Sports 2
2B | LAWRENCE JOURNAL-WORLD | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2011
COMING THURSDAY
TWO-DAY
• KU women’s basketball takes on Iowa State in Lawrence
SPORTS CALENDAR
KANSAS UNIVERSITY
Talib tapped defensive back of year J-W Staff Reports
Former Kansas University standout cornerback Aqib Talib was named the 2010 Defensive Back of the Year by the NFL Alumni Association on Tuesday. Talib, who plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, intercepted six passes in 11 games last season. He returned one for a touchdown. The third-year pro from Richardson, Texas, has 15 interceptions in his Bucs career. Arguably his most memorable moment at KU was when he intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown in KU’s 24-21 Orange
Bowl victory over Virginia Tech in 2008. The 12-1 squad was the winningest team in KU football history. Talib’s six picks in 2010 trailed Baltimore’s Ed Reed, who had eight. Talib Talib earned the NFC’s Defensive Player of the Week on Nov. 3, 2010, after he picked off two passes against Arizona, returning one for a score. He became the first Tampa Bay player since Donnie
Abraham (1999-2001) to record at least four interceptions in three straight seasons. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Talib was a first-round draft pick (20th overall) of Tampa Bay in the 2008 draft. Also on Tuesday, Kansas City’s Todd Haley received the NFL Alumni’s Coach of the Year. The Chiefs won the AFC West and finished 10-6 before bowing out of the playoffs to Baltimore. Haley made significant progress with the Chiefs, who finished 4-12 and last in the AFC West just two seasons ago. Other awards on Tuesday from
| SPORTS WRAP |
COMMENTARY
Super Bowl over, so ... now what? By Jim Souhan Minneapolis Star Tribune (Minneapolis)
MINNEAPOLIS — Just as the calendar year begins when the ball drops in Times Square, so the new sports year begins with the falling of confetti at the Super Bowl. As we belly-crawl through the briny muck of the swampy segment of the sports calendar known as February, this is a good time to fix everything that is wrong with the world of perspiring arts (as legendary Dallas Morning News columnist Blackie Sherrod called them). Here is one man’s Sports Reformation: Pro hockey: There aren’t enough skilled players to make the average game interesting, the shootout is silly and teams are given a point even when they effectively have lost the contest, making the NHL the professional version of fifth grade inhouse soccer (congratulations, Little Billy, you didn’t fall down! Here’s a medal!) Every game should be worth a winnertakes-all two points. Get rid of the shootout, and make teams play 4-on-4, then 3-on-3, then 2-on-2, then 1-on-1 until there is a winner. Pro basketball: Install new contract and salary cap rules that make it easier to trade star players. I keep hearing complaints about the attention being paid to the potential Carmelo Anthony trade, but the speculation has been the most interesting aspect of the league for the past two months. You don’t expect the average sports fan to care about regular-season NBA games, do you? It’s not that there needs to be less talk; it’s that there needs to be more action. The NBA should be like your buddies’ fantasy basketball league: Stars should be shuffled all season, until you have superpowers vying in the playoffs. College basketball: The best college game of the season might have been played between UCLA and Cal. Why? Because both of the coaches burned their timeouts early, so Cal’s comeback and UCLA’s eventual game-winning rally occurred in real time, with frenetic endto-end runs and the players making decisions on the fly. What, you’d rather see windbag coaches stopping the action every 20 seconds to draw up inbounds plays that don’t work? Pro baseball: If a pitcher steps off the rubber or a batter steps out of the box during an at-bat, he shall be tasered by that Philly security guard who nailed the fleeing loser fan in the back last season. Pro football: Simplify the rules regarding violence: If you hit an opponent in the head, you are ejected, fined and suspended. We’re allowing people to be damaged for our entertainment. We need to become more humane. College football: Duh. A playoff. Think about this: If the NFL had set up the same postseason structure as the NCAA, the Patriots and Falcons would have played in the Super Bowl on March 14, and we would have skipped the three weekends of playoffs that proved to be the highlight of the season. Soccer: Install a shot clock. If a team doesn’t shoot within one minute, the other team gets the ball at midfield.
the NFL Alumni included: Quarte r ba c k o f t h e Ye a r : P h i l i p Rivers, San Diego Chargers; running back: Maurice Jones-Drew, Ja c k s o nv i l l e Ja g u a rs ; w i d e Receiver: Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons; tight end: Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys; offensive lineman: Josh Sitton, Green Bay Packers; defensive lineman: Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions; linebacker: Patrick Willis, San Francisco 49ers; special teams: Devin Hester, Chicago Bears; spirit award: Felix Jones, Dallas Cowboys; Player of the Year: Troy Polamalu, safety, Pittsburgh Steelers.
Titans fire O-coordinator Heimerdinger NASHVILLE, TENN. — Titans coach Mike Munchak has fired offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger along with two other assistants as he starts to remake his coaching staff a day after taking over the top job. Heimerdinger, who is continuing cancer treatment after diagnosed in November, confirmed to The Associated Press on Tuesday that he had been fired. The Titans released a statement that defensive assistant Rayna Stewart and offensive assistant Richie Wessman that they will not be retained. “It’s never easy to be fired,” Heimerdinger said. “He has to do what’s good for the Titans, and Munch will do what’s best for the Titans. I appreciate my time here, but it’s never easy to be fired.”
NFL Champs bid farewell to fans
Nev. sports books eke out $724K LAS VEGAS — Sports books in Nevada hung on to win just over $724,000 from Super Bowl bets despite heavy gambling on the Green Bay Packers and lots of scoring, Nevada gambling regulators said Tuesday.
Saints OK with Payton move NEW ORLEANS — Sean Payton is moving his family to Dallas and the Saints have no problem with it — however, many New Orleans fans do. Payton confirmed Tuesday that he buying a house in Dallas and is moving his wife and two children to Texas while he remains the Saints’ head coach.
Raiders promote Biekert to LBs
GREEN BAY, WIS. — The Green Bay Packers took one last chance to say goodbye to their fans and each other. Tuesday was a final day to publicly celebrate their Super Bowl-winning season, and the Packers did it in style in front of more than 56,000 fans who paid $5 to spend a final hour with their team for the first time in 36 days. The last time the Packers were at Lambeau Field, they beat Chicago in a must-win game that propelled them to a championship run, ending with a 31-25 Super Bowl victory over Pittsburgh on Sunday.
Appeals won’t block suspensions MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that it won’t permanently block the NFL from suspending Vikings defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams for violating the league’s anti-doping policy. Barring another appeal, the ruling appears to clear the way for the NFL to suspend the players, which it has been trying to do since both tested positive for a banned diuretic in 2008.
Cheated fans get second option NEW YORK — The NFL has added a second option for the roughly 400 fans who had to give up their seats at the Super Bowl: They can choose to attend any future Super Bowl instead of being limited to the 2012 game. The league initially said Sunday it would give $2,400, three times the face value of the ticket, to the fans who were forced to watch the game on monitors or use standing-room platforms after some temporary seating sections were not completed in time.
ALAMEDA, CALIF. — The Oakland Raiders have promoted Greg Biekert from defensive assistant to linebackers coach. The team announced the move Tuesday. Biekert joined the coaching staff last year as a defensive assistant. He played linebacker for 11 years in the NFL, including nine with the Raiders.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL Georgia RB suspended ATLANTA — Georgia coach Mark Richt suspended tailback Washaun Ealey on Tuesday for failing to follow “the Georgia way.” Richt’s statement did not disclose specifics of what led to the suspension for Ealey.
NBA Pierce to defend 3-point crown NEW YORK — Paul Pierce will defend his three-point shootout title against a field that includes fellow Boston Celtics All-Star Ray Allen and NBA scoring leader Kevin Durant of Oklahoma City. The three-point contest will be part of AllStar events on Feb. 19 in Los Angeles.
Howard annoyed by contract talk ORLANDO, FLA. — Magic center Dwight Howard said he is annoyed by the recent talk about his contract and the possibility he would leave Orlando when he becomes a free agent. Howard’s current contract runs through the 2012-13 season, but he could utilize an early termination option and become a free agent after next season.
NORTHEASTERN.................10 .............................Towson MARSHALL ...........................3.............Ala-Birmingham OHIO ......................................16 ...............................Toledo KENT ST................................13..........Eastern Michigan BOWLING GREEN...............11⁄2 ...............................Ball St MIAMI-OHIO..........................8 ............Northern Illinois TEMPLE.................................21...........................Fordham Richmond.............................5..GEORGE WASHINGTON RHODE ISLAND....................2...............................Dayton 1 Miami-Florida....................8 ⁄2 ................WAKE FOREST SYRACUSE ..........................41⁄2 ...................Georgetown AKRON...................................6..........Western Michigan NEW MEXICO .......................18..........................Wyoming Unlv........................................8 .....................................TCU MISSOURI ST.......................15 .............................Bradley ILLINOIS ST...........................1 .........................Indiana St Florida...................................4 ..........SOUTH CAROLINA 1 MISSISSIPPI ST ..................1 ⁄2..........................Arkansas SMU ........................................4................................Tulane Villanova...............................6...........................RUTGERS BAYLOR ...............................61⁄2.........................Nebraska Wisconsin.............................7 ...................................IOWA
FREE STATE HIGH
THURSDAY • Bowling at Washburn Rural Invite (West Ridge Lanes), 3:30 p.m.
LAWRENCE HIGH
TODAY • Girls basketball vs. SM North, 7 p.m. THURSDAY • Bowling at Atchison High School, 3:30 p.m.
SEABURY ACADEMY
VERITAS CHRISTIAN
SPORTS ON TV TODAY College Basketball Time Georgetown v. Syracuse6 p.m. Marquette v. S. Florida 6 p.m. Louisville v. N. Dame 6 p.m. Memphis v. Central Fla. 6 p.m. Bradley v. Missouri St. 7 p.m. Nebraska v. Baylor 7 p.m. North Carolina v. Duke 8 p.m. Texas v. Oklahoma 8 p.m. Texas A&M v. Colorado 8 p.m. La Salle v. St. Louis 8 p.m. Cent. Wash. v. W. Wash. 9 p.m. Utah St. v. Idaho 10 p.m.
Net Cable ESPN 33, 233 ESPN2 34, 234 ESPNU 35, 232 CBSC 143, 235 KCMO 3, 203 NBC, KMCI 8, 15, 208 ESPN 33, 233 ESPN2 34, 234 ESPNU 35, 232 CBSC 143, 235 FCSP 146 ESPN2 34, 234
Women’s Basketball Time Iowa St. v. Kansas 7 p.m. Texas v. Kansas St. 7 p.m.
Net Ch.6 FSN
Cable 6 36, 236
NHL Montreal v. Boston
Net Versus
Cable 38, 238
Time 6 p.m.
THURSDAY College Basketball UConn v. St. John’s Florida St. v. Ga. Tech Wright St. v. Butler Oral Roberts v. UMKC M. Tenn. St. v. W. Ky. Illinois v. Minnesota Alabama v. Vanderbilt Oregon v. UCLA Gonzaga v. L-Mary. Oregon St. v. USC St. Mary’s v. S. Clara
Time 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 8 p.m. 8 p.m. 9:30 p.m. 10 p.m. 10 p.m. 10 p.m.
Net ESPN ESPN2 ESPNU KSMO FCSC ESPN ESPN2 FCSA ESPN2 FSN ESPNU
Cable 33, 233 34, 234 35, 235 3, 203 145 33, 233 34, 234 144 34, 234 36, 236 35, 235
NBA L.A. Lakers v. Boston Dallas v. Denver
Time 7 p.m. 9:30 p.m.
Net TNT TNT
Cable 45, 245 45, 245
Women’s Basketball Creighton v. N. Iowa Weber St. v. A. Arizona Tulsa v. Ala.-Birming.
Time 7 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 8 p.m.
Net FSN FCSP CBSC
Cable 36, 236 146 143, 243
Golf P. Beach Pro-Am
Time 2 p.m.
Net Golf
Cable 156, 289
E-MAIL US Tom Keegan, Sports Editor tkeegan@ljworld.com
Andrew Hartsock, Associate Sports Editor ahartsock@ljworld.com
Gary Bedore, KU men’s basketball gbedore@ljworld.com
Matt Tait, KU football mtait@ljworld.com
THE QUOTE “One moment. Give me one moment. In five years, can you remember one defining Andrew Bynum moment?” — Los Angeles Times columnist Bill Plaschke, in his plea to the Lakers to trade Bynum for Denver’s Carmelo Anthony
LATEST LINE NBA Favorite ...........................Points ....................Underdog Orlando............................2 (196) ...........PHILADELPHIA New Orleans ..................2 (184)...............NEW JERSEY WASHINGTON..................1 (186) ...................Milwaukee Detroit.......................Pick’em (196) ..........CLEVELAND San Antonio...................7 (203).....................TORONTO 1 INDIANA .........................4 ⁄2 (190)...................Charlotte 1 NEW YORK .....................6 ⁄2 (214) ...............LA Clippers UTAH.................................2 (194)........................Chicago Dallas..............................41⁄2 (195) ...........SACRAMENTO GOLDEN ST ......................1 (221) ..........................Denver COLLEGE BASKETBALL Favorite ...........................Points ....................Underdog MICHIGAN .............................3..................Northwestern NOTRE DAME .......................4 ..........................Louisville Marquette ............................6..............SOUTH FLORIDA 1 CENTRAL FLORIDA ...........2 ⁄2..........................Memphis DREXEL..................................3..............James Madison VA Commonwealth...........5........................DELAWARE 1 Hofstra.................................1 ⁄2.....................GEORGIA ST Old Dominion......................8............WILLIAM & MARY
TODAY • Women’s basketball vs. Iowa State, 7 p.m.
MISSISSIPPI.........................14 .....................................Lsu COLORADO ...........................2........................Texas A&M Texas .....................................12 ......................OKLAHOMA ST. LOUIS...............................6..............................La Salle DUKE .....................................10...............North Carolina Byu.........................................10........................AIR FORCE Utah St ................................91⁄2 ...............................IDAHO Coll of Charleston...........71⁄2 .................................ELON Davidson ..............................6..........................WOFFORD NHL Favorite ............................Goals .....................Underdog San Jose.........................Even-1⁄2..................COLUMBUS BOSTON...........................Even-1⁄2 .....................Montreal DETROIT ..............................1⁄2-1.........................Nashville MINNESOTA....................Even-1⁄2 .....................Colorado DALLAS............................Even-1⁄2 .......................Phoenix Chicago...............................1⁄2-1.....................EDMONTON CALGARY.............................1⁄2-1.............................Ottawa VANCOUVER.......................1⁄2-1 .........................Anaheim Home Team in CAPS (C) 2011 TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
TODAY IN SPORTS 1992 — Magic Johnson, playing for the first time since announcing his retirement on Nov. 7, scores a game-high 25 points and hands out nine assists to lead the West to a 153-113 win over the East in the NBA All-Star Game at the Orlando Arena. 2002 — Oakland’s Rich Gannon leads the AFC to a 38-30 victory over the NFC to win the player of the game award in the Pro Bowl for the second consecutive year. 2003 — Kevin Garnett, the MVP, scores nine of his 37 points in the second overtime as the West beats the East 155-145 in the first double overtime game in NBA AllStar history. 2009 — Lindsey Vonn wins the downhill for her second gold at the World Championships in Val d’Isere, France. Vonn becomes the second American woman to win two golds at a worlds.
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