The Sporting News articles from February 2005

The Sporting News archives from February 2005

To know list: 6 playmates for Mike and Mrs. Piazza.(Know It All)
February 11, 2005... 1 GOOD AND PLENTY Second half fun There are plenty of playoff races and good young players to watch in the NBA's second half (see page 24), but for those of you more interested in the juicier story lines, there will be a lot to watch,...

Here's the deal: a bunch of NBA players are cards!(Caught On The Fly)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2005... The NBA has entered a licensing agreement with All Pro Deal, allowing caricatures of superstars Shaquille O'Neal, Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony to appear on playing cards. (Yao is a queen--ouch!) Initially, the plan...

A Canadian conversion exercise.(Caught On The Fly)(home run abilities of Carlos Delgado)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2005... Before signing Carlos Delgado, Marlins officials did a study of his 32 home runs in 2004 and determined that 31 of them would have gone out of their spacious home park. And they figure that the one that wouldn't have still would've been dropped...

The host without the most.(Caught On The Fly)
February 11, 2005... A man took out a $17,000 full-page ad in Jacksonville's Florida Times-Union so he could tell his estranged wife he was sorry and beg her to return to him. That seems like wasted money. Considering the timing, he should have used that money to...

In this case, the camera would have to take off 70 pounds.(Caught On The Fly)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2005... In an upcoming film, Kevin Costner plays an old ballplayer who's described as being a "goofball," a "meathead" and "having a long-neck beer bottle perpetually in hand." The movie is called The Upside of Anger, which is a little catchier than...

More evidence that lefthanded pitchers never die.(Caught On The Fly)(ESPN Deportes coverage of Fernando Valenzuela)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2005... Fly has learned that fans of Fernando Valenzuela can follow his pitching exploits with Mexicali of the Mexican League by tuning in to ESPN Deportes. Or you can pick up the simulcast on ESPN Loco.

Bob Hille's starting 5.(Know It All)(sports predictions)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2005... 1 The Super Bowl. Wow, the FCC has FOX and advertisers playing it really conservative. In fact, I hear Tiki and Ronde Barber are the new Coors Light twins. 2 Baseball owners. They're back to their old ways, spending money hand over fist...

Time to break out the hair dye: one thing is for sure when it comes to this year's Super Bowl: the winner will see red.(My Turn)
February 11, 2005... Well, here it is: the moment I have been waiting for my whole career. This week, something magical will happen in Jacksonville, and I know I will never be the same. I, Joseph Francis Buck, will get to play the TPC at Sawgrass. I cannot wait to...

On behalf of everyone who suffered through the horrible years when the Falcons epitomized professional failure (not professional football), I say thank you to Arthur Blank and Michael Vick for your commitment to excellence.(Your Turn)(Letter to the Editor)
February 11, 2005... * On behalf of everyone who suffered through the horrible years when the Falcons epitomized professional failure (not professional football), I say thank you to Arthur Blank and Michael Vick for your commitment to excellence. Thanks for the...

Can we stop talking about what a great quarterback Michael Vick is?(Your Turn)
February 11, 2005... * Can we stop talking about what a great quarterback Michael Vick is? The Eagles beat the Falcons because they forced Vick to throw the ball. Guess what? That's what a quarterback is supposed to do. Until Vick learns how to throw the ball,...

Bill Belichick was Bill Parcells' assistant when the Giants won two Super Bowls.(Your Turn)
February 11, 2005... * Bill Belichick was Bill Parcells' assistant when the Giants won two Super Bowls. There was speculation then that the real brains belonged to Belichick, not Parcells. Since they've gone their separate ways, Parcells has gone O-and-arrogant...

Dave Kindred will often use his column to put down people who have made what he perceives to be insensitive comments.(Your Turn)
February 11, 2005... * Dave Kindred will often use his column to put down people who have made what he perceives to be insensitive comments. What about the cute statement he made in reference to a couple of NFL linemen (TSN, January 21): "I don't want to say they...

TSN's 2004 NFL awards.(Know It All)
February 11, 2005... Player of the Year Peyton Manning COLTS For Peyton Manning, it is all about hard work and preparation and focus. If you can master those things, everything else--the statistics, the victories, the accolades-comes along for the ride....

If the Cowboys of the 1990s played the Patriots of the 2000s, who would win?(Counterpoints)
February 11, 2005... COWBOYS--Their brawn would beat Belichick's brains The only way Tom Brady's Patriots could beat Troy Aikman's Cowboys would be if Bill Belichick were to out-scheme Dallas. That would be a triumph for coaching over talent, but I won't make...

Kickin' the habit.(Exposure)
February 11, 2005... Kirk Hinrich (12), Ben Gordon (7) and mates blended hacky sack with hoops during a TSN photo shoot with the young Bulls, who are changing their losing ways (see page 24) and mounting a charge at the team's first playoff berth in seven years....

A book with upside.(NFL Draft)
February 11, 2005... In 1935, Eagles owner Bert Bell, tired of getting waxed by the deep-pocketed Redskins, Giants and Bears, proposed the revolutionary idea of letting the teams with the worst records select the best collegiate players. And so, the next year, when...

Sweet anticipation.(NFL)
February 11, 2005... Two weeks of equal parts overkill and adulation with a soupcon of actual analysis becomes the Super Bowl. For some, years of preparation comes to this. The wait is nearly over. This is the payoff for literally thousands of hours of work nd...

Not in his wildest dreams: Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter has evolved from an out-of-work player to a special teams contributor to a pivotal starter in the Super Bowl. Not even he would have believed it--.(NFL)
February 11, 2005... It is last summer, and Jeremiah Trotter is dreaming. He puts a lot of faith, literally, in dreams. He believes they are messages to guide his life. But this one, well, this one he doesn't understand. This dream has him in an Eagles uniform,...

Hype! Drama! Story lines! Analysis! And a football game.(NFL)
February 11, 2005... When I returned home from the NFC championship game and got online to read a story or two about the Eagles and Patriots, I couldn't believe how much already had been written about Super Bowl 39. Several stories were matching up the Philly...

Scouts views: observations and opinions on the Eagles and Patriots from two pro scouts, one from the NFC and one from the AFC.(NFL)
February 11, 2005... Tom Brady is the smartest quarterback in the NFL. When you're in the playoffs and it's win or go home, there's probably no quarterback you'd rather have in terms of his ability to adjust to what defenses are trying to do to him. More than...

Active days, restless nights.(NFL)(National Football League)
February 11, 2005... When Troy Brown was strictly a receiver, he had no trouble sleeping. It's different now. "I lay down and my body is resting, but I got all these thoughts running through my head," he says. "I'm always awake." And that was before he started...

Shadowy figures: these players don't command the spotlight, but they do command the attention of their Super Bowl opponents.(NFL)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2005... The Super Bowl spotlight doesn't illuminate only guys named Bradshaw, Montana or Brady. Occasionally, it invites the unsung player into its beam. In 1981, for example, Raiders running back Kenny King caught a sideline pass from Jim...

For the Patriots, winning is fundamental.(NFL)
February 11, 2005... When I view game film, I notice defenders lying on the ground. They can't make plays on the ground. But if they play with a good base, with their feet beneath them and in good hitting position, they should be able to stay upright until they...

Breakout for Bookout: finally healthy--well, almost--Kevin Bookout is putting the boom back in Sooners basketball.(College Basketball)(Kevin Bookout)
February 11, 2005... Kevin Bookout bores easily. But after shoulder surgery last February, he was forced to sit idly and recuperate. With nothing to do in the moment, he looked ahead to what needed to be done when rest turned into rehabilitation, and thoughts moved...

Their time is now: the Bulls have gone from sad-sack losers to sizzling contenders in a season that has been dominated by young, rising stars.(NBA Second half preview)
February 11, 2005... As he pulls up to the United Center on a cold January night, the gruff Chicago cab driver chuckles. "Look at that," he says, pointing a gloved finger at a half-dozen kids sporting jerseys of Kirk Hinrich, Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry. "People...

Absence makes the heart grow hungry--for a championship: Wayne Simien's career as a Kansas Jayhawk is expiring faster than a 35-second clock. He'd like to play overtime.(College Basketball)
February 11, 2005... Think of all of the time he has missed. Think of it purely in cold, mathematical terms. Since Wayne Simien arrived at Kansas, the Jayhawks have played 32 basketball games without him. That's 32 games in which Simien sat on the bench, adorned in...

TSN Power Poll: all-under-team edition.(College Basketball)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2005... The TSN Power Poll is determined by TSN writers and editors. +,- rise or fall in rankings 1. Illinois (21-0) Even 2. Boston College (18-0) +1 Underrated: Being undefeated at this point in the season--especially in the Big...

Matt Haryasz PF, Stanford.(Player Of The Week)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2005... You see a lot of double doubles in college basketball, but not many 20-20s. Haryasz showed he is beginning to fulfill his considerable promise by delivering one of each. He helped defeat Oregon State with 13 points and 11 rebounds, then...

March to the arch.(College Basketball)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2005... Louisville. Some team statistics are skewed because of gaudy performances against nonconference Opponents. The Cardinals, though, have won by an average of 36.4 points in their past five Conference USA games. That can't be ignored. ...

Mike DeCourcy's 3 questions.(College Basketball)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2005... 1 Why isn't anybody singing about Oklahoma? By the end of the season, you're going to be wondering why this team wasn't ranked among the elite after beating Connecticut, Texas and Oklahoma State. The Sooners are dangerous. They have frontcourt...

Scouts views: observations from the sidelines.(College Basketball)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2005... Georgetown forward Jeff Green can do a little of everything. He can pass it, drive it and make a 15-footer. The kid is a terrific offensive rebounder. I think Georgetown has two of the best freshmen in the Big East with Roy Hibbert and Green....

The best in the nation at ...(Conference Call)
February 11, 2005... BIG EAST... rebounding: Connecticut. With great reluctance, Jim Calhoun will reveal the secret to the Huskies' wonderful board work. "Well, we have a lot of tall guys," Calhoun says, laughing. Which is true. Center Josh Boone and power forward...

Offseason advice: pass on the corners: teams that woo cornerbacks like Valentine's dates will end up heartbroken.(NFL)
February 11, 2005... After passers torched secondaries and record books this season, the anticipated reaction this offseason is a cornerback grab. Teams will treat corners like Valentine's dates, sparing no expense to win their hearts. They will draft them, fight...

Take it from a Joe who knows: Brady is a special player.(NFL)(Joe Montana)(Tom Brady)
February 11, 2005... Joe Montana was 33 when he won his fourth, and final, Super Bowl ring. If the Patriots triumph in Super Bowl 39 Sunday, Tom Brady will have three at 27. "To be that young and have three," says Montana with just a hint of envy in his voice....

The world according to Deion.(NFL)(Deion Sanders)
February 11, 2005... Look out. If Ravens cornerback Deion Sanders' recent observations as a guest on The James Brown Show are an indicator, then late-morning listeners had better get ready for "Prime Time" as he subs for J.B. through February 4 on Sporting News...

Inside scoop from the senior bowl.(Draft Dish)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2005... By War room scouts After watching him all week in practice, one tight ends coach said Colorado State TE Joel Dreessen can contribute right away in the NFL. He has a big body (6-3 7/8, 257) and reliable hands, gets good position and is a...

Inside the AFC.(NFL)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2005... COLTS DE Robert Mathis, who has emerged as a premier situational pass rusher, could be moved to outside linebacker, where his size (6-2, 235) and speed might make him a good fit. Mathis played some at linebacker in practice last year but not in...

James shouldn't be allowed to run.(NFL)(Edgerrin James)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2005... The prevailing attitude outside the Colts' organization is that the team should allow RB Edgerrin James to leave as a free agent and use that money to upgrade the defense. Though the Colts need some defensive playmakers, they shouldn't listen...

Special only in name.(NFL)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2005... Mike Shanahan often talks about excelling in all three phases of the game, but the truth is the Broncos' special teams have been neglected. In fact, aside from the outstanding work of K Jason Elam, the special teams have been a disaster. The...

Good hands wanted.(NFL)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2005... It's likely the Ravens will use the free-agent market to find an upgrade at wide receiver because they want someone who can help immediately. Two possible targets are the Steelers' Plaxico Burress and the Bengais' T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Burress...

AFC focus: draft buzz.(NFL)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2005... Expect the Dolphins to take a long look at Florida State's Alex Barron, who is considered the best left tackle available and has been likened to former Seminoles star Walter Jones of the Seahawks. The Dolphins also desperately need a running...

Inside the NFC.(NFL)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2005... Regardless of the LIONS' bend-but-don't-break philosophy on defense, there comes a time when a team has to prove it can blitz with results-something Detroit hasn't come close to doing. Coordinator Dick Jauron must get the most out of his fast,...

Line change.(NFL)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2005... The right side of the offensive line was a major reason why the Panthers' offense struggled for the first half of the season. RG Tutan Reyes wasn't effective as a run blocker, and RTs Todd Fordham and Matt Willig struggled in pass protection....

Western philosophy.(NFL)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2005... Count 49ers FB Fred Beasley among the players excited that the basic West Coast system will be emphasized on offense. Beasley was concerned his services as a dominant run blocker wouldn't be needed if the 49ers brought in a more pass-heavy...

NFC focus: draft buzz.(NFL)
February 11, 2005... Conventional wisdom says the Panthers will use the No. 14 overall pick on an offensive tackle, with Florida State's Alex Barton and Oklahoma's Jammal Brown being the top candidates. But the team might find better value choosing a running back,...

Conversion factor.(NFL)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2005... During Senior Bowl practices, the Buccaneers worked out Arkansas QB Matt Jones at wide receiver and tight end; he'll probably play one of those positions in the NFL. The Bucs need a quality tight end and now have a good read on whether Jones...

Back to basics.(NFL)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2005... The Packers' defense won't have a lot of bells and whistles under new coordinator Jim Bates, but the number of glaring mistakes should drop significantly. Bates won't blitz a lot, won't use much zone coverage and won't overcommit against the...

A spoonful of sense to sweeten the All-Star Game: OK, so we'll probably never have a perfect system for picking All-Star starters. But at least we can get the reserves right.(NBA)
February 11, 2005... Now's the time when NBA observers everywhere adopt a standard pose of indignation, a haughty pooh-poohing of the opinions of the masses. Every year, the results of fan balloting for the All-Star Game come in, and every year there's something...

Scouts views: observations from an Eastern Conference scout.(NBA)
February 11, 2005... The best chance to beat the Suns, and I think everyone's starting to pick up on this, is you've got to make Steve Nash a scorer instead of a passer. He's good enough that if you force him to score, they still might beat you. But if you make him...

Sean Deveney's midseason awards.(NBA)
February 11, 2005... Most Valuable Player Steve Nash, PG, Suns. By season's end, Shaquille O'Neal and Tim Duncan will make serious runs at the award (as will Dirk Nowitzki and LeBron James), but the impact Nash has had on the players around him is...

Spreading the wealth spreads the talent, too: baseball's financial playing field probably won't ever be level, but the sport is making progress.(Baseball)
February 11, 2005... Yankees this, Yankees that--enough already. Major League Baseball's revenue-sharing plan is working, with several have-nots demonstrating greater spending power than in the past. No one would suggest that the playing field is level; it...

A Sammy sanctuary: protected in the lineup and free of the baggage that piled up on him in Chicago, Sammy Sosa will have no excuses if he fails with the Orioles.
February 11, 2005... It's all on Sammy Sosa now. If he can't revive himself with the Orioles, he never will. The fans in Baltimore are the most patient in the Northeast Corridor. Orioles manager Lee Mazzilli isn't nearly as imposing a personality as the Cubs'...

A.L. report.(Baseball)
February 11, 2005... SPOTLIGHT: OUTFIELDERS ANGELS Vladimir Guerrero is a fixture in right field and makes up for occasional careless plays with brilliant ones. CF Steve Finley is 39, but he's in great shape. His excellent range is something the team didn't...

Corner shots.(Baseball)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2005... The success of the Athletics' outfield might hinge on rookie Nick Swisher, the probable starter in right: G.M. Billy Beane loves Swisher's patience at the plate and power potential. Swisher also turned heads with his defense in a late season...

Hit acquisition.(Baseball)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2005... 2B Tadahito Iguchi should be the perfect No. 2 hitter for the White Sox. He makes solid contact, is fundamentally sound and has the ability to drive the ball into the gaps. The combination of LF Scott Podsednik and Iguchi at the top of the...

Surprise specialist.(Baseball)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2005... Mike Stanton is the only lefthander in the Yankees' bullpen, but RHP Felix Rodriguez might be the team's specialist against lefthanded hitters. Stanton has had more success against righthanded hitters (.219 average) than lefties (.269)....

N.L. report.(Baseball)
February 11, 2005... SPOTLIGHT: Outfielders ASTROS The club is hoping to acquire a player who can fortify its weakest unit. RF Orlando Palmeiro likely will return to the bench after Lance Berkman (knee) is back. LF Craig Biggio is limited defensively. CF Jason...

Health matters.(Baseball)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2005... Cardinals RHP Chris Carpenter, sidelined late last season by a rare nerve ailment in his pitching arm, is throwing without pain and expects to have no limitations in spring training.... Phillies 1B Jim Thome's broken right middle finger is...

Scouting report.(Baseball)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2005... Cubs RHP LaTroy Hawkins, forced into the closers role last year because of an injury to RHP Joe Borowski, has the stuff to do the job, but he rushes too much and doesn't mix his pitches well. Hawkins, Borowski (if healthy) and RHP Ryan Dempster...

Corner shots.(Baseball)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2005... The Phillies still are waiting for LF Pat Burrell to repeat his big 2002 season and are growing increasingly frustrated with his occasional all-or-nothing approach at the plate.... Marlins RF Juan Encarnacion is an elite defender: he's...

Around the majors.(Baseball)
February 11, 2005... The RED SOX opted for 1B Kevin Millars solid bat over Doug Mientkiewicz's good glove. But Millar isn't the defensive liability some people perceive him to be. His club-house demeanor also is important, as he has kept things light in a...

Spring story lines.(Baseball)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2005... * Nonroster IF Lou Merloni has a good chance to make the Angels out of spring training. Merloni should provide everything the team didn't get from utilityman Shane Halter last year: a veteran with sure hands and the ability to make contact...

See a different game.(Baseball)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2005... Astros SS Adam Everett, not wanting a repeat of 2004 when a pitch broke his wrist and ended his season early, worked on avoiding inside pitches this offseason. Everett would turn away from any ball close to him during his batting-cage workouts...

Helton carries the keys to NASCAR's ignition: NASCAR president Mike Helton is not as visible as he once was, but he's still getting the job done.(NASCAR)
February 11, 2005... As Brian France crowed over NASCAR's immense success in 2004 and its plans for the future, he also deflected rumors of his possible departure. France, 42, succeeded his father, Bill France Jr., as NASCAR chairman in October 2003 but had to...

'Street agents' are sliming the system: I've got a high school star, and the bidding starts at $10,000. Who wants in?(College Football)
February 11, 2005... At some point next week in a courtroom in Memphis, college football will take one giant leap backward when the gavel strikes and a trial ends. From then on, it's only going to get worse. It's easy to turn apathetic because of the monotonous...

Desperately seeking skating subs: apparently, fans have the same loyalty to the players as most players have to their teams. The people have spoken: bring on the replacements.(NHL)
February 11, 2005... Let's imagine, for a moment, that labor law regarding declaring a lawful impasse isn't more subjective than a diving call. Let's pretend the league is putting itself on a track to have a lawful impasse declared that would, in turn, allow the...

Fantasy source.
February 11, 2005... SQUEEZE PLAY BY CHRIS BAHR It started even before Doug Mientkiewicz secured the ball in his glove (and later in a safe-deposit box) for the final out of the World Series. Fantasy owners were firing keeper questions to Fantasy Source's...

A sure thing? Brady is as close as it gets: there is absolutely, positively no way the Eagles can win ... I think.
February 11, 2005... It's possible the Eagles will score. They're good. They're in the Super Bowl. It's possible Donovan McNabb will get the ball to gimpy Terrell Owens. It's possible the Eagles can win. They're one of two teams that could win. I learned my lesson...

To know list: 7 months till your favorite NFL team gets to try again.(Know It All)
February 18, 2005... [1] AFTER THE SUPER BOWL It's on to next season... Forget the dollars dropped last weekend, and look ahead to recouping those losses. (You know, if you're into that sort of thing.) John Avello, director of the race and sports...

Caught on the fly.(Know It All)(Brief Article)
February 18, 2005... Life imitating art in Music City Word out of Nashville is the local football team is going to have to do some serious bloodletting this offseason in its continued effort to escape salary cap hell. Some of the fan favorites who likely will...

Bob Hille's starting 5.(Know It All)(includes multiple articles)(Brief Article)
February 18, 2005... 1 The Super Bowl. It was easy to tell who was visiting Jacksonville and who was from there. The natives kept referring to the game as "the Daytona 500 of the NFL." 2 Rudy T. He resigned as the Lakers' coach, citing health reasons. Sounds...

Desmond Mason, in the paint.(If I Weren't A Sports Star)(Brief Article)
February 18, 2005... The New York school of abstract expressionism has heavily influenced Bucks swingman Desmond Mason. That's not a fancy way of saying he developed dazzling playmaking skills during pickup games in Brooklyn; rather, it speaks to Mason's other...

Next up, Super Bowl XL--as in extra-large coats.(Really Big Game)(Brief Article)
February 18, 2005... Super Bowl XL is less than a year away. Make your plans, and pack your mittens. The XL Bowl (that's 40, for the Roman-numerically impaired) will leave the cities known for sun and warmth and head to Detroit. Of course, the game will be in...

Your turn.(Know It All)(Letter to the Editor)
February 18, 2005... 'Travis Diener has better numbers than J.J. Redick, yet Redick was named a "Half-American" ahead of Diener (TSN, February 4). Yeah, there's no media bias for Duke at all.--Steven Mullen, King of Prussia, Pa.' * Dave Kindred wrote, "If you...

Blue collar, blue Star.(Emmitt Says Goodbye)(Emmitt Smith)
February 18, 2005... Let Emmitt Smith tell us how we should remember him. "I see myself as a blue-collar worker, a guy who comes to work every day and works hard," he once said. "A guy who works when he is sick, when he is hurt, who is always there for the team,...

Three of a kind: the Patriots' winning hand comes with powerful preparation, incomparable teamwork--and a little Belichick magic.(NFL)
February 18, 2005... The wonder of the Patriots isn't just how they keep winning and winning and winning these Super Bowls. It is more than the blinding glitter from all those rings and their secured place among the dominant teams in history. It's their astonishing...

Patriots' key to success: they know their job, and they do it.(NFL)(New England Patriots)
February 18, 2005... The Patriots amaze me. Not like the 49ers of Joe Montana and Jerry Rice amazed me, or any other team that was blessed with top stars. The Patriots amaze me because they are so ridiculously efficient. This is a team that makes very few...

The JB Awards presented by Reebok: April 7, 2005: Washington DC.
February 18, 2005... I am privileged to be a part of the NFLPA's and PLAYERS INC's tradition of honoring the unsung heroes of the NFL. On April 7, in Washington, DC, some of the biggest hearts in football will be honored with a JB Award at the NFL Players Gridiron...

Finding Westbrook: the Eagles had hoped Brian Westbrook could strike every which way, but the Patriots kept him in check.
February 18, 2005... This was supposed to be the Super Bowl version of Where's Waldo? Instead of the odd-looking bespectacled chum in the red stocking cap, the mobile man in green with the No. 36 on his jersey was supposed to be the focus of attention. He was the...

Another fine mess: practice makes perfect? Pffft. New England overcame bad practice conditions, bad practices and a bad start.
February 18, 2005... For two weeks, Patriots coaches stressed the importance of pass rushers containing Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb. They knew too well what might happen if one of their defenders lost containment on the edge or jumped to try to block a pass....

He's no twig: on football's biggest stage, Patriots receiver Deion Branch has been anything but small.
February 18, 2005... This year's installment of Bill Belichick, Coaching Genius, isn't about complicated defensive alignments or game plan adjustments. His best coaching decision of the year came in September when he decided not to place receiver Deion Branch on...

TSN's power poll.(Illustration)
February 18, 2005... TSN's Power Poll Rank/Team Looking ahead to 2005 1. Patriots Bill Belichick doesn't have the most talented team-- just the best team. 2. Eagles The NFC championship monkey is gone. Winning...

What's in the stars for the stars?
February 18, 2005... Two of last offseason's biggest acquisitions, Terrell Owens and Corey Dillon, helped the Eagles and Patriots to the Super Bowl. This year, there are a handful of offensive stars who could rift a team to the big game if they changed uniforms....

Extreme makeovers: after a frenzied offseason of buying and trading, pitchers and catchers are prepared to report--let's just hope they know where to go.(Spring training review: under construction)(Brief Article)
February 18, 2005... Spring training is upon us. Do you know where your favorite players are? Randy Johnson is a Yankee, Pedro Martinez a Met, Sammy Sosa an Oriole. Fortunately, Florida still is in Florida, Arizona still is in Arizona and pitchers and catchers...