Manning brothers selected for Pro Bowl
nfl
Peyton and Eli Manning were voted to the Pro Bowl yesterday, marking the first time quarterback-playing brothers have been chosen for the same all-star game. The Indianapolis Colts' Peyton will make his ninth appearance in 11 seasons and will start for the AFC. It will be the first appearance for Eli, who was the Most Valuable Player for the New York Giants in their Super Bowl win in February. He will be on the NFC team. The Giants also landed the oldest Pro Bowl choice ever, kicker John Carney, 44, who was signed at the start of the season as a short-term fill-in for the injured Lawrence Tynes. Carney has made 27 of 29 field-goal tries. The New York Jets led all teams with seven Pro Bowl picks, including quarterback Brett Favre, who will be in his 10th Pro Bowl but his first representing the AFC. There will be six each from the Giants, Minnesota Vikings and Tennessee Titans in the game, to be played Feb. 8 in Honolulu. For complete Pro Bowl rosters, see For The Record on Page 7.
Jurisprudence: : Suspended NFL star Michael Vick could be out of federal prison and in a Virginia halfway house by Jan. 20, one of his attorneys told a federal bankruptcy judge in Norfolk, Va. Vick is serving a 23-month prison term in Leavenworth, Kan., for bankrolling a dogfighting conspiracy and is scheduled to be released from federal custody about July 20. Last month, Vick also pleaded guilty to a state dogfighting charge, avoiding more prison time. The case's resolution also cleared the way for his early release from prison and possible transition into a halfway house. Attorneys for the suspended Falcons quarterback contend his long-distance absence has complicated his bankruptcy proceedings in Virginia, so they are working to get him moved to the state, said Michael Blumenthal, one of Vick's bankruptcy attorneys.
Television: : The Cowboys' 20-8 victory over the Giants drew the most viewers ever for a Sunday Night Football game. The game on NBC attracted 23.1 million viewers, the network said.
Penn State's Paterno gets 3-year extension
col. football
Penn State coach Joe Paterno has a new three-year contract extension to go along with his new hip. The Hall of Famer and winningest coach in major college football history agreed to a deal that runs through the 2011 season. Paterno will turn 82 on Sunday. A statement from the athletic department said Paterno and administrators also agreed they might re-evaluate and alter the arrangement as necessary. The agreement comes more than three weeks after Paterno had hip-replacement surgery. Sixth-ranked Penn State is getting ready for the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day against No. 5 Southern California.
AP All-America teams: : Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis became a three-time Associated Press All-American, joining Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford, the Heisman Trophy winner, and wide receiver Michael Crabtree of Texas Tech on the first team. For the complete list of AP All-Americans, see For The Record on Page 7.
BCS title game: : College football live in 3-D is coming soon to movie theaters. Burbank, Calif.-based 3ality Digital said it won the contract to shoot the Jan. 8 Bowl Championship Series national title game between Florida and Oklahoma in 3-D. It will be broadcast live in 3-D to 80 to 100 movie theaters in about 30 U.S. cities. Tickets are expected to cost $18 to $22. The closest theater to Baltimore scheduled to show the game in 3-D is the Marquee-South Point in Fredericksburg, Va.
Oklahoma: : Running back DeMarco Murray will have surgery to repair a hamstring injury and miss the BCS national championship game. Murray is the team's second-leading rusher with 1,002 yards.
Florida: : Newly hired Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen decided he will stay with the Gators as offensive coordinator through the national championship game.
Buffalo: : Coach Turner Gill is staying put for at least another season and won't consider interviewing for other jobs after receiving a one-year contract extension and raise. The new deal runs through 2013. In his third season, Gill led the Bulls (8-5) to the Mid-American Conference title.
Et cetera: : Meineke Bowl officials said more than 73,000 tickets have been sold for the Dec. 27 game between North Carolina and West Virginia for the bowl's third sellout in seven seasons at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. ... Michigan defensive coordinator Scott Shafer resigned. ... South Carolina safety Emanuel Cook was declared academically ineligible for the Outback Bowl against Iowa.
No. 8 Duke women top No. 3 Stanford, 56-52
col. basketball
Karima Christmas scored 10 of her career-high 14 points in the second half and chased down a critical rebound to lead No. 8 Duke past No. 3 Stanford, 56-52, in Durham, N.C. The Blue Devils (7-1) ended a six-game winning streak for the Cardinal (7-2).
Other Top 25 women: : Danielle Wilson had 23 points as No. 7 Baylor (10-1) won, 73-27, over visiting Texas-Pan American (5-5). ... Shavonte Zellous scored 26 points and No. 16 Pittsburgh (8-1) rolled, 98-41, over visiting Wagner (3-5). ... Jantel Lavender scored 29 points to lift No. 18 Ohio State (9-2) to a 68-35 home victory over Delaware State (2-6). ... Andrea Riley had a season-low 14 points, but No. 22 Oklahoma State (5-2) still won, 58-48, at home over Oral Roberts (5-5).
Top 25 men: : Wayne Chism had 21 of his 26 points in the second half and No. 16 Tennessee (7-2) won, 80-68, over No. 24 Marquette (8-2) in Nashville. ... A.J. Abrams scored 27 points to lift No. 5 Texas (9-1) to an 88-72 victory over visiting Texas Southern (0-9). ... Trevor Booker had 16 points and No. 25 Clemson moved to 11-0 for the third time in four seasons with a 76-36 home win over North Florida (0-8).
Commission to consider eliminating video appeals
horse racing
The Maryland Racing Commission approved a proposal to consider eliminating the appeals process that allows the commission to overturn decisions by thoroughbred race stewards and harness race judges using videotapes of the races. Currently, owners and trainers can appeal decisions made by stewards and judges to the commission, which then reviews race tapes and listens to testimony. There were two recent instances of harness judges' decisions being overturned that prompted yesterday's discussion. A final vote is not likely until at least spring, after there has been public input. In other racing news, former commissioner Jacqui Nigh announced her resignation. She is taking a position with the Maryland Jockey Club as director of corporate business development. BILL ORDINE
Harrington chosen PGA Tour's top player
et cetera
Padraig Harrington, the fourth player to win the British Open and PGA Championship in the same season, became the first European player to win the PGA Tour Player of the Year award since it began in 1990. He presumably beat out Tiger Woods, who won four times, including the U.S. Open, in his six tournaments before season-ending knee surgery in June. The tour does not disclose vote totals.
NHL: : Alex Ovechkin scored his second goal of the game with 10.7 seconds left in overtime, and the Washington Capitals gave the host New York Islanders their seventh straight loss, 5-4. The Capitals have won four straight.
Baseball: : Shortstop Rafael Furcal was close to accepting a three-year, $30 million offer to return to the Braves, his agent, Paul Kinzer, told the AP. Furcal, 31, began his major league career with Atlanta.
More baseball: : Outfielder Raul Ibanez and the Phillies finalized a three-year, $31.5 million contract. ... Ex-Royals outfielder Joey Gathright and the Cubs agreed to a one-year, $800,000 contract. ... Left-handed pitcher Chris Capuano stayed with the Brewers, agreeing to a minor league contract after the team let him go. ... Left-hander John Bale, an ex-Oriole, and the Royals agreed to a one-year contract.
Cycling: : Lance Armstrong's comeback race will be televised in the United States. Versus, which airs the Tour de France, said it has added U.S. rights for the Tour Down Under in Australia in January. Armstrong plans to make that his first event after a three-year retirement.
Soccer: : Sigi Schmid was named the first coach of the Seattle Sounders FC, three weeks after he led the Columbus Crew to the Major League Soccer championship.