Chris Mannix: Floyd Mayweather tempts the boxing nation with talks of Pacquiao fight, but disappoints

We let ourselves be sucked in, lured — again — by the Sirens song of one of the most anticipated fights in boxing history. In the end we are left with nothing, a nation of Charlie Browns duped once more by two greedy and petulant Lucys.
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Stewart Mandel: Saban, disciples again rule Signing Day; 2012 superlatives

We begin with a requisite nod to Nick Saban. Fresh off his second BCS championship in three years, Saban claimed the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class for the fourth time in six years at Alabama. The beast is self-sustaining now.
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Andy Staples: An inside look at how Vandy landed its best recruiting class in history

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — James Franklin got an iPhone for Christmas. Eventually, the Vanderbilt football coach will migrate everything from his old BlackBerry to the new phone, but for now, both phones dangle from clips on his belt and buzz constantly. “My wife makes fun of me,” Franklin said. “Even if I’m in my boxers, I [...]

Paul Daugherty: Giants found key to defensive revival where they left him

Chase Blackburn always had a bag packed. Just because the New York Giants no longer wanted him didn’t mean no other team would. For three months, he kept the suitcase by the door.
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Lee Jenkins: Despite shaky season, Grizzlies remain a playoff threat in West

In last year’s playoffs, moments before Game 6 of the first-round series between the Spurs and Grizzlies, Zach Randolph sat in the locker room at FedEx Forum and reflected on what became of the 2007 Golden State Warriors.
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Don Banks: Manning’s future as a Colt overshadowing Super Bowl weekend

INDIANAPOLIS — The irony is too rich to miss here this week. The juxtaposition as stark as it could possibly be. Peyton Manning isn’t in this Super Bowl, but somehow he still looms over it, with the drama surrounding his future providing a backdrop for a game that’s chock full of intriguing storylines.
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Sam Amick: As wins pile up, Thunder dismiss talk of tension between stars

Kevin Durant wandered toward a reporter near the court before a game at Golden State last week to try to understand something that clearly had been bothering him for a while. The Oklahoma City small forward had overheard a television segment about himself and fellow Thunder star Russell Westbrook when he decided to reverse the [...]

Peter King: Umenyiora’s season goes from summer lows to Super highs

INDIANAPOLIS — Many around the Giants never thought they’d see the sight they’ve seen the last month: Osi Umenyiora smiling, happy and, relatively speaking, content.
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Frank Deford: National Signing Day is like Christmas for college football zealots

Well, here we are starting February with the single most important day in sports upon us.
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Jeff Wagenheim: Super Bowl eve matchup of Diaz-Condit in UFC 143 will decide who faces St.-Pierre

For the Giants and Patriots, the journey to the Super Bowl began way back in July when the teams reported for abbreviated training camps. For Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit, the road to the main event on the UFC’s traditional Super Bowl Eve fight card has been even longer, and with more twists and bumps [...]

Andy Staples: Bernard James gives FSU leadership it needed on climb up ACC ranks

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida State guard Luke Loucks still cringes at the memory of the meltdown. The Seminoles, a preseason darling, had lost for the third time in four games, but “loss” doesn’t accurately describe what Clemson did to Florida State on Jan. 7. The Seminoles got mauled, and they didn’t fight back.
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Richard Rothschild: Grading all 45 Super Bowls

Like an underachieving student who needs time to register academic success, the Super Bowl took a few decades before establishing itself as a sporting event that was as much about achievement as it was hype.
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Jim Trotter: DeBartolo set few limits in establishing new example of ownership

INDIANAPOLIS — The Hall of Fame selection meeting takes place each year on the eve of the Super Bowl. More times than not the meeting produces greater intrigue and suspense than the game itself, because there are 15 modern-era finalists competing for a maximum of five open spots.
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Andy Glockner: BracketBusters cause more trouble than their worth, more Bubble Watch

My biggest annual complaint with BracketBusters is that the games between the best teams are set for TV purposes and/or geography rather than what most helps the teams in their quest for NCAA tournament bids. Generally speaking, the games become net losses for the mid-majors, with the losing team often being hurt (or completely KO’d) [...]

Ben Glicksman: Ten burning questions as National Signing Day 2012 nears

National Signing Day is upon us. As college football’s 2012 recruiting classes take shape, familiar faces are again paving the way: Alabama, Texas and Ohio State currently claim the nation’s top three classes. But a number of dark horses are charging hard. After failing to finish in the top 20 last season, Texas A&M, Stanford [...]

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