Eagles to host Bengals
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Cincinnati Bengals look to keep their playoff hopes alive while the Philadelphia Eagles look to add some respectability to their season with a second straight win.
The Bengals enter tonight’s game with the Eagles in Philadelphia with a record of 7-6. They and the Pittsburgh Steelers start the new week of play two games back of the Ravens in the AFC North. Baltimore is home to Denver this Sunday while the Steelers are at Dallas.
The Eagles, who beat the Bucs last Sunday, are just 4-9 and in last place in the NFC East. All four of the wins have come by two points or less.
The last time these clubs met was four years ago and the result was a 13-13 tie.
Kobe hits the Garden tonight
UNDATED (AP) — After a busy night of play last night, there are just three games in the NBA this evening.
One of the all-time rivalries in the league resumes tonight as the Lakers invade Madison Square Garden for a game with the Knicks. The game also marks the return of Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni to New York since his resignation as Knicks coach last March.
The Lakers enter the game riding a three-game losing streak while the Knicks are fresh of a win Tuesday in Brooklyn over the Nets.
By the way you can look for a big night from Kobe Bryant as he has averaged 34.6 points a game at the Garden since the beginning of the 1999-2000 season. That’s his best on any opponent’s floor.
In Atlanta, the Hawks are playing host this evening to the Bobcats. After a slow start, with wins in just 3 of their first seven games, the Hawks have rattled off wins in 10 of their last 12 outings. The Bobcats on the other hand have lost their last nine games along with the first two games against the Hawks this season.
The final game of the evening is being played in Portland where the Blazers entertain the Spurs. San Antonio comes in with wins in 18 of their 23 games this season. They had a five-game winning streak snapped by the Jazz last night. The Blazers are in last place in the Northwest Division with a record of 9-12. They’ve dropped 6 of their last 8.
Aresco, basketball schools talk Big East future
NEW YORK (AP) — Big East Commissioner Mike Aresco is working with the officials from the conference’s seven nonfootball members to keep the rebuilding league from splitting apart.
A person familiar with the situation tells The Associated Press that Aresco and officials from those seven Catholic schools held a conference call Thursday to discuss the future of the league. Those schools are considering breaking away from the rest of the transitioning league.
Such a break could kill the Big East, but it would most likely not end easily.
The current Big East football membership includes only four schools — South Florida, Connecticut, Cincinnati and Temple — that are committed to the league beyond 2013. But there are 11 schools with plans to join the Big East in the next three years.
Tebow will be active for Jets, but no wildcat
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Tim Tebow’s days of running the New York Jets’ wildcat-style offense appear over for now.
Rex Ryan says Thursday that the backup quarterback will be active Monday night at Tennessee, but will likely not run the wildcat or participate as the punt protector on special teams. Tebow has not played in the Jets’ last three games while dealing with two broken ribs, sustained Nov. 11 at Seattle.
Ryan says Tebow has been medically cleared to play the last few weeks, but the coach has chosen to keep Tebow on the sideline rather than risk further injury. Ryan adds that it’s possible third-stringer Greg McElroy, who led the Jets to a comeback win over Arizona two weeks ago, could also be active but Tebow is still the No. 2 quarterback.
Red Sox finalize Victorino’s $39M, 3-year deal
BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox say Shane Victorino is a big part of rebuilding from last season’s last-place finish.
The Red Sox introduced the longtime Phillies outfielder at Fenway Park on Thursday after finalizing a $39 million, three-year contract agreed to Dec. 4 at baseball’s winter meetings.
Nicknamed the Flyin’ Hawaiian, Victorino is a .275 hitter with 90 homers in seven full seasons. He came up to the major leagues with San Diego but played most of his career with Philadelphia before he was sent to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the July 31 trade deadline.
Victorino says his time in Philadelphia has prepared him to play in Fenway Park.