| Same teams, boring result
Since the NHL resumed play after becoming the first major professional sports league to cancel an entire season in 2004-05, players have been reticent to criticize their sport. After all, the more tickets the league sells now — or doesn't sell — the more it affects their take-home pay. But players can no longer stifle themselves about the league schedule, which has each team playing a divisional opponent eight times. In the Avalanche's case, it will play a Northwest Division opponent for the 10th time in the past 11 games when it hosts the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night at the Pepsi Center. "I'm against the eight games against your own division. That's just too many times," Avs veteran Andrew Brunette said before .
Winning football games requires a true team effort
You hear the buzzer and look up at the scoreboard, and it isn't in your favor. Your body feels sore and your spirits broken. That is how I felt on my last football game as a junior. I play football for the Madison Academy Mustangs, and we lost to Leeds High in the first round of the playoffs. Football is probably my favorite sport because of the way the team pulls together. In other sports, you might win with a few good players, but not football. Your team must be solid. If the line doesn't block then the quarterback can't throw the ball. If the quarterback can't be accurate, the wide receiver doesn't get catches. If the running back can't get positive yards, then the offense must look elsewhere to score. You have to be a well-oiled machine to be a great team.
#13 Sun Devils Play Host to Wildcats in 81st Duel in the Desert
TEMPE, Ariz. - After suffering a 44-24 loss to USC on Thanksgiving, Arizona State hopes to bounce back against its in-state rival Arizona in the battle for the Territorial Cup. ASU enters the contest 9-2, 6-2 in Pac-10 play. Arizona is 5-6, 4-4 in conference play after a 34-24 win over Oregon on Nov. 15. ON THE AIR
The Sun Devil Sports Network will carry all 12 of ASU's football games live on its 10-station radio network, including flagship station Sports 620 KTAR AM. Tim Healey (play-by-play) and former Sun Devil quarterback Jeff Van Raaphorst (color analyst) will call the action. LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION
ESPN2 will televise the Duel in the Desert to a national audience. Mark Jones will handle play-by-play while Bob Davie will serve as color analyst. Stacey Dales will patrol the sidelines.
Evans achieves Olympic qualification
Badminton Ireland has announced that Scott Evans, has reached the qualification standard for next year's Olympic Games in Beijing. Evans is currently ranked 45 in the world and his qualification will be confirmed next May by the Olympic Council of Ireland. .
US fans were misled about Beckham - Pele
Soccer legend Pele believes American fans were misled about what David Beckham could bring to Major League Soccer. Amid great fanfare, the former England captain was presented by the Los Angeles Galaxy in July, but his greatest impact has been on ticket sales and merchandise. Pele believes Beckham's introduction was "very, very bad" as it raised expectations about what the former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder could produce on the pitch. "They announced him as a scorer of goals," Pele said. "He isn't a goal scorer. That was a mistake." After playing an exhibition match in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Wednesday night, Beckham said "everybody in the world knows I'm not a goal scorer. "The Galaxy wouldn't have come out and said that," Beckham said. "Like I said, everyone has got their own opinions.
Prince Albert goes green with a difference
From the department of obvious statements comes this declaration: Saskatchewan football fans are cut from a different cloth. The entire province - Prince Albert included - has caught Rider fever. In the gas stations, stores and shopping malls, the fate of Canada's favourite football team is the first topic on everyone's tongue. It's been an emotional, communal and - to some degree - commercial experience. On Friday, just about everybody in Saskatchewan still capable of summoning a measurable pulse wore green clothes of some nature. Rider hoodies, Rider jackets, Rider T-shirts and Rider jerseys dominated the clothing choices amongst Prince Albert citizens Friday. Our intrepid staff didn't bother to investigate beyond the visible, but chances are that a few folks donned green-hued undergarments.
NFL Notes
MIAMI -- Ricky Williams' latest comeback lasted one game. The Miami Dolphins running back will miss the rest of the season with a torn chest muscle, according to his agent, Leigh Steinberg. Williams was hurt Monday at Pittsburgh, when he played in his first game in nearly two years. He returned following a 1 1/2 -year suspension for his latest violation of the NFL drug policy. He played for the Toronto Argonauts during the 2006 season. The team was off yesterday, and a spokesperson for the Dolphins said they had no comment on Williams' status. Williams was injured in the second quarter after he fumbled. After being tackled, he was accidentally stepped on while chest-down on the ground. Williams finished with 15 yards in six carries, and the Dolphins lost 3-0 on a last-minute field goal. CARNEY LATEST CHIEFS KICKER KANSAS CITY, Mo.
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