The Record, Bergen County, NJ

Kwan Going for Her Eighth Title

And on the men's side, will it come down to a Timothy Goebel- Michael Weiss showdown? Here's a look at the favorites at this week's U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Atlanta: WOMEN

Clippers Top Short-Handed Lakers

LOS ANGELES - The short-handed Los Angeles Lakers didn't have quite enough to beat the Clippers on Sunday night despite 44 points and 10 rebounds by Kobe Bryant - both season highs. Elton Brand had 30 points, 15 rebounds, six assists, and five blocked shots to lead the Clippers to a 101-98 victory - just their third win in the last 26 games between the crosstown rivals.

Isiah Takes Heat Off Chaney

NEW YORK - Isiah Thomas has sounded like a broken record since becoming the Knicks' president, saying repeatedly that his job is to instill confidence in his coaches and players. He played that record again Sunday, giving coach Don Chaney and power forward Kurt Thomas strong votes of confidence about their New York futures. He also said that downtrodden Antonio McDyess should keep his head up because the Knicks need him.

Knicks Odds and Ends

Paying tribute to Whelan The Knicks held a moment of silence before the game to honor former trainer Danny Whelan, who died Friday. He was 84.

Nets Odds and Ends

Williams in, then out As he warmed up on the floor before Sunday's game, backup center Aaron Williams said he felt well enough to play after missing eight games with a pulled groin. But when coach Byron Scott and trainer Tim Walsh asked how he felt after his workout, he said he still felt a little something.

Westwood Shooting to Win a League Title

Westwood aspires to challenge for BCSL American and Group 1 sectional titles and, behind 1,000-point scorer Marcus Gomes, is off to its best start in at least 20 years. Gomes cracked 1,000 career points and Westwood climbed to 4-0 by defeating host Wood-Ridge, 73-50, in the final of last week's Blue Devil Classic.

Harrison a Hit for Kennedy ; Sophomore Is a Driving Force in Lady Knights' Recent Success

When Sha'ron Harrison met Kennedy coach Marquette Burgess before her freshman season, she was puzzled by one of the first things he said to her. "I told her that I just got the steal of the draft," Burgess said. "She didn't know what I meant. Everyone was talking about the great freshman class at other schools, but I said, 'Don't worry, sweetheart, you're flying under the radar now.' Well, no more."

Girls Top 25

1. Eastside (5-1) After dropping a game in Atlantic City, the Ghosts face Paramus Catholic and Immaculate Heart back-to-back this week.

Bcs Seeks Remedy After 'Mistake' ; Selection Process May Include a Committee

NEW ORLEANS - Conceding "we made a mistake," the head of the BCS said an NCAA basketball tournament-style committee might become part of the selection process next season - reducing the possibility of a split national championship in football. Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese on Sunday said several issues will be discussed in the coming months, including eliminating computers from the selection process and adding an extra Bowl Championship Series game.

Star Power ; Kidd Frolics On Grand Garden Stage to Lead Nets

NEW YORK - Jason Kidd may play on the New Jersey side of the Hudson, but when he steps onto the floor at Madison Square Garden, he turns into something New York City clutches to its chest. He channels the greatness of Walt Frazier, Dick McGuire at the old Garden, and all the hotshot college and high school point guards who have turned on Garden crowds for decades. He becomes the star of the show, the consummate point guard.

Defense Carries Lsu to Bcs Crown ; Tigers Put the Clamps On White, Oklahoma

NEW ORLEANS - There's no question who's No. 1 to the thousands of purple-and-gold partyers in tiger stripes who packed the Superdome and Bourbon Street. That Louisiana State will have to share the national title hardly matters.

Peyton Puts On a Show for Colts

INDIANAPOLIS - Peyton Manning saw Marvin Harrison fall to the turf after a 16-yard catch and was getting ready to huddle for the next play. "All of a sudden, I see Marvin sprinting for the end zone," Manning said. "When something like that happens, it tells you maybe it's going to be your day."

Packers Win in Ot Stunner ; Harris Interception Dooms Seahawks

GREEN BAY, Wis. - Al Harris never had a chance for a Lambeau Leap. By the time he thought about it Sunday, he was buried under an avalanche of teammates. His long dreadlocks flapping outside his helmet in the frigid wind, Harris streamed down the sideline with a 52-yard interception return in overtime, lifting the Green Bay Packers past the Seattle Seahawks, 33-27, in a first-round NFC playoff game.

Devil has the Green Light ; Stevenson Ready to Go; Hopes Infection Won't Flare Up Again

Although some of the Devils might still be a little road weary when they host the Edmonton Oilers tonight at Continental Arena, at least one player should be raring to go. Right wing Turner Stevenson hopes to return to action after missing the last 12 games because of a testicular infection. If it were up to Stevenson, he probably would have rejoined the Devils for the final two games of their four-game trip, on which they went 1-2- 1 after a 3-2 loss in Nashville on Saturday night. But the D...

Sports Briefs

WINTER SPORTS American Todd Lodwick won a Nordic combined event at Schonach, Germany, edging overall World Cup leader Ronny Ackermann of Germany by two ski lengths. * Finland's Kalle Palander won a World Cup slalom at Flachau, Austria, despite a cast on his arm because of tendinitis, and American Bode Miller again failed to finish. * Alexandra Meissnitzer won a World Cup super giant slalom at Megeve, France, for her first victory since 1999, leading a 1-2-3 Austrian sweep. * Silke Kraushaar w...

Oilers Rally to Top Blackhawks

Ethan Moreau snapped a tie 55 seconds into the third period and the Edmonton Oilers rallied from a two-goal deficit to defeat the Chicago Blackhawks, 4-3, Sunday night at Chicago. Moreau beat Steve Passmore on the short side with a high shot from a sharp angle, giving the Oilers a 4-3 lead. Tommy Salo made 22 saves for the Oilers, who take a two-game win streak into tonight's game against the Devils at Continental Arena.

Bcs May See Some Tweaks ; Basketball-Style Panel Proposed

NEW ORLEANS - Conceding "we made a mistake," the head of the BCS said an NCAA basketball tournament-style committee might become part of the selection process next season - reducing the possibility of a split national championship in football. Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese on Sunday said several issues will be discussed in the coming months, including eliminating computers from the selection process and adding an extra Bowl Championship Series game.

Pondexter Helps Rutgers Sink Osu ; Three-Pointer Caps Knights' Comeback

PISCATAWAY - Cappie Pondexter waited. The buzzer had sounded, no whistle was blown, and the ref had started to jog toward his locker room. Three more seconds and the Rutgers' guard broke her freeze, raced to her basket, leapt for the rim, and came down into three beaming, ponytail-mussing fist pumps.

Penn State's Strom Scores with Game On the Line

Jess Strom made two free throws with 10.3 seconds left to lift No. 10 Penn State over No. 23 Michigan State, 64-62, in women's basketball on Sunday at State College, Pa. It was just the second lead for the Nittany Lions (9-3, 2-0 Big Ten) in the game, and the first since Jess Brungo scored 24 seconds in.

Whitaker Leads Fdu Past Army

Marcus Whitaker had 16 points and seven assists to lead Fairleigh Dickinson to its third straight win Sunday, a 57-48 victory over Army at West Point, N.Y. Knights' coach Tom Green said Whitaker was due for a big game.