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Plaxico Burress was limited at practice and he will be a game-time decision on Sunday when the Giants face the Cardinals.

The Warriors and Knicks have agreed in principle on a deal sending disgruntled forward Al Harrington to New York for Jamal Crawford.

Suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick placed family pet dogs into a ring and let his trained pit bulls "cause major injuries" to the pets at his Bad Newz Kennels, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report released on Friday.

The Sweet Sioux Tomahawk trophy will be retired after Saturday's Northwestern-Illinois game.

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You get what you pay for? Don't tell that to baseball GMs. With more stars set to earn $100 million, SI.com's Jonah Freedman grades the past nine-figure deals.

Shaquille O’Neal has a fondness for boastful quips and invented out-of-the-blue phrases, so when a feller hopped on Twitter claiming Shaq’s identity and posting tweets capturing the basketball star’s unique language stylings, fans took notice and started following the supposed Shaq. While the fake Shaq had some of followers fooled with tweets like “My tweets are Shaqalicious,” the real Shaq decided to confront the impostor head-on with a Twitter account of his own. Taking to Twitter this week as The_Real_Shaq, O’Neal began tweeting at an impressive pace,…

Although sports fans have been deemed psychologically healthier by the earlier studies, the fact that their physical health leaves something to be desired should come as no surprise to anyone who has ever watched a commercial during a football game (and I’m not talkin’ about prostate medication). All the beer, pizza, and nachos served up by scantily-clad domestic goddesses (ha!) pushes up the risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and early death. The silver lining in all this is that Ben Roethlisberger telling Steelers fans to eat more whole grains and veggies may…

A day doesn’t go by without another story of layoffs, shut-downs, market crashes and/or some other indicator of the sinking economy. That said, there is one sector that remains red hot, sports collectibles. Last year, before the credit crisis, a single vintage baseball card of Honus Wagner sold for $2.8 million dollars. What would it be worth today now that equities are down 30%, joblessness is up and the worldwide financial market is in the midst of its biggest slowdown since the Great Depression?According to one expert, COO of memorabilia auction company Sportsbuy.com, Eric Beckerman,…

Lucky for Gary Vee he has a whole slew of Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay to drown his sorrows after being outbid for the best seats at the Jets’ new Meadowlands stadium. David Findel, the owner of a mortage-lending firm, plopped down an astounding $400,000 for the two 50-yard-line seats, outbidding Vaynerchuk and Nobu owner Drew Nieporent. Findel resisted a frenzied full-court press (yes, lame basketball reference in football story) from other bidders seeking the coveted spots, but the 43-year-old Brooklyn native flashed more cash and wound up with not only the best seats in the…

If the ongoing saga of Brett Favre keeps you up nights during the off season in breathless anticipation, you may want to check out the international version of the story being played out by David Beckham. Playing for the Galaxy doesn’t appear to be in line with Beckham’s goal of making England’s 2010 World Cup team with America’s lackluster soccer image and Beckham logging so much time on the bench. AC Milan is trying to tempt the star to play on loan starting in January, despite protest from the Galaxy, a move that would bring Beckham back to center stage. Can the…

Last night was supposed to be a crowning achievement for Deadspin, LLP. The Phil Savage email story was scheduled to be on the late night SportsCenter, but was then axed by the producers because the night was was supposedly "heavy." I was even sent a copy of the opening to the segment: "Story on SportsCenter. It begins : As someone who has been the punchline on Deadspin - you don't want to be the punchline on Deadspin ....." See? That would've been kind of cool. Granted, Deadspin has been mentioned on plenty of other ESPN programs, either intentionally or unintentionally, by fans of the site…

Tomorrow morning, I will wake up at an unholy hour to drive to Penn State University for the foot-ball contest between the nation's two premiere land grant colleges. (Look it up.) It will be my first trip ever to Happy Valley and Beaver Stadium and part of my journey will be to figure out why there are so many names for one little place. (Fun fact: Beaver Stadium is not named after the animal!) I bought the tickets many months ago never believing that the game would actually be meaningful (for either team), but there are actual Big Ten, Rose Bowl and BCS implications awaiting the outcome. I'm…

What to watch while you take the turducken to glorious new heights ... • College Basketball: Coaches vs. Cancer Classic Final: Michigan vs. Duke (7:00 p.m., ET) What's not to like? [ESPN2] • NBA: Houston Rockets at Washington Wizards (7:00 p.m., ET) Wax Arenas should be good 15 and 5. [ESPN] • College Football: Fresno State Bulldogs at San Jose State Aztecs (9:30 p.m., ET) Great. Now I'll never tell these two schools apart. [ESPN2] • NBA: New Orleans Hornets at Oklahoma City Thunder (9:30 p.m., ET). What's that noise? [ESPN]

Dan Patrick discusses Chinese Democracy with Rob Tannenbaum. Dan Patrick was 31 years old when Appetite came out. He's Mr. Hip. [Dan Patrick]

Once upon a time, a site called The Black Table had a regular feature entitled Waxing Off, in which women gathered in an online roundtable to discuss issues of the day, and also to make fun of Will Leitch's shoes. And so we got to thinking: With so many great female sports bloggers out there, why not import the idea here? It's just crazy enough to work. So behold: The latest edition of Deadspin's Waxing Off. We found some terrific female writers who were willing to pen short pieces on this week's topic: Unconventional sports crushes. I think women are smart, don't get me wrong. But for the…

Alex Marvez weighs in on Chad Johnson's deactivation during Thursday night's game against the Steelers and what it means for his future in Cincinnati.

Think you can keep up with the women of roller derby? Think again! FOXSports.com's Jaime Maggio suits up with the queens of the rink, the L.A. Derby Dolls.

Chad Pennington and the surprising Dolphins look to complete the season sweep of the Patriots when they host New England on Sunday. FOXSports.com's Rodney Peete previews the AFC's top Week 12 matchups.

FOXSports.com senior NFL writer Jay Glazer delivers the latest news on why Chad Johnson was deactivated for Thursday's game against the Steelers.

Have you looked at this week's slate of amazing NFL games? For those who are overly excited, like Adam Schein, take a deep breath and count to ten.

LeBron James steps foot inside the Garden on Tuesday night, and Friday Knicks president Donnie Walsh took two giant steps closer to making room for the King of Cleveland in the summer of 2010.

Annika Sorenstam's LPGA Tour career is over. The 72-time tour winner missed the cut Friday at the ADT Championship.

It's looking more and more likely that Rafael Furcal is headed to the Bay Area to join either the Giants or A's, Ken Rosenthal says.

Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis was limited in practice Friday with his sprained knee and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks. Coach Jim Zorn said Portis will be a game-time decision, although Portis has given every indication that he will play. He ran for 68 yards on 15 carries in last week's game against the Dallas Cowboys despite not practicing at all. "Clinton is game-time because he's really not full speed," Zorn said.

Babes Love Baseball would like to congratulate Tim Lincecum on winning the 2008 NL Cy Young award! This little guy beat out the likes of Johan Santana, CC Sabathia, Brandon Webb, Brad Lidge, and Ryan Dempster. He's just 24 and just finished his second year in the big leagues and already he's securing his spot in bad-ass pitcher history. I happened to get to see him pitch in 2007 against Milwaukee. I had never heard of this guy who was destroying the Brewers that day. He looked as though he was 12 years old and I was like WHO is this guy? He's going to be awesome.Turns out, I was right. Way to…

For whatever reason, the Oakland Athletics have decided to add a superstar rather than ditch one.The Colorado Rockies have dealt big bat-wielding outfielder Matt Holliday to the ever-rebuilding A's, for reliever Huston Street, lefty starter Greg Smith and outfielder Carlos Gonzalez.Oakland has seen the likes of Johnny Damon, Jason Giambi (who may return to Oaktown), Miguel Tejada and the Big Three (Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder and Barry Zito) cruise outa Dodge for dollar signs elsewhere, making this move almost unbelievable.Future trade bait Holliday, the 28-year-old 2007 NLCS MVP and near Home…

Cubs' catcher Geovany Sotohas been named the NL Rookie of the Year by the Baseball Writers Association of America.Soto hit .285 this year, with a sexy 23 home runs and 86 RBIs. He is the first catcher to capture the award since Mike Piazza in 1993. The last Cubbie to sport the title was Kerry Wood in 1998.Soto's RBI record beat out all rookies in MLB. The pitching staff had the third lowest ERA in the league. And, by the way, we're going to try to forget about the playoffs for the moments. Soto was also behind the plate for Zambrano's no-hitter on September 14. He was also the first rookie…

Yogi Berra was one of baseball's greatest players. He played in 14 World Series, was a fifteen-time All Star, and won the AL MVP three times, in 1951, 1954 and 1955. Yogi also hit the first pinch hit home run in World Series history in 1947. When he managed, he holds the distinction of being one of the only managers to win both NL and AL pennants.When he played catcher, he liked to talk behind the plate. A lot. He had a knack for saying crazy sayings like, "When you get to the fork in the road, take it," or, "It gets late early out here."In 1942, the manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, Branch…

As a lover of America's pastime, please use your civil liberty of freedom to choose our country's next President today.Any questions? Go here.And you can stop laughing at the word "duty" now.

Carolina faces Atlanta in a key NFC South matchup, while the Jets try to stain the Titans' unblemished record. Joey Porter and the Dolphins host the Pats, and the Colts try to avenge two losses to the Chargers last year. It's Week 12's NFL predictions!

We are now down to the final round of World Cup qualifying in North America. SC's Kevin Beane breaks down the "hex" and predicts who will be going through to the World Cup and who will be going home in this latest edition of the Slant Pattern!

No, not that tournament. Preseason hoops tournaments are underway, and SC's Jonathan Lowe will help you get stuffed through Thanksgiving with some enticing contests that might leave your mouth watering. That is, it if they happen.

Jimmie Johnson finished 15th at Homestead, more than enough to clinch the Sprint Cup title, his third in a row. Carl Edwards won the race and finsihed second in the points, unable to overcome a huge 141-point deficit. It's week 36's NASCAR power rankings!

A wacky Week 11 brought the NFL another ugly officiating mistake, and the first tie in six years. SC's Brad Oremland has the run-down on all the latest action, including the dumbest plays of the season and which team can clinch the playoffs in Week 12.

Basketbawful Remember in when I mentioned that little lover's spat between Sasha Vujacic and Trevor Ariza? Well, here's the video. It's like Shaq-versus-Kobe Lite!

Bugs and Cranks No awards for my New York Yankees this year. Since we have so obviously been slighted, I feel I must take it upon myself to hand out some special awards to deserving Yankees. So, here is my...

Phillies Nation Chase Utley will be out four to six months with hip surgery. There’s more, Pedro Feliz will have back surgery. Well, with Utley, we saw it coming...

Baseball Think Factory "No comment until the time limit is up"... (I wonder if Bet-a-$137.5 Million Butler can hold out!) "No comment until the time limit is up"... "No comment until the time limit is up"... CC...

Waggle Room Stanford Financial sponsored the Stanford International Pro-Am in Miami this season on the LPGA Tour. In the new 2009 schedule, Stanford has shelved the International Pro-Am in favor...

The New York Knicks traded Zach Randolph and Jamal Crawford in separate deals Friday, parting with their two top scorers to free up coveted salary-cap space for the summer of 2010. Crawford was sent to Golden State for forward Al Harrington. Hours later, Randolph was shipped to the Los Angeles Clippers along with reserve guard Mardy Collins for Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas.

Alfred Aboya gave Southern Illinois fits. He also gave coach Ben Howland a scare. The Bruins' senior forward had 22 points and eight rebounds, helping fourth-ranked UCLA rebound from a disheartening loss to beat Southern Illinois 77-60 on Friday night in the consolation game of the 2K Sports Classic. Aboya helped lead a 20-2 run in the second half that put the game out of reach, but landed hard...

Chicago presented its 2016 Olympics bid to a key international audience Friday with a powerful endorsement from its highest-profile supporter in America: President-elect Barack Obama. Obama made a personal appeal for the Olympics to come to his home city in a taped video message played to the general assembly of European Olympic Committees, the largest regional group in the Olympic movement.

New York Jets rookie quarterback Erik Ainge was suspended four games by the NFL on Friday for violating the league's policy on steroids and related substances. Ainge, already on injured reserve and out for the season with a foot injury, is not allowed to be with the team or at its facility during the suspension.

Former NFL star Michael Vick is back in Virginia to plead guilty to state dogfighting charges, a move he hopes will expedite his return to society and, eventually, pro football. The former Atlanta Falcons quarterback is being held in protective custody at the Hopewell Regional Jail, superintendent Darnley Hodge said Friday.

by Matt SnyderFiled under: Astros, NL Central, MLB Police BlotterIt's been quite some time since the Clemens family got some good news, unless you consider sympathy from an unfamous "singer" good news. Well, today they finally heard something positive. Roger Clemens' son, Koby Clemens was arrested on August 31st for disorderly conduct stemming from a bar fight of sorts. The charges against Koby and his friend, Mark Ori, have been dropped by Salem County Prosecutor Thomas E. Bowers. A spokesman for Bowers said the prosecutor agreed to drop the case against Clemens and Ori after their attorneys…

by Adam GretzFiled under: Stars, NHL InjuriesThings just keep getting worse for the 2008 version of the Dallas Stars. Just two wins shy of the Stanley Cup Finals a season ago, the Stars are currently the second-worst team in the National Hockey League, and that's just the beginning of their current problems.During their 6-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night, captain Brenden Morrow left the game with just over six minutes to play with an undisclosed injury. This evening, we've learned that the injury is a torn ACL, which will put Morrow on the shelf for the next six months,…

by Tom ZillerFiled under: WarriorsFrom the perspective of Cleveland and New Jersey, the Knicks went from Jean Grey to Dark Phoenix today. But we won't know if the Great Contract Sell-off of 2008 actually worked for roughly 586 days, so let's focus on the present: the weirdest team in the league just got more gonzo. Don Nelson already starts four two-guards, and now he's acquired Jamal Crawford. Does the trade make you tingle, Nellie? "I'm stoked, is what I am."Once Monta Ellis returns and Crawford suits up (the Warriors expect him to be ready Tuesday), I expect you'll be able to describe six…

by Tom ZillerFiled under: Clippers, KnicksThe other sneaker has fallen: Ramona Shelbourne of the Los Angeles Daily News reports that Zach Randolph is a Los Angeles Clipper. Mardy Collins will join Z-Bo in Southern California. Tim Thomas and Cuttino Mobley, two fellows who have contracts which expire in 2010, will become Knickerbockers.In case you're wondering: as of today, Donnie Walsh has roughly $33 million of cap space to work with in the Summer of 2010, when the entire league (small exaggeration) is up for unrestricted free agency. Only Eddy Curry, Wilson Chandler, Jared Jeffries and…

by Adam GretzFiled under: Broncos, RaidersAs Oakland continues to toil along at its four-win-per-season pace, there's at least one player Raiders fans can be proud to call one of of their own. The player? Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, who continues to slide under the radar as one of the game's best defensive backs. Football people in the know recognize Asomugha as an underrated player, hidden in the never-ending chaos that is Raiders football, but Denver head coach Mike Shanahan has taken the underrated label even farther. To an all-time level, actually. From Adam Schefter of the NFL…

Manu Ginobili could return to the San Antonio Spurs' lineup next week, earlier than expected after he had surgery on his left ankle in September to repair ligament damage.

Florida backup quarterback Cameron Newton was charged with stealing another student's laptop computer after being arrested Friday.

Michael Vick was once the NFL's highest-paid player, and he spent like it. One of his friends tools around in a $31,000 Cadillac DTS. His former personal assistant steers a $45,000 Infiniti M45 and has a pair of power boats. His brother Marcus has a $62,000 Land Rover and his sister a Yukon Denali.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ocho Cinco was back at work Friday, a day after being sent home before the Pittsburgh game for disciplinary reasons.

The New York Knicks have completed their second big deal of the day, trading leading scorer Zach Randolph and guard Mardy Collins to the Los Angeles Clippers for Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas.

Jess Jackson, Curlin’s majority owner, said there were no races left on the North American calendar rich enough to pique his interest.

Kisik Lee, a controversial figure, will remain the coach of USA Archery, even as the team’s chief executive and high-performance manager have resigned.

It seems to be dawning on Johnson only now that by matching Cale Yarborough’s three straight Cup titles, he and his race team have become a sports powerhouse.

Mr. Ford became the first swimmer to break 50 seconds for 100 yards, a barrier that some likened to the four-minute mile.

A high school in Winchester, Mass., offers its students a mixed martial arts program as the sport has faced its fair share of controversy.

Filed under: Casually Obsessed, SportsLast month Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs celebrated his 26th birthday by hosting the 1st Annual Team Sizzle Worldwide Celebrity Weekend in Baltimore. Proceeds from the weekend, which included a star-studded party, a luncheon, the Raiders-Ravens game, and a private party, benefitted the The William E. Proudford Sickle Cell Fund. Some of the celebrities that came through were Christina Milian (singer), Reagan Gomez-Preston (actress), Jill Marie Jones (actress), Hosea Chanchez (actor), Gary Sturgis (actor), Kellita Smith (actress), Winky Wright…

Filed under: Casually Obsessed, SportsAccording to family members, Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver's father, Marvin Driver, was beaten by police during an arrest for traffic warrants on Monday morning. Family and friends of Marvin Driver held a news conference at Houston's Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Center on Wednesday and said that after Michael Driver, son of Marvin and brother of Donald, dropped off his father at home police pulled up and arrested him. Later that evening, after he was transported to jail, he was taken to the hospital because he was unresponsive. Marvin…

Filed under: Casually Obsessed, SportsWashington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas is still rehabbing is knee from third operation but the folks in Washington, D.C. still love the dude. His wax figure was unveiled at the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in Washington D.C. along with 50 kids from his Zer0 to Her0 Foundation."It is an honor to join the ranks of sports icons such as Muhammad Ali and Tiger Woods by being immortalized in wax at Madame Tussauds Washington D.C.," Arenas said. "Like the Wizards, Madame Tussauds has become a fixture in the nation's capital and one that I'm proud to be a part…

Filed under: Casually Obsessed, SportsIn 2010, LeBron James' contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers is up and the entire NBA is salivating at the idea of getting King James on their squad. Although LeBron has continually told the media that he ain't going anywhere and wants to spend his career in a Cavs uniform, the idea that he will bolt the Cavs for the Pistons, Nets or some other team continues to float around. It's more so with the Nets because Bron is good friends with Jay-Z who owns a stake in the team. And in a sideline interview at a recent Nets-Cavs game, Jay-Z made it known that the…

Filed under: Casually Obsessed, Sports, HBCUsIt's been a long wait between playoff appearances for S.C. State, but the Bulldogs are on their way. After a 26-year absence, S.C. State clinched the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championship with a 32-0 win over Morgan State Saturday. The Bulldogs earned a ticket to the Football Championship Subdivision tournament in the process. S.C. State, (9-2, 7-0 MEAC) which last earned a playoff bid in 1982, clearly is the league's - and perhaps black college football's - top team in 2008. In 2004, S.C. State tied Hampton for first, but lost the…

A Ryder Cup surprise two months ago, England's Oliver Wilson was just 16 holes away from the first significant victory of his career.11 Vote(s)

The rain-delayed HSBC Champions tournament will finish Monday, which is just fine with Australian Geoff Ogilvy.20 Vote(s)

Shin Ji-yai won the Mizuno Classic for her second LPGA Tour victory of the season.18 Vote(s)

This is a golf swing transformation (journey) with Morrie Puzzi. Morrie’s story may sound familiar to you and I hope you follow along as we tak5 Vote(s)

I finally got to see Morrie’s golf swing. As I mention in the video, he has no problem hitting it straight, we just need to get him some more y11 Vote(s)

Defender Wes Brown will miss Manchester United FC's remaining fixtures in Group E after undergoing exploratory surgery on an ankle injury while Sir Alex Ferguson also has concerns about forward Dimitar Berbatov's fitness.

Fabio Cannavaro is a doubt for Real Madrid CF's Matchday 5 trip to FC BATE Borisov after straining a thigh muscle in training, with Rubén de la Red also a concern for Bernd Schuster's side ahead of next week's Group H game.

In an exclusive webchat, Gilberto told uefa.com users that the 3-0 victory at Werder Bremen has given his Panathinaikos FC team renewed belief as they head into a crucial game at FC Internazionale Milano next week.

Mathieu Valbuena will sit out Olympique de Marseille's trip to Liverpool FC on 26 November because of an injury to his right knee – denying the midfielder the opportunity to repeat his Anfield heroics of last season.

FC Bayern München forward Lukas Podolski faces a race to be fit for the Group F visit of FC Steaua Bucureşti but the German club had better news concerning midfielder Hamit Altıntop's recovery from a broken foot.

Manu Ginobili could return to the San Antonio Spurs' lineup next week, earlier than expected after he had surgery on his left ankle in September to repair ligament damage.

Utah forward Carlos Boozer sat out the Jazz's game Friday night against San Antonio because of a left quadriceps strain.

Hawks center Al Horford returned to the lineup for Friday night's game against Charlotte after missing the previous contest with a sprained right ankle.

Stephon Marbury will be in uniform for the New York Knicks against Milwaukee on Friday, but it remains to be seen whether he'll actually play for the first time this season.

The Los Angeles Clippers filled their void in the post Friday, acquiring forward Zach Randolph and guard Mardy Collins from the New York Knicks for Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas.

The A's on Wednesday lost their bench coach when Don Wakamatsu was named the new manager of the Seattle Mariners, and it appears they will lose another member of the coaching staff to their American League West rivals.

With the A's apparently ramping up their pursuit of free-agent shortstop Rafael Furcal, Bobby Crosby is in the strange position of being under contract with a team that's actively looking to replace him.

The plot thickened slightly Friday in the Giants' search for a free-agent infielder, as Jeff Lane, the representative for shortstop Edgar Renteria, said that club management and his client have exchanged contract proposals.

Koby Clemens, son of former star pitcher Rogers Clemens, along with fellow Astros prospect Mark Ori, had disorderly conduct charges against them dropped Friday.

Brewers general manager Doug Melvin refuted any notion that he's growing frustrated, even after another week passed by with no response from CC Sabathia's representatives.

The Linfield College Wildcats completed their season last weekend with a 45-0 win against Pacific Lutheran University. The Linfield defense recorded nine sacks in this shellacking. Linfield’s final season record is 6-3; their conference record is 5-1. Congratulations to Linfield for their 53rd consecutive winning season in football. Here are some highlights and lowlights from last week’s Mythical Picks: “Georgia – 10 at Auburn (48): I do think that the Auburn defense is good enough to keep the Dawgs from piling up points so I like Auburn with the points at home here. Even more, I like…

The last couple of times I did Mythical Picks, I sort of whined about breaking even for the week and how boring that was. Last week should have been so good. Last week’s picks simply stunk and I am now sub-.500 for both kinds of picks. Am I going to go and sit in a corner and channel Jack Horner? No way! I choose to channel Alexander Pope and to believe that: “Hope springs eternal in the human breast …” The OVER/UNDER picks were 2-5 last week. That brings the season record for Total wagers to 28-35-2. Double Yuck! The Against the Spread picks were 4-7 last week. That brings the season…

It has been a few days since the news broke that Mark Cuban is the defendant in a civil law suit filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission alleging that he profited from insider trading. For the record, please note: 1. This is a civil suit. To date there have been no criminal charges filed – let alone proven. 2. Mark Cuban protests his innocence and no verdict has been rendered in the civil suit. Many folks have written/said that these charges are sufficient ammunition to keep Cuban out of the MLB Ownership Coterie. Perhaps it is. But here in Curmudgeon Central – where there is a…

There are lots of stories out there about NFL franchises “thinking about moving” as a ploy to get public money injected into a new stadium project. A list of teams that may be “on the move” will always include: The Vikings and the Chargers where new stadium negotiations have been protracted and barren The Bills where 8 “home games” are already diverted to Toronto and The Saints where the combination of Katrina devastation and economic downturn could make New Orleans unable to support an NFL franchise. That is all posturing and posing; the team I think most likely to move from its…

The “economic downturn” has allowed people to ask impertinent questions as a way to take their minds off the potential doom scenarios such as: Who had a worse year in 2008, “Pacman” Jones or Dow Jones? Do you still have a 301(k) or is it a 201(k)? Nevertheless, the impact of the “economic downturn” is very real when it comes to sports and it may not be funny at all. For the last couple of months, I have tried to point out here and there how reduced discretionary income in the hands of fans and/or reduced resources in the hands of local governments and big-time sponsors might…

Join Bill, Judy, and Brian for this week's TWeekD. On this week's show, The TWeekD crew talked Barry Melrose, fantasy hockey, and chatted with the chatters. Have a listen after the jump. Hide Player | Play in Popup | Download

Have a listen to last week's show! Hide Player | Play in Popup | Download

This NASCAR off season has more interesting stories to follow than in recent years. Will JJ 4-peat? Dear God I hope not. DEI and Ganassi merge, who is gonna come out of this in the end. I see a lot of turmoil and angst ahead. I think Theresa wants out and I think Ganassi wants out of NASCAR and the talent pool is not very deep there. JP Montoya and Martin Truax Jr, working together, hmmm. Dodge or Chevy? My personal favorite story, Stewart-Haas Motorsports, how good will they be right away? With Tony running the show, I wonder if his driving will suffer from writing the checks and if he can…

Japanese team drafts teen girl. This is going to lead to Hello Kitty inspired merchandise and new uniform designs based on Japenese school girl uniforms. Anime jumbotron characters? Texting signs from the catcher? New abbreviations in like 6-4-3 OMG, Ball 4 WTF? K FTW!

In the wake of the predictable firing of Barry Melrose, let's take a stroll down memory lane and evaluate Tampa Bay's recent string of decisions and moves: Tampa trades Brad Richards to the Dallas Stars. Richards struggled in 07-08 and finished with 62 points, well below is 91 mark from 05-06, and a painful +/- of -25. However, Richards is still 28 years old and he's still the guy that led them to a Stanley cup a few years ago. Richards' off year, though the entire team was pretty bad so let's not forget that, the emergence of Vincent Lecavalier combined with Richards salary to make him…

Thursday marked a welcome back to Minnesota for Pavol Demitra, a welcome night off for Roberto Luongo — and a very welcome win for the Vancouver Canucks. Demitra scored a goal and set up Daniel Sedin's game-winner in his first gam...

When you're struggling, holding on to a lead gets awfully tough. Just ask the Ottawa Senators. The Senators were less than five minutes away from ending a five-game losing streak when Montreal defenseman Andrei Markov scored to tie Thur...

"You make it very tough for yourself if you keep losing too much. I saw Philly last year and they were in a terrible stretch, but they caught on fire and just squeezed in to the playoffs. You put a lot of pressure on yourself if you do it...

Entering his second season as coach of the Johnstown Chiefs, Ian Herbers had a better understanding of the obstacles that would be thrown his way throughout the course of a season -- promotions to the American Hockey League. Injuries. Long...

Duncan Keith dared to be himself and the results have been pretty impressive. The Chicago Blackhawks' big-minute defenseman remembers that his parents never pushed him to be a lawyer or doctor, or anything else. The message was to find ...

No movement at all in the Top 10 based on last week’s crummy slate of games. There certainly will be a shakeup after Saturday as a result of Texas Tech-Oklahoma. Utah and BYU matters to the BCS, but the Utes aren’t getting a shot at the National Championship game, so it matters not. 1. Alabama 11-0. Bye. 2. Texas Tech 10-0. Beats Oklahoma, 45-42. 3. Florida 9-1. Beats Citadel 63-0. 4. Texas 10-1. Bye. 5. Oklahoma 9-1. Loses to Texas Tech 45-42. 6. USC 9-1. Bye. (We projected 41-20 last week; final was 45-23!) 7. Utah 11-0. Beats BYU 28-24. 8. Boise State 9-0. Beats Nevada 44-31.

Chesty Guerrero, the former sideline reporter who looked exquisitely airbrushed sans clothes (major NSFW) a few years back, is becoming quite the rabble-rousing blogger at the LA Times. Her prose is surprisingly witty, and she gives good link. She recently joined in piling on Mavs owner Mark Cuban after insider trading allegations were levied against him by the SEC. And guess who was quick to respond - Mark’s blogging brother, Brian. Lisa-the fact that you choose to use quotes from people who clearly do not know the difference between a civil and criminal proceeding only drives home the…

Lotta reaction around the web this week about ESPN’s purchase of the BCS games. The money-grubbing college Presidents are thrilled! But what about the casual fans who don’t have cable? As many as 16 million people could be in the dark for the National title in a couple years, including a whopping 20 percent of people in cultural mecca known as Lubbock, Texas. We’ll take the conversation in a different direction. Now that the ESPN is partnered up with the best of the best in college football, will this affect how the WWL investigates the top programs? Yes, we’re aware…

This is Rocio Guirao Diaz. She’s Argentine. I’d save the Googling for home, friends. Patrick dot Imig will be here this weekend to entertain you with the written word. Jeff Fisher came to practice in a parachute yesterday. (Tennessean) Ten athletes who died while playing their sports. (toptenz) The UFC’s Goran Reljic heard a car crash into the sea near his home and saved two lives. (FanHouse) How might the BCS games look? (Sparty & Friends) I don’t have money, but you can have this drawing of a spider. Genius. (9News) Seton Hall’s coach seems edgy. (SNY.tv)…

Stupid Rumors, Take II: A reader claims that ESPN radio (Greg Larson?) in Jacksonville recently reported that a certain NFL draft bust who ran afoul of the law this summer may be involved in a relationship with a female who just happens to be offspring of his coach. We’ll leave it at that. Reminds us of that odd Dusty Baker moment in September.

On the heels of Furniture Row Racing announcing plans for a limited 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule, the team announced a contract buyout of its driver Joe Nemechek.

The owners — especially the smaller operations — need help. And Lee Spencer says NASCAR needs to come to the rescue.

The drivers may get all the glory, but Larry McReynolds says it's really the team that makes the difference.

Matt Kenseth signed a multiyear contract extension Thursday with Roush Fenway Racing to continue driving the No. 17 Ford.

Hall of Fame Racing, the NASCAR team owned by Arizona Diamondbacks executives, will cut its staff even if it secures sponsorship to run a full 2009 season. Other teams aren't waiting. Petty Enterprises, The Wood Brothers, Bill Davis Racing and Ernie Elliott's engine shop all reduced their staffs in the two days since Sunday's season finale. Although exact numbers are hard to pin down, Petty chief marketing officer Mike Bartelli said the company released 30 employees.

On the heels of Furniture Row Racing announcing plans for a limited 2009 Sprint Cup Series schedule, the team announced Friday a contract buyout of its driver Joe Nemechek.

Roush Fenway Racing has signed Matt Kenseth to a multi-year contract extension. Kenseth, the 2003 Cup Series champion, has been with Roush Fenway since 1998 and has 16 wins in 328 starts.

A season that started off with so much promise ended a little too quietly for 23-year-old Kyle Busch.

Most drivers are looking forward to getting some rest now that the 2008 season is over. Robby Gordon isn't among them.

Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards opened the 2008 season intent on knocking Jimmie Johnson from the top of NASCAR.

by Moondog, The World According to MoondogBudding country music star Julianne Hough is quitting the reality show Dancing with the Stars so she can concentrate on making music.As reported earlier this week, Miss Hough (pronounced Huff) will not appear on the final episode next week due to her partner, actor Cody Linley, falling ill with a nasty bout of endometriosis.Julianne has risen to fame as a professional dancer on the hit show, and has successfully used the program as a platform to launch her singing career.After Hough and Linley were eliminated from the show earlier this week, she has…

BABES: Miss COED: Celeste ThorsonBABES: Bethany Joy Galeotti is takenBABES: Yes, another topless British babe... Nicola McLeanVIDEO: 10 videos on why you should keep watching North Carolina basketballSPORTS: Five reasons why Chad Johnson was late for a meetingVIDEO: Badminton just got sexySPORTS: Bill Cowher leaving CBS to coach the Browns?SPORTS: Time for Pacman to be a manSTUFF: Top ten vampires in pop cultureSTUFF: Bill Simmons is not an aviation expertBABES: The Arizona Rattlers Dance TeamVIDEO: Real life Carls from Aqua Teen Hunger ForceVIDEO: The sissiest pipe wrench fight everBABES:…

H/T: AfrojacksGet wireless AMBER Alerts on your phone.

by Mr. E, Staff WriterThankfully, we have Amanda to warm things up. She's Sports Illustrated's Cheerleader of the Week, and was worth every vote. She claims that her best physical feature is "her eyes." Good one, Amanda. She's obviously pursuing a career in stand-up comedy as well. Quite the future, this girl has coming her way. A whole life of guys laughing at her jokes just to get in her pants. Get wireless AMBER Alerts on your phone.

by Mr. E, Staff WriterNovember is good for two things: Turkey and babe calendars that hit the shelves ready for Christmas. Like every other NBA team, the Cleveland Cavaliers have released their 14-month version, allowing for two extra months of spank. Sure, these girls aren't in Miami or L.A., but that makes them that much more attainable.You think you're going home with a Suns dancer? No chance. But a couple shots and the occasional Rohypnol and you're in like Flynn with these chicks. I mean, it's Cleveland for Christ's sake: The land of Miami Fives.Get wireless AMBER Alerts on your phone.

Much like Donovan McNabb, I didn't even know there were ties in the NFL.There shouldn't be ties in football.It totally screws up my football pool.But there it was. after one measly overtime. Philadelphia 13, Cincinnati 13.Okay, so maybe NO ties in football is an overstatement but doesn't it seem like with a league minimum salary of $285,000 a year and tickets up in the nosebleed sections at $85 per person I think the NFL owes us at least two overtimes.Or maybe I am just bitter because I am the only one out of 42 people in my pick 'em pool that picked the Bengals. It could have been a freaking…

I don't want to get too harsh here. I love the NFL Network. I love having something to watch on Thursday nights. I love the extra day of football goodness, but I have a beef to pick.The problem with Thursday Night Football is as follows:Crap. I though you would be able to see it better. The problem is this: on Thursday it looked like Ben Roethlisberger was questionable - doubtful even. So I quickly and strategically (and I mean sent a begging e-mail to my commissioner begging to do an add/drop on a Thursday morning) picked up Byron Leftwich and set him up to play.By Sunday it was obvious that…

Here are this week's picks (home teams in CAPS, Bill's picks in red):PATRIOTS (-4) over JetsFALCONS (-6) over BroncosRaiders (+10.5) over DOLPHINSRavens (+7) over GIANTSCOLTS (-8.5) over TexansBears (+3.5) over PACKERSTitans (-2.5) over JAGSEagles (-9) over BENGALSSaints (-5.5) over CHIEFSPANTHERS (-14.5) over LionsChargers (+5) over STEELERSNINERS (-6) over RamsCardinals (-3) over SEAHAWKSBUCS (-4) over VikingsCowboys (-1) over REDSKINSBILLS (-5) over BrownsLast WeekMe: 10-4Simmons: 11-3SeasonMe: 72-67-5Simmons: 78-61-5DISCLAIMER: This is provided for entertainment purposes only. If you…

Did much better last week. So far, I'm 1-0 this week and looking for a perfect week!Here are this week's picks (home teams in CAPS, Bill's picks in red):Broncos (+3) over BROWNSLIONS (+7) over JaguarsTitans (-3) over BEARSPATS (-4) over BillsFALCONS (-1) over SaintsRams (+8.5) over JETSSeahawks (+8.5) over DOLPHINSPackers (+2.5) over VIKINGSPanthers (-9.5) over RAIDERSChiefs (+15.5) over CHARGERSSTEELERS (-3.5) over ColtsGiants (+3) over EAGLESRavens (PK) over TEXANSCARDINALS (-9.5) over 49ersLast WeekMe: 9-5Simmons: 7-7SeasonMe: 62-63-5Simmons: 67-58-5DISCLAIMER: This is provided for…

Daunte Culpepper signed a two year contract with the Detroit Lions.I guess the big question is do I care?If you read my personal blog at all you may have noticed that I went to the University of Central Florida. In fact, Daunte and I overlapped by one year. He was a freshman when I was a senior.And now anybody that can do math knows how old I am. Excellent.So the thing is I have been a huge Culpepper fan from way back. Coming from a school that had a relatively small football program at the time it was thrilling when Culpepper was drafted in the first round. I remember him playing in his…

Oakland Raiders HC Tom Cable said WR Ronald Curry will start in Week 12 with rookie Chaz Schilens limited again by an ankle sprain. "That's news to me, but I know I'll play a lot, " Curry said. "Another chance to go out there and prove to people I can still play." C Jake Grove (calf), LB Ricky Brown (groin) and WR Javon Walker (ankle) did not practice and were declared out for Week 12. Sam Williams will start at strongside linebacker. Schilens and QB Andrew Walter were limited, and Cable said there's a chance Marques Tuiasosopo could again be the backup quarterback. DE Derrick Burgess will…

Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Cadillac Williams was listed on Friday as having a hamstring injury and lists his status for Week 12 is questionable. This is the first mention of any such injury for Williams and it comes only hours after HC Jon Gruden indicated there was a good chance Williams would play. "Carnell has done some good things and I think he'd be ready to play," Gruden said earlier this afternoon. "There's a chance."

Green Bay Packers WR James Jones (knee) and RN DeShawn Wynn (calf) were added to the injury report on Friday. Both are questionable for Week 12. HC Mike McCarthy said Jones had a setback with his knee, and that he would test the injury Saturday. CB Jarrett Bush (ankle) and S Charlie Peprah (calf) are also questionable. In addition to WR Donald Driver, OT Chad Clifton (knees), C Scott Wells (shoulder), DT Colin Cole (elbow), CB Charles Woodson (toe), and DEs Aaron Kampman (calf) and Jeremy Thompson (groin) are all probable.

WR Marty Booker (knee), LB Darrell McClover (hamstring) and OT Fred Miller (shoulder) are all out for the Chicago Bears in Week 12. All other players on the report are probable and expected to play.

Five members of the St. Louis Rams will miss Weeks 12 against the Bears. RB Steven Jackson (thigh), LB Chris Draft (foot), CB Tye Hill (knee), DE Eric Moore (spine) and T Orlando Pace (knee) will all be in street clothes. Antonio Pittman will start at RB.

Double-T Nation interviews Sports Illustrated college sports writer Austin Murphy.

It's been that long since the last one.

Reaction to the UFC's release of top welterweight Jon Fitch.

I don't know much about the source, and it seems fairly one-sided, but for what it's worth, here's an attorney who used to prosecute these kinds of cases for the government saying the case against Mark Cuban is risky and flimsy.

Steve Aschburner writes for MinnPost.com about how the Timberwolves are wholly different since the departure of Kevin Garnett. One player who has noticed is Randy Foye: "'One thing I miss about him is, he just let me go. That's why I was so successful my rookie year,' said Foye, who has sputtered in the season-plus since. 'No matter what happened, if I made a mistake, I'd look at him and he'd go [Foye balls up a fist and pumps it], like 'It's all right. Keep your head up.' It makes you feel better. It'd be like that for anyone in their work, if there was a legend who pumped you up. For a…

ESPN's Kevin Arnovitz (also the force behind Clipperblog) was up late watching the Suns lose to the Lakers, and got to thinking about the post D'Antoni offense in Phoenix. Has there ever been a point guard who could find a high-percentage shot for his team more quickly and effortlessly than Steve Nash? You can credit Mike D'Antoni's "Seven Seconds or Less" transition-oriented spread offense for much of that. Under D'Antoni, Steve Nash was encouraged to let his spatial intuition run wild to create those open looks. The result was an offensive juggernaut. Unfortunately, Phoenix could never…

Sports Illustrated's Jack McCallum, a mainstay of NBA coverage for nearly three decades, the author of several books including "Seven Seconds or Less," and one of the most-read NBA writers anywhere, says he has accepted a buyout. We spoke a few minutes ago. "Whenever anybody 'takes a buyout,'" he says, "it sounds like code for being pushed out the door. But that isn't the case. It was just the right time for me. I've been at SI since Larry and Magic were considered svelte. I've enjoyed every minute of it. All right, not every minute. But most minutes. I even enjoyed it when David Stern…

Jerry Zgoda of the Minneapolis Star Tribune: "Since he last played at Target Center, Kevin Garnett, of course, in one dizzying season with the reborn Celtics won an NBA championship that eluded him during 12 seasons in Minnesota. Since then, his former team swapped out everything but perhaps the arena bathroom fixtures and Kevin McHale, a process so complete that even the rookie who just survived the first eight-game losing streak of his life has taken inventory. 'From the new players to the new court, the new uniforms, the new logo, we've pretty much changed everything around just trying to…

Matthew Marsh has retained his British superbantamweight title after scoring a majority verdict over Rocky Dean in Bethnal Green.

Ricky Hatton was bang on the light-welterweight limit as he weighed-in for his big fight with Paulie Malignaggi.

Worcester claimed their second Guinness Premiership win in a row with a 26-11 success over Newcastle at Sixways.

Birmingham kept the pressure on at the top of the Championship with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Swansea.