The Record, Bergen County, NJ

Fans Angry at Nfl Over Cable Mess

Chuck Woehler doesn't understand the intricacies of the feud between the NFL Network and the big cable companies, nor does he care to. All he knows is he won't be able to watch his beloved Dallas Cowboys from his San Antonio home as he can every other week and he faults the NFL for that. Football fans will feel the impact of the wrangling like never before when two teams with 10-1 records and huge national appeal face off Thursday night on a channel available in fewer than 40 percent of the ...

Nfl Alums to Get Boost From Chief

CHICAGO Some NFL players will donate part of their paychecks from the league's Dec. 23 games to help needy retired players. Kansas City Chiefs lineman Kyle Turley said at a news conference to announce the plan Tuesday at Mike Ditka's restaurant that he will donate his entire $25,000 paycheck.

Hall of Fame Jockey Dies - Bill Hartack

FREER, Texas Bill Hartack, a Hall of Fame jockey and five-time Kentucky Derby winner, has died while on a hunting vacation. He was 74. Hartack died Monday night from natural causes due to heart disease, said Dr. Corinne Stern, the chief medical examiner in south Texas' Webb County.

Gatorade Inventor Dies at Age 80 - Dr. J. Robert Cade

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Dr. J. Robert Cade, who invented Gatorade and launched a multibillion-dollar industry that the sports drink continues to dominate, died Tuesday of kidney failure. He was 80. His death was announced by the University of Florida, where he and other researchers created Gatorade in 1965 to help the school's football players replace carbohydrates and electrolytes lost through sweat while playing in swamp-like heat.

Hot Devils Excited to Be Healthy Again

NEWARK Devils coach Brent Sutter is superstitious when it comes to injuries, so he wasn't interested in saying much Tuesday about having his team at full strength for the first time this season for tonight's game against the Dallas Stars. "It's nice to get healthy, but I hate talking about it," Sutter said,

Bertuzzi Back to Site of Attack

VANCOUVER, British Columbia Todd Bertuzzi is back at the scene of the crime literally for the first time as an opponent. Bertuzzi returned to Vancouver as a member of the Anaheim Ducks for Tuesday night's game against the Canucks, his first visit since his old team traded the beleaguered winger to Florida two summers ago as part of a five-player package that brought back star goaltender Roberto Luongo.

No. 7 Duke Stops No. 20 Wisconsin ; Paulus, Blue Devils On a Great Run

Duke figured out how to make up for its size disadvantage against Wisconsin: Turn up the tempo. Greg Paulus scored 13 of his 18 points during the decisive first half, and No. 7 Duke ran No. 20 Wisconsin right out of Cameron Indoor Stadium in an 82-58 rout Tuesday night in Durham, N.C.

Choosing Amount of Buy-In

Whether it's a Friday night game with your buddies, a weekend trip to Vegas to play in a casino or a daily card room game where you're trying to make a living, the amount of your buy-in can have a significant long-term impact on your results. When playing in a no-limit cash game, the appropriate buy-in amount actually will differ from person to person. You need to consider several factors.

Clemens On the Spot Over Last 5 Games

Eric Mangini was asked six questions about Kellen Clemens on Monday. He managed to turn each response into a statement not merely about the quarterback, but about the entire offensive unit. That's his prerogative. There's no law that says an NFL coach has to give straight answers to the media. And Mangini obviously believes that tap-dancing around the truth, or sometimes avoiding it altogether, gives his team a better chance to win. But that doesn't mean his policy isn't frustrating to report...

Sports Ticker

BASKETBALL Indiana guard Jordan Crawford has been suspended three games for violating team rules, coach Kelvin Sampson said Tuesday. Crawford, a freshman, has been a key reserve for Indiana this season, averaging 12.6 points. * Arizona's Hall of Fame basketball coach Lute Olson, on a leave of absence since Nov. 4, will return for some practices, but not for games just yet.

Home Is Where the Hurt Is ; Nets Lay an Egg in First Game Back After Solid Trip

EAST RUTHERFORD The road has been kinder to the Nets than their home arena, where teams come and regularly build early double-digit leads. The Memphis Grizzlies, losers of five straight road games before Tuesday, are the latest to feast on the Nets' inability to play with the same intensity from start to finish.

League in State of Shock ; Nfl Mourns Taylor's Death

ASHBURN, Va. Just hours after Sean Taylor's death, Washington Redskins' fans already had created a makeshift memorial: "Rest in Paradise, No. 21." Black memorial draping was hung above the entrance to Redskins Park on Tuesday, and the No. 21 was painted in white with gold trim on the grass outside the front gate.

Santana Claus ; Twin's Ace On Yankees, Mets Holiday Wish Lists

When Omar Minaya has wanted something for the Mets, he and his staff have left no stones unturned, calling daily, flying across the globe and wining and dining with the recruiting fervor of a college coach. But the charm and the money might not be enough this time for the Mets to land the player that they view as the prize of the winter, Johan Santana.

Santana Claus ; Twin's Ace On Yankees, Mets Holiday Wish Lists

In their pursuit of Minnesota Twins ace Johan Santana, the Yankees must be willing to give until it hurts. The Mets, Dodgers and Red Sox will be in there, too, pitching young impact players and prospects. And then, there's the matter of an extension for the prize left-hander - something in the neighborhood of $150 million.

Driver Puts Life Back On Track ; Fike Delivers Anti-Drug Message

CINCINNATI NASCAR driver Aaron Fike understands where he was headed when he was arrested while shooting up heroin in an amusement park parking lot this summer. "After four months of intense rehabilitation, I know that if it were not for my arrest, I would be dead," he said. "At one point during my addiction, I stopped breathing and nearly died. Sooner or later, my luck would have run out."

Beckham Hits Crowd-Pleaser ; Australians Watch Superstar Bend One

SYDNEY, Australia With David Beckham bent over clutching his ankle, the Galaxy's first exhibition outside North America seemed doomed to go down as a failed marketing exercise. When the England midfielder bent a trademark free kick into the goal 18 minutes later and 80,295 people rose to their feet cheering, it suddenly was an unqualified success.

Heavy Hitters ; Hills' Lb Waller a Nightmare for Offenses

WAYNE Mike Roman watched Tim Waller play linebacker, how he pursued the ball, how he hit people. Then he realized he wasn't the only one watching, that his teammates, too, were trying to emulate his Wayne neighbor's football instincts. But while they all strove to match Waller's level, the bar had been set fairly high. Of course, this was only third grade.

Brain and Brawn, Valley's Landberg Does It All

They call it tackle football and no player in the Wayne Valley- Wayne Hills championship game has more tackles than Michael Landberg. No one has a better GPA, either.

North 1, Group 3 Matchup

Playoff history Wayne Valley: The Indians are playing in their first title game since losing to Demarest in 1992. They last won a crown in 1991 with a 7-0 victory over Wayne Hills at Valley. Valley has won State titles in 1967, '68, '70, '84, '88 and '89.

King James Outduels Big 3 ; Lebron Hands Celtics Their Second Loss in Overtime Thriller

LeBron James handed the Celtics' Big 3 loss No. 2. King James scored 38 points, hitting a crucial three-pointer and all six free throws in overtime as the Cavaliers won their fourth straight, 109-104, over Boston and its heralded trio in Cleveland.