| Hockey Fix: The week in the NHL
There are scoring streaks, and then there's what Tampa Bay's Vincent Lecavalier (right) did the last few weeks. Lecavalier had an eight-game streak during which he scored multiple points in every game. That run came to an end in a 2-1 loss to the Rangers on Wednesday. During the streak, Lecavalier scored seven goals and 14 assists, including a five-point night against division-rival Carolina, while the Lightning went 5-2-1. He also vaulted into the league lead in points. Lecavalier had more points in those eight games than players like Markus Naslund, Jason Spezza and Marian Hossa have tallied this season. After being kept off the score sheet on Wednesday, Lecavalier tallied two points Friday at Carolina. .
Fans are losers in NFL Network impasse
The NFL knew it had something special when its scheduling formula spit out a Packers-Cowboys matchup this season. While the league could never have anticipated they would rank as the top teams in the NFC, it did know the value of tradition and could document each team's enormous drawing power on national television. So when the schedule maker divvied up 2007 games among the league's television partners, it decided the Packers-Cowboys would not go to Fox, the network of the NFC, or the prime-time packages on NBC or ESPN, a trio which anted up $2.41 billion in rights fees this season. Instead, the NFL delivered the game to its own fledgling NFL Network, which will deliver the game to only one-third of the country. It's part of the league's plan to help transform an ugly duckling into a cash cow.
FYI: Advance planning urged for Cowboys fans Thursday
Q: Where around Lufkin can I go to watch the Cowboys-Packers game on Thursday night? I'm asking what places with TVs might have the proper hookup or feed to carry the game. And short of that, is there any radio station around here that I can pick up at night that will be carrying the game? Help! A: We feel your pain, along with hundreds of other Cowboys fans who don't have the NFL Package from DirecTV so they can access the NFL Network, this year's new innovation of the National Football League that brings new meaning to the phrase "pay per view." We polled about 20 restaurants around town that have televisions in their customer service areas. Of those, the ones that responded in the affirmative to having access to the NFL Network package with the likelihood of having it tuned to the Cowboys-Packers game included Applebee's, Chili's and Logan's.
Is this the season the Lake's late show doesn't lack?
Games are under way across the state in boys' hockey. Before we know it, we'll be talking about that annual winter storm that seems to strike the area each year during tournament time. But with the season still young, here are a few story lines and notes to get you going. By Brian Stensaas, Star Tribune Last update: November 27, 2007 – 4:56 PM .
IOA proposes National Club Games to cast wider net for talent
New Delhi, Nov 27 (PTI) To infuse life into the largely inactive state Olympic associations and individual federations, IOA has proposed the launch of the National Club Games aimed at encouraging sports culture at the grassroots level in the country.
The Indian Olympic Association plans to start these Games right from the village and local level upward next year and the first cycle is to be completed with the National Club Games in 2009. The all-India event will be held every other year in which the National Games will not be organised.
"The National Club Games will help us cast the net wider for talented sportspersons right at the bottom of the pyramid so that they can be eventually assimilated in the mainstream of sports activities," IOA Secretary General Randhir Singh said today.
Flyers hit quarter in stride
The Flyers reach the quarter mark of the season with today's Black Friday matinee against the Washington Capitals. So, where is John Stevens' team right now? It already has seven more wins than it had last season at this point. This is Game 2 of a five-game segment that closes out November. "We're pretty happy where we are right now," defenseman Kimmo Timonen said. "Our team can get better; we can play better. I expected us to win games, and we have. But it's time to get it going." The feeling on the team and staff is that the Flyers' true face still hasn't appeared. Some players, such as Jeff Carter, Scott Hartnell and Scottie Upshall, need to boost their games. Carter, in particular, began the season with four goals in his first seven games but has just one goal in his last 11. "I was happy with the start; I got some bounces and things going my way," Carter said.
England's McClaren given boot
England has the wealthiest soccer league in the world, with matches screened across the globe and business tycoons from the United States, Russia and Asia lining up to own the clubs. So why can't England put 11 Englishmen on the field to succeed on the international level? Steve McClaren became the latest coach to pay the price Thursday, getting fired after England's 3-2 loss Wednesday at home to Croatia meant the team failed to qualify for the 2008 European Championship. While the likes of World Cup champion Italy, Germany, Spain, France, the Netherlands and Portugal will be out to try to take the title away from Greece, England's stars — including David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen — will have to watch the games on TV. The Football Association now has plenty of time to search for a coach who can lift the nation credited with establishing the modern game to the same level.
Events
FUNDRAISING RIDE: Ride Without Limits, a national fundraising campaign to benefit United Cerebral Palsy, will take place in the Tampa Bay area today and Sunday. The two-day, 200-mile ride requires a minimum donation of $500 for riders and a $35 registration fee. Visit www.ridewithoutlimits.org or call 1-888-547-3239. SLED HOCKEY: The Tampa Bay Lightning Foundation and Fan Development Department offer bi-monthly sled hockey clinics for people with disabilities. All equipment is provided. The next sessions will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday and Nov. 25 at the St. Pete Times Forum. For information, contact David Cole at (813) 301-6822 or send an e-mail to dcole@sptimesforum.com. ANGER MANAGEMENT: Family Service Association, 407 N. Parsons Ave., Suite 104A, Brandon, will begin a five-week program on Anger Management on Wednesday.
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