The Record, Bergen County, NJ

Bergen Catholic Hangs On to Tie

WALL The Bergen Catholic ice hockey team jumped out to an early lead over Christian Brothers Academy on Wednesday afternoon but had to settle for a 1-1 tie in a Gordon Conference match up. The Crusaders couldn't hold off Christian Brothers, who charged back to score a power-play goal in the second period.

Comets' Edwards Answers the Call ; Wins Twice in Holiday Meet

NEW YORK It wasn't an automatic decision for Evana Edwards to become one of Hackensack's indoor track captains. The talented senior is one of the top athletes in North Jersey but her effort wasn't always consistent.

Opossum: Game of the Week

Opossum prefer woodland areas with easy access to water. They are nomadic as a rule, hanging around only as long as food is easily available. They'll sometimes move into burrows abandoned by other animals, but don't usually build their own. Limits and hours: The season opened Oct. 1 and runs through March 1, 2008. Hunting hours are one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise.

Knicks Notes

No Steph at all Stephon Marbury, who missed practice Tuesday (what would have been his late father's birthday) and Wednesday's shoot-around (with what the Knicks said was the flu), dressed for the game, but did not play and didn't warm up for the second half.

Knicks Notes

Isiah won't quit Isiah Thomas said his use of "a couple of weeks" when asked about potential changes earlier this week didn't literally mean "two weeks."

Nfl Notes

Bush practices Reggie Bush returned to practice Wednesday, ahead of schedule after learning only two weeks ago he had a torn left knee ligament.

Tuna Surfaces with Dolphins ; Prepares to Take Over Football Operations

A funny thing happened to Bill Parcells on his way to Atlanta on Wednesday. He wound up in Miami - maybe. In the morning, the former Giants and Jets coach appeared set to accept the position of vice-president of football operations for the Falcons. By afternoon the Falcons announced Parcells would not be joining the organization.

Ex-Jet Mawae Not Big Fan of Mangini

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. When the Jets traded unhappy left guard Pete Kendall to Washington in August, Kevin Mawae wasn't surprised. In fact, the former Jet said Wednesday he "expected" it.

A Good Sign ; Knicks Rally Behind Isiah, Give Critics the Pink Slip

NEW YORK Fire Isiah? That wasn't what the Garden crowd stood and yelled Wednesday in the final stages of the 108-90 beat-down the Knicks laid on LeBron James and the reigning-now-struggling Eastern Conference champion Cavaliers.

Perea's Pin Saves Day for Passaic Tech

WAYNE - With Passaic Tech holding a 20-point lead and five bouts remaining, it seemed only a matter of time before the Bulldogs would close out West Milford on Wednesday night. But the Highlanders didn't subscribe to that notion. They battled back to within four points to set up a final match with everything at stake.

Settling the Score ; Struss Helps Westwood Gain Measure of Revenge

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP - Not only did Westwood lose two close matches to Pompton Lakes last season but junior Justin Struss had dropped both of his bouts by two points. Sure enough, as time ticked down in his 145-pound bout against Pompton Lakes junior Mike Ward on Wednesday night, Struss again found himself trailing by two.

Not Much Juice in Mitchell Evidence

Baltimore Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts got his name in the Mitchell Report on the flimsiest of evidence: Former teammate Larry Bigbie told investigators that Roberts admitted injecting himself with steroids "once or twice." No unmarked packages mailed to Camden Yards. No canceled checks retrieved from the files of a shady clubhouse mule. No failed drug test, no trainer saying he squeezed the syringe, no physical evidence of any kind.

Rose Blooms, Finds Range Against Cincy

Freshman guard Derrick Rose scored a career-high 26 points Wednesday, steadying No. 2 Memphis in a 79-69 victory over Cincinnati that left the visiting Tigers frustrated but unbeaten. Memphis improved to 9-0 for the first time since 1985-86, when the Tigers won their first 20 games, a school record.

It's Snow Wonder Real Stuff Is Best

Let us now praise natural snow. The north country was blessed this winter with a few early snowstorms. Then, this past weekend, a whopper passed through, leaving, according to SnoCountry.com, nearly two feet of new snow in central and northern Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and Whiteface; more than six inches at Hunter and Windham; and four inches at Camelback. Now, ski area operators sing hosannas to machine-made snow, and you can't blame them. After all, without those machines they'd have li...

Baseball Notes

Curt blasts Rocket Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling called on Roger Clemens to give up the four Cy Young Awards he's won since 1997 if he can't clear his name from allegations that he used steroids to prolong his career.

Msu Likes Englewood's Williams

James Williams has taken to college basketball in rapid fashion. Montclair State's freshman guard from Englewood won New Jersey Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week for the second consecutive week after averaging 18.5 points and 3.5 assists in a pair of MSU wins.

Nets' Boone to Get Real Deal Vs. Shaq

MIAMI - As a preteen, Josh Boone stood next to a cardboard cutout of hulking Shaquille O'Neal in the mall and his mother snapped a photo. He was about 3 feet shorter than his idol. Now, about 12 years later and all grown up, the Nets' second- year center is closer in height but still giving up about 100 pounds to O'Neal, who is listed at 325. Tonight, Boone, 23, may wish he was back in the mall standing next to the cardboard Shaq because he's going to feel the force and power of the real Diesel.

Wpu Tabs Flora As Interim Coach

WAYNE Jerry Flora has been named interim head football coach at William Paterson University. Flora replaces Mike Miello, who resigned last month. Flora has been at William Paterson for six years. Last season he coached the wide receivers in addition to his duties as offensive coordinator. He also was the recruiting coordinator.

Fsu Calls Off Practice ; About 24 Players Are Facing Suspension

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Florida State coach Bobby Bowden called off an afternoon practice Wednesday to meet with his players, about two dozen of whom are expected to be suspended for the Music City Bowl for involvement in an academic cheating scandal. The Seminoles (7-5) will take on Kentucky (7-5) on New Year's Eve in Nashville, Tenn., with a decidedly watered-down roster.

Romo's Girlfriend Gets Heat ; Cowboys, Fans Not Thrilled with Jessica Simpson

IRVING, Texas Terrell Owens has a message for Jessica Simpson: Stay away. The singer-actress has become Public Enemy No. 1 among Dallas Cowboys fans because of a link being made between her appearance at Sunday's game and the poor performance of her new boyfriend, quarterback Tony Romo.