Night note: Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2006

Woops: Seattle's center Robert Swift wore his shorts backward in the first half of Tuesday's 114-104 victory over New Orleans. They were fixed by the start of the second half.

Singing the Bluegrasses: Well, it's March, which means only one thing -- We're getting closer to the tournament.

Not the World Baseball Classic you fantasy buffoon! I'm talking about the only tournament that matters -- which somewhat hurts me to say it as a Texas Tech and Dayton fan. At least I have the Bob Knight reality show to look forward to every Sunday.

I didn't expect much from my hometown club, while the Red Raiders crapped out early and I realized they weren't going anywhere in early January.

I remember the days when the state of Indiana boasted about its basketball tradition, but Purdue hasn't been to the tourney since 2003 season and the trustees in Bloomington are getting what they deserved. How does the best high school player in the state end up a Buckeye? Embarrassing ... but what's up with the Bluegrass State.

Louisville and Kentucky started the season in the top 10. Now the Cards (17-10, 5-9 Big East) and the Cats (18-10, 8-6 SEC) are on the verge of not making the Big Dance.

Excluding 1990-91 -- when UK was on probation and couldn't play in the postseason -- it's been 30 years since neither team made the NCAA Tournament.

Kentucky could get in, but Tubby's crew has a tough remaining schedule: at No. 11 Tennessee tonight and vs. No. 17 Florida on Sunday.

"I think if neither one of them makes the NCAA tournament, they'll probably drape the state in black," said Larry Conley, a broadcaster who played at Kentucky under Hall of Fame coach Adolph Rupp.

Well, I don't feel for them -- and on to the night note.

Arenas with new covers

Home: Miller from Yankees camp, focusing on Johnson
Mini: Canucks squeak by rival Flames as NHL returns after Olympics
Mini: Auto Faceoff (De Los Santos and McCarthy)
Promo Box: Mejia's NBA Power Rankings, featuring LeBron and the Cavs

NFL: Prisco on top 50 free agents
Mini: Judge on Virginia Tech corner Williams
Mini: Prisco on Penn State defensive end Hali

NBA: Mejia's Power Rankings, featuring Cavs

MLB: Miller from Yankees camp
Mini: Miller from Reds camp

NHL: Goldstein's Power Rankings, featuring Detroit
Mini: Canucks edge Flames, 2-1

NCB: Doyel's Ten for Tuesday, looking a possible replacements for Indiana's Davis
Mini: Doyel's Monday Morning Knee-Jerk

CAR: De Los Santos-McCarthy Faceoff

Night note: Sunday, Feb. 26, 2006

The Courtney Paris watch: The Sooners freshman notched her 21st consecutive double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds as No. 9 Oklahoma dumped Nebraska 73-45 on Sunday. Paris not only claimed her NCAA Division I-leading 26th double-double of the season, she became the first Big 12 player to tally 600 points and 400 rebounds in a season.

Climbing the ladder: New Jersey lost to visiting Indiana 101-91, but the Nets' Clifford Robinson played in his 1,303rd career game, tying him with Elvin Hayes for ninth on the NBA's career list. Robinson scored 11 points, giving him 19,190 for his career and passing Gail Goodrich for 36th place on the NBA's career list.

Say what? "In the second half, we inhaled, pulled up our shorts and just played." Ohio State coach Jim Foster after his sixth-ranked Buckeyes won at Penn State 61-59.

Arenas with new covers

Home: Miller from Twins camp
Mini: Olympics: Turin Games complete
Mini: Kenseth wins California 500
Promo Box: Doyel from Indiana's win over Michigan State

NFL: Prisco on Penn State's Hali from combine
Mini: Judge on Lions' Martz believing in Herrington

NBA: Pierce leads Celtics over Lakers, who get 40 points from Kobe

MLB: Miller from Twins camp
Mini: Miller from Red Sox camp

NHL: Olympics: Sweden beats Finland for gold

NCB: Doyel from Indiana's win over MSU
Mini: No. 3 UConn tops No. 2 Villanova

CAR: Kenseth wins California 500

OLY: Turin Games conclude

CROSS COUNTRY SKIING: Italian de Centa wins the men's 50k

ICE HOCKEY: Sweden beats Finland for gold

Night note: Thursday, Feb. 23, 2006

This is just out of hand: A bloody piece of gauze that Gonzaga star Adam Morrison allegedly used to stop a nosebleed in Monday's victory against Pepperdine is up for sale on an internet auction site. The gauze went up for sale Tuesday for $1 and already has bids of more than $18. Its condition was listed as "used."

"The stalkerazzi have reached an all-time low," coach Mark Few said.

Morrison used gauze in the first half of Monday's game and then threw it to the floor under the basket.

"This is the game-used gauze pad covered in blood from Adam Morrison," the seller advertised.

Milestone: Detroit's Rasheed Wallace blocked the 1,000th shot of his career in the Pistons' 88-83 victory over the Pacers on Thursday. Wallace is the 68th NBA player to reach that mark, joining teammates Ben Wallace and Dale Davis.

If you say so: "They didn't hear much from me at halftime. No throwing chairs, VCRs or Gatorade bottles. I didn't get in anybody's face." - Mavericks coach Avery Johnson after Dallas rallied for a franchise-record 13th consecutive home victory, 97-87 over Memphis on Thursday. The Mavs trailed 56-47 at the break.

Arenas with new covers

Home: Miller from Orioles camp
Mini: Cohen stumbles, but wins silver in Olympic figure skating
Mini: Doyel (from 'Nova-UC game) on Cincy should hire Kennedy
Promo Box: Doyel's five tough-luck programs

NFL: Prisco on Reggie Bush

NBA: Mejia on no blockbuster deals before deadline

MLB: Miller from Orioles camp
Mini: Miller from Cardinals camp
Mini: Dobrow on A-Rod

NHL: Olympics hockey follow-up on U.S. and Canada

NCF: Dodd's Part 3 on Samoan players

NCB: Doyel on Cincinnati should hire Kennedy
Mini: Doyel's five tough-luck programs

CAR: Gonos' fantasy outlook for California
Mini: Faceoff (De Los Santos-McCarthy)

OLY: Cohen stumbles into second; Japan's Arakawa takes gold

BIATHLON: Russia wins 4x6k relay

BOBSLED: Hays hopes to lead U.S. four-man team

CURLING: Sweden beats Switzerland for women's gold

FIGURE SKATING: Cohen stumbles into silver; Arakawa wins gold

FREESTYLE SKIING: China's Xiaopeng captures gold in men's event

ICE HOCKEY: Follows on U.S. and Canada after elimination

SNOWBOARD: Switzerland's Meuli wins giant slalom; U.S.'s Fletcher gets bronze

Night note: Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2006

Famous fathers I: Duke's Mistie Williams, a senior on the top-ranked Blue Devils, watched her father sing the national anthem before her team dismantled visiting Virginia Tech 92-51 Wednesday night. Her dad: Chubby Checker.

"I hadn't actually heard my dad sing in a long time," Williams said. "The last time he sang the national anthem here, we lost. But it was nice tonight to hear him sing and then for us to win."

No worries here, however, as Williams and seniors Monique Currie and Jessica Foley improved to 121-11 in their four years at Duke.

Famous fathers II: (And sorry that this is a repeat) Oklahoma freshman Courtney Paris, who extended her nation-leading string of double-doubles to 20 with 22 points and 15 rebounds in the Sooners' 78-64 over Kansas State Tuesday, is the daughter of former Michigan All-American and former San Francisco 49er All-Pro lineman Bubba Paris.

Arenas with new covers

Home: Doyel on unique season with Morrison and Redick
Mini: Mejia on Knicks trade for Francis
Mini: Miller from Cardinals camp
Promo Box: Ratto on Bonds' first spring training interview

NBA: Mejia on Knicks trade for Francis
Mini: Mejia's Power Rankings

MLB: Miller from Cardinals camp
Mini: Miller from Mets camp

NHL: Olympics: U.S., Canada eliminated in quarterfinals

NCF: Dodd's Part 2 on Samoan players

NCB: Doyel on Morrison-Redick

CAR: Owens on the season really starts now
Mini: Faceoff (De Los Santos-McCarthy)

OLY: U.S., Canada eliminated in men's hockey

ALPINE SKIING: Sweden's Paerson captures gold

CROSS COUNTRY SKIING: Sweden's Lind wins men's sprint; Canada's Crawford first in women's sprint

CURLING: Canada beats U.S. in men's semifinal

FREESTYLE SKIING: Switzerland's Leu takes home gold in women's aerials

ICE HOCKEY: U.S., Canada eliminated

SHORT TRACK SPEED SKATING: American Ohno qualifies for 500-meter quarterfinal

SNOWBOARD: Switzerland's Philipp Schoch wins parallel giant slalom

Night note: Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2006

Overheard: "I'm really glad that we have this carrot of going undefeated [in the Big 12], to dangle out there in front of [our players] to keep them directed and going after a prize. It's like a good hunting dog -- they need something to chase." -- Oklahoma women's coach Sherri Coale after the No. 9 Sooners improved to 14-0 in conference after a 78-64 victory over Kansas State. OU has two Big 12 regular-season games remaining.

Arenas with new covers

Home: Mejia's NBA Power Rankings -- predicting the playoff matchups
Mini: Figure skater Cohen has small lead after short program
Mini: Miller from Mets camp
Promo Box: Doyel's Ten for Tuesday (college hoops)

NFL: Prisco's top 32 draft prospects w/ link of Judge on scouting combine

NBA: Mejia's Power Rankings
Mini: Mejia's Weekly Essentials leading into trade deadline

MLB: Miller from Mets camp
Mini: Miller from Marlins camp

NHL: Olympics: U.S. advances despite loss; Canada tops Czech Republic

NCF: Dodd on Part 1 on Samoan players

NCB: Doyel's Ten for Tuesday (top categories to decide at-large bids)
Mini: Doyel's Monday Morning Knee-Jerk

CAR: Faceoff (McCarthy-De Los Santos)
Mini: De Los Santos' Power Rankings

OLY: Figure skater Cohen has small lead after short program

BIATHLON: Germany takes gold

BOBSLED: U.S.'s Rohbock, Fleming win silver

FIGURE SKATING: Cohen has small lead

ICE HOCKEY: U.S. loses, but advances; Canada tops Czech Republic

NORDIC COMBINED: Austria's Gottwald wins 7.5K sprint

SPEED SKATING: Americans Davis and Hedrick finish 2-3 in 1500 meters

Night note: Sunday, Feb. 19, 2006

If you forgot to send a card, you can still call and wish your favorite President a Happy President's Day!

Imagine that: Former UConn star Ray Allen and ex-Duke stud Elton Brand say their teams from the late 1990s would beat this year's Huskies and Blue Devils, now the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the country.

Allen said his best Huskies team would beat the current UConn squad in a best-of-7 series, but the NBA guard said this year's team is still one of the best in college.

Brand, who played from Duke from 1997-99, said his Blue Devils squad that made the 1999 Final Four was more complete than this year's team. If they played, Brand envisioned a high-scoring shooting duel between Trajan Langdon and current Duke standout J.J. Redick, but said the rest of his team would dominate the current Blue Devils.

"My '99 squad, that was one of the best teams we had in a while over there," Brand said. "We could definitely take this year's team. We'd get after those guys."

Arenas with new covers

Home: McCarthy on Johnson winning Daytona 500
Mini: Miller on the Nationals
Mini: Villanova tops Georgetown
Promo Box: Miller's Bull Pennings

NBA: LeBron earns MVP as East wins All-Star Game

MLB: Miller on Nationals
Mini: Miller on Dodgers

NHL: Olympics: U.S. loses to Sweden; Finland shuts out Canada

NCB: Doyel's Monday Morning Knee-Jerk
Mini: Villanova tops Georgetown

CAR: McCarthy on Johnson's Daytona 500 win

TEN: Mauresmo beats Clijsters for Belgium title

OLY: Men's hockey: U.S. and Canada lose

ALPINE SKIING: Snow postpones women's super-G

BOBSLED: Germany wins gold, while Jamaican-born Brown wins silver for Canada

CROSS COUNTRY SKIING: Italy wins 4x10 men's relay

CURLING: American men clinch quarterfinal berth; U.S. women are eliminated

FIGURE SKATING: Russia leads ice dancing; U.S. team surges up to second

ICE HOCKEY: U.S. and Canada lose

SPEED SKATING: Netherlands' Timmer wins women's 1,000 meters

Night note: Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2006

Arenas with new covers

Home: College hoops: Oklahoma State's Sutton takes medical leave, to enter treatment for alcohol problem; Indiana's Davis reported to resign, but will finish out season
Mini: Mejia's NBA Power Rankings
Promo Box: Ratto column

NFL: Prisco Insider
Mini: Prisco's Power Rankings

NBA: Mejia on Pistons' Tayshaun Prince

NHL: Olympics: U.S. ties Latvia; Canada tops Italy

NCB: Sutton and Davis
Mini: Doyel's Ten for Tuesday

CAR: Owens on rookies to watch out for

OLY: American Bloom gets sixth in moguls

ALPINE SKIING: Austria's Dorfmeister wins gold; American Kildow places eighth

BOBSLED: Feature on American team of Hays and Jovanovic

CURLING: American women win, but needs lots of help

FREESTYLE SKIING: Bloom sixth in moguls

ICE HOCKEY: U.S. ties Latvia; Canada wins

LUGE: Americans Grimmette, Martin disqualified

SHORT TRACK SPEED SKATING: American Ohno advances to final

SPEED SKATING: Hedrick fails at chance to win gold as U.S. team pursuit doesn't advance

Night note: Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2006

That's a lot of ice: Kim Clijsters, playing in her homeland -- at the Proximus Diamond Games in Antwerp, Belgium -- for the first time as the world's No. 1-ranked player, plans to give a bottle of Infiniti Champagne to every fan who attends her opening match -- 11,000 are expected.

"This is a special place for me," said Clijsters, who won the 2004 tournament. "I've had some of the most amazing memories of my career here, especially after last year coming back here, the reception I got has never left me."

Hard to believe: When Duke's J.J. Redick scored 33 points in a 93-70 victory over Wake Forest on Tuesday, he became the first Blue Devil to notch four consecutive 30-point games. Says so in the recap.

They said what: "This was a mismatch. We could play [Memphis] 100 times, and we'd never beat them one time. We just wouldn't. That's just the way it is." -- Southern Mississippi coach Larry Eustachy after his Golden Eagles dropped an 80-41 decision to the third-ranked Tigers.

They said what II: "I just would like to have that bull playing for me." -- Texas Tech coach Bobby Knight said after learning that a 1,325-pound rodeo bull was named after the Hall of Fame coach.

The grey-and-white bucking bull with 10-inch horns is currently performing at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. His owner, Vernon Guidry, considers the coach a sports icon and named the bull because it was born the same day Knight was hired at Tech in 2001.

They said what III: "That seems like the type of fall that would render someone unable to have children. It hurt that much." -- U.S. figure skating champion Johnny Weir on Zhang Dan's spill in the pairs competition on Monday night.

Arenas with new covers

Home: Goldstein previews Olympics men's hockey w/ links to Canadian women and U.S. women winning
Mini: Duke's Redick sets NCAA mark for career 3-pointers in win over Wake
Mini: Doyel's Ten for Tuesday -- 10 reasons why Mizzou's Snyder is gone
Promo Box: Miller gets ready for spring training

NFL: Prisco's Power Rankings: Steelers No. 1
Mini: Judge on Raiders hiring Shell
Mini: Judge on free agents w/ link to Prisco's top 10 free agents

NBA: Mejia's Power Rankings heading into All-Star break

MLB: Miller gets ready for spring training

NHL: Goldstein previews Olympics men's hockey

NCB: Doyel's Ten for Tuesday
Mini: Duke's Redick sets NCAA mark for 3s in win over Wake
Mini: Doyel's Monday Morning Knee-Jerk

CAR: De Los Santos' Power Rankings: Stewart No. 1

OLY: American Ligety wins gold in downhill; Bode Miller disqualified

ALPINE SKIING: Ligety wins gold; Bode Miller disqualified

BIATHLON: Germany's Fischer gold winner in 10k sprints

CROSS COUNTRY SKIING: Sweden sweeps team sprints

CURLING: American women lose twice; U.S. men top New Zealand

ICE HOCKEY: Goldstein previews men's tournament

LUGE: Germans finish 1-2-3 in women's singles

SKELETON: Soule gets last-minute call to join U.S. team

SPEED SKATING: Russia's Zhurova wins 500-meter sprint

Night note: Sunday, Feb. 12, 2006

Arenas with new covers

Home: Mejia on Heat's win over Pistons
Mini: Tough day for U.S. Olympic team
Mini: Oberholser prevails at Pebble Beach
Promo Box: Doyel on Gonzaga's Morrison

NFL: NFC wins Pro Bowl
Mini: Judge-Prisco on free agents
Mini: Judge on Seahawks' chances to return to Super Bowl

NBA: Mejia on Heat's win over Pistons
Mini: Mejia's Notebook on Kenyon Martin ordeal w/ link to Nuggets OT win

NHL: Carolina needs six shootout rounds to beat Buffalo

NCB: No. 19 Ohio State knocks off No. 10 Illinois

CAR: Jeff Burton earns Daytona 500 pole; rookie Denny Hamlin wins Bud Shootout

OLY: Tough day for U.S.: Ohno stumbles, Bode and Rahlves fail to medal and Kwan pulls out of Games

ALPINE SKIING: Deneriaz takes gold in men's downhill; Bode (fifth), Rahlves (10th)

CROSS COUNTRY SKIING: Dementiev wins men's 30k pursuit; Smigun takes women's 15k

FIGURE SKATING: Emily Hughes replaces Kwan on U.S. team

ICE HOCKEY: Canada beats Russia 12-0; U.S. 2-0 after 5-0 win over Germany

LUGE: Italy wins its first gold in these Games thanks to Zoeggler

SHORT TRACK SPEED SKATING: U.S.'s Ohno stumbles in 1,500 semis; South Korea's Hyun-soo takes gold

SKI JUMPING: Norway's Bystoel rallies from sixth place to take gold

SNOWBOARD: U.S.'s White wins gold, while teammate Kass earns silver

SPEED SKATING: Dutch teen Wust stuns favorites with gold-medal finish

TEN: U.S. beats Romania in Davis Cup first round

Night note: Thursday, Feb. 9, 2006

People born on Feb. 10: Tennis player Bill Tilden (1893), swimmer Mark Spitz (1950), golfers Greg Norman ('55) and Tim Clark ('69), boxer Bobby Czyz ('62), baseball players Lenny Dykstra ('63), Lance Berkman ('76) and Cesar Izturis ('80), football player Ty Law ('74) and snowboarder Ross Powers ('79); Actors Jimmy Durante (1893), Robert Wagner (1930) and Harold Sylvester -- Griff from Married... with Children -- ('49); Singer Roberta Flack ('39), Metallica's Cliff Burton ('62) and most importantly, one of the coolest people I know -- Connie Herzberg (priceless).

Arenas with new covers

Home: Mejia compares snubs to NBA All-Star reserve selections
Mini: Women's college hoops: No. 6 Maryland tops No. 1 UNC in OT w/ link of No. 3 LSU winning at No. 5 Tennessee
Mini: Judge-Prisco on NFL free agents
Promo Box: Rehm column w/ Ratto column as link

NFL: Judge-Prisco on free agents
Mini: Prisco-Judge Faceoff

NBA: Mejia on selection of All-Star reserves

MLB: Miller's spring training preview
Mini: Stadium deal between MLB and D.C. finally becoming a reality

NHL: Goldstein on how the league will survive the gambling scandal
Mini: Goldstein-Cimilluca Faceoff

NCF: Dodd on Falwell wanting Liberty to become a Division I power
Mini: Dodd top football-basketball schools

NCB: Dodd on Northern Iowa w/ link to Mejia's tourney projections
Mini: Doyel on Coach Krzyzewski bullying officials

CAR: Owens on what drivers have best shot of crashing Chase field

OLY: Speed skater Chris Witty to carry flag for U.S. at opening ceremonies w/ link to Dobrow's guide to the Olympics

TEN: U.S. plays Romania in Davis Cup first round

Night note: Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2006

NBA trivia: Phoenix's Shawn Marion is only one of three NBA players averaging at least 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. Who are the other two? Answer below night note.

By the way, the last Suns' player to accomplish the feat was Charles Barkley, who did it in each of his four seasons in Phoenix (1992-96).

Where's all the people at? Following a 51-48 upset of No. 18 Iowa, NU coach Bill Carmody said: "Northwestern has been known for its fair-weather fans. If we win, I'm sure it will be crowded. It's a joke they aren't here when we're playing one of the Top 25 teams in the country. It's incredibly disappointing."

Arenas with new covers

Home: Prisco-Judge NFL Faceoff
Mini: College hoops: South Carolina sweeps No. 7 Florida w/ No. 18 Iowa losing as related link
Mini: Doyel on Coach Krzyzewski bullying officials
Promo Box: Ratto on Tocchet gambling scandal

NFL: Prisco-Judge Faceoff

NBA: Pistons snap two-game skid, top Clippers

NHL: Goldstein-Cimilluca Faceoff
Mini: Tocchet, Gretzky's wife investigated in sports gambling ring
Mini: Goldstein's Power Rankings, featuring Sabres

NCB: Doyel's Ten for Tuesday on teams on the bubble and what they have to do
Mini: Dodd on Northern Iowa
Mini: Doyel's Ten for Tuesday -- teams on the bubble

OLY: Feature on Austrian skier Benjamin Raich

NBA answer: Minnesota's Kevin Garnett and the Los Angeles Clippers' Elton Brand.

Night note: Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006

Jordan vs. Kobe: NO WAY does M.J. allow Kobe to score 81 points against him. "If I was on the other side, there's no way I would have been in at the end of that game without six fouls," Jordan said Tuesday. "I don't know if I could have given up 81 points and not fouled out of the game."

Dating back: On February 8, 1936 the first NFL Draft is held -- in a Philadelphia hotel room as the teams gather to select the best players from the college ranks.

University of Chicago halfback Jay Berwanger is the first player taken. He's picked by the Philadelphia Eagles, but the first-ever Downtown Athletic Club Award winner (which later becomes the Heisman) opts to not play football and pursue a business career.

Arenas with new covers

Home: Rivalry night: No. 2 Duke wins UNC; No. 11 Tennessee prevails at Kentucky
Spotlight: No. 4 Villanova tops St. Joseph's
Mini: Tocchet, Gretzky's wife investigated in sports gambling ring
Mini: Mejia's NBA Power Rankings, featuring Hornets
Promo Box: Miller on World Baseball Classic

NFL: Judge on gaffe-plagued Seahawks; Prisco on Steelers' A+ stretch run

NBA: Power Rankings, featuring Hornets

MLB: Miller on World Baseball Classic

NHL: Goldstein's Power Rankings, featuring Sabres w/ link to Sabres winning sixth in a row
Mini: Tocchet, Gretzky's wife investigated in sports gambling ring

NCF: Dodd on best 12 football-basketball schools

NCB: Doyel's Ten for Tuesday on teams on the bubble and what they have to do

OLY: Feature on U.S. figure skater Johnny Weir

Night note: Sunday, Feb. 5, 2006

Polling: Did you enjoy the Super Bowl?

Poll Did you enjoy the Super Bowl?   31%  Yes: Just what I expected     38%  No: I wanted a closer game     31%  Heck yea! Spring training is almost here     Total Votes: 16

It must be the shoes: "He's my idol. He carries himself well on and off the court, plus he's got on Louis Vuitton shoes. I like that." said Washington's Caron Butler on teammate Antawn Jamison, who had 27 points and 15 rebounds in a 98-85 victory over Atlanta on Saturday.

It's about time: "I finally won one on my birthday. I've been playing games on my birthday all my life and lost them all -- until this one." -- Detroit goalie Manny Legace said after handing Colorado its first shutout of the season with a 3-0 victory on Saturday.

Arenas with new covers

Home: Judge on MVP Ward; Prisco on retiring Bettis w/ link to recap
Mini: Judge on why Seahawks lost
Mini: Clippers 11 games over .500 first time in team history
Promo Box: Doyel's Monday Morning Knee-Jerk w/ link to Projecting the Field

NFL: Prisco on why Steelers won with double link to game story
Mini: Judge on Seahawks
Mini: Aikman among six elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame

NBA: Clippers 11 games over .500 after OT win vs. Raptors
Mini: Mejia picks his All-Star Game reserves

NHL: Carolina 4, Boston 3

NCB: Doyel's Monday Morning Knee-Jerk

OLY: Modano focused for Team USA hockey team

TEN: Haas tops Malisse in Delray Beach final

Night note: Thursday, Feb. 2, 2006

Ping ping: "I didn't talk to [the posts] but I will when I get to sleep. I will thank them," -- New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist on his luck in a 3-1 win over Pittsburgh on Wednesday.

Dominating: The LSU women's team, which is ranked third in the country, defeated Arkansas 93-59 to improve to 19-1 on Thursday ... and get this: The Tigers have led by at least 21 points in all but three games this season.

Arenas with new covers

Home: Rollin' Samoans -- Prisco on Polamalu; Judge on Tatupu
Mini: Doyel on George Washington being overrated, even after win at Xavier
Mini: Mejia's NBA All-Star reserves w/ link to All-Star starters
Promo Box: Rehm column w/ link to Ratto column

NFL: Prisco-Judge on Super Bowl quarterbacks
Mini: Prisco-Judge on Polamalu, Tatupu
Mini: Judge on Seahawks' offensive line
Mini: Prisco -- Is Steelers' Bettis Hall of Fame worthy?

NBA: Mejia's reserve selections for the All-Star Game

MLB: Topkin's outlook on the Devil Rays

NHL: Goldstein on teams being cautious before trade deadline
Mini: Goldstein-Cimilluca Faceoff

NCF: Wrap-up of National Signing Day
Mini: Dodd on coaches that can close the deal on recruits

NCB: Doyel on Stanford turning it up at the right time w/ link to win over Oregon
Mini: Doyel projecting the NCAA Tournament field

CAR: Owens on defending champ Stewart

TEN: Haas advances to Delray Beach quarterfinals

OLY: Feature on 19-year-old U.S. snowboarder White

Night note: Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2006

Since we're promoting the Foxy Four and Olympic hotties, I'd like to point out that two old-school babes and one hot newcomer are celebrating birthdays today. Farrah Fawcett (1947), Christie Brinkley ('54) and Shakira ('77).

Others born on February 2: George Halas (1895), Red Schoendienst (1923), Stan Getz ('27), Tom Smothers ('32), Graham Nash ('42), and Stone Temple Pilots' Robert DeLeo ('66).

Arenas with new covers

Home: Judge on left side of Seahawks' offensive line
Mini: Dallas tops Memphis for 10th consecutive win w/ link of Cavs claiming seventh in a row
Mini: Dodd on college football coaches that can close on National Signing Day
Promo Box: Ratto on the NFL should address obesity in the league

NFL: Prisco -- Is Steelers' Bettis Hall of Fame worthy?
Mini: Judge on Seahawks' offensive line
Mini: Prisco with Jaguars' analysis -- since they beat both Super Bowl teams

NBA: Mejia's January edicts w/ link to Power Rankings
Mini: Dallas wins 10th in a row; Cleveland claims seventh in a row

NHL: Goldstein-Cimilluca Faceoff
Mini: Goldstein's Power Rankings, featuring Oilers

NCF: Dodd on National Signing Day
Mini: Gimino on recruiting by USC, Texas

NCB: Doyel projecting the NCAA Tournament field
Mini: Doyel's Ten for Tuesday -- his favorite players to watch