2008 LA Marathon: The Winners

Russian Tatiana Aryasova won the LA Marathon, and the $100,000 "Banco Popular Challenge" with an unofficial time of 2:09:32, beating out the top "elite" male runner, Laban Moiben of Kenya, who clocked in with an unofficial time of 2:13:50. The petite Aryasova is in peak shape; she recently gave birth and resumed her training rapidly.

Both runners received the keys to their new Honda Accords thanks to the race's sponsor, Honda of America, whose headquarters are located here in Torrance. They also each received a cash award of $20,000. The winning pair took the lead early on, and were ahead of the more than 26,000 runners who began the race in North Hollywood and traveled the 26 miles on foot to Downtown LA.

The wheelchair race had an exciting finish earlier this morning, which KTLA describes as featuring a "grueling sprint" taking place for the last six miles of their race. The winner was Saul Mendoza, who crossed the line in first place for the seventh time today, just moments ahead of Krige Schaburt, whose wheelchair had a flat front tire.

Although in the past two years of the race there have been fatalities, thus far only minor injuries, mostly in the bike race, have been reported.

QB Ryan Perrilloux walks off the LSU football team?

There's quite a bit of smoke coming from several LSU message boards indicating that QB Ryan Perrilloux has left the Tigers football team.

While I have to urge a HUGE grain of salt, the reports go something like this....

Due to an ongoing dispute between Perrilloux's mother and LSU -- potentially stemming from Ryan's mother trying to shake down the school -- the projected starting quarterback has cleaned out his locker and left the team. Perrilloux reportedly missed a team meeting this week, but his absence is clouded by reports that Perrilloux was attending his father's funeral.

The only aspect that does not seem to be in dispute is that Ryan Perrilloux has cleaned out his locker.

WDSU-TV in New Orleans is reporting the rumors that Perrilloux quit the team, but -- so far -- there's no comment from Perrilloux or the Tigers.

This could be exactly what the rumors say it is, or it could be a confused kid who just lost his father acting out.

Either way, I think we're nearing some kind of school record on off-the-field headlines.

Report: Zach Thomas to be cut

According to ESPN, the Dolphins plan to cut longtime linebacker Zach Thomas, whose 2007 season was truncated by a concussion and migraines. One of only three players to record at least 100 tackles in each of his first 10 seasons, Thomas is a seven-time Pro Bowler with a number of friends on the Patriots. He’s contemplating retirement, though according to the ESPN story, he’d consider playing for a team with a chance of winning it all.

Considering the need the Patriots are going to have for linebacker depth, Thomas could be an intriguing option. He turns 35 in September.

Marisa Miller Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Covergirl

David Letterman revealed that Marisa Miller is the 2008 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover girl this year. A massive billboard is now standing high above Times Square in NYC.

Jerrell Harris puts on Houndstooth

Jerrell Harris just picked the University of Alabama.

At a news conference in Gadsden, the four-star linebacker and No. 3 player on the Birmingham News' Super Senior list, stood at the podium. He looked down at the table containing five baseball caps representing his final five choices: Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee, Southern Cal, and Clemson.

He was talking into a microphone and thanking everyone and all that... then he looked down and shook his head:

"I like all these schools," Harris said, "but I don't think I'll wear any of these."

With that, Harris put his hand into a shelf in the podium and did it Andre Smith style. He tugged on that Houndstooth hat a la Bear Bryant, squeezed it on over his braids and looked out at the crowd:

"I'm going to the University of Alabama," he said.

For University of Alabama coach Nick Saban, not a bad way to end National Signing Day... Now we have 1 hour, 38 minutes until he talks about it.

Shaq Is A Sun

Welcome to the Valley Shaq.

Now get healthy, get motivated, and start playing some defense.

Everything I wrote last night about this trade? Crumple it up, throw it out, and forget about it. Pending a physical this afternoon, Shaq is going to a Phoenix Sun. Better get ready for the show.

I still have major, major concerns about whether or not this trade will work out for the Suns, but at this point it doesn’t look like it’s going to matter. So instead of focusing on the negative, let’s look at ways in which Shaq might be able to help this team.

First, no one will dispute the fact that he’s still one of the largest bodies in the NBA. That fact alone will create some semblance of resistance in the Suns low-post defense. While Shaq has never been a great defender in the true sense of the word, his sheer size alters shots and creates problems for opposing teams’ offense scoring in the paint.

There is no denying that Shaq will be able to hold some of the great centers/power forwards in the Western Conference in check more than anyone else we’ve had on this team in a long while, maybe ever. Say what you will about his defense, but Shaq has historically played Tim Duncan and Yao Ming well, not to mention KG and Ben Wallace over in the Eastern Conference. Oh, and I’d be willing to bet that Andrew Bynum, if and when he does come back, has not seen anyone like Shaq before.

It has been true Shaq’s scoring and rebounding is done this year and last, but who’s to say that couldn’t go up here? Shaq is shooting a ridiculous 58% on the year, good for 6th highest in the League. He is shooting that because he gets a ton of dunks, and if there’s one thing that’s been proven over the years, it’s that Steve Nash has the ability to get people easy looks and dunks.

Another thing to consider is that Shaq traditionally has been a pretty good passer from the low-post, averaging almost three assists a game over his career. Imagine the dynamic on this team if their opponent is forced to double-team Shaq on the block? That opens the three-point line, from which the Suns are third in the League in shooting percentage and second in the League in three-pointers made each game. Not to mention the fact that the man coming to double-team Shaq would, you assume, be the man guarding Amare part of the time. That leaves Amare unguarded coming down either the baseline or the lane. Amare is pretty good in those situations.

It has already been reported that the Suns plan on using Shaq only about 25 minutes a game, which hopefully would cut down on his penchant for picking up fouls. It also would help keep him fresh and rested for the playoffs, when Phoenix will really need him. After all, why else did the Suns pick him up if not for the playoffs? They certainly don’t need him in the regular season, as they have the best record in the Western Conference.

Naturally, this trade hinges on Shaq’s ability to pass a physical this afternoon here in Phoenix. And while he is still injured, something tells me there aren’t too many doctors out there who would fail him. Shaq is going to be a Sun, and all of better get used to it. And while I’m still not sure it’s the best trade for the Suns, you better believe I’ll be rooting for him when he puts on the Purple and Orange.

Darrell Scott, will it be Texas or Colorado?

The recruitment of 5-star running back Darrell Scott has been a whirlwind to follow for Texas fans, but that all ends today on National Signing Day as Scott will announce his college choice at 11:50am Central. ESPNU and ESPN.com will carry his announcement live along with those of several of the nation’s other top undecided players.

Rivals.com’s top running back in the country, Scott has narrowed it down to Colorado and Texas but no one is sure (maybe even Darrell himself) which one it’s going to be. Texas threw their hat into the ring for Scott’s services relatively late in the game, really not beginning to recruit him until he show interest early last Fall. At the time the Horns were seen as a long shot against schools such as Colorado, Florida, and UCLA.

The Texas coaches including Bobby Kennedy and Ken Rucker were able to build up a relationship with the young man and bring him in to Austin for an official visit. As always, Darrell left town extremely impressed with the coaches, the facilities, and the city. Texas quickly went from underdog to one of the favorites.

Next came Scott’s trip to San Antonio for the US Army All-American Bowl in early January. While in town Scott was impressed by the love he was shown by Texas fans, tons of people wishing him luck and flashing him the Hook ‘em. And the big news, Jamaal Charles was leaving Texas early for the NFL Draft. Suddenly the depth chart was wide open and the experts were calling the Longhorns the favorites.

In the last 48 hours things have gotten truly crazy. All the inside sources, Darrell’s coaches, and the experts believed that he was clearly leaning towards Texas and would sign with the Horns. Then things went quiet. Family pressure has been pushing him to Colorado all along to play with his uncle (Josh Smith) and it is believed that has intensified in the last two days. Things have gone from Texas being the clear leader Monday, to 50-50 yesterday morning, and now it appears that the family has decided he’ll be headed Colorado. No matter which school he chooses, I hope Darrell is able to make the decision that is best for him and his future.

We all find out where Darrell is headed later today, stay tuned…

According to Geoff Ketchum over at Orangebloods, Texas has “zero shot” of receiving Scott’s commitment today. The poor kid’s recruitment has become a “circus.” (10:40 am)

Here is the link to ESPN’s live feed. Scott is supposed to announce at 11:50. (11:26 am)

It’s official: Darrell Scott is headed to Colorado. He sounds like a well spoken young man, it’s a shame things turned out the way they did because it sounds like there’s some questionable things going on around him.

Where will Julio Jones go? Super Wednesday in College Football

For a change of pace: Today is National Signing Day in college football. From ESPN:

As usual, the elite, early impact caliber skill players carry the most weight and interest heading into national signing day. Two No. 1-rated prospects at their respective positions, quarterback Terrelle Pryor (Jeannette, Pa.) and receiver Julio Jones (Foley, Ala.), head the list of most-coveted prospects set to make announcements Wednesday.

[...]

Jones has kept his recruitment close to the vest since day one; Alabama, Oklahoma, Florida, Florida State and Texas Tech are his final five. It may be difficult to snag this quiet and reserved superstar out of state, but if anyone could do it, Oklahoma and its national prominence could have the power.

Alabama's recruiting class is currently ranked number two in the country by Rivals.com, Florida is ranked number one. Julio is not the only uncommitted prospect considering Alabama:

At outside linebacker, Jerrell Harris (Gadsden, Ala.) may be the next most-sought-after defensive player left on the board. The ESPN 150 prospect appears to have Alabama and USC at the top of his list.

Should Bama manage to get these two to sign on the dotted line, we could capture the top spot in recruiting. If not it will still be an exceptional recruiting year and boy do we need it.

Yesterday was Super Tuesday. For college football fanatics, we'll call today Super Wednesday.

Nick Perry to USC

Probably a bigger loss than Pryor will (would?) be, Detroit DE Nick Perry has pledged to become a USC Trojan.

This hurts Michigan's Defensive End depth (and Perry would likely have been a starter in 2009). Perry cited USC's lack of depth among his reasons for becoming a Trojan. In related news, Nick Perry has never seen USC's depth chart.

National signing day

Today is national signing day for high school football players, the day when the dust settles on fierce recruiting battles and recruits sign on the dotted line. Not long ago, this was about the only day the average college football fan paid great attention to the ranking and recruitment of high school athletes. Now, with sites like Rivals.com and Scout.com making a business out of reporting the day by day changes of impressionable teenagers, recruiting has been pushed into the mainstream of college football fandom. Check out Bruce Feldman's book Meat Market for more lamentations over the business of recruiting.

Kobe scores 30, Gasol sits in Lakers win

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Driving and dunking and dropping in a 3-pointer, Kobe Bryant delivered a game's worth of highlights in the first quarter Sunday, outscoring the Washington Wizards all by himself.

Then he let his Los Angeles Lakers teammates join in all the fun.

Bryant put up 19 points in the opening period on his way to finishing with 30, and the Lakers ran their offense so well there was no need for the newly acquired Pau Gasol to don a uniform in a 103-91 victory over the Wizards.

"Just taking what they were going to give me," said Bryant, an efficient 10-for-15 on field goals.

Gasol, the 7-foot Spaniard who came over from the Memphis Grizzlies in a trade Friday, sat on the sideline in a pinstriped suit jacket, listening to tips on the Lakers' triangle offense from assistant coach Brian Shaw.

The 2002 NBA Rookie of the Year's new teammates put on quite a clinic, too, repeatedly making the extra pass to find wide-open looks. The Lakers compiled 27 assists on 41 field goals, with Vladimir Radmanovic scoring 15 points, Lamar Odom 14, and Ronny Turiaf 13.

Another measure of how well the visitors played: Nine Lakers scored in the second quarter.

"We've grown a lot together. And we understand how to play with one another," Bryant said. "That's the big thing -- the chemistry. Knowing where guys are."

Asked whether he'd like to see the Lakers make another move before the trade deadline, he said: "I'm letting (general manager) Mitch (Kupchak) handle that stuff. I gave up playing GM in the summer."

His every move greeted by a mix of boos and cheers -- even some "M-V-P!" chants -- from the sellout crowd of 20,173, Bryant gave the Wizards fits whenever he was on the floor.

Leave it to Wizards rookie Nick Young, who grew up in California as a Lakers and Bryant fan, to sum things up: "He's just better in person."

Young, a reserve, tried guarding Bryant some, and wound up with three fouls before halftime. That, at least, was better than the player chiefly assigned to guard Bryant, DeShawn Stevenson. He was sitting down, a black T-shirt over his jersey, with three fouls, only 61/2 minutes into the game.

"He's going to get calls," Stevenson said. "Two of them, I don't think that was a foul, but that's the way it is when you're guarding a guy like that."

Caron Butler -- back after missing three games with a hip injury -- also tried to defend Bryant, with similar results. On one sequence, Butler was spun around on Bryant's twisting baseline drive for a layup. On another, Bryant made a 3-pointer over the outstretched hand of his former teammate.

Add it up, and Bryant helped Los Angeles build a 30-15 lead after one quarter -- or, put another way: Kobe 19, Wizards 15.

Bryant had 25 points by halftime, when the Lakers were up 63-41 -- the most points allowed by Washington in a first half this season. Los Angeles made 66 percent of its shots in the half, while limiting Washington to only 36 percent.

"He took us out of the game," Stevenson said. "We were passive. We weren't trying to attack. That's not like us."

Wizards coach Eddie Jordan noticed that, too.

And he was critical of his team, which has lost three games in a row.

"We didn't play as a group as well as we need to play to beat a team like the Lakers. Or anybody. We don't win this game against anybody tonight," Jordan said. "We had bailouts, we had short cuts and not enough passion from everybody and not enough concentration from everybody."

Notes: Butler scored 15 points, while Washington's other All-Star selection, Antawn Jamison, led the team with 21 points and 11 rebounds. ... Gasol shot before the game but did not suit up. "We want him to practice first," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. ... Butler's free-throw streak ended after an NBA season-best 73 consecutive makes; he missed one with 17.5 seconds left in the third quarter.

Rodriguez says WVU forced him to quit

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) -- Rich Rodriguez says opening the books of West Virginia's private fundraising arm is the only way to determine whether his abrupt resignation as football coach harmed the school financially.

That was a key demand in the formal response that Rodriguez filed Friday to WVU's lawsuit over the $4 million buyout clause in his contract. He also said it was the administration's actions -- not a better offer -- that forced him to resign in December and take the coaching job at Michigan.

WVU attorney Jeff Wakefield said Rodriguez's response "contains nothing new or unexpected."

"It will have no effect on the merits of the university's claims," he said. "We believe there is no basis in fact or law for their claims and defenses. We look forward to presenting our case before the court as soon as possible."

Largely, Rodriguez's answer to the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Clarksburg restated many of the arguments his camp has made since Dec. 18, when his resignation sparked a feud with the school. His lawyers have ratcheted up the stakes by drawing the WVU Foundation into the matter.

The foundation, which had been run in part by WVU president Mike Garrison's chief of staff, Craig Walker, is not legally obligated to open its books to public scrutiny under ordinary circumstances. The foundation is a key part of keeping the WVU football program self-sufficient.

According to its annual report, the foundation ended fiscal 2007 with total assets of more than $1 billion and endowment investments of $474 million, a 24-percent increase over the previous year.

"The only way to tell whether or not West Virginia University has been damaged is to see if its donations to the foundation have decreased and/or if other expenses have increased," his lawyers said, noting WVU hired assistant coach Bill Stewart to replace Rodriguez at a significantly smaller salary.

Rodriguez asked the court to make the foundation a third party to the lawsuit, citing recent news releases that claimed gifts to the foundation "were at an all-time high." He wants the right to examine its books to find out if donations have dropped off since his departure.

Rodriguez also aimed to disprove Garrison's alleged assertion that "certain large donors" demanded the coach's contract include the $4 million buyout clause.

Rodriguez has repeatedly claimed that WVU broke the contract by failing to honor a variety of verbal promises, including one to reduce or eliminate his buyout.

WVU, which sued Dec. 27, denies such a promise was made.

The counterclaim also argued that WVU lacked the authority to file the lawsuit, which it said should have first been approved by a formal meeting of the Board of Governors.

But Chairman Steve Goodwin said the board, which is named as a plaintiff, "was intimately involved in the decision."

A meeting was not required because of long-standing practice established under former President David C. Hardesty Jr., he said. The president is permitted to act on the board's behalf in initiating or defending lawsuits.

"An actual vote on this was not necessary," Goodwin said.

Rodriguez admitted he didn't spell out his reasons for leaving in a one-sentence resignation letter in December, but pointed out that he did so in a second letter on Jan. 10 that essentially formed the foundation of his legal defense.

Earlier this week, Rodriguez filed a $1.5 million letter of credit with the court, arguing that's the most he could potentially owe under the contract in effect when he quit.

His legal team called that filing a gesture of good faith, not an offer to settle.

The gradual disintegration of the relationship between Rodriguez and the WVU Athletic Department was documented in a series of e-mails written over a five-month period. They showed that Rodriguez's relationship with the school was on a downhill slide months before he resigned, in part because of his failed attempts to gain total control over the football program.

Auburn-West Virginia reschedule game

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) -- Auburn's football game at West Virginia has been pushed back to Thursday, Oct. 23, and will be televised nationally on ESPN.

The game was initially set for Sept. 6.

"This move will give us a great opportunity to receive the national spotlight on ESPN on a Thursday night," coach Tommy Tuberville said. "We want to make our schedule as competitive as anybody, and playing an outstanding nonconference opponent like West Virginia will do just that."

Auburn moved a home game with Southern Miss from Oct. 18 to Sept. 6 to accommodate the change.

The Tigers will have an open date on Oct. 18. Five of their first seven games are at home.

Auburn is 6-1 all-time in games played on Thursday.

Tiger Wins Dubai in Dramatic Fashion

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (Feb. 3) - Tiger Woods birdied his last two holes Sunday to rally from a four-shot deficit and win the Dubai Desert Classic, starting his season with two victories that looked nothing alike.

One week after winning the Buick Invitational by eight shots, Woods had to birdie five of his last seven holes for a 7-under 65, then wait to see if Ernie Els could catch him.

Needing a birdie on the par-5 18th to force a playoff, Els hit his tee shot into the water and made bogey.

"To go 2-for-2, it's a pretty good start, isn't it?" Woods said.

This is the third time he has started a season with two straight victories, and it was another sign that the world's No. 1 player could be headed for a big year. Woods now has won his last four official tournaments, and six of his last seven dating to the Bridgestone Invitational in early August.

He also won his unofficial Target World Challenge by seven shots in December.

Woods birdied his last two holes for a 14-under 274 and a one-shot victory over Martin Kaymer. Woods had already finished when the German, who won the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship two weeks ago, closed with a birdie-birdie-eagle for a 66.

It was a devastating blow to Els.

The 38-year-old South African, who has finished runner-up to Woods more times (seven) than any other player, is in the middle of his three-year plan to become No. 1 in the world. He said recently he needed to start winning, and this was the perfect occasion.

Instead, the Big Easy closed with a 71 and tied for third at 276 with Louis Oosthuizen. It was the second time in three years that Els hit into the water on the 18th at Dubai and lost to Woods. In 2006, it happened during a sudden-death playoff.

"The second shot on the 18, it was right where I had it, but I could see the gust got it in the air and it didn't have much of a chance in the end there," Els said about his wayward shot.

Woods lost momentum with bogeys on the sixth and ninth holes, but he poured it on along the back nine with seven birdies to capture the Dubai Desert Classic for the second time.

"All of I sudden I was in the mix, (and then) out of the mix," Woods said. "I knew I had birdie three of the last four to win."

Woods said his chip-in birdie on the 12th was the turning point.

The shot "was a lot harder than people might think," Woods said. "I just happened to catch one of those lies, and I was just hoping it would come out soft. I hit it hard and hoping I would kill it and it came out as soft as can be."

Five holes later at the 359-yard, par-4 17th, Woods drove the ball just to the left of the green.

"I just wanted to make sure I hit it a little bit left and even if I was in the left rough, just wanted to have an angle at the flag," he said.

One hole later, Woods sent his second shot past the green on the edge of a bunker. He chipped the ball short and then made the birdie putt.

"I'm thinking, I could easily chip the ball in the water," Woods said. "You have to make your mistake short and if I leave it too short, (I'll) just chip up and try to make a par and probably not going to win the tournament, but see what happens."

At the Buick Invitational, Woods took the lead on the second day and never looked back. In Dubai, Woods went into Sunday's final in fifth - four shots behind Els. He had been in the lead after the first two rounds, but shot a 1-over 72 Saturday - driving wayward balls in sand near the gallery several times.

Part of the problem was his back-up driver. Woods said he cracked the face on the driver he used for more than a year in practice Wednesday. He said the new driver was supposed to be the same but put too much spin on the ball.

"I'm just happy to get a win out of this," said Woods, who won his 72nd career tournament.

But looking ahead, Woods said he hopes his next win is more like the Buick and less like Dubai.

"I like (winning) by seven or eight a lot," Woods said. "It's a lot less stressful."

Countdown: Breaking down the Super Bowl

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: There is no question that both teams are geared to attack the opposition's quarterback, and that should be the key to the game. The Giants hope that DT Justin Tuck and NT Fred Robbins can collapse the center of the New England offensive line and prevent Pats QB Tom Brady from stepping up in the pocket to avoid the outside rush of Osi Umenyiora and Michael Strahan. They should even try their five-man rush scheme.

Brady's right ankle seems fine and it wasn't heavily taped on practice days. Conversely, the Patriots may throw a few all-out blitzes in order to rattle Eli Manning, who hasn't thrown an interception in three playoff victories after 20 picks in the regular season.

The Patriots believe they were pretty vanilla on defense in their Week 17 38-35 win in the Meadowlands, when they actually trailed by 12 points in the third quarter. You can expect more Rodney Harrison blitzes this time. In the Dec. 29 game, Giants RB Brandon Jacobs caught five passes for 44 yards. You can bet that New York will throw more quick screens to Jacobs and to speedy rookie RB Ahmad Bradshaw, who didn't play that Saturday night.

Conversely, the Patriots believe they are better prepared to deal with New York's pass rush, which led NFL with 53 sacks, because RG Stephen Neal and RT Nick Kaczur were inactive for that Week 17 matchup. Neal is a powerful inside run blocker. That time Patriots TE Ben Watson had to stay in and help block, but on Super Sunday you can bet Watson will be testing the deep middle. If Watson gets off the line cleanly, he could be wide open while the New York secondary deals with Randy Moss and Wes Welker.

Granted, the Giants secondary is healthy with veteran Sam Madison and Kevin Dockery (hip flexor) returning after missing the last four of the last five games. This means the Giants have some depth to deal with New England's spread formations. Young cornerbacks Aaron Ross and Corey Webster have been rock solid in the playoffs, with Webster picking off Brett Favre in the NFC Championship game to set up Lawrence Tynes' winning field goal in overtime.

However, it will be interesting to watch how Mike Carey's all-star officiating crew will call illegal contact and holding in the secondary. The Packers accused Ross and Webster of holding and pushing beyond 5 yards in the NFC title game, and it bears watching on Sunday. There isn't a Giants player that can stay with Moss one-on-one, but he can be stopped if New York gets away with illegal chucks and holds.

The Patriots want to make Giants QB Eli Manning think and not be able to stride into his throws. For the Giants to win, players like rookie WR Steve Smith and TE Kevin Ball must make big catches. There is no question that Manning has a special relationship with Plaxico Burress based on Plax's huge numbers against the Packers. To beat the rush, look for Eli to throw some quick screens to his backs and Smith. Another solution could be attempting a few trick plays.

Finally, fans must remember that the Patriots committed an NFL-low 15 turnovers this season and allowed only 21 sacks, the franchise's lowest total since 1977. Yes, those numbers are big reasons why they are going for a perfect season and trying to copyright "19-0, a championship season."

CZAR'S SCOOP: There are rumblings within the Patriots organization that if Moss pleads guilty or is ever convicted of assaulting longtime girlfriend Rachelle Washington that Myra Kraft, the owner's wife, will plead with her husband not to re-sign the record-setting receiver. There are no indications that Moss is guilty of anything, but it's a situation that bears watching in the future. Remember, Mrs. Kraft had the team drop draft choice Christian Peter in 1997 when she learned he had been charged with sexual assault.

Michael Strahan and Amani Toomer are the lone remaining Giants who played in Super Bowl 35, a 35-7 loss to Baltimore in 2001. Strahan and Osi Umenyiora, who received a big contract two years ago, weren't pleased with the club's timing of paying DT Tuck $30 million over five years, with about $16 million guaranteed. Strahan may want to play next season, but his asking price could be around $8 million. Strahan doesn't sound like he wants to shop his services around the league and leave the Giants if he doesn't retire.

Despite a right ankle that has a torn ligament that will require surgery in off-season, Burress will play despite running only a few pass routes in Friday's practice and none in Thursday's. He also had some swelling in his left knee, causing him spend more time in the trainer's room at the Arizona Cardinals' training facility, their home during Super Bowl week.

Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is a possible candidate for the vacant Washington Redskins head-coaching job. But to get an interview, Spagnuolo's defense must play super on Sunday. Jim Fassel, the last coach to take the Giants to a Super Bowl, appears to have an inside lock on the job.

There is no question that Patriots owner Bob Kraft is among the influential NFL owners — Jerry Jones in Dallas, Pat Bowlen in Denver and Bob McNair in Houston — who are leading a rush on commissioner Roger Goodell to opt out of the current collective bargaining agreement with the players and potentially an uncapped season in 2009.

The Patriots took a team photo in University of Phoenix Stadium on Saturday, but did no walk-thru practice. Giants guard Rich Seubert, who injured a knee in the second half against the Packers, practiced the past three days. There was a scare in Thursday's practice when center Shaun O'Hara went down in a tangle of bodies, but he returned to drills after missing only one snap.

"We're ready to roll," Belichick said after Friday's practice. "We're as ready as we're going to be."

Interestingly, Belichick deliberately scripted Wednesday's practice to frustrate his team, believing a bad practice might show his players what lies ahead. Patriots WR Jabar Gaffney's shoulder injury has improved, and Gaffney was able to participate fully in practice. Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown spoke to the Patriots prior to Friday's practice.

The Patriots issued a release late Saturday, denying that they videotaped the Rams' final practice prior to upsetting them in Super Bowl XXXVI. The bottom line about Spygate was that fewer than 10 plays were taped in the season opener against the Jets. The tape showed every play's down and distance before showing three New York defensive coaches on the sidelines signaling the call into their players.

Monk 'Humbled' By Hall Inclusion

After many years waiting for a phone call that never came, Art Monk focused on work to distract himself each time another group was elected to the Hall of Fame. But Monk, a longtime standout wide receiver for the Washington Redskins, had to change his routine yesterday when he was among six former players, including Redskins teammate Darrell Green, voted into this season's class.

Monk received a standing ovation as he entered a Dupont Circle hotel to attend a news conference that former Redskins defensive end Charles Mann arranged to honor his friend. Strangers congratulated Monk as he maneuvered through the crowded lobby, thanking him for his consistency in a 16-year career that included 14 seasons and four Super Bowls (three victories) with the Redskins.

Monk was unable to finish the project he started yesterday, but he didn't seem to mind.

"I never really expected this to happen even though there was the anticipation of it happening the past several years," Monk said as he addressed family, friends and reporters. "I just sort of let it get by me without trying to notice it, but I'm extremely excited about the induction. I'm also extremely humbled at the same time.

"Never in my wildest dreams would I ever have imagined myself, as a little boy, getting to this point. Whether I actually deserve to be here or not is for [others] to determine. This is always something that was very [unattainable] for me growing up, playing in the NFL and obviously being considered a Hall of Famer. It's a great honor."

Two weeks ago, at a dinner hosted by the Pigskin Club of Washington, D.C., former Redskins quarterback Doug Williams hugged Monk and said: "This is it. You are getting in this time."

An eight-time finalist, Monk, 50, had not given up hope of being elected. For his peace of mind, however, Monk needed to distract himself yesterday. He said he didn't watch the selection show.

"I was home just doing some work," he said. "Typically at this time of the year, I just put my mind someplace else. I watch TV, I go out and do something, just trying to keep myself busy. I just tried to keep my mind off of it."

Monk should have been elected long ago, Hall of Fame Coach Joe Gibbs said, because of his importance to Gibbs's success in his first stint with the organization.

"One of the things on Art's behalf is that he sacrificed for the team," Gibbs, who resigned as team president and coach Jan. 8, said from North Carolina during a telephone interview. "As most people know, we used three wide receivers, but Art was the inside portion of the three wide receivers. We used him in there blocking a lot. And a lot of the passes he caught were across the middle, they were shorter passes, and he actually sacrificed so much for the team.

"If we had played him outside, his average per catch and everything would have gone up. The fact that he was so important to us, and he was a big receiver, we used him in a blocking role in there. He was unselfish, he sacrificed for the team, and obviously he did a lot for us. Obviously, all three of those guys [Monk, Gary Clark and Ricky Sanders] were fantastic for us, they all played huge roles. But I'm just thrilled that Art, after this long wait, finally got in. With his numbers and everything that he had, and particularly what he did for us . . . he was deserving."

Monk was the first player with more than 900 career receptions, finishing his career as the NFL's all-time leader with 940. Jerry Rice broke Monk's reception mark during the 1995 season.

Monk, Washington's first-round selection in the 1980 draft, also had 12,721 career receiving yards and 68 touchdown catches. He was a three-time all-pro selection (1984, '85, '86) and was voted to the 1980s all-decade team.

"And the numbers might have been a lot different if we were a passing team," said Mann, Monk's business partner in Alliant Merchant Services, an electronic payment services company. "We were also a running team. We had the threat to go deep, but Joe always had the threat to go deep so that we could run the ball. You can't be a physical team if you're only throwing the ball down the field.

Gibbs "always had the threat of throwing so he could always run you into submission. That was the offense that we ran. Art was subjected to that. But you know what? Art was Mr. Third Down. If you needed a third down and six or seven yards, he was the guy. He didn't get the long bombs all the time. He got the for-sure catch to keep a drive alive."

For Monk, being elected to the Hall of Fame with Green "just makes it even more special to know that Darrell's in there with me. We had a lot of special times out there on the field. Even more importantly to myself and to him, was our relationship off the field.

"We've spent a lot of time together working within this community serving the underserved. We fellowship together at the same church. Our families are very close. Our children call each other aunts and uncles. It's just really special to know not only that we're in, but we're going in together."

It’s Official: Santana and Mets Have a Deal

It took every bit of their allotted 72 hours, an additional 90 minutes and $137.5 million, but the Mets finally secured the best pitcher in baseball. They reached an agreement with Johan Santana, the dominant left-hander acquired Tuesday from the Minnesota Twins, shortly before 6:30 p.m. Friday, signing him to a contract that would make him the highest-paid pitcher in baseball history.

All that stands between Santana and an introductory news conference next week is the completion of his physical exam, which is scheduled for Saturday.

The Mets and Santana agreed to a six-year, $137.5 million contract through 2013, with an option for the 2014 season, according to a club official who was granted anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about a trade that had not been officially completed.

Santana will be 34 at the end of the guaranteed portion of the contract, which with the low interest rate on deferred money would be worth about $20 million a year in present-day dollars.

Santana had one year and $13.25 million remaining on his contract, but instead of negotiating an extension, the sides worked out a new deal.

After acquiring Santana on Tuesday from the Minnesota Twins for four prospects, the Mets were given 72 hours to negotiate. With the deadline looming, they asked the Twins for permission for additional time, which was approved by the commissioner’s office, and they were granted a two-hour window. They needed about another 90 minutes to complete the negotiations.

The Mets and Santana’s representatives, Peter and Ed Greenberg, were haggling over the length of the contract. The cause of the stalemate, as expected, was the Mets’ reluctance to give Santana six guaranteed years. They preferred a five-year deal with vesting options that could be reached relatively easily.

But in the end, with the leverage in Santana’s favor, the Mets relented and awarded Santana a contract that eclipsed the $126 million deal the left-hander Barry Zito signed with the San Francisco Giants before last season.

The Mets’ investment in Santana should push their 2008 payroll into uncharted territory. With three arbitration cases still awaiting resolution, the Mets are projected to have a payroll of more than $140 million, the largest in team history, dwarfing the $120 million they spent in 2007. The new figure should rank them behind only the Yankees and the Boston Red Sox.

Still, the expenditure comes at a time when the Mets can certainly afford it. They are a year away from opening a new stadium, Citi Field, and their fledgling third-year television network, SportsNet New York, will undoubtedly experience a ratings jump with a competitive team and a rotation headlined by Santana.

With a few other moves possible, namely adding a right-handed hitting veteran outfielder or another starting pitcher like Kyle Lohse, it is conceivable that the Mets’ payroll could sneak past $150 million. It is unlikely that they will exceed the $155 million luxury-tax threshold and be forced to pay a tax for the first time.

For Santana, the contract underscores his status as the best pitcher in baseball, one who is compensated accordingly. For the Mets, the pending acquisition deflects attention from their late-season collapse and directs it squarely toward the arrival of their first heralded addition of the off-season.

But for Omar Minaya, this is the fifth major acquisition of his three and a half years as general manager, and the third time he has gambled a significant sum on a pitcher.

His first four trades had mixed results. But Pedro Martínez left the Red Sox after their 2004 World Series championship season because the Mets offered what Boston did not, a guaranteed fourth year. Martínez’s presence gave the Mets instant credibility and aided in the recruitment of other free agents, but he has been beset by injuries for most of the last two seasons and his health still presents a concern heading into the final year of his contract.

Carlos Beltrán has overcome a disastrous beginning to his Mets career, compiling two consecutive solid seasons, but occasionally he remains the target of frustrated fans. His good friend Carlos Delgado followed a strong 2006 with a disappointing 2007, when Delgado’s age (35) appeared to catch up to him. Closer Billy Wagner, by and large, has pitched effectively, but he has had his share of rough outings.

Of the four, only Beltrán was younger than 30 and still in his prime when he joined the Mets. But now the team has added Santana, who turns 29 on March 13, and whom they expect to help alleviate the pressure on the pitching staff — from Martínez and the two young starters, John Maine and Oliver Pérez, to an overused bullpen that combusted during the final month of last season.

Since 2004, when he won the first of his two Cy Young awards, Santana ranks first among qualifying pitchers in victories (70), opponent batting average (.211) and strikeouts (983), and second in earned run average (2.89), innings pitched (912 1/3) and strikeouts per nine innings (9.70).

By switching leagues, Santana can take advantage of the fact that his best pitch, a changeup, is built on deception. He will also be facing players who are largely unfamiliar with his pitches.

Santana has a 16-4 career record in 35 appearances — 24 starts — against National League teams, holding hitters to a .187 average while posting a 2.27 E.R.A. that is the best among pitchers who have pitched at least 150 interleague innings, according to Stats LLC. He figures to provide particular value against the rival Philadelphia Phillies, who employ two of the best left-handed hitters in baseball, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard.

The Mets have 18 chances against the Phillies to avenge losing their division crown, and the addition of Santana figures to heighten the rivalry. After all, with a record deal completed, Santana will be around for seven more seasons trying to fulfill the expectations and lead the Mets to the World Series.

INSIDE PITCH

The Mets avoided arbitration with their left-handed specialist, Pedro Feliciano, on Friday by signing him to a one-year, $1.025 million contract.

Philly folks flock to the 16th annual Wing Bowl

PHILADELPHIA -- A pair of 30ish men in leather jackets are waiting in a deli line one weekday afternoon in South Philadelphia talking sports. They aren't talking about another year of no world championship in Philadelphia -- and can't help but discus something the area is anxiously waiting to see in a few days.

No, it wasn't about Kevin Garnett and the Boston Celtics visiting. Nor was it whether or not Johan Santana would sign with the New York Mets, or a stop by Martin Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils. No, the Wachovia Center was about to play host to a classic clash of two eating titans on Friday morning, Joey Chestnut and Bill "El Wingador" Simmons, in the 16th Wing Bowl, the annual Philadelphia affair that's more indoor Mardi Gras than anything remotely close to an athletic contest, more an intoxicating celebration of one city's ineptitude to produce a world champion in 100 seasons (none of the four major Philadelphia pro sports teams have won a world championship in 25 years).

The event, hosted each year by sportstalk radio station 610 WIP, takes over the city the Friday of Super Bowl weekend, and is enough to cause two sports fans in a deli line to analytically look at the eaters as if comparing the range of Phillies MVP shortstop Jimmy Rollins to the Mets' Jose Reyes.

What made it unique this year, other than the pageantry of characters that yearly cavort through the Wachovia Center like a Friday night at Caligula's palace, is that it marked the first time the legendary Simmons, a five-time Wing Bowl champion who even has a banner hanging from the rafters of the Wachovia Center, faced off against two-time defending champion Chestnut, the world's best competitive eater who already downed one legend last July, when he out ate Takeru Kobayashi in The Nathan's International July Fourth Hot Dog Eating Contest.

This time, it was a case of the young buck, Chestnut, shattering all records by chomping down an astounding 241 chicken wings in 30 minutes, an average of eight wings a minute, outdistancing 22-year old Patrick Bertoletti, who finished with 227, and Simmons came in third with 205.

For his intestinal fortitude, Chestnut, who made over $100,000 in competitive eating in 2007, walked away with a Harley Davidson 860 Roadster, a $26,000 Toyota Tundra and a diamond encrusted gold ring. Chestnut lived on water, milk, diet soda and vitamin supplements since Tuesday. It was nice to eat something solid for the first time in three days. The last time he had anything to eat, he munched on 200 wings.

"I feel great, believe it or not," said Chestnut, 24, a project engineer for a construction company located in San Jose, California. "But this is probably it for me. This is an amazing contest, because you push your body to extreme limits with this, I've just figured out ways to stretch my stomach. For the most part, I get into a perfect rhythm like a marathoner. I just continue eating, that why it's so hard every year to go into this with goals. It's a big contest and it takes a lot to get ready for, but it also takes a lot out of you. I don't feel too bad right now."

Though sweat droplets were beading on his forehead under his Wing Bowl crown, and lines of sweat were running down the sides of his face.

"It's just my body heating up and that makes me break into a sweat, and actually, that makes me feel pretty good, too," Chestnut said.

It looks as if Chestnut will be joined in eating retirement with Simmons, 46, who has parlayed his eating exploits to open up a New Jersey restaurant and he even has his own wing sauce. He came back after a two-year hiatus in an attempt to dethrone the mighty Chestnut, who has become the despised Dallas Cowboys, New York Mets, Boston Celtics and New York Rangers all rolled up into one to Philly fans.

"Hey, I gave it my best shot, but Joey is a great eater," Simmons said. "He got booed when he came in here today, but Joey is a really good guy. I think the difference I may have made with Wing Bowl is that we put it on the map. To be the best in the world, you have to face the world's best. Chestnut and Bertoletti are the world's best. I'm done, I've had enough. No more Wing Bowls for me. What I am doing next? I'm not going to Disney World, I'll tell you that."

There was some talk that 610 WIP would discontinue Wing Bowl after this year, with its two biggest attractions saying that they're done. But that probably won't happen, considering the event sold out the 20,000-seat Wachovia Center in 45 minutes, and tickets were selling between $24 to $101 on ticket Web sites (tickets go for $5 each, with WIP giving the proceeds to charity).

Three hours after Wing Bowl 16, a group of men were sitting eating lunch at Citizens Bank Park, where the Phillies play across the street from the Wachovia Center, doing what Philadelphians tend to do this time of year: Talking about Chestnut eating 241 wings, about the eater's entourages, about the scantily clad women that filled the place ... talking about Wing Bowl and not a Philadelphia championship.

Celtics (13-0) earn another West win

So far, the Celtics know how the West is won.
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They defeated the Dallas Mavericks, 96-90, last night at a sold-out TD Banknorth Garden. With Celtics legend Bill Russell sitting courtside, Boston improved to 13-0 against the Western Conference this season.

While the Celtics have yet to play the reigning champion Spurs and the hot Suns and Hornets, defeating the Mavericks legitimized Boston's unblemished West record.

"I didn't know that," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers of his team being 13-0 against the West. "It's nice. It caught me off guard. But we still have a West Coast trip coming up [after] the All-Star break, so you know I'm not going to say a word about it. The West is better than the East."

Boston is now an NBA-best 36-8, and 20-4 at home, after going 10-5 in January.

Kevin Garnett missed his third straight game with an abdominal strain. Boston, however, is 2-1 without Garnett, filling his mammoth sneakers with the likes of Leon Powe (10 points, 4 rebounds) and James Posey (13 points, 3 rebounds).

"When you don't have a Garnett and you win against Dallas, it's good," Rivers said. "Dallas is a team that we are still trying to catch in our minds. They've been there."

Rivers said he wouldn't return Garnett to the lineup until he was 100 percent and that there was no timetable for his return. Rivers, however, did say that Garnett seemed to be improving.

Garnett hasn't spoken publicly in a week. Director of basketball operations Danny Ainge, however, expressed optimism that Garnett will be back soon.

"I'm not worried long term," Ainge said. "It's day to day. I'm hoping he can play next week."

Allen returned to the lineup after missing Tuesday's game at Miami with flu-like symptoms. He received intravenous fluids at a Miami hospital and slept so much that day that he remembers little of it.

"I just kept throwing up," Allen said. "It was probably the most I had thrown up in my life."

To make matters worse, he returned to action just after learning he didn't get selected to the Eastern Conference All-Star team, while teammates Garnett and Paul Pierce made it.

The teams went into halftime knotted at 44. Allen scored 22 points on 9-of-11 shooting before the break. Dallas forward Josh Howard, who was snubbed for the Western Conference All-Star team, scored 17 of his 19 points in the first half.

"I was trying to make plays," Allen said. "I've spent a lot of time being a playmaker so I wanted to make sure I came out and was aggressive."

Boston held a 71-70 lead through three. Pierce scored 13 points in the third quarter, when Dallas's Dirk Nowitzki scored 17 of his game-high 31 points.

Howard's lay-in tied the game at 88 with 3:21 left. Two free throws by Pierce gave Boston a 90-88 lead with 3:02 remaining, before Nowitzki hit two free throws with 58.4 seconds left to tie the game at 90.

After a missed jumper by Pierce, the 6-foot-1-inch, 171-pound Rondo snuck behind the 7-foot, 245-pound Nowitzki and took the ball out of his hands. Without hesitation, Rondo (14 points, season-high 12 rebounds) scored on a reserve lay-in to give Boston a 92-90 lead with 42.5 seconds left.

"[Rondo] came in from behind on us and I guess we just lost vision of him, and it was a huge play for him," said Mavericks coach Avery Johnson said.

Said Rivers: "Over the last three games, I think this is the best stretch of [Rondo's] career."

After Dallas guard Jason Terry missed a jumper in the lane, Posey retrieved the rebound with 10.9 seconds left. After being fouled, Posey sealed the win with two free throws with 10 seconds left.

"It's a little surprising," said Pierce of Boston's success against the West. "But, hey, we are focusing on what we have to do night in and night out. Anything is possible. I think the Western Conference favors the kind of style we like to play, anyway. They like to get up and down [the floor] a little more. They are more offensive-oriented than, I think, the Eastern Conference. That suits our style just fine."

Bruins dominate Sun Devils

There was plenty of spectacular play by UCLA against Arizona State on Thursday night at Pauley Pavilion, but just enough caution for the fifth-ranked Bruins to rout the Sun Devils, 84-51, in a Pacific 10 Conference game.

It was the fourth straight loss for the Sun Devils, 14-6 overall and 4-4 in the Pac-10, who couldn't cope when UCLA practiced patience during an early 13-0 run that gave the first-place Bruins (19-2, 7-1) an unchallenged 18-4 advantage.

And they coped even less well when the Bruins felt free to improvise a little bit later.

"I'm really pleased with how we played tonight, especially attacking the zone defense," UCLA Coach Ben Howland said. "This team tonight against the zone did the best job ever since I've been here."

Howland pointed to the fact that against a defense where the first open shot is often a long distance shot, the Bruins took only 12 three-pointers and made eight of them.

"That's a lot of efficiency," Howland said. "To only take 12 threes against a zone is a good sign."

Certain that they could break down Arizona State by going inside (Luc Richard Mbah a Moute started UCLA's initial run with a layup) and then outside (Josh Shipp made consecutive open three pointers in the middle of it), the Bruins were able to be aggressive and creative.

"Obviously we got whipped in every facet of the game," Arizona State Coach Herb Sendek said. "Tonight was just a learning experience."

After the Sun Devils had drawn within 30-20, Russell Westbrook stuck his hand in the passing lane and came out with a steal. The ball went on a string to Darren Collison who passed, with both feet in the air, to a running Kevin Love, who scored a dainty layup and encouraged the Pauley sellout crowd of 11,070 to its feet.

Collison said he didn't even remember the play. Love said he meant to dunk the ball but his leg locked up a little. Yet the basket put the Bruins ahead, 34-20, and the Sun Devils seemed to lose heart while UCLA extended that lead to 46-24 by halftime.

What followed was more joyful basketball.

Love eyeballed Collison after Arizona State made a free throw and hit him with an immediate outlet pass for a fastbreak layup. Shipp made his fifth three-pointer of the game with 12:27 left while he was fading almost out of bounds.

With almost nine minutes left and UCLA up 72-38, many of the late-arriving crowd became early exiters.

Howland wasn't quite as eager to sit down his stars. With 8:27 left, Collison was checked hard into the stanchion and stayed on the ground for a moment. Hobbled for so long by a sprained knee and a sore hip, each Collison tumble is cause for concern. But the junior point guard hopped up and made his free throws to put the Bruins up, 76-40.

Those foul shots were Collison's 27th and 28th in a row. The school record is 36 in a row, set by Henry Bibby in 1972.

Collison wasn't considering any personal streaks after the game though. He was celebrating UCLA's unselfish play.

"We were making extra passes, everybody looked for the open guy and it is real fun to play this way," he said.

Love finished with his 12th double-double (20 points and 10 rebounds), Shipp had a game-high 21 points and Collison had 14 points and nine assists with only one turnover.

Mbah a Moute, who missed both UCLA wins on the Oregon trip last weekend because of a concussion, was back in the starting lineup as was Westbrook (in place of Alfred Aboya). Westbrook had been coming off the bench since Michael Roll injured his foot a month ago.

"My purpose was that we wanted to attack the zone early," Howland said, "and that's our best five players from the standpoint of attacking a zone defense."

There was a single down note afterward. Howland said backup center Lorenzo Mata-Real injured his left wrist in the final 30 seconds while taking a charge and may need an X-ray.