The Sporting News articles from January 2005

The Sporting News archives from January 2005

To know list: 6 more ways to back into the playoffs.(Know It All)
January 14, 2005... [1] PGA TOUR 2005 A battle for the ages You read it here first: Vijay Singh and Tiger Woods will engage in the fiercest battle for PGA Tour supremacy since Arnold Palmer looked askance at a chubby kid named Jack Nicklaus. Why?...

Which Mike would you rather have: Hampton or Vick?(Caught On The Fly)(meshed brief)
January 14, 2005... Some around the NFL are referring to the Falcons' owner as Arthur Blankety-Blank for the deal he lavished on Michael Vick. The thinking is that it's crazy to give $100-plus million to a highly inconsistent lefty who struggles to throw...

Bob Hille's starting 5.(Know It All)(Brief Article)
January 14, 2005... 1 The NFL playoffs. If your team has a first-round bye, it's the next-best thing to a guaranteed victory, the postseason version of playing the 49ers in the regular season. 2 Conference play. Will things get more intense in college hoops?...

Rough, real and relevant.(Under Review)(movie)(Movie Review)
January 14, 2005... Coach Carter (rated PG-13; opens in theaters January 14) was inspired by the true story of Ken Carter, a California high school basketball coach who had his players sign contracts promising to maintain at least a 2.3 GPA, among other...

David Brandt, crafty veteran.(If I Weren't A Sports Star)(Brief Article)
January 14, 2005... Spelling--for Chargers center/guard David Brandt, it's as simple as I before E, except after C" yet as complex as a playbook. "I was diagnosed with a learning disability in first grade and have had it ever since," says Brandt, in his second...

Mr. Jockularity: how old is too old to wear a baseball cap in public?(Fan scape: a lifestyle guide for the dedicated nonathlete)(men's sportswear)(Brief Article)
January 14, 2005... When my young fashionable female friend says, "Any guy can look sexy in a baseball cap," I promise you the visions dancing through her head aren't of a white-haired gentleman in a Brewers mesh cap that was signed by Gorman Thomas and Moose...

For now, Lambeau beats Ludacris: getting to star on a late-night show was a thrill, but it still doesn't compare to my day job.(My Turn)
January 14, 2005... A couple of weeks ago I found myself on a plane headed for Los Angeles and a two-night career change. I got to be the guest host of The Late Late Show on CBS, and the experience is something I will never forget. For those two nights, it...

Your turn.(Know It All)(Letter to the Editor)
January 14, 2005... 'I loved Steve Greenberg's piece on what's right with college football (TSN, December 27). Division III football was a lot of fun... even when we stunk.--Thomas Quinlen, former tight end, Colorado College' * Brian Urlacher, a perennial...

Tags, you're IT: there are billions of reasons--a few unrelated to money--why NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue is the most powerful person in sports.(The Power 100)(National Football League)
January 14, 2005... The National Football League and television have been happily married for 48 years, a very long time. There have been a few rocky moments in the past, but this year saw new lows as not one but two beautiful women tried to play home wreckers....

Blessed and obsessed: no one wants to translate regular-season greatness into postseason success more than Peyton Manning and the Colts.(NFL)
January 14, 2005... Hang around Peyton Manning long enough and you feel as if you have wandered into a football experiment of grand proportions. Here you have a particularly unique subject--an athlete blessed with abundant natural skills, geniuslike intellect and...

The Patriots, Eagles and Colts have defenses that: get bent but don't break, giving opposing offenses the chance to implode.
January 14, 2005... Calling a defense "bend but don't break" is kind of like calling a woman "pretty for her size." Somewhere in those descriptions, insult lurks. You might as well label a defense "passive," "soft" or just plain "limp-wristed." No defense...

So much to do, so little time: the best of the recently hired coaches already are building toward next season, but the tasks ahead are daunting.(College Football)
January 14, 2005... The initial meeting was brief and to the point: We stink. Now let's do something about it. This was Charlie Weis' first powwow with his players as the new coach at Notre Dame. No time for greetings and giggles, just a quick introduction to...

Running into reality: even with Vince Carter on board, the Nets will have trouble taking off as long as Jason Kidd is limited--and no one knows how long that might be.(NBA)
January 14, 2005... Richard Jefferson can see it. It's the first thing he thought of when he heard the Nets would be acquiring gifted shooting guard Vince Carter from the Raptors, drooping a five-time All-Star into the lineup with Jefferson and point guard Jason...

These are the guys I'd want in my foxhole: if you don't keep your eyes on Muhammad, he'll knock your helmet sideways.(NFL)(football players)
January 14, 2005... Many of them might not be the best players in the NFL--or the most famous--but these are the guys I want in my foxhole. They are good teammates who have exhibited special qualities that enhance their value beyond their physical abilities. ...

AFC east.(NFL)(American Football Conference)
January 14, 2005... BUFFALO BILLS OFFSEASON GAME PLAN: The roster should remain mostly intact, but two potential free agents will be a challenge to re-sign. LT Jonas Jennings continues to get better, and given his age (27) and the fact that he plays a...

AFC north.(NFL)(American Football Conference)
January 14, 2005... BALTIMORE RAVENS OFFSEASON GAME PLAN: The Ravens want to become more balanced on offense, so they likely will try to sign or draft athletic linemen and move away from the top-heavy, run-oriented group they had in 2004. The team is expected...

AFC south.(NFL)(American Football Conference )
January 14, 2005... HOUSTON TEXANS OFFSEASON GAME PLAN: The Texans need a receiver capable of taking pressure off WR Andre Johnson, The team must decide whether Corey Bradford, who is set to become a free agent, can fill that role. Houston moved Chester Pitts...

White was a man of many layers.(NFL)(Reggie White, biography)(Biography)
January 14, 2005... In 1996, a few months after arsonists burned down his church in Tennessee, I decided to write a profile on Reggie White. I wanted to explore the private side of White, by then the most dominant defensive player in the NFL. Four months later,...

AFC west.(NFL)(American Football Conference )
January 14, 2005... DENVER BRONCOS PLAYOFF READINESS *** PLAYOFF PROGNOSIS: Pro Bowl CB Champ Bailey and Pro Bowl S John Lynch have improved the defense, but that still might not be enough to slow down QB Peyton Manning and the Colts. Without having to face a...

Steve Foley: OLB, Chargers.(Scouting Report)(football players)(Brief Article)
January 14, 2005... HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6-3/260 STRENGTHS: Is a big, physical linebacker who works hard. Is willing and able to throw his body around and plays every down with everything he has. Has excellent strength and speed--with a surprising burst--and has...

TSNumber 5.(NFL)(football)(Brief Article)
January 14, 2005... Consecutive years the Eagles have made the playoffs, the longest streak in the league. However, if they do not advance to the Super Bowl, Donovan McNabb will become the first quarterback in league history to lead a team to four straight...

Marco Rivera: G, Packers.(Scouting Report)(football players)(Brief Article)
January 14, 2005... HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6-4/310 STRENGTHS: Is a tough, durable, fierce competitor with an extremely powerful punch that can knock back a defender. Has good size and a strong upper body, Has great lower-body strength and can be effective at moving...

NFC east.(NFL)(National Football Conference)
January 14, 2005... DALLAS COWBOYS OFFSEASON GAME PLAN: The top priority is solving the quarterback puzzle, and that doesn't mean bringing back Vinny Testaverde, 41, as the starter. The club wants to go with either Drew Henson or Tony Romo, both 24, and is...

NFC north.(NFL)(National Football Conference)
January 14, 2005... CHICAGO BEARS OFFSEASON GAME PLAN: After allowing a team-record 66 sacks, the Bears need help on the offensive line, particularly at left tackle. But G.M. Jerry Angelo says he won't overvalue the position, emphasizing that teams have won...

Don't overlook Culpepper's season; it was one of the best ever.(NFL)
January 14, 2005... What timing. Daunte Culpepper turns in one of the greatest seasons ever by an NFL quarterback, and nobody notices. He can thank Peyton Manning for that. It's like releasing a great film the same year Titanic comes out. Nice work, pal, and...

All rest and no play puts the Eagles at risk.(NFL)
January 14, 2005... The Eagles are the best team in the NFC, but coach Andy Reid made a mistake that I think will cost them in the playoffs. Reid benched several of his key players, including Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook and Jevon Kearse, for all or most of...

NFC south.(NFL)(National Football Conference)
January 14, 2005... ATLANTA FALCONS PLAYOFF READINESS **** PLAYOFF PROGNOSIS: The defense continues to prevent big plays with zone coverages, consistent pressure and an insistence on stuffing the run. RB Warrick Dunn's recent emergence makes the league's best...

NFC west.(NFL)(National Football Conference )
January 14, 2005... ARIZONA CARDINALS OFFSEASON GAME PLAN: There will be major changes. Coach Dennis Green says Josh McCown will be a good quarterback, but Green is impatient and probably will at least seek a veteran to challenge McCown. RB Emmitt Smith is...

TSN scoreboard.(NFL)(The Sporting News)(Illustration)
January 14, 2005... TSN SCOREBOARD AFC EAST NE NYJ BUF MIA W-L 14-2 10-6 9-7 4-2 Pct. .875 .625 .563 .250 PF 437 ...

TSNumber 20.(NFL)
January 14, 2005... Years since the Seahawks last won a playoff game, the longest drought in the league. Dave Krieg was Seattle's quarterback that season, Steve Largent was the top receiver, and Franco Harris was a Seahawks running back. The NFEs five longest...

When picking a battle, at least choose the right one: the job of an advocate is to have a clear and concise message--and the Black Coaches Association's is neither.(College Football)
January 14, 2005... This is the story of an organization, of noble and necessary ideals, of fighting for cause when cause doesn't always count. This is the story of the Black Coaches Association, a group with the right idea and the wrong execution. In...

More dangerous than ever: if you insist on calling Gonzaga a mid-major, then the NBA is basketball's only high-major league.(College Basketball)(National Basketball Association)
January 14, 2005... As of New Year's Day, 2005, they had been with us for precisely 2,121 days. They are nothing like the cicadas, which pop up every 17 years and make one heck of a racket, then disappear quietly. No, these pesky critters are sticking around. ...

TSN power poll: super-sub edition.(College Basketball)(The Sporting News)(Brief Article)
January 14, 2005... The TSN Power Poll is determined by TSN writers and editors. +, - rise or fall in rankings 1. Illinois (14-0) Even Nick Smith. He gives Illinois a defense-boggling dimension, though he's not a great rebounder or defender. It's tough to...

Aaron Brooks PG, Oregon.(Player Of The Week)(Point Guard)(Ducks and Brooks, basketball competitions)(Brief Article)
January 14, 2005... The Ducks were home for the holidays, but Brooks drove them past both Portland and Southern California with averages of 25.5 points, 4.5 assists and 64.0 percent shooting. He had only three turnovers in 60 minutes and made seven 3s. His 34...

March to the Arch.(College Basketball)(Brief Article)
January 14, 2005... * The Missouri Valley. The Valley is 67-25 against nonconference competition, and Wichita State is undefeated. This league is more than just Southern Illinois and Creighton. * Georgia Tech's backcourt. Jarrett Jack showed why he's one of...

Mike DeCourcy's 3 questions.(basketball)(Brief Article)
January 14, 2005... 1 When will Pittsburgh get really serious? Playing most of their nonleague schedule at home appears to have bored the Panthers. They lacked intensity and precision in two recent challenges, against Richmond and South Carolina. Star players Carl...

Scouts views: observations from the sidelines.(basketball)(Brief Article)
January 14, 2005... Miami guard Rob Hite's athleticism is off the charts. The team's offense is spaced out like a pro set, and he gets to areas, rises up and makes tough shots. If you close out on him hard, he can put it on the floor and get to the rim. Last year,...

Spurs must guard against inconsistency: the missing pieces to a San Antonio championship have been on the roster all along.(NBA)
January 14, 2005... Folks in San Antonio have been looking all over for signs of Rasho Nesterovic's game, from the peak of the Tower of the Americas to the basement of the Alamo. Free-agent signee Brent Barry, an alleged sharpshooter, has struggled badly and dealt...

Take this to the bank: the Yanks could tank: remember, George: $200 million can buy you just about anything--except a guarantee for success in October.(Baseball)(Bronx Billionaires)
January 14, 2005... Don't fret, Yankees haters. Read on, and you'll see plenty of potential obstacles that could keep the restocked and heavily favored Bronx Billionaires from winning the World Series--and I didn't have to reach too far to find them. Not all of...

A.L. report.(Baseball)(American League)
January 14, 2005... SPOTLIGHT: Rotations ANGELS RHP Bartolo Colon can build on his momentum from the second half of 2004 by continuing to use his changeup against righthanded hitters.... RHP Kelvim Escobar managed to be the team's most consistent starter...

N.L. report.(Baseball)(National League)
January 14, 2005... SPOTLIGHT: Rotations ASTROS With few free-agent starters available, the club may have to fill the fourth and fifth spots with some combination of LHP Carlos Hernandez and RHPs Tim Redding and Brandon Duckworth. None proved he belonged last...

The writing is on the back stretch wall: at his age, Ward Burton needs to consider Busch or trucks if he wants to continue racing.(NASCAR)
January 14, 2005... A year ago the phone rang, and an unmistakable voice was on the other end. "Whatcha doin?" Ward Burton asked. This was completely out of the blue. Generally, writers track down drivers; seldom is it the other way around, especially during...

The prospect for prospects: these days, the NHLers of the future have more to fear than getting picked by a perpetual loser. What if there is no draft?(NHL)(National Hockey League)
January 14, 2005... Over the past two weeks, some of the best young hockey prospects in the world gathered in Minnesota and North Dakota to play in the 2005 World Junior Championship. These young players once had the world at their skates, but now they face...

Fantasy source.(National Football League)
January 14, 2005... PLAY ACTION Twelve NFL teams are preparing for the playoffs, but for the rest of us, it's time to think about next season. For those in fantasy football keeper leagues, this means whittling down a roster to the essential players. In...

A dishonorable flag flies over BC$ nation: every January, I smell something rotten in the bowls.(Bowl Championship Series Nation)
January 14, 2005... Every time I mention that there should be a big-time college football playoff, belly-painted yahoos fire off e-mails beginning "Your an idiot!" The deep thinkers want me to believe there already is a playoff, only it's the regular season....

Flex appeal.(basket ball coach Carroll Williams)(Biography)
January 21, 2005... Old coaches are like old soldiers. Often they just fade from memory, making way for the next generation of clipboard connoisseurs. Sometimes they leave something behind that ensures they never are forgotten, an indelible imprint on the game...

On the money: the Mets finally got something right when they signed Carlos Beltran.(Baseball)
January 21, 2005... Now this is more like it. I still don't like the Mets' signing Pedro Martinez, a pitcher in decline, to a four-year, $54 million contract. I still can't believe they traded lefthander Scott Kazmir, a potential ace, for righthander Victor...

To know list: 5 letters--but no W--in Colts.(Know It All)
January 28, 2005... [1] POLL POSITION There's been much ado but nothing new We all were raised in this country to believe that voting is both a right and a privilege, but years of watching the system fail have convinced me not to participate. I am a...

Just wait, Carlos Beltran.(Caught On The Fly)(Brief Article)
January 28, 2005... At his introductory news conference with the Yankees, Randy Johnson spent much of his time apologizing for roughing up a cameraman in Manhattan the previous day. Which is weird, because usually when someone comes to New York and then starts...

Starting 5.(Know It All)(includes multiple articles )(Brief Article)
January 28, 2005... 1 Eclipse. With the NFL fining Randy Moss for pretending to moon Green Bay, when will FOX be fined for pretending to be mad at Moss? 2 Steroids policy. Major League Baseball announced tough rules last week. Asked if he liked them, Jason...

Never too big for hero worship: sure, I work with TV's most beautiful women, but meeting Peyton Manning was my dream come true.(My Turn)
January 28, 2005... Grown men can have sports heroes, can't they? Most of us won't admit to it. We wonder if a group of overpaid, overhyped egomaniacs can be truly worthy of our adulation. Last month, I discovered the answer. Since his freshman year at...

Your turn.(Know It All)(Letter to the Editor)
January 28, 2005... * Randy Moss is an unbelievably great football player. It's a shame that he also is one of the worst people to ever grace the world of sports, ranking up there with Barry Bonds, Pete Rose and Latrell Sprewell. I've never seen a player justify...

David Stern: the NBA commissioner says his league will be 'a light in the darkness'.(James Brown's Hang Time)(Interview)
January 28, 2005... JAMES BROWN: You've been recognized by the SPORTING NEWS as the fourth most powerful person in sports. When you think about being one of the most influential people in pro sports, has it really sunk in? Do you think about that at all? ...

Who is the NBA's half-season MVP?(Counterpoints)
January 28, 2005... Steve Nash The Suns finished last season with 29 wins. Already, they have surpassed that total. Sure, Amare Stoudemire is a year older. Quentin Richardson has been a decent addition. But the real reason the Suns have made a shocking...

Blind luck: at the track or on the trail, Wally Dallenbach has things going his way.(Know It All)
January 28, 2005... I was on the Greystone Castle grounds less than a minute before I saw a deer. Six, in fact, five of them bucks. If I had come to do a story about hunting, I had come to the right place. The right place in this case is Mingus, Texas, about...

The spinal four.(NFL Conference Championship Preview)(Brief Article)
January 28, 2005... The Steelers, Patriots, Eagles and Falcons. These four teams were the best in their respective conferences during the regular season, and they showed the most backbone again last weekend as they advanced to within one game of Super Bowl 39. ...

In the zone: the Steelers are a step away from the Super Bowl thanks to the zone-blitzing defense crafted by Dick LeBeau, the nicest guy you'd never want to scheme against.(NFL Conference Championship Preview)
January 28, 2005... His players sometimes refer to him as Grandpa, but don't be misled. Even at 67, Dick LeBeau has more energy, more hair and more cutting-edge ideas than peers 20 years younger, By throttling Peyton Manning and the Colts, you may think Tom Brady...

The value of Vick: the true worth of Michael Vick--an unconventional quarterback who can't be measured by conventional numbers--is that without him the Falcons are mediocre, but with him they can beat anyone.(NFL Conference Championship Preview)
January 28, 2005... Is a quarterback who wins the game worth $130 million, even if his statistics are average? The first step in determining Michael Vick's value is to write some of his statistics on a piece of paper: 2,313 passing yards, which ranked 26th in...

Side effects: the best supporting players can be integral to their teams' success.(College Basketball)
January 28, 2005... Ever since they started making TV shows and movies out of comic books, Robin has been a problem. You think sidekick, you think Robin wearing that frilly red and green outfit from the campy late-60s TV show or that metallic number with the phony...

Big influence: new-age Magic power forward Dwight Howard is taking his cues from old-school mentor Clifford Ray.(NBA)
January 28, 2005... It's late afternoon in Miami, and 19-year-old Dwight Howard is 10 feet from the basket, leaning back, sweating, feeling the ever-present forearm of 56-year-old coach Clifford Ray buried in his back. Ray is mumbling in Howard's ear, talking,...

Special work by some special assistants: Houck--part teacher, part salesman, part psychologist--fixed the Chargers' offensive line.(NFL)
January 28, 2005... Marty Schottenheimer was named the AP's NFL coach of the year. There's no designation for assistant coach of the year, but if there were, it would go to the guy who works two doors down from Schottenheimer. That would be Hudson Houck, the...

Is this Brown out?(NFL)(Brief Article)
January 28, 2005... The Browns will take a $3 million salary cap hit if they release QB Jeff Garcia. but that's what they need to do. Garcia is a battler, but he also is self-centered. His accuracy was marginal in 2004-he completed just 57.1 percent of his...

Hey, Eagles: good luck stopping the unstoppable Vick.(NFL)
January 28, 2005... I'm an analyst on FOX, so it's my job to break down player performances. I study tons of film, looking for every little nuance or tendency that might explain why a player, unit or team has been producing or struggling. But when it comes to...

Inside the AFC.(NFL)
January 28, 2005... FS Lamont Thompson's athleticism makes him a valuable commodity, and he likely will maintain the starting role he held most of the season for the TITANS. Thompson isn't overly physical, but he can run and cover and usually puts himself in good...

Scouts views: observations and opinions from a pro scout.(NFL)(Brief Article)
January 28, 2005... The Steelers are going to have to establish a running game in the AFC championship game. Ben Roethlisberger hasn't played as well down the stretch, and 1 think they're going to have to rely on Jerome Bettis, Duce Staley and that running game to...

AFC focus: upgrade lowdown.(NFL)
January 28, 2005... Michael Waddell, Troy Fleming and Jason McAddley all struggled returning kicks for the Titans this season. None had much experience; look for the team to target a quality experienced return man.... For the second straight offseason, the Texans...

Inside the NFC.(NFL)
January 28, 2005... RAMS WR Kevin Curtis was impressive late in the season and has the kind of top-end speed needed for the team's deep passing game to flourish. Curtis isn't afraid to go over the middle, has good hands and has shown surprising toughness as a...

Guarded optimism.(NFL)(Brief Article)
January 28, 2005... Derrick Dockery has the ability to be a franchise guard for the Redskins but hasn't come close to reaching his full potential. An exceptionally agile lineman, Dockery (6-6, 345) is huge and can get up and out on the counter plays the team likes...

If ... no ... when Favre returns, the NFL owes him a heck of a sendoff.(NFL)
January 28, 2005... The NFL does so many things just right, from marketing to scheduling to maximum exposure of its stars. But it doesn't do retirements right. When Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ends his career, the NBA has a seasonlong celebration. In the NFL, heroes...

NFC focus: upgrade lowdown.(NFL)
January 28, 2005... Defensive end is a glaring concern for the 49ers. RE Andre Carter (back) was out most of this season and hasn't developed into the speedy, productive pass rusher the team anticipated he would become. E Andrew Williams has been something of a...

Call Martz arrogant if you want, but he gets impressive results.(NFL)
January 28, 2005... Mike Martz has become quite the punching bag. He burns timeouts. He wastes replay challenges. He throws too much. He goes overboard with praise for some of his players and staff. Martz catches a lot of flak, and I'm not sure why. There's...

It's a coaches league, too: they're not geniuses, they're not morons--they're just coaches, and these guys have made some sharp decisions.(NBA)
January 28, 2005... From peewees to pros, from midgets to Madison Square Garden, from CYO to "See-my-new-Escalade," there are two voices that guide a coach. The first is that little one inside his head, which constantly assures him that he is, in fact, a hoops...

So many choices, so few spots.(NBA)
January 28, 2005... Warriors guard Mickael Pietrus would like your vote. Assuming you're an NBA coach or assistant, that is. That's who will choose the nine-player rosters for the Rookies vs. Sophomores sideshow during All-Star weekend in Denver, and Pietrus is...

The trouble with triple doubles.(NBA)(Brief Article)
January 28, 2005... Barely 20, LeBron James already has accomplished many great things in his brief career. But if he wants to become the youngest player to record a triple double, he better hurry. He has until February 17 to beat Lamar Odom, who had his first...

Top 5: strategy tips that will boost your fantasy team's production.(NBA)(Brief Article)
January 28, 2005... 1 Play the matchups. By this point in the season, you know which teams rebound and defend poorly and which ones are turnover-prone. Set your lineups accordingly. For example, seven of the eight teams that allow the most points are in the...

So much for instant gratification: freshmen are supposed to contribute immediately these days. So can anyone explain the class of 2004?(College Basketball)
January 28, 2005... Joe Crawford certainly looked like a talent when he and Malik Hairston led Detroit's Renaissance High to the Michigan Class B championship last winter. There was no reason to believe otherwise when Crawford scored 15 points in the McDonald's...

TSN Power Poll: lockdown defenders edition.(College Basketball)
January 28, 2005... The TSN Power Poll is determined by TSN writers and editors. +,- rise or fall in rankings 1. Illinois (18-0) Even 2. Kansas (13-0) +1 3. Wake Forest (15-1) +1 4. Duke (12-0) +1 Shelden Williams is the school's record...

Anthony Roberson PG, Florida.(Player Of The Week)(Brief Article)
January 28, 2005... Roberson always has been a significant talent. Now, he's starting to grow as a player. Never one to play with fear, Roberson carried the Gators to two Southeastern Conference road victories, slapping 34 points on Auburn and 30 on Vanderbilt....

March to the arch.(College Basketball)(Brief Article)
January 28, 2005... * Keith Langford and Aaron Miles. Since this duo stepped on campus, Kansas is 100-21. Wayne Simien might drift in and out of the lineup because of injury, but Langford and Miles are constants. * Duke. The Devils entered the week unbeaten...

Mike DeCourcy's 3 questions.(College Basketball)(Brief Article)
January 28, 2005... 1 Is everybody still happy with ACC expansion? It's working for Miami and eventually could work for Virginia Tech, but those extra teams will cost us all a chance to see a rematch of the stirring duel between Wake Forest and North Carolina....

Scouts views: observations from the sidelines.(College Basketball)(Brief Article)
January 28, 2005... Alabama point guard Ronald Steele is terrific. I watched him on tape, and I couldn't believe he's a freshman. He reminds me of Joe Dumars. Everyone talks about Kennedy Winston, but this kid will kill you. He's capable of taking over the team,...

Scoring is his Key: St. Peter's guard Keydren Clark has a chance to pull off a rare offensive feat.(College Basketball)
January 28, 2005... With each ball that banged off the rim, the fans in the bleachers at St. Peter's Yanitelli Center shook their heads in disbelief and waited for the next shot. The next one would go in. It had to. But it seldom did. Keydren Clark's 5-for-22...

It takes a blind eye to believe in this vision: Devils majority owner Jeff Vanderbeek jumped on the NHL's sinking ship in September, but he still believes in a bright future that's not easy for others to see.(NHL)
January 28, 2005... Unbelievably, there is a hopeful soul in the NHL world. He's not someone who is hopeful that the union will crack or that the owners will cave. He is someone who chose to invest in the league as it was screeching to a halt. Jeff Vanderbeek,...

Vintage formula still works in San Fran: the Giants are so old, trainer Stan Conte might turn out be team MVP. But decrepit or not, the Cane Gang still rates as the favorite in the N.L. West.(Baseball)
January 28, 2005... The Giants' first pick in last year's amateur draft wasn't until No. 70. Their first pick this year will be no higher than No. 112. If ever a franchise were justified in forfeiting draft picks for free agents, it would be one that is trying to...