The Sporting News back issues from February 2008:
TO KNOW LIST
Feb 04, 2008; ... 6 things to make you an INSTANT EXPERT this week 1 THE MAIN EVENT Room for debate The perfect 1972 Dolphins were led by six future Hall of Famers and a Hall of Fame coach, Don Shula. The pathetic 2007 Dolphins, led by one-and-done coach Cam Cameron, lost an NFL ...
THIS I GOTTA SEE
Feb 04, 2008; ... PICK of the WEEK SUN 3 Odd, isn't it, that complaining about a fortnight of Super Bowl hype has become a cottage industry among the very folks who generate said hype. Let's make it simple, shall we? The game is today-and neither you nor a single person on earth will be able to ...
BOB HILLE'S STARTING 5
Feb 04, 2008; ... 1 Super BowL Tom Petty's the halftime show. And Favre's sitting in with the Heartbreakers in overtime. 2 Barry Bonds. His lawyers call the Feds' indictment too vague: "Their case is the cream. Our client prefers the clear." 3 The NHL. Sid the Kid's hurt, so the All-Star Game was ...
2007 NFL AWARDS
Feb 04, 2008; ... WE ARE PROFESSIONAL GRADE® PLAYER OF THE YEAR Tom Brady QB, Patriots COACH OF THE YEAR Bill Belichick Patriots Sometimes, life is simple. If you're at an open bar, forgo the Bud Light and order a Heineken. If you're surfing channels and see Jessica Alba, ...
YOUR TURN
Feb 04, 2008; ... 'If the Patriots win the Super Bowl, how could m anyone disagree that they're the best team ever? A19-0 record says it all, and I don't eVen like them Or their coach.' -denham48 via SpomnNews.com * After talking all that trash about Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning, it now looks as though ...
BLOG ON
Feb 04, 2008; ... From your blogs on sportingnews.com RE THE SCOOP ON N.Y. SPORTS FANS Posted by smitty324 Several weeks ago, Eli Manning was the worst of the worst, a bum of epic proportions. What a difference a month makes. Welcome to the world of a New York sports fan. Should the Giants ...
RADIO STAR
Feb 04, 2008; ... Real talk from a fan on Sporting News Radio The best thing that would come out of the Patriots winning the Super Bowl and having a perfect season wouldn't ...
Upon further review
Feb 04, 2008; ... Upon further review: The 49ers and Cowboys have won five Super ...
4 of a kind
Feb 04, 2008; ... As we hustle along the road to Selection Sunday, the big boys are leading the way Americans love upsets. American journalists love the word parity. So they've been having a good time lately because these are the days of Angel Cabrera staring down Tiger Woods, of college football's No. 1 ...
Wrap your arms around the other freshmen
Feb 04, 2008; ... Is this the greatest freshman class in the history of college baskeroall? We can't really know for sure until these guys have kids of their own entering college, but itll be hard to top 1981-which gave us Michael Jordan, Chris Mullin and Patrick Ewing. Is it the deepest class ever? That ...
Slot machine
Feb 04, 2008; ... When Patriots wideout Wes Welker-all 5-9, 185 irrepressible pounds of him-lines up Sunday, don't be surprised if he does what he has done his whole life: slay some Giants No matter how hard they tried, the Patriots couldn't stop him. Twice a year from 2004 to 2006, as a member of the AFC ...
Eli always had it, but now he's got it
Feb 04, 2008; ... I've always known Eli Manning had the smarts and ability to be an elite quarterback, and we've seen it in flashes-a great passing game here, a big comeback there. But in between were the dud performances that kept him in that middle echelon of quarterbacks. There was never a sustained stretch of ...
Tuck on a roll
Feb 04, 2008; ... Meet Giants defensive end Justin Tuck, who would like to cap his breakout season with a Super-sized upset and win bragging rights over cousin Adalius Thomas In his third year with the Giants, defensive end Justin Tuck broke out with 10 sacks and made a huge contribution off the bench to ...
And the Brennan bashing begins
Feb 04, 2008; ... Colt Brennan is carrying more baggage than a bellhop as he prepares for the NFL draft. Scouts have recited a list of his flaws. Some question his arm strength. Some have labeled him a "system quarterback," a product of June Jones' run-and-shoot offense. Others say Brennan's slender ...
SENIOR BOWL DISH
Feb 04, 2008; ... LSU's Glenn Dorsey remains the top defensive tackle in the draft, but USC's Sedrick Ellis is closing the gap. Ellis played with passion and consistently penetrated and blew up plays in the backfield. He measured a hair under 6-1 but is a sure first-rounder. * Ellis' college teammate, OT Sam ...
NFL: speed reads
Feb 04, 2008; ... The Falcons hired Mike Smith after passing on a second chance to hire Mike Singletary. Knowing the Falcons, it won't be a surprise if they chose the wrong Mike. Ben Roethlisberger wants tall receivers. Be careful what you wish for, Ben. Plenty oftall receivers are not nearly as good as ...
Questions surround Thomas, but desire isn't one of them
Feb 04, 2008; ... INSIDE THE AFC MLB Zach Thomas could be a salary cap casualty in the Dolphins' new regime. He will turn 35 in September and is coming offa concussion-filled season. Still, he wants to continue playing and takes great care of his body. He has an excellent work ethic and can be productive ....
It's time for the Packers to take the focus off Favre
Feb 04, 2008; ... INSIDE THE NFC The Packers' failure in the NFC championship game can be laid on the shoulders of QB Brett Favre, who showed his age in the frigid temperatures at Lambeau Field. Assuming Favre returns-the late-season signs were that he would-coach Mike McCarthy needs to start handling him ...
There's no better time for the Suns to get it done
Feb 04, 2008; ... Aren't you tired of hearing how a team that wins with offense can't win when it counts most? I don t care for the desert, I think Phoenix fans are among the biggest bandwagoners in the land, and I've never been a huge fan of the Suns. But come June, I hope to see Steve Nash ...
NBA: INSIDE DISH
Feb 04, 2008; ... A key to the Cavaliers' stepped-up play-they entered the week on an Eastern Conference-best 11-3 run since Christmas-has been the bench, namely C Anderson Varejao, PG Daniel Glbson and SF Devln Brown. The trio has been so effective that when starting SG Sasha Pavlovic went out for at least six ...
NBA: speed reads
Feb 04, 2008; ... Other than passing over Steve Nash for Allen Iverson, fans who voted for the All-Star starters deserve props. Now we'll see if Western Conference coaches can do as well and find a spot for Baron Davis. So Cleveland is hot and bothered because LeBron's new shoe pays homage to the Yankees ....
Q & A: (Big) Easy street
Feb 04, 2008; ... Hornets C Tyson Chandler The bumps and potholes are finally in the rearview mirror SN: If someone told you on opening night that the Hornets would have the best record in the Western Conference at the halfway point, what would you have said? CHANDLER: I didn't necessarily ...
The good, the bad and the unsightly
Feb 04, 2008; ... While the NHL took its annual All-Star breather, its midseason winners (and losers) positioned themselves for an intriguing dash to the finish line. With the All-Star Game safely in the rearview mirror and the stretch run to the Stanley Cup playoffs looming, now is a good time to hand ...
NHL: INSIDE DISH
Feb 04, 2008; ... Don't be surprised if you see former star F Peter Forsberg skating in NHL arenas again, perhaps as early as Valentine's Day. Forsberg, who underwent corrective surgery on his right foot in November, is working out with his former Swedish team and says he will decide his future soon-a comeback ...
NHL: speed reads
Feb 04, 2008; ... The Blues are struggling to score, depending on their goaltender to win games and watching their playoff hopes dwindle with each defensive lapse. Over in the Eastern Conference, they call that ...
Recruiting for dear life
Feb 04, 2008; ... Rich Rodriguez's future rests in the hands of a kid. Let me tell you a story about a man and his predicament. Only weeks ago, Rich Rodriguez was fresh and free and his future had never looked brighter. Now everything hinges on the decision of an 18-year-old kid. I'm not ...
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: INSIDE DISH
Feb 04, 2008; ... BCS sources say a plus-one championship model is viable but rudimentary-and nothing close to the "Final Four" idea being tossed around. The process, which will be further discussed at the BCS meetings in April, currently looks like this: a championship game at the end of the bowl season-instead ...
A veteran in kid's clothing
Feb 04, 2008; ... Reed Sorenson may look like a wide-eyed youngster, but he's really the undeniable leader of NASCAR's most inexperienced team. Reed Sorenson, a few days short of his 22nd birthday, is the youngest of the young in NASCAR. His fresh-faced appearance makes him seem even younger, as if he ...
NASCAR: INSIDE DISH
Feb 04, 2008; ... The change in NASCARs qualifying format to help the go or go-home drivers is a terrific move. Allowing the drivers not locked into each field by owner points to qualify as a group after the locked-in drivers is more fair and will add another element of excitement to qualifying. > Dale ...
It's not smart to play hardball with Howard
Feb 04, 2008; ... A happy slugger could help the Phillies avoid another sad April. Last year, the Phillies went 11-14 in April and came out of the month five games back. They rallied to wind up 89-73 and, thanks to the Mets' Three Mile Island September, won the NX. East by one game. In 2006, the ...
BASEBALL: INSIDE DISH
Feb 04, 2008; ... The winter has not gone well for RHP Bartolo Colon, who is trying to rehab a torn rotator cuff. Colon, 34 and never a picture of health, has thrown just 155% innings over the past two years. He apparently did not use any of his rehab time to lose weight, a point of concern for those scouting him ...
BASEBALL: speed reads
Feb 04, 2008; ... The Mariners entered the week close to shoring up their needy rotation by trading for Orioles lefthander Erik Bedard. Seattle, already thin in young talent, apparently will part with top prospect Adam Jones. Besides, even with Bedard, the Mariners won't catch the Angels in the A.L ....
A.L. FOCUS ON INFIELDS
Feb 04, 2008; ... 1 TIGERS 1B Carlos Guillen, 2B Placido Polanco, SS Edgar Renteria, 3B Miguel Cabrera. Reserve: Ramon Santiago. Renteria will improve the defense at shortstop, and Guillen will boost the offense at first. Cabrera averaged 115 RBIs the past four seasons with Florida. Polanco is an ideal ...
N.L. FOCUS ON INFIELDS
Feb 04, 2008; ... 1 PHILLIES 1B Ryan Howard, 2B Chase Utley, SS Jimmy Rollins, 3B Greg Dobbs/Wes Helms. Reserve: Eric Bruntlett. Howard and Rollins own the past two N.L. MVPs. Is it Utley's turn? This trio is dominant. 2 BRAVES 1B MarkTeixeira, 2B Kelly Johnson, SS Yunel Escobar, 3B Chipper Jones ....
The ultimate shoe deal
Feb 04, 2008; ... EXPOSURE Amazing what a couple of bare feet can accomplish. Ron Hunter's goal In coaching his IUPUI basketball team sans shoes was twofold: He wanted to raise awareness of the plight of African children In need and maybe, just maybe, collect 40,000 pairs of sneakers to honor the ...
All of a sudden, the Giants have bash and flash
Feb 04, 2008; ... I spent last week absorbing film of the Giants and Patriots, and the one guy who jumped off the screen every time was Ahmad Bradshaw. He was inactive when New York and New England squared off in Week 17, and I'm not sure the Patriots will want to see him this time. Talk about a guy ...
Upon further review
Feb 11, 2008; ... Upon further review: The New York Giants were 10-6 this season and lost to the ...
It takes a village
Feb 11, 2008; ... Tailgating, NASCAR-style is so much more than feed and speed. It's about good times with friends and the excitement and fellowship surrounding a grand event. Bristol Motor Speedway is an island unto itself-a behemoth of a speedway planted in the middle of the eastern Tennessee mountains ....
THIS I GOTTA SEE
Feb 11, 2008; ... ON DECK The week ahead in sports All times Eastern PICK of the WEEK SUN 10 This is what you've been waiting for-an entire day of Isiah-free NBA action. The headliner is the defending champs against the could-be champs as the Spurs visit the Celtics (1 p.m., ABC), ...
BOB HILLE'S STARTING 5
Feb 11, 2008; ... 1 Super Bowl. Another season is history, and yet posterity still has one nagging question: Is Howie's head shaped like that? 2 NBA Ail-Star Game. Which is the bigger feel-good story, the hometown Hornets playing so well or Pacman Jones not flying In for the game? 3 Signing day ....
YOUR TURN
Feb 11, 2008; ... 'If Johan Santana can dominate the A.L., just think what he will do to the N.L.' -philphan25 via SportingNews.com West Virginia fans are not mad that Rich Rodriguez left (SN, January 28), just at the way he left, by trying to steal recruits, refusing to pay his buyout and lying ...
Postcards from Super Bowl week
Feb 11, 2008; ... Lots of bling, reporters looking for rings ... it was all par for the course in Arizona Tuesday: Media day I had heard about the wackiness of Super Bowl media day, but the actual experience exceeded even my own expectations. At University of Phoenix Stadium, there was a thorough ...
BLOG ON
Feb 11, 2008; ... From your blogs on sportingnews.com RE: BEST FANS IN THE WORLD Posted by ZackaryW The NFL fan is much more than just a number. The NFL fan wears face paint when it's 100 degrees outside. The NFL fan goes shirtless in subzero weather. The Na fan eats brats, not sushi or ...
RADIO STAR
Feb 11, 2008; ... Real talk from a fan on Sporting News Radio 'With football finally over, we can start getting Into the other great things happening In sports? How about ...
Lights, camera, busted
Feb 11, 2008; ... Losing the Super Bowl-and their bid for perfection-might be the least of the Patriots' worries By Matt Crossman The Patriots' bid for immortality ended because of a fluke, lucky, couldn't-doit-again-if-you-tried play. David Tyree somehow held on to Eli Manning's desperation heave after ...
Nearly perfect
Feb 11, 2008; ... With a swarming defense early and Eli Manning late, the Giants were flawless when they needed to be, stopping the 18-0-make that 18-1-Patriots just short of history On January 7, 2007, Jerry Reese sat in the press box at Philadelphias Lincoln Financial Field and watched the Giants lose ...
Ticket to Tampa
Feb 11, 2008; ... The season is over, so welcome to the new season. Here's what you need to know as teams prepare to load up for a trip they hope will end February 1 on Florida's Gulf Coast. By Clifton Brown Missing pieces Five teams that could make a run at the Super Bowl-if they fill a ...
Inside the booth
Feb 11, 2008; ... Come on in-and watch the game with Troy, Joe and the rest of the FOX Super Bowl crew By Mike Nahrstedt Troy Aikman isn't happy. It's 3 hours before kickoff and the telestrator for FOX Sports' broadcast of Super Bowl 42 is kaput. A telestrator is to a game analyst what a ...
Making the jump to champion
Feb 11, 2008; ... With all of his horses back, Eli Manning proved he's a thoroughbred By Clifton Brown When your last name is Manning and you reach the Super Bowl, this is what you do. You embrace the moment You ignore your critics. You lead your team to victory. And you win the game's most valuable ...
INSIDE THE AFC: TICKET TO TAMPA
Feb 11, 2008; ... FOCUS ON '08 NEEDS BALTIMORE CB, QB, OT. Starting CBs Chris McAlister, 30, and Samari Rolle, 31, missed significant time this season. The team doesn't have a quarterback of the future, and there is speculation it could trade up from the No. 8 spot and take Boston College's Matt ...
INSIDE THE NFC: TICKET TO TAMPA
Feb 11, 2008; ... FOCUS ON '08 NEEDS ARIZONA CB, DE/OLB, RB. With Antrel RoUe expected to move to free safety, the Cardinals are dangerously thin at cornerback. They also need a pass rusher, and the coaches would like to find someone with speed to complement or replace RB Edgerrin James. ATLANTA ...
Moss should leave ... well enough alone
Feb 11, 2008; ... The perfect situation doesn't come around all that often. Randy Moss has left plenty of defensive backs in his wake. But he would be foolish to leave the Patriots-period. And any other team would be foolish to pay him what he wants. With Super Bowl 42 now history, the NFL ...
NFL: speed reads
Feb 11, 2008; ... Art Monk waited too long for election to the Hall of Fame, but better late than never. He was the complete package at wide receiver. Cris Carter should be joining Monk in Canton. How can someone tied for fifth in career touchdowns not be in the Hall? The NFL should not have taken ...
NFL: INSIDE DISH
Feb 11, 2008; ... Some owners are unhappy with the current collective bargaining agreement, and the posturing has already begun. Gene Upshaw, head of the players union, expects the owners to exercise their option to opt out of the current contract in November. There can be no stoppage of play until the deal ...
It's showtime!
Feb 11, 2008; ... He walks the walk and talks the talk of a champion. Now Dale Earnhardt Jr. has to get into his new No. 88 Chevy and prove to a legion of NASCAR admirers that he really is one. By Reid Spencer There's a radically different dynamic, at Hendrick Motorsports, and it hits you like a slap in ...
Finding Cale
Feb 11, 2008; ... Jimmie Johnson now knows exactly where his old hero is-in the record books for his three straight Cup titles. Driving for the dominant Hendrick Motorsports organization, he could join Yarborough there in 2008. By Reid Spencer In terms of background and personality, Cale Yarborough and ...
Petty-minded at Daytona
Feb 11, 2008; ... As the 50th running of the 500 approaches, race lore naturally focuses on Lee, Richard and Kyle-and a peek at history tells us why By Reid Spencer The inaugural Daytona 500 in 1959 was just another race-until Lee Petty, Johnny Beauchamp and Joe Weatherly crossed the finish line ...
Taking the fifth
Feb 11, 2008; ... Jeff Gordon will rebound to win the championship that slipped away last year NASCAR seems to change with every blink of the eye, but its 2008 Chase will remain remarkably unchanged-except, of course, for its name (it's now the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup). The Chase, entering ...
Toyota won't spin its wheels in '08
Feb 11, 2008; ... The savvy of Joe Gibbs Racing and the skill of Kyle Busch are potent infusions. Kyle Busch has mellowed-in his feelings toward NASCAR's new racecar, at least. Busch's attitude isn't the only thing that has changed at Joe Gibbs Racing this season. Busch himself is a new addition, ...
NASCAR 2008: speed reads
Feb 11, 2008; ... If Jimmie Johnson wins his third consecutive Cup championship, it will be the sport's most significant accomplishment ever. Elliott Sadler's team now has three primary sponsors? Well, that means two more than usual ...
NASCAR 2008: INSIDE DISH
Feb 11, 2008; ... With all the focus on Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing, it's easy to forget about Roush Fenway Racing. Not so fast, two-time defending Cup champion Jimmie Johnson said at last week's Las Vegas testing session. "Those Roush cars have been good, especially Carl (Edwards). He's been real ...
There's hope without Crosby
Feb 11, 2008; ... Evgeni Malkin can do a reasonable impression of Sid the Kid. The real test for the Penguins will be overcoming a rash of injuries to other players. The Penguins know they can't really replace Sidney Crosby for the six-plus weeks he'll need to recover from a high ankle sprain. The team ...
NHL: INSIDE DISH
Feb 11, 2008; ... With the stretch run fast approaching, the Senators are looking hard at their goaltending. Ray Emery is finally healthy but can't separate himself from Martin Gerber, who lost the starting job last season and watched Emery excel in the playoffs. There is some sentiment the team might be better ...
Mirror, mirror on the ball ...
Feb 11, 2008; ... You've got questions about midseason player movement? We've got answers. Questions (and answers) to ponder while wondering if Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak will beat out Danny Aiage for executive of the year: Will Pau Gasol be the only big-name guy traded before the ...
NBA: speed reads
Feb 11, 2008; ... If you want to know where players most want to play, look at how long Damon Stoudamire took to sign with the Spurs. Two seconds, tops? Doc Rivers knows best: He is wise to sit Kevin Gamett as long as necessary ...