Your morning roundup for Feb. 11, the day a baby got a Tumblr. Original One Penn Plaza photo via Fb78. (Download a wallpaper-sized "We Are All Witnesses" here.) Got any stories or photos for us? Tip your editors.
What we're watching (all times EST, unless noted): Man U vs Liverpool (ESPN2) at 7:30 a.m. Australian Baseball League Championship Game 2 (MLB Network) at noon. Pebble Beach National Pro-Am (Golf Channel at 1, CBS at 3). UConn at Syracuse (CBS) in men's college basketball at 1. Montreal at Toronto (NHLN) at 7. Xavier at Temple (ESPN2) in MCBB at 9.
Read me
On Ambiguous Rivalries: "In the academic field of international relations, a decent amount of scholarship is devoted to the study of dyads. A dyad is any two countries, but in this context, pairings like Guyana-New Zealand aren't usually given too much thought. Historically, the most studied dyads are or were the most newsworthy ones due to hostilities or high levels of trade and cooperation. United States-USSR was undoubtedly the Duke-North Carolina of dyads. The dyadic nature of team sports makes analogies to bilateral international relations a natural fit. However, the most natural sports comparison to international relations is college basketball due to the power structure and abundance of teams.." [midmajority.com]
This Date In Deadspin History
Feb 11, 2009: How Would You Debase Yourself To Get Duke-UNC Tickets?
Elsewhere
Those French skit shows will get you evertime: "Rafael Nadal says he underwent a surprise drug test toward the end of a week in which the Spaniard was the butt of jokes made by a French TV program about his country's alleged ties to doping. Nadal wrote on his Twitter account on Saturday: '8:30 in the morning!!! Just finished passing a surprise antidoping test...it was expected after everything...but I'm happy it's like this!'' The Spanish sports ministry has contacted its French counterparts to complain over the satirical skits, and is considering legal action after Spain's tennis and cycling federations said they would sue Canal Plus for using its logo in a video that poked fun at Nadal." [SI]
Big East and West Virginia settle dispute, no one cares: "The Big East will make about $20 million from the resolution, with WVU paying $11 million. The source said the Big 12 would handle the remaining amount and the Mountaineers will enjoy full membership in that conference beginning July 1. The source said WVU's early exit from the Big East is no longer conditional upon Boise State joining the Big East as a replacement in 2012. The process of recruiting Boise State had been an obstacle standing in the way of a resolution. One of the reasons the Big East has been fighting the lawsuit is the fact that it's incoming members aren't scheduled to join the conference until 2013 — which would leave a gap in schedules if WVU left this year. " [Charleston Daily Mail]
Your dog biting a reporter Interlude
Marijuana is a gateway PED: "Several fighters who competed on the UFC 143 card were subjected to postfight drug and steroid tests. 'All results received thus far have been negative, except Mr. Diaz [who] tested positive for marijuana metabolites,' Kizer said in a statement. 'A complaint for disciplinary action against Mr. Diaz has been filed.' UFC president Dana White planned to meet with Condit on Friday in hopes of working out details for a rematch. But that meeting will likely be canceled, now that Diaz faces a possible suspension. 'I am beyond disappointed that [Diaz] tested positive for marijuana,' White said. 'It is now in the hands of the Nevada State Athletic Commission.' With a rematch against Diaz off the table, White told ESPN.com there is no plan to have Condit put his interim title on the line." [ESPN]
Hockey!: The Detroit Red Wings' shootout prowess saved their home winning streak after they were outplayed for 65 minutes. Pavel Datsyuk and Todd Bertuzzi scored shootout goals to give Detroit its 19th consecutive home victory, 2-1 over the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night. The Red Wings tied the 1970-71 Boston Bruins for the second-longest home streak in NHL history. The 1975-76 Philadelphia Flyers and the 1929-30 Bruins won 20 consecutive games at home. Detroit can tie the record against Philadelphia when the Flyers visit to Joe Louis Arena on Sunday night. 'They seem to be real comfortable here and find a way. It's fun that we're going to have Philly in here,' Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. 'We'll have a good skate tomorrow and (try to) tie that record. I haven't even thought about that record until now, so we might as well tie it, with Philly coming in here.' Detroit is 7-1 in shootouts this season. Jakub Kindl scored for Detroit. Joey MacDonald made 29 saves in regulation and overtime. The Red Wings killed off all seven Anaheim power plays. 'They played well, really, really well. They held onto the puck and they were strong down low,' Bertuzzi said. 'Just one of those grinding games and then, obviously, with the officiating and all of the penalties it didn't really roll. Obviously, we're pretty excited that we got the win.'" [AP]
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