Condit let down, but still focused on St. Pierre and the belt

Carlos Condit has been through a roller coaster while preparing UFC 137. He started out by preparing for a bout with B.J. Penn. After Nick Diaz's no-show for multiple press obligations, Condit was given the title shot. Today, he found out Georges St. Pierre was injured, and that Condit's title shot would have to wait until December or January.

Still, Condit told Cagewriter that he's not angry about the turn of events.

"It's a letdown, but it's the nature of the sport. I'm going to stay positive, keep training, and be even better when the fight comes."

He said taking another fight in the meantime just doesn't make sense.

"Nothing's been offered, and me and my manager discussed it, and taking another fight doesn't make sense on a lot of levels. As far as my career goes, it doesn't make sense, from a money standpoint, it doesn't make sense."

GSP's injury will not keep him out of training for too long, so Condit will wait for GSP and the title shot.

"In this situation, Georges isn't out six or eight months or anything like that. He's sprained his knee. It's going to be a short recovery, and hopefully we'll be able to get this thing done, and get in the cage by the end of the year, or early next year at the latest."

Both Jake Ellenberger and Josh Koscheck hinted that they would be ready to take the fight, but Condit is focused on the belt.

"I have the opportunity to fight for the title, and I have my heart set on Georges. When and if I beat Georges, I'll take on Ellenberger. I'll give him a rematch. I'll fight anyone, but right now, I have my heart set on Georges."

In the meantime, Condit will not change his training routine.

"My job is to get up every day and go to the gym and train, and improve my skills, and improve myself as a fighter. That's what I'm going to do tomorrow. I'll be able to eat a little bit more, and enjoy not so strict of a diet, but that's about the only difference. "

What will that cheat food be?

"Pizza or enchiladas," Condit said with a laugh.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Condit-let-down-but-still-focused-on-St-Pierre?urn=mma-wp8327

Brett Festerling Jeff Finger Joe Finley Mark Fistric

Jeff Gordon, Trevor Bayne caught up in ?team orders? dispute

TALLADEGA, Ala. - That's the trouble with choosing partners in the middle of a dance. Sometimes a quickie date doesn't work out quite the way you'd like.

In the closing laps of the Good Sam's Club 500 at Talladega, Jeff Gordon found himself in an unfortunate position: behind the wheel of a car with the capability to win the race, but without a partner to help push him. Mark Martin, his partner for the entire day, had just wrecked and taken out several drivers with him. And since the speed differential between single cars and two-car tandems was estimated at as much as 12 mph, Gordon needed a partner if he was going to have a prayer, and he needed one fast.

He and his team got on the mike to track down a replacement for Martin. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson were locked in together; Tony Stewart declined the invitation, as he was already in sync with Paul Menard.

But then Gordon connected with, of all people, Daytona 500 winner and Sprint Cup rookie Trevor Bayne.

"Hey, what's your deal?" Gordon asked Bayne, who was starting 9th to Gordon's 8th. "You got anybody you're working with?"

"No, man," Bayne replied, according to Gordon. "I'm pushing you." From there, the two teams synced up strategy, and all appeared good to go.

It was, in some senses, a dream pairing. That's Bayne there as a kid with Gordon, one of his childhood idols. And back at the Daytona 500, Gordon and Bayne worked together well en route to Bayne's remarkable victory.

So Gordon and Bayne aligned, and the green flag dropped. And suddenly, Bayne wasn't there anymore.

Hung out to dry, Gordon, who'd restarted within sight of the lead and had the car to challenge eventual winner Clint Bowyer, suddenly found himself a rock in the middle of a rushing river. He dropped back, back, back, all the way to 27th in the space of just two laps. And when it was over, he was composed but his disappointment was clear.

"If somebody is going to screw you, you'd like them to say it to your face, you know? Or at least on the radio," he said laughing. "I would have been fine with that."

What happened next was even more curious. Bayne stopped by Gordon's car in the garage and apologized, saying "Hey, it wasn't me, it wasn't me. That's what I'm being told to do," according to Gordon.

Those are the kind of words that set off alarm bells, concerns about team orders and how they could manipulate races. "It would seem to me like that's it," Gordon agreed.

Shortly afterward, Bayne took to Twitter for a remarkable confession. "I'm not happy about what this has become... It's too premeditated," he wrote, adding, "I would have rather pulled over and finished last than tell [Gordon] I would work with him and then be strong-armed into bailing."

Thing is, there's another side to the story. From the perspective of Roush Fenway, which runs Bayne in the Nationwide series and potentially in the Sprint Cup in coming years, Bayne's responsibility was to help that team's�Chase competitors if they needed it, though there were no orders to deliberately avoid working with any other manufacturer or team.

Here's where it gets tricky. Matt Kenseth found himself without a partner, since David Ragan was having problems on the last restart. So Bayne was ordered to drop back and help push Kenseth. Does this constitute "team orders"? In the absolute sense of the term, yes, but wasn't every other team doing the exact same thing? In this case, Bayne made a promise he didn't have the authority to make, and Gordon ended up all alone because of it. Bayne ended up getting pushed by Kenseth, and would go on to finish 15th.

A source at Roush Fenway Racing told Yahoo! Sports that there was concern in the Roush organization about the content of Bayne's tweets, and that Bayne and Jack Roush would likely be discussing the matter within the next 24 hours. There's still some doubt on the Roush side as to where the responsibility lies: Did Bayne not understand the race strategy? Did Roush and Ford communicate different strategies? Did Bayne simply forget in the heat of battle and answer Gordon's request too quickly? All are possible.

Another Ford driver, Carl Edwards, offered his own perspective. "The plan was that we should stick together as Roush Fenway and as a Ford group and try to help one another the best we can," he said. "I thought we did a good job with that. I saw other teams doing the same thing. But you never know what's going to happen."

Regardless, this throws another wrinkle into the ongoing mess that is two-by-two racing. While Gordon is out of the tittle hunt, and wouldn't have been�back in it�had he won this race, this could easily have had much different ramifications for the championship, and still might in coming years.

More on this story as it develops ... and it surely will.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/blog/from_the_marbles/post/Jeff-Gordon-Trevor-Bayne-caught-up-in-team-ord?urn=nascar-wp4771

Peter Holland Ben Holmstrom Riley Holzapfel Shawn Horcoff

Power Rankings: The long, slow fade of the 48 team

Time for our latest round of Power Rankings. Each week throughout the season, we'll size up who's rising and who's falling, based on current standings, behind-the-scenes changes, expected staying power, recent history and general gut feelings. And it's looking like we're going to have a new champion in 2011 ...

1. Carl Edwards. We're getting very close now to the time when we're going to have to question whether a Chase competitor without a win in the Chase is a legitimate champion. Edwards has four races left, and while he's hit his marks at several of these tracks, there's no guarantee he'll win any of them ... or, for that matter, that he'll win the Chase. I'll stop talking now.� Last week's ranking: 1.

2. Matt Kenseth. Fine, fine, we give. Kenseth is now a legitimate Cup competitor. He's there. Happy, you purple freaks? In all seriousness, Kenseth is doing things exactly right: consistency over all. Which is really what he's done all along, I guess. It's Kenseth's world, and we're just now catching up to him. Last week's ranking: 2.

3. Tony Stewart. Toss-up here for the third spot between Stewart and Brad Keselowski, but we're going with Stewart just because of the experience factor. This is what we're working with in this Chase: several apparent misfires and subsequent rebirths. One more good run and Stewart's right there. And I can't wait to see how he'll gripe at the media with a Cup in his hand. Last week's ranking: 6.

4. Brad Keselowski. What else can we do but applaud Keselowski at this point? He's hung around long after anyone could have possibly expected. One season isn't a guarantee of another, but the guy's racing with the savvy of a decade-long veteran. Plus, imagine how many times we'll see that Talladega wreck from '09 if it ends up being him and Edwards going for the Cup.��Last week's ranking: 8.

5. Kevin Harvick. I was tempted not to give anyone the five-spot, but then I looked and saw that Harvick is only seven points behind Keselowski. It seems like a ton more, but you count out Kevin Harvick at your own peril. Seriously. I did that once in the Chase last year, and he showed up at my house with Jimmy John's sandwiches. And he ate them in front of me and didn't share. The man is cruel.� Last week's ranking: 3.

6. Clint Bowyer. Holy sweet jumpin' catfish, Clint Bowyer won the race! He was one of the lap leaders, and he continues to impress as he runs out the string at RCR. Matter of fact, almost everybody'll be sorry to see him go except Jeff Burton, who didn't quite get what he wanted out of Talladega.� Last week's ranking: NR.

7. Jimmie Johnson. We'll talk more about this later on, but it looks like for all realistic purposes, the reign of Five-Time comes to an end at Five. (Stop playing "Ding Dong, The Witch Is Dead!" Stop! He's a nice guy!) Still, Johnson has looked surprisingly vulnerable these last few weeks. It's unsettling.� Last week's ranking: 4.

8. Kyle Busch. This is why you can't waste a single race in the Chase. Busch had a legitimate chance to win this Cup as recently as Sunday. But he didn't get the finishes he needed early in the Chase to offset the bad run he had at Talladega. He hadn't been terrible, notching a 22 and two 11s, but if he could have added an aggregate 20 places in finish to his first five races, he'd be right there with Stewart and Keselowski. The more you know.� Last week's ranking: 5.

9. Kasey Kahne. Kahne spun but managed to recover and finish 6th. Even more impressive, he and Brian Vickers made for an impressive drafting tandem. Man, those two are seriously going to be something else in 2012 now that they've got a year of working together under their belts. Perhaps a double-Chase run isn't out of the ... what? Why are you laughing at me? � Last week's ranking: 7.

10. Kurt Busch. I got the great pleasure of getting to sit atop the 22's pit box for the first part of Sunday's race. They gave me headphones and everything, and my headset even had a microphone. Which got me to thinking of all the damage I could do to the 22 team with an open mike. Turns out Bobby Labonte did just fine all on his own, and now Kurt's Chase hopes are, alas, gone. (But thanks to Shell and the 22 guys for letting me up there anyway.)� Last week's ranking: 9.

11. Denny Hamlin. Was there a sadder sight at Talladega Sunday than poor Denny Hamlin, motoring around the track without a partner as everybody else paired up? Well, I'm sure there was a sadder sight, but not until much later and in the infield, and we probably can't recount that here. Oh, but hey, Denny rebounded and fought his way back up into the top 10. Kind of like the Ugly Duckling who becomes the prom queen.� Last week's ranking: NR.

12. Dave Blaney. Dave Blaney finished third. Say it again, louder: DAVE BLANEY FINISHED THIRD! The dude who's been a walking (well, driving) punch line for the last who-knows-how-long finished ahead of every single Chaser. Plus, he won every kid in America a free meal at Golden Corral on Monday. Belly up, kids!� Last week's ranking: NR.

Dropping out of the rankings: Greg Biffle, Ryan Newman, Marcos Ambrose.

Lucky Dog: Jeff Burton. Man, how ticked do you think he was that Bowyer vultured that win from him? But he's the classiest cat in the garage, so he said all the right things. I envy him that ability.

DNF: Newman, who got spun out by his boss and fell all the way to the bottom of the Chase. Ouch.

Charging upward: Brian Vickers, who may not have a ride yet for 2012, but nonetheless roped in a 5th-place finish that'll go on his resum� for next year.

Next up: Martinsville! Get yourself a sloppy hot dog and send comments to us via Twitter at @jaybusbee, via email by clicking here, and via Facebook at The Marbles page.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/blog/from_the_marbles/post/Power-Rankings-The-long-slow-fade-of-the-48-te?urn=nascar-wp4785

Erik Gustafsson Simon Gysbers Ron Hainsey David Hale

Movie on Seve Ballesteros?s life currently in production

Seve Ballesteros was one of the great golfers of our time, but for a lot of today's generation, myself included, everything we've ever know about swashbuckling Spaniard has come from old videos and books. Most golf fans know very little about where Seve grew up, or that he was brought up in an�impoverished�background.

Seve was incredibly charismatic, you almost wondered if they'd ever make a movie about his career. If you were thinking about producing the film, don't worry, someone's already ahead of you.

Award-winning producer Stephen Evans has already gone to work on a movie about Seve's life, starting with his formative years and going up through his runner-up finish at the 1976 British Open. It's apparently also going to include archived footage of Ballesteros.

"We're dealing essentially with his youth from the age of 16 to 19," Evans said. "Unless you understand his youth, you'll never understand Ballesteros and you'll never give him the sympathy that he merits."

The movie sounds like a must-see for golf fans. Here's hoping they bring it over to the United States for a screening. I'm pretty sure there are a bunch of people out there that would love to learn more about Seve.

(h/t Shackelford)

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/golf/blog/golf_experts/post/Movie-on-Seve-Ballesteros-s-life-currently-in-pr?urn=golf-wp6228

Mitch Fadden Ilari Filppula Valtteri Filppula Mike Fisher

Headlinin?: To call timeout, or not to call? That is the question at Wisconsin and Notre Dame.

Making the morning rounds.

? What was he thinking? Part one. USC coach Lane Kiffin said Sunday he was "shocked" that Notre Dame sat on all three timeouts in the fourth quarter of a 31-17 Trojan win, which ended with USC running off the final 6:48 on ten straight runs by tailback Curtis McNeal. "I didn't know what was going on," Kiffin said. "Obviously we were happy. I was scared they were going to call them, and I didn't know what we were going to do kicker-wise. ? The game was far from over. But I'm not complaining." Linebacker Chris Galippo was somewhat more straightforward: "They just quit. That's what Notre Dame football is all about. They're not anything like 'SC."

"I don't know if that's the case," Kelly said in response to Galippo. "To the victors go the spoils. We probably would have said the same thing last year [after Notre Dame's upset win over USC in Los Angeles]. How we evaluate our players, we didn't play the kind of football we wanted to play." [Orange County Register, Chicago Tribune]

? What was he thinking? Part two. In other late time-out news, the Cleveland Plain-Dealer's Doug Lesmerises defended Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema's decision to use two timeouts on defense in the final minute of the Badgers' loss to Michigan State, giving the Spartans time to pick up an additional first down and throw up the game-winning Hail Mary as time expired. "At that point, Bielema was operating with what he should have thought was one of the best teams, and certainly one of the best offenses, in the nation," Lesmerises writes. "Getting quarterback Russell Wilson the ball with any time on the clock would have been worth it. The Badgers were too good to play scared and settle for overtime.

" 'We were going for the win,' Bielema said afterward, and really, that's all that needed to be said." [Cleveland Plain-Dealer]

? D-Day Rock M-Day. Today could mark the beginning of the end for Missouri and the Big 12, according to PowerMizzou.com, which cites three separate, anonymous sources who say university chancellor Brady Deaton will announce the Tigers' official withdrawal from the conference at a Big 12 Board of Directors meeting in Dallas. On Friday, Mizzou's Board of Curators authorized Deaton to act on conference realignment and execute all relevant contracts with a new league ? presumably the SEC ? and Deaton is scheduled to attend this afternoon's meeting in person.

"On Saturday, and again today, I've talked to all sorts of people familiar with the situation both at Missouri and elsewhere," wrote the Kansas City Star's Mike DeArmond on Sunday, "and every single one anticipates Missouri and the SEC will announce Mizzou as the 14th member of the SEC at some point this week." [PowerMizzou.com, Kansas City Star]

? One of us, one of us. In somewhat less solid speculation, the Big East is reportedly being asked to consider joining the forthcoming Mountain West-Conference USA merger to create a sprawling superconference incorporating between 28 and 32 teams. According to a document (origin unknown) obtained by the Boston Globe, the plan would divide the country into four seven or eight-team divisions ? the West, Mountain, Central and Big East ? whose winners would then stage a mini-playoff for the league's automatic bid to the BCS. The Big East would actually consider this in order to ensure it keeps its automatic bid to the BCS.

Notably absent from both the 28 and 32-team versions of the plan? West Virginia, which is presumed to be first in line to replace Missouri in the Big 12. [Boston Globe]

? Tate calls it a year. Maryland linebacker Kenny Tate, an All-ACC pick last year as a safety and likely a future draft pick, will undergo season-ending surgery for an undisclosed injury and seek a medical hardship to return for a fifth year in 2012. Tate led the team in tackles through four games but has missed the last three ? all Maryland losses ?�for reasons the school isn't clarifying.

"It is certainly a blow to our team to lose a player and leader of Kenny's caliber, but we want to do what's in his best interest," said coach Randy Edsall, who expects Tate to miss six to nine months. "Our medical staff determined that surgery was the best way to proceed so that's what we are going to do." [Washington Post]

? Tragedy. As rumored on Saturday, the body of an Akron student was found inside the university's stadium on Saturday morning, an apparent suicide. A spokesman for Akron said the body was found in the stadium's bleachers around 10 a.m., but declined to release his identity or any details of the ongoing investigation. The Zips' game against Ohio kicked off as scheduled at 3 p.m. the same afternoon, ending in a 37-20 Ohio win. [Associated Press]

Quickly? USC running back Dillon Baxter may have missed the Notre Dame game to be with his girlfriend as she was giving birth. ? Three new injuries Saturday could leave Virginia Tech's defense without five opening-day starters for Saturday's trip to Duke. ? Police responding to a noise complaint use a stun gun on two Montana players. ? ACC officials teach Florida State an incorrect lesson about punt returns. ? Steve Spurrier calls his flap with local writer Ron Morris "history" and says Morris will be allowed at regular press conferences. ? Virginia Tech adds another gravestone to its cemetery of road wins over ranked teams. ? FX had had some minor technical difficulties at the start of the Oklahoma State-Missouri game. ? And Bill Blankenship sings OMC.

- - -
Matt Hinton is on Twitter: Follow him @DrSaturday.

Source: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/Headlinin-To-call-timeout-or-not-to-call-Tha?urn=ncaaf-wp8570

Alexandre Bolduc Dave Bolland Nick Bonino Darryl Boyce

Hershman?s exit from Showtime could mean the network gets out of the MMA business

Showtime is facing a major decision about its future with Strikeforce. Now it has to make the decision without the guy who's steered the ship since 2003. Hershman left his position as executive vice president and general manager for sports and event programming with Showtime for the president's gig with HBO Sports.

What does that mean for the future of mixed martial arts at Showtime? It seems like Strikeforce is on its last legs. Who will take Hershman's position and will they have an interest in the MMA business if it's not the UFC? Yahoo! Sports' lead MMA writer Kevin Iole gives us the lowdown on what the future holds for Showtime, and HBO.

Iole also gave us his take on what happens on the boxing side with Hershman at HBO.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Hershman-8217-s-exit-from-Showtime-could-mean-t?urn=mma-wp8233

Austin Levi Grant Lewis Nicklas Lidstrom David Liffiton

Noisemakers: Sound the horn! Ponder era begins with a bang

After a Week 7 slaughter, for several notable names, here are three unheralded medal-earners (started in less than 30-percent of Y! leagues) projected to finish in fourth place who ended up setting the fantasy pace:

Christian Ponder, Min, QB
Y! Percent started: 3-percent

And with that, Donovan McNabb might as well call it a career.

"The Thinker," on his first pass in his first NFL start, connected with Michael Jenkins on a 73-yard pass play, jumpstarting his career in explosive fashion. Two downs later, Ponder polished off the drive with a 1-yard TD pass to Visanthe Shiancoe. Though somewhat adventurous on his remaining nine drives, he finished with 219 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also chipped in 31 rushing yards. Welcome to the NFL, kid.

Scouting reports on the first-round pick are generally glowing. Mechanically, he's a fluid, smooth passer with an above average arm who also runs well. He's also very proficient in the short-to-intermediate field, a characteristic that fits ideally in a West Coast scheme. A lack of awareness, a knock almost every inexperienced quarterback has, and tendency to push the envelope, especially in tight spaces, were evaluators' primary concerns. Analyzing his overall performance Sunday, the book was spot on. The rookie made just about every throw asked of him.

Conventional fantasy wisdom has always told owners staying away from rookie QBs is a sage move. This season it's a stupid one. Cam Newton is currently the No. 2 ranked passer on a per game basis in virtual pigskin. And though Andy Dalton has paled in comparison, he's proven to be no pushover, surpassing the 20-point threshold twice in six starts.

Believe or Make Believe? Believe. Outside Percy Harvin, the Vikes have a number of questionable weapons, but Ponder's flawless delivery and strong leadership skills could enhance the performance of those around him. Yes, defenses will eventually exploit his weaknesses, but with a very favorable schedule in the offing, he could exceed expectation, possibly ranking in the 13-16 range come virtual playoff time. Keep in mind the Vikes face Carolina, Green Bay, Oakland, Atlanta and Denver, pass defenses that rank in the top-10 in yards per attempt allowed to QBs, over the next six weeks.

Michael Bush, Oak, RB
Y! Percent started: 25-percent

When Bush sees the rival Chiefs on the schedule, his salivary glands must work overtime. The man is a true KC killer.

After Darren McFadden was felled by a right foot sprain in the first quarter, the powder keg stepped in and rolled over an exploitable Chiefs defensive line. Running with power and authority, Bush bull-rushed his way to 113 total yards on 19 touches. It was his first century mark performance since Week 17 last year against, coincidentally enough, against Kansas City.

[Track your favorite player with the free Yahoo! Sportacular app for iPhone and Android]

Bush, depending upon the severity of Run DMC's setback, would easily be the hottest waiver commodity of the week. If the injury keeps the incumbent sidelined even after Oakland's Week 8 bye -- keep in mind he's been plagued by foot problems over his career -- the backup would be a borderline top-12 play Week 9 versus the Fightin' Tebows. Yes, the Broncos are much improved against the run, but Oakland's offensive line play coupled with the presence of Carson Palmer and Hue Jackson's conservative nature, would likely propel Bush to legitimate RB2 totals.

Believe or Make Believe? Believe. Bush is a bruising, between-the-tackles grinder who, if thrust into a featured role, would thrive. Recall in three starts last season he averaged 121.7 total yards per game and splashed pay-dirt twice. McFadden owners concerned about their cornerstone's general fragility should acquire the handcuff at all costs. The shallow-minded, too, should grab and stash him immediately. Entering Week 7, Bush was owned in just 51-percent of Yahoo! leagues.

Tim Hightower, Was, RB
Y! Percent started: 28-percent

Are you really surprised? In a twist we all should have seen coming, Lucifer Shanahan once again reared his ugly head, reinserting Hightower, who was benched last week after not disclosing a shoulder injury three weeks ago, into the starting lineup. And, naturally, the rusher delivered one of his best games of the season, gashing Carolina's 31st-ranked run defense for 88 yards on 17 carries (5.2 ypc). Ryan Torain owners, the 'expert' community apologizes. Well ? sort of.

Putting your faith into any Redskins running back is a risky endeavor. Trying to predict the true end of human civilization is an easier exercise. However, at this point, Hightower, when healthy, will be the primary ball carrier. Despite averaging just 3.7 yards per carry prior to Week 7, it appears the coaching staff has the utmost faith in him, likely because of his excellent pass-blocking and receiving skills.

For Torain owners who smashed piggybanks to acquire the backup's services a couple weeks ago, Sunday's unexpected changing of the guard isn't completely damning. Torain is one ACL tear away from overtaking the starting gig permanently. Of course, Roy Helu remains in the mix, but if there's one role that appears to be cemented, it's the rookie's. The coaching staff is very comfortable deploying Helu in passing situations, which should keep his per game workload in the 6-10 touch range.

Believe or Make Believe? Make Believe. Washington travels to Buffalo in Week 8 to face a Bills defense that has surrendered 4.7 yards per carry, 148.2 total yards per game and eight touchdowns to running backs this season, equal to the sixth-most fantasy points allowed. If Hightower's MRI results Monday truly reveal a torn ACL, Torain, obviously, would�immediately�benefit, though Wash's schedule over the next several weeks is very unfavorable. After Week 8, the 'Skins' have brutal matchups against San Francisco, Miami, Dallas and Seattle, run defenses that rank inside the top-13 in fewest fantasy points allowed to RBs.

Honorable Mentions: John Beck, Was, QB, Roy Williams, Chi, WR, Delone Carter, Ind, RB

Follow Brad on Twitter @YahooNoise.

--

Image courtesy of US Presswire

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy/blog/roto_arcade/post/Noisemakers-Sound-the-horn-Ponder-era-begins-w?urn=fantasy-wp10348

Dmitry Kulikov Tomas Kundratek

This must happen: Matt Mitrione and Urijah Faber want to race

Matt Mitrione is an insanely talented athlete. He played in the NFL, and then made a seamless transition into MMA. Going into his bout this weekend with Cheick Kongo, he is undefeated, and every one of his bouts have been in the UFC. But is he athletic enough to beat a bantamweight in a foot race?

When trying to figure out what position in sports is the most athletic, Mitrione tweeted that he would challenge every UFC belt holder to a forty-yard dash, with nothing but pride on the line. Urijah Faber, the one-time UFC featherweight champ, jumped in and challenged every UFC heavyweight to a timed mile. Mitrione said he would take the challenge.

Oh, please can this happen? Between the trash talk and the idea of Mitrione and Faber competing in anything, this is about as fun as it gets. Is there anyone who wouldn't want to see a heavyweight and a bantamweight in a foot race? If you raised your hand, you clearly don't like fun.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/This-must-happen-Matt-Mitrione-and-Urijah-Faber?urn=mma-wp8598

Marc Staal Garrett Stafford Steve Staios Ryan Stanton

Hot/Not: Race hard or race safe? Neither worked consistently at Talladega

Two-car drafts were the name of the game again for NASCAR's restrictor plate racing, but this time they had real Chase implications. How did the Chasers play it, and how well did it work? Jump in to find out:

NEUTRAL: A fundamental key of NASCAR restrictor plate racing since the device's introduction more than two decades ago has been survival. The reduced horsepower within the engine has produced racing in which drivers rarely earn separation thanks to the draft.

As a result, tactics unbecoming of true racing have become commonplace at NASCAR's two restricted tracks ? Daytona and Talladega. Drivers would often opt to settle in at the back of the pack and away from the potential calamity of The Big One, or the large crash that so often defined the pack racing.

The tactic has worked, too. Several drivers have secured wins or high finishes thanks to working the back of the room for much of the race before surging to the front as the checkered flag was in sight. Jeff Gordon's 2007 Talladega win in the Chase proved it the most, after Gordon led only the final lap after spending just 23 percent of the race in the top 15. His average running position that day? A paltry 28th.

But NASCAR's plate racing has substantially changed this season, with pack racing evolving to two-car tandem racing. The speed is in the push, and the push isn't just a bump draft here and there. It's about keeping the nose of one car squarely planted against the rear of another.

Despite the change in the style of racing ? one that carries more risk of error thanks to the consistent touching ? teams haven't completely changed their strategy. Some still like to hang around in the back and hope to miss potential carnage, while others choose to pace the field hoping the largest incidents happen behind them.

Decisions like that by a race team are often made on a gut feeling. They've seen contenders get wiped out long before the checkers are flying, while those who played caboose have snuck through to a decent finish ? or in Gordon's case, a win. After all, it's much easier to remember the violence and implication of a crash than to remember the ho-hum drive of someone coming from the back.

Using NASCAR's loop data, I decided to take a look at how those decisions played out in Sunday's pivotal race for the NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup. After Talladega, we're down to a likely four-car fight to the finish in Homestead. The decisions made at Talladega had a lot to do with it.

Matt Kenseth spent the most amount of time in the top 15 of any Chase racer, logging 148 of the 188 laps. After getting shuffled during the final restart, Kenseth wound up 18th. Tony Stewart was in the top 15 for 72.3 percent of the race (2nd most) and picked up an seventh-place finish.

The next four Chase drivers spending the most amount of time in the top 15 (Kurt Busch, Kevin Harvick, Ryan Newman and Kyle Busch) all failed to finish on the lead lap despite racing 34-50 percent of their respective races in the top-15.

Brad Keselowski played the wait-and-see game the best, spending 26 percent of his race in the top 15 but ending up with a fourth-place run.

Meanwhile, Hendrick Motorsports made a concerted effort of staying at the back. Their three Chase drivers of Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon spent between 13 and 20 percent of their Talladega Sunday in the top 15. The method ultimately bit them at the end when Gordon lost his tandem partner in Mark Martin and the Earnhardt/Johnson combination never pushed to the front.

Finally, Carl Edwards, who emerged from Talladega with a healthy 14-point lead thanks to an 11th-place finish played the backmarker card the best. Edwards spent just nine laps in the top 15, but rallied to an 11th-place finish.

The results from Talladega seem to tell one thing: nowhere on track is actually a safe play to secure a good finish. Of the six Chase drivers who spent the most time in the top 15, just two finished on the lead lap. The guy who came out with the best chance for the championship raced in the back ? further back statistically, even, than the three drivers ahead of him who took much worse finishes.

Racing at Talladega has long been the luck of the draw, and teams that feel like they can control the beast are nothing new. Sunday's race, however, proved just how wrong they were in thinking they could stack the deck in their favor.

HOT: Let's give a call to the lack of team orders in the Richard Childress Racing camp at Talladega. Clint Bowyer's move exiting Turn�4 on the final lap was a bit a surprise in the tandem drafting world we live in. The contact between him and teammate Jeff Burton in the tri-oval was risky. Still, the two veterans made it work ? and made the finish a memorable one.

NEUTRAL: The novelty of this two-car stuff has worn thin on me. What was once an interesting game of cat and mouse has seemingly faded. NASCAR seems closer to making non-contact drafting just as fast as the current form. Here's to hoping they continue that pursuit.

NOT: Jack Roush's edict that his Ford teams were not to�help non-Ford Chase teams during Sunday's race wasn't necessarily a problem. (Roush has since�denied any such orders existed, however, we'll�stick with what Jeff Gordon and Trevor Bayne told Yahoo! Sports Jay Busbee immediately after the race.) However, it opens the door for future problems involving team orders. Let's hope we don't get there.

HOT: Give Trevor Bayne a hand for being outspoken about not getting to make a driver decision on who he works with. If anything, he should be the most perturbed that not getting the opportunity to work with Gordon on the final restart likely cost him a top-10 finish.

NOT: Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson ? should they be tandem partners again�in 2012, should race up front all day. Talladega marks two straight races where the backmarker method failed them.

HOT: The next time someone says NASCAR is too safe, please show them the video of Regan Smith's crash. People don't come to watch Smith get hurt. Those people ? the ones who like to see carnage ? want to see Smith get out of that car, no matter what you think of those who like crashes.

I held my breath when he hit that wall. I was relieved when all of the safety devices worked. That's the way racing should be.

HOT: Dave Blaney finished third. Read that again. It made me smile.

NOT: Kyle Busch's paranoia meter got a little high Sunday, didn't it? Did he really believe Juan Pablo Montoya hit him on purpose during the large frontstretch crash? You know, the one where Montoya was sliding sideways with the brakes locked?

Odd.

NEUTRAL: All signs point to Jimmie Johnson's title hopes being done. I can't bring my head around that point quite yet.

NOT: Why, again, is Red Bull Racing closing their doors at the end of 2011? The fifth for Brian Vickers and sixth for Kasey Kahne at Talladega mean that the team has had at least one top-10 car in the last five races.

FINAL: It seems like ages since NASCAR has been in Martinsville. The track is one of Carl Edwards' worst by average finish, and Matt Kenseth isn't much better. Expect the title fight to tighten up one more time.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/blog/from_the_marbles/post/Hot-Not-Race-hard-or-race-safe-Neither-worked-?urn=nascar-wp4826

Gabriel Dumont Philippe Dupuis Cody Eakin Andrew Ebbett

Bill Lunde takes home the $1 million Kodak Challenge

Your opponent is in the middle of the fairway and needs to hole out in order to eagle and force a playoff. This is a hole that's been eagled only five times since 1983. You're feeling pretty confident, right? But then you remember that this is golf, and strange things happen pretty much every day, and suddenly you start getting really, really nervous ...

And now you're in Bill Lunde's shoes. Lunde was in line to win the Kodak Challenge, a season-long event comprising the best 18 holes from 30 tournaments. Coming into this weekend's Disney event, Lunde was two strokes ahead of the field to win the challenge. He led Fabian Gomez, Cameron Tringale and Josh Teater by an aggregate score of -19 to -17. Teater dropped out, Tringale fell short, and so it was up to Gomez to try to eagle the hole and force the playoff.

Sometimes, amazing happens in golf ... and, well, sometimes it doesn't. Gomez missed his eagle attempt, though probably not by as much as Lunde would have liked, and presto: Lunde was $1 million richer. (And you can't be in his shoes anymore.)

So, there you go: the end of an interesting little season-long contest, but one which didn't draw a whole lot of heat and star power. Anything you could recommend to improve its standing and prominence? Fire away.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/golf/blog/golf_experts/post/Bill-Lunde-takes-home-the-1-million-Kodak-Chall?urn=golf-wp6510

Brayden McNabb Grant McNeill Patrick McNeill Adam McQuaid

Robbie Savage may have broken his nose while jive dancing

According to a recent poll of all former professional footballers named Robbie Savage, Robbie Savage is the most handsome man on the planet. The results of this poll, however, may no longer be accurate, as the Welshman damaged his beautiful face on live TV on Saturday night.

At the climax of a jive routine for "Strictly Come Dancing" (the BBC version of "Dancing with the Stars"), Savage slid along the floor so he could kiss the closest object in which he could make out his reflection. Unfortunately, he got a little too close to the camera, and now he looks like this...

After the show, he said:

"I was supposed to stop my slide but I overshot the runway a bit.

"[...]I thought I'd make it look good by sliding in and kissing the camera, but the lens is sunken in and the top bit banged me on the nose.

"It got red straight away and [now] it looks terrible. It's bloodshot and it was bleeding last night. I'm going to have to go and get it checked out."

Poor old Robbie may have embarrassed himself, but it's not the worst thing a former footballer has done in a dancing show.

Quote: mirror.co.uk; Image: @RobbieSavage8

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/blog/dirty-tackle/post/Robbie-Savage-may-have-broken-his-nose-while-jiv?urn=sow-wp5994

Daryl Boyle Nick Boynton Justin Braun Chris Breen

Happy Hour: Stop cheering for wrecks, you clowns

Welcome to the latest Happy Hour mailbag! You know how these work: You write us with your best rant/ joke/ one-liner at nascarmail@yahoogroups.com or on Twitter at @jaybusbee, we respond to your messages, everyone goes away with a smile on their face.

I was in New York City over the weekend. I took a little run through midtown Manhattan wearing a Jimmie Johnson t-shirt, and oh, the looks I got. I walked down to the Occupy Wall Street protests, and I so wished I had some posterboard to make up some good slogans, like

SHARE THE WEALTH, JIMMIE

JUNIOR: 0-FOR-OBAMA

HOW ABOUT TEARING UP SOME OF WALL STREET'S PROFITS, KURT?

Send me your best NASCAR protest slogans, or post 'em below. (Hint: Photoshops get moved right to the front of the line.) Now, let's get to your letters.

Where did good sportsmanship go?� Saturday night Jimmie Johnson was in a wreck that mirrored Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s and it could have been very, very bad.� Without HANS, SAFER barriers, etc, NASCAR could be in mourning just like IRL is this week.� And what could you hear from the crowd?� Cheering!� Now, my driver is Tony Stewart, and I really want him to win the championship, and like most people, I'm ready for a change in champ.� But even if that had been my least favorite drivers (Busch brothers, Montoya) I would have still held my breath until they walked away.

? Jenn
Big Spring, Texas

Tragic and near-tragic moments can bring out the best in people, but they can also bring out the worst as well. To be fair, I can't imagine that anybody with a basic grasp of humanity was actually cheering at the possibility that Jimmie Johnson was hurt (or worse). Sure, we see people around here all the time saying they want to see this driver or that driver put into a wall (or worse), but they're viewing these drivers as characters in a game, not as living, breathing human beings with families.

Now, as regards Johnson specifically, people were cheering because the dominant five-time champ took a possibly crippling hit to his Cup chances. People are tired of Jimmie Johnson, tired, tired, tired. That's no reflection on Johnson's character or his talent; fans just want some change at the top of the standings. I get that, and since the wall seems like the only thing that Johnson can't run over, I can see why people would be elated at anything that could slow down the 48. Hell, the other drivers can't do it.

Still ? don't ever cheer a wreck, folks. Show some class.

____________________

In a recent column you said:

That's one of the big knocks against the Chase, that fans of certain drivers don't have anything to root for, but then again the Super Bowl and World Series seem to do OK with only two teams participating and everybody else at home watching.

How well do you think the ratings would be if the World Series coverage only showed Derek Jeter?� When the opposing team was at bat, we'd be looking at the shortstop.� When Derek had a hit, we'd watch him run to first base.� Derek would be on 1st base with Albert Pujols and the outfielder would throw to 2nd to keep him on base, but we wouldn't see that because the right fielder and 2nd baseman weren't part of the planned storyline for the game.

?Andy Denardi

I'll tell you this: the World Series ratings for this year would be better if they just showed a streaming feed of Derek Jeter watching the World Series, not the Series itself. Cardinals-Rangers? Yikes.

Anyway, to your email. I get the point you're trying to make, that focusing on one player gives a skewed view of the game, but you're drawing this too narrowly. My point is that the focus in the playoffs ought to be on the teams/drivers that actually have a chance in the playoffs. Don't like it? Hey, your guy had 26 races to get into the Chase mix; who's to blame if he didn't? (And this is coming from a Braves fan still repairing holes I put in my drywall after their collapse this year.)

Besides, there's already a channel that focuses exclusively on star Yankees or Red Sox, no matter who else is playing. It's called "ESPN."

____________________

I'm having a hard time getting worked up about David Ragan and Brian Vickers looking for rides. I know Vickers' story is inspirational, but how successful has he been? One Chase berth where he was a non-factor for his highest finish, which was 12th? Two career wins? Ragan has one win, this year, in five almost full seasons, and no Chase berths (highest: 13th).

On the other hand, Dale Earnhardt Jr.,, just signed to a lucrative extension and subject of much Kournakovian (new word!) scorn for lack of success, has 18 wins, several Chase berths, and at least two years where he was a factor in the Championship.

Cry me a river, because I'm just not that worked up about where they'll land. I'd rather see Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Austin Dillon, or Justin Allgaier given their shots. If some guys have to start their own teams and Start 'n Park for a year, so be it.

?Jeff "Sarge" Smith
Statesboro, Ga.

I never want anybody to lose a job, but yeah, this is kind of like the Casey Mears phenomenon: just because you've been in NASCAR for years doesn't mean you're entitled to a ride in perpetuity. There's no tenure in NASCAR.

Here's the question, though: have these two guys maximized their talent? I get the sense that Ragan would be driving about as well as he's driven no matter whose car he was rocking, but that Vickers might have a little something extra if he was behind the wheel of a Hendrick car again. Still, there is certainly the idea that if you haven't proven yourself by now, when are you going to do it?

____________________

I have to share a different view about profanity in NASCAR. If this is really a family sport then NASCAR needs to get serious about this problem. It is truly something "detrimental to the sport" (Actions Detrimental To Stock Car Racing - NASCAR Rulebook Section 12-4-A). To allow profanity to proliferate under the excuse that this is just a way to express anger is just not sensible or profitable to our sport ? My definition of a true hero is one that I could invite to my home to eat dinner with my family and kids. I will not be "inviting" Michael Vick, �Mark McGwire or a number of other sports figures who have disqualified themselves by their actions. �The list of NASCAR drivers I would invite is getting smaller all the time as I hear words I should not have to hear or bleeps where I can guess what was omitted.

?Richard Lewis
Riverside, Calif.

I have to disagree with your comparison of a guy who cusses when he gets spun out with a guy who killed dogs for sport or (allegedly) took enough medication to disrupt an entire sport. I respect that you don't want to hear the profanity, but please bear in mind that drivers usually cuss on a private radio channel, not during autograph sessions. (Though there was this one time I saw Trevor Bayne go absolute drunken-sailor on a grandmother ? kidding, of course.)

Again, they're just words, people. Maybe this is my sliding scale of morality, but I don't see that throwing a few f-bombs now and then is part of an inevitable slide into reprehensible behavior. A driver who cusses out a rival today isn't going to suddenly start putting school buses into the wall tomorrow.

____________________

Hey NASCAR, great idea for you to try?.broadcast night races in real-time all across the country at drive-in theaters. This would allow a whole bunch of people who wouldn't otherwise experience a race live to experience it with a motivated crowd?and think of all the next-day chatter, people telling friends what they did Saturday night?.(again increasing the fan base). You could sell headphones with in race broadcasts just as at the track, concessions, souvenirs, etc. I understand maybe it would be blacked-out in a region near the race, but the rest of the country would be a-watchin'.

?Tom
Walden, N.Y.

Didn't they used to do that with boxing matches? Closed-circuit broadcasts in movie theaters? That was before my time, but I like the idea. Thing is, you've got to get a theater owner to buy into it, and let's face it, we NASCAR fans can be a pretty filthy lot. If you've got a horde of half- or all-drunk NASCAR fans barreling into your drive-in, you're going to be sweeping out beer cans, bones of undetermined origin and pickled fans for a week. And how would patrons of the other movies react? (Then again, if a roof-rattling NASCAR race disrupts the girls' night out watching "I Don't Know How She Does It", fine by me.)

Another question: do they even have drive-in theaters anymore? I remember being a kid watching one of the Star Wars flicks at one, but we spent the entire time looking over at the other screen to see if that 40-foot-tall woman would lose some of those clothes ? and if some of the women in the cars would, also.

Bottom line: I love the idea, but this would've worked a lot better back in the '70s. Everybody's got their own personal movie theater now, which means we don't have to deal with anybody else if we don't want to. And thank heaven for that.

____________________

For me, one of the "Kenseth gets no love things" that drives me crazy is that the media treats Matt differently than other drivers in similar circumstances.� I would be happy if the media treated him the same way they treat the other drivers.

Here's one example courtesy of Larry McReynolds.� Earlier this year, before the points reset, there were 6 drivers�very close together in points, and then then the dropoff to 7th was a full race.� Matt was 6th, a couple points behind 5th and then 40+ points ahead of Gordon and others ? Larry, the brains of the outfit says, "I believe these top 5 cars are the best teams right now and the ones to beat." How is that not a deliberate slight against my guy?

?Stephanie Wood
Westland, Mich.

I had to trim some of Stephanie's letter and other evidence of media bias; she was as loquacious in her call-out of media slights as Kenseth is taciturn. (Today's mailbag brought to you by the thesaurus.) Anyway, here's the thing with Kenseth: while he's now a legit Cup contender, he's rarely demonstrated the ability to jump up and win a race the way many other drivers have. (This year is DIFFERENT, Kenseth fans.) But the very quiet consistency that fans prize is the same thing that makes outside observers wonder (again, until this year) whether he's got what it takes to throw that extra gear you need to win a Cup. And this year, he very well might have found it.

Basically, Kenseth fans, chill out and enjoy your run of success. You don't want to be as annoying as those Jimmie fans who complain they don't get enough respect. You really don't.

____________________

hello my name is Rose i saw your profile today at [site redacted] and i love it and i will also like to know more about you please i will like you to email me back with my email address so that i will give you my pictures for you to know whom i am .waiting for your lovely reply� soon.
miss Rose !

Rose, I told you never to contact me here.

Let's wrap up by continuing our NASCAR ultimate infield playlist. Last week, I threw out "Chicken Fried" by the Zac Brown Band. More contributions: Deep Purple's "Highway Star" (Bob Delveaux), Toby Keith's "Beer for my Horses" (Raldo from CT), Dierks Bentley's "Sideways" (the mysterious HS). Add in your contributions and we'll create a combo that you can use to make any day race day.

And on that note, we're out. Thanks to all our writers this week. You want in? Fire up the computer and hit us with whatever's on your mind, NASCAR-wise, at nascarmail@yahoogroups.com, find us on Facebook right here, or hit us up on Twitter at @jaybusbee. Make sure to tell us where you're from. We'll make you famous!

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/blog/from_the_marbles/post/Happy-Hour-Stop-cheering-for-wrecks-you-clowns?urn=nascar-wp4632

Jamie Fraser Mark Fraser Benjamin Gallacher Jason Garrison

Andy Carroll and Charlie Adam have a cake baking contest

Liverpool's Melwood training ground is a sanctuary of cutting-edge fitness development and fastidiously constructed dietary regimes, so naturally it was chosen as the venue for a celebrity cake baking competition to raise awareness of the Children in Need charity.

In a clip filmed for BBC children's TV show Blue Peter, Charlie Adam ? who knows his way around a cake ? took on striker Andy Carroll, who either has the thickest Geordie accent on the planet or is still drunk from breakfast (I'm English and I still can't figure out what he's trying to say at [1.39] in the clip). It's surely the first instance of food preparation that Carroll or Adam have had to embark on in many years, and boy does it show. Liverpool's canteen has never served food that terrible looking to any of the staff ? even Rafa Benitez after the club moved his desk into the car park.

The bake off is surprisingly tense and humorless for a charity event, and the final decision is left to teammate and part-time cake judge Pepe Reina. The Spaniard isn't usually allowed near large kitchen knives, but he resists the urge to wrestle control of the blade and astutely declares Andy Carroll's imaginative football-shaped treat to be the winner.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/blog/dirty-tackle/post/Andy-Carroll-and-Charlie-Adam-have-a-cake-baking?urn=sow-wp5843

Keith Aucoin Jared Aulin Justin Azevedo Mikael Backlund

Webb Simpson could force Luke Donald to play more golf

Don't tell Webb Simpson that the tour's season-ending money list isn't a big deal. For a guy who was struggling to keep his card last year, you'd think he'd be content with his runner-up finish in the FedEx Cup and two wins this season.

With only two events left on the tour's schedule, the Fall Series is usually a time where golf's top players take some time off before the Presidents Cup, and golfers on the bubble grind it out to get inside the top 125 on the money list.

That's why it seems odd that Simpson's in the field this week at McGladrey Classic in Sea Island, Ga. For the North Carolina native, the event is a relative home game, so it makes sense to show up and pocket some extra cash before the end of the year.

But Simpson seems to be in the field for one reason: to make Luke Donald sweat. Sitting just $68,971 behind Donald on the PGA Tour money list, Simpson knows a top-15 finish or better this week would see him leapfrog the Englishman with just one event remaining on the schedule.

Before Simpson's strong finish to the year, it seemed like Donald was a near lock to capture the PGA Tour and European Tour money lists in the same season -- a feat that had never been done before.

Now it looks like Simpson could throw a wrench into those plans. Assuming he shows up this week and overtakes Donald, we could see the current No. 1 make a tough call. His wife is pregnant at the moment with their second child and he's played a whirlwind schedule all season, going back and forth between the United States and Europe to play. Simply put, he's tired and probably wants a break.

But if Simpson makes the pass, do you grab the sticks and play one more event for the chance to win the money title? The bigger question at that point has to be if Donald plays Disney -- he was quoted as saying he'd think about it if Webb played the McGladrey -- will Simpson play back-to-back weeks?

As crazy as that sounds, I think it's great that these two guys are playing a chess match at the end of the season. We tend to discount the Fall Series as the silly season, but with Donald and Simpson going all out for the money title, we may have another reason to keep an eye on the final two events of the year.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/golf/blog/golf_experts/post/Webb-Simpson-could-force-Luke-Donald-to-play-mor?urn=golf-wp6318

Simon Danis-Pepin Rob Davison Calvin de Haan Michael Del Zotto

Headlinin?: This is Rick Neuheisel?s final countdown

Making the morning rounds.

? I'm still here? Rick Neuheisel made it off the field with his job after Thursday night's 48-12 debacle at Arizona, and there are no reports of him being fired overnight. (Quite the opposite, in fact.) But there was no mistaking the diagnosis after UCLA's nationally televised death rattle: With a golden opportunity to keep pace in the Pac-12 South and take another step toward a bowl game, against a lame-duck outfit that had just fired its head coach on the heels of its tenth consecutive loss at the hands of FBS competition, the Bruins came out flat as pancakes and had to scraped off the field with a spatula.

Over the course of its five-game losing streak, Arizona had been outscored 146 to 37 in the first half and trailed at the half in all five; against UCLA, the Wildcats scored touchdowns on six straight possessions to open the game and led at the half, 42-7. They came into the night ranked 119th out of 120 teams in rushing offense at 71.8 yards per game; against UCLA, they surpassed that number in the first quarter and finished with 254 yards on the ground for the game. They came into the night ranked dead last in the Pac-12 in every major defensive category, and near the bottom nationally; against UCLA, they yielded a single touchdown and at one point forced the Bruin offense to go three-and-out on five straight possessions. In the words of Bruins Nation, "To call that game embarrassing is embarrassing to the word embarrassing."

Mathematically, the Bruins are still alive to win the South Division and/or go to a bowl game. Realistically, they're crashing toward their third losing record in four years and Neuheisel's hourglass has officially run out of sand. [Bruins Nation, Los Angeles Times]

? And since the streaker ref stole the show? Here's crowd video of the streaker's entire run ? possibly shot by his friends ? following him from the moment he leaves the stands to the moment he's led away in handcuffs by security. WARNING: Bro doesn't get completely naked here, but he's only a pair of underoos and a form tackle away:

The best part? Our man being slowly paraded in his skivvies in front of the halftime entertainment decked out in full 19th Century Mexican regalia. That's what I call fun for the whole family. [lankowlllyk]

? That's not a brawl. This is a brawl. The Southwestern Athletic Conference has suspended a whopping 41 players from last Saturday's wild postgame brawl between Southern and Arkansas-Pine Bluff, eight of them for two games for using "excessive force" in the melee. Among the suspendees: Arkansas-Pine Bluff's top pass rusher, three of Southern's four leading tacklers and both teams' leading receivers. [Associated Press]

? Don't get too comfortable. Ohio State and interim head coach Luke Fickell have agreed on a restructured contract that will pay Fickell $775,000 this year, but also makes clear he's not guaranteed anything after the contract expires on Jan. 31, 2012. "This agreement is renewable solely upon an offer from Ohio State and an acceptance by coach," the contract stipulates in section 2.0 under Term, according to the Associated Press. "This agreement in no way grants coach a claim to tenure in employment." Fickell is widely expected to be on his way out at the end of the year in favor of a bigger name, depending on the severity of pending NCAA sanctions in the meantime. [Associated Press, Columbus Dispatch]

? I are serious Congressman. This is serious letter. Add another politician to the ranks of BCS haters in Washington: Michigan Rep. John Conyers, who sent a letter to the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee Wednesday urging the committee to hold panels on antitrust claims against the BCS and a "combination of issues and challenges facing intercollegiate sports," including conference realignment and use of athletes' images in video games. "?[M]odern-day college athletics is a massive business, with widespread economic impact on athletes, their families, broadcasters, and fans as well as universities and colleges all over the country," Conyers wrote. "Today, I believe, the time is ripe for our committee to again take the lead when no other entity appears to have the authority or standing to act to protect the interests of athletes, their families, smaller colleges, and [historical black colleges]." [USA Today, National Journal]

Quickly? Banged-up USC running back Marc Tyler says he can go Saturday at Notre Dame. ? Texas reportedly pays $400,000 to settle a sexual harassment suit against Mack Brown's former right hand man. ? Death to the BCS! ? And Mike Gundy says Oklahoma State spends 4.5 hours on the practice field per week. Per week.

- - -
Matt Hinton is on Facebook and Twitter: Follow him @DrSaturday.

Source: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/Headlinin-This-is-Rick-Neuheisel-s-final-count?urn=ncaaf-wp8382

Michael Del Zotto Steven Delisle James DeLory Jason Demers