sports Page 826 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Northwestern Coach Pat Fitzgerald Is Wondering Why God Has Forsaken Him
The Meineke Care Care Bowl Of Texas became the scene of a spiritual crisis for Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald, as he sought divine explanations for a momentum-killing tripping penalty. [ESPN]...

10 Stories Of 2011 That Didn't Suck: A SportsFeat List
Max Linsky is the editor of Longform and SportsFeat....

ESPN's SkyCam Becomes Self-Aware, Starts Attacking Iowa Players
It was bound to happen eventually: the wire-suspended ESPN SkyCam came crashing to the ground late in Friday's Insight Bowl in Tempe, nearly decapitating Iowa's Marvin McNutt and leaving the Worldwide Leader's Sean McDonough to apologize with a sheepish "Sorry folks."...

Brock Lesnar Just Retired From UFC. Here's Why (And The Official Announcement)
Here's the shot from Alistair Overeem that knocked Brock Lesnar out of UFC (along with Lesnar's announcement that made it official). The announcement seems to have come a fight too late, given how miserably Lesnar managed to defend himself against Overeem's strikes. Bon voyage, real-then-fake-then-r...

Johny Hendricks Knocked Out Jon Fitch In Ten Seconds
Actually, it was more like one second, as it was a single punch from Johny Hendricks that took Jon Fitch out of their welterweight match at UFC 141....

There's A Late Entry To The List Of 2011's Most Gruesome Injuries
Rutgers kept their improbable bowl win streak alive (it's up to five now) with a 27-13 victory over Iowa State, but it came with a cost: the right leg of linebacker Khaseem Greene, Big East co-Defensive Player of the Year. Greene announced this week he plans to return for his senior season next ye...

BYU Won The Military Armed Forces Bowl By Bearing False Witness
Brigham Young University, the school that suspends you for daring to have sex, holds no such stringency to the words of the Lord when it comes to running football plays. This one earned the Cougars the Military Armed Forces Bowl trophy and, sure, it's a stretch to call a fake spike "lying," but it...

Metta World Peace Doesn't Mind When Kobe Calls Him "Ron"
Every morning, the fine folks at Sports Radio Interviews sift through the a.m. drive-time chatter to bring you the best interviews with coaches, players, and personalities across the sports landscape. Today: how the Lakers communicate on the court....

Here's All 35 Scoring Plays In Last Night's Alamo Bowl. Yes, 35
It was the highest-scoring regulation bowl game in history, and Baylor's first bowl win in 19 years. Here's how all 123 points were scored in the madness that was last night's Valero Alamo Bowl. [ESPN]...

<em>SportsCenter</em>'s Lowlight Countdown Is Always Fun
ESPN aired its annual countdown of the year's worst plays, including a few you've probably forgotten about. It's a rare list where No. 1 actually deserves the honor....

The Year In Animals Running Onto The Field, Adorably: A Video
Humans weren't the only creatures invading our sporting events this year. There was the squirrel that interrupted an NLDS game, the fluffy owl who is sadly no longer with us, and a strangely high quantity of dogs running around soccer pitches. Here are some of our favorite animal trespassers from ...

The Year In Fans Running Onto The Field: A Video
Is there anything more life-affirming than watching a fan—likely drunk, possibly naked, probably a moron—jump a barrier and dash onto a field in the middle of a sporting event? The responsible authoritarians who run the TV networks won't show you these occasional bursts of the anarchic spirit, but...

Michael Floyd's Champs Sports Bowl Catch Was An Exquisite Juggling Exhibition
The first half of the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando was a bore, but Notre Dame receiver Michael Floyd spiced things up with this juggling TD grab early in the second half, a catch that put the Irish up 14-0 on the sputtering Florida State Seminoles. [ESPN]...

Floyd Mayweather Jr. Bet $1 Million Against Tim Tebow
Two weeks ago, the New England Patriots walked all over the Denver Broncos in a 41-23 win. More importantly, Mayweather got rich—well, richer. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that Mayweather had $1 million on the Patriots. The director of the Cantor Gaming sports book at the M Resort, Mike Colb...

Ryan Clark Says The Browns Were "Hugging And Kissing" The Last Time They Beat The Steelers
Every morning, the fine folks at Sports Radio Interviews sift through the a.m. drive-time chatter to bring you the best interviews with coaches, players, and personalities across the sports landscape. Today: Clark isn't planning a repeat of that 2009 loss....

15 Years Ago, I Wrote A Fan Letter To ESPN. Here's Who Wrote Back.
I don't remember now what was in my letter, which I'd addressed to the very nonspecific "SportsCenter anchors." I'm sure it was your standard fan mail—"I'm a big fan, I watch every morning, I want to be on ESPN one day." I don't think I asked for a reply, and I definitely didn't ask for signed heads...

Devin Harris Left A Footprint On Some Lady's Face
The courtside seats for Lakers games are usually an opportunity to see faces of the rich and famous, but it was two other faces that got the attention during the Utah-Los Angeles battle Tuesday night at Staples Center: the one belonging to a young woman who got up close and personal with Devin Har...

Today In Insane Sentences: Rex Ryan Tells Stephen A. Smith That Peyton Manning Won't Replace Mark Sanchez
Every morning, the fine folks at Sports Radio Interviews sift through the a.m. drive-time chatter to bring you the best interviews with coaches, players, and personalities across the sports landscape. Today: Coach stays positive on the Sanchize....

As Far As ESPN Is Concerned, Not A Single Hockey Player Died This Year
SportsCenter's annual Year In Review show enters heavy rotation on the WWL this week, and as is tradition, it includes an "In Memoriam" segment recognizing the athletes and sports figures lost in 2011. Puck Daddy has the complete list of those honored:...

Ricky Rubio <em>Está Aquí</em>
The Timberwolves' Ricky Rubio had six assists in the 26 minutes of his NBA debut. Here's each of them in all their Catalonian glory....