The Sporting News articles from January 2004

The Sporting News archives from January 2004

NFL draft forecast.(SportingNews.com)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... If your team isn't still playing, we know you're already looking forward to the draft with an eye on that franchise quarterback or stud defensive lineman. Find out which prospects top the rankings at Draft Central, which provides comprehensive...

Up close and personal.(SportingNews Radio)(Troy Aikman Show)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... Join Troy Aikman and co-host Bruce Murray as they take you through the NFL playoffs on the Troy Aikman Show. Get a preview of each key matchup on the road to the Super Bowl. Plus, hear from top players and coaches, as well as Troy's take on the...

Get in gear.(SportingNews Books)
January 12, 2004... The premiere edition of the NASCAR Nextel Cup Preview has everything you need for the coming season--from driver and track reports to schedules to our expert predictions and analysis. Order your copy now at www.sportingnews.com/books.

To know list: 7 ways to pass the time while you're breaking Bill Snyder's curfew.(Know It All)(sports personalities)
January 12, 2004... (1) NEW YORK STATE OF MIND Rebuild the Knicks, Isiah--it's what the fans want Isiah Thomas came into New York two weeks ago, having taken over for deposed general manager Scott Layden, and immediately began talking tough about the...

Starting 5.(Know It All)
January 12, 2004... (1) The end of the college football season. This is not to say all of the games stunk, but I haven't seen this many bowls go up in smoke since I interviewed for a job at High times. (2) Baseball is back. Pitchers and catchers...

A different kind of diamond note.(Caught on the fly)(sports news)
January 12, 2004... Erstwhile baseball beat man Peter Gammons is going to host Hot Store, Cool Music, a charity concert in Boston that will coincide with the release of a CD that will feature music from Theo Epstein's band, Paul Westerberg, Letters to Cleo's Kay...

On air.(Know It All)(Sporting News Radio Network schedule)(Directory)
January 12, 2004... from the Century 21 Studios Rick Ballou says: "Jamal Lewis and Ahman Green have been tremendous this year, but Priest Holmes is still the best. Scoring TDs is what it's all about in the NFL." Bill...

Knight's act is old, even in a new year.(My Turn)(Bobby Knight)
January 12, 2004... Bobby Knight did it again. During an interview alongside his former player and current Iowa coach Steve Alford, the King of Crude and Rude dropped the f-bomb on his innocent interviewer and was bleeped several times. Thank goodness it wasn't...

Your turn.(Know It All)(Letter to the Editor)
January 12, 2004... * Joe Buck writes about how a handful of wealthy teams are making deals and spending money to improve for next season (TSN, December 29-January 5). He says these transactions will help baseball make a "big comeback." Obviously, he doesn't see...

To take your game into the broadcast radio: how's that feel?(Know It All)(Inside the NBA )
January 12, 2004... I didn't exactly know that I wanted to go into broadcasting. When I was a player, people in the media would tell me I was a good interview, but that doesn't make you a good interviewer or a good analyst. I used to come on TNT sometimes as a...

A stick-and-ball fan's guide to NASCAR: do Nextel Cup drivers have superstitions?(Driver's ed)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... Yes, lots of them. The strangest one is that no NASCAR driver will eat peanuts at the track. Buz McKim, coordinator of NASCAR's history database, traces the superstition to a race in 1937 race in Nashville. One of the drivers had a beef...

The perfect fix for a TV on the fritz.(Remote Patrol)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... Hello. Your friendly TV repairman calling. I've still got your set here in the shop. It's working OK. Already receives 126 channels showing sports 24/7, and the picture hasn't had snow since that Raiders-Patriots playoff game. What more...

No such thing as a "free" throw.(Static)(NBA TV blacks out games)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... * No such thing as a "free" throw: David Stern Corp. is embarking on a bold new approach to make its beleaguered NBA TV must-see. Effective this month, 59 of the channel's games previously included in the $159 all-you-can-eat League Pass are...

The buzz.(Static)(NFL playoffs)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... * The buzz: Though Brian Billick moans that ABC kept the Ravens off the national stage with a Saturday afternoon wild-card kickoff and Patriots fans blame CBS for targeting their team for another prime-time divisional game, it's commissioner...

Vital stats.(Static)(NBA ratings up)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... * Vital stats: NBA ratings are up 11 percent at ESPN, 33 percent at TNT.

Soundbitten.(Static)(favorite NBA player)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... * Soundbitten: "Kobe (Bryant). Because I want him to have sex with me."--Nicole Richie, listing her favorite NBA player in a celebrity-at-courtside interview during the December 19 Nuggets-Lakers game... seconds before FOX Sports Net pulled...

USC 1 BCS 0: the real national champs? The Trojans, of course, and we owe them thanks for stripping naked a system that just doesn't work.(College Football)(University of Southern California)(Bowl Championship Series)
January 12, 2004... Take that, BCS. How does it feel to have trashed by a 12-inch cleat? The Trojans have kicked down the door of the Bowl Championship Series to become top dog, big kahuna, numero uno of the college football world, no matter how the guy behind the...

The big easy: in a BCS title game left for dead by many poll voters, LSU's devastating defense tore apart high-scoring Oklahoma.(College Football)(Bowl Championship Series)
January 12, 2004... Yeah, well it doesn't feel insignificant. So the media say one thing, the coaches say another, and polls, bowls and imperfectly attained goals are twisted up so tight, you need silicon (the obvious computer reference) to separate them. The...

Back to work: what teams--and the BCS--do in the next several months will shape the 2004 season.(Matt Leinart)(Bowl Championship Series)(Interview)
January 12, 2004... Matt Leinart was asked how Southern California, with a group of talented but inexperienced skill players, somehow developed into a national champion. The quarterback who has an answer for every problem on the field, pointed to success off it....

Then there were eight.(NFL Divisional Playoff Preview)(Super Bowl hopefuls)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... Now, let's bring out the rest of our Super Bowl hopefuls: the Eagles, Rams, Patriots and Chiefs. By virtue of securing the top two seeds in their conferences, those teams watched last weekend while the Titans, Panthers, Packers and Colts won...

Co-obstacles: to reach the AFC championship game, New England and Kansas City each must overcome one of the NFL's co-MVPs. Only one will.(NFL Divisional Playoff Preview)(American Football League)(National Football League)
January 12, 2004... What a perfect way for these AFC playoffs to unfold. The teams with the conference's best records stand one game from a matchup that, based on recent history of home-field advantage in the divisional round, seems almost inevitable. But history...

Tennessee at New England.(AFC divisional playoff matchups)(Tennessee Titans)(New England Patriots)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... When Tennessee has the ball: Since the healthy return of NT Ted Washington, the Patriots have gotten stronger against the run each week. His presence in the middle, combined with the explosiveness of RE Richard Seymour in the team's three-man...

Indianapolis at Kansas City.(AFC divisional playoff matchups)(Indianapolis Colts)(Kansas City Chiefs)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... When Indianapolis has the ball: Kansas City hopes the return of MLB Mike Maslowski (knee) after missing six games will shore up a woeful run defense that has been hurt by defenders overrunning holes and tackling poorly. Indianapolis will test...

A blizzard of blitzes: for the Packers and Panthers to beat the Eagles and Rams--and survive another week in the playoff--they'll first have to survive.(NFL Divisional Playoff Preview)
January 12, 2004... With their season on the line, the Packers overloaded the line. On third-and-11 in overtime, the Seahawks lined up in a four-wide receiver set. Packers defensive coordinator Ed Donatell responded with a "population blitz" in which linebackers...

Carolina at St. Louis.(NFC divisional playoff matchups)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... When Carolina has the ball: The Rams' front seven has great speed and swarms to the hall, but it doesn't have great bulk in the middle. That's the area the Panthers will attack with RB Stephen Davis. St. Louis likely will counter by moving SS...

Green Bay at Philadelphia.(NFC divisional playoff matchups)(Green Bay Packers)(Philadelphia Eagles)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... When Green Bay has the ball: Largely because of injuries up front, the Eagles have been miserable against the run much of the second hall of the season. Look for the Packers to try to wear down the line with Ahman Green and the running game....

The mailman delivers: George Bodenheimer, a quiet innovator who rose from the mailroom to president of ESPN, gets our stamp as the most powerful man in sports.(The Power 100)(Biography)
January 12, 2004... A wide shot: elegant Mice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center in Manhattan. Advertising big shots, journalists and guest panelists such as NBA legend Bill Russell arrive for the third annual ESPN up-front presentation, at which the network celebrates...

Match game: coaches and vacancies.(NFL)
January 12, 2004... The annual postseason coaching carousel is in full spin as seven NFL teams, nearly 25 percent of the league, try to fill vacancies. Although none of those clubs asked us to be a headhunter, we'll offer our advice anyway--free of charge. ...

Hunger--not home field--is the Eagles' biggest edge.(NFL)(Philadelphia Eagles)
January 12, 2004... The Eagles and Rams, the top seeds in the NFC, must be considered the favorites to represent their conference in the Super Bowl, though neither team is head and shoulders above the other--or even over the rest of the playoff field. A few things...

Tedy Bruschi ILB, patriots.(Scouting Report)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... STRENGTHS: Attacks the line of scrimmage, is physical at the point of attack and explodes into blockers. Has adequate lower-body strength, plays with a good base and can hold his ground. Plays with a nonstop motor, takes good pursuit angles and...

League leaders.(NFL)(Illustration)
January 12, 2004... FINAL LEAGUE LEADERS FINAL RUSHING Atts. Yds. Avg. TDs. J. Lewis, Bal. 387 2066 5.3 14 Green, G.B. 355 1883 5.3 15 Tomlinson, S.D. 313 1645 5.3...

TSN scoreboard.(NFL)(Illustration)
January 12, 2004... TSN SCOREBOARD NFC EAST PHI DAL WAS NYG W-L 12-4 10-6 5-11 4-12 Pct. .750 .625 .313 .250 ...

TSNumber 16.(NFL; Arizona Cardinals first team to finish last in points scored and points allowed in 16 seasons)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... Seasons since a team finished last in the NFL in both points scored and points allowed, as the Cardinals did this season. In 1987, Atlanta was outscored 436-205 in the first year of Marion Campbell's second stint as Falcons coach--and wound up...

Gaps in action can kill home-field edge.(NFL)(football)
January 12, 2004... When I played for the Eagles in 1992, we went to Dallas for a divisional playoff game. I played left guard, and though I was right near him, I never heard Randall Cunningham call a signal all day. The Dallas crowd was so noisy, the best I could...

AFC.(NFL)(football)
January 12, 2004... BALTIMORE RAVENS STAYING TOGETHER: The team signed NT Kelly Gregg to a five-year contract extension. The move was good because it let veteran players know the intent is to keep this team together. Gregg plays the run well but isn't a great...

NFC.(NFL)(National Football Conference)
January 12, 2004... ARIZONA CARDINALS GETTING THE RIGHT GUY: Picking the right defensive line coach will be one of the most important jobs for the new coach. Team management thinks it has talent in the front four but that it hasn't been developed. DL Wendell...

NFL is different, not better.(NFL)(Bob Stoops)(Interview)
January 12, 2004... OK, I'm Bob Stoops, and I've got a decision to make. I make $2.5 million a year coaching the Oklahoma Sooners, and life is very good. Norman is a nice college town; it's not Malibu, but it's not Starkville, either. I'm so popular in the state...

Billups must drive the Pistons.(NBA; point guard Chauncey Billups' performance considered)
January 12, 2004... Darko Milicic is not the Pistons' problem. Sure, the team had the opportunity to draft Carmelo Anthony (or Chris Bosh or Dwyane Wade for that matter), but the Pistons fared just fine without Anthony last season. Mediocre play from the...

On Kidd's ego, LeBron's education and K.G.'s excellence: as the halfway point nears, it's time to look at the bests and worsts of a season full of them.(Straight Shooting)(Jason Kidd)(LeBron James)(Kevin Garnett)
January 12, 2004... With so many bright new faces and intriguing trades, this has been the best of seasons. At the same time, with so many major injuries, with the sad outcome of Alonzo Mourning's comeback attempt, and with Rasheed Wallace's idiotic screed, this...

Snooze button has been turned off.(College Basketball; NCAA Tournament selection committee criticized)
January 12, 2004... If you are a member of the NCAA Tournament selection committee--or a serious student of its work--you need to know this: Nap time is over. You probably nodded off several times during the most serene preconference season in recent memory....

TSN power poll.(College Basketball)
January 12, 2004... TSN POWER POLL The TSN power poll is determined by TSN writers and editors Rk. Team (last week) W-L TSNumber 1. Wake Forest (1) 9-0 4: 3s by Chris Paul vs. New Mexico; ...

By no means perfect.(College Basketball)
January 12, 2004... There were nine unbeaten major-conference teams entering the first week of the new year. In many cases, this was as much a feat of creative scheduling as basketball excellence. Three teams in particular are suspect: The collective 32-0 record...

Andre Barrett, PG, Seton Hall.(Player of the Week)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... How big must you be to function as a big-time Division I player? Not very. Barrett is listed at 5-10 but produced consecutive double-doubles in victories over Rhode Island and La Salle. He averaged 24.0 points and 11.0 assists and shot 46.4...

Top 5 dunkers.(College Basketball)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... You could argue that a layup is as good as a dunk. But you would be wrong. In the high-emotion game of college basketball, nothing revs up--or shuts up--a crowd more than a good jam. 1. SF Isma'il Muhammad, 6-6, Georgia Tech. College...

Seeing the stars before they shine.(NHL)(IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships)
January 12, 2004... From the day after Christmas through the first weekend of the year, most American sports fans watched college bowl games. But during that same time, a pretty exciting hockey tournament was almost completely ignored in the United States. The...

Eastern conference.(NHL)(hockey)
January 12, 2004... WHAT HAS GONE RIGHT AND WHAT HAS GONE WRONG ATLANTA THRASHERS What has gone right also has gone wrong and has an excellent chance of becoming the team's Achilles' heel. The play of G Pasi Nurminen has been good, and the Thrashers have...

Western conference.(NHL)(hockey)
January 12, 2004... WHAT HAS GONE RIGHT AND WHAT HAS GONE WRONG ANAHEIM MIGHTY DUCKS Identifying what has gone wrong is much easier than identifying what has gone right. Early injuries to D Keith Carney and C Steve Rucchin hurt a team that hasn't gotten good...

Restoration work under way.(NHL)(Eddie D'Hondt, Robert Yates Racing general manager)(Interview)
January 12, 2004... Eddie D'Hondt is an optimist. He has to be. In late October, he became the general manager at Robert Yates Racing. D'Hondt inherited a mess. Scour the websites for the biggest disappointments of 2003, and topping most lists are RYR and Dale...

O's are done with slumming it.(Baseball)(Baltimore Orioles)
January 12, 2004... It wasn't all that long ago the Orioles were the virtual equals of the Yankees. The rivals, two of the biggest revenue producers and biggest spenders in the game, met in the 1996 ALCS, a series essentially decided by a 12-year-old boy's glove....

A.L. reports.(Baseball; forecasts for American League teams)
January 12, 2004... ANAHEIM ANGELS The team passed on the available free-agent and nontendered first basemen, so it may seek an outfielder--with RHPs Ramon Ortiz and Ben Webber and LHP Jarrod Washburn trade candidates--and consider moving CF Darin Erstad to first...

N.L. reports.(Baseball; forecasts for National League teams)
January 12, 2004... DIAMONDBACKS The club has addressed its needs while staying within budget. Shane Nance and Casey Fossum will provide lefthanded bullpen depth, and 1B Richie Sexson is a legitimate No. 4 hitter who will take pressure off LF Luis Gonzalez....

Fantasy source.(fantasy football)
January 12, 2004... PLAY ACTION by GEORGE WINKLER Forget the old standard that you must use your first two draft picks on running backs. If the 2003 season proved anything, it's that high-quality backs can be had much later--like after Week 6 on the waiver...

The $40 million lesson.(Steve Spurrier)(Rick Pitino)
January 12, 2004... Way back in 1997, when they were college coaching geniuses, Florida football's Steve Spurrier and Kentucky basketball's Rick Pitino agreed to a dual interview with the SPORTING NEWS. There was one condition. Spurrier asked that we include his...

Fantasy fast lane.(Sporting News.com)(Fantasy Stock Car Racing)(Brief Article)
January 19, 2004... Ready to start your engine for a new season of NASCAR? Follow the races while competing against your friends in Fantasy Stock Car Racing, in which you'll manage your own team of six professional drivers. Take advantage of our early-bird special...

Weekend fun.(Sporting News Radio)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
January 19, 2004... Sports Saturday and Sports Sunday are back! Hosts Bob Berger and Bob Stelton keep you up-to-date on all the NFL, NBA and college basketball games going on. You'll get the most comprehensive coverage, including expert analysis and interviews....

On the road again.(Sporting News Books)(NASCAR Nextel Cup Preview )(Brief Article)
January 19, 2004... The premiere edition of the NASCAR Nextel Cup Preview has everything you need for the coming season--from driver reports to schedules for NASCAR's top three series to our expert analysis. Order your copy now at www.sportingnews.com/books.

To know list: 7 possessions without a single punt.(Know It All)
January 19, 2004... (1) GOING FOR IT ALL The mighty bucks of Anaheim It's the "single fool theory," a time-honored method for baseball free agents seeking lucrative contracts. Find the single fool, the one owner willing to spend big. Then, after that...

Bob Hille's starting 5.(Know It All)(Brief Article)
January 19, 2004... (1) Pete Rose. I'm so disappointed. I've been believing a lie. Turns out Jessica Simpson isn't the most clueless human being alive. (2) The NFL playoffs. The urgency, bordering on desperation, to get to Houston is almost...

The Big [Apple] Spender.(Caught on the Fly)(brief items)
January 19, 2004... Granted, Isiah Thomas didn't have to give up a lot to land super point guard Stephon Marbury--quick, a show of hands of those who knew Ward still was in the league--but he took a huge L in the cap standings, which in this league is almost as...

On air.(Know It All)(Calendar)
January 19, 2004... From the Century 21 Studios Bruce Murray says: "Jason White's performance in the Sugar Bowl proves that Larry Fitzgerald should have won the 2003 Heisman Trophy." Kevin Wheeler ...

Eli is an easy choice.(My Turn)(Eli Manning )
January 19, 2004... I can't remember the last time I was this excited about an NFL draft prospect. After watching Eli Manning from the sideline at the Cotton Bowl, plus several Ole Miss games on tape, I was blown away. Put it this way: If I'm building a team and I...

Your turn.(Know It All)(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
January 19, 2004... * Why do they vote for the Heisman Trophy winner before the season is over? In Oklahoma's last two games, Jason White looked like the worst quarterback in NCAA football. Phil Jacoby, Springfield, Ill. * The LSU Tigers are fooling...

Rose-colored Gray matter.(Static)(Pete Rose owes Jim Gray an apology )(Brief Article)
January 19, 2004... * Rose-colored Gray matter: Jim Gray insists he's in no position to demand an apology. "That's got to come from within," he says. Of course Pete Rose owes him one, for that fateful 1999 interview at the World Series--Rose, named to the...

Commercialism.(Static)(Brief Article)
January 19, 2004... * Commercialism: FOX spied Kid Rock partying in the Seahawks-Packers crowd, proof that life imitates Coors Light ads. E-mail: fquindt@sportingnews.com.

Do not adjust your set.(Static)(Brief Article)
January 19, 2004... * Do not adjust your set: CBS counter-programmed NFL wild-card playoffs with three women's hoops games, coast-to-coast. (Dear Boss: Perhaps network president Sean McManus should be dropped a few notches on our Power 100.) E-mail:...

Driver's ed: a stick-and-ball fan's guide to NASCAR.(Brief Article)
January 19, 2004... Babe from Cooperstown writes: Is It just me, or have there been no races since, like, before Thanksgiving? Hey, brillionaire, you noticed! The 2003 season ended in November. The first race of the 2004 season--the Daytona 500--is February...

If I had to pick a Final Four team today, it'd be ...(Counterpoints)
January 19, 2004... Duke The surest bet for the 2004 Final Four is CBS analyst Billy Packer. He has been there every year since 1975. I like his odds to make it again. But if I must pick a guy who'll bring along a team, Duke's Mike Krzyzewski seems a logical...

Fine four.(NFL Conference Championship Preview)(Brief Article)
January 19, 2004... 12... 8... 4. The countdown to Super Bowl 38 in Houston has reached the semifinal stage: Indianapolis at New England in the AFC championship game and Carolina at Philadelphia for the NFC title. No player has performed better in this...

Their time, their place: an improbable winning formula has the Eagles one victory away from the Super Bowl for the third year in a row. This time, they won't blow it.(NFL Conference Championship Preview)
January 19, 2004... It says here the Eagles will win the NFC title. Even though logic, statistics and common sense say otherwise. Even though they really shouldn't be playing in the title game at all. Even though they can't stop the run, have just one legitimate...

Carolina at Philadelphia.(NFC championship game matchup)
January 19, 2004... When the Panthers have the ball: With or without Stephen Davis (quadriceps injury), the plan will be to run the ball against an Eagles defense that was 22nd against the run this season and allowed 210 yards in last week's victory over Green...

Reality check: the Colts will dispel the misconceptions and beat the Patriots in the AFC championship game.(NFL Conference Championship Preview)
January 19, 2004... As part of the Colts' preparation for their divisional playoff game against the Chiefs, Tony Dungy called his team together and stirred his men with a thoughtful speech about perception and reality. If the well is dry for him this week, Dungy...

Patriots' Harrison has been on the money all season.(Rodney Harrison)
January 19, 2004... The $5 bill appears to have logged plenty of pocket miles and wallet time before landing in Rodney Harrison's locker, where it is tacked up for display as if it were the first ch-ching on the register at the safety's little shop of horrific...

Indianapolis at New England.(AFC championship game matchup)(Colts vs Patriots)
January 19, 2004... When the Colts have the ball: It won't be easy to run on the Patriots. NT Ted Washington, an outstanding run stuffer, often draws two to three blockers, allowing New England's interior linebackers to fill holes without having to fight through...

From rock star to rock-solid: thanks to injuries and unmet expectations, Vince Carter no longer creates a stir at every stop. But he's healthier, wiser and determined to return the Raptors to the playoffs.(NBA)
January 19, 2004... Much has changed. Nearly four years ago, when the Raptors traveled to Boston for a run-of-the-mill regular-season game, dozens of fans awaited the team's arrival at its downtown hotel. Never mind that it was early March, with the temperature in...

The look of a winner: Marquette's Travis Diener appears more sidekick than star, but on the court there are few better leading men.(College Basketball)
January 19, 2004... You must want to hear about the beard. Of course, the beard. Those tiny sand-colored hairs protruding from his chin? Right. The beard has become an essential of Travis Diener's look. It is there as a challenge, an admonition to take him...

Tale of the tape: the Flyers are rolling because they spend a lot of time in front of the TV.(See A Different Game)(Philadelphia Flyers)
January 19, 2004... Monday, for the Flyers, is movie day, but this is no time for popcorn. Instead, the players are shown a 10- or 15-minute presentation of the bad and good from their games from the week before. Any player can be criticized, so it's no place for...

For Gibbs, it's a risk worth taking.(NFL)(Joe Gibbs)
January 19, 2004... It's as if Redskins fans have just won a fourth Super Bowl. Here is old gent Joe Gibbs, the prodigal son of Washington football, emerging from a cocoon at a time when the franchise was disintegrating to depths it hadn't mucked since the early...

Keeping Wannstedt was a winning move for Miami.(NFL)(Dave Wannstedt, Miami Dolphins)
January 19, 2004... It doesn't rank up there with Joe Gibbs on the shock-o-meter, but it did come as a pleasant surprise when the Dolphins signed Dave Wannstedt to a contract extension through 2006. Before the season, I was certain Wannstedt would have to make...

Kris Jenkins DT, Panthers.(Scouting Report)(Brief Article)
January 19, 2004... STRENGTHS: Has good size, plays with good leverage, generally gets under an offensive lineman's pads and is difficult to move once he gets into position. Has excellent upper-body strength and can shed blocks quickly. Does an excellent job of...

Wide receivers.(Draft Watch)
January 19, 2004... 1. Larry Fitzgerald *, 6-3, 218, Pittsburgh. Big, athletic player with superb hand-eye coordination. Has a great feel for the position. Has everything except premier speed. 2. Roy Williams, 6-2, 208, Texas. Has size, speed and strength....

AFC.(NFL)
January 19, 2004... BALTIMORE RAVENS STOP THE RUN: The team was considering not pursuing OLB/DE Adalius Thomas on the free-agent market because it thought he would command too big of a salary. Then the club got a look at its run defense without him, and now...

NFC.(NFL)(National Football Conference)
January 19, 2004... ARIZONA CARDINALS LOOKING FOR HELP: New coach Dennis Green's specialty is offense. He must find two wideouts who can complement WR Anquan Boldin. Bryant Johnson, a first-round pick last year, should emerge as one option, but he has to be...

There is a bright side for the Suns.(NBA)(Stephon Marbury, Phoenix Suns goes to New York Knicks)
January 19, 2004... The arrival of hometown star Stephon Marbury in New York last week should be the perfect match of an underappreciated player and a hoops random that has been looking for someone to love. In less than a month on the job, Knicks general...

Scouts' views: observations from an Eastern Conference scout.(NBA)
January 19, 2004... When the Spurs signed Rasho Nesterovic last summer, I wasn't sure how it would go over. They're paying him more than Malik Rose, who is the better player. But Nesterovic fits so well into what they do. He's primarily an offensive guy. They can...