The Sporting News articles from December 2000

The Sporting News archives from December 2000

Voice of the Fan.(Brief Article)
December 4, 2000... Choice voice `Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has been fined twice recently, and now he finds himself being sued as well. He wants to be close to his players, but this is ridiculous.' --Sergio Rocha, El Paso, Texas Hit and miss *...

Caught on the Fly.(sports humor)(Brief Article)
December 4, 2000... Hey, didn't you used to be the Celts' savior? * Hey-yo, campuses're cuh-rawlin' with agents' runners, tryin' to hook up with the talent. Everybody's investing in seniors, but one Flywitness to the recruiting process is kind enough to count...

Bob Hille's Starting Five.(sports humor)(Brief Article)
December 4, 2000... 1 The ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The "challenge" isn't the conference vs. conference matchups, it's Dick Vitale's play-by-play partner getting a word in edgewise. 2 The NFL stretch run. Before the season started, people were asking, "Who are...

DUSTBIN.(Eddie Robinson's coaching career)(Brief Article)
December 4, 2000... November 29, 1997 Eddie Robinson's coaching career ended in a loss as Southern University beat Grambling 30-7 in the Bayou Classic. It was the conclusion to a losing season, 3-8 for the Tigers. But in his 56-year tenure, Robinson...

2 COLLEGE FOOTBALL AWARDS.(Josh Heupel and Dennis Erickson)(Statistical Data Included)
December 4, 2000... PLAYER OF THE YEAR JOSH HEUPEL, QB OKLAHOMA Josh Heupel is fading back, back, back in the pocket. The rush is coming. Before contact, Heupel heaves a pass off his back foot. Downfield, an Oklahoma receiver leaps to make the grab. It's an...

Oklahoma's answer.(football player Josh Heupel)(includes related information on Damien Anderson)
December 4, 2000... Josh Heupel, who has the Sooners one win away from playing for the national championship, doesn't have the best arm or the biggest numbers. But he knows how to win. There was an uncomfortable silence in the car on that cold South Dakota...

Looking for a head coach? Try an offensive coordinator.(college football coaches with backgrounds in offense)
December 4, 2000... Memo to the Division I-A athletic directors searching for head coaches: Hire someone who prefers to chuck it, not stuff it. Defense can wait. The fans must get excited--right now. And nothing excites fans like an offense that scores points...

Oklahoma vs. Kansas State.(college football)(Brief Article)
December 4, 2000... Why to watch: It's win and you're in for Oklahoma, which can complete its improbable turnaround under coach Bob Stoops by beating K-State for the second time this season. A victory puts the Sooners in the Orange Bowl, playing for the national...

TSN's Power Poll.(college football rankings)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
December 4, 2000... Rk. Team (last week) W-L Last week 1. Oklahoma (1) 11-0 W, 12-7 at Oklahoma State 2. Miami (2) 10-1 W, 52-6 vs. Boston College 3. Florida State (3) 11-1 Idle 4. Washington (4) 10-1...

CONFERENCE CALL.(college football)
December 4, 2000... THIS WEEK'S SPOTLIGHT: Teams getting a raw deal Poor Miami. Beat Florida State fair and square and can't get a break. Poor Virginia Tech. Lost one game without Superman and can't get a break. Hey, your teams aren't the only ones...

Inside recruiting/Safeties.(top 25 college football recruiting prospects)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
December 4, 2000... Recruiting analyst Bobby Burton ranks the top 25 senior prospects. Rk. Name Ht./Wt. 40 Yd. 1. Ernest Shazor 6-4/200 4.45 Because of his size, quickness and tenacity, Shazor probably will...

CLOSING ARGUMENTS.(opposing views on whether there are to many college football bowl games)(Brief Article)
December 4, 2000... Are there too many bowls? Yes--enough is enough By Tom Dienhart The holiday season is all about excess. Too much food, too many presents, too many parties. And too many bowls. This season, we've seen the bowl numbers swell to...

The greatest story ever sold.(football player Keyshawn Johnson)(Statistical Data Included)
December 4, 2000... Keyshawn Johnson continues to write his own self-glorifying script, but his career simply isn't living up to his words In a Tampa Bay locker room that has the faded feel of a pre-Castro Havana cabana, Keyshawn Johnson is stabbing a fork...

Manning outplays foes because he outthinks them.(Peyton Manning)
December 4, 2000... In that window of time between lining up and calling for the football, Peyton Manning changes plays and games. Now we'll see if he can change a season. After losing three of their last four games, the Colts have fallen behind the Dolphins and...

These players will spring to prominent roles in 2001.(football players)
December 4, 2000... It happens every year. Injuries and roster turnover create opportunities for special teams grunts to make an impact as regular position players. This season, the pair taking advantage the most is Titans wide receiver Derrick Mason and Chiefs...

Draft watch.(defensive tackles)(Brief Article)
December 4, 2000... DEFENSIVE TACKLES A number of these players are worthy of being chosen high in the draft. At least four defensive tackles are expected to go in the first round, and that number will grow if juniors such as Gerard Warren of Florida and...

INSIDE THE NFC EAST.(National Football Conference East news)(Statistical Data Included)
December 4, 2000... GAME OF THE WEEK N.Y. Giants at Washington. If the Giants, who lost 16-6 to the Redskins in Week 4, are to gain a season split, Kerry Collins must avoid repeating his dreadful performance of 10 weeks ago. Particularly galling was a pass...

INSIDE THE NFC CENTRAL.(National Football Conference Central news)(Statistical Data Included)
December 4, 2000... GAME OF THE WEEK Detroit at Minnesota. The Lions are unbeaten under Gary Moeller, but this will be a true measuring stick--on the road vs. a tough division opponent. In the teams' first meeting, Lions RB James Stewart had his best game of...

INSIDE THE NFC WEST.(National Football Conference East news)(Statistical Data Included)
December 4, 2000... GAME OF THE WEEK Denver at New Orleans. A crucial game for two teams trying to reach the playoffs without first-team QBs. The key will be the Saints' pressure on Gus Frerotte, who doesn't move well and will make mistakes under duress. If...

INSIDE THE AFC EAST.(American Football Conference East news)(Statistical Data Included)
December 4, 2000... GAME OF THE WEEK Indianapolis at N.Y. It would have been hard to imagine at the beginning of the season that the Colts would have their backs against the wall in this game. But back-to-back losses and three in four games have put them in...

INSIDE THE AFC CENTRAL.(American Football Conference Central news)(Statistical Data Included)
December 4, 2000... GAME OF THE WEEK Tennessee at Philadelphia, What looked like an easy game for the Titans a month ago certainly doesn't look that way now. The 9-4 Eagles would like nothing more than to whip one of the NFL's better teams, and the...

INSIDE THE AFC WEST.(American Football Conference West news)(Statistical Data Included)
December 4, 2000... GAME OF THE WEEK Oakland at Pittsburgh. The next-to-last regular-season game at Three Rivers Stadium pits the same franchises from the most famous game played within its walls, The Immaculate Reception came in the 1972 playoffs. This...

STATS.(professional football)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
December 4, 2000... RUSHING Arts. Yds. Avg. TDs. James, Ind. 291 1309 4.5 10 Smith, Min. 238 1276 5.4 5 Ja. Lewis, Bal. 229 1095 ...

CENTURY CLUB.(professional football players who have caught 100 or more passes in single season)(Statistical Data Included)
December 4, 2000... Denver's Rod Smith and Ed McCaffery are on pace to do something that has been done only once in NFL history: catch 100 or more passes for the same team in the same season. Herman Moore (123) and Brett Perriman (108) did it for Detroit in 1995....

TSN SCOREBOARD.(professional football)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
December 4, 2000... NFC NFC EAST W L T Pct. PF PA Div. NFC Philadelphia 9 4 0 .692 287 199 5-3-0 8-4-0 New York 8 4 0 .667 244 191 5-1-0 7-3-0 Washington 7 5...

CLASH OF THE TITANS.(Chris Pronger and Jaromir Jagr)(Interview)
December 4, 2000... We take you inside the as JAROMIR JAGR and CHRIS PRONGER--the league's best-meet in their only this season. The decision? It comes in a flash. The subject was Chris Pronger, and Jaromir Jagr couldn't keep a straight face. "He's...

Plenty of things to like at the season's quarter pole.(preofssional hockey)(Statistical Data Included)
December 4, 2000... It's not business as usual around the NHL. Not like it was a couple of weeks ago, anyway, before the free-agent market started dwindling and the front-office ranks were shaken up. As those events proved, wins and losses are more important...

WESTERN NHL CONFERENCE.(National Hockey LeagueWestern Conference News)(Brief Article)
December 4, 2000... WHO'S HOT It took awhile for him to get fired up, but Anson Carter has proved to be a worthwhile investment for the Oilers. in five games he had two game-winners and three assists. Against the Senators he assisted on the tying goal with...

EASTERN NHL CONFERENCE.(National Hockey League Eastern Conference News)(Brief Article)
December 4, 2000... WHO'S HOT You've got to believe Petr Sykora and Patrik Elias are happy that linemate Jason Arnott signed his big deal. The two are riding high, notching a point in each of Arnott's three games (and three before that, through Saturday)....

Fourth and foremost.(basketball player Brian Cook)
December 4, 2000... With Frank Williams, Marcus Griffin and Cory Bradford drawing the attention, it's easy to overlook Illinois' most gifted player: versatile --and patient--power forward Brian Cook The public-address system in the Lahaina Civic Center is more...

Dayton's sheer will exposes Maryland's lack thereof.(college basketball)(Statistical Data Included)
December 4, 2000... About 12 minutes remained between Dayton and Maryland when the truth became obvious. This was the best game of the Maui Invitational, because it was the one essential game in the tournament. As much as Illinois would have liked to beat...

`I have to move on'.(basketball player Paul Pierce)
December 4, 2000... Having narrowly escaped death in a brutal stabbing in September, Celtics forward Paul Pierce is taking advantage of second chance Holding his cue stick like a microphone stand, Paul Pierce leans hard into the throbbing beat. Eyes closed,...

Payton has molded Sonics in his bickering image.(basketball player Gary Payton)
December 4, 2000... One cannot question Gary Payton's greatness, one cannot question Gary Payton's desire, but even his most ardent admirers must admit this: Gary Payton ain't hooked up right. Usually, superstars have a pretty good reason to start an...

EASTERN CONFERENCE.(team-by-team analyses of National Basketball Association Eastern Conference)(Statistical Data Included)
December 4, 2000... ATLANTA HURTING HAWKS: The injuries keep piling up on a team that cannot afford them. The latest was to SC Jim Jackson, who was sent to the injured list with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee. Jackson is the team's...

WESTERN CONFERENCE.(team-by-team analyses of National Basketball Association Western Conference)(Statistical Data Included)
December 4, 2000... Dallas WHAT DEFENSE? The defense remains inconsistent and the team's weakest aspect During the second quarter of a 116-110 home loss to Seattle last week, the Sonics made their first 16 field goal attempts. Ten of those baskets came on...

Career-ending injury puts Devil Rays lefty in front office.(Tony Saunders)
December 4, 2000... He was calmer this time. He knew what had happened. His left arm was broken. His career was over. And the pain, it was just as he had remembered--as if his arm were laid out on a table, and an ax had cut it in half. The moment was surreal...

Mariners think Suzuki will jump-start their offense.(Ichiro Suzuki)(Brief Article)
December 4, 2000... When the Mariners began negotiations with outfielder Ichiro Suzuki--perhaps the greatest hitter in Japanese baseball history--he wanted only one perk included in his contract: an English teacher for him and his wife. When the Mariners...

AMERICAN LEAGUE.(team-by-team analyses of professional baseball clubs)
December 4, 2000... Anaheim NO VACANCY AT CATCHER: C Jorge Fabregas signed a one-year contract, virtually eliminating any chance of free-agent reserve C Matt Walbeck returning. Fabregas, who hits lefthanded, will compete with Shawn Wooten for the backup job...

NATIONAL LEAGUE.(team-by-team analyses of professional baseball clubs)
December 4, 2000... Arizona GRACE COULD BE SIGNED: It's likely the team will be able to sign free-agent 1B Mark Grace. The sides are working on a two-year deal, with a possible option and terms of deferred salary still to be completed. Grace made $5.3 million...

Cheer life.(sports-related aircraft accidents)(Brief Article)
December 4, 2000... Out of different high schools in the same little town, they went on senior trips the same weekend to South Carolina. As best he knows, he had never seen her before Myrtle Beach, Her name was Debbie Hagley, and he had heard the name before, and...

Voice of the Fan.
December 11, 2000... Choice voice `Every time I turn on ESPN and Dick Vitale is broadcasting a game, I mute the television and put on the Marshall Tucker Band. I also have the Allman Brothers Band in reserve. Enough of Vitale. Can someone out there mute him?'...

Caught on the Fly.(brief anecdotes about athletes)(Brief Article)
December 11, 2000... Hey, didn't you used to be a BCS computer geek? * Buzz is Ol' SC never had a sniff with Dennis Erickson (self-image alert for Heritage Hall: "Mike Garrett's living in fantasy land," one coach whispers to the Spies). But don't get too...

Bob Hille's Starting Five.(one-liners about sports)(Brief Article)
December 11, 2000... 1 Mike Mussina, Sure, the Yankees are happy about signing him, but does it really change anything when all it guarantees is 1.) George Steinbrenner will be insufferable next season and 2.) the Red Sox won't be in the World Series? 2 The...

DUSTBIN.(Gale Sayers sets touchdown record in 1965)(Brief Article)
December 11, 2000... December 12, 1965 Gale Sayers, a rookie, tied an NFL record 35 years ago when he scored six touchdowns in the Bears' 61-20 victory against the 49ers. No player has scored that many touchdowns in a game since. Four of Sayers' scores were...

POLL POSITION.(upcoming game between University of Oklahoma and Florida State University)
December 11, 2000... No. 1 Oklahoma books a trip to the Orange Bowl in Miamibut did not to play the hometown Hurricanes, who--fairly or not--are heading somewhere else The victors walked up a long, dark ramp deep beneath Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. It...

Old-school Paterno needs new approach to offense.(Penn State football coach Joe Paterno)
December 11, 2000... If you want to travel back in time, there's no need to hop in a DeLorean. Simply get in your DeSoto and drive to State College, Pa., home of Penn State. Check out how the school pitches the city. Cue the black-and-white film: "Trees and...

Matchup nightmares.(football players)
December 11, 2000... Five contenders have a frightening edge that will carry them into -- and maybe through -- the playoffs Superior matchups in football are like trump cards in a bridge game. win any hand that's played. One difference is that most football...

Flawed defense provokes doubts about the Vikings.
December 11, 2000... Santa Claus and the Vikings both come from the north, do most of their business through the air and are the subject of much discussion this month. The difference is everyone wants to believe in the former. For some reason, even with an 11-2...

Rookie wideouts providing punch lines for D-backs.(defensive backs and wide receivers)
December 11, 2000... The original Not Ready For Prime Time Players were funny men--John Belushi, Dan Akroyd and Chevy Chase. They kept us howling on Saturday nights with great physical comedy. Twenty-five years later, a new cast of characters is carrying on...

INSIDE THE NFC EAST.(football teams)
December 11, 2000... GAME OF THE WEEK Washington at Dallas. While this game lacks the special feel of past Cowboys-Redskins games, it is still important because the Redskins need a victory to keep their playoff hopes alive. If the Cowboys have any pride at...

INSIDE THE NFC CENTRAL.(teams and players of the National Football Conference Central)
December 11, 2000... GAME OF THE WEEK Tampa Bay at Miami. The Battle of Florida features two excellent defenses, two questionable offenses, two quarterbacks with something to prove and plenty of payoff implications. The running games will tell the story in...

INSIDE THE NFC WEST.(teams and players of the National Football Conference West)
December 11, 2000... GAME OF THE WEEK Minnesota at St. Louis. This once had the makings of a classic shootout, but the Rams' offense and special teams are unraveling because of mistakes. Even if the Rams regenerate, Minnesota has the edge because its defense...

INSIDE THE AFC EAST.(teams and players of the American Football Conference East)
December 11, 2000... GAME OF THE WEEK N.Y. Jets at Oakland, Both teams are in great shape to make the playoffs, but the game means a lot to both in their division races. The Jets need a win if they hope to catch Miami, and the Raiders are trying to hold off...

INSIDE THE AFC CENTRAL.(teams and players of the American Football Conference Central)
December 11, 2000... GAME OF THE WEEK San Diego at Baltimore, On paper this is a mismatch but the Ravens have a history of struggling after weeks off, having lost their last three games in that situation. If they're not ready after a 14-day break, an upset is...

INSIDE THE AFC WEST.(teams and players of the American Football Conference West)
December 11, 2000... GAME OF THE WEEK Seattle at Denver. These teams met two weeks ago, and it was an upside-down affair. Three touchdowns came from the defenses. Seattle RB Ricky Wafters caught a receiver-like 9 passes for 126 yards Denver WR Rod Smith lined...

STATS.(National Football League)(Illustration)
December 11, 2000... RUSHING Atts. Yds. Avg. TDs. Smith, Min. 255 1391 5.5 7 James, Ind. 302 1358 4.5 10 Dillon, Cin. 264 ...

NFL SUNDAY'S GAMES.(National Football League)(Statistical Data Included)
December 11, 2000... NO PASSING GRADE There are many reasons for the Bengals' problems this season, but the biggest is a dreadful passing offense. The Bengals have thrown for more than 200 yards only twice and have five TD passes in 13 games. Akili Smith and...

TSN SCOREBOARD.(National Football League)
December 11, 2000... NFC NFC EAST W L T Pct. PF PA New York 9 4 0 .692 253 198 Philadelphia 9 5 0 .643 300 214 Washington 7 6 0 .538 245...

Scary business.(hockey player Eric Lindros faces the fact that concussions may be bringing his career to a close)
December 11, 2000... Eric Lindros has seen what concussions can do--his brother retired at 20 because of them--but the Big E wants to play again. Brett Lindros once kidded his older brother, Eric, that he should wear nothing but black, break all the rules in...

WESTERN NHL CONFERENCE.(National Hockey League: teams and players)(Brief Article)
December 11, 2000... WHO'S HOT File this under "Jumping on the bandwagon after it has run over your toe," We're belatedly tipping our helmet to Avs super sophomore Alex Tanguay, who ran up an 11-game points streak while on the big line with Joe Sakic and Milan...

EASTERN NHL CONFERENCE.(Brief Article)
December 11, 2000... WHO'S HOT Consider Martin Rucinsky a fan of new coach Michel Therrien. Playing on a line with Craig Darby and Dainius Zubrus, Rucinsky had three game-winning goals, helping the Habs go 4-2-1 (through last Saturday) since Alian Vigneault...

Lakers, Spurs will assume position of front-runners.
December 11, 2000... In theory, this space should offer emotional and intellectual refuge from the pontifications emanating from the romper room act we generously describe as the presidential recount. This, after all, is a page devoted to the generally pleasant...

NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE.(Brief Article)
December 11, 2000... WHO'S HOT Second-year Hornets PG Baron Davis is threatening to post a triple-double almost every night. In leading the Hornets to a 6-1 record during a recent seven-game stretch, Davis had at least seven rebounds and seven assists in every...

NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE.(Brief Article)
December 11, 2000... WHO'S HOT Last season was a breakout year for Blazers PF Rasheed Wallace, but he has been even better this season. Wallace has become the unquestioned go-to guy on a team of stars. His scoring is up four points to 20.6 rpg, his rebounding...

One month, many surprises.(National Basketball Association)
December 11, 2000... There is something I still can't figure out. How in the world did the Cavaliers score four points in a quarter against the Celtics last week? For some reason, that reminds me of the 1984 presidential election and a joke. In '84, Ronald Reagan...

EASTERN CONFERENCE.
December 11, 2000... DESPERATE MOVE: Fed up with DerMarr Johnson's lack of productivity and Chris Crawford's poor play, coach Leu Kruger moved Larry Robinson into the lineup at small forward. Robinson is a mil-thin shooting guard who is physically overmatched at...

WESTERN CONFERENCE.
December 11, 2000... Dallas BENCH MUST MAKE ITS MARK: Coach Don Nelson originally believed his bench would be one of the team's strengths. The reserves were an early disappointment, however, before getting back on track lately. If the team wants to challenge...

Bennett's `No. 1 disciple' is sticking with what works.(University of Wisconsin basketball coach Brad Soderberg)
December 11, 2000... The look on his face could best be described as a grimace. He folded his hands together below his chin, as though in prayer. Brad Soderberg did not appear at all comfortable at the opening tip of his first game as Wisconsin's head coach. ...

ONE ON ONE with Mike Kelley.(University of Wisconsin basketball player)(Brief Article)(Interview)
December 11, 2000... Each week TSN associate editor Jeff D'Alessio talks hoops and life with some of the biggest names in college basketball. This week Wisconsin's old-school point guard talks of Rudolph, Swingers and the sudden retirement of his coach. TSN:...

Clear-cut clear-out.
December 11, 2000... You see it every game. The shot clock is running down. The offense is stagnating. Since the normal patterns have failed to produce anything for 25 seconds or so, there is only one alternative--the clear-out. A point guard takes the ball at the...

CONFERENCE CALL.(college basketball)
December 11, 2000... Hits ATLANTIC Jason Williams, Duke. The Blue Devil's COAST rematch of the November NIT thriller with Temple was supposes to be tense. But Williams made it a...

Toledo's tiny--but timely--arrival.(University of Toledo basketball player Terry Reynolds)(Brief Article)
December 11, 2000... He is the forgotten man, the one starter from USA Today's 1999 national high school champion Oak Hill Academy team who fell through the cracks. The same team that spawned Maryland's Steve Blake, Tennessee's Ron Slay and Virginia's Travis Watson...

You can count on Angelos for mistakes--and arrogance.
December 11, 2000... It's saddest for the fans, the 3 million strong who pack Camden Yards every season and make Baltimore as terrific a baseball town as Cleveland or St. Louis. The fans remember what the Orioles once were. They're appalled at what the Orioles...

MinorLeagueAwards 2000.(Brief Article)
December 11, 2000... PLAYER OF THE YEAR Jon Rauch RHP, WINSTON-SALEM, BIRMINGHAM This sort of thing seems surreal to Jon Ranch, THE SPORTING NEWS Minor League Player of the Year, so you'll have to excuse him if he does not seem excited. "It's a...

AMERICAN LEAGUE.
December 11, 2000... Anaheim NOT IN THE A-ROD RACE: The team has been mentioned as one free-agent SS Alex Rodriguez is considering, but C.M. Bill Stoneman and a source close to agent Scott Boras say that is not the case. Stoneman says the Angels are a...

NATIONAL LEAGUE.
December 11, 2000... Arizona REYNOSO'S RETURN POSSIBLE: RHP Armando Reynoso is mulling the team's two-year contract offer, believed to be worth between $5 million and $6 million. A deal could be struck soon. Reynoso, 34, was 11-12 with a 5.27 ERA last season....

A legend, a Coach.(Illinois Wesleyan University basketball coach Jack Horenberger)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
December 11, 2000... In the winter of his 18th year, the college freshman John Camardella had lost his way. His father died that summer of a stroke suffered during heart surgery. The boy had been the father's only child, a miracle baby, born after his mother had...

Choice voice.
December 18, 2000... `Please, no more Keyshawn Johnson. The "Mouth from the South" isn't getting it done, so why subject us to more mediocrity?' --Bill Clark, Homosassa, Fla. Relaxing rivalry I want to thank John Cooper for single-handedly taking all...

Caught on the Fly.(Brief Article)(Column)
December 18, 2000... Hey, didn't you used to be a franchise cornerstone? * Fly hears the Pack's thisclose to dumpin' look-but-don't-touch tag from Matt Hasselbeck. Trade-mart forces' three-step drop: 1) Brett Favre's proved he's still more has than been; 2)...

Bob Hille's Starting Five.(Brief Article)(Column)
December 18, 2000... 1 The University of Georgia. It will have three head football coaches on its payroll as it pays off Jim Donnan's and Ray Goff's contracts. Meanwhile, the school announced a new university post: dean of the college of driver's ed. 2 Mike...

DUSTBIN.
December 18, 2000... December 20, 1966 Seattle was granted an NBA franchise 34 years ago, and the team is hoping its 13th coach, Nate McMillan, will bring in some luck. The SuperSonics' only NBA title came in 1979 with coach Lenny Wilkins, although they...

TRIPLE THREAT.
December 18, 2000... DONOVAN McNABB's stunning ability to RUN, PASS AND SCORE has lifted the Eagles into the playoffs and given him MVP credentials In a league wondering where its next stars will emerge, Donovan McNabb is a refreshing revelation, a charismatic...

Without Marino, Dolphins are free to run at last.
December 18, 2000... When it comes to the run, the Dolphins have been trying and failing since The Six Million Dollar Man was a television show, not a quarterback. It almost had become a part of South Florida life, like congestion on I-95. But that has changed...

Prepare for everything--and still you'll be surprised.
December 18, 2000... As a former coach and scout, I'm expected to know my share of football; after all, I've made a living off it my entire life. One of the great lessons I've learned over the years, pertaining to the sport, is to expect the unexpected. Before...