http://wizbangsports.com/2008/02/kings_for_a_day_miami_heat_def.

Only the Heat's second win in over two months.

MIAMI - The sound you heard Tuesday night was not the scant crowd at AmericanAirlines Arena offering its approval of the Heat's 107-86 victory over the Kings.

Instead, it was the pop of the champagne in Philadelphia, where the 1972-73 76ers were assured of another year of their place in history.

As bad as it has gotten this season, the Heat won't be the worst team in NBA history.

Instead, broadcaster and former 76ers guard Fred Carter can retain his claim as "the best player on the worst team ever."

With Philadelphia's 9-73 infamy of 35 years ago out of the way, the Heat next can concentrate of shedding a different layer of shame, the franchise's worst finish of 15-67 during its inaugural 1988-89 season.

Continue reading "Kings for a day- Miami Heat defeat Sacramento 107-86"

http://wizbangsports.com/2008/02/penguins_goalie_conklin_stops.p

The rookie has been nothing short of incredible this year. From AP-

After the Pittsburgh Penguins came away as the NHL's trade deadline winners, Ty Conklin helped them savor their big day with an eye-popping performance.

Conklin made a career-best 50 saves Tuesday night in the Penguins' 4-2 victory over the New York Islanders -- hours after Pittsburgh acquired Marian Hossa from Atlanta.

"I haven't seen a goalie steal a game like that this year," Penguins defenseman Ryan Whitney said.

Evgeni Malkin and Jeff Taffe scored first-period goals for trade-depleted Pittsburgh, and Conklin did the rest. The Penguins -- still playing without an injured Sidney Crosby -- were outshot 52-21, including 11-4 in the second period.

Continue reading "Penguin's goalie Conklin stops 50 in 4-2 win over NY Islanders"

http://wizbangsports.com/2008/02/horse_racing_bet_makes_man_bir.

What a gift Fred Craggs from Yorkshire got.

LONDON (Reuters) - A British man celebrated his 60th birthday in unexpected style at the weekend when a 50 pence ($1) bet on the horses turned him into an instant millionaire.

Fred Craggs, from Yorkshire in northern England, was not even aware of his win when he walked into a branch of the William Hill betting agency to see how he had done with his accumulator bet.

When he was informed of his good fortune he was said to have turned rather pale and muttered that he had better go home to tell his wife.

His coup was selecting eight winners running at various courses around the country -- starting with one called "Isn't That Lucky" and finishing with "A Dream Come True" -- at odds of 2,000,000 to one.

Continue reading "Horse racing bet makes man birthday millionaire"

http://wizbangsports.com/2008/02/ottawa_senators_fire_coach_joh.

This comes with less than 20 games left in the NHL season.

OTTAWA -- The Ottawa Senators, looking sluggish in a recent, lengthy slump, on Wednesday fired coach John Paddock.

General manager Bryan Murray will take over coaching duties for the last 18 games of the regular season. Murray was coach when the Senators advanced to the Stanley Cup finals in 2006-07, but stepped aside to become GM during the summer, and Paddock was given the job as coach.

The Senators lead the Northeast Division by a point over the Montreal Canadiens, but have been shut out in their past two games. Ottawa has lost six of its past eight games and 14 of its last 21.

Continue reading "Ottawa Senators fire coach John Paddock"

http://wizbangsports.com/2008/02/vancouver_trades_cooke_to_wash.

Both team's coaches won't have a hard time learning their new player's first name. From the Canadian Press-

VANCOUVER - Matt Pettinger is heading back to British Columbia.

The Vancouver Canucks acquired him from the Washington Capitals on Tuesday for winger Matt Cooke. Both players are leaving the only NHL team they have ever played for.

Continue reading "Vancouver trades Cooke to Washington for Pettinger"

http://wizbangsports.com/2008/02/washington_capitals_get_goalie.

This trade is a real head scratcher.

WASHINGTON - The Washington Capitals have acquired goalie Cristobal Huet from the Montreal Canadiens for a 2009 second-round draft pick. The deal Tuesday comes a few hours before the deadline for making trades in the NHL.

Huet has been Montreal's No. 1 goalie this season. The 2007 All-Star is 21-12-6 with a 2.55 goals-against average.

The Capitals' top goalie has been Olie Kolzig, who is 21-19-6 with a 3.03 GAA.

Washington has climbed from the bottom of the NHL to within striking distance of a playoff berth.

The draft pick Montreal gets was previously acquired by Washington from Anaheim for Brian Sutherby.

Continue reading "Washington Capitals get goalie Huet from Montreal"

http://wizbangsports.com/2008/02/blaze_interview_stevie_johnson.

After a recent article on the Iowa Energy, Iowa State fans were left wondering if Stevie

Johnson had any interest in the NBDL. Luckily, I was able to catch Stevie, and he gave

a great interview about life in basketball after college. Johnson was one of the stars on

the best team in Iowa State history leading the second seeded Cyclones all the way to

the elite eight in the 2000 NCAA Tournament. Below are his current stats with Caja

Continue reading "Blaze Interview: Stevie Johnson NBDL Bound?"

http://wizbangsports.com/2008/02/fbi_opens_inquiry_into_clemens.

To no one's surprise really, the feds are going to waste our hard-earned money (aka: tax dollars) and look into whether or not pitcher Roger Clemens lied about use of performance-enhancing drugs to Congress, reports ESPN.

Whew, boy I'm glad the feds are looking into this! My life certainly couldn't have gone on had they not!

Geezus.

Don't get me wrong, if Clemens lied, that's a bad thing. But come on, did a matter in a private company (MLB) really have to come before Congress in the first place?

No, but here we are.

Continue reading "FBI Opens Inquiry Into Clemens' Testimony"

http://wizbangsports.com/2008/02/predicting_dark_horses_in_febr.

College football is almost seven months away and people are already making predictions?

In his defense, Olin Buchanan writing at Rivals.com does admit early in the article that predicting National Championship teams this early is ridiculous but he does it anyway.

Still, if Georgia, LSU, USC, Oklahoma, West Virginia or Missouri were picked to reach next year's BCS National Championship Game, even the harshest cynics likely would agree those wouldn't be outlandish predictions.

But those who like to look for a solid pick with good odds, those who always are seeking the team flying just under the radar and those who love to bet on the dark horse should not forget a certain successful team in the Big Ten.

Continue reading "Predicting Dark Horses in February?"

http://wizbangsports.com/2008/02/dolphins_determined_to_stay_in.

Last year the Miami Dolphins came within a whisper of achieving a most dubious distinction; that of being the only team in NFL history to go an entire season undefeated and also the only team to lose every game. Then on December 16th the Baltimore Ravens gave them an early Christmas present and blew a game that they clearly should have won.

This will not stand and the Dolphins intend to make that mark this year.

FOXSports.com has learned Oakland's Josh McCown has agreed to a two-year, $6.25 million contract with the Dolphins. McCown will receive a $2.5 million signing bonus.

The Dolphins were seeking to address the position after releasing Trent Green and, as FOXSports.com first reported, allowing Cleo Lemon to leave via free agency today to Jacksonville. Before the McCown signing, unproven 2007 second-round draft pick John Beck was the only notable quarterback on the roster.

Continue reading "Dolphins Determined to Stay in the Cellar"

http://wizbangsports.com/2008/02/bobby_knight_media_icon.php

This story is more than incredible...it's true.

Bobby Knight has just signed a deal to work with ESPN during March. Who's the best sports analyst on television/radio?

Knight has openly loathed the media for his entire coaching career. He has done everything possible to belittle the reporters, although not as much as his own players.

It is not surprising that Knight refused to just fade away. It is truly a shame that such a man who claimed so much "principle" has simply sold out. I think it would be hilarious if some upstart, young coach who manages to get in the dance berates him like Knight has done for years.

What could he do? Maybe throw a chair?

Continue reading "Bobby Knight: Media Icon?"