FRIDAY NIGHT HOOPS

NO. 7 DUKE 68, NO. 13 UConn 58 – more.

NO. 19 CLEMSON 87, Long Beach State 79 – more.

FLORIDA STATE 60, Alabama 51 – more.

GEORGIA TECH 85, Mercer 74 – more.

Temple 61, VIRGINIA TECH 50 – more.

PICTURE OF THE DAY

EXTRA LARGE. Terrence Cody #62 of the Alabama Crimson Tide congratulates Javier Arenas #28 after Arenas' sack against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on November 27, 2009 in Auburn, Alabama.

(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

THANKSGIVING HOOPS

FLORIDA STATE 54, Iona (Gaels, 3,100 students, New Rochelle, NY) 49

Derwin Kitchen scored 16 points, Chris Singleton added 13 and Florida State beat Iona on Thursday night at the Old Spice Classic.

The score was tied 47-all with 2:40 left before Florida State took control with a 6-0 run. Solomon Alabi and Singleton both made a pair of free throws, then Kitchen hit a layup with 24 seconds remaining. It was the 1,000 victory for the Seminoles (4-1).

Florida State went up 45-39 with 6 minutes left. Iona, keyed by Jenkins' 3-pointer, scored eight of the next 10 points to tie it.

TEXAS A&M (Aggies, 48,039 Students, College Station, TX) 69, NO. 19 CLEMSON 60

B.J. Holmes scored 20 points to help Texas A&M upset No. 19 Clemson on Thursday in the first round of the 76 Classic.

David Loubeau added 12 points and nine rebounds and Bryan Davis had 10 points for the Aggies (4-0), who will face No. 8 West Virginia in a semifinal game on Friday. Trevor Booker scored 12 of his 18 points in the second half for Clemson (4-1).

Texas A&M led by as many as 17 early in the second half before Clemson pulled to 58-56 when Tanner Smith made two free throws with 5:14 remaining. Smith finished with 14 points.

WEEK 13: ACC FOOTBALL

Saturday, Nov 28

WAKE FOREST (-2.5) @ DUKE, 12:00 PM, TV: RAYCOM (XM 190, Sirius 211)

NO. 24 NORTH CAROLINA (-4) @ N.C. STATE, 12:00 PM, TV: ESPN2 (XM 191, Sirius 212)

NO. 18 CLEMSON (-2.5) @ South Carolina (Gamecocks, 27,488 students, Columbia, SC), 12:00 PM, TV: ESPN Classic (XM 144, Sirius 123)

FLORIDA STATE @ No. 1 Florida (Gators, 49,679 students, Gainesville, FL) (-21), 3:30 PM, TV: CBSCS (XM 144, Sirius 123)

NO. 14 VIRGINIA TECH (-13) @ VIRGINIA, 3:30 PM, TV: ABC/ESPN2 (XM 190, Sirius 211)

NO. 17 MIAMI (-5.5) @ USF (Bulls, 34,337 students, Tampa, FL), 3:30 PM, TV: ABC/ESPN2 (XM 192)

BOSTON COLLEGE @ MARYLAND, 3:30 PM, TV: ESPNU (XM 191, Sirius 212)*

Georgia (Bulldogs, 34,885 students, Athens, GA) @ NO. 7 GEORGIA TECH (-7.5), 8:00 PM, TV: ABC/ESPN2 (XM 190, Sirius 211)

*Point spread for recreational purposes only. There is no published line for BC v. MD, which indicates an incredible lack of general interest in the game.

PICTURE OF THE DAY

NICE HATS. Renata Baca, left, and her husband, Harold, of Santa Fe, N.M., wear turkey hats to mark the Thanksgiving Day holiday as they wait for the start of an NFL football game between the New York Giants and the Denver Broncos in Denver on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009.

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 2

NICE JACKET. Dwight Howard#12 and Anthony Johnson #8 of the Orlando Magic are interviewed by Craig Sager after the game against the Atlanta Hawks on November 26, 2009 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.

(Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 3

GOING DOWN. Nick Watney of USA plays his tee shot on the 10th hole during Foursomes on the second day of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup on the Olazabal course on November 27, 2009 in Shenzhen, China.

(Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

We aren't sure why, but we feel compelled to remind you that the Commonwealth Bowl pitting Virginia Tech against Virginia is this Saturday.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT HOOPS

NO. 7 DUKE 64, Arizona State 53 – more.

VIRGINIA 76, Cleveland State 65 – more.

MIAMI 77, Florida Gulf Coast 58 – more.

Wisconsin 78, NO. 21 MARYLAND 69 – more.

HUMP DAY LINKS

By Heather Dinich at ESPN.

Savor these links, because you'll be starving for them tomorrow...

*Great news -- BC linebacker Mark Herzlich's cancer treatments are over.

*The power has shifted from Georgia to Georgia Tech.

*Wake Forest safety Josh Bush had a serious medical condition that gave coach Jim Grobe a scare. Without Bush in the lineup, the Deacs' secondary is thin heading into their game against Duke and standout quarterback Thaddeus Lewis.

*Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen is trying to stay focused on Boston College, but the noise surrounding his future is growing louder in College Park.

*Can Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor continue his impressive streak without an interception this weekend? Virginia's talented secondary might have something to say about that.

*Ron Morris writes that Clemson should sit C.J. Spiller for the Tigers' game against rival South Carolina this week, and he makes a convincing argument for it.

*It's going to be loud at Florida this weekend, and FSU did what it could to prepare the players for it at practice this week.

*Just how much progress has Miami made? The final regular-season game against South Florida will go a long way in determining that.

*He's rushed for a touchdown, caught a touchdown pass, returned an INT for a touchdown and thrown a touchdown pass. And no, it's not C.J. Spiller.

*Remember this score, 41-10? It's been tough for both UNC and NC State fans to forget.

*It looks like it's going to be more Bulls, less Gators for Miami on the Canes' future schedules.

PICTURE OF THE DAY

WRONG WAY? Look, while American racing fans have been arguing about whether or not the undefeated older mare and Breeders Cup Classic winner Zenyatta or undefeated three-year-old Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra should win Horse of the Year honors, our friends in England have abandoned their traditional turf races and started running backward (just like they drive) on what looks strangely like dirt.

Well…No. Some racecourses in England run clockwise and some run counter clockwise just to liven things up, and some now have all weather surfaces such as polytrack like here in the good ole U.S. of A.

Here, runners take a bend in the Halcyon Gallery Handicap Hurdle Race run at Kempton Park Racecourse on November 23, 2009 in Sunbury, England.

(Photo by Julian Herbert/Getty Images Europe)

TUESDAY NIGHT HOOPS: ONE WIN

WAKE FOREST 76, Winston-Salem State (Rams, 6,400 students, Winston Salem, NC) 52

Wake Forest point guard Ishmael Smith and shooting guard C.J. Harris each led the Deacons with 16 points en route to a win over cross-town rival Winston-Salem State on Tuesday night. Wake Forest improves to 4-0 with the win, while Rams are now 1-4 on the year.

Freshmen C.J. Harris and Ari Stewart had their best performances to date. Harris had five rebounds in addition to his 16-point tally and was perfect in the first half - 3-for-3 from the field and 4-for-4 from the charity stripe. Stewart had 13 points and a game-high eight rebounds.

Brian Fisher led the Rams with 12 points and Paul Davis added seven rebounds off the bench. Wake Forest sophomore center Tony Woods had career-highs of four blocks and six rebounds, adding to the Deacons nearly impenetrable frontcourt defense.

(Photo by Bruce Chapman/Winston Salem Journal)

TUESDAY NIGHT HOOPS: THREE LOSSES

Cincinnati (Bearcats, 39,667 students, Cincinnati, OH) 69, NO. 21 MARYLAND 57

Greivis Vasquez scored a game-high 19 points, dished out four assists and had three steals, but Cincinnati got 17 points and 13 rebounds from Yance Gates in the win over No. 21 Maryland in a semifinal matchup of the EA Sports Maui Invitational.

Deonta Vaughn had 16 points to lead the Bearcats into the championship game. Lance Stephenson added 11 points for Cincinnati.

Gates scored 10 of his 17 points during a decisive second-half stretch that put the game out of reach for the Terrapins (4-1), who will play either Wisconsin or Gonzaga for third place on

Wednesday (4:30 p.m. EST on ESPN2), while the Bearcats (4-0) take on the other team in the championship.
Stanford (Stupid Tree, 14,945 students, Stanford, CA) 57, VIRGINIA 52

Landry Fields scored 25 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead Stanford to a 57-52 win over Virginia in the Cancun Challenge on Tuesday night.

The Cardinal (3-2) trailed 47-46 with 4:52 left in the second half after Virginia's Mustapha Farrakhan hit two free throws. That's the last time the Cavaliers (3-2) would lead, as Stanford answered with nine straight points to take a 55-47 lead with 2:46 remaining.

Virginia cut the lead to three points with 12 seconds left to play. But Fields, who went 9-for-16 from the floor, made two free throws to give Stanford enough cushion for the win.

Florida 68 (Gators, 49,679 students, Gainesville, FL) 68, FLORIDA STATE 52

Kenny Boynton, Erving Walker and Alex Tyus scored 13 points apiece as Florida beat Florida State Tuesday night and snapped a three-game losing streak in the series.

The Gators opened up a 20-point lead at halftime - playing the kind of defense coach Billy Donovan wanted to see the last two years - and put the game away with another defensive-led spurt in the second half.

Florida (4-0) now gets its toughest challenge of the season when it plays No. 2 Michigan State on Friday in Atlantic City in the Legends Classic.

OL’ ROY RECOVERING FROM SHOULDER SURGERY TO REPAIR “GOLF INJURY”

North Carolina Tar Heels coach Roy Williams is recovering after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder.

Williams had surgery Tuesday to repair a torn labrum, an injury he sustained in early October when he slipped on a wet step at a golf course during a charity event. The surgery lasted 90 minutes and Williams returned home later in the day.

(Rumor on the street is that the golf injury is a cover and Ol’ Roy was actually run over by an angry Duke fan while crossing the street in Chapel Hill. Sources close to T.A.H. and the UNC basketball program are working furiously to confirm this alleged event.)

Williams will wear a sling on his left arm for about four weeks and undergo several months of rehabilitation. He is expected to coach Sunday when he goes for his 600th career victory against Nevada.

The Tar Heels (No. 12 ESPN/USA Today, No. 11 AP) didn't practice Tuesday.

CANES, HOKIES STILL IN BCS BOWL MIX ACCORDING TO FOOTBALL LORDS – THE BCS

USC (No. 20 BCS, No. 24 AP), LSU (No. 15 BCS, No. 17 AP), Miami (No. 17 BCS, No. 19 AP) and N0. 14 (both) Virginia Tech are among eight teams that cannot earn an automatic BCS bid, but are still in contention for an at-large invite to a marquee bowl game.

BCS officials announced Tuesday that a total of 20 teams are still in the running for spots in the national championship game and the Rose, Fiesta, Sugar and Orange bowls.
Ten teams, including No. 1 Florida, No. 2 Alabama and No. 3 Texas, are in position to earn an automatic BCS bid as a conference champion or an at-large pick.

Either No. 6 Boise State or No. 4 TCU could earn an automatic bid by winning its non-automatic qualifying conference and finishing in the top 12 on the final BCS standings. Both are eligible for an at-large selection if they don't get an automatic bid.

Joining USC, LSU and Miami as teams still in the mix solely for BCS at-large bids are Brigham Young (No. 19 BCS, No. 18 AP), Iowa (No. 11 BCS, No. 13 AP), Oklahoma State (No. 12 BCS, No. 11 AP) and Penn State (No. 13 BCS, No. 12 AP).

TUESDAY’S LINKS

By Heather Dinich at ESPN.

Mmmm ... mashed potatoes...

*Both the Washington Times and The Washington Post have reported the money is there if a $4 million buyout is needed for coach Ralph Friedgen. The Baltimore Sun is reporting otherwise. (T.A.H. reported this story on Monday)

*Virginia, on the other hand, already seems to know Al Groh's fate, it just won't announce it yet.

*If Groh is gone -- who's next in line?

*Has Boston College made enough progress this season? Last week's performance against UNC begs the question, but eight wins might answer it.

*UNC's juniors have accomplished a lot, but beating NC State is not on the list.

*NC State will be without offensive coordinator Dana Bible, who was diagnosed with leukemia and is receiving treatment.

*Georgia Tech quarterback Josh Nesbitt said he would've gone elsewhere if during the recruiting process, Paul Johnson was pitching the option to him. And unlike Georgia's defense, the Jackets' D is getting better.

*If you don't think Miami's 5-3 record in the ACC is good enough, you're not alone -- Randy Shannon agrees.

*If FSU is going to pull off the upset over Florida, everything has to go right. It's not impossible.

*Should the South Carolina-Clemson game open the season?

ABE POLLIN 1923-2009

Ted Leonsis (from the left), Michael Jordan and Abe Pollin shake hands after their press conference announcing that Jordan would become the Wizards' president of basketball operations.

Pollin’s Bullets (now Wizards) gave the Washington D.C. area it’s only NBA Championship in 1978, brought both hockey and the WNBA to the area and built the Verizon Center downtown revitalizing the area.

(Photo by Dudley M. Brooks-The Washington Post)

PICTURE(S) OF THE DAY

NATIONAL CHAMPS (AGAIN). North Carolina defeated Maryland in come-from-behind fashion, 3-2, in the 2009 NCAA Field Hockey Championship hosted by Wake Forest University at Kentner Field in Winston-Salem, N.C. earning the school's sixth NCAA field hockey title, and second in the last three seasons.

The Atlantic Coast Conference was guaranteed a national championship with a Tar Heel-Terrapin match-up and it gives the league its 15th national title in field hockey.

MONDAY NIGHT HOOPS: FOUR WINS

NO. 11 NORTH CAROLINA 93, Gardner Webb (Runnin’ Bulldogs, 4,000 Students, Boiling Springs, NC) 72

Deon Thompson scored 22 points to help No. 11 North Carolina bounce back from its first loss and beat Gardner-Webb on Monday night.

Tyler Zeller added 16 points for the Tar Heels (5-1), who led by double digits most of the way and had little trouble beating the instate Big South Conference program. It was the 599th victory for coach Roy Williams, now in his seventh year at his alma mater following 15 seasons in Kansas.

VIRGINIA TECH 71, Campbell (Fighting Camels, 10,417 students, Buies Creek, NC) 60

Virginia Tech finished the game on a 21-11 run and held off an inspired Campbell team. With the win, the Hokies improve to 3-0 on the season, while handing the Camels their first loss of the season. The Hokies took a 33-31 lead into the intermission on a three-point field goal by junior JT Thompson at the buzzer.

Tech opened the game on a 7-0 run before the Camels eventually took a 27-22 lead with 3:55 remaining in the first half on a three-pointer by Lorne Merthie.

Campbell kept the game close throughout and took their final lead of the game with 11:14 remaining in the contest on a lay-up by Amir Celestin, but Thompson hit a jumper in the lane to begin the 21-11 Hokie run to end the game.

NO. 19 CLEMSON 102, Winthrop (Eagles, 5,111 students, Rock Hill, SC) 66

Clemson coach Oliver Purnell thinks his 19th-ranked Tigers can continue their November success, no matter the opponent.

The Tigers (4-0) won their 30th straight November game since 2005 with an easy victory over Winthrop on Monday night. Next up, though, is the 76 Classic in Anaheim, Calif., featuring three other teams ranked in the Top 25.

Trevor Booker had 15 points and 11 rebounds and five other Tigers scored in double figures in the team's fourth straight blowout victory. Their closest margin came in last Friday night's 89-67 win at UNC Greensboro.

NO. 21 MARYLAND 79, Chaminade (Silverswords, 5,111 students, Honolulu, HI) 51

Sean Mosley scored 19 points, Eric Hayes added 12 and Landon Milbourne #1 had 10 to help No. 21 Maryland beat Chaminade on Monday night in the first round of the EA Sports Maui Invitational.

The Terrapins (4-0) advanced to a semifinal meeting on Tuesday with Cincinnati, which beat No. 24 Vanderbilt 67-58 in the first round.

Mosley scored seven points in Maryland's 22-12 run that gave it a 36-24 halftime lead.

MONDAY NIGHT HOOPS: ONE LOSS

Northern Iowa (Panthers, 13,080 students, Cedar Falls, IA) 81, BOSTON COLLEGE 69

Junior Corey Raji scored 18 points and classmate Josh Southern totaled 12 points to lead Boston College in a loss to Northern Iowa in the team's third and final game in the Paradise Jam.

Junior Joe Trapani added 11 points and a game-high seven rebounds for the Eagles.

BC led 41-38 at halftime and extended its margin to five points three times in the first four minutes of the second half. BC took a 51-47 lead on a Southern jumper with 15:38 to play, before Northern Iowa ran off 15 straight points to claim a 62-51 advantage with 10:45 remaining.

WEEK 12: PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

OFFENSIVE BACK: Jacory Harris, Miami, QB, So., 6-4, 190, Miami, Fla. (Northwestern) For the fourth time this season, Miami sophomore quarterback Jacory Harris had the top performance by an offensive back after completing 25-of-43 passes for 348 yards and two touchdowns in the Canes’ win against visiting Duke. Harris’ 348 passing yards gives him four 300-yard passing games this season, including three in his last four games. Harris also went over the 3,000-yard passing mark in 2009 to become the seventh Hurricane in school history to post 3,000 passing yards in a season. Through 11 games this season, Harris has totaled 3,003 passing yards and 21 touchdown passes.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Sergio Render #70, Virginia Tech, G, Sr., 6-3, 313, Newnan, Ga. (Newnan) Virginia Tech senior guard Sergio Render graded out at 82 percent and recorded a season-high 10 knockdown blocks in 16th-ranked Virginia Tech’s 38-10 win over visiting NC State. Render helped the Hokie offensive line lead the way for a Virginia Tech offense that piled up 397 yards of total offense, including 200 yards on the ground and 100-yard rusher Ryan Williams (120).

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN: Darryl Sharpton #50, Miami, Sr., MLB, 6-0, 235, Coral Gables, Fla. (Coral Gables) Miami senior middle linebacker Darryl Sharpton ended his last home game with a career-high 12 tackles, including a career-best 11 solo stops and two tackles for loss, in the Hurricanes’ win over Duke. Sharpton’s performance included his first career interception, which he returned for a 73-yard touchdown. He is second among Hurricanes and ninth in the ACC with 79 tackles this season, including seven for loss.

DEFENSIVE BACK: Cody Grimm, Virginia Tech, OLB, Sr., 5-11, 202, Fairfax, Va. (Oakton) Virginia Tech senior outside linebacker Cody Grimm’s third Defensive Back of the Week honor came after he set an ACC single-season record and tied a Football Bowl Subdivision single-game record with three forced fumbles—all of which came in NC State’s first four plays—in the Hokies’ win over the Wolfpack. Grimm helped the Virginia Tech defense limit NC State’s high-powered offensive attack to just 259 yards of total offense by recording eight tackles, two sacks, a quarterback hurry, and a fumble recovery. Grimm leads the nation with seven forced fumbles.

SPECIALIST: Greg Reid, Florida State, CB, Fr., 5-9, 175, Valdosta, Ga. (Lowndes) Florida State freshman cornerback Greg Reid earned his second Specialist of the Week honor and third weekly accolade this season (Defensive Back of the Week, Sept. 19) after racking up 113 yards on punt and kick returns in Florida State’s 29-26 bowl eligibility-clinching win over visiting Maryland. Reid returned three punts for 88 yards to take control over the national lead (18.4 yards per return), including a 48-yard return to the Terrapin 44-yard line that set up the Seminoles’ game-winning touchdown with just 1:46 to play in the fourth quarter. Reid leads all Seminoles in all-purpose yardage this season with 947 yards.

ROOKIE: Luke Kuechly, Boston College, OLB, Fr., 6-3, 220, Cincinnati, Ohio (St. Xavier) Boston College freshman outside linebacker Luke Kuechly registered an ACC season-high 19 tackles, including eight solo hits and 2.5 tackles for loss, in the Eagles’ 31-13 loss to No. 25 North Carolina. With a team-leading 126 tackles, Kuechly holds the school freshman record for tackles, and is looking to become the first Boston College true freshman to lead the team in tackles in school history.

MONDAY LINKS

Via Heather Dinich at ESPN:

*Miami quarterback Jacory Harris had a little fun with the media this week, pretending he was in more pain than he really was. The postgame sling on his arm apparently was for added effect.

*BC coach Frank Spaziani says the freshman excuse won't cut it anymore.

*Here's a breakdown of the Georgia Tech-Georgia series coming up on Saturday. Coach Paul Johnson says there's no worry of his team being overconfident.

*Clemson is facing a similar situation against South Carolina this weekend, and the Braggin' Rights Barometer has the weekly pulse of both teams.

*Even if UNC loses to NC State this weekend, coach Butch Davis deserves credit for the Tar Heels' improbable comeback.

*Virginia might not have it all together, but the Cavaliers have stuck together, and they can take some pride in their continued desire to compete.

*Virginia Tech's future looks bright, and there was plenty of evidence of that against NC State.
Couldn't agree with Mike Bianchi more on this one.

MEDIA COMPANY IS CLEARLY PRO-DUKE

Time Warner Cable decided the showdown between the Boston Celtics and the Orlando Magic last weekend wasn’t about two Eastern Conference powers squaring off in a rematch of last year’s NBA semis, but more about the heated rivalry between Shelden Williams and J.J. Redick.

Say, what?

Then, the big media conglomerate promoted Sunday’s Celtics/Knicks matchup as a Chris Duhon and Shelden Williams reunion.

Really?

PICTURE(S) OF THE DAY

GAME FACES. Clemson fans during the Tigers' 34-21 win over Virginia Saturday Nov. 21, 2009, at Memorial Stadium in Clemson S.C.



(Photos by Richard Shiro/AP Photos and Bill Frakes/Sports Illustrated)

PICTURE(S) OF THE DAY 2

AND THEN…there’s the Cameron Crazies.

As cool as ever…?

Nice handcuffs, dude.

(Photos by Tim Cowie/Icon SMI via Sports Illustrated)

“BORN TO RUN – FOR THE LAST TIME”

The T.A.H. executive staff went to see Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band on Friday night in nearby Baltimore and here are a few observations.

First off, when it’s over (some 31 songs and 3.5 hours later), The Boss doesn’t owe you any money. Not one dime.

Amid speculation that the E Street Band is going into mothballs if not permanent retirement, Springsteen played all of the Born to Run album as he said “for the last time.” Of course, he could have meant for the last time on tour as they played Greetings from Asbury Park on the tours final show last night in Buffalo. There were 21 dates on the fall version of the tour that started two years ago. There were five shows in nine days at Giant Stadium in September and October.

Hey, the dude’s sixty…yep, SIXTY, but you’d never know it as he has the energy level of a terrible-two-year-old. In Baltimore, he went out into the crowd, grabbed a swig of beer from a fan, and then crowd surfed some 50 yards back to the stage.

Nice, Bruce, NICE!

There were 14,000 people there and at least 13,000 of them knew the words to every song and Springsteen was quick to invite the audience to sing along. Imagine the opening notes of Hungry Hart with the Boss standing on the stage holding the microphone out to a crowd who greeted him with the opening line “I’ve got a wife and kid in Baltimore, Jack!!!” (video below)

Interestingly, while Bruce continues to invite folks up on stage during various songs (see video below) and to play song requests from signs fans bring into the show (which, of course, wouldn’t happen at FedEx field…har, har!), on Friday night he dispensed with the “end concert, leave, come back for encore set” charade. He simply kept playing.

When the band left Springsteen on the stage to say one last goodbye, the Boss couldn’t resist calling them back out for a rousing end-game version of Glory Days to finally conclude the show.

And, it wasn’t just a local event. The T.A.H. executive staff shared their row with Bruce fans from Spain, England and Italy.

Here is the review from the Baltimore Sun and the review from the Buffalo News of the finale (which is followed by the reader comment: “Insanely great show.”)

1st Mariner Arena, Baltimore Set list: Wrecking Ball (with Curt Ramm), Prove It All Night, Hungry Heart, Working on a Dream, Thunder Road, Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out, Night, Backstreets, Born to Run, She's the One, Meeting Across the River, Jungleland, Waitin' on a Sunny Day, Spirit in the Night, Green Onions, Santa Claus is Comin' to Town, The E Street Shuffle, For You, Radio Nowhere, My Love Will Not Let You Down, Long Walk Home, The Rising, Badlands, Ramrod, Hard Times, Land of Hope and Dreams, American Land (with Curt Ramm and Ali Weinberg), Dancing in the Dark, Rosalita, Higher and Higher and Glory Days.

HACKS BEAT HICKS, WORLD (AS WE KNOW IT) TO END LATER TODAY…

(BP) Turnbull, VA – A million-to-one shot came in.

Hell froze over.

A month of Sundays hit the calendar.

The moon was blue.

The Redskins beat the Cow...b..o..y...oh, no...not quite, but you get the point.

On a glorious afternoon at the Fauquier Springs Country Club, the Hacks from Hackberry CC finally bested the Hicks from Cudpeppa CC for the first time in the history of the Hacks v Hicks Golf Challenge and finally gained possession of the prestigious James Madison Highway Trophy.

According to Hacks' Captain Tom “Screw the Terps I’m All-In With The Tigers and Dr. Pepper Bowl Bound” Blaser (photo below, left), Steve “Cheffy Chef” Dill and Huntley “Ice Cream” Thorpe set the tone for the day for the Hacks with a 3 and 0 thrashing of longtime Hackberry nemesis, and Hick stalwart, Eddie “The Mailman” Bennett.

However, many observers believe the momentum of the event turned when the team of Fabulous Johnny “Noles Holes” Clark and Kurt “Dog Balls” Rodgers totally befuddled their single digit handicapping opponents. Tournament insiders note that twosome did stop briefly at Jon "Cuck Futler" Pieja's Hole 3.5 during the match.

Finally Bill “Sweet Swing Lube” Chipman (JMU ’83 ) and Mike “Dawg” Daugherty (NOVA ’80 ‘84’ ’92) put the nail in the coffin as they ground their way back for a 2 and 1 victory over Tim Fant and Donnie Hundley.

All six Hackberry squads were able prevail over their long time rivals from the South.

Ever gracious in defeat Hick Captain Carty Yowell offered a very blunt assessment of the day’s events, “Eat me” said Yowell (photo, right, clutching trophy after 2008 Hicks' win).

The James Madison Highway Trophy is now on display in a place of honor in the FSCC pro shop right between “ladies tops” and “visors.”

IS MARYLAND’S A.D. YOW APPLIANCE SHOPPING?

Last year, the Maryland Athletic Department got sideways with hoops’ coach Gary Williams, and word via the Washington Post is that current football coach Ralph Friedgen’s popularity is on the decline within the building as well.

The Fridge is in the middle of his worst campaign as the Terps' head coach with a overall 2-9 record (1-6 ACC) with one remaining game against Boston College.

According to the Post, in a move that demonstrates so many things that are wrong with big-time college football, Friedgen has two years left on his contract, but Maryland official may cut him loose because they now have the cash needed to buy out his contract (reportedly $4 million).

The Fridge got off to a hot start with 31-8 record his first three seasons, but he is currently mired in his fourth losing season of the past six years.

However, when Fridge took over the program in 2001, Maryland had not won a bowl game in 16 years and had only one winning season since 1990.

SUNDAY NIGHT HOOPS

NO. 21 GEORGIA TECH 85, Boston University (Terriers, 31,766 students, Boston, MA) 67

Before the fifth-place game of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off, Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt told backup Zachery Peacock that he would need to contribute two 3-pointers against Boston University.

Peacock delivered without a hitch, going 2 for 2 beyond the arc. The senior forward also led the No. 21 Yellow Jackets with 22 points in an 85-67 victory over the Terriers on Sunday.

Boston coach Patrick Chambers certainly wasn't prepared for Peacock's performance, which included 10 of 11 from the field and three rebounds.

N.C. STATE 60, Auburn (Tigers, 20,302 students, Auburn, AL) 58

Tracy Smith's seventh offensive rebound of the night was the biggest, as Smith's put back with just 1.3 seconds left gave the Pack a 60-58 win over Auburn making the Pack champions of the Glenn Wilkes Classic with a perfect 3-0 record on the weekend.

Smith finished with his second double-double in the tournament with 11 points and 15 boards and was named MVP, while Dennis Horner was named to the all-tournament team as he finished with 16 points against Auburn.

NC State built on its one-point halftime lead, opening the second half on a 13-3 run to push the score to 39-28 with 15:39 left.

MIAMI 85, South Carolina (Gamecocks, 27,488 students, Columbia, SC) 70

James Dews scored 22 points and Dwayne Collins added 17 points to go with 15 rebounds, leading Miami past South Carolina 85-70 in the championship game of the Charleston Classic on Sunday night.

Collins was selected as the MVP of the tournament.

Dews finished the night shooting a perfect 3-of-3 from long range, moving into Miami's top 10 all-time in career three-pointers, having made 126 in his career.

PICTURE(S) OF THE DAY

HOME ICE. USA 1, piloted by Steven Holcomb, celebrates as they cross the finish line in the second run of the 4-man bobsled competition during the FIBT Bob & Skeleton World Cup on November 22, 2009 at the Olympic Sports Complex in Lake Placid, New York. USA 1 and Steven Holcomb won the event, USA 2 was second.

Here, Netherlands 1, piloted by Edwin Van Calker, competes in the first run of the 4-man bobsled.

(Photos by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images North America)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 2

GRAND SLAM. Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, poses with his wife Chandra and all four of his trophies after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship after finishing in fifth place in the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 22, 2009 in Homestead, Florida.

Johnson becomes the first driver in the history of NASCAR to win four consecutive championships since the sports inception in 1949.

Oddly enought, the original photo caption from NASCAR noted that Johnson was on the right as if we might not be able to tell him from his wife...Huh?

(Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)