The Roundup: Hamlin’s Expensive Tires Boosted

So we love Penelope Cruz. So what? … 27 states are in recession, with 14 more on the cusp … the more Starbucks a country has, the bigger its financial problems … Yahoo is cutting 1,500 jobs, no word if sports will be affected … interesting lawsuit here … another athlete/celebrity tandem bites the dust …

Many moons ago, Kansas coach Mark Mangino and Texas Tech coach Mike Leach nearly got in a fight. ( KC Star)

More trouble in Dallas: Ken Hamlin’s tires ($15,000) stolen off his Escalade. ( Dallas Morning News)

Sounds like the Tom Brady surgery was quite a disaster; he’s had reportedly had two procedures to clean it up. ( Boston Herald)

Josh “Smith headed for the locker room steaming at being called out and shattered his mouthpiece case against a wall.” ( AJC)

This seems like excessive gushing of Rashard Lewis, no? ( Orlando Sentinel)

Bill Laimbeer, still quite a character. ( Need 4 Sheed)

Palin to get her puck-drop on again in St. Louis. ( Post-Dispatch)

New England fans have been completely spoiled, according to Mike Tirico. Damn right. And it’s OVAH. ( Inside Track)

No jail for Holyfield over child support payments. ( AJC)

Mark Prior spotted in a pumpkin patch. Funny. ( Planet Padres)

Mike Holmgren is not headed to the 49ers. ( Mercury News)

Cardinals LB is not married to a Playboy Playmate. ( Fanhouse)

In regard to Ted Miller’s strength-of-schedule rankings, a reader claims these are more accurate. ( CBS Sports)