would mean that the UFC will have opened up yet another lucrative revenue stream outside of pay-per-view buys, ticket sales, and merchandise orders. source>>>

Golfer Stephen Ames hopes to defy the odds

Stephen Ames is a bit of a conundrum.

He is a golfer who will dissect every minute element of his swing, yet yearns to spend more time with his wife and children. He will skip practice rounds at a golf tournament to work with his coach instead - and still win the event, as he did at last year's Children's Miracle Classic in Florida. (He will do the same before this year's tournament, which runs next week). And at a time in his life when most on the PGA Tour see their games decline, Ames thinks he is poised to win a major.

It is typical Ames. The Calgary resident has always forged his own way, and spoken what is on his mind. It has garnered him the reputation as a loose cannon, but his steady play - this is the third year he has earned more than US$2-million - has placed him among golf's most consistent performers. He has even been invited to play in Tiger Woods' 16-player Chevron World Challenge the week before Christmas.

It has been a "productively steady" year, Ames says.

"I had good opportunities of winning and when I didn't win I still held my own," he says. "I didn't fall apart completely. That is a good year."

Ames says the difference between having a career season and simply a "good year" is a couple of putts a tournament.

"Winning would be one more putt per round," he says. "It is unbelievable. But you put your world in perspective. I could have a couple of legs broken. Or I could have no legs. I'm very grateful for what I have and what I've achieved. I'm not going to go home and cry over spilled milk because I didn't make one putt more than anyone else. It isn't the end of the world. I still made more than $2-million."

Some golfers get their minds tied up thinking about what might have been. "And that's probably why they fall off the map," Ames says.

But isn't the contrary also true? Isn't it that drive to win that separates the best players from the rank and file on the PGA Tour?

College football players excel in academics as well as sports

-- Dumb jocks? Not in this crowd.

The finalists for the Draddy Trophy, the so-called academic Heisman, were announced Wednesday. These 15 student-athletes blow away the negative stereotype that often gets pinned to college football players. They excel both at being students and athletes.

Star quarterbacks Chase Daniel from Missouri and Graham Harrell from Texas Tech are the most notable finalists selected by the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame. Among the others are Ohio State receiver Brian Robiskie, Illinois offensive tackle Ryan McDonald and Georgia Tech defensive tackle Darryl Richard.

"So often, all the negative stuff commands the headlines," NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell said Wednesday in a telephone interview, "but there are a lot of great kids doing great things."

"When you read what these kids are doing you say, 'Man, I didn't do anything when I was in college."'

Take Richard, for example, who didn't have time Wednesday to do a phone interview with The Associated Press because after classes and practice he was scheduled to preside over a town hall meeting with athletic director Dan Radakovich and other university leaders. Richard, who majors in management and has a 3.5 grade-point average, is the president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Board.

The 290-pounder also is a team captain and three-year starter with 91/2 career sacks.

"You've got to be a real player (to be a Draddy candidate)," Hatchell said. "You can't just be a backup with a great grade-point average."

The Draddy Trophy is named after Vincent dePaul Draddy, who played football for Manhattan College in the 1920s, was chairman of the board for the NFF for 19 years and brought Izod and Lacoste shirts to the United States. The trophy was first awarded in 1990, months after its namesake died.

Past winners include Peyton Manning and Chad Pennington.

This year's finalists were chosen from 164 semifinalists. To qualify, a player must be a senior or graduate-student, have a GPA of at least 3.2, be a starter and demonstrate leadership qualities.

Players from all levels of college football are eligible.

The other finalists are: Harvard cornerback Andrew Berry; South Dakota State quarterback Ryan Berry; Carnegie Mellon tackle Brian Freeman; Yale cornerback Casey Gerald; Louisiana Tech linebacker Quin Harris; Colorado State linebacker Jeff Horinek; St. Cloud State defensive end Ryan Kees; California center Alex Mack; Mount Union quarterback Greg Micheli; and Utah kicker Louie Sakoda.

The winner will be announced Dec. 9 at the NFF awards banquet in New York. All the finalists receive an $18,000 scholarship toward postgraduate studies. The winner's scholarship will be increased to $25,000.

For some of the finalists, that scholarship money might be put aside for while.

Robiskie, the son of former professional running back and longtime coach Terry Robiskie, is projected to be an NFL draft pick.

But having grown-up in an NFL family, Brian Robiskie knows planning on a long career in football is no way to ensure a secure future.

"You never know what can happen with football, but if you get your degree you always have that to fall back on," said Robiskie, a marketing major with a 3.54 GPA in Ohio State's business school. "Seeing first hand how the business of the NFL is, it was always something I thought about."

Robiskie credits his parents, especially his mother, with teaching him the importance of education. Mom's rule in the Robiskie home was bad grades equals no football. That was enough to make sure Brian stayed straight.

"I was always too scared that she would end up sitting me," said Robiskie, who has 30 catches and five touchdowns this season for No. 13 Ohio State.

McDonald, a four-year starter for the Illini, also credited his parents with stressing academics. He said a plane trip he made as a youngster sparked a fascination with flying that led him to studying aerospace engineering. He's already a semester into his postgraduate work.

McDonald said the toughest part about handling a challenging major while playing football is finding time to squeeze it all in. He has one class that requires 10-15 hours of homework per week.

"The hardest thing has been finding enough sleep," he said. "At midterms, (my teammates and coaches) say my eyes glaze over and I have a deer-in-the-headlights look."

With a 3.8 GPA, and on pace to break the school record for career starts, McDonald and the rest of the Draddy Trophy finalists prove that the term student-athlete isn't an oxymoron. source>>>

Game of the Week: No. 1 Texas at No. 6 Texas Tech

Three Things You Should Care About

1. This is arguably the biggest game in Texas Tech history. It's not just the rankings, the primetime telecast or the fact that Lubbock is the center of the college football universe for the day with College GameDay in town that makes this game carry so much weight for Texas Tech. This is the Red Raiders' chance to make the leap and be seen as a legitimate national title contender and not just a program with an offense that puts up video game numbers and has a quirky coach in Mike Leach.

But it won't be Graham Harrell, Michael Crabtree and that high-powered offense that will make this so interesting. It's a much-maligned defense that's actually better than its numbers indicate.

The Red Raiders are 98th nationally against the pass, giving up 245.5 yards per game, but it's part of the risk/reward approach of this defense. Coordinator Ruffin McNeil primarily has Tech playing a zone scheme that gives up chunks of yards (the Raiders have allowed a play of 30 or more yards in all but one game) but also forces turnovers (20 on the season, including 14 interceptions), ranking 10th in turnover margin.

Texas Tech's game plan was at its best against Kansas last week, when the Red Raiders forced five turnovers, including three picks by Darcel McBath. It will take a similar effort to contain the Longhorns' potent offense, though Tech doesn't have to look hard to find a template. Oklahoma State changed its looks from one down to the next and eventually forced two turnovers, one of which contributed to the Cowboys closing the gap in the fourth quarter.

2. Texas' grueling schedule may be taking its toll. The Longhorns are at the end of a four-week stretch that included No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 11 Missouri and No. 7 Oklahoma State. Understandably, the nation's top-ranked team is showing signs of wearing down.

Heisman contender Colt McCoy, who committed his first turnovers in four games against the Cowboys, has a bruised non-throwing hand and cornerbacks Ryan Palmer (elbow) and Chykie Brown (ankle) are both slowed by injuries.

"We're telling our guys to get in bed, get off your feet," Texas coach Mack Brown said earlier this week. "We're trying our best to make sure they can handle this stretch physically and emotionally."

The 'Horns' defense often looked worn down against Oklahoma State, missing 12 tackles that led to 125 additional yards. The group entered the game ranked second nationally against the run, but gave up 217 yards on the ground, 62 more yards than in their last five games combined.

While the Longhorns were locked in a physical game with Oklahoma State that was their narrowest victory of the season (28-24), the Red Raiders are coming off a 63-21 blowout of Kansas.

Considering the emotional toll of the last three weeks, the challenge of trying to tone down the Red Raiders offense and a raucous Jones AT&T Stadium crowd, this game should be the most daunting of Texas' run.

AP Top 25 College Football Schedule: #1 Texas Longhorns Battle #7 Texas Tech Red Raiders

#1 Texas Longhorns will travel to Lubbock and square off against #7 Texas Tech Red Raiders in yet another heated Big 12 battle on Saturday at 8pm on ABC.

Thus far, the Longhorns have survived the nation's most brutal four-game schedule as they faced then-No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners, then-No. 11 Missouri Tigers, and then-No. 7 Oklahoma State Cowboys, winning all three games.

They now face the Red Raiders, who have the nation's top passing offense and second-best total offense. Texas Tech is led by arguably the nation's best quarterback-wide receiver combo in Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree. Harrell leads the country with 256 completions and 3,147 passing yards, while Crabtree is considered the nation's best receiver.

Texas Tech also has a tough schedule as they face their second consecutive ranked opponent. Last week, they routed then-No. 23 Kansas Jayhawks, 63-21. After their battle against Texas, they will face No. 9 Oklahoma State and No. 4 Oklahoma over their next three games.

With the talk about Texas Tech's offense, the Longhorns counteract with quarterback Colt McCoy, who is the consensus frontrunner for the 2008 Heisman Trophy. McCoy leads the country with a completion percentage of 81.8, and has thrown 21 touchdowns and only four interceptions.

McCoy completed a school-record 38 passes for a career-high 391 yards and two touchdowns in last week's win over Oklahoma State. source>>>

Knaus closing in on NASCAR history

The notes fluttered from Chad Knaus' notebook last November just as Jimmie Johnson began his celebratory lap around Homestead-Miami Speedway. The duo had just won their second consecutive championship, but Knaus was more concerned with making sure his strategies didn't land in the hands of a rival.

There was no time to rest.

"It's been a phenomenal ride," Knaus said immediately after that race ended. "Sad it's over, but I can't wait for Daytona now ... all you want to do is just keep going. I think there are more wins out there for us. I think there are more championships out there for us."

It's that drive that had Knaus and his crew in the shop three weeks ago on a rare Sunday off, trying to figure out why Johnson faded over the final laps at Charlotte to finish sixth.

And it's how he's put Johnson on the verge of joining Cale Yarborough as the only driver in NASCAR history to win three straight titles. Johnson goes into Texas Motor Speedway this weekend with a 183-point lead over Carl Edwards with just three races remaining, and a crew chief who won't let up until every other driver is mathematically eliminated.

"He is more motivated by dominating," Johnson said. "We'll have what we consider the best car in practice, look at the lap tracker, and we might have a tenth on the field and he's like 'We need more.' That's just his mind-set. It's more, more, more. We've got to be better. We've got to be better."

Since Johnson and Knaus hit their stride three years ago, no team in NASCAR has been better than Hendrick Motorsports' No. 48 team.

Oh, they've been good since their 2002 inception, and they challenged for the title in both 2004 and 2005. But Knaus was incapable of pacing himself, and the team faded over the final few months of those seasons.

Tough economic times ahead for NASCAR

Jeff Gordon says the current economic meltdown is increasing the pressure on NASCAR teams to win.

And that gives the bigger teams the upper hand.

"It's a domino effect, when the strong get stronger," said Gordon, a four-time Cup champion for the elite Hendrick Motorsports team. "I think that, especially in a tough economy like this, we have secured sponsorship and we have the resources; it makes the gap sort of widen at times."

Track officials and teams in all of NASCAR's top three professional series are either still looking for sponsorship for 2009 and beyond or spending time worrying that the companies currently in the fold may find themselves having to cut back on spending, or even walking away from their contracts.

Gordon believes the top teams -- Hendrick, Roush Fenway Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing, and Richard Childress Racing -- have an advantage because they give their sponsors a return on their investments.

"It's a business, and the strong businesses that are providing great product and have something to give back are the ones that are going to thrive," he said. "That's us, that's Roush, that's Gibbs, that's Childress and that's just kind of the way it is right now."

Most folks who have been around NASCAR awhile remember what happened in 2002 when Kmart filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy and suspended its sponsorship of the Haas-Carter Motorsports team in the Cup series, as well as its involvement with the Daytona 500.

There's little question that more of that kind of attrition could affect NASCAR.

So, right now, it's good to be one of the dominant Sprint Cup teams with multiple big sponsors and lots of resources.

Heading into Sunday's race at Texas, the top four teams have combined to win 29 of the 33 Cup races this season. They also each placed three drivers in the 12-man Chase for the championship.

Gordon, who also owns an equity share in the Hendrick team, understands that sponsorship is a necessity in stock car racing and foresees some tough times ahead.

"If those companies (that are current sponsors) aren't thriving and they can't put the dollars in their marketing program and look at NASCAR as one of those marketing programs, and they're cutting back, then the sport is going to suffer," he said. "What happens is that those teams that are farther down, it just makes it tougher and tougher to get sponsorship. If they don't get sponsorship, they fold.

"For us, if we don't get sponsorship, we could last for a little while. Even as good as we are, we might have to look for a merger."

Greg Biffle, who drives for Roush Fenway, said he's very happy to be with an organization with so many resources.

TaylorMade Golf Company and Global Value Commerce Launch Online Store for TaylorMade PreOwned

Global Value Commerce, a leader in preowned golf equipment sales and technology solutions, and TaylorMade-adidas Golf Company (TMaG), the recognized leader in the development of high-performance golf club technology, have teamed to create a new e-commerce store, TaylorMade Golf PreOwned ( www.taylormadegolfpreowned.com), which is dedicated to the on-line sale of TaylorMade(R) Certified PreOwned golf clubs. The online store provides a quick and easy format for consumers to trade in all major brands of used golf clubs toward the purchase of authentic, preowned TaylorMade equipment.
"TaylorMade Golf PreOwned, powered by Global Value Commerce, delivers the technical platform we need to deploy more aggressive demo, rental, and trade-in programs by providing a place outside the primary retail channel to liquidate used TaylorMade products," said David Abeles, Senior Vice President and General Manager of TaylorMade-adidas Golf US. "More TMaG accounts will be able to participate in and benefit from these programs, which should increase our distribution, market penetration and sales for all of our customers."
"Being selected by TaylorMade to develop and operate TaylorMade Golf PreOwned further validates our leadership position as the premier technology solutions provider to the golf industry," said Ed Byman, CEO of Global Value Commerce. "The new site leverages our expertise in e-commerce marketing, fulfillment, and operations to provide consumers with an easy way to purchase certified preowned TaylorMade equipment with a 12-month warranty, while also providing all TMaG retailers and pro shops with the tools to deliver increased sales for in-line new products."
TaylorMadeGolf PreOwned ( www.taylormadegolfpreowned.com) delivers the most complete assortment of certified preowned TaylorMade equipment, including TaylorMade drivers, fairway woods, hybrid clubs, iron sets, wedges and putters. All golf clubs sold on www.taylormadegolfpreowned.com are TaylorMade(R) Certified PreOwned products, which undergo a 6-point inspection, and which are supported with a 12-month Limited Warranty and a Certificate of Authenticity. Each club is equipped with a new grip, if necessary, and drivers, fairways, hybrid clubs, and putters are sold with a TaylorMade Golf headcover.
TaylorMade is the No. 1 driver brand in golf and the No. 1 metalwood brand on the PGA Tour. source>>>

Boston Celtics promote general manager Danny Ainge, extend his contract

Boston Celtics general manager Danny Ainge has been given a new title and a contract extension as the team kicks off the defence of its 17th NBA championship.

The team announced Tuesday Ainge has been promoted to president of basketball operations. The terms of his contract extension were not disclosed.

Ainge won NBA executive of the year after last season after engineering deals to bring Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett to Boston.

The new season is Ainge's sixth in Boston's front office. He also played guard on two championship teams in Boston.

The Celtics open their season Tuesday night against Cleveland. source>>>

HIGH-PRICED TICKET PACKAGES SELLING OUT FOR 2010 OLYMPICS

If people are cutting spending on luxury items in these uncertain economic times, they're not doing it on tickets to the Olympic Games.

With just over a week to go in the first phase of ticket sales, packages to the 2010 Olympics are selling out and individual requests are increasing daily.

Around 120 packages that contained tickets to the gold-medal men's hockey game were gone two weeks after they went on sale, said Jean-Paul Modde, the president of CoSport, the official hospitality provider for the Vancouver Olympics.

Packages that include tickets to the opening ceremonies are also selling quickly.

Modde said sales have been brisker than expected, in spite of the economic uncertainty facing the world.

"This is not something that somebody wakes up on Friday morning and says, `oh you know what, let's buy an Olympic package today,"' said Modde.

"People have been planning this for a long time and they know that things are going to turn around."

The packages include other event tickets, accommodation and in some cases, transportation and meals.

They range in price from $3,800 to $34,500.

Packages are different than the sale of individual tickets for the Games because they are sold on a first-come, first-serve basis. They remain on sale until there are none left.

Individual tickets are purchased by filling out request forms that are being accepted until Nov. 7. If demand outstrips the number of tickets available, they'll be allocated by lottery.

Once the lottery phase finishes, people who submitted applications will be able to buy leftover tickets.

As venue arrangements are finalized, more tickets may be available so second and third phases of sales will be held next year and in 2010.

In addition to the packages, CoSport manages the sale of individual tickets in several countries outside Canada and says demand remains high, even in the United States.

There, the most requests are coming from the northwest region and California.

Vancouver Olympic organizers, who manage the sale of individual tickets in Canada themselves, say demand has also been higher than expected at this point in the process.

The ticketing page of the Olympic website has gotten 2.4 million hits.

People in Ontario, Alberta and B.C. are requesting more tickets than anyone else, though exact sales figures haven't been released, and more events are expected to go to lottery than organizers previously thought.

They are recommending people look at attending more preliminary competitions for the chance to see great athletes at far cheaper prices than a pro-sport ticket.

Olympic organizers are also selling ticket packages during the first request phase but those are only ticket bundles and don't include accommodation.

Package offers from brokers who aren't officially connected to the 2010 Games are already popping up online as well.

One such company offering packages is Roadtrips Inc., a Winnipeg-based outfit currently being sued in the U.S. for failing to deliver tickets to the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics.

Roadtrips has said it has a guaranteed source of tickets for the 2010 Games but declined to disclose the source.

A spokeswoman for the company said they have already sold packages for 2010 but declined to say how many. source>>>

Anthony Kim to join European golf tour in 2009

Anthony Kim, the La Quinta golfer who vaulted into the elite of the golf world this year with two PGA Tour wins and impressive performances in the Ryder Cup, will join the European PGA Tour in 2009, according to wire reports.
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The move does not mean Kim is giving up his PGA Tour membership. Instead, it means that Kim will play in at least 12 official European events next year in addition to 15 official PGA Tour events required for membership on the U.S.-based tour.

Kim, 23, is the latest golfer to express interest in the European Tour as purses expand on that tour. The European Tour will have a new season-ending event in Dubai next year, and players like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have expressed interest in joining the European circuit in addition to playing American events. Woods later said his schedule would not allow him to join both tours.

The three World Golf Championships played in the United States count as official events on both tours, as do the three major golf championships -- the Masters, the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship -- played in the United States. Most elite players also play in the British Open, which also counts for both tours.

According to an Associated Press report, Kim has already paid the $3,280 membership fee that makes him eligible for the season-ending $10 million "Race to Dubai" for the top 60 players and the additional $10 million bonus pool. Kim, currently the No. 8 player in the world golf rankings, was unavailable for comment. He is overseas, having played in the Kiwi Challenge in New Zealand Monday and Tuesday. He is scheduled to play the HSBC Championship (a European Tour event) in Shanghai on Nov. 6-9.

Texas Tech students already lining up for Saturday's game

In Lubbock, hundreds of Texas Tech students are camping out in tents near the Jones AT&T Stadium. The so-called "Raiderville" continues to grow, as of Wednesday more than 700 fans were in the tents all hoping to get the best seats for Saturday's game.

They're in line for student tickets, released only on game day at the student gate.

The Texas Tech Red Raiders host The University of Texas in Lubbock this Saturday. Both teams are undefeated going into the match-up; Texas is ranked No. 1, and Tech is ranked No. 6.

Wednesday morning, Lady Raider Head Coach Christy Curry helped feed the "Raiderville" residents handing out kolaches and cookie. source>>>

Mike Singletary’s Tirade Is Over but Not Forgotten

The San Francisco 49ers went back to work Tuesday, a team still mired in the depths of the N.F.L.'s worst division but one that practiced with renewed enthusiasm and greater attention to detail. They left the field with such spirit it was hard to tell that they were 2-6 and that their next game was two weeks away.

The practice was so good that afterward, when Coach Mike Singletary met reporters, he did not castigate a single player.

"They understand the task at hand," Singletary said. "They understand where we have to go. They understand where we want to go."

If there is anything that can be said about the 49ers now, it is that they understand.

Any equivocation vanished after Singletary's first game in place of the fired Mike Nolan, Sunday's 34-13 home loss to Seattle. He benched the turnover-prone quarterback J. T. O'Sullivan, banished tight end Vernon Davis to the showers and apologized to 49ers fans for the way the team played.

It might have made for a nice local story until Singletary carried his postgame dressing down of the team into his news conference. His criticism of Davis, who Singletary said had put himself above the team, was withering.

"Cannot play with them, cannot win with them, cannot coach them," Singletary said of players like Davis, adding that he would rather play with 10 men. "Can't do it. I want winners. I want people that want to win."

The clip of Singletary, his eyes as fiery behind spectacles as they once were behind a face mask, immediately became the video clip and the talking point of the day around the N.F.L. It was reminiscent of Jim Mora's "Playoffs? Playoffs?" rant, Dennis Green's "They were who we thought they were" tirade, and Herman Edwards's "You play to win the game" admonition.

The difference was that none of those coaches excoriated his players the way Singletary did. Such public criticism of players is rare in the N.F.L. Coaches may criticize a player behind closed doors, but they are much more likely to rationalize a performance or behavior in front of the cameras.

Singletary said Tuesday that he saw no reason to do so.

"This is a day and time where everybody wants to be so private and 'this is my business and be nice to the guy,' " Singletary said. "I love these guys. I really do. At the same time, I know Vernon wants to win. And at the same time, I know there's nothing about the comment that I wouldn't have said to him. So for me to say, 'Well, that's a private matter.' It's the way I felt. I wasn't thinking about being politically correct.

San Diego Chargers fire defense coordinator Ted Cottrell

The San Diego Chargers on Tuesday fired defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell and replaced him with inside linebackers coach Ron Rivera.

Cottrell became a target of fan ire as the Chargers have lost three of their last four games, including a 37-32 decision to New Orleans in London on Sunday.

The Chargers are at or near the bottom of the NFL rankings in several defensive categories, including last in pass defense.

> COWBOYS: Tight end Jason Witten has a broken rib but could play against the New York Giants on Sunday. Witten tried to return after injuring his ribs last weekend, but eventually sat out most of the second half.

> SAINTS: Guard Jamar Nesbit filed a federal lawsuit against the maker of a weight-loss supplement, StarCaps, alleging it was improperly spiked with a diuretic that is banned by the NFL.

> STEELERS: The club won't further punish wide receiver Santonio Holmes for being charged with a marijuana-related offense and plans to start him Monday night in Washington. Holmes, who not in uniform for the Steelers' loss Sunday to the New York Giants, was allowed to return after issuing a public apology. source>>>

Golf ace Seve Ballesteros improving in hospital

- Former three times British Open golf champion Severiano Ballesteros appears to be on the road to recovery this Wednesday after undergoing three operations on a brain tumor.

Ballesteros was diagnosed with a tumor on Oct. 12 after suffering dizzy spells and was operated on two days later in the La Paz Hospital in Madrid.

Spanish golf hero Severeano Ballesteros was confirmed on Sunday that he is suffering from brain cancer.

Complications meant that he needed two further operations, with the final operation lasting for six and a half hours on Saturday.

He is currently being kept under sedation in La Paz's intensive care unit, but the latest communique released by the hospital on Wednesday had promising news.

"The patient Severiano Ballesteros has shown favorable progress in his neurological situation, although he still needs to remain under the control of the Intensive Care unit," said the statement.

Fifty-one-year-old Ballesteros retired from professional golf in 2007 after a career in which he won the British Open on three occasions and the US Masters twice. He is considered one of the most popular golfers of his generation. source>>>

Florida State at Georgia Tech Odds – College Football Betting

Two teams battling for the top of the ACC get together on Saturday for college football betting at 3:30pm EST on ABC as Georgia Tech (6-2) host 16th ranked Florida State (6-1).

The Yellow Jackets will be looking to end a serious drought against the Seminoles. Florida State has won the last 12 meetings between the two teams and the last six in Atlanta.Odds makers at SBGGlobal have Georgia Tech -2.5 point favorites at home in college football odds against Florida State.

Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden has never lost in his career against Georgia Tech, going a perfect 12-0.

This has been a series of domination for one team or the other. In the early going it was all Yellow Jackets as they went 7-0-1 against Florida State.

The last 12 games though have all gone to Florida State, including the last six in Atlanta. The game is huge for both teams in the ACC. Georgia Tech was in good shape in the conference until last week when they let one get away against Virginia.

Now it is Florida State that controls their own destiny as they will play in the ACC title game if they win out.

Vegas odds at the MGM Mirage sportsbook have the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets -1.5 point college football betting favorites.

Saturday's week 10 college football game is the first meeting between the Jackets and Seminoles since 2003 and the first meeting in Atlanta since 2002. The key on Saturday could be turnovers.

Georgia Tech has fumbled 26 times this season. The Yellow Jackets have lost 14 of those fumbles, which is tied for 2nd worst in the country. Somehow the team is 6-2 despite the fumbles but they can't afford to continue turning the ball over if they expect to contend for the ACC title.

If you want to bet Georgia Tech as -2.5 point favorites in college football odds against Florida State then visit SBG Global.
Florida State Seminoles at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Betting Stats

The Seminoles are 4-9-1 ATS in college football odds for their last 14 games in November.

The Yellow Jackets are 4-1 ATS in college football odds for their last 5 conference games. The Yellow Jackets are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall. The Yellow Jackets are 4-1 ATS in college football odds for their last 5 games on grass. The Yellow Jackets are 2-5 ATS in college football odds for their last 7 home games.

The Under is 17-6 in college football betting for the Seminoles last 23 games in November. The Over is 7-2 in the Seminoles last 9 vs. a team with a winning record. The Over is 5-2 in college football betting for the Seminoles last 7 road games. The Under is 5-1 in the Yellow Jackets last 6 games.

The Under is 13-3 in college football betting for the Yellow Jackets last 16 home games vs. a team with a winning road record. The Under is 35-17-2 in the Yellow Jackets last 54 conference games. The Under is 4-1 in college football betting for the last 5 meetings between the two teams.

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Vanderbilt basketball season tickets on sale

With both the men's and women's basketball seasons starting over the next two weeks, tickets for Commodore home games are again at high demand.

A very limited number of 2008-09 Vanderbilt men's basketball season tickets remain for the upcoming season, which begins with an exhibition game on Sunday, Nov. 9 at Memorial Gymnasium.

Fans interested in buying season tickets should act fast -- sales are on pace for season tickets to sell out for the second consecutive season at Memorial Gym.

The Commodore men, who went a perfect 19-0 in home games last season at Memorial Gym, return eight letterwinners from last year's team, including 2008 preseason All-SEC first team selection A.J. Ogilvy. The home slate includes 17 regular season contests, an always rigorous eight-game SEC schedule, and a non-conference game against Illinois on Nov. 20.

Season tickets are on sale for as low as $99 at the Vanderbilt Ticket Office and online at VUcommodores.com.

The Commodore women's basketball team is also expecting high attendance numbers again this season. Head Coach Melanie Balcomb's squad was recently chosen as the preseason favorite to win the Southeastern Conference by a vote of regional and national media.

The 2008-09 women's schedule features 16 regular-season home games, including contests against Notre Dame (Dec. 30), Tennessee (Jan. 11), LSU (Jan. 18) and Georgia (Feb. 15).

Beginning on Nov. 1, upper-level single-game tickets for all women's basketball games will be available online only through the Commodores' ticketing Web site at VUcommodores.com.

Season tickets remain available starting at only $30, a price-point which includes lower-level bench seats.

To contact the ticket office by phone, dial 615-322-GOLD and select option 1.
source>>>

Atlanta PGA Senior Tour golf event in jeopardy

When the PGA's Champions senior Tour announces its schedule Wednesday at 4 p.m. it will list the week that had been reserved for an event for Atlanta to replace the AT&T Classic at TPC at Sugarloaf as "open."

Thus, whether Atlanta has a pro golf event outside of September's Tour Championship remains up in the air. The event was tentatively scheduled from April 30 to May 3, 2009.

Dave Kaplan, executive director of the Atlanta Classic Foundation, which formerly ran the AT&T Classic and was hoping to run a Champions Tour event, would only say, "I think the Tour is looking at several scenarios where an event might be played. "

The most optimistic scenario, obviously, is that it will find a sponsor. Another possibility is that the Champions Tour would hold an event here without a sponsor, and funded by the PGA, the parent of the Champions Tour.

Kaplan would not expand on his statement and said he did not know when the Champions Tour might decide on whether or not it essentially would bankroll the tournament in hopes of finding a sponsor in 2010 and beyond.

The PGA Tour pulled plug on the AT&T Classic in June because of the event's inability to find a sponsor. Now the same fate could befall a Champions Tour event in Atlanta.

Kaplan said as recently as September he thought he had a sponsor but the company pulled out at the last minute with the advent of the financial crisis. He would not identify the company, owing to confidentiality agreement.

However, sources said the company was Colorado-based First Data Corp. A spokesman for the company said in a statement that, "Our business is global, and we review opportunities all over the world all of the time. It is our policy not to comment on any of our negotiations." source>>>

Oklahoma City considers scalping law changes

Oklahoma City, OK, home of the NBA's newest team, the Thunder, is considering raising the amount street scalpers can charge to resell tickets outside of the team's basketball arena.

Currently, ticket scalpers have a designated area near the Ford Center where they can resell tickets, but only for 50 cents above face value. Ticket reselling over the Internet is not regulated in the city. The Thunder franchise is the former Seattle Supersonics.

As Tom Anderson, special projects manager for the team, told KOCO-TV, the city should consider raising that amount. Click here to see a video about the issue.

Fans at a recent game said the city shouldn't raise the price too high because that would be unfair to fans trying to get tickets. How much the city might raise the scalper amount, or when it might formally address the issue, are unknown, but the move would resemble ones made by other states and municipalities over the past couple of years. source>>>

NBAs Durant shouldering big expectations for Oklahoma City Thunder

- He peels off the Boys & Girls Club jersey. Drew-Freeman middle school comes off next, followed by Montrose Christian high, McDonald's All-American, the University of Texas, Seattle and finally ... Oklahoma City.

"I've removed a couple of jerseys," Kevin Durant said, "so I'm just adding another one to the collection."

Quick, call the "Where Amazing Happens" boys. It may be time to reshoot that memorable commercial.

Post-production aside, Durant is once again changing his colors and is on the move. One constant remains through each wardrobe adjustment: Durant is still the man. That's not going to change anytime soon.

"I'm always moving. Every year is something new for me," Durant said. "I'm kinda used to it. It's just something you have to go through, a part of the business of basketball.

"I'm excited to be here. Seattle was a great place to live and play basketball, but I'm excited to be here in Oklahoma."

Durant, his teammates and the entire Thunder organization don't have any illusions about the attention focused on No. 35. He's the face of the franchise. A former college wunderkind charged with leading Oklahoma's first major-league team to respectability.

Those, at least, are the outward expectations. Durant is the easy sell to NBA fans and media. Last season's Rookie of the Year has the talent, the street cred and oozes confidence in front of a camera. He'll sell a Nike or two.

Yet, there's been a deliberate effort not to place too much pressure on those broom-handle shoulders. And that strategy has nothing to do with his physical stature, though Durant's lean build/scoring acumen brings to mind Reggie Miller and George Gervin.

"Externally, we can't control what people outside our organization say or expectations they place on him," general manager Sam Presti said. "Internally, our expectations for him are the same as they are for our other players: you come to work every day as a professional, work to get better and improve, be a great teammate, handle yourself as a good person in the community."

Checks across the board. Durant just turned 20 and his interests mirror that of your average, early teenager. Most nights, video games are the preferred entertainment choice. So consumed by basketball, the good-natured Washington, D.C. native didn't start driving until 18.

Don't mistake his way for immaturity. The franchise is hardly concerned about his ability to lead. As the Sonics' top scorer, Durant joined LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony as the only teenagers in league history to average at least 20 points per game. Showing his versatility, the 6-foot-9 swingman also led the team (and all guards) in blocks.

The Thunder's front office is attempting to build a supporting cast around Durant where "support" is the operative word. The aim is finding complementary pieces that can still play ball.

Small forward Jeff Green joined Durant on the All-Rookie team last season. The duo improved as the season went on and peaked in April. Green, though, isn't interested in stealing Durant's thunder.

"I'm not the type of guy who always wants the spotlight," Green said. "I want to make his game a lot easier and take the pressure off his shoulders. I'm not here to take his spotlight. He deserves everything he gets."

Including the burden of the being the one foes focus on shutting down every night.

"He can handle it. He's been handling it throughout his career," coach P.J. Carlesimo said. "We're not going to be good just because of Kevin Durant. It doesn't matter how good Kevin is. If we're not a good basketball team, we're not going to be successful."

Carlesimo pointed out what every successful franchise knows, "There's no such thing as a one-man team in this league."

Michael Jordan couldn't do it alone. Washington, anyone? Kevin Garnett proved that adage true once again in June.

"For us to be where we want to be as a franchise, it's going to take a lot more than Kevin," Carlesimo added. "We're delighted that we have Kevin and hopefully Kevin will stay as the face of the franchise for a long time, but he'll be the first to tell you that it's going to take a lot of people contributing for us to be good."

He does readily admit it. He also knows that visits from Oklahoma City will likely be billed as "Durant and the Thunder" coming to town. Again, the easy sell.

"Everybody outside of the franchise sees me as that, but everybody I deal with everyday, we don't look at it like that," Durant said. "We're all one group. I'm glad that's how it is here. I wouldn't want it any other way." source>>>

Oklahoma City ready to weather NBAs Thunder growing pains

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A highway billboard on the way out of town lists up-to-the-second BCS Standings. The Sooners, at last check, were fourth.

This remains football country. That's not going to change. But when feeding the sporting appetite of the locals, the good folks here are hungry for basketball.

"There's plenty of room for the Thunder," coach P.J. Carlesimo said.

Oklahoma City whetted its beak for two seasons as the temporary home of the Hornets and when that franchise returned to New Orleans last year, it left a city starving for big-league sports with an empty arena and a loyal group of fans suddenly feeling displaced.

"I wasn't sure that any NBA team would ever come to Oklahoma City again," said local resident Kim Scott, a former diehard Hornets' fan. "A lot of people don't think we have the fan base for it, but they are mistaken. I figured it would be a long time before we would ever get a chance to have another NBA team here."

They didn't wait long. A Pacific Northwest drama years in the making finally came to a head last season and, on July 2, 2008, the Sonics announced they were packing their bags and splitting Seattle. More than 2,000 miles away, you could almost hear the cheers.

If you listened closely enough, you could also pick up the gasps. The nameless franchise had three months to move an entire organization from Seattle to Oklahoma City. Everything from chairs to families had to relocate.

"It's certainly been busy because of all the changes and the logistics of the move, but at the same time, we have a responsibility to do our jobs and do them well, regardless of where it is we'll be calling home," general manager Sam Presti said.

"The energy of the community here in Oklahoma City and the passion of the fan base certainly helped the momentum of the organization, and has brought a lot of excitement to our players."

Thunder-struck, anyone? The trick, or at least the hope, is channeling the high-fives in the stands into dunks and 3-pointers on the hardwood. The Thunder's roster features a trio of budding stars in Kevin Durant, Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook.

MLB let confusion reign

According to major league sources, one reaction to Monday night's "Weathergate" at the World Series could be a formal proposal to implement a rule to guide decisions on postseason rain delays and rainouts.

There is expected to be discussion this winter on what some see as a flaw that has fallen through the cracks in the 105-year history of the World Series.

The fact that commissioner Bud Selig said he had sole discretion to suspend Game 5 no matter what the score seemed like seat-of-the-pants manage ment that doesn't cast Major League Baseball in the best light.

We certainly believe Selig acted properly in determining that the game had to be completed, no matter what the score. That was one of the conditions that Phillies general manager Pat Gillick had fought for in a meeting with Selig before Saturday's rain-delayed Game 3, a meeting that included Rays president Matt Silverman, Rays general manager Andrew Friedman, umpires, and other MLB officials.

It is odd that a league that has played for more than 100 years would not have rules in place for such a circumstance. It's odd that neither Major League Baseball nor the Players Association would have insisted upon a guideline when there is the threat of rain and a suspended game in the World Series.

So, many of us - including the players - were under the impression that the same rules that applied to the regular season would apply to the postseason: If a team is up, 2-1, in the sixth and there is a rain delay, you wait as long as you have to wait, and if you can't resume play, game over. That's baseball.

We knew that the rules were changed last year regarding games that are tied after the fifth inning; they are now resumed and not replayed from scratch.

While Selig's decision makes sense for such a big stage, if the regular-season rules were applied, who would have argued?

Players Association chief Donald Fehr said yesterday the commissioner acted properly in suspending the game after it was tied.

The big question is, why didn't the players know which rules they were playing under? How about the fans sitting in those awful conditions? The viewers at home? The Fox analysts on TV didn't know, either.

Team officials on both sides, including the managers, claim they knew the ground rules after meeting with Selig before Game 5, but for some reason, they weren't passed along to their players.

"I guess it just slipped through the cracks," said one official. "I think there were so many other things going on, nobody really believe that scenario would play out anyway."

The issue continues to raise questions about who knew what and when. source>>>

The most famous 17-hole championship golf course in the country

"The most famous 17-hole championship golf course in the country" is not a title you want to use in an advertising campaign. But it's how The New York Times accurately described the internationally known Winged Foot Golf Club in upstate New York, after one of the holes was determined off-limits.

A state Supreme Court judge issued a temporary restraining order banning play on sixth hole of the club's East Course after a man whose house abuts the par 3's putting green sued the because errant golf balls were a threat to his family.

Anthony Pecora moved into the house in 2003. The club cut down several trees between the sixth hole and his house in 2006; since then, he's suffered $14,000 in damages, including five broken windows this year alone, The New York Times reported. Pecora also had to pay more than $3,300 for emergency surgery after his dog ate a golf ball last year, his lawyer told the Times.

Members, including Donald Trump, are none too happy about the re-designed course. One member stated what seems to me to be the obvious: "If you buy a house on a golf course, you have to assume there may be a couple of errant shots that are going to land in your yard."

For analysis of the lawsuit, check out the great Norman Chad's most recent column. Fore source>>>

A look at BCS scenarios

It's the last week of October, which means the Mailbag's "BCS Doomsday Scenario Hotline" is officially open for business.

At this point, there remain countless possibilities as to what this year's annual BCS controversy will look like, but one team's involvement seems increasingly likely. Say it with me now: "WE ARE ..."

I know most people outside of the Big Ten are going to look at Penn State's performance at Ohio State and scoff, but I saw an offense that made very few mistakes (no turnovers, no penalty yards assessed), kept its cool and took advantage when OSU made a mistake. The poise that Penn State showed was remarkable. Do you think that will be enough for a BCS title game berth? Or do you think that if, say, Alabama or Texas lose next week but plays lights out down the stretch that they will still be above Penn State at season's end?
-- Ryan, Charlottesville, Va.

First of all, I agree with your assessment of last Saturday's game. Would I have liked to see more big plays from Penn State's offense? Of course. But we've seen enough 40-plus point outings from the Nittany Lions to know the Spread HD is no fluke. I was there, and believe me, Ohio State played out of its mind on defense. It seemed like Thaddeus Gibson and Cameron Heyward were camped out in Penn State's backfield. Also, it was obvious from talking to Penn State's coaches afterward that they went in with an ultra-conservative game plan. They expected a close game that could hinge on a turnover (as it did) and scrapped many of the bells and whistles we'd seen in previous games.

As for the Nittany Lions' title prospects, they remain third in the pecking order behind Texas and Alabama and will remain so for as long as those teams keep winning. While Penn State finishes up with relatively blasé games against Iowa, Indiana and Michigan State, the Tide play at LSU, Texas plays at Texas Tech and both stand to benefit from a potential conference championship game.

But if Penn State wins out and either Alabama or this weekend's Texas-Texas Tech winner slips up ... the Nittany Lions are in. Period. You can argue until you're blue in the face about their schedule strength (currently 61st, according to CollegeBCS.com) relative to the others (Texas: No. 1; Alabama: No. 53), but the fact is, they will have won all their games. Period. To exclude an undefeated, major-conference team in favor of a one-loss team would set a dangerous precedent the pollsters won't, and shouldn't, feel comfortable setting.

The past two seasons an SEC champion having one loss more than the Big Ten champion completely routed the Big Ten champion. Please make the case why a one-loss Big 12 or SEC champion would not continue that trend this year against 12-0 Penn State.
-- Mike Dunlap, New York

Obviously, I can't predict on Oct. 29 how Penn State would theoretically fare on Jan. 8 against a theoretical opponent ... but I can make a pretty solid case why it would be idiotic to discount the Nittany Lions solely on the basis of a fellow conference member's past performances.

- Penn State did not lose those games. Ohio State did.

- The Big Ten did not lose those games. Ohio State did.

- Allow me to rephrase your statement for a second: "The past two seasons a Big 12 champion [Oklahoma] lost to a lower-ranked opponent in a BCS game. Please make the case why a lower-ranked foe would not continue that trend this year against No. 1 Texas?"

- Say what you want about Ohio State, but I think we can all agree that Beanie Wells is an elite running back. Any defense that can hold Wells to 55 yards on 22 carries is capable of winning a national championship.

- This year's SEC, if you haven't noticed, is not as indisputably dominant as it has been. The SEC is fourth in Jeff Sagarin's computer ratings, sixth in Jerry Palm's Conference RPI ratings. That doesn't mean Alabama, Florida or Georgia wouldn't beat Penn State, but they're not entitled to some automatic benefit of the doubt, either. Why?

- Because, most important of all, this is a different season.

Assuming USC and Penn State win out, and if Florida were to beat Alabama in the SEC championship game and Texas loses in the Big 12 title game, that could create a scenario where Florida, Alabama, USC, Texas and Oklahoma would all have one loss and a legitimate argument for a shot at Penn State for the title. Would your vote be based on who had the best season, who is playing the best at that moment, who would have the best shot at winning, style points, or will you simply ask Sweet Dee and the gang to choose for you?
-- Greg, Welcome, N.C.

Just to be clear, my AP vote carries no weight whatsoever in determining the BCS title opponents. For the purposes of this answer, we'll have to pretend I'm a Harris voter.

Believe it or not, your scenario is not as complicated as it sounds. First off, all the teams that didn't win their conference -- in this case Alabama, Texas and Oklahoma -- would be eliminated. That might sound unfair for Texas, which, if it wins this weekend, will have beaten four straight top-11 opponents and would be undefeated going into that title game. But it would be hypocritical to make an exception for the 'Horns when lack of a conference title was one of the most commonly stated reasons Michigan and Georgia were passed over the past two years.

So then it comes down to a simpler, two-team decision between USC and Florida -- and it would be simple because the Gators' resume would be far more impressive than the Trojans'. They would have beaten LSU, Georgia and Alabama (all ranked in the Top 10 at the time), while USC may well end up with one win over a highly ranked opponent (Ohio State).

Incidentally ... isn't it fitting that right after the BCS commissioners rejected Mike Slive's plus-one proposal last spring, this may wind up being the ideal season for one? Imagine a four-team playoff with the Big 12 champion, SEC champion, Penn State and USC. Think that wouldn't satisfy some folks? Coincidentally, the last time the honchos shot down the plus-one, when ABC proposed it in the spring of 2004, the season that immediately followed it brought the USC-Oklahoma-Auburn debacle continue>>>

MMA Career on Hold for Bobby Lashley

It looks like Lashley will be waiting to make his MMA debut...

- According to their website (americanfightleague.com), the American Fight League is stopping all operations until the first quarter of 2009 . Here is the announcement:

The American Fight League has made the decision to halt operations until the first quarter of 2009. The organization's doors are still open and the roster of fighters remains the same. AFL fighters are free to fight in whatever organization that they wish while maintaining their current contract status. "Don't believe everything that you hear", CEO BJ Santiago said. "Big things will happen in 2009 for the American Fight League and it's fighters".

- Lashley was going to appear on the company's debut PPV from Atlanta, a show that has been postponed a few times thus far. source>>>

PowerPutt Mini Golf Tees Off: New Coin-Op Video Game Is Fast, Fresh, Fun and Wallet-Friendly

- There's a new game in town and it's hard to resist. Whether you're young, old, male, female, a golfer, a gamer, or even a penny-pincher, it's easy to get hooked on PowerPutt Mini Golf.
After all, everyone likes mini golf. PowerPutt offers the same kind of lighthearted thrills, except of course, they're virtual. You can find PowerPutt in bars, restaurants, movie theaters, and wherever they have arcade games.
Like real mini golf, PowerPutt offers casual competition and chuckle- worthy obstacles, all enhanced by state-of-the-art, 3D graphics. It's easy to forget your worries when you're busying aiming around a revolving pirate ship ... squeaking your ball past levitating Tiki statues ... or sinking a putt into a fiery volcano.
There are enough bank shots, jump shots, timed shots, and trick shots to keep experienced players engaged, without the frustration of more elaborate video games.
PowerPutt is the 'baby sister' to Golden Tee, the #1 coin-op video game of all time. PowerPutt offers many of the same entertainment features as Golden Tee, but is geared to more casual players. Both are the creations of award- winning game designer Incredible Technologies.
"Right now, people want games that are fun to play and easy to learn," says Elaine Hodgson, President of Incredible Technologies.
And PowerPutt is budget-friendly. A 9-hole round costs just $1 per player; an 18-hole round costs just $2. That's under $10 for a party of four to play, which is pretty hard to beat for affordable entertainment -- something on everyone's mind these days.
And with the complimentary "Hit List" option, you get a little extra value for your bucks: a background soundtrack of 10 up-and-coming Indie artists.
Players can pick from three themed courses: the Freaky Tiki Hawaiian course, the Dusty Trail wild west course, and the Skull Island pirate course. Up to 16 people can play at once, and you can even host your own tournament.
Unlike traditionally clunky game consoles, PowerPutt is played on a sleek, 3' pedestal cabinet -- called The Showpiece(TM) -- paired with a high-def monitor that lets everyone view each other's shots. It's fun for couples, singles, families, and all those in search of a little escapist entertainment.
For a video preview of the game, visit http://www.powerputtgolf.com. source>>>

If NHL Wants to prevent head injuries? Don't invite them

I can understand the outrage. Carolina Hurricanes rookie Brandon Sutter is KO'd on a huge hit by New York Islanders center Doug Weight. It's a dreadful sight as medics on the ice attend to Sutter, who is out cold and likely concussed.

What I don't agree with is the outcry that resulted from this play. The Hurricanes have fire in their eyes, believing Weight took advantage of the situation to deliver a potentially crippling blow to Sutter. They wail and cry for NHL legislation to take head shots out of the game.

I do agree that hits to the head are dangerous. More to the point, deliberate attempts to injure with hits to the head deserve the strictest punishment this side of the rack. Thumb screws are acceptable.

But remember this: Sutter was at fault in this situation. He put himself in a vulnerable position, one which left Weight with little or no chance to avoid a severe blow.

Take another look at the video -- try this one from YouTube. The commentary: "Brandon Sutter had his head down in neutral ice and he was lined up by Doug Weight." The key words there are these: head down. Not "lined up" -- head down.

Players are responsible for protecting themselves, because hits are part of the game. Sutter, stretched out to reach the puck after he pushed it too far forward, put himself in a vulnerable position. Had he kept the puck under control and taken the hit shoulder to shoulder, it would have been a clean, solid check.

And knowing Weight, he was genuine in his pain for injuring a player.

Look, Weight is not a big hitter. You won't find him often in highlight reels delivering massive checks that shatter glass or send guys flying butt over tea kettle. In this case, he delivered a blow to a player who left himself open.

Want another opinion? Take a look at the comments on calgarypuck.com. The general conclusion reached by respondents: It was a clean hit, and Sutter was at fault.

Remember, too: Brandon Sutter is an heir to hockey's toughest family. Six Sutter brothers played in the NHL, and not one of them ever backed off a check. All of them got the snot knocked out of them taking big checks -- and they gave as good or better than they got.

One wonders what dad Brent and his brothers would do. Let me restate: Brent and his brothers would have delivered the same hit Weight did. And Brandon Sutter will deliver that hit when he returns.

Pillory those responsible for intentional, dirty, cheap and deliberate hits whose intent is to injure. Leave this one for what it was: a clean hit with a bad outcome.

Icy bits

OK, Wayne Gretzky had his bodyguards riding sidekick. But what makes him think Todd Fedoruk is a first-line player? At least Gretzky has balance in his top two lines, with Fedoruk alongside Shane Doan and Olli Jokinen, and Daniel Carcillo protecting Martin Hanzal and Peter Mueller. Fedoruk is definitely making an impression with the boss. ...

Good to see Canadiens forward Andrei Kostitsyn return from his concussion. Take a look at what old friend Pat Hickey says about the Sutter-Weight incident and the hit Kostitsyn took. ...

Wild defenseman Brent Burns is expected to play Wednesday after he returns from a "lower body" injury. All evidence points to Burns' body parts being intact, so the injury must be something internal. Criminy, what's next in injury reports -- so-and-so has a "body" injury? ...

By the way, the Wild are 0-6-2 at Dallas since March 21, 2003. Guess who they play Wednesday and where. Don't be surprised to see their eight-game winless streak end. ...

Hey, you're not Alex Ovechkin! The placeholder on the Capitals' top line between Nicklas Backstrom and Viktor Kozlov is Brooks Laich. Coaches everywhere are plotting their defensive zone coverage to keep Laich under control. ...

New plan for winning in Tampa: Play more games against the Maple Leafs. Nice to see Steven Stamkos get his first point. Now, Barry Melrose, how will you respond as your team plays against the Devils on Wednesday? ...

Can any other team boast having had three coaches the likes of Dick Irvin, Toe Blake and Scotty Bowman? That's what makes them the Habs and everyone else the Hab-nots. source>>>

NHL has Plenty 18-year-oldsthat are here to stay

Jason Spezza was selected second overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. But it took him three years before he was playing regularly with the Ottawa Senators.

Those days are over.

With the salary cap forcing teams to be frugal, rookies and their entry-level contracts are more valuable than ever.

This season, seven of the top eight picks from the 2008 Entry Draft cracked NHL rosters out of training camp. And it appears that most are here to stay.

Tampa Bay's Steven Stamkos, who was selected first overall, Atlanta's Drew Doughty (second) and Toronto's Luke Schenn (fifth) have already been told that they will not be returned to their junior clubs.

After a player appears in 10 games, he has to remain in the NHL.

Columbus' Nikita Filatov (sixth) is the exception. He can be sent down to the minors because he was drafted out of Russia.

In Philadelphia, Luca Sbisa (19th) has all but earned a permanent spot with the Flyers. The puck-moving defenceman is quarterbacking the top power play unit and is logging nearly 20 minutes per game.

"He's here and he's helping our team," Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren told reporters on Monday, "and unless something happens that drastically changes that in the next 24 hours, it's going to stay that way for the foreseeable future."

After scoring three goals in seven games, Phoenix's Mikkel Boedker (eighth) is also "going nowhere."

"Until you officially get to those 10 games, it's unofficial," Wayne Gretzky told reporters on Sunday. "But we basically told Kitchener the day we drafted him that you could pretty much give away his sweater number. He really wasn't coming back."

Question marks still remain in Atlanta and St. Louis, where Thrashers defenceman Zach Bogosian (third) and Blues defenceman Alex Pietrangelo (fourth) are both injured. Bogosian injured his leg on Tuesday, while Pietrangelo has not played since he was the victim of a boarding hit by Ryan Hollweg on Oct. 13.

Here are how the 18-year-olds have performed so far:

Steven Stamkos, F, Tampa Bay Lightning
Drafted: 1st overall, 2008
GP: 8 G: 0, A: 1 P: 1 PIM: 4 TOI: 11:23

Another Free Trial of NHL Fans Can Watch Up To 12 Games Online For Free On Thursday Night

- The National Hockey League (NHL) today announced that on October 30 it will offer fans a free trial of NHL GameCenter Live(TM), a new online subscription service that enables fans to engage with live NHL games via TV-quality streaming video.
Streaming up to 40 games per week, NHL GameCenter Live is specifically designed for those avid fans looking for the most complete, in-game NHL viewing experience, as well as for the nearly 50 percent of NHL fans that live away from their favorite team's local television market and crave more content and access.
"Thousands of fans are already enjoying NHL GameCenter Live and their feedback has been extremely positive," said Perry Cooper the NHL's Senior Vice President, NHL Direct + Digital Marketing. "We are adding another free trial date so we can show even more NHL fans how amazing it is to experience live games online with NHL GameCenter Live."
NHL GameCenter Live features include:
-- "Game of the Night" featuring camera angles not available to television viewers.
-- Multi-game view to watch up to four games at once.
-- On-Demand Viewing of archived games.
-- Chat with other fans.
-- Real-time scoreboard and scoring alerts that keep track of all live NHL action.
-- Tons of stats from the NHL's own Real-Time Statistics.
-- Play-by-play action tracking that shows where and when every shot, goal, hit and penalty came from, as well links to highlights of select plays.
-- Audio choice. When available, fans can choose their favorite audio feed (home or away radio) for each game.
-- Game highlights. Access to League-wide video highlights at the click of a mouse.
-- Game photos. Coming soon, fans can browse and purchase rich, dynamic Getty Images for from every game throughout the League.
PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
Fans can subscribe immediately to NHL GameCenter Live at the rate of US$169/CAN$219 for the whole season, or for monthly installments of US$20.99/CAN$30.99. Fans who have purchased the NHL(R) 2k9 video game can receive a 60-day free trial of NHL GameCenter Live with proof of purchase by visiting www.nhl.com/livegames2k. To order NHL GameCenter Live visit www.nhl.com/gamecenter. source>>>

Concert , Sports and Family Tickets Onsale today 10/22/08

For the complete list of all 111 listings visit TicketsOnsaleToday.com

All of these events available at Ticketmaster

Sycuan Presents Bad Brains
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Dec 07, 2008 (Sunday) Where: House of Blues San Diego (San Diego, CA)
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AMA Supermoto Final
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Nov 14, 2008 (Friday) Where: Infineon Raceway (Sonoma, CA)
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AMA Supermoto Final 3-Day Series
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Nov 14, 2008 (Friday) Where: Infineon Raceway (Sonoma, CA)
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Viva Italia
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Dec 06, 2008 (Saturday) Where: Mohegan Sun Arena (Uncasville, CT)
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Sequitur - Elliott Carter Centennial Celebration
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Dec 12, 2008 (Friday) Where: Library of Congress (Washington, DC)
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Verge Ensemble - Elliott Carter Centennial Celebration
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Dec 11, 2008 (Thursday) Where: Library of Congress (Washington, DC)
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Washington Wizards
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Dec 15, 2008 (Monday) Where: Verizon Center (Washington, DC)
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Washington Wizards vs. Boston Celtics
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Dec 11, 2008 (Thursday) Where: Verizon Center (Washington, DC)
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Washington Wizards vs. Dallas Mavericks
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Dec 21, 2008 (Sunday) Where: Verizon Center (Washington, DC)
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Washington Wizards vs. Detroit Pistons
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Dec 09, 2008 (Tuesday) Where: Verizon Center (Washington, DC)
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Washington Wizards vs. Indiana Pacers
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Dec 15, 2008 (Monday) Where: Verizon Center (Washington, DC)
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Washington Wizards vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Dec 05, 2008 (Friday) Where: Verizon Center (Washington, DC)
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Washington Wizards vs. Oklahoma City
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Dec 27, 2008 (Saturday) Where: Verizon Center (Washington, DC)
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Washington Wizards vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Dec 19, 2008 (Friday) Where: Verizon Center (Washington, DC)
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Washington Wizards vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Dec 03, 2008 (Wednesday) Where: Verizon Center (Washington, DC)
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Harlem Globetrotters
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Mar 02, 2009 (Monday) Where: Manatee Civic Center (Palmetto, FL)
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Pensacola Children Chorus
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Dec 06, 2008 (Saturday) Where: Pensacola Civic Center (Pensacola, FL)
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Sister Hazel
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Dec 31, 2008 (Wednesday) Where: JANNUS LANDING COURTYARD (St Petersburg, FL)
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Kirk Franklin
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Nov 29, 2008 (Saturday) Where: Albany Civic Center (Albany, GA)
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Becoming the Archetype
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Nov 28, 2008 (Friday) Where: Masquerade (Atlanta, GA)
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Northeast Atlanta Ballet: Swan Lake
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Mar 20, 2009 (Friday) Where: Gwinnett Performing Arts Center (Duluth, GA)
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E-40
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Nov 29, 2008 (Saturday) Where: Pipeline Cafe (Honolulu, HI)
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2008 NJCAA National Volleyball Tournament 3-Day Pass
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: TBA Where: Mid-America Center (Council Bluffs, IA)
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2008 NJCAA National Volleyball Tournament Day 1
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Nov 20, 2008 (Thursday) Where: Mid-America Center (Council Bluffs, IA)
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2008 NJCAA National Volleyball Tournament Day 2
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Nov 21, 2008 (Friday) Where: Mid-America Center (Council Bluffs, IA)
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2008 NJCAA National Volleyball Tournament Day 3
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Nov 22, 2008 (Saturday) Where: Mid-America Center (Council Bluffs, IA)
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World Famous Lipizzaner Stallions
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Feb 19, 2009 (Thursday) Where: Five Flags Center (Dubuque, IA)
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Don't Dress for Dinner
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Jan 06, 2009 (Tuesday) Where: Royal George Theatre (Chicago, IL)
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Illinois Basketball: Men vs. Georgia & Women vs. Bradley
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Dec 06, 2008 (Saturday) Where: United Center (Chicago, IL)
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Joe's New Year's Eve Party
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Dec 31, 2008 (Wednesday) Where: Joes (Chicago, IL)
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Joe's New Year's Eve Party : Starring the Rum Runners
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Dec 31, 2008 (Wednesday) Where: Joes (Chicago, IL)
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DePaul Blue Demons Men's Basketball vs. Alcorn State
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Dec 28, 2008 (Sunday) Where: Allstate Arena (Rosemont, IL)
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DePaul Blue Demons Men's Basketball vs. Cincinnati
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Jan 17, 2009 (Saturday) Where: Allstate Arena (Rosemont, IL)
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DePaul Blue Demons Men's Basketball vs. Connecticut
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Jan 28, 2009 (Wednesday) Where: Allstate Arena (Rosemont, IL)
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DePaul Blue Demons Men's Basketball vs. Detroit
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Nov 26, 2008 (Wednesday) Where: Allstate Arena (Rosemont, IL)
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DePaul Blue Demons Men's Basketball vs. Indiana State
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Nov 29, 2008 (Saturday) Where: Allstate Arena (Rosemont, IL)
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DePaul Blue Demons Men's Basketball vs. Liberty
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Dec 17, 2008 (Wednesday) Where: Allstate Arena (Rosemont, IL)
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DePaul Blue Demons Men's Basketball vs. Marquette
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Feb 03, 2009 (Tuesday) Where: Allstate Arena (Rosemont, IL)
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DePaul Blue Demons Men's Basketball vs. Morgan State
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Dec 10, 2008 (Wednesday) Where: Allstate Arena (Rosemont, IL)

For the complete list of all 111 listings visit TicketsOnsaleToday.com

DePaul Blue Demons Men's Basketball vs. Notre Dame
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Dec 31, 2008 (Wednesday) Where: Allstate Arena (Rosemont, IL)
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DePaul Blue Demons Men's Basketball vs. Pittsburgh
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Feb 07, 2009 (Saturday) Where: Allstate Arena (Rosemont, IL)
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DePaul Blue Demons Men's Basketball vs. Seton Hall
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Feb 10, 2009 (Tuesday) Where: Allstate Arena (Rosemont, IL)
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DePaul Blue Demons Men's Basketball vs. South Florida
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Jan 10, 2009 (Saturday) Where: Allstate Arena (Rosemont, IL)
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DePaul Blue Demons Men's Basketball vs. Southern
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Dec 19, 2008 (Friday) Where: Allstate Arena (Rosemont, IL)
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DePaul Blue Demons Men's Basketball vs. St. Johns
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Feb 28, 2009 (Saturday) Where: Allstate Arena (Rosemont, IL)
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DePaul Blue Demons Men's Basketball vs. Villanova
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Feb 25, 2009 (Wednesday) Where: Allstate Arena (Rosemont, IL)
#
IU Hoosier's Men's Basketball vs. Anderson University
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Nov 07, 2008 (Friday) Where: Indiana University Assembly Hall (Bloomington, IN)
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IU Hoosier's Men's Basketball vs. Bemidji State
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Nov 11, 2008 (Tuesday) Where: Indiana University Assembly Hall (Bloomington, IN)
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IU Hoosier's Men's Basketball vs. Cornell
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Nov 30, 2008 (Sunday) Where: Indiana University Assembly Hall (Bloomington, IN)
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IU Hoosier's Men's Basketball vs. Illinois
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Feb 15, 2009 (Sunday) Where: Indiana University Assembly Hall (Bloomington, IN)
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IU Hoosier's Men's Basketball vs. Iowa
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Feb 04, 2009 (Wednesday) Where: Indiana University Assembly Hall (Bloomington, IN)
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IU Hoosier's Men's Basketball vs. IUPUI
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Nov 18, 2008 (Tuesday) Where: Indiana University Assembly Hall (Bloomington, IN)
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IU Hoosier's Men's Basketball vs. Lipscomb
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Dec 28, 2008 (Sunday) Where: Indiana University Assembly Hall (Bloomington, IN)
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IU Hoosier's Men's Basketball vs. Michigan
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Jan 07, 2009 (Wednesday) Where: Indiana University Assembly Hall (Bloomington, IN)
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IU Hoosier's Men's Basketball vs. Michigan State
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: TBA Where: Indiana University Assembly Hall (Bloomington, IN)
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IU Hoosier's Men's Basketball vs. Minnesota
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Jan 25, 2009 (Sunday) Where: Indiana University Assembly Hall (Bloomington, IN)
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IU Hoosier's Men's Basketball vs. Northeastern
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Dec 22, 2008 (Monday) Where: Indiana University Assembly Hall (Bloomington, IN)
#
IU Hoosier's Men's Basketball vs. Northwestern
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Feb 25, 2009 (Wednesday) Where: Indiana University Assembly Hall (Bloomington, IN)
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IU Hoosier's Men's Basketball vs. Northwestern State
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Nov 15, 2008 (Saturday) Where: Indiana University Assembly Hall (Bloomington, IN)
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IU Hoosier's Men's Basketball vs. Ohio State
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Jan 31, 2009 (Saturday) Where: Indiana University Assembly Hall (Bloomington, IN)
#
IU Hoosier's Men's Basketball vs. Penn State
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Jan 17, 2009 (Saturday) Where: Indiana University Assembly Hall (Bloomington, IN)
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IU Hoosier's Men's Basketball vs. Texas Christian University
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Dec 10, 2008 (Wednesday) Where: Indiana University Assembly Hall (Bloomington, IN)
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IU Hoosier's Men's Basketball vs. Wisconsin
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Feb 19, 2009 (Thursday) Where: Indiana University Assembly Hall (Bloomington, IN)
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Pistons Night Out - Detroit Pistons v Washington Wizards
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Nov 01, 2008 (Saturday) Where: The Palace of Auburn Hills (Auburn Hills, MI)

For the complete list of all 111 listings visit TicketsOnsaleToday.com

eXtreme Fight Productions Presents: TheXFights
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Jan 23, 2009 (Friday) Where: Municipal Auditorium (Kansas City, MO)
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UNH Wildcats Mens Hockey vs. Northeastern Huskies Mens College Hockey
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Oct 31, 2008 (Friday) Where: Whittemore Center Arena (Durham, NH)
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UNH Wildcats vs. Northeastern Huskies Mens College Hockey
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Oct 31, 2008 (Friday) Where: Whittemore Center Arena (Durham, NH)
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John and Juan
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Nov 08, 2008 (Saturday) Where: National Hispanic Cultural Center Journal Theatre (Albuquerque, NM)
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Sinbad
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Dec 27, 2008 (Saturday) Where: MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa (Lake Tahoe, NV)
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Monday Night Music Club Feat. Lights Resolve
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Nov 24, 2008 (Monday) Where: Blender Theater at Gramercy (New York, NY)
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70s Soul Jam
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Feb 13, 2009 (Friday) Where: Rochester Auditorium Theatre (Rochester, NY)
#
Syracuse University Women's Basketball vs. Delaware State
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Dec 06, 2008 (Saturday) Where: Carrier Dome (Syracuse, NY)
#
Syracuse University Women's Basketball vs. DePaul
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Feb 17, 2009 (Tuesday) Where: Carrier Dome (Syracuse, NY)
#
Syracuse University Women's Basketball vs. Georgetown
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Feb 22, 2009 (Sunday) Where: Carrier Dome (Syracuse, NY)
#
Syracuse University Women's Basketball vs. Lehigh
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Dec 02, 2008 (Tuesday) Where: Carrier Dome (Syracuse, NY)
#
Syracuse University Women's Basketball vs. Niagara
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT
When: Dec 14, 2008 (Sunday) Where: Carrier Dome (Syracuse, NY)
#
Syracuse University Women's Basketball vs. Ohio
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:01 GMT
When: Dec 21, 2008 (Sunday) Where: Carrier Dome (Syracuse, NY)
#
Syracuse University Women's Basketball vs. Pittsburgh
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:01 GMT
When: Jan 24, 2009 (Saturday) Where: Carrier Dome (Syracuse, NY)
#
Syracuse University Women's Basketball vs. Portland State
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:01 GMT
When: Nov 22, 2008 (Saturday) Where: Carrier Dome (Syracuse, NY)
#
Syracuse University Women's Basketball vs. Princeton
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:01 GMT
When: Dec 30, 2008 (Tuesday) Where: Carrier Dome (Syracuse, NY)
#
Syracuse University Women's Basketball vs. Providence
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:01 GMT
When: Mar 02, 2009 (Monday) Where: Carrier Dome (Syracuse, NY)
#
Syracuse University Women's Basketball vs. Rutgers
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:01 GMT
When: Jan 06, 2009 (Tuesday) Where: Carrier Dome (Syracuse, NY)
#
Syracuse University Women's Basketball vs. Seton Hall
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:01 GMT
When: Jan 13, 2009 (Tuesday) Where: Carrier Dome (Syracuse, NY)
#
Syracuse University Women's Basketball vs. South Florida
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:01 GMT
When: Feb 08, 2009 (Sunday) Where: Carrier Dome (Syracuse, NY)
#
Syracuse University Women's Basketball vs. Villanova
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:01 GMT
When: Jan 31, 2009 (Saturday) Where: Carrier Dome (Syracuse, NY)
#
Michael Tolcher
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:01 GMT
When: Nov 19, 2008 (Wednesday) Where: House of Blues Cleveland (Cleveland, OH)
#
Boombox
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:01 GMT
When: Nov 06, 2008 (Thursday) Where: Rex Theatre (Pittsburgh, PA)
#
Trust Company : the Exies
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:01 GMT
When: Nov 12, 2008 (Wednesday) Where: Hard Rock Cafe (Pittsburgh, PA)
#
Intense Cage Fighting
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:01 GMT
When: Dec 06, 2008 (Saturday) Where: Swiftel Center (Brookings, SD)
#
DJ Tiesto
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:01 GMT
When: Dec 08, 2008 (Monday) Where: Cowboys Dancehall (San Antonio, TX)
#
Frog In the Clouds
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:01 GMT
When: Nov 12, 2008 (Wednesday) Where: Charline McCombs Empire Theatre (San Antonio, TX)
#
BATTLE FOR GWAR
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:01 GMT
When: Nov 21, 2008 (Friday) Where: The National (Richmond, VA)
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Frontiers
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:01 GMT
When: Dec 26, 2008 (Friday) Where: The National (Richmond, VA)
#
Gwar
Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:01 GMT
When: Dec 31, 2008 (Wednesday) Where: The National (Richmond, VA)
#
David Lanz

Illinois single-game men's basketball tickets

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. --

Like expectations for Illinois basketball, ticket demand has dropped. Illinois single-game men's basketball tickets are available for all games and go on sale at 9 a.m. Monday. Unlike recent seasons, all Big Ten Conference games are available. Single-game tickets range from $22 to $35. They can be purchased in person at the Assembly Hall athletic ticket office, by phone at (866) ILLINI-1 and online at fightingillini.com.

Tickets for Illinois' game against Georgia at the United Center in Chicago on Dec. 6 go on sale Wednesday (Oct. 28) at 11 a.m. through Ticketmaster. The Illini women also play Bradley immediately after the Illini-Georgia game. Tickets range from $25 to $50. They can be ordered online at ticketmaster.com and by phone at (312) 559-1212.

Tennessee Titans Remain NFL's Only Unbeaten Team

The Tennessee Titans scored 17 fourth-quarter points to rally past the Indianapolis Colts 31-21 and remain the National Football League's lone undefeated team.

The Titans trailed 14-6 late in the third quarter at LP Field in Nashville before scoring 25 straight points in about 15 minutes. Lendale White and Chris Johnson combined for three rushing touchdowns and Rob Bironas kicked a 48-yard field goal as the Titans improved to 7-0, the best start in the franchise's 49-year history.

Tennessee has a four-game lead in the AFC South as it seeks to end the Colts' five-year reign atop the division. Indianapolis fell to 3-4, its worst start since 1998, when the Colts opened 1-8 in quarterback Peyton Manning's rookie season.

Manning passed for 223 yards and two touchdowns, and also scored on a one-yard run with 1:17 left. He also threw two interceptions.

After rushing for a team-record 317 yards in last week's win against Kansas City, the Titans were held to 88 yards on the ground against an Indianapolis defense that ranked 29th out of 32 NFL teams against the run.

White was limited to 13 yards on 10 carries, yet scored on a pair of one-yard runs to give him 10 touchdowns on the season. Johnson added a 16-yard scoring run for the Titans, who have won 10 straight games dating to last season, the longest streak in the NFL and the team's best since reeling off a franchise-record 11 victories in a row in 1993-94 as the Houston Oilers. source>>>

There have been a boat load of officiating mistakes during this 2008 World Series.

There have been a boat load of officiating mistakes during this 2008 World Series. Tonight that boat came in handy with the wild weather and rain, as the umpires let the game get out of control before they called a delay (and ultimately suspension).

One of the umps at the just held press conference said (and I am paraphrasing here) that he just had to point out how "the players were not complaining about the conditions, which certainly happens when rain conditions get bad. They were all acting professionally and they should be commended."

I'm sorry. Why exactly would they be commended for NOT complaining if the field was NOT in bad shape and weather was not yet a factor? You don't name a 'player of the game' simply because he didn't complain about the cloudless, sunny day. By pointing out how grand it was that they players kept their pie-holes shut just PROVES THE POINT that the conditions on the field in the fifth were deplorable. And they did nothing about it.

It's so plainly obvious that since the top of the sixth ended in a tie, the MLB saw their out without having chaos. Suspend the game and pick it up later. Even if later means November. At least it didn't end on a sour note for one or the other team.

Now it's quite obvious that I am a Phillies fan, disheartened and feeling wronged that the Rays came back to tie it AND that we now lose Hamels on the mound. But I insist that were the shoe on the other hand I would be saying the same thing. The integrity of this game 5 has been compromised by the lack of decision making on the part of the umpires. This game could easily have been put in a rain delay an inning earlier and you could honestly say the weather had not tainted the outcome of the game. By waiting, you allowed that to happen.

Put all your bad calls, missed tags and misshapen strike zones into the boat and sail away down the base line, you sad sack of umps. Let's hope they review the selection process before next October for officials... source>>>

MLB: Rays lose Philly Hotel rooms, have to stay in Delaware hotel

The Tampa Bay Rays had to scramble for hotel rooms when Game 5 of the World Series was suspended because of bad weather.

The Rays had booked rooms at the Westin Hotel in downtown Philadelphia only through Monday, believing they would be heading back to Tampa, on Tuesday.

When Monday night's game was suspended because of rain, the Rays found that the rooms they had rented at the Westin were already booked.

After some calls, the team found a hotel that had enough rooms for all the players -- the posh Hotel du Pont in downtown Wilmington, Del., about 25 miles south of Citizens Bank Park. source>>>

Johnson about to win his third consecutive CupTitle under the guidance of his crew chief Chad Knaus

With Jimmie Johnson about to win his third consecutive Sprint Cup title, crew chief Chad Knaus is at the top of game, overcoming a past that included his banishment from the track for cheating.
Jim Peltz
October 28, 2008
Jimmie Johnson is poised to win an historic third consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup title under the guidance of his crew chief Chad Knaus, a span of excellence that began with Knaus being penalized, vilified and banished from the race track for cheating.

But after paying his penance for that episode at the Daytona 500 in 2006 and making personal changes, Knaus stands ready to etch his own name in the record books by managing Johnson's remarkable streak.

Knaus (pronounced ke-nouse) has done so with an exhaustive attention to detail, a cerebral technical knowledge of the sport, a willingness to push the limits of NASCAR's rules despite his past indiscretions, a keen understanding of his driver and a willingness to make gutsy calls in the pits.

That was evident again Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Johnson arrived in Atlanta comfortably ahead in the NASCAR Cup point standings with only four races remaining, and had his No. 48 Chevrolet running seventh as the race neared its end.

On Sunday when the yellow flag flew with 13 laps left, Johnson and Knaus could have taken the conservative route by staying put during the caution period and likely getting a top-10 finish.

Instead, Knaus called Johnson into the pits for a four-tire change, which dropped Johnson back to 11th as the race resumed with only eight laps remaining.

With the fresh rubber, Johnson stormed through the field, picking off car after car, and he finished second behind winner Carl Edwards.

That widened Johnson's lead in the Chase for the Cup playoff to 183 points with only three races remaining - all but sealing the third straight title. "Chad's call for tires at the end really paid off," Johnson said.

For Knaus, the call was a no-brainer.

"Wins and top fives, that's what we get paid to do," he said. "I felt like if we just stayed where we were at in seventh, I don't know if we would have finished in the top 10."

If Johnson wins the championship, he'll become only the second driver to capture three straight. The other driver was Cale Yarborough in 1976-78.

And Knaus would become the first crew chief to accomplish the feat, because Yarborough had different crew chiefs during his title stretch.

Johnson's stretch began ignominiously at Daytona in early 2006. After his qualifying run for the prestigious race, NASCAR found his rear window had been altered to improve the car's aerodynamics.

NASCAR suspended Knaus for four races, an incident that made big headlines and embarrassed Johnson and team owner Rick Hendrick. Yet Johnson won the Daytona 500 anyway as Knaus watched it on TV at home.

Knaus, whose father drove minor league late-model race cars, also was a self-admitted control freak at the time. There also was some tension on the team, which had narrowly lost the championship in 2004 and 2005.

Even before the suspension, Knaus already had been trying to stop pressing as much, to delegate more responsibility and to build a stronger friendship with Johnson. That continued once Knaus returned to action.

The rest is history. After winning the Cup in 2006, Johnson and Knaus did it again last year, even though Knaus got suspended again, this time for six races, when Johnson's Chevy had an oversized front fender at Sonoma, Calif.

Knaus rejects being labeled a cheater, but does contend that it's part of his job to test gray areas in NASCAR's rule book for ways to make Johnson's car go faster.

And once Johnson's on the track, Knaus has shown time and again why he might be the canniest - or simply the boldest - crew chief in NASCAR.

"That's what we're here for," Johnson said Sunday. "You have no clue what's going to take place next week or the final two races. You just can't sit still and be content with sixth, seventh, fifth, wherever you're at. You've got to go." source>>>

Mark Martin may be getting an early Christmas present this season.

But it won't be the jolly old man with the white beard and red and white suit tucking this gift under the 26-year veteran's decorated tree.

Numerous NASCAR Web sites are reporting that Martin, currently running a part-time schedule in the No. 8 Army Chevrolet for Dale Earnhardt Inc. but switching to HMS at the start of the 2009 season, may be running either all or a portion of the final three races this season in the HMS's No. 5 car, possibly beginning as early as this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway.

It was originally reported on SPEED TV's coverage of the first practice for Sunday's Pep Boys Auto 500 at Atlanta by Larry McReynolds that Martin, who was slated to drive the No. 8 in three of the final four races of the season, could be running the rest of the season in the No. 5. McReynolds reported that Casey Mears, currently behind the wheel of the No. 5, could get an early start on his new contract to drive the No. 33 for Richard Childress Racing in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway on No. 16.

ESPN.com confirmed the report, stating that HMS is considering the move, but only for the Homestead race.

According to the report, a contingency plan has been put into place to allow Mears to move over to RCR at Homestead. He is slated to drive the No. 07 for RCR next season, but wouldn't be able to drive that car this season as Clint Bowyer, the current driver of that ride, is competing in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup and can't make the switch to the No. 33 as expected for 2009 until the end of the season.

RCR is willing to give Mears a shot in the No. 33 without a sponsor, according to the ESPN.com report, in order to get him in the race, and Martin is done with his responsibilities with DEI and the No. 8 car after the next two races -- this weekend at Texas and next weekend at Phoenix.source>>>

Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin defends using LB Harrison as emergency long snapper

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin vigorously defended his decision to use Pro Bowl linebacker James Harrison as an emergency long snapper, a move that may have cost the team its key game against the Giants on Sunday.

Tomlin denied Tuesday the team didn't have an emergency snapper ready after Greg Warren tore a knee ligament, saying two linebackers -- Harrison and James Farrior -- practiced the specialist's role.

"James snaps at least once a week, every week since I've been here," Tomlin said of Harrison, a Pro Bowl starter and team MVP last season. "In practice and training camp is one thing. Inside stadiums and in the fourth quarter of a football game against the defending world champions is another thing. ... If I had to do it all over again, I'd do the same thing. I'd hope for a different outcome, but I'd do it again."

Harrison's snap sailed over punter Mitch Berger's head for a game-tying safety in the fourth quarter. Given excellent field position following the ensuing free kick, the Giants drove for the decisive touchdown with about three minutes remaining and a 21-14 victory.

Some fans questioned why Tomlin didn't use center Justin Hartwig or right guard Darnell Stapleton, a former Rutgers center, for such an important snap. Tomlin explained that punt snapping is much different from centering the ball to the quarterback, even in a shotgun formation.

"Two totally different skill sets," Tomlin said.

Tomlin gave a lengthy explanation for a decision that made the Steelers (5-2) look ill-prepared during one of their key games of the season. On Monday, Giants coach Tom Coughlin said he has three players capable of being a long snapper, including his backup center.

Being a center doesn't prepare a lineman to snap, Tomlin said, because velocity is as important as accuracy -- one reason why NFL teams carry a player who does nothing but snap to the punter.

"A center in shotgun snaps with one hand," Tomlin said. "When you're a long snapper in a punt situation, you're a two-handed snapper. Velocity is very important. Operation time, snap to kick, defines you.

Bigtime Cash for World Series Game 5 ticket stubs

Never has a World Series game been suspended before.

So never before has a market developed for used but still usable Series tickets.

Fans who went to last night's Game 5, which was stopped after 5-1/2 innings because of rain, were warned they'd need their tickets to return to see the final innings.

The game is scheduled to resume tomorrow night, because tonight's forecast looked soggy, gusty and cold, Major League Baseball announced early this afternoon.

This morning, some of those fans were already reselling their passes to the ballpark - at lofty prices.

Although a variety of online services had no tickets this morning, eBay, Craigslist and StubHub listed a few dozen altogether.

Forget any extra tickets becoming available through the Phillies, according to John Weber, the club's vice president for ticket sales and operations. "It's completely sold out," he said.

Dave, who lives near the Art Museum, sold one ticket for $600 on eBay early this morning.

That's for 3-1/2 innnings (if no extra innings) that might be played in rain.

And that's more than three times what some tickets cost on StubHub for Game 6 tickets in Florida.

Yes, entrance to that possibly unnecessary game can be had for as little as $172.

Dave didn't sell his own ticket. He's still going. The ticket was the one his father used last night.

"He's had enough with rain and late games," said the scientist who declined to share his last name.

He got the pair of tickets through a little wheeling and dealing. Realizing Game 5 could be the clincher, he sold his Game 4 seats for $1,700 - and got comparable Game 5 seats for $1,300, or $650 apiece.

Bettman watchful on NHL economics

Like other business executives, National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman says he is keeping a close watch on the roller coaster economy.

A prolonged economic slump could impact professional sports as advertisers and sponsors scale back from promotional dollars and luxury suites holders and season ticket subscribers give pause to their expenditures.

"If this current economic situation continues for any long period of time, there isn't a business out there that won't be impacted," Bettman said.

Bettman was in Buffalo on Monday to help announce that the city and the Buffalo Sabres have been selected by USA Hockey to host the 2011 International ice Hockey Federation's Under-20 championships. Bettman also attended Monday's Sabres-Ottawa Senators game.

"We're still doing business and selling sponsorships," Bettman said. "Attendance is up."

Last season, the NHL attracted more than 21 million fans. Bettman expects to equal that number this year.

The NHL, last season, reported a 9 percent growth in revenues.

Bettman also denied reports out of some Canadian outlets that the NHL was considering bringing a second franchise to the metropolitan Toronto area, either through expansion or relocation of existing team. Those reports are false, he said.

Some have suggested that Ontario businessman Jim Balsillie, who founded Research In Motion, is pushing hard for the second Southern Ontario franchise. Balsillie attempted to buy the Nashville Predators last year.

"We are not looking at expansion or relocation," Bettman said.

The commissioner said it is a real coup to the have the IIHF championships in two successive NHL cities, with Ottawa hosting the 2011 event, followed by Buffalo. It should help raise the NHL's growing profile in Europe and other countries.

"This is the closest we've got to a real showcase," Bettman said. "And, the economic impact to Buffalo and Ottawa is worth tens of millions of dollars." source>>>

Georgia vs Florida highlight College Football Week 9

There are few great games and not many that would qualify as good games as the college football season turns the corner into week nine. Without a doubt, the highlight of this week's lineup of games is the clash between BCS No. 6 Georgia and No. 8 Florida down in Jacksonville, Fla., also known as 'The World's Largest Cocktail Party.'

Both Florida and Georgia are on a roll coming off big wins in week 8. The Gators blasted Kentucky 63-5, while Georgia outlasted LSU down in Death Valley 52-38. This game has major national championship and conference implications for the winner while the loser will probably be on the outside looking in at the BCS party. Oddsmakers at Sportsbook.com have the Gators listed as -5 ½ point favorites for this game.

The No. 1 Texas Longhorns have survived running the gauntlet of Oklahoma, Missouri and Oklahoma State and on Nov. 1 must travel to Jones Stadium in Lubbock to play the No. 7 Texas Tech Red Raiders. One great advantage the Longhorns have enjoyed is playing on their home field in Austin against Missouri and OSU. Against Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry game in Dallas at Cotton Bowl Stadium, half of the seats were filled with Longhorns faithful. That won't be the case in Jones Stadium where almost every seat will be cheering for the Red Raiders. Sportsbook.com has the Longhorns favored by a -6.0.

No. 2 Alabama has what would appear to be an easy non-conference tilt with Sun Belt member Arkansas State or oddsmakers seem to think so, favoring the Crimson Tide by -24. However; it was only a year ago that Alabama was upset at home by Louisiana-Monroe, also of the SBC. The Tide often struggle in games they are expected to win easily. Earlier this season Alabama failed to cover in a 17-7 SU win over Tulane. The Red Wolves have played in front of big raucous crowds so they shouldn't be too intimidated. ASU defeated Texas A&M SU on the road at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas earlier in September as a +21 point underdog. Alabama had better have its guard up to avoid any letdown.

Dana White on Nick Diaz possible return to UFC

Count UFC President Dana White among the many interested suitors interested in possibly securing the services of 25-year-old mixed martial arts veteran, Nick Diaz (18-7), now that Elite XC is no longer.

That is, of course, if the Stockton, Calif., native can cool his temper outside the cage.

"I think Nick Diaz is a bad ass. Nick Diaz is a tough kid," White said in a recent radio interview with TapouT Live. "Nick Diaz doesn't handle himself right all the time in public. I like him -- I respect him as a fighter. I love his attitude. I love the way that kid fights. But you can't do the stuff that this kid does in public. You can't get into fights when the fight is over ... you can't do that stuff."

White is perhaps referring to an incident in the wake of UFC 57: "Liddell vs. Couture 3" in 2006 when Diaz was so fired up that a decision didn't go his way in a fight against Joe Riggs that he dropped "Diesel" in the hospital afterwards.

He remained with the promotion after the post-fight fisticuffs, going on to lose his next bout against Sean Sherk via unanimous decision. The defeat to the "Muscle Shark" was his third straight inside the Octagon; however; Diaz, felt at the time that he should have won all the fights during that rough stretch.

College Football Betting Picks

College Football Schedule Picks and BCS Rankings: For all the college football betting fans that are searching for the 2008 week 10 College football schedule, picks and BCS rankings no need to look any further.

OnlineSportsHandicapping.com has the full slate of College football picks opening lines for week 10. So, before you bet on College football in week 8 bookmark this page as you search for the best college football betting lines. Week 8 of the College football schedule has several exciting College Football betting matchups on tap. Browse below for your College football teams' matchup.

OnlineSportsHandicapping.com is issuing an betting lines ALERT on the week 10 college football picks and betting odds schedule.

A few notable college football matchups this week on the college football schedule are:

* No. 1 Texas at No. 7 Texas Tech, Saturday 8PM on ABC:, The College football Odds makers had BCS Ranked No. 1 Texas Longhorns opened as the -5½(-110) College Odds favorite in this week 10 College football schedule matchup. The college football betting line has moved +/- 1 point since it opened 6(-100).
* No. 8 Florida vs. No. 6 Georgia, Saturday, 3:30, CBS, The college football odds makers have No.8 BCS Ranked Florida Gators opened as the -5½(-104) point betting favorite in this week 10 college football schedule matchup. The college football betting line has not moved since it opened.
* Nebraska vs No. 4 Oklahoma, The Oklahoma Sooners opened as the -22(-107) betting favorite as they face Nebraska in their week 10 College football schedule matchup. The college football betting line has moved not moved since it opened and is still favoring No. 4 BCS Ranked Oklahoma Sooners. source>>>

College football: Buckeyes hope to find 'what it is we feel we can do best'

All things considered, Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel would rather have seen Terrelle Pryor try to be a little sneakier the other night against Penn State when the Buckeyes were clinging to a fourth-quarter lead.

The freshman quarterback opted not to sneak for a first down at midfield, and he tried to get outside on a keeper where, if he beat just one man, he thought he would have had smooth sailing. Instead, he was stripped of the ball, the Nittany Lions recovered and moments later scored the go-ahead touchdown in what turned out to be a 13-6 victory.

"For sure the best decision would have been to stay focused in on what we really needed at the moment," Tressel said today. "I think he felt that when, all of a sudden, they dropped a bunch of people into the A gap (either side of center) and crouched in on the B gap there, that he felt like he could do a little bit better a little wider. And you could see from the film why he felt that way.

"But staying focused on the fact that really what we needed at that moment was a first down obviously would have been the best decision."

It was a play that not only changed the game, it changed the course of the season for the 13th-ranked Buckeyes (7-2, 4-1). They now must rely on winning out plus Penn State (9-0, 5-0) being upset a time or two to get back in the Big Ten title hunt.

Not that Tressel blamed Pryor for the loss. There was plenty of that to spread around on an offense that for the third game this season could not score a touchdown.

Any such discussion almost always starts with overall disappointment in the play of the offensive line which, with four starters back from last season, was expected to be a more consistent and stronger force. Tressel said this bye week will allow the coaches and players to do some re-evaluating of what they want to be about offensively.

"Whenever you have a setback, typically you go back and examine how well you are doing in your fundamentals," Tressel said on the Big Ten teleconference today. "That's hard (to do) sometimes during the course of a season, because you go from one week to another facing another defensive concept, so you have to do a little different things against different styles of defense, and you lose a little bit of that individual fundamental time.

"Whenever you go back and look at your film, it's typically fundamental errors vs, anything else" that are the problem.

Wednesday and Thursday of this week will be devoted to finding out "what it is we feel we can do best" before starting to game-plan a little for Northwestern on Friday.

At this point, though, nine games into the season, he is disappointed in an offense that is ranked 95th nationally in total yards (318.33 average).

"The consistency of the offense has not progressed," Tressel said. "Now, that's not to diminish the fact that I thought Penn State was very good on defense, and (not to say) we should have gone out and scored 35 points or anything, because usually you don't do that (in a big game) unless people turn the ball over to you, and make some big special teams plays, and so forth.

"Anyhow, the consistency, the fact we haven't been able to really find out who we are, what we do best, and 'Hey, we're going to do this, and you know we're going to do it, but we do it so well it doesn't matter if you know we're going to do it' -- we haven't gotten to that point." source>>>

ACC Latest to Seek Restrictions on Players Testing NBA Draft

Almost every spring, there are mumblings and grousing by college coaches about the length of time allowed for college players to decide about whether they should enter the NBA Draft or come back to play college basketball for another year. There are rumors of changing the rules to shorten the time for students to reconsider. Most of the times the complaints are off-the-record, because no coach wants to be seen as undermining or not supporting their players considering the NBA Draft.

Coaches hate the rule, though, because it puts them in a difficult spot. They don't know if they will have an open scholarship or need to go after one more recruit. It creates uncertainty for them, their recruiting and plans for the following season.

Well, the ACC has drafted a proposal to make the change.

The ACC plans to propose NCAA legislation that would force men's basketball underclassmen to decide within seven to 10 days after the NCAA title game whether they are leaving for the NBA draft. ...
Under the legislation, "there would be no grace period - either you're in or you're out," said Karl Hicks, the ACC's associate commissioner for basketball operations. "We feel that's what would work best for the student athletes and that's what would work best for the coaches."

So, uh how does it help the student-athletes? No testing the draft process? No tryouts? No grace period to reconsider?

All it does is help the coaches. Specifically, the coaches at major programs -- like the ACC.
The plan would be to force the players to make an irrevocable decision 7 to 10 days after the National Championship game. By a remarkable coincidence, that just happens to time out to when the late signing period begins.

In other words, it is to benefit the coaches who may need to replace a couple players who declare for the draft. They may be a bit behind other schools, but they have time and the certainty of knowing they have an open scholarship to pursue the recruits.

For programs outside of the major conferences, this means an increased competition for the late signees. A late-bloomer, or a talent that didn't show as much between his junior and senior year suddenly becomes worth pursuing by the bigger powers.

The present rules are great for the student-athletes. They can go through camps, practice for NBA teams. Consult with the NBA about their draft status. Get real, feedback and have plenty of information to make a decision. Considering the importance of forgoing the rest of a scholarship and pursuing a professional basketball career at that point, having the time to make the decision for freshmen, sophomores and juniors has led to more that come back for at least one more year. A player like K.C. Rivers at Clemson found out he wasn't nearly as desirable to NBA scouts as he believed and returned for his senior year -- and the being able to graduate.

The justification for changing the rule -- beyond that it makes things easier for the coaches -- is pointing to the fact that in college football, players only have a short period to declare and then only 72 hours to change their mind. Of course, the NFL restricts the quantity by restricting early declarations to juniors and/or players who are three-years removed from high school.

The NBA has only two rounds, is open to all underclassmen and foreign players. It is really difficult to compare the two systems. The main reason, though, is that it is all about the poor coaches and the uncertainty to the programs.

"Basically you'd like to move on," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "Also, what happens, for a two-month period guys who may not be in your program become your priority. And the guys who are still in the program don't get any attention. ... They get devalued."

The kids not getting attention get devalued? Isn't that a problem with the coaches then?

If the coaches are so concerned about stability and the poor kids still in the program not getting any attention, then by all means, it is time to focus on those issues. A big rule change that would help stability would be to restrict coaching free agency.

All head coaches that have a job, would only have two weeks after the season ends to consider a new job elsewhere in the NCAA. Remove the uncertainty from the programs, and that would definitely be fairer to the student-athletes. No late job-jumping and recruits wanting out. There would be far more stability and certainty. Of course, that would limit the freedom and chance to make more money for the coaches, so that would be unfair. source>>>

St. Xavier Men's Basketball Picked To Win Third Straight Atlantic 10 Championship

After winning a program-record 30 contests and advancing to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, Xavier has been tabbed as the team to beat in the Atlantic 10 men's basketball race, according to a poll of Atlantic 10's head coaches and media released Tuesday during Basketball Media Day.

The Musketeers received 44 of the 61 first-place votes cast by the panel of coaches and media members. Xavier (30-7 overall and 14-2 in the Atlantic 10) returns a pair of starters from last year's team which captured its second consecutive A-10 regular season title. Leading XU will be junior forward Derrick Brown (10.9 ppg. and 6.5 rpg.) and senior guard/forward C.J. Anderson (10.7 ppg. and 5.9 rpg.), who garnered preseason All-Conference first- and third-team honors, respectively. Xavier has won 20 or more

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