TODAY'S TV SCHEDULE

AUTO RACING

6 a.m. Sprint Cup: Aaron's 499 FOX

8 a.m. Indy Lights VERSUS

9:30 a.m. IndyCar: Grand Prix of Long Beach VERSUS

1 p.m. NHRA: 4-Wide Nationals ESPN2

BOWLING

7 a.m. PBA: Dick Weber Playoffs (championship round) ESPN

COLLEGE BASEBALL

7 a.m. Vanderbilt at South Carolina ESPN2

COLLEGE SOFTBALL

10 a.m. Oklahoma at Missouri ESPN

GOLF

3 a.m. European PGA Tour: Malaysian Open (final round) TGC

7 a.m. Champions Tour: Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am (final round) NBC

7 a.m. PGA Tour: Texas Open (final round) TGC

9 a.m. PGA Tour: Texas Open (final round) CBS

1 p.m. Nationwide Tour: Fresh Express Classic (final round) TGC

HORSE RACING

8 a.m. Trackside Live! FOXSP2

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

7:30 a.m. Toronto at Boston TBS

8 a.m. L.A. Angels at Chicago White Sox FOXSP

9 a.m. Chicago Cubs at Colorado WGN

10 a.m. St. Louis at L.A. Dodgers FOXSP2

2 p.m. Texas at N.Y. Yankees ESPN

MOTORSPORTS

11 a.m. FIM World Superbike SPEED

NBA BASKETBALL

7 a.m. Western Conference quarters: San Antonio at Memphis (Game 1) TNT

9:30 a.m. Western Conference quarters: New Orleans at L.A. Lakers (Game 1) ABC

1 p.m. Eastern Conference quarters: New York at Boston (Game 1) TNT

3:30 p.m. Western Conference quarters: Denver at Oklahoma City (Game 1) TNT

NHL HOCKEY

9 a.m. Eastern Conference quarters: Washington at New York (Game 3) NBC

2 p.m. Western Conference quarters: Vancouver at Chicago (Game 3) VERSUS

MONDAY'S TV SCHEDULE

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

1 p.m. Milwaukee at Philadelphia ESPN

2 p.m. L.A. Angels at Texas FOXSP

4 p.m. Atlanta at L.A. Dodgers FOXSP2

NBA BASKETBALL

1 p.m. Eastern Conference quarters: Philadelphia at Miami (Game 2) TNT

3:30 p.m. Eastern Conference quarters: Indiana at Chicago (Game 2) TNT

NHL HOCKEY

1 p.m. Eastern Conference quarters: Philadelphia at Buffalo (Game 3) VERSUS

3:30 p.m. Eastern Conference quarters: Pittsburgh at Tampa Bay (Game 3) * VERSUS

4:30 p.m. Western Conference quarters: Detroit at Phoenix (Game 3) VERSUS

* Joined in progress

SATURDAY'S BIIF RESULTS

BOYS VOLLEYBALL

Varsity

Kealakehe def. Konawaena 25-19, 25-15, 25-19

Hawaii Prep def. Laupahoehoe 25-9, 25-14, 25-9

MONDAY'S BIIF SCHEDULE

BOYS VOLLEYBALL

Varsity matches follow 6 p.m. JV matches unless noted below

Waiakea at Christian Liberty, 6 p.m.

Kealakehe at Honokaa

HOCKEY

NHL PLAYOFF GLANCE

EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS

Washington vs. New York Rangers

Washington leads series 2-0

Wednesday's result

Washington 2, N.Y. Rangers 1, OT

Friday's result

Washington 2, N.Y. Rangers 0

Today's game

c Washington at N.Y. Rangers, 9 a.m.

Wednesday, April 20

c Washington at N.Y. Rangers, 1 p.m.

Saturday, April 23

c N.Y. Rangers at Washington, 9 a.m. *

Monday, April 25

c Washington at N.Y. Rangers, TBD *

Wednesday, April 27

c N.Y. Rangers at Washington, TBD *

Philadelphia vs. Buffalo

Series tied 1-1

Thursday's result

c Buffalo 1, Philadelphia 0

Saturday's result

c Philadelphia 5, Buffalo 4

Monday's game

c Philadelphia at Buffalo, 1 p.m.

Wednesday, April 20

c Philadelphia at Buffalo, 1:30 p.m.

Friday, April 22

c Buffalo at Philadelphia, 1:30 p.m.

Sunday, April 24

c Philadelphia at Buffalo, 9 a.m. *

Tuesday, April 26

c Buffalo at Philadelphia, TBD *

Boston vs. Montreal

Montreal leads series 2-0

Thursday's result

c Montreal 2, Boston 0

Saturday's result

Montreal 3, Boston 1

Monday's game

c Boston at Montreal, 1:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 21

c Boston at Montreal, 1 p.m.

Saturday, April 23

c Montreal at Boston, 1 p.m. *

Tuesday, April 26

c Boston at Montreal, TBD *

Wednesday, April 27

c Montreal at Boston TBD *

Tampa Bay vs. Pittsburgh

Series tied 1-1

Wednesday's result

c Pittsburgh 3, Tampa Bay 0

Friday's result

Tampa Bay 5, Pittsburgh 1

Monday's game

c Pittsburgh at Tampa Bay, 1:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 20

c Pittsburgh at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.

Saturday, April 23

c Tampa Bay at Pittsburgh, TBD

Monday, April 25

c Pittsburgh at Tampa Bay, TBD *

Wednesday, April 27

c Tampa Bay at Pittsburgh, TBD *

WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS

Vancouver vs. Chicago

Vancouver leads series 2-0

Wednesday's result

c Vancouver 2, Chicago 0

Friday's result

Vancouver 4, Chicago 3

Today's game

c Vancouver at Chicago, 2 p.m.

Tuesday's game

c Vancouver at Chicago, 2 p.m.

Thursday, April 21

c Chicago at Vancouver, 4 p.m. *

Sunday, April 24

c Vancouver at Chicago, 1:30 p.m. *

Tuesday, April 26

c Chicago at Vancouver, TBD *

San Jose vs. Los Angeles

Series tied 1-1

Thursday's result

c San Jose 3, Los Angeles 2, OT

Saturday's result

Los Angeles 4, San Jose 0

Tuesday's game

c San Jose at Los Angeles, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 21

c San Jose at Los Angeles, 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 23

c Los Angeles at San Jose, 4:30 p.m. *

Monday, April 25

c San Jose at Los Angeles, TBD *

Wednesday, April 27

c Los Angeles at San Jose, TBD *

Detroit 1, Phoenix 0

Detroit leads series 2-0

Wednesday's result

c Detroit 4, Phoenix 2

Saturday's result

c Detroit 4, Phoenix 3

Monday's game

c Detroit at Phoenix, 4:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 20

c Detroit at Phoenix, 4:30 p.m.

Friday, April 22

c Phoenix at Detroit, 1 p.m. *

Sunday, April 24

c Detroit at Phoenix, TBD *

Wednesday, April 27

c Phoenix at Detroit, TBD *

Anaheim vs. Nashville

Series tied 1-1

Wednesday's result

c Nashville 4, Anaheim 1

Friday's result

Anaheim 4, Nashville 2

Today's game

c Anaheim at Nashville, noon

Wednesday, April 20

c Anaheim at Nashville, 2:30 p.m.

Friday, April 22

c Nashville at Anaheim, 4 p.m.

Sunday, April 24

c Anaheim at Nashville, TBD *

Tuesday, April 26

c Nashville at Anaheim, TBD *

* -- if necessary

BASKETBALL

NBA PLAYOFF GLANCE

EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS

Chicago vs. Indiana

Chicago leads series 1-0

Saturday's result

Chicago 104, Indiana 99

Monday's game

c Indiana at Chicago, 3:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 21

c Chicago at Indiana, 1 p.m.

Saturday, April 23

c Chicago at Indiana, 8:30 a.m.

Tuesday, April 26

c Indiana at Chicago, TBD *

Thursday, April 28

c Chicago at Indiana, TBD *

Saturday, April 30

c Indiana at Chicago, TBD *

Miami vs. Philadelphia

Miami leads series 1-0

Saturday's result

c Miami 97, Philadelphia 89

Monday's game

c Philadelphia at Miami, 1 p.m.

Thursday, April 21

c Miami at Philadelphia, 2 p.m.

Sunday, April 24

c Miami at Philadelphia, 7 a.m.

Wednesday, April 27

c Philadelphia at Miami, TBD *

Friday, April 29

c Miami at Philadelphia, TBD *

Sunday, May 1

c Philadelphia at Miami, TBD *

Boston vs. New York

Series tied 0-0

Today's game

c New York at Boston, 1 p.m.

Tuesday's game

c New York at Boston, 1 p.m.

Friday, April 22

c Boston at New York, 1 p.m.

Sunday, April 24

c Boston at New York, 9:30 a.m.

Tuesday, April 26

c New York at Boston, TBD *

Friday, April 29

c Boston at New York, TBD *

Sunday, May 1

c New York at Boston, TBD *

Orlando vs. Atlanta

Atlanta leads series 1-0

Saturday's result

Atlanta 103, Orlando 93

Tuesday's game

c Atlanta at Orlando, 1:30 p.m.

Friday, April 22

c Orlando at Atlanta, 2 p.m.

Sunday, April 24

c Orlando at Atlanta, 1 p.m.

Tuesday, April 26

c Atlanta at Orlando, TBD *

Thursday, April 28

c Orlando at Atlanta, TBD *

Saturday, April 30

c Atlanta at Orlando, TBD *

WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS

San Antonio vs. Memphis

Series tied 0-0

Today's game

c Memphis at San Antonio, 7 a.m.

Wednesday, April 20

c Memphis at San Antonio, 2:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 23

c San Antonio at Memphis, 1:30 p.m.

Monday, April 25

c San Antonio at Memphis, TBD

Wednesday, April 27

c Memphis at San Antonio, TBD *

Friday, April 29

c San Antonio at Memphis, TBD *

Sunday, May 1

c Memphis at San Antonio, TBD *

L.A. Lakers vs. New Orleans

Series tied 0-0

Today's game

c New Orleans at L.A. Lakers, 9:30 a.m.

Wednesday, April 20

c New Orleans at L.A. Lakers, 4:30 p.m.

Friday, April 22

c L.A. Lakers at New Orleans, 3:30 p.m.

Sunday, April 24

c L.A. Lakers at New Orleans, 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 26

c New Orleans at L.A. Lakers, TBD *

Thursday, April 28

c L.A. Lakers at New Orleans, TBD *

Saturday, April 30

c New Orleans at L.A. Lakers, TBD *

Dallas vs. Portland

Dallas leads series 1-0

Saturday's result

Dallas 89, Portland 81

Tuesday's game

c Portland at Dallas, 3:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 21

c Dallas at Portland, 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 23

c Dallas at Portland, 11 a.m.

Monday, April 25

c Portland at Dallas, TBD *

Thursday, April 28

c Dallas at Portland, TBD *

Saturday, April 30

c Portland at Dallas, TBD *

Oklahoma City vs. Denver

Series tied 0-0

Today's game

c Denver at Oklahoma City, 3:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 20

c Denver at Oklahoma City, 2 p.m.

Saturday, April 23

c Oklahoma City at Denver, 4 p.m.

Monday, April 25

c Oklahoma City at Denver, 4:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 27

c Denver at Oklahoma City, TBD *

Friday, April 29

c Oklahoma City at Denver, TBD *

Sunday, May 1

c Denver at Oklahoma City, TBD *

* -- if necessary

SOCCER

MLS GLANCE

EASTERN CONFERENCE

W L OT Pts GF GA

Philadelphia 3 1 1 10 4 2

New York 2 1 2 8 5 2

Columbus 2 1 2 8 4 3

D.C. 2 2 1 7 9 8

New England 1 1 3 6 5 6

Toronto FC 1 2 3 6 6 9

Houston 1 1 2 5 5 4

Chicago 1 2 1 4 7 9

Sporting Kansas City 1 2 1 4 8 9

WESTERN CONFERENCE

W L T Pts GF GA

Real Salt Lake 4 0 0 12 8 1

Colorado 3 2 0 9 8 6

Los Angeles 2 1 3 9 5 6

Vancouver 1 2 3 6 9 10

Seattle 1 2 3 6 6 7

San Jose 1 2 2 5 5 7

Portland 1 2 1 4 6 8

FC Dallas 1 2 1 4 4 5

Chivas USA 0 2 3 3 3 5

NOTE: Three points for victory, one point for tie.

Wednesday's results

Toronto FC 0, Los Angeles 0, tie

Real Salt Lake 1, Colorado 0

Thursday's result

Portland 4, Chicago 2

Saturday's results

Philadelphia 1, Seattle FC 1, tie

Vancouver 0, Chivas USA 0, tie

D.C. United 3, Toronto FC 0

Columbus 1, Sporting Kansas City 0

New York 3, San Jose 0

Today's games

Los Angeles at Chicago, 10 a.m.

FC Dallas at Portland, noon

New England at Houston, 1 p.m.

TRANSACTIONS

BASEBALL

National League

ATLANTA BRAVES -- Recalled RHP Jairo Asencio from Gwinnett (IL). Optioned C J.C. Boscan to Gwinnett.

NEW YORK METS -- Placed RHP Chris Young on the 15-day DL, retroactive to April 11. Recalled RHP Pat Misch from Buffalo (IL).

HOCKEY

National Hockey League

NHL -- Suspended Anaheim F Bobby Ryan two games for a kicking incident against Nashville D Jonathon Blum during Friday's game against Nashville.

American Hockey League

HARTFORD WHALE -- Signed F Carl Hagelin.

ECHL

ECHL -- Suspended Reading F Olivier Labelle one game and fined him an undisclosed amount for his actions during Friday's game against Kalamazoo.

AUTO RACING

AARON'S 499 LINEUP

Saturday qualifying, race today

1. (24) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 178.248 mph.

2. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 177.844.

3. (5) Mark Martin, Chevrolet, 177.807.

4. (88) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 177.765.

5. (27) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 177.702.

6. (09) Landon Cassill, Chevrolet, 177.685.

7. (6) David Ragan, Ford, 177.438.

8. (22) Kurt Busch, Dodge, 177.379.

9. (83) Brian Vickers, Toyota, 177.369.

10. (33) Clint Bowyer, Chevrolet, 177.353.

11. (21) Trevor Bayne, Ford, 177.353.

12. (15) Michael Waltrip, Toyota, 177.317.

13. (42) Juan Pablo Montoya, Chevrolet, 177.182.

14. (00) David Reutimann, Toyota, 177.143.

15. (47) Bobby Labonte, Toyota, 177.12.

16. (43) A J Allmendinger, Ford, 177.087.

17. (16) Greg Biffle, Ford, 177.074.

18. (78) Regan Smith, Chevrolet, 177.061.

19. (2) Brad Keselowski, Dodge, 177.032.

20. (99) Carl Edwards, Ford, 177.006.

21. (1) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 176.872.

22. (87) Joe Nemechek, Toyota, 176.695.

23. (39) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 176.659.

24. (9) Marcos Ambrose, Ford, 176.575.

25. (17) Matt Kenseth, Ford, 176.519.

26. (56) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 176.477.

27. (31) Jeff Burton, Chevrolet, 176.461.

28. (38) Travis Kvapil, Ford, 176.425.

29. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 176.37.

30. (14) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 176.347.

31. (4) Kasey Kahne, Toyota, 176.298.

32. (97) Kevin Conway, Toyota, 176.195.

33. (35) Steve Park, Chevrolet, 176.162.

34. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 175.939.

35. (36) Dave Blaney, Chevrolet, 175.806.

36. (20) Joey Logano, Toyota, 175.41.

37. (71) Andy Lally, Ford, 175.349.

38. (29) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 175.154.

39. (34) David Gilliland, Ford, 175.134.

40. (13) Casey Mears, Toyota, owner points.

41. (32) Terry Labonte, Ford, owner points.

42. (7) Sam Hornish Jr., Dodge, owner points.

43. (46) Bill Elliott, Chevrolet, past champion.

Failed to qualify

44. (60) Mike Skinner, Toyota, 175.09.

45. (37) Tony Raines, Ford, 175.

46. (66) Michael McDowell, Toyota, 174.84.

INDYCAR-LONG BEACH GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING

1. (12) Will Power, Dallara-Honda, 01:09.0649 (102.582 mph)

2. (28) Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dallara-Honda, 01:09.1409 (102.469)

3. (27) Mike Conway, Dallara-Honda, 01:09.6414 (101.733)

4. (2) Oriol Servia, Dallara-Honda, 01:09.6828 (101.672)

5. (22) Justin Wilson, Dallara-Honda, 01:09.8097 (101.487)

6. (3) Helio Castroneves, Dallara-Honda, 01:09.8423 (101.440)

7. (10) Dario Franchitti, Dallara-Honda, 01:09.6037 (101.788)

8. (9) Scott Dixon, Dallara-Honda, 01:09.6385 (101.737)

9. (77) Alex Tagliani, Dallara-Honda, 01:09.6497 (101.720)

10. (82) Tony Kanaan, Dallara-Honda, 01:09.7352 (101.596)

11. (06) James Hinchcliffe, Dallara-Honda, 01:09.8122 (101.484)

12. (6) Ryan Briscoe, Dallara-Honda, 01:09.8243 (101.466)

13. (14) Vitor Meira, Dallara-Honda, 01:10.1010 (101.066)

14. (26) Marco Andretti, Dallara-Honda, 01:09.9400 (101.298)

15. (34) Sebastian Saavedra, Dallara-Honda, 01:10.1146 (101.046)

16. (38) Graham Rahal, Dallara-Honda, 01:10.5883 (100.368)

17. (59) EJ Viso, Dallara-Honda, 01:10.1465 (101.000)

18. (78) Simona de Silvestro, Dallara-Honda, 01:10.6407 (100.293)

19. (17) Raphael Matos, Dallara-Honda, 01:10.3477 (100.711)

20. (7) Danica Patrick, Dallara-Honda, 01:10.7836 (100.091)

21. (19) Sebastien Bourdais, Dallara-Honda, 01:10.8050 (100.061)

22. (5) Takuma Sato, Dallara-Honda, 01:10.8197 (100.040)

23. (18) James Jakes, Dallara-Honda, 01:10.8592 (99.984)

24. (83) Charlie Kimball, Dallara-Honda, 01:10.8672 (99.973)

25. (8) Paul Tracy, Dallara-Honda, 01:11.0249 (99.751)

26. (24) Ana Beatriz, Dallara-Honda, 01:11.0341 (99.738)

27. (4) JR Hildebrand, Dallara-Honda, 01:11.4916 (99.100)

GOLF

TEXAS OPEN

Saturday's third round

Brendan Steele 69-72-68 -- 209

Cameron Tringale 71-71-68 -- 210

Kevin Chappell 68-73-70 -- 211

Brandt Snedeker 69-72-70 -- 211

Pat Perez 71-74-67 -- 212

Charles Howell III 71-73-68 -- 212

Adam Scott 68-74-70 -- 212

Charley Hoffman 68-73-72 -- 213

Rich Beem 71-70-72 -- 213

Fredrik Jacobson 72-75-67 -- 214

J.P. Hayes 73-73-68 -- 214

Vaughn Taylor 68-75-71 -- 214

Ricky Barnes 73-70-71 -- 214

Jeff Maggert 71-72-71 -- 214

Dean Wilson 70-72-72 -- 214

Steve Flesch 71-76-68 -- 215

Martin Laird 72-74-69 -- 215

Martin Piller 70-75-70 -- 215

Brendon de Jonge 72-72-71 -- 215

J.B. Holmes 70-73-72 -- 215

Kevin Sutherland 71-70-74 -- 215

Geoff Ogilvy 69-72-74 -- 215

Bobby Gates 70-78-68 -- 216

Kevin Stadler 70-77-69 -- 216

Johnson Wagner 71-75-70 -- 216

William McGirt 73-73-70 -- 216

Briny Baird 71-75-70 -- 216

Hunter Haas 75-70-71 -- 216

Matt Every 73-69-74 -- 216

Bo Van Pelt 75-73-69 -- 217

Nathan Green 75-73-69 -- 217

Ryuji Imada 72-75-70 -- 217

Keegan Bradley 73-73-71 -- 217

Kevin Streelman 69-76-72 -- 217

John Senden 71-74-72 -- 217

Brian Gay 71-74-72 -- 217

Brandt Jobe 75-69-73 -- 217

Tag Ridings 70-74-73 -- 217

Kris Blanks 71-73-73 -- 217

Roland Thatcher 74-74-70 -- 218

Bryce Molder 73-75-70 -- 218

Chris Kirk 70-76-72 -- 218

Jarrod Lyle 74-71-73 -- 218

Troy Matteson 69-76-73 -- 218

Blake Adams 71-74-73 -- 218

Nick O'Hern 73-72-73 -- 218

Shaun Micheel 72-73-73 -- 218

Bill Lunde 71-73-74 -- 218

Jim Renner 72-72-74 -- 218

Chad Campbell 71-73-74 -- 218

Justin Leonard 73-75-71 -- 219

Arjun Atwal 71-77-71 -- 219

Ben Martin 73-74-72 -- 219

Billy Horschel 71-74-74 -- 219

Billy Mayfair 72-73-74 -- 219

Scott Stallings 71-73-75 -- 219

Jim Herman 69-78-73 -- 220

James Driscoll 74-73-73 -- 220

Bob Estes 71-76-73 -- 220

Scott Verplank 75-72-73 -- 220

Woody Austin 73-73-74 -- 220

Chris Riley 74-72-74 -- 220

Paul Goydos 71-74-75 -- 220

Stewart Cink 67-78-75 -- 220

Jhonattan Vegas 68-76-76 -- 220

Steven Bowditch 77-69-75 -- 221

John Merrick 72-72-77 -- 221

Michael Connell 73-70-78 -- 221

Justin Hicks 77-71-74 -- 222

Frank Lickliter II 70-77-75 -- 222

Fabian Gomez 72-74-76 -- 222

J.J. Henry 67-78-77 -- 222

Joseph Bramlett 70-74-78 -- 222

David Duval 75-72-76 -- 223

Bio Kim 78-69-76 -- 223

Colt Knost 73-73-81 -- 227

Tim Petrovic 72-76-80 -- 228

Scott Gutschewski 76-72-80 -- 228

OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE OPEN

Saturday's second round

John Cook 66-65 -- 131

Russ Cochran 64-68 -- 132

Jay Don Blake 66-68 -- 134

Tom Pernice, Jr. 68-68 -- 136

Joey Sindelar 68-68 -- 136

Peter Senior 69-68 -- 137

Tom Wargo 70-68 -- 138

Joe Ozaki 69-69 -- 138

Hale Irwin 70-68 -- 138

Larry Mize 70-68 -- 138

Mark Calcavecchia 69-69 -- 138

Don Pooley 69-70 -- 139

Chip Beck 71-68 -- 139

Olin Browne 70-69 -- 139

Michael Allen 71-68 -- 139

Nick Price 71-68 -- 139

Ted Schulz 68-72 -- 140

Tim Simpson 68-72 -- 140

Tom Jenkins 72-68 -- 140

Jay Haas 70-70 -- 140

Kenny Perry 67-73 -- 140

Mike Goodes 68-72 -- 140

Steve Lowery 71-70 -- 141

Keith Fergus 73-68 -- 141

Loren Roberts 70-71 -- 141

Phil Blackmar 73-68 -- 141

Mark O'Meara 72-69 -- 141

Bob Tway 74-67 -- 141

David Eger 74-68 -- 142

Tom Lehman 73-69 -- 142

Mark Wiebe 70-72 -- 142

Lee Rinker 69-74 -- 143

Chien Soon Lu 69-74 -- 143

Fuzzy Zoeller 72-71 -- 143

Andy Bean 70-73 -- 143

Dana Quigley 71-72 -- 143

Jim Thorpe 72-71 -- 143

Bobby Wadkins 70-73 -- 143

Bill Glasson 72-72 -- 144

Mike Reid 71-73 -- 144

Bruce Fleisher 72-72 -- 144

Rod Spittle 70-74 -- 144

Bob Gilder 69-75 -- 144

Tommy Armour III 72-72 -- 144

Scott Hoch 70-74 -- 144

Jeff Sluman 71-73 -- 144

Brad Bryant 75-70 -- 145

Mark Brooks 76-69 -- 145

John Jacobs 70-75 -- 145

Madrid.-

- Palmarés:

.- 17 últimas ediciones:

AÑO GANADOR

--- -------

2011 Charl Schwartzel (RSA)

2010 Phil Mickelson (USA)

2009 Ángel Cabrera (ARG)

2008 Trevor Immelman (RSA)

2007 Zach Johnson (USA)

2006 Phil Mickelson (USA)

2005 Tiger Woods (USA)

2004 Phil Mickelson (USA)

2003 Mike Weir (CAN)

2002 Tiger Woods (USA)

2001 Tiger Woods (USA)

2000 Vijay Singh (FIJ)

1999 J.María Olazábal (ESP)

1998 Mark O'Meara (USA)

1997 Tiger Woods (USA)

1996 Nick Faldo (ING)

1995 Ben Crenshaw (USA)

1994 J.María Olazábal (ESP)

1993 Bernhard Langer (GER)

- Anteriores ediciones:

1934 Horton Smith 1965 Jack Nicklaus

1935 Gene Sarazen 1966 Jack Niclkaus

1936 Horton Smith 1967 Gay Brewer

1937 Byron Nelson 1968 Bob Goalby

1938 Henry Picard 1969 George Archer

1939 Rallph Guldahl 1970 Billy Casper

1940 Jimmy Demaret 1971 Charles Coody

1941 Craig Wood 1972 Jack Nicklaus

1942 Byron Nelson 1973 Tommy Aaron

1946 Herman Keiser 1974 Gary Player

1947 Jimmy Demaret 1975 Jack Nicklaus

1948 Claude Harmon 1976 Raymond Floyd

1949 Sam Snead 1977 Tom Watson

1950 Jimmy Demaret 1978 Gary Player

1951 Ben Hogan 1979 Fuzzy Zoeller

1952 Sam Snead 1980 Seve Ballesteros

1953 Ben Hogan 1981 Tom Watson

1954 Sam Snead 1982 Craig Stadler

1955 Cary Middlecoff 1983 Seve Ballesteros

1956 Jack Burke Jr. 1984 Ben Crenshaw

1957 Doug Ford 1985 Bernhard Langer

1958 Arnold Palmer 1986 Jack Nicklaus

1959 Art Wall Jr. 1987 Larry Mize

1960 Arnold Palmer 1988 Sandy Lyle

1961 Gary Player 1989 Nick Faldo

1962 Arnold Palmer 1990 Nick Faldo

1963 Jack Nicklaus 1991 Ian Woosnam

1964 Arnold Palmer 1992 Fred Couples.

MONDAY'S TV SCHEDULE

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

1 p.m. Minnesota at N.Y. Yankees ESPN

MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

3 p.m. NCAA tournament championship: Butler vs. Connecticut CBS

NHL HOCKEY

1:30 p.m. Boston at N.Y. Rangers VERSUS

4 p.m. Los Angeles at San Jose VERSUS

TUESDAY'S TV SCHEDULE

NBA BASKETBALL

2 p.m. L.A. Clippers at Memphis FOXSP2

4:30 p.m. Utah at L.A. Lakers FOXSP

NHL HOCKEY

1:30 p.m. New Jersey at Pittsburgh VERSUS

SOCCER

8:30 a.m. UEFA Champions League quarterfinals: Schalke at Inter Milan FOXSP

WOMEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

2:30 p.m. NCAA tournament championship: Texas A&M vs. Notre Dame ESPN

* Tape-delayed broadcast

TODAY'S BIIF SCHEDULE

BOYS VOLLEYBALL

Varsity matches follow 6 p.m. JV matches unless noted below

Hawaii Prep at Laupahoehoe, 6 p.m.

SOFTBALL

Keaau at Pahoa, 3 p.m.

TENNIS

Parker at Hawaii Prep, 10 a.m.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

NCAA TOURNAMENT GLANCE

FINAL FOUR

At Reliant Stadium, Houston

Saturday's results

Butler 70, Virginia Commonwealth 62

Connecticut 56, Kentucky 55

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Today's game

Butler (28-9) vs. Connecticut (31-9), 3 p.m.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

NCAA TOURNAMENT GLANCE

FINAL FOUR

At Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis

NATIONAL SEMIFINALS

Sunday's results

Texas A&M 63, Stanford 62

Notre Dame 72, Connecticut 63

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Tuesday's game

Texas A&M (32-5) vs. Notre Dame (31-7), 2:30 p.m.

WNIT GLANCE

SEMIFINALS

Wednesday's results

Toledo 83, Charlotte 60

Southern Cal 63, Illinois State 36

CHAMPIONSHIP

Saturday's result

Toledo 76, USC 68

HOCKEY

NHL GLANCE

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Atlantic Division

GP W L OT Pts GF GA

x-Philadelphia 79 46 22 11 103 247 210

x-Pittsburgh 79 46 25 8 100 225 192

N.Y. Rangers 79 42 32 5 89 223 190

New Jersey 78 36 37 5 77 163 196

N.Y. Islanders 79 30 37 12 72 220 250

Northeast Division

GP W L OT Pts GF GA

y-Boston 78 44 23 11 99 235 184

Montreal 79 42 30 7 91 208 204

Buffalo 79 40 29 10 90 232 220

Toronto 79 37 32 10 84 213 240

Ottawa 79 30 39 10 70 183 243

Southeast Division

GP W L OT Pts GF GA

x-Washington 79 46 22 11 103 216 192

x-Tampa Bay 79 44 24 11 99 235 232

Carolina 79 38 30 11 87 225 232

Atlanta 78 33 33 12 78 214 252

Florida 79 29 38 12 70 190 220

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Central Division

GP W L OT Pts GF GA

y-Detroit 79 46 23 10 102 255 231

Nashville 79 42 26 11 95 209 188

Chicago 78 42 28 8 92 246 214

St. Louis 79 36 33 10 82 232 229

Columbus 79 34 32 13 81 210 246

Northwest Division

GP W L OT Pts GF GA

z-Vancouver 79 52 18 9 113 254 181

Calgary 80 40 29 11 91 242 233

Minnesota 79 37 34 8 82 198 224

Colorado 78 29 41 8 66 218 275

Edmonton 78 24 43 11 59 186 256

Pacific Division

GP W L OT Pts GF GA

x-San Jose 78 46 23 9 101 234 201

Los Angeles 78 45 27 6 96 213 185

Phoenix 79 42 25 12 96 224 217

Anaheim 79 44 30 5 93 228 231

Dallas 78 39 28 11 89 214 224

NOTES: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. x -- Clinched playoff spot; z -- Clinched conference

Saturday's results

Boston 3, Atlanta 2

Tampa Bay 3, Minnesota 1

Detroit 4, Nashville 3, OT

Los Angeles 3, Dallas 1

Toronto 4, Ottawa 2

Montreal 3, New Jersey 1

Carolina 4, N.Y. Islanders 2

Washington 5, Buffalo 4, OT

Pittsburgh 4, Florida 2

Edmonton 4, Vancouver 1

San Jose 4, Anaheim 2

Sunday's results

N.Y. Rangers 3, Philadelphia 2, SO

Buffalo 2, Carolina 1, OT

Detroit 4, Minnesota 2

St. Louis 6, Columbus 1

Tampa Bay 2, Chicago 0

Calgary 2, Colorado 1

Dallas 4, Anaheim 3

Today's games

Boston at N.Y. Rangers, 1:30 p.m.

Los Angeles at San Jose, 4 p.m.

Tuesday's games

Tampa Bay at Buffalo, 1 p.m.

Washington at Toronto, 1 p.m.

New Jersey at Pittsburgh, 1:30 p.m.

Chicago at Montreal, 1:30 p.m.

Philadelphia at Ottawa, 1:30 p.m.

Colorado at St. Louis, 2 p.m.

Atlanta at Nashville, 2 p.m.

Columbus at Dallas, 2:30 p.m.

Vancouver at Edmonton, 3 p.m.

SOCCER

MLS GLANCE

EASTERN CONFERENCE

W L OT Pts GF GA

Philadelphia 2 1 0 6 2 1

New England 1 0 2 5 4 3

New York 1 0 2 5 2 1

Chicago 1 0 1 4 4 3

Sporting Kansas City 1 1 1 4 8 8

Toronto FC 1 1 1 4 5 5

Columbus 1 1 1 4 3 3

D.C. 1 2 0 3 5 7

Houston 0 1 2 2 2 3

WESTERN CONFERENCE

W L T Pts GF GA

Colorado 3 0 0 9 8 2

Los Angeles 2 1 1 7 4 5

Real Salt Lake 2 0 0 6 5 1

Vancouver 1 1 1 4 7 6

San Jose 1 1 1 4 4 3

Seattle 0 2 2 2 3 5

Chivas USA 0 2 1 1 3 5

Portland 0 2 1 1 2 6

FC Dallas 0 2 1 1 1 5

NOTE: Three points for victory, one point for tie.

Friday, April 1

Columbus 2, FC Dallas 0

Saturday's results

Toronto FC 1, Chivas USA 1, tie

Vancouver 3, Sporting Kansas City 3, tie

New York 1, Houston 1, tie

New England 1, Portland 1, tie

Los Angeles 1, Philadelphia 0

San Jose 2, Seattle FC 2, tie

Sunday's result

Colorado 4, D.C. United 1

Wednesday's game

New England at Vancouver, 4 p.m.

Friday's game

Colorado at FC Dallas, 3 p.m.

GOLF

HOUSTON OPEN

Sunday's final round

Phil Mickelson 70-70-63-65 -- 268

Chris Kirk 66-69-69-67 -- 271

Scott Verplank 73-65-65-68 -- 271

Steve Stricker 67-72-67-69 -- 275

Aaron Baddeley 73-65-66-71 -- 275

Robert Allenby 68-72-67-69 -- 276

David Hearn 69-70-66-71 -- 276

Greg Chalmers 70-73-66-68 -- 277

Matt Kuchar 72-70-67-68 -- 277

Brandt Jobe 69-72-68-68 -- 277

Padraig Harrington 68-69-70-70 -- 277

Hunter Mahan 70-71-66-70 -- 277

Chad Campbell 71-70-71-66 -- 278

Gary Woodland 71-70-69-68 -- 278

Anthony Kim 72-64-69-73 -- 278

Louis Oosthuizen 72-69-70-68 -- 279

Webb Simpson 72-72-66-69 -- 279

Tim Petrovic 70-68-71-70 -- 279

Charles Howell III 69-75-69-67 -- 280

Nick O'Hern 65-74-72-69 -- 280

Josh Teater 65-72-73-70 -- 280

David Mathis 70-70-70-70 -- 280

J.J. Henry 73-70-65-72 -- 280

Charley Hoffman 72-68-72-69 -- 281

Ben Crane 70-68-73-70 -- 281

Michael Thompson 72-69-70-70 -- 281

John Senden 72-69-70-70 -- 281

Michael Putnam 70-69-69-73 -- 281

Ben Curtis 70-70-68-73 -- 281

Lee Westwood 68-72-74-68 -- 282

Charl Schwartzel 74-67-71-70 -- 282

Tommy Gainey 68-73-70-71 -- 282

Jimmy Walker 63-74-72-73 -- 282

Nathan Green 67-73-69-73 -- 282

Vaughn Taylor 68-71-69-74 -- 282

Johnson Wagner 69-67-76-71 -- 283

Cameron Beckman 69-74-67-73 -- 283

Alex Cejka 71-70-69-73 -- 283

Ben Martin 73-66-70-74 -- 283

Zack Miller 68-74-67-74 -- 283

Nate Smith 69-72-66-76 -- 283

Troy Merritt 72-71-71-70 -- 284

Michael Bradley 71-71-72-70 -- 284

Joseph Bramlett 73-68-72-71 -- 284

Bill Lunde 68-71-73-72 -- 284

Scott Piercy 71-72-69-72 -- 284

J.B. Holmes 73-71-67-73 -- 284

Kent Jones 72-72-68-73 -- 285

John Rollins 67-71-72-75 -- 285

Brian Davis 71-72-67-75 -- 285

Brendan Steele 67-72-77-70 -- 286

Charlie Wi 74-70-71-71 -- 286

Keegan Bradley 70-73-71-72 -- 286

Steve Elkington 68-71-73-74 -- 286

Ernie Els 71-72-69-74 -- 286

Ross Fisher 71-70-69-76 -- 286

Kris Blanks 69-74-73-71 -- 287

Billy Mayfair 69-74-71-73 -- 287

Blake Adams 72-72-67-76 -- 287

Boo Weekley 72-72-72-72 -- 288

Kyle Stanley 70-74-71-73 -- 288

Retief Goosen 70-74-71-73 -- 288

Jim Renner 71-73-70-74 -- 288

Fred Couples 71-72-71-74 -- 288

D.A. Points 70-72-71-75 -- 288

Kevin Stadler 71-73-72-73 -- 289

Jim Herman 73-68-75-73 -- 289

Marc Leishman 69-75-71-74 -- 289

Robert Garrigus 68-72-75-74 -- 289

Roland Thatcher 77-67-69-76 -- 289

Andres Romero 73-70-70-76 -- 289

Steve Marino 72-70-71-76 -- 289

Francesco Molinari 69-71-74-77 -- 291

Cameron Tringale 74-70-66-81 -- 291

Fabian Gomez 71-72-73-79 -- 295

KRAFT NABISCO CHAMPIONSHIP

Sunday's final round

Note: Hawaii golfers in bold

Stacy Lewis 66-69-71-69 -- 275

Yani Tseng 70-68-66-74 -- 278

Katie Futcher 70-71-74-69 -- 284

Angela Stanford 72-72-67-73 -- 284

Morgan Pressel 70-69-69-76 -- 284

Michelle Wie 74-67-69-75 -- 285

Julieta Granada 72-70-75-69 -- 286

Chie Arimura 68-73-71-74 -- 286

Mika Miyazato 67-75-70-74 -- 286

I.K. Kim 75-67-75-70 -- 287

Anna Nordqvist 69-74-73-71 -- 287

Se Ri Pak 73-71-71-72 -- 287

Karrie Webb 69-74-74-71 -- 288

Brittany Lincicome 66-72-74-76 -- 288

Christel Boeljon 74-73-71-71 -- 289

Juli Inkster 73-73-71-72 -- 289

Sandra Gal 67-74-75-73 -- 289

Sophie Gustafson 72-68-74-75 -- 289

S. Prammanasudh 71-75-73-71 -- 290

Suzann Pettersen 75-71-72-72 -- 290

Paula Creamer 73-74-70-73 -- 290

Maria Hjorth 75-70-72-73 -- 290

Amy Yang 70-69-76-75 -- 290

Jimin Kang 72-69-72-77 -- 290

Meaghan Francella 75-71-73-72 -- 291

a-Ariya Jutanugarn 74-73-71-73 -- 291

Alena Sharp 71-73-73-74 -- 291

Eun-Hee Ji 75-71-69-76 -- 291

Inbee Park 76-72-71-73 -- 292

Jiyai Shin 73-72-74-73 -- 292

Leta Lindley 72-71-75-74 -- 292

Karen Stupples 71-72-71-78 -- 292

Song-Hee Kim 71-74-76-72 -- 293

Ai Miyazato 71-75-73-74 -- 293

Melissa Reid 71-75-73-74 -- 293

Hee Kyung Seo 76-71-72-74 -- 293

Momoko Ueda 70-76-73-74 -- 293

Becky Morgan 72-73-73-75 -- 293

Wendy Ward 70-71-77-75 -- 293

Mi Hyun Kim 70-75-69-79 -- 293

Karine Icher 74-72-76-72 -- 294

Amanda Blumenherst 74-73-73-74 -- 294

Kristy McPherson 74-74-72-74 -- 294

So Yeon Ryu 75-72-73-74 -- 294

Vicky Hurst 72-77-69-76 -- 294

Jane Park 68-70-76-80 -- 294

Laura Diaz 74-73-77-71 -- 295

Mariajo Uribe 70-75-75-75 -- 295

Na Yeon Choi 73-74-72-76 -- 295

Natalie Gulbis 73-73-73-76 -- 295

Seon Hwa Lee 72-70-75-78 -- 295

Azahara Munoz 76-73-76-71 -- 296

Lindsey Wright 76-73-72-75 -- 296

Maria Hernandez 73-74-72-77 -- 296

Shanshan Feng 72-77-73-75 -- 297

Reilley Rankin 69-75-75-78 -- 297

Shi Hyun Ahn 73-75-76-74 -- 298

Laura Davies 73-74-75-76 -- 298

Paige Mackenzie 72-75-75-76 -- 298

Brittany Lang 75-73-72-78 -- 298

Gwladys Nocera 72-72-76-78 -- 298

Candie Kung 78-70-77-74 -- 299

Kyeong Bae 73-72-77-77 -- 299

Stephanie Sherlock 73-75-73-78 -- 299

Sun Young Yoo 74-68-77-80 -- 299

Nicole Castrale 76-71-79-74 -- 300

MISSISSIPPI GULF RESORT

Sunday's final round

Tom Lehman 67-64-69 -- 200

Nick Price 68-69-67 -- 204

Jeff Sluman 66-66-72 -- 204

David Frost 68-67-69 -- 204

Olin Browne 70-68-67 -- 205

Jay Haas 69-68-68 -- 205

Fred Funk 70-68-68 -- 206

Hale Irwin 70-68-68 -- 206

Steve Lowery 69-68-69 -- 206

Mark Calcavecchia 70-67-70 -- 207

Bob Tway 70-70-68 -- 208

Russ Cochran 70-69-69 -- 208

Michael Allen 73-67-69 -- 209

Peter Senior 69-69-71 -- 209

Phil Blackmar 71-68-70 -- 209

John Morse 70-67-72 -- 209

Mark O'Meara 69-68-72 -- 209

Mark Brooks 70-72-68 -- 210

Ian Woosnam 71-69-70 -- 210

J.L. Lewis 72-68-70 -- 210

Chien Soon Lu 74-66-70 -- 210

TRANSACTIONS

BASEBALL

American League

BALTIMORE ORIOLES -- Recalled LHP Zach Britton from Norfolk (IL). Placed LHP Brian Matusz on the 15-day DL, retroactive to March 30.

CLEVELAND INDIANS -- Released OF Preston Mattingly.

TAMPA BAY RAYS -- Placed 3B Evan Longoria on the 15-day DL. Selected the contract of INF Felipe Lopez from Durham (IL).

National League

ATLANTA BRAVES -- Placed RHP Jair Jurrjens on the 15 -day DL, retroactive to March 25. Recalled LHP Mike Minor from Gwinnett (IL).

HOCKEY

National Hockey League

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS -- Activated LW Kristian Huselius from injured reserve. Assigned RW Maksim Mayorov to Springfield (AHL).

OTTAWA SENATORS -- Reassigned D Andre Benoit and D Patrick Wiercioch from Binghamton (AHL).

COLLEGE

UTAH -- Named Larry Krystkowiak men's basketball coach.

AUTO RACING

GOODY'S FAST PAIN RELIEF 500 RESULTS

Sunday's results

1. (9) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 500 laps, 99 rating, 47 points, $200,786.

2. (26) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 500, 102, 43, $118,200.

3. (11) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 500, 133.4, 43, $150,416.

4. (27) Juan Pablo Montoya, Chevrolet, 500, 97.6, 40, $135,733.

5. (21) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 500, 110.3, 40, $123,461.

6. (24) Matt Kenseth, Ford, 500, 90.5, 38, $123,461.

7. (1) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 500, 110, 38, $127,564.

8. (14) David Ragan, Ford, 500, 91.1, 36, $90,525.

9. (15) Clint Bowyer, Chevrolet, 500, 111.1, 36, $126,583.

10. (12) Mark Martin, Chevrolet, 500, 84.9, 34, $88,625.

11. (17) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 500, 114.9, 34, $134,461.

12. (5) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 500, 118.7, 33, $123,350.

13. (4) Joey Logano, Toyota, 499, 81, 31, $87,650.

14. (6) A J Allmendinger, Ford, 499, 96.4, 31, $114,811.

15. (8) David Reutimann, Toyota, 499, 94, 29, $105,958.

16. (20) Kurt Busch, Dodge, 499, 64.9, 28, $118,675.

17. (13) Brian Vickers, Toyota, 499, 72, 27, $104,139.

18. (23) Carl Edwards, Ford, 499, 70.6, 27, $119,816.

19. (22) Brad Keselowski, Dodge, 498, 70.3, 25, $102,508.

20. (2) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 498, 88.3, 25, $117,325.

21. (33) Greg Biffle, Ford, 498, 66.8, 23, $90,200.

22. (39) Ken Schrader, Ford, 497, 48.7, 22, $91,383.

23. (34) Robby Gordon, Dodge, 497, 56, 21, $90,033.

24. (32) Jeff Burton, Chevrolet, 495, 68.9, 20, $82,625.

25. (40) Tony Raines, Ford, 493, 37, 19, $74,825.

26. (37) Landon Cassill, Chevrolet, 493, 40.5, 0, $85,608.

27. (7) Bobby Labonte, Toyota, 489, 64.3, 17, $100,970.

28. (42) Hermie Sadler, Chevrolet, 488, 34, 0, $81,325.

29. (19) Marcos Ambrose, Ford, 487, 60.3, 15, $103,141.

30. (29) Dave Blaney, Chevrolet, 486, 46.6, 14, $83,572.

31. (10) Regan Smith, Chevrolet, 476, 59.6, 13, $96,220.

32. (35) Michael McDowell, Toyota, 470, 47.7, 12, $69,725.

33. (36) David Gilliland, Ford, 468, 38.2, 11, $70,450.

34. (28) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 462, 49.9, 10, $114,783.

35. (25) Trevor Bayne, Ford, 460, 43.7, 0, $77,325.

36. (30) Casey Mears, Toyota, 457, 52.8, 8, $69,275.

37. (31) Travis Kvapil, Ford, drive shaft, 443, 34.7, 0, $69,200.

38. (16) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, overheating, 261, 43, 6, $69,150.

39. (3) Kasey Kahne, Toyota, accident, 219, 73.4, 6, $78,100.

40. (18) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, accident, 219, 41.5, 4, $77,025.

41. (41) J.J. Yeley, Chevrolet, brakes, 33, 29.4, 3, $68,975.

42. (38) Mike Skinner, Toyota, brakes, 31, 28.3, 0, $68,895.

43. (43) Joe Nemechek, Toyota, brakes, 25, 27.4, 0, $68,418.

Tee times have been announced for the final round of the 2011 Shell Houston Open. 24 hours ago, few would have expected the final pair to be made up of Phil Mickelson and Scott Verplank, but the two veterans pieced together remarkable rounds on Saturday to share the tournament lead.

Mickelson and Verplank will tee off at 12:30 p.m. Houston (Central) time. They'll trail Aaron Baddeley and Chris Kirk, who share third place and will begin their final 18 at 12:21 p.m.

Here is the full slate of tee times, from the PGA Tour's website. All times Central.

You can view the full leaderboard here. Check back with this StoryStream for tee times and leaderboard updates. And for more on the PGA Tour, check out SB Nation's golf blog, Waggle Room.

TODAY'S TV SCHEDULE

AUTO RACING

6:30 a.m. Sprint Cup: Goody's Fast Relief 500 FOX

10:30 a.m. NHRA: SummitRacing.com Nationals * ESPN2

CYCLING

10 a.m. Tour of Flanders * VERSUS

GOLF

3 a.m. European PGA Tour: Trophee Hassan II (final round) TGC

7 a.m. PGA Tour: Houston Open (final round) TGC

9 a.m. PGA Tour: Houston Open (final round) NBC

10:30 a.m. LPGA Tour: Kraft Nabisco Championship (final round) TGC

3 p.m. Champions Tour: Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic (final round) TGC

HORSE RACING

9 a.m. Trackside Live! FOXSP2

5 p.m. The Quarters FOXSP2

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

8 a.m. Boston at Texas TBS

8 a.m. L.A. Angels at Kansas City FOXSP

8:10 a.m. Pittsburgh at Chicago Cubs WGN

2 p.m. San Francisco at L.A. Dodgers ESPN2

MOTORSPORTS

2 a.m. MotoGP World Championship: Spanish Grand Prix SPEED

NBA BASKETBALL

7 a.m. Phoenix at San Antonio ABC

9:30 a.m. Denver at L.A. Lakers ABC

NHL HOCKEY

6:30 a.m. N.Y. Rangers at Philadelphia NBC

2 p.m. Dallas at Anaheim foxsp2

RODEO

2 p.m. PBR: U.S. Bank Invitational * VERSUS

TENNIS

7 a.m. ATP/WTA Tour: Sony Ericsson Open (men's championship match) CBS

WOMEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

1 p.m. NCAA tournament Final Four: Stanford vs. Texas A&M ESPN

3 p.m. NCAA tournament Final Four: Connecticut vs. Notre Dame ESPN

MONDAY'S TV SCHEDULE

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

1 p.m. Minnesota at N.Y. Yankees ESPN

MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

3 p.m. NCAA tournament championship: Butler vs. Connecticut CBS

NHL HOCKEY

1:30 p.m. Boston at N.Y. Rangers VERSUS

4 p.m. Los Angeles at San Jose VERSUS

* -- Tape-delayed broadcast

FRIDAY'S BIIF RESULTS

BOYS VOLLEYBALL

c Laupahoehoe def. Konawaena 25-17, 25-14, 25-21

c Honokaa def. Hualalai Academy 25-19, 25-17, 25-20

c Kamehameha def. Christian Liberty 25-14, 25-19, 20-25, 25-5

MONDAY'S BIIF SCHEDULE

BOYS VOLLEYBALL

Varsity matches follow 10 a.m. JV matches unless noted below

Hawaii Prep at Laupahoehoe, 6 p.m.

SOFTBALL

Keaau at Pahoa, 3 p.m.

TENNIS

Parker at Hawaii Prep, 10 a.m.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

NCAA TOURNAMENT GLANCE

FINAL FOUR

At Reliant Stadium, Houston

Saturday's results

Butler 70, Virginia Commonwealth 62

Connecticut 56, Kentucky 55

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Monday's game

Butler vs. Connecticut, 3 p.m.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

NCAA TOURNAMENT GLANCE

FINAL FOUR

At Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis

NATIONAL SEMIFINALS

Today's games

Stanford (33-2) vs. Texas A&M (31-5), 1 p.m.

Connecticut (36-1) vs. Notre Dame (30-7), 3 p.m.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Tuesday's game

Semifinal winners, TBD

WNIT GLANCE

SEMIFINALS

Wednesday's results

Toledo 83, Charlotte 60

Southern Cal 63, Illinois State 36

CHAMPIONSHIP

Saturday's result

Toledo 76, USC 68

HOCKEY

NHL GLANCE

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Atlantic Division

GP W L OT Pts GF GA

x-Philadelphia 78 46 22 10 102 245 207

x-Pittsburgh 79 46 25 8 100 225 192

N.Y. Rangers 78 41 32 5 87 220 188

New Jersey 78 36 37 5 77 163 196

N.Y. Islanders 79 30 37 12 72 220 250

Northeast Division

GP W L OT Pts GF GA

y-Boston 78 44 23 11 99 235 184

Montreal 79 42 30 7 91 208 204

Buffalo 78 39 29 10 88 230 219

Toronto 79 37 32 10 84 213 240

Ottawa 79 30 39 10 70 183 243

Southeast Division

GP W L OT Pts GF GA

x-Washington 79 46 22 11 103 216 192

x-Tampa Bay 78 43 24 11 97 233 232

Carolina 78 38 30 10 86 224 230

Atlanta 78 33 33 12 78 214 252

Florida 79 29 38 12 70 190 220

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Central Division

GP W L OT Pts GF GA

x-Detroit 78 45 23 10 100 251 229

Nashville 79 42 26 11 95 209 188

Chicago 77 42 27 8 92 246 212

Columbus 78 34 31 13 81 209 240

St. Louis 78 35 33 10 80 226 228

Northwest Division

GP W L OT Pts GF GA

z-Vancouver 79 52 18 9 113 254 181

Calgary 79 39 29 11 89 240 232

Minnesota 78 37 33 8 82 196 220

Colorado 77 29 40 8 66 217 273

Edmonton 78 24 43 11 59 186 256

Pacific Division

GP W L OT Pts GF GA

x-San Jose 78 46 23 9 101 234 201

Los Angeles 78 45 27 6 96 213 185

Phoenix 79 42 25 12 96 224 217

Anaheim 78 44 29 5 93 225 227

Dallas 77 38 28 11 87 210 221

NOTES: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. x -- Clinched playoff spot; z -- Clinched conference

Thursday's results

Toronto 4, Boston 3, SO

N.Y. Islanders 6, N.Y. Rangers 2

Atlanta 1, Philadelphia 0

Washington 4, Columbus 3, OT

Tampa Bay 2, Pittsburgh 1

Ottawa 4, Florida 1

Minnesota 4, Edmonton 2

Nashville 3, Colorado 2

Vancouver 3, Los Angeles 1

San Jose 6, Dallas 0

Friday's results

Chicago 4, Columbus 3, SO

Colorado 4, Phoenix 3, SO

New Jersey 4, Philadelphia 2

Calgary 3, St. Louis 2

Saturday's results

Boston 3, Atlanta 2

Tampa Bay 3, Minnesota 1

Detroit 4, Nashville 3, OT

Los Angeles 3, Dallas 1

Toronto 4, Ottawa 2

Montreal 3, New Jersey 1

Carolina 4, N.Y. Islanders 2

Washington 5, Buffalo 4, OT

Pittsburgh 4, Florida 2

Edmonton 4, Vancouver 1

San Jose 4, Anaheim 2

Today's games

N.Y. Rangers at Philadelphia, 6:30 a.m.

Buffalo at Carolina, 11 a.m.

Minnesota at Detroit, 11 a.m.

St. Louis at Columbus, 11 a.m.

Tampa Bay at Chicago, 1 p.m.

Calgary at Colorado, 2 p.m.

Dallas at Anaheim, 2 p.m.

SOCCER

MLS GLANCE

EASTERN CONFERENCE

W L OT Pts GF GA

Philadelphia 2 1 0 6 2 1

New England 1 0 2 5 4 3

New York 1 0 2 5 2 1

Chicago 1 0 1 4 4 3

Sporting Kansas City 1 1 1 4 8 8

Toronto FC 1 1 1 4 5 5

Columbus 1 1 1 4 3 3

D.C. 1 1 0 3 4 3

Houston 0 1 2 2 2 3

WESTERN CONFERENCE

W L T Pts GF GA

Los Angeles 2 1 1 7 4 5

Real Salt Lake 2 0 0 6 5 1

Colorado 2 0 0 6 4 1

Vancouver 1 1 1 4 7 6

San Jose 1 1 1 4 4 3

Seattle 0 2 2 2 3 5

Chivas USA 0 2 1 1 3 5

Portland 0 2 1 1 2 6

FC Dallas 0 2 1 1 1 5

NOTE: Three points for victory, one point for tie.

Friday's result

Columbus 2, FC Dallas 0

Saturday's results

Toronto FC 1, Chivas USA 1, tie

Vancouver 3, Sporting Kansas City 3, tie

New York 1, Houston 1, tie

New England 1, Portland 1, tie

Los Angeles 1, Philadelphia 0

San Jose 2, Seattle FC 2, tie

Today's game

D.C. United at Colorado, 1 p.m.

GOLF

HOUSTON OPEN

Saturday's third round

Phil Mickelson 70-70-63 -- 203

Scott Verplank 73-65-65 -- 203

Aaron Baddeley 73-65-66 -- 204

Chris Kirk 66-69-69 -- 204

David Hearn 69-70-66 -- 205

Anthony Kim 72-64-69 -- 205

Steve Stricker 67-72-67 -- 206

Nate Smith 69-72-66 -- 207

Hunter Mahan 70-71-66 -- 207

Robert Allenby 68-72-67 -- 207

Padraig Harrington 68-69-70 -- 207

Ben Curtis 70-70-68 -- 208

J.J. Henry 73-70-65 -- 208

Vaughn Taylor 68-71-69 -- 208

Michael Putnam 70-69-69 -- 208

Brandt Jobe 69-72-68 -- 209

Matt Kuchar 72-70-67 -- 209

Zack Miller 68-74-67 -- 209

Greg Chalmers 70-73-66 -- 209

Nathan Green 67-73-69 -- 209

Ben Martin 73-66-70 -- 209

Tim Petrovic 70-68-71 -- 209

Jimmy Walker 63-74-72 -- 209

Alex Cejka 71-70-69 -- 210

Ross Fisher 71-70-69 -- 210

Brian Davis 71-72-67 -- 210

Gary Woodland 71-70-69 -- 210

David Mathis 70-70-70 -- 210

Cameron Beckman 69-74-67 -- 210

Webb Simpson 72-72-66 -- 210

Cameron Tringale 74-70-66 -- 210

John Rollins 67-71-72 -- 210

Josh Teater 65-72-73 -- 210

Tommy Gainey 68-73-70 -- 211

Michael Thompson 72-69-70 -- 211

John Senden 72-69-70 -- 211

Louis Oosthuizen 72-69-70 -- 211

Nick O'Hern 65-74-72 -- 211

Blake Adams 72-72-67 -- 211

Ben Crane 70-68-73 -- 211

J.B. Holmes 73-71-67 -- 211

Charl Schwartzel 74-67-71 -- 212

Chad Campbell 71-70-71 -- 212

Ernie Els 71-72-69 -- 212

Charley Hoffman 72-68-72 -- 212

Scott Piercy 71-72-69 -- 212

Kent Jones 72-72-68 -- 212

Steve Elkington 68-71-73 -- 212

Bill Lunde 68-71-73 -- 212

Johnson Wagner 69-67-76 -- 212

Steve Marino 72-70-71 -- 213

D.A. Points 70-72-71 -- 213

Andres Romero 73-70-70 -- 213

Joseph Bramlett 73-68-72 -- 213

Roland Thatcher 77-67-69 -- 213

Charles Howell III 69-75-69 -- 213

Michael Bradley 71-71-72 -- 214

Billy Mayfair 69-74-71 -- 214

Troy Merritt 72-71-71 -- 214

Lee Westwood 68-72-74 -- 214

Francesco Molinari 69-71-74 -- 214

Fred Couples 71-72-71 -- 214

Keegan Bradley 70-73-71 -- 214

Jim Renner 71-73-70 -- 214

Robert Garrigus 68-72-75 -- 215

Charlie Wi 74-70-71 -- 215

Marc Leishman 69-75-71 -- 215

Retief Goosen 70-74-71 -- 215

Kyle Stanley 70-74-71 -- 215

Jim Herman 73-68-75 -- 216

Kris Blanks 69-74-73 -- 216

Fabian Gomez 71-72-73 -- 216

Brendan Steele 67-72-77 -- 216

Boo Weekley 72-72-72 -- 216

Kevin Stadler 71-73-72 -- 216

KRAFT NABISCO CHAMPIONSHIP

Saturday's third round

Note: Hawaii golfers in bold

Yani Tseng 70-68-66 -- 204

Stacy Lewis 66-69-71 -- 206

Morgan Pressel 70-69-69 -- 208

Michelle Wie 74-67-69 -- 210

Angela Stanford 72-72-67 -- 211

Mika Miyazato 67-75-70 -- 212

Chie Arimura 68-73-71 -- 212

Brittany Lincicome 66-72-74 -- 212

Jimin Kang 72-69-72 -- 213

Mi Hyun Kim 70-75-69 -- 214

Karen Stupples 71-72-71 -- 214

Sophie Gustafson 72-68-74 -- 214

Jane Park 68-70-76 -- 214

Eun-Hee Ji 75-71-69 -- 215

Se Ri Pak 73-71-71 -- 215

Katie Futcher 70-71-74 -- 215

Amy Yang 70-69-76 -- 215

Anna Nordqvist 69-74-73 -- 216

Sandra Gal 67-74-75 -- 216

Paula Creamer 73-74-70 -- 217

Juli Inkster 73-73-71 -- 217

Maria Hjorth 75-70-72 -- 217

Alena Sharp 71-73-73 -- 217

Karrie Webb 69-74-74 -- 217

Julieta Granada 72-70-75 -- 217

I.K. Kim 75-67-75 -- 217

Seon Hwa Lee 72-70-75 -- 217

Vicky Hurst 72-77-69 -- 218

Lee-Anne Pace 76-72-70 -- 218

Christel Boeljon 74-73-71 -- 218

a-Ariya Jutanugarn 74-73-71 -- 218

Suzann Pettersen 75-71-72 -- 218

Becky Morgan 72-73-73 -- 218

Leta Lindley 72-71-75 -- 218

Wendy Ward 70-71-77 -- 218

Inbee Park 76-72-71 -- 219

Na Yeon Choi 73-74-72 -- 219

Maria Hernandez 73-74-72 -- 219

Hee Kyung Seo 76-71-72 -- 219

Meaghan Francella 75-71-73 -- 219

Natalie Gulbis 73-73-73 -- 219

Ai Miyazato 71-75-73 -- 219

Stacy Prammanasudh 71-75-73 -- 219

Melissa Reid 71-75-73 -- 219

Momoko Ueda 70-76-73 -- 219

Jiyai Shin 73-72-74 -- 219

Reilley Rankin 69-75-75 -- 219

Sun Young Yoo 74-68-77 -- 219

Brittany Lang 75-73-72 -- 220

Kristy McPherson 74-74-72 -- 220

Amanda Blumenherst 74-73-73 -- 220

So Yeon Ryu 75-72-73 -- 220

Mariajo Uribe 70-75-75 -- 220

Gwladys Nocera 72-72-76 -- 220

Lindsey Wright 76-73-72 -- 221

Stephanie Sherlock 73-75-73 -- 221

Song-Hee Kim 71-74-76 -- 221

Shanshan Feng 72-77-73 -- 222

Laura Davies 73-74-75 -- 222

Paige Mackenzie 72-75-75 -- 222

Karine Icher 74-72-76 -- 222

Kyeong Bae 73-72-77 -- 222

Katherine Hull 76-73-74 -- 223

Shi Hyun Ahn 73-75-76 -- 224

Shiho Oyama 71-77-76 -- 224

Laura Diaz 74-73-77 -- 224

MISSISSIPPI GULF RESORT

Saturday's second round

Tom Lehman 67-64 -- 131

Jeff Sluman 66-66 -- 132

David Frost 68-67 -- 135

Mark Calcavecchia 70-67 -- 137

John Morse 70-67 -- 137

Mark O'Meara 69-68 -- 137

Steve Lowery 69-68 -- 137

Jay Haas 69-68 -- 137

Nick Price 68-69 -- 137

Olin Browne 70-68 -- 138

Fred Funk 70-68 -- 138

Hale Irwin 70-68 -- 138

Peter Senior 69-69 -- 138

Keith Fergus 72-67 -- 139

Phil Blackmar 71-68 -- 139

Bobby Clampett 71-68 -- 139

Gil Morgan 70-69 -- 139

John Cook 70-69 -- 139

Russ Cochran 70-69 -- 139

Ted Schulz 69-70 -- 139

Chien Soon Lu 74-66 -- 140

Michael Allen 73-67 -- 140

Mike Reid 71-69 -- 140

J.L. Lewis 72-68 -- 140

Ian Woosnam 71-69 -- 140

Bob Tway 70-70 -- 140

Dan Forsman 68-72 -- 140

Also

Tom Kite 74-67 -- 141

Loren Roberts 76-67 -- 143

Dana Quigley 73-70 -- 143

TRANSACTIONS

BASEBALL

American League

DETROIT TIGERS--Acquired RHP Pedro Perez from Boston to complete an earlier trade.

HOCKEY

National Hockey League

NHL--Suspended Columbus D Jan Hejda for two games for elbowing Chicago F Marcus Kruger in the head during an April 1 game.

NEW JERSEY DEVILS--Activated LW Zach Parise.

OTTAWA SENATORS--Recalled D Andre Benoit from Binghamton (AHL).

PHOENIX COYOTES--Signed C Andy Miele.

WASHINGTON CAPITALS--Recalled D Sean Collins from Hershey (AHL).

Tee times have been announced for Saturday's Round 3 Play at the Shell Houston Open. Tournament leader Chris Kirk has been grouped with the tournament's defending champion, Anthony Kim.

Kirk holds a one-stroke lead over Kim, who delivered a terrific 8-under performance in round 2 to vault into second place. The group will be rounded out by Johnson Wagner, who shot 5-under on Friday to move into a tie for second.

Elsewhere on the schedule, Phil Mickelson is set to tee off with Lee Westwood and Francesco Molinari.

Here is the full slate of tee times as announced by the PGA. All times local (Central).

You can view the full leaderboard here. And for more on the PGA Tour, check out SB Nation's golf blog, Waggle Room.

TODAY'S TV SCHEDULE

AUTO RACING

4:30 a.m. Truck Series: Pole qualifying for Kroger 250 SPEED

6 a.m. Sprint Cup: Pole qualifying for Goody's Fast Relief 500 SPEED

8 a.m. Truck Series: Kroger 250 SPEED

1 p.m. NHRA: Qualifying for SummitRacing.com Nationals * ESPN2

GOLF

3 a.m. European PGA Tour: Trophee Hassan II (third round) TGC

7 a.m. PGA Tour: Houston Open (third round) TGC

9 a.m. PGA Tour: Houston Open (third round) NBC

10:30 a.m. LPGA Tour: Kraft Nabisco Championship (third round) TGC

3 p.m. Champions Tour: Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic (second round) * TGC

HORSE RACING

9 a.m. Trackside Live! FOXSP2

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

7 a.m. Chicago White Sox at Cleveland WGN

7 a.m. L.A. Angels at Kansas City FOXSP

10 a.m. San Francisco at L.A. Dodgers FOX

MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

12:09 p.m. NCAA tournament Final Four: Butler vs. VCU CBS

2:49 p.m. NCAA tournament Final Four: Kentucy vs. Connecticut CBS

NBA BASKETBALL

2 p.m. Toronto at Chicago WGN

4:30 p.m. Oklahoma City at L.A. Clippers FOXSP2

NBA DL BASKETBALL

5 p.m. Maine at Erie * VERSUS

NHL HOCKEY

10 a.m. Dallas at Los Angeles FOXSP2

PREP BASKETBALL

6 a.m. Rise National Invitational (girls championship game) ESPN2

8 a.m. Rise National Invitational (boys championship game) ESPN

RODEO

2 p.m. PBR: U.S. Bank Invitational VERSUS

SOCCER

1:30 a.m. Premier League: West Ham at Manchester United ESPN2

7 a.m. MLS: Chivas USA at Toronto FOXSP2

9 a.m. Women's national teams: England vs. United States ESPN2

4:30 p.m. MLS: Philadelphia at Los Angeles FOXSP

TENNIS

6:30 a.m. ATP/WTA Tour: Sony Ericsson Open (women's final) CBS

SUNDAY'S TV SCHEDULE

AUTO RACING

6:30 a.m. Sprint Cup: Goody's Fast Relief 500 FOX

10:30 a.m. NHRA: SummitRacing.com Nationals * ESPN2

CYCLING

10 a.m. Tour of Flanders * VERSUS

GOLF

3 a.m. European PGA Tour: Trophee Hassan II (final round) TGC

7 a.m. PGA Tour: Houston Open (final round) TGC

9 a.m. PGA Tour: Houston Open (final round) NBC

10:30 a.m. LPGA Tour: Kraft Nabisco Championship (final round) TGC

3 p.m. Champions Tour: Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic (final round) TGC

HORSE RACING

9 a.m. Trackside Live! FOXSP2

5 p.m. The Quarters FOXSP2

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

8 a.m. Boston at Texas TBS

8 a.m. L.A. Angels at Kansas City foxsp

8:10 a.m. Pittsburgh at Chicago Cubs WGN

2 p.m. San Francisco at L.A. Dodgers ESPN2

MOTORSPORTS

2 a.m. MotoGP World Championship: Spanish Grand Prix SPEED

NBA BASKETBALL

7 a.m. Phoenix at San Antonio ABC

9:30 a.m. Denver at L.A. Lakers ABC

NHL HOCKEY

6:30 a.m. N.Y. Rangers at Philadelphia NBC

2 p.m. Dallas at Anaheim foxsp2

RODEO

2 p.m. PBR: U.S. Bank Invitational * VERSUS

TENNIS

7 a.m. ATP/WTA Tour: Sony Ericsson Open (men's championship match) CBS

WOMEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

1 p.m. NCAA tournament Final Four: Stanford vs. Texas A&M ESPN

3 p.m. NCAA tournament Final Four: Connecticut vs. Notre Dame ESPN

* Tape-delayed broadcast

FRIDAY'S BIIF RESULTS

BOYS VOLLEYBALL

Varsity

Kohala def. Laupahoehoe 25-22, 25-13, 25-22

Hilo def. Keaau 25-14, 25-14, 25-21

Waiakea def. Pahoa 25-13, 25-12, 25-15

Kamehameha def. Ka'u 25-17, 25-14, 25-14

Junior varsity

Ka'u def. Kamehameha 25-19, 25-16

TODAY'S BIIF SCHEDULE

BASEBALL

Hilo at Ka'u, 1 p.m.

Keaau at Pahoa, 1 p.m.

Kamehameha at Waiakea, 1 p.m.

Kealakehe at Honokaa, 1 p.m.

Konawaena at Kohala, 1 p.m.

BOYS VOLLEYBALL

Varsity matches follow 10 a.m. JV matches unless noted below

Laupahoehoe at Konawaena, 10 a.m.

Hualalai Academy at Honokaa, 10 a.m.

Kamehameha at Christian Liberty, 10 a.m.

GIRLS WATER POLO

At Kona Community Aquatic Center

Waiakea vs. Hawaii Prep, 9 a.m.

Kamehameha vs. Kealakehe, 10:15 a.m.

Hilo vs. Kealakehe, 12:30 p.m.

JUDO

All BIIF schools at Kealakehe, 10:30 a.m.

TENNIS

Keaau at Hilo, 10 a.m.

Kamehameha at Waiakea, 10 a.m.

Ka'u at Pahoa, 10 a.m.

Hawaii Prep at Konawaena, 10 a.m.

Kohala at Kealakehe, 10 a.m.

Parker at Honokaa, 10 a.m.

Laupahoehoe at Makua Lani, 10 a.m.

TRACK AND FIELD

West Hawaii schools at Hawaii Prep, 9 a.m.

East Hawaii schools at Kamehameha, 9 a.m.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

NCAA TOURNAMENT GLANCE

FINAL FOUR

At Reliant Stadium, Houston

Today's games

Butler (27-9) vs. Virginia Commonwealth (28-11), 12:09 p.m.

Kentucky (29-8) vs. Connecticut (30-9), 2:49 p.m.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Monday's game

Semifinal winners, TBD

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

NCAA TOURNAMENT GLANCE

FINAL FOUR

At Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis

NATIONAL SEMIFINALS

Sunday's games

Stanford (33-2) vs. Texas A&M (31-5), 1 p.m.

Connecticut (36-1) vs. Notre Dame (30-7), 3 p.m.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Tuesday's game

Semifinal winners, TBD

WNIT GLANCE

SEMIFINALS

Wednesday's results

Toledo 83, Charlotte 60

Southern Cal 63, Illinois State 36

CHAMPIONSHIP

Today's game

Southern Cal (24-12) at Toledo (28-8), 9 a.m.

HOCKEY

NHL GLANCE

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Atlantic Division

GP W L OT Pts GF GA

x-Philadelphia 78 46 22 10 102 245 207

x-Pittsburgh 78 45 25 8 98 221 190

N.Y. Rangers 78 41 32 5 87 220 188

New Jersey 77 36 36 5 77 162 193

N.Y. Islanders 78 30 36 12 72 218 246

Northeast Division

GP W L OT Pts GF GA

x-Boston 77 43 23 11 97 232 182

Montreal 78 41 30 7 89 205 203

Buffalo 77 39 29 9 87 226 214

Toronto 78 36 32 10 82 209 238

Ottawa 78 30 38 10 70 181 239

Southeast Division

GP W L OT Pts GF GA

x-Washington 78 45 22 11 101 211 188

x-Tampa Bay 77 42 24 11 95 230 231

Carolina 77 37 30 10 84 220 228

Atlanta 77 33 32 12 78 212 249

Florida 78 29 37 12 70 188 216

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Central Division

GP W L OT Pts GF GA

Detroit 77 44 23 10 98 247 226

Nashville 78 42 26 10 94 206 184

Chicago 77 42 27 8 92 246 212

Columbus 78 34 31 13 81 209 240

St. Louis 78 35 33 10 80 226 228

Northwest Division

GP W L OT Pts GF GA

z-Vancouver 78 52 17 9 113 253 177

Calgary 79 39 29 11 89 240 232

Minnesota 77 37 32 8 82 195 217

Colorado 77 29 40 8 66 217 273

Edmonton 77 23 43 11 57 182 255

Pacific Division

GP W L OT Pts GF GA

x-San Jose 77 45 23 9 99 230 199

Phoenix 79 42 25 12 96 224 217

Los Angeles 77 44 27 6 94 210 184

Anaheim 77 44 28 5 93 223 223

Dallas 76 38 27 11 87 209 218

NOTES: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. x -- Clinched playoff spot; z -- Clinched conference

Wednesday's results

Buffalo 1, N.Y. Rangers 0

New Jersey 3, N.Y. Islanders 2

Carolina 6, Montreal 2

St. Louis 10, Detroit 3

Anaheim 4, Calgary 2

Thursday's results

Toronto 4, Boston 3, SO

N.Y. Islanders 6, N.Y. Rangers 2

Atlanta 1, Philadelphia 0

Washington 4, Columbus 3, OT

Tampa Bay 2, Pittsburgh 1

Ottawa 4, Florida 1

Minnesota 4, Edmonton 2

Nashville 3, Colorado 2

Vancouver 3, Los Angeles 1

San Jose 6, Dallas 0

Friday's results

Chicago 4, Columbus 3, SO

Colorado 4, Phoenix 3, SO

New Jersey 4, Philadelphia 2

Calgary 3, St. Louis 2

Today's games

Atlanta at Boston, 7 a.m.

Tampa Bay at Minnesota, 8 a.m.

Detroit at Nashville, 9 a.m.

Dallas at Los Angeles, 10 a.m.

Toronto at Ottawa, 1 p.m.

Montreal at New Jersey, 1 p.m.

Carolina at N.Y. Islanders, 1 p.m.

Buffalo at Washington, 1 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Florida, 1 p.m.

Edmonton at Vancouver, 4 p.m.

Anaheim at San Jose, 4:30 p.m.

SOCCER

MLS GLANCE

EASTERN CONFERENCE

W L OT Pts GF GA

Philadelphia 2 0 0 6 2 0

New York 1 0 1 4 1 0

New England 1 0 1 4 3 2

Columbus 1 1 1 4 3 3

Chicago 1 0 1 4 4 3

D.C. 1 1 0 3 4 3

Sporting Kansas City 1 1 0 3 5 5

Toronto FC 1 1 0 3 4 4

Houston 0 1 1 1 1 2

WESTERN CONFERENCE

W L T Pts GF GA

Real Salt Lake 2 0 0 6 5 1

Colorado 2 0 0 6 4 1

Los Angeles 1 1 1 4 3 5

Vancouver 1 1 0 3 4 3

San Jose 1 1 0 3 2 1

Seattle 0 2 1 1 1 3

FC Dallas 0 2 1 1 1 5

Chivas USA 0 2 0 0 2 4

Portland 0 2 0 0 1 5

NOTE: Three points for victory, one point for tie.

Friday's result

Columbus 2, FC Dallas 0

Today's games

Chivas USA at Toronto FC, 7 a.m.

Sporting Kansas City at Vancouver, 1 p.m.

Houston at New York, 1:30 p.m.

Portland at New England, 1:30 p.m.

Seattle FC at San Jose, 4:30 p.m.

Philadelphia at Los Angeles, 4:30 p.m.

Sunday's game

D.C. United at Colorado, 1 p.m.

GOLF

HOUSTON OPEN

Friday's second round

Note: Hawaii golfers in bold

Chris Kirk 66-69 -- 135

Anthony Kim 72-64 -- 136

Johnson Wagner 69-67 -- 136

Josh Teater 65-72 -- 137

Padraig Harrington 68-69 -- 137

Jimmy Walker 63-74 -- 137

Tim Petrovic 70-68 -- 138

Aaron Baddeley 73-65 -- 138

Scott Verplank 73-65 -- 138

John Rollins 67-71 -- 138

Ben Crane 70-68 -- 138

Bill Lunde 68-71 -- 139

Steve Elkington 68-71 -- 139

Michael Putnam 70-69 -- 139

Ben Martin 73-66 -- 139

David Hearn 69-70 -- 139

Steve Stricker 67-72 -- 139

Vaughn Taylor 68-71 -- 139

Nick O'Hern 65-74 -- 139

Brendan Steele 67-72 -- 139

Robert Garrigus 68-72 -- 140

Phil Mickelson 70-70 -- 140

Lee Westwood 68-72 -- 140

Francesco Molinari 69-71 -- 140

Charley Hoffman 72-68 -- 140

Ben Curtis 70-70 -- 140

Robert Allenby 68-72 -- 140

Nathan Green 67-73 -- 140

David Mathis 70-70 -- 140

Joseph Bramlett 73-68 -- 141

John Senden 72-69 -- 141

Louis Oosthuizen 72-69 -- 141

Gary Woodland 71-70 -- 141

Charl Schwartzel 74-67 -- 141

Chad Campbell 71-70 -- 141

Ross Fisher 71-70 -- 141

Jim Herman 73-68 -- 141

Michael Thompson 72-69 -- 141

Hunter Mahan 70-71 -- 141

Tommy Gainey 68-73 -- 141

Alex Cejka 71-70 -- 141

Brandt Jobe 69-72 -- 141

Nate Smith 69-72 -- 141

Michael Bradley 71-71 -- 142

Paul Goydos 71-71 -- 142

Steve Marino 72-70 -- 142

Matt Kuchar 72-70 -- 142

D.A. Points 70-72 -- 142

Zack Miller 68-74 -- 142

Brian Davis 71-72 -- 143

Andres Romero 73-70 -- 143

Greg Chalmers 70-73 -- 143

Ernie Els 71-72 -- 143

Kris Blanks 69-74 -- 143

Cameron Beckman 69-74 -- 143

Chez Reavie 72-71 -- 143

Billy Mayfair 69-74 -- 143

Scott Piercy 71-72 -- 143

Troy Merritt 72-71 -- 143

J.J. Henry 73-70 -- 143

Fred Couples 71-72 -- 143

Keegan Bradley 70-73 -- 143

Fabian Gomez 71-72 -- 143

Blake Adams 72-72 -- 144

Jim Renner 71-73 -- 144

Kent Jones 72-72 -- 144

Roland Thatcher 77-67 -- 144

Charlie Wi 74-70 -- 144

Webb Simpson 72-72 -- 144

Boo Weekley 72-72 -- 144

Jarrod Lyle 68-76 -- 144

Cameron Tringale 74-70 -- 144

Erik Compton 70-74 -- 144

Charles Howell III 69-75 -- 144

Marc Leishman 69-75 -- 144

Kevin Stadler 71-73 -- 144

Retief Goosen 70-74 -- 144

Marc Turnesa 68-76 -- 144

J.B. Holmes 73-71 -- 144

Kyle Stanley 70-74 -- 144

Failed to qualify

D.J. Trahan 74-71 -- 145

Bobby Gates 73-72 -- 145

Ryuji Imada 69-76 -- 145

Jason Day 74-71 -- 145

Angel Cabrera 71-74 -- 145

Tim Herron 72-73 -- 145

Rich Beem 72-73 -- 145

Scott McCarron 74-71 -- 145

William McGirt 70-75 -- 145

Kevin Kisner 70-75 -- 145

Scott Gutschewski 71-74 -- 145

Joe Durant 71-75 -- 146

Jeff Maggert 74-72 -- 146

Matt Jones 70-76 -- 146

Brendon de Jonge 68-78 -- 146

Shane Bertsch 73-73 -- 146

Paul Stankowski 72-75 -- 147

Will MacKenzie 76-71 -- 147

Justin Leonard 75-72 -- 147

Harrison Frazar 74-73 -- 147

Kevin Chappell 73-74 -- 147

D.J. Brigman 74-73 -- 147

Michael Connell 74-73 -- 147

Chad Collins 75-72 -- 147

Chris Stroud 75-72 -- 147

Lucas Glover 77-70 -- 147

Derek Lamely 75-72 -- 147

Alex Prugh 69-78 -- 147

Alexandre Rocha 71-76 -- 147

Stuart Appleby 75-73 -- 148

Chris Riley 74-74 -- 148

Fredrik Jacobson 71-77 -- 148

Billy Horschel 73-75 -- 148

Martin Piller 72-76 -- 148

Lonny Alexander 76-72 -- 148

Jhonattan Vegas 73-75 -- 148

Steve Flesch 73-75 -- 148

Scott Gordon 74-74 -- 148

Scott Stallings 71-77 -- 148

Ryan Palmer 73-76 -- 149

Steve Dartnall 75-74 -- 149

Dean Wilson 73-76 -- 149

Charles Warren 74-75 -- 149

Shaun Micheel 73-76 -- 149

Daniel Summerhays 74-75 -- 149

Y.E. Yang 77-73 -- 150

Robert Karlsson 71-79 -- 150

James Driscoll 74-76 -- 150

Joe Ogilvie 74-76 -- 150

Tyler Leon 73-78 -- 151

Bryce Molder 74-77 -- 151

Davis Love III 74-77 -- 151

Peter Tomasulo 75-76 -- 151

Spencer Levin 74-78 -- 152

Andres Gonzales 72-80 -- 152

Matt Bettencourt 76-77 -- 153

Michael Letzig 76-77 -- 153

Steven Bowditch 82-71 -- 153

Colt Knost 78-76 -- 154

Jose Maria Olazabal 77-83 -- 160

Garrett Willis 72 -- WD

Pat Perez 75 -- WD

KRAFT NABISCO

Friday's second round

Note: Hawaii golfers in bold

Stacy Lewis 66-69 -- 135

Yani Tseng 70-68 -- 138

Jane Park 68-70 -- 138

Brittany Lincicome 66-72 -- 138

Morgan Pressel 70-69 -- 139

Amy Yang 70-69 -- 139

Sophie Gustafson 72-68 -- 140

Michelle Wie 74-67 -- 141

Jimin Kang 72-69 -- 141

Katie Futcher 70-71 -- 141

Wendy Ward 70-71 -- 141

Chie Arimura 68-73 -- 141

Sandra Gal 67-74 -- 141

I.K. Kim 75-67 -- 142

Sun Young Yoo 74-68 -- 142

Julieta Granada 72-70 -- 142

Seon Hwa Lee 72-70 -- 142

Mika Miyazato 67-75 -- 142

Leta Lindley 72-71 -- 143

Karen Stupples 71-72 -- 143

Anna Nordqvist 69-74 -- 143

Karrie Webb 69-74 -- 143

Se Ri Pak 73-71 -- 144

Gwladys Nocera 72-72 -- 144

Sarah Jane Smith 72-72 -- 144

Angela Stanford 72-72 -- 144

Alena Sharp 71-73 -- 144

Reilley Rankin 69-75 -- 144

Maria Hjorth 75-70 -- 145

Kyeong Bae 73-72 -- 145

Jiyai Shin 73-72 -- 145

Becky Morgan 72-73 -- 145

Song-Hee Kim 71-74 -- 145

Mi Hyun Kim 70-75 -- 145

Mariajo Uribe 70-75 -- 145

MISSISSIPPI GULF RESORT

Friday's first round

Jeff Sluman 32-34 -- 66

Tom Lehman 35-32 -- 67

David Frost 35-33 -- 68

Dan Forsman 34-34 -- 68

Nick Price 32-36 -- 68

Peter Senior 34-35 -- 69

Bobby Wadkins 35-34 -- 69

Ted Schulz 33-36 -- 69

Jay Haas 33-36 -- 69

Mark O'Meara 34-35 -- 69

Bill Glasson 36-33 -- 69

Steve Lowery 34-35 -- 69

John Morse 35-35 -- 70

Tom Pernice, Jr. 34-36 -- 70

Russ Cochran 36-34 -- 70

Gil Morgan 36-34 -- 70

Mark Calcavecchia 34-36 -- 70

John Cook 35-35 -- 70

Fred Funk 36-34 -- 70

Hale Irwin 35-35 -- 70

Tom Purtzer 35-35 -- 70

Mark Brooks 34-36 -- 70

Tom Jenkins 36-34 -- 70

Bob Tway 35-35 -- 70

Olin Browne 35-35 -- 70

Hal Sutton 33-37 -- 70

Bobby Clampett 35-36 -- 71

Craig Stadler 38-33 -- 71

Bob Gilder 34-37 -- 71

Tim Simpson 34-37 -- 71

Gary McCord 36-35 -- 71

Jay Don Blake 39-32 -- 71

Ian Woosnam 36-35 -- 71

Keith Clearwater 35-36 -- 71

Morris Hatalsky 35-36 -- 71

Phil Blackmar 34-37 -- 71

Mike Reid 34-37 -- 71

Chip Beck 35-37 -- 72

J.L. Lewis 37-35 -- 72

Gary Hallberg 38-34 -- 72

Roger Chapman 37-35 -- 72

Mike Goodes 36-36 -- 72

Jim Rutledge 35-37 -- 72

Brad Bryant 36-36 -- 72

Keith Fergus 36-36 -- 72

Jim Gallagher, Jr. 35-37 -- 72

TRANSACTIONS

BASEBALL

American League

TEXAS RANGERS--Traded INF Marcus Lemon to the Atlanta Braves for cash considerations.

National League

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS--Named Jerry Krause as special assistant to the senior vice president, scouting & player development.

CHICAGO CUBS--Selected the contract of OF Reed Johnson from Iowa (PCL).

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS--Agreed to terms with 2B Freddy Sanchez on a two-year contract.

American Association

AMARILLO SOX--Signed INF Mayo Santana, RHP Ryan Shaver and RHP Colin Allen.

ST. PAUL SAINTS--Acquired LHP Donald Brandt from Chico (North American) for cash. Signed LHP Aaron Dott.

WICHITA WINGNUTS--Signed LHP Trenton Lare and INF Juan M. Richardson.

Can-Am League

BROCKTON ROX--Signed RHP Colin Lynch.

WORCESTER TORNADOES--Traded OF Caleb Stewart to Lake County (North American) for a player to be named.

BASKETBALL

National Basketball Association

NBA--Suspended Los Angeles Lakers G-F Matt Barnes one game for escalating an on-court altercation and his actions following his ejection in a March 31 game against Dallas.

MINNESOTA WILD--Recalled D Justin Falk and D Maxim Noreau from Houston (AHL).

Women's National Basketball Association

ATLANTA DREAM--Re-signed C Alison Bales.

FOOTBALL

Canadian Football League

EDMONTON ESKIMOS--Signed DL Julius Williams.

HOCKEY

National Hockey League

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS--Recalled G David LeNeveu from Springfield (AHL).

NEW YORK RANGERS--Assigned F Mats Zuccarello to Connecticut (AHL).

OTTAWA SENATORS--Reassigned F Colin Greening to Binghamton (AHL).

ST. LOUIS BLUES--Assigned D Ian Cole and F Adam Crackell to Peoria (AHL). Activated D Barret Jackman from injured reserve.

VANCOUVER CANUCKS--Recalled D Yann Sauve from Manitoba (AHL).

American Hockey League

BRIDGEPORT SOUND TIGERS--Released F Brandon Svendsen. Signed F Alex O'Neil.

PROVIDENCE BRUINS--Assigned F Antoine Roussel to Reading (ECHL).

ECHL

ELMIRA JACKALS--Announced D Patrick Coulombe was returned to the team by Milwaukee (AHL).

UTAH GRIZZLIES--Announced G J.P. Lamoureux was assigned to the team from Abbotsford (AHL). Signed F Matt Reber.

SOCCER

Major League Soccer

NEW YORK RED BULLS--Acquired MF Dwayne De Rosario from Toronto FC for MF Tony Tchani, MF-D Danleigh Borman and a 2012 first-round MLS SuperDraft pick.

SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC--Signed MF-F Pat Noonan to a three-month contract extension.

COLLEGE

FORDHAM--Named Stephanie Gaitley women's basketball coach.

GONZAGA--Signed women's basketball coach Kelly Graves to a 10-year contract.

TEXAS SOUTHERN--Fired football coach Johnnie Cole.

The first round of the Shell Houston open is in the books and low scores dominated the day. Jimmy Walker posted a 9-under 63 to take a two-shot lead over the final round as course conditions encouraged scoring early and often on Thursday. Nick O'Hern and Josh Teater were tied for second at 7-under.

Of the big names, Steve Stricker posted the best score, firing a 5-under 67, good for a share of third place. Lee Westwood and Padraig Harrington were part of a logjam of players at 4-under. Phil Mickleson, using this tournament as a tuneup for The Masters at Augusta National, shot a 2-under 70 in the first round and sits in a tie for 33rd.

The full leaderboard can be found at the PGA Tour website.

The Shell Houston open gets started bright and early on Friday as players tee-off at 7:20 a.m. The Golf Channel will pick up coverage from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern, live from Redstone Golf Club.

The following groups will go off the No. 1 tee on Friday.

And going off the No. 10 tee.

For more on the tournament, be sure to stop by Waggle Room.

On Thursday, players are teeing off in Round 1 of the Shell Houston Open. Some of the biggest names of the PGA Tour are present, including Phil Mickelson and Lee Westwood.

This tournament has been played continuously under various names since 1949. Last year's tournament was won by Anthony Kim, who is in the field this year.

Westwood, who at No. 2 is the highest-ranked golfer in Houston, is looking for his first PGA Tour win since his victory in the St. Jude Classic in June of last year. Mickelson, who stands at No. 6, is on the hunt for his first win since the 2010 Masters.

Here are the tee times for all the players yet to tee off on Thursday. All times Eastern.

You can follow the live leaderboard here. For more on the PGA Tour, check out SB Nation's golf blog, Waggle Room.

“The good has never been perfect … always some flaw … some stammer in the divine speech.” Thus begins Billy Budd, Benjamin Britten’s operatic masterpiece and perhaps one of the most powerful dramas of 20th‑century musical stage. It is a story of human crisis, the conflict between law and morality, an inquiry into darker questions of right and wrong, of good and evil.

Based on a novel by Herman Melville, the setting is a British man-o’-war during the French Revolution, the date is 1797. The HMS Indomitable is armed for battle and in search of a French ship to attack. It is a world of men, of rigid hierarchy and autocratic hostility: The threat of mutiny hangs in the air.

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Monday, December 27 Early Show: Jerry Herman GMA: Dan Lauria; photographer Joe McNally, the author of “LIFE Guide to Digital Photography.” Today Show: Skater Michael Weiss performs David Letterman: Johnny Depp, Ra Ra Riot (R 12/7/10) Jay Leno: Russell Brand, Chris Colfer, Jonny Lang with Brad Whitford, Billy Cox & Chris Layton (R 12/6/10) Jimmy Kimmel: Mark Wahlberg, Beau Garrett, [.

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The Observer's film critic reflects on The King's Speech – and how his own speech impediment has contributed to his life and character

From as early as I can remember until 1952, when I left home at the age of 18 to go into the army, there was an annual ritual on the afternoon of Christmas Day. Dinner, which meant turkey and all the trimmings followed by plum pudding, began around two o'clock and was carefully timed to end so that everyone could sit there beneath the paper decorations, wearing the hats that came out of the crackers, and earnestly, reverently listen to the king's Christmas message on the radio.

This hallowed national tradition, initiated by Sir John Reith in 1932, was not five years old when George V, who'd given four of them, died. His successor Edward VIII's landmark contribution to broadcasting was his 1936 abdication speech: there was no Christmas message that year. So the first one I heard George VI give must have been in 1937 when I was four. He'd been filmed at his coronation earlier that year, an event I would have been taken to see by my parents in newsreels at a cinema in Leicester.

For the next 15 years, six of them during wartime, there was a special unease all over the country, indeed all over the Commonwealth and Empire. Listeners wondered if the king would make it to the end, as if he were precariously carrying words like a drunken waiter crossing a polished floor bearing a tray laden with wine glasses. Because George had a severe speech impediment, the nation – from his family in Sandringham to humble Scottish shepherds in Lowland cottages – willed this sad man, fulfilling a job he never wanted or expected to have, to succeed. At the end, the adults would raise their postprandial glasses of port, the kids their lemonade, the loyal toast was pronounced and all breathed a sigh of relief.

John Boorman, my exact contemporary, evokes the scene with total accuracy in his autobiographical 1987 film Hope and Glory. The second world war is on, the 12-year-old hero, Bill, and his lower-middle-class family are, as Boorman puts it in his script, "listening attentively to King George VI stuttering painfully through his Christmas message". When the speech is over, Bill's father remarks: "He was a lot better this year." "You said that last year, Dad," Bill cheekily replies. This elicits his father's wonderfully sententious response, authentically expressing the sentiment of his loyal subjects: "The land and the king are one, my son. If he stutters, we falter. He's getting better and so are we."

In my household, however, there was an additional source of unease – a special elephant in the corner of the room or, more accurately, a little Dumbo at the festive table, namely myself. I can recall no social experience prior to the king at Christmas 1937 and thus I can't remember a time when I too didn't stammer. Increasingly as the years passed, I became conscious of my family and our guests at that special annual occasion pretending not to look in my direction and clearly wondering exactly how they should react in my discomfiting presence.

So The King's Speech, Tom Hooper's engrossing new film featuring Colin Firth as George VI and Geoffrey Rush as Lionel Logue, the unconventional Australian therapist who helped him, struck a special chord with me. The movie's punning title, which links the king's agonising impediment with the ritual occasion on which it was exposed to the public ear and eye, brought back memories of a lifetime, some amusing, some excruciating, some instructive, all contributing to the warp and weft of my character.

Because of my impediment, I've noted and archived every stammer I've heard or seen on the stage, in films and broadcasting, read about in books or come across in any notable way in my experience of public and private life. They range from Demosthenes in ancient Greece (putting marbles in his mouth to prepare for confrontations with his fellow orators) to the wife of astronaut John Glenn (harassed by President Johnson for not doing her patriotic duties); from Isaac Newton and the quietly submissive belletristic Charles Lamb (both included in a publicised stammerers' walk around literary London) to the arrogant cold war traitor Kim Philby. Philby's combination of a severe speech impediment and heavy drinking persuaded counterintelligence investigators that he couldn't be a threat to national security.

Together, they provide what are now described as role models for the verbally challenged, or what in my youth were called examples for the verbally handicapped (as in "set an example" or "he's a bad example"). I was taught at home and at Sunday school to include George VI, his queen and daughters (Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret Rose) in my nightly prayers, yet he was never a person I wished to emulate. I wanted to be a fast-talking comedian or a smooth movie hero.

As a longtime republican, I now view George VI with sympathy and empathy. To me, he was a sad, tortured figure from a dysfunctional family who had greatness thrust upon him through the abdication of his elder brother. In David Seidler's carefully considered script for The King's Speech, he is supported by a dedicated wife, the future queen and queen mother. All the now familiar boxes of causation are ticked, though the charismatic Logue, who treated the king over two decades, insists that the problem is physiological and can be brought under control by a variety of physical and verbal exercises. The movie portrays his father, George V, as overbearing and insensitive, making it clear to Bertie (as George was known in the family) that the future of the royal family depended upon its coming to terms with the new medium of radio.

No one, however, subjected him to ridicule and humiliation of the kind Somerset Maugham and Aneurin Bevan, the stammering heroes of my childhood, endured. Neither received any kind of therapy. The future George VI was sent to Harley Street cranks who followed the example of Demosthenes and filled his mouth with marbles; poor stammerers were left to bite the bullet. I received no professional attention partly because in those days, before Bevan created the National Health Service, my father couldn't afford it, partly because no one in my various schools thought to do anything about it. In addition, family legend has it, our GP had such a bad stammer that my parents were loath to broach the subject with him.

Foreshadowing my experience, the public school-educated Maugham recalled that the masters at King's school, Canterbury, were "stupid and irascible. They were impatient of my stammering, and if they did not ignore me completely, which I preferred, they bullied me. They seemed to think it was my fault that I stammered".

Subjected to similar treatment in his state school in south Wales, Nye Bevan, a miner's son, became both withdrawn and belligerent, learning to control his stammer by facing audiences, preferably hostile. "His own real remedy was to hurl himself into speeches or arguments," his biographer Michael Foot wrote. "To the question – 'How did you cure the stutter, Nye?' – he replied, 'By torturing my audiences.'"

I heard Nye speak several times, most notably at the 1956 anti-Suez rally in Trafalgar Square when with fierce magnificence he denounced Eden and his associates as "kn-knaves or f-fools". I also had a brief encounter with Maugham in 1960, recording a radio interview at a literary prize-giving in London, when he began by politely apologising for his stammer. I had the chance to view at close quarters the tightening of the jaws that always left him exhausted after social occasions. Neither he nor Bevan got over their impediment.

There is no such thing as a complete cure. John Updike became a fluent speaker, but never knew when his affliction would return, as it did on one embarrassing occasion at an American Academy annual meeting when his audience laughed, thinking he was putting on a comic act. "For there is no doubt that I have lots of words inside me," he remarked, "but at moments, like rush-hour traffic at the mouth of a tunnel, they jam."

Stammers are like fingerprints – no two are exactly alike – though most fluent people think they can put on a good impersonation, especially when telling a joke, and there was a time back in the interwar years when it became fashionable in certain circles to stammer. Anthony Blanche in Evelyn Waugh's Brideshead Revisited had a "luxurious, self-taught stammer", and actors playing Bertie Wooster usually adopt one to enhance their upper-class flutter. Christopher Isherwood was so impressed by a stammering master at his public school, Repton, that he and several friends affected similar stammers. In fact, there are relatively few truly convincing stammers on stage and only rarely does a central character sport one.

As it happens, two of the greatest operas of the 20th century have eponymous characters who stammer. One is the afflicted Moses confronting his glibly fluent brother Aaron in Arnold Schoenberg's Moses and Aaron, the other the Christ-like sailor Billy Budd, who, paralysed by his stammer, strikes dead his tormentor, the sadistic master-at-arms Claggart in Benjamin Britten's lyric version of Herman Melville's novella. Their dramatic triumphs are moral, transcendent: Moses doesn't get to the Promised Land and Billy Budd gets hanged.

The most convincing stammers I'd come across until The King's Speech are: Richard Burton in John Osborne's 1960 TV play A Subject of Scandal and Concern as George Holyoake, the Victorian freethinker brought before a court for his allegedly blasphemous writings; Albert Finney as the 16th-century Scottish border rebel in the National Theatre production of John Arden's Armstrong's Last Goodnight; and Charles Laughton in the fragments that survive from Josef von Sternberg's unfinished I, Claudius, which were modelled on the radio speeches of both Bertie and his brother.

Firth's George VI is in the same class as these three, but though the subject of the film is friendship, trust, responsibility and the struggle for self-mastery, the act of stammering is the dramatic fulcrum of the piece in a way that it isn't in the other dramas. In a shrewd stage direction to his play, Osborne suggests that Holyoake's stammer "must be emphasised sufficiently to appear painful when it happens, but obviously it must be exploited sparingly, and its later dramatic effectiveness must depend upon the nicest discretion of the actor and director". There is no question in The King's Speech of Firth or Tom Hooper exploiting George's stammer sparingly. It is there at the centre in every encounter, making him angry, frightened, resentful, choking him into silence or turning him into a machine gun operated by an inexperienced soldier. This is what it is like to be at the mercy of an affliction, to be defined as a stammerer by oneself and others and to feel it as the core of your identity.

Most of these plays, films, books and operas treat stammerers as heroic figures with access to special feelings and insights, their impediment an awkward outer sign of an inner grace, invariably playing off a fluent, inferior antagonist. In 1843, Thomas Carlyle wrote to Ralph Waldo Emerson after a meeting with the distinguished Bostonian father of William and Henry James: "He confirms an observation of mine, which indeed I find is hundreds of years old, that a stammering man is never a worthless one. Physiology can tell you why. It is an excess of delicacy, excess of sensibility to the presence of a fellow creature, that makes him stammer." It may be a consolation to the stutterer that in the country of the bland, the tongue-tied man is king, but this is not a useful thought when you get into an altercation with a taxi driver who's just driven into the back of your car in a traffic jam.

Nobody knows exactly what causes a stammer. In my case, there have been a variety of suggestions. Let me list them. Being made to use my right hand when I am naturally left-handed (the familiar "shifted sinistral" theory). The insecurity of parents in the process of moving upwards from the working class during the Great Depression (my father had begun life as a Liverpool dockworker at the age of 13 before becoming an insurance agent). The blitz and a couple of years of evacuation. A genetic factor: an uncle of mine, a coal trimmer on the Garston docks, had the worst stammer you'd ever come across. (Like many people, including George VI, he thought drink and cigarettes were one solution, which, in bringing about his untimely death, they were.) Arnold Bennett's mother believed his stammer came from having been dropped on his head at the age of three, though HG Wells thought Bennett received some sexual shock in his youth.

In my household, the matter was rarely talked about and certainly not talked through. In my day, there was a strong tendency to turn a deaf ear, or to say: "You don't really stammer like the king" or: "Your stammer's so much better than it used to be" or: "Pull yourself together" or: "People don't really notice." Well, people do and did notice. I was the subject of much mockery as I grew up both for the stammer but more significantly for the recurrent alopecia, the patches of baldness on my scalp that accompanied the bouts of depression and exacerbated the impediment. When I climbed out of my troughs of withdrawal, I turned to physical and verbal violence, often in the form of pre-emptive strikes. But gradually I lowered my fists, preferring organised sports and resorting to brutal repartee and cutting put-downs.

On one painful occasion, however, I became the victim of an aggressive stammerer I sought to impress. In 1950, Sir William Emrys Williams, editor-in-chief of Penguin Books, came to my school to speak to sixth-formers about the role of the Arts Council in the forthcoming Festival of Britain. Emboldened by his stammer and hoping to impress my headmaster, I got up and asked him a question about what the council would be doing about the cinema and jazz. Did he think I was imitating him? Anyway, he cut me down with an acerbity out of all proportion to my offence. Did I think the council should subsidise the annual marble competition at "T-t-tinsley G-g-green"?, he mocked. I got to my feet to make a witty comeback but my jaw jammed. My schoolmates roared with merciless laughter, as my hated headmaster smirked at me from the front row of the steeply raked auditorium.

Leaving a school whose teachers had never given me any greater responsibility than milk monitor (collecting a crate of free milk once a week for the class) was an immense relief. To my surprise, however, my next rite de passage, national service, was quite different. The army reacted to me in a way the school hadn't, probably because I had volunteered to serve in Korea, where the war was in its third year. Initially, I was the subject of jokes by my fellow squaddies at Warrington's Peninsula barracks. But after flooring an admittedly somewhat reluctant opponent in an inter-company boxing match, there was no further trouble. At the end of my first six weeks of basic training, I became a potential officer and was taken very seriously at boards of escalating significance, eventually ending up as a lieutenant in the Parachute Regiment. Amazingly, I was only 19 years old.

The question of my stammer always came up, but in an open, reasonable way. Did I think it would affect my ability to lead men, to give firm orders, to act rapidly and efficiently under pressure, including enemy fire? They took my word that it wouldn't and I developed a capacity for playing a role, for behaving like an officer and a temporary gentleman. It later occurred to me that perhaps King George had some influence here. His death occurred a few weeks before I reported for duty. Officers were still wearing black armbands, his photograph was still on the walls. Maybe his loyal servants were respecting and honouring him, their late commander in chief, by welcoming a stammerer into their midst, trusting him, treating him with dignity. Bertie possibly felt he was playing the role of king the way I was impersonating an officer.

I wasn't much of an officer, if the truth be told, but I adhered to the rules and kept my comrades-in-arms amused. Apart from a run-in with the regimental chaplain, who was provoked at one point by my aggressive humour into the un-Christian act of imitating me, there was little friction. I treasure the memory of a new major reporting on an astonishing meeting he'd had with me shortly after he joined the battalion in the Egyptian desert. "I've just met this fellow French," he told the colonel. "I asked him what his men were up to and he said, 'C-c-company ca-ca-calisthenics'." My fellow officer and I didn't always see eye to eye politically of course. When Britain's most famous stammerer, Aneurin Bevan, and his wife, Jennie Lee, came on an official visit to Cairo, our regiment, 3 Para, was chosen as one of the units they'd meet during their day in the Canal Zone. My fellow officers loathed him, and after listening to their fulminations in the mess, I naively sought a meeting with the adjutant to request an introduction to Bevan. I thought Nye might like to know there were some authentic Labour supporters in the army. Not surprisingly, the adjutant, normally a most amenable figure, ordered me to get the hell out of his office. I came to attention, saluted, made my exit and didn't get to meet the great man.

At Oxford, my chief non-scholastic pursuit was writing, but a chance event took me into the world of public speaking. I was at the Union Society one evening with my friend, the late Jeremy Wolfenden, and returned to the debating chamber towards the end of the debate slightly the worse, or rather better, for drink. I can't remember what the motion was, but for the hell of it I put up my hand to speak and was called by the president, Alec Grant, whom I'd later meet when he was the Observer's libel reader. I made a wild, impromptu speech, probably using several jokes Jeremy had cracked during the evening, got a round of applause and the following day was invited to speak on the paper in the committee debate the next week. As a result, I was elected to the union library committee, which is as far as I got, and the only genuine election I've ever won. It didn't help my stammer, but it made me a little less concerned about the way I sounded.

Thereafter a variety of other accidents took me into unlikely jobs. Quite by chance and in need of work, I became a producer for BBC overseas radio, a stammerer given the job of hiring people whose principal talents had to be verbal fluency. Rather foolishly, this went to my head. I applied for the post of BBC radio representative in Canada and was informed by the head of my department that no one with a stammer like mine could perform that job.

Undeterred, in 1961 I fancied becoming a television producer. The process involved applying for a TV attachment lasting six months, with radio candidates going before a board of TV executives, the most formidable of whom was Grace Wyndham Goldie, creator of Panorama, Monitor and numerous other programmes. She was then in her early 60s and her proteges included Alasdair Milne, James MacTaggart and Huw Wheldon, collectively known as the "Goldie Boys". She famously couldn't bear anyone who hesitated, prevaricated or otherwise beat around Shepherd's Bush, and I prepared myself well. Everything, I knew, would lead up to the question: "If you were given the choice, would you rather work for Panorama or Monitor?" This was a way of determining whether you were a political or an arts chap.

Well, I was ushered in and after a few minutes of polite chat, the $64,000 question came up, and because I was then largely involved in political programmes I knew exactly what I'd put into Panorama that week. But I got stuck on the "P" of Panorama, panicked and said: "Monitor!" From then on, I stammered and spluttered in a manner that only Colin Firth could do justice to. Mrs Wyndham Goldie cut the proceedings short and the following day I got a curt note informing me I wasn't getting an attachment at TV Centre.

Thank God, I now know. First, because shortly thereafter I got a job in domestic radio at Broadcasting House that eventually allowed me to take a razor to electronic tapes and edit out my stammer, and I developed a certain reputation over the next 25 years as a broadcaster. "It's amazing, you don't stammer when you're on the air," my relatives said. Second, and not much later, I was invited to moonlight as deputy film critic at the Observer, the true beginning of my career as a writer.

At the Observer, I found myself standing in for my idol, the greatest critic of postwar Britain and unabashed stammerer, Ken Tynan. In 1965, he was the first man to say "fuck" (or rather "f-f-fuck") on television, much to the annoyance of Grace Wyndham Goldie. In 1966, I wrote an essay on stammering in life and literature for Encounter, then the most prestigious intellectual journal in Britain, which the Observer, with a last-minute page to fill, ran in an abridged version, the first piece of mine to appear outside the paper's arts section. It helped clear the air for me and for many others, I believe. When Tynan read it, he remarked that he couldn't understand how Somerset Maugham, who'd died the previous year at the age of 91, could have become a millionaire and still stammered.

BRIAN KERSEY - AP

In this July 19, 2006 photo, Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Greg Maddux throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Maddux is now an assistant to general manager Jim Hendry. The 355-game winner, who started his major league career with the Cubs in 1986 and rejoined them from 2004-06, retired as a player after the 2008 season. (AP Photo/Brian Kersey)

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Four years ago, I ranked who I felt at the time were the top 100 Cubs of all time. I vetted the list through Ed Hartig, a knowledgeable baseball historian who the Cubs often cite on baseball history, and my friend and BCB cartoonist Mike Bojanowski, who is also knowledgeable about baseball and Cubs history.

Looking at that list, it occurred to me that several current Cubs could either move up the list, or be included when they weren't in 2006. There was quite a bit of controversy about some of my selections -- and that was kind of the point, too, to generate some discussion about Cubs history.

I've re-numbered the list, as you can see on the left sidebar. In doing so I decided in part, at least, to use a statistical measure that many think is a good way to rate players -- WAR. I made a list of the top 100 Cubs all-time by WAR. After the jump, the complete list. Also in the table is the player's original BCB Top 100 ranking, so you can see how we did in that earlier list. WAR totals listed are, for active players, through the 2010 season.

Remember that statistics weren't, and aren't, the only reason for rating a player. His contributions to Cubs postseason teams and my subjective idea of his popularity were also factors. Also, players were only considered for their time spent with the Cubs, not their entire major league careers (which is why players like Greg Maddux are ranked lower than they might otherwise be).

I dropped six players from the list: Manny Trillo, Jerry Morales, Ivan DeJesus, George Altman, Walt "Moose" Moryn and Jimmy Archer. None of those appear in the top 100 WAR list; they will be replaced by six other players, whose bios will appear here during the offseason. When? I have no idea. I haven't written them yet. And no, I'm not revealing who they are yet -- their positions on the list are noted on the updated list on the left sidebar. Also, at some point I'll update the bios of the four active players on the original list -- Carlos Zambrano, Kerry Wood, Aramis Ramirez and Derrek Lee. The six removed players' bios are still accessible on the site in the Top 100 Cubs section and by site search. The titles of those posts will reflect the fact that the player was on the list, but has since been removed. Also, players whose position on the list has changed will have the post title changed to reflect the new position on the list. Since most of the names are already known, I've re-numbered the list to go from No. 1 to No. 100 instead of the other way, as it has appeared here since the list began.

One more thing, and I'll reveal one detail about the table you'll see here. There was a firestorm of criticism when I put Rick Wilkins on the list at No. 99 -- mainly on the strength of his one 30-homer season in 1993, which is one of only two such years by a Cub catcher in history (Gabby Hartnett had the other one, 37 HR in 1930).

Guess where Wilkins ranks all-time in Cub WAR? That's right -- 99th.

On this day in 1851, Moby-Dick, a novel by Herman Melville about the voyage of the whaling ship Pequod, is published by Harper & Brothers in New York. Moby-Dick is now considered a great classic of American literature and contains one of the most famous opening lines in fiction: "Call me Ishmael." Initially, though, the book about Captain Ahab and his quest for a giant white whale was a flop.

Herman Melville was born in New York City in 1819 and as a young man spent time in the merchant marines, the U.S. Navy and on a whaling ship in the South Seas. In 1846, he published his first novel, Typee, a romantic adventure based on his experiences in Polynesia. The book was a success and a sequel, Omoo, was published in 1847. Three more novels followed, with mixed critical and commercial results. Melville's sixth book, Moby-Dick, was first published in October 1951 in London, in three volumes titled The Whale, and then in the U.S. a month later. Melville had promised his publisher an adventure story similar to his popular earlier works, but instead, Moby-Dick was a tragic epic, influenced in part by Melville's friend and Pittsfield, Massachusetts, neighbor, Nathaniel Hawthorne, whose novels include The Scarlet Letter.

After Moby-Dick's disappointing reception, Melville continued to produce novels, short stories (Bartleby) and poetry, but writing wasn't paying the bills so in 1865 he returned to New York to work as a customs inspector, a job he held for 20 years.

Melville died in 1891, largely forgotten by the literary world. By the 1920s, scholars had rediscovered his work, particularly Moby-Dick, which would eventually become a staple of high school reading lists across the United States. Billy Budd, Melville's final novel, was published in 1924, 33 years after his death.

Tonight the cast of NBC's "30 Rock" (8:30pm) will do their first of several planned live broadcasts. We wonder how different the West coast broadcast will be from the earlier East coast run - NBC has said that they will post both once they have aired tonight.

There is always something exciting about a live show, so we're looking forward to this. Check out the odds that Bookmaker.com made for various potential screw-ups or plot points in the live broadcast (at the end of this post).

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Tonight there will be a "Community" viewing party on PHILO where NBC and Zap2It.com will be giving away 50 copies of the season 1 DVD that we mentioned here yesterday. Hang out with fellow "Community"-heads for a chance to win one or just go ahead and buy it already. It's cheap and the extras are worth it.
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Is anyone else sick of the "Housewives of ____" and "_____ Spouses" programming? It seems that Bravo offers nothing more than entire blocks of this dreck and while it is popular, so is the McRib sandwich and Justin Bieber. The E! network, long the proponent of mindless celebovision, perhaps with the exception of "The Soup" and "Chelsea Lately", is putting together a show that follows the spouses of "rock stars" and at least one wanna-be spouse (i.e. tour bus trash). The "rock stars" are the undead dinosaurs Duff McKagan (formerly of Guns N' Roses), Perry Farrell (Jane's Addiction), Billy Idol's longtime guitarist Steve Stevens (what?), and Billy Duffy of the Cult. Perhaps these guys were rock stars at some point but what have they done in the last decade other than rehab? Oh yeah, Perry Farrell sang on the Chabad Telethon. At least liven this up a bit and throw in the male spouse of a female rock star. Please let the failure of this show become the beginning of the end of the housewife garbage.
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We like the wiseacres at Atom.com, you should check out their movie (embed at the end of this post) "The House That Drips Blood On Alex" because it's that gory time of year so might as well fun it up.
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The TV Junkie Plan: "Community", "30 Rock", "CSI", "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia", "The League", "Chelsea Lately", Colbert (Bill Bryson), Fallon (Pee-Wee Herman)

8:00pm The Big Bang Theory CBS - An embarrassing secret of Wolowitz's is revealed; Raj and Sheldon get into a war at work.

8:00pm Community NBC - Dean Pelton asks the study group to clean and refurbish the Greendale flight simulator; after an accidental launch, Abed must navigate a safe return.

8:30pm 30 Rock NBC - Live Broadcast!!! Liz gets angry when no one seems to remember her 40th birthday on show night; Tracy decides to break character all night; Jack struggles with the consequences of his promises to not drink during Avery's pregnancy

8:55pm CSI: Crime Scene Investigation CBS - Sqweegel A serial killer, punishing local heroes who harbor secrets, is on the loose in Las Vegas

9:00pm The Office NBC - Thinking he has herpes, Michael contacts all his ex-girlfriends; Andy holds a sex education meeting for the office.

9:00pm Fringe Fox - A shapeshifter is called into action; Walter finds himself in a dangerous situation during an investigation at Massive Dynamic

9:00pm Storm Chasers Discovery - Greatest Storms

10:00pm t's Always Sunny in Philadelphia FX - Mac and Charlie try to fix up an abandoned pool in order to beat the heat wave; Dennis and Dee try to beat the heat in a more 'dignified' and 'upper-class' way.

10:30pm The League FX - Andre and Pete train for a marathon; Taco finds a new career; Kevin's head to head match-up gets personal

11:00pm Chelsea Lately E! - Tuning in for the gang tonight

11:30pm The Colbert Report Comedy Central - Author Bill Bryson, "At Home"

11:35pm Late Show With David Letterman CBS - Rapper Diddy; actress Emma Stone; Diddy-Dirty Money performs.

11:35pm The Tonight Show With Jay Leno NBC - Actress Wanda Sykes; actor Kevin McHale; Pete Yorn performs.

12:05am Jimmy Kimmel Live ABC - Actor Josh Duhamel; actress Julia Stiles; Nas and Damian Marley perform.

12:35am The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson CBS - TV host Drew Carey; actress Jenny Wade.

12:35am Late Night With Jimmy Fallon NBC - Comic character Pee-wee Herman; actress Joy Bryant; Ben Folds and Nick Hornby perform.

ODDS FOR TONIGHT'S 30 ROCK EPISODE - via Bookmaker.com

WILL TONIGHT'S EPISODE SURPASS 6 MILLION VIEWERS?
YES +120 45%
NO -160 61%

WILL TRACY MORGAN LET THE F-WORD SLIP?
YES F WORD +100 50%
NO F WORD -140 58%

WILL JACK MACBRAYER FORGET HIS LINES?
YES FORGETS HES LINES +100 50%
NO HE WON'T FORGET -140 58%

WILL THE SHOW WILL BE INTERRUPTED BY A DISASTER
YES SHOW INTERRUPTED +800 11%
NO SHOW WON'T BE INTERUPTED -10000 90%

WILL LIZ LEMON COME OUT OF THE CLOSET?
YES LIZ COMES OUT OF THE CLOSET +400 20%
NO LIZ WON' COME OUT OF THE CLOSET -1000 90%

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The legendary Quincy Jones talks to Johnny Davis about Lady Gaga, Naomi Campbell, his last chat with Michael Jackson – and the fun he had at his own funeral

Quincy Jones is not taking any chances. Last week, the 77-year-old, who has two titanium knees and a hearing aid that whistles when he speaks, was at Sweden's Karolinska Institute, where 14 of "the best doctors in the world" spent six days giving him his annual checkup. "Craniology, urology, everything," he says.

From bebop right through to hip-hop, there's nobody left alive who has done more for American music than Quincy Delight Jones Jr. And that can have its down sides. "I've lost 174 people in four years," he says. "Last week, it was Abbey Lincoln. Before that Herman Leonard, Hank Jones, Lena Horne, Billy Preston – half these guys were younger than me. Sammy Davis was 64 when he died."

He has stopped going to funerals. "Who needs them?" Last year, Jones famously lost Michael Jackson, whom he used to call Smelly. They made three albums together – Off the Wall in 1979, Thriller in 1982, Bad in 1987 – a collaboration that changed pop for ever. "Then Michael fired me," Jones grins. He had been pushing Jackson towards hip-hop, but the singer had doubts. "He said, 'Quincy doesn't understand the business any more. He doesn't know that rap is dead.' But it's OK. It wasn't so obvious then."

Still, they were friends until the end. "I was in London when he sold out the 10 concerts, and then sold out 40 more. He called me. He wanted to bring the kids over. But I was with Mohamed Al Fayed at his place. I said, 'I'll see you in Los Angeles.' And that was the last time I talked to him."

Did you know he was in a bad way? "No, no," he says. "There was no way to know. There's no way anybody could be blamed for what happened. Artists of that stature – they can do whatever they want. You'd have to monitor him 24-7 to know what's going on." What about the number of performances? Was it too many for him to cope with? "I don't know, man. It's personal. So, so personal. There's too many details. Unless you're totally cognisant of everything, it's hard to make a judgment."

Jones was once at death's door himself. In 1974, he suffered two brain aneurysms that have left him unable to play the trumpet. He was given a 1% chance of surviving the operation: when the doctors shaved his head they kept his hair in a plastic bag, in case they needed to paste it back on to his corpse. He woke up to find an extravagant memorial service had been planned. So he reckoned it might as well go ahead. "Frank Sinatra said to me, 'Q, live each day like it's your last. And one day you'll be right.'"

Happily, the fleet of Swedish doctors has given him the all-clear. "Except I think vodka's out of my life for ever. Though they say two glasses of red wine is better than not drinking at all!" He certainly seems in the rudest of health. When we meet, at the Paris Ritz, he's looking at the receptionist with a glint in his eye (there have been three marriages and seven children, ages 17 to 56) and on discovering I'm from London, he's keen to practice his cockney. "I learned from the best, Michael Caine," he explains, after a quick round of, "Check out the Bristols on that Richard." Then he shows me Frank Sinatra's sovereign ring, a gift from Ol' Blue Eyes's daughter.

Of all his remarkable achievements, one constant in Jones's life has been an ability to turn great men and women (particularly musicians) into close personal friends. His bestselling 2001 book Q: The Autobiography of Quincy Jones comes with 50 pages of acknowledgements and seems to contain more celebrities than anecdotes. By the time he was 30, he'd backed Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, played trumpet behind Thelonious Monk and Charlie Parker, recorded Jacques Brel and arranged Ray Charles. As well as masterminding music's biggest ever album (Thriller) and single (We Are the World), his arrangement of Fly Me to the Moon was the first music played by Buzz Aldrin when he landed there in 1969. There have been 33 movie scores and 79 Grammy nominations.

Ostensibly, he has crossed the Atlantic on an unlikely mission: to launch AKG's new line of Quincy Jones headphones ("the most organic, natural fit I could ever imagine"). But Paris is a special place for Jones. He was here in the 1950s, studying composition with Nadia Boulanger, tutor to Stravinsky, Leonard Bernstein and Aaron Copland. Soon he was off dining with Picasso and hanging out with Brigitte Bardot. "Ooh la la!" he twinkles.

When a beautiful blonde teenager practically sits down on top of him, it turns out to be one of his daughters, Kenya. "Nastassja Kinski's her mother," he says. Along with celebrities, the other constant in his life has been stunning women. "You think I'm gonna like ugly ones?" he says.

Jones came up the hard way: born in Chicago to a schizophrenic mother and raised by a grandmother who liked to fry rat on a skillet. Mum re-enters his life story like the proverbial bad penny, at one point conspiring to stop his "devil's music" by reporting Jones for non-payment of taxes. Her behaviour was enough to make him say now: "I didn't have a mother, so I had to make my own world. I started with four trumpets, four trombones, five saxes, drum, bass and piano – all doing something different."

It's this arranger approach that's kept him moving forward, always mixing and matching – people, music, ideas. He worked with everyone from Akon to Bono, Chaka Khan to Shaquille O'Neal. Today, he's got a theory that rappers "could revolutionise education". He explains: "Everywhere in the world, they have kids in the palm of their hand. I put together a curriculum so schools know who rappers are – so kids don't have to pretend to be Columbine neo-Nazis saying 'Yo homie!' on the internet." He's been angling for a position within Barack Obama's administration, too. "We're the only country with no minister of culture," he says.

Jones has an LP coming out: a tribute record to himself called Q: Soul Bossa Nostra. It will be released on 700m mobile phones in China, Jones being the last person you'll find clinging to vinyl. "I've got a jazz mind, man," he says. "The music business as we knew it is over. I'm rolling with whatever the reality is." Amy Winehouse features on the album, covering Jones's first hit as a producer, 1963's It's My Party. They met at Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday concert. "We hugged and I said, 'Why you got to mess up your life like this?' She said, 'I'm gonna be OK. My husband's getting out of jail soon.' I said, 'Wow! That's a big positive!' She's like Naomi, my other little naughty sister."

He means Naomi Campbell. Jones has just spent time with Campbell on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean. With them were Jay-Z; Sarah, Duchess of York; and, ironically, Leonardo DiCaprio, star of the movie Blood Diamond. This was just after Campbell gave evidence in Charles Taylor's trial at the Hague for war crimes. Jones was at the meal the trial focused on, but he's not talking about it. "Naomi's fine," he says. "I see the bright side of her."

Thriller rides again

His diplomacy cracks at the mention of Lady Gaga, though. Why is he rolling his eyes? "I don't listen to her," he says. Why not? "Cos I heard it a couple of times!" He falls about: twice was apparently enough. It's Jackson he'll always be linked with, though. For Thriller, Jones whittled 800 songs down to nine. "Then I took out the weakest four and replaced them with The Lady in My Life, PYT, Beat It and Human Nature. Mix that with Billie Jean and Wanna Be Startin' Something, and you have a serious album." There was a story on the website Popbitch saying Jones got so fed up with Jackson's yelps and whimpers that he took to kicking him. "Ha ha! No, but I knew how to handle Michael."

Now all those Thriller outtakes will probably be heard: Sony and Jackson's estate have done a $250m deal for 10 more albums. "I don't want to get involved," Jones says. "The poor guy's gone. He died younger than me when I produced him. He left something not many people are going to leave."

In terms of a legacy, Jones may rival Jackson. Witnessing all the talent that turned up for his 1974 memorial, which he attended with two metal plates in his skull, one thought went through his mind: "That's some lineup."

AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE

BALTIMORE - Practice-squad additions: QB Hunter Cantwell; TE Davon Drew; WR Justin Harper; OG Bryan Mattison; DE Albert McClellan; RB Curtis Steele; OT Devin Tyler. Placed on waivers: S Marcus Paschal (injury settlement).

BUFFALO - Practice-squad additions: RB Joique Bell; RB Rodney Ferguson; WR Paul Hubbard; WR Naaman Roosevelt; LB John Russell; OT Jason Watkins.

CINCINNATI - Practice-squad addition: TE Chase Coffman; OG Otis Hudson; DT Clinton McDonald; S Jeromy Miles; CB Rico Murray; LB Vincent Rey; FB Joe Tronzo.

CLEVELAND - Assigned on waivers: C Steve Vallos from Seahawks. Practice-squad additions: RB Andre' Anderson; S Larry Asante; OG Paul Fanaika; NT Travis Ivey; OG Pat Murray; WR Jordan Norwood; DE Brian Sanford; S DeAngelo Smith. Contract terminated: OG Billy Yates.

DENVER - Practice-squad additions: LB Kevin Alexander; C Jeff Byers; WR Britt Davis; DE Lionel Dotson; TE Riar Geer; S Kyle McCarthy; LB Worrell Williams.

HOUSTON - Practice-squad additions: LB Isaiah Greenhouse; C Brett Helms; RB Chris Ogbonnaya; OT Cole Pemberton; DT Malcolm Sheppard; WR Bobby Williams; CB Torri Williams.

INDIANAPOLIS - Practice-squad additions: WR Alric Arnett; QB Tom Brandstater; CB Cornelius Brown; DE John Chick; OT Xavier Fulton; S Mike Newton; WR Blair White.

JACKSONVILLE - Practice-squad additions: OT Daniel Baldridge; LB Alvin Bowen; TE Mike Caussin; S John Destin; WR John Matthews; DT Ko Quaye; QB Brett Ratliff; C Bradley Vierling.

KANSAS CITY - Practice-squad additions: NT Garrett Brown; DT Dion Gales; DT Bobby Greenwood; OG Darryl Harris; QB Tyler Palko; CB Ricky Price; WR Verran Tucker; LB Pierre Woods.

MIAMI - Roster addition: LB Bobby Carpenter (released by Rams 9/4). Practice-squad additions: S Jonathon Amaya; DE Ryan Baker; OG Ray Feinga; LB Chris McCoy; TE Nathan Overbay; WR Julius Pruitt; LB Austin Spitler. Contract terminated: LB Charlie Anderson.

NEW ENGLAND - Practice-squad additions: S Sergio Brown; LB Shawn Crable; RB Javarris James; WR Darnell Jenkins; TE Jeron Mastrud; OG Rich Ohrnberger.

N.Y. JETS - Practice-squad additions: C Robby Felix; LB Ricky Foley; LB Joshua Mauga; WR Larry Taylor; NT Martin Tevaseu; CB Donovan Warren.

OAKLAND - Practice-squad additions: WR Shaun Bodiford; TE Kevin Brock; S Stevie Brown; DT Kellen Heard; LB Slade Norris; OG Alex Parsons; CB Joe Porter; FB Manase Tonga.

PITTSBURGH - Practice-squad additions: TE Eugene Bright; OG Dorian Brooks; S Da'Mon Cromartie-Smith; WR Tyler Grisham; OT Kyle Jolly; DT Steve McLendon; RB Frank Summers; DE Doug Worthington.

SAN DIEGO - Practice-squad additions: WR Seyi Ajirotutu; RB Curtis Brinkley; QB Jonathan Crompton; TE Dedrick Epps; WR Richard Goodman; OG Jeff Hansen; OT Nic Richmond; LB Kion Wilson.

TENNESSEE - Practice-squad additions: DE Hall Davis; WR Dominique Edison; CB Pete Ittersagen; C Kevin Matthews; S Myron Rolle; LB Patrick Trahan.

NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE

ARIZONA - Practice-squad additions: OT Herman Johnson; OG Tom Pestock; WR Isaiah Williams. Placed on waivers: LB Mark Washington (injury settlement).

ATLANTA - Practice-squad additions: TE Robbie Agnone; WR Tim Buckley; S Rafael Bush; RB Dimitri Nance; DE Emmanuel Stephens; WR Andy Strickland; OT Jose Valdez; LB Bear Pascoe.

CAROLINA - Practice-squad additions: WR Trent Guy; DT Corvey Irvin; FB Rashawn Jackson; OG Shawn Murphy; C Dan Santucci; CB R.J. Stanford; RB Josh Vaughan; LB Sean Ware. Placed on waivers: TE Jamie Petrowski (injury settlement).

CHICAGO - Practice-squad additions: LB J.D. Folsom; OT Levi Horn; WR Juaquin Iglesias; OT James Marten; WR Greg Mathews; DE Barry Turner; FB Eddie Williams; C Edwin Williams.

DALLAS - Practice-squad additions: OG Travis Bright; TE Scott Chandler; WR Jesse Holley; WR Manuel Johnson; OT Cliff Louis; RB Lonyae Miller; TE Martin Rucker; CB Teddy Williams.

DETROIT - Practice-squad additions: DT Rob Callaway; LB Caleb Campbell; C Dan Gerberry; S Jonathan Hefney; WR Michael Moore; CB Paul Pratt; WR Tim Toone.

GREEN BAY - Practice-squad additions: OT Chris Campbell; LB Rob Francois; OT Breno Giacomini; QB Graham Harrell; RB James Johnson; S Anthony Levine; LB Maurice Simpkins; WR Chastin West. Placed on waivers: OT Allen Barbre (injury settlement).

MINNESOTA - Practice-squad additions: S Colt Anderson; WR Freddie Brown; FB Ryan D'Imperio; DT Tremaine Johnson; OG Seth Olsen; WR Logan Payne; S Marcus Sherels; OT Thomas Welch. Practice-squad deletion: OG Thomas Austin.

NEW ORLEANS - Roster addition: LB Danny Clark (released by Texans 9/5). Practice-squad additions: OG Roger Allen; WR Montez Billings; OG Brandon Carter; FB Matt Clapp; LB Harry Coleman; CB Reggie Jones; RB Brandon Minor; DT DeMario Pressley. Contract terminated: TE Tory Humphrey. Practice-squad deletions: QB Sean Canfield; TE Dustin Mitchell.

N.Y. GIANTS - Practice-squad additions: TE Jake Ballard; QB Rhett Bomar; DT Nate Collins; C Jim Cordle; TE Bear Pascoe; S Sha'reff Rashad; RB Charles Scott; CB Seth Williams.

PHILADELPHIA - Practice-squad additions: WR Chad Hall; RB Martell Mallett; TE Garrett Mills; DT Jeff Owens; C Dallas Reynolds; C A.Q. Shipley; WR Jeremy Williams.

ST. LOUIS - Practice-squad additions: WR Danario Alexander; LB Mortty Ivy; LB Curtis Johnson; CB Marquis Johnson; OT Ryan McKee; WR Brandon McRae; C Drew Miller.

SAN FRANCISCO - Practice-squad additions: QB Jarrett Brown; FB Jehuu Caulcrick; LB Bruce Davis; WR Kevin Jurovich; OT Matt Kopa; LB Keaton Kristick; S Chris Maragos; DE Will Tukuafu.

SEATTLE - Roster additions: DE Raheem Brock (released by Titans 9/4); RB Michael Robinson (released by 49ers 9/4); NT Junior Siavii (released by Cowboys 9/4). Practice-squad additions: CB Marcus Brown; RB Chris Henry; C Lemuel Jeanpierre; LB Joe Pawelek; CB Ross Weaver; DE James Wyche. Contract terminated: S Jordan Babineaux; DT Kevin Vickerson. Placed on waivers: FB Owen Schmitt.

TAMPA BAY - Assigned on waivers: RB LeGarrette Blount from Titans. Roster addition: P Chris Bryan (released by Packers 9/4). Practice-squad additions: CB Vince Anderson; OT Will Barker; WR Dezmon Briscoe; DE George Johnson; TE Ryan Purvis. Contract terminated: WR Reggie Brown. Placed on waivers: P Brent Bowden.

WASHINGTON - Practice-squad additions: WR Terrence Austin; LB Mike Balogun; OT Selvish Capers; C Erik Cook; DE Rob Jackson; OT William Robinson; S Anderson Russell; RB Ryan Torain.

Gary Herman writes: Frank Land's obituary of John Aris (27 August), former director of the National Computing Centre (NCC), brought back many memories for me. For a few years in the late 1980s, I was editor of the NCC members' newsletter. I found myself ghosting a number of pieces by the director and, at times, sharing a working lunch with him. He was a genial if somewhat other-worldly man who irresistibly called to mind a grown-up Billy Bunter. His main preoccupation during his tenure as director seemed to be organising a holiday in Antarctica (the only continent he had not already visited). Although he enjoyed scuba diving immensely, he would undertake it "only in a warm sea". When I expressed disbelief that a man of his bulk could dive without difficulty, he explained the trick – "a belt of lead weights".

Aris was undoubtedly a creative and unconventional thinker, a little left-field for the worlds of big business and government in which he moved. He was not a great success when it came to helping the NCC survive the rapid decline of its guaranteed state funding. Aris seemed to embrace the view – now being dusted down and relaunched – that private enterprise would step in to fill the gap left by a shrinking state. But his biggest success was with telecommunications companies, steeped in public service culture even after they had been formally privatised.

His, and the NCC's, attempts to engage with the market were sadly doomed. During his tenure at the NCC, the organisation broke through the 500-employee barrier, officially making it a large company. Today it has fewer than one-tenth that number.

There is no fun in playing the Steroids Card in Hall of Fame debates.  So, let's dispense with that disqualifier when discussing the following question:

Is Jason Giambi a Hall of Famer?

This is probably a question we're already equipped to answer without reference to his admitted steroids abuse.

400 Home Run Club

There was a time when 400 home runs virtually assured a player a spot in the Hall of Fame.  

Just ask Billy Williams, a good player who crossed the 400 homer line and made the Hall of Fame ahead of guys like Babe Herman, Sherry Magee, and Norm Cash.

Or ask Dale Murphy, whose exclusion from the Hall is often justified by reference to his 398 career home runs.

However, starting in the early 1990's, a peculiar thing began to happen: 400 home runs was deemed no longer good enough to get a player into the Hall automatically.

It started with Dave Kingman (442), who frankly did not belong in the Hall.  Then Darrell Evans (414) fell by the wayside.  Andre Dawson (438), the sole player-inducted into the 2010 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, needed nine tries to make the Hall.

The 400 Home Run Club Exclusion was only compounded by the Steroid/Inflation/Expansion/Juiced Ball Era.

After 1993, we added the names Jose Canseco (462), Juan Gonzalez (434), and Fred McGriff (493) to the list of players for whom 400 home runs was insufficient to merit election to the Hall, and McGriff had as many home runs as Lou Freakin' Gehrig.

Throw in the fact that Carlos Delgado (473) is probably well on his way to a Hall snub, and being a member of the 400 Home Run Club probably does very little for Giambi's case.

Another Funny Club

As a post-script to the 400 Home Run Club issue, check this out:

Players With More Than 400 Home Runs But Less Than 2,000 Hits

Mark McGwire: 583/1626

Dave Kingman: 442/1575

Andruw Jones: 404/1825

Juan Gonzalez: 434/1936

Jason Giambi: 412/1907

Jose Canseco: 462/1877

Which of those players seems to be anywhere near sniffing the Hall of Fame right now?

WAR (Hunh!) What is it Good For?

I think–no, wait, sorry–I know that analyzing a player's Hall of Fame credentials by discussing his WAR (which stands for Wins Above Replacement for those not in tune with the newest statistical fad) is silly.

Silly, not because I believe WAR to be a silly statistic or an unworthy statistic or an invalid statistic.  I think WAR is very useful.

However, I don't see a day in the near or even distant future when Hall of Fame elections are going to turn on a player's WAR.  So I think having a discussion about a player's WAR is, as I said, silly.

Nevertheless . . . 

According to BaseballReference.com, Jason Giambi's career WAR ranks him just ahead of Bob Elliott, Cesar Cedeno, Jose Cruz, Harry Hooper, Minnie Minoso, and Ron Cey, and just behind Ichiro Suzuki, Jimmy Collins, Enos Slaughter, Bill Dickey, Bob Johnson, Jack Clark and Stan Hack.  At this moment, GIambi is in a dead tie with Norm Cash (there's that name again).

Obviously, Hooper, Dickey, Collins, and Slaughter are in the Hall, and Ichiro will be someday.  But most of those players Giambi compares to are not in the Hall of Fame.

If WAR is your standard, Giambi is out.

Other Statistics

The strength of Jason Giambi's resume truly lies in his ability to get on base.  Outside of two great years–2000 and 2001–Giambi was never a great "hitter" as we usually understand that word in baseball.  A lifetime .282 hitter, even during his prime (which we'll say was 1998 to 2006) his batting average was only .293.

For a home run hitter, Giambi wasn't a particularly great "slugger" either.  Early in his career, he was a doubles hitter with power (40 doubles and 20 home runs in 1997 and 1998).  During his prime, that doubles power coincided with his home run power for only a couple of seasons; he had over 70 extra-base hits only twice in his career.

Part of Giambi's problem, of course, was his health.  He managed to play over 150 games only six times in 16 years, and at this late stage in his career he is just now approaching 8500 plate appearances.

If Giambi had stayed healthy, we'd probably be talking 500 home runs instead of 400, and about 2500 hits instead of 1900.

Contemporaries

Without belaboring this point, remember that Giambi must be considered in context.  Assuming that this is Giambi's last season (not an unfair assumption), Giambi was a rough contemporary (1995-2010) of the following first basemen/designated hitters, most of whom had better career numbers than he did:

Mark McGwire, Frank Thomas, Edgar Martinez, Jeff Bagwell, Jim Thome, Carlos Delgado, Rafael Palmeiro, Fred McGriff, John Olerud, Albert Pujols, and Mark Teixeira.

Now, we can deign to induct 12 first basemen/designated hitters from the same era into the Hall of Fame if we would like, but it has never been done before, and it wouldn't seem like a very selective process if we did.

Intangibles

What are we going to remember Jason Giambi for?  Well, a few things, and not all good:

1) We'll remember Giambi for his 2000 AL MVP.

He was amazing that season: 43 home runs, 137 RBI, a .333 batting average.  He led the AL in walks, on-base percentage, and a new statistic we were just learning about, OPS+.  And he did it all for an Oakland A's team that defied the odds and beat a strong Seattle Mariners team by half a game to win the AL West.

2) We'll remember Giambi for how well the A's played after he left.

Giambi left the Oakland Athletics as the first of several high-profile stars to leave Oakland in the early part of the last decade.  With Giambi in 2001, the A's had gone 102-60 but finished 14 games behind the 116-46 Seattle Mariners.  The following year, with Giambi gone, the A's managed to add a game to their win column, finishing 103-59 and winning the AL West.

You may remember that Michael Lewis wrote a book about the A's that season.

3) We'll remember Giambi for how poorly the Yankees played once he arrived in New York.

The year before Giambi joined the Yankees, they went 95-65 and lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks in one of the greatest World Series of all time.  In 2002, the Yankees improved to 103-58, but lost in the first round of the playoffs.  After a trip back to the World Series in 2003–which they lost to the Florida Marlins–the Yankees failed to make it back to the Series again during Giambi's time with the team.

In fact, in his last four seasons with the team, they failed to make the ALCS three years in a row and then failed to even make the playoffs.

Unfortunately for Jason Giambi, his intangibles add little to his otherwise already borderline Hall of Fame credentials.

At the End of the Day . . . 

At the end of the day, Jason Giambi's candidacy for the Baseball Hall of Fame–again, steroids aside–has some pretty big issues.  

I think Giambi has a pretty big problem on his hands:

Giambi looks a little too much like Jack Clark and Norm Cash, and not nearly enough like Harmon Killebrew and Willie McCovey.

Asher B. Chancey lives in Philadelphia and is a co-founder of BaseballEvolution.com.

The summer is upon us and while there is never a good time to compare one to the other, lets just take a shot.

Obviously the city of Chicago has brought many great things upon the citizens that walk the streets, ride the cabs, and cram on the trains.

While many share one common factor in being loyal supporters of all Chicago sports, it hardly sees as such when asked to pick just one.

Now is your chance to decide for yourself.  Not for the person next to you who constantly pretends to be the apparent "Sports Guru."

While there are cold hard facts, there are always the intangibles that statistics can't dispute.

Lets decide who is the Windy City King of Teams:

Chicago Bulls

Home Arena:  United Center

Established: 1966

NBA Championships: 6 (1991-93, 1996-98)

Conference Titles: 6 (1991-93, 1996-98)

Members of the NBA Hall of Fame: 8 (Nate Thurmond, George Gervin, Robert Parish,Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Coach Phil Jackson, Coach Jerry Sloan, Jerry Colangelo)

Retired Numbers: #4 Jerry Sloan, #10 Bob Love, #23 Michael Jordan, #33 Scottie Pippen

Players Served as an All-Star: 88

MVP Awards: 5

Defensive Player of the Year: 1

All-NBA Team Elections: 21

Chicago Cubs

Home Ballpark: Wrigley Field

Established: 1871

World Series Titles: 2 (1907 and 1908)

National League Pennants: 16 (1876, 1880, 1882, 1885-86, 1906-08, 1910, 1918,1929, 1932, 1935, 1938, 1945)

Members of the MLB Hall of Fame: 45 (Grover Cleveland Alexander, Cap Anson, Richie Ashburn, Ernie Banks, Roger Bresnahan, Lou Brock, Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown, Lou Boudreau, Frank Chance, John Clarkson, Kiki Cuyler, Dizzy Dean, Hugh Duffy, Leo Durocher, Dennis Eckersley, Johnny Evers, Jimmie Foxx, Frankie Frisch, Goose Gossage, Clark C. Griffith, Burleigh Grimes, Gabby Hartnett, Billy Herman, Rogers Hornsby, William Hulbert, Monte Irvin, Ferguson Jenkins, George Kelley, King Kelly, Ralph Kiner, Chuck Klein, Tony Lazzeri, Fred Lindstrom, Rabbit Maranville, Joseph McCarthy, Robin Roberts, Ryne Sandberg, Frank Selee, A.G. Spaulding, Bruce Sutter, Joe Tinker, Rube Waddell, Hoyt Wilhelm, Billy Williams, Hack Wilson)

Retired Numbers: #10 Ron Santo, #14 Ernie Banks, #23 Ryne Sandburg, #26 Billy Williams, #31 Ferguson Jenkins, #31 Greg Maddux

MVP Awards: 10

Cy Young Awards: 4

Silver Slugger Awards: 20

Gold Glove Awards: 35

Chicago White Sox

Home Ballpark: U.S. Cellular Park

Established: 1894

World Series Titles: 3 (1906, 1917, 2005)

American League Pennants: 7 (1900-01, 1906, 1917, 1919, 1959, 2005)

Members of the Hall of Fame: 29 (Luis Aparicio, Luke Appling, Chief Bender, Steve Carlton, Eddie Collins, Charles Comiskey, George Davis, Larry Doby, Hugh Duffy, Johnny Evers, Red Faber, Carlton Fisk, Nellie Fox, Goose Gossage, Clark Griffith, Harry Hooper, George Kell, Bob Lemon, Al Lopez, Ted Lyons, Edd Roush, Red Ruffing, Ray Schalk, Tom Seaver, Al Simmons, Bill Veeck, Ed Walsh, Hoyt Wilhelm, Early Wynn)

Retired Numbers: #2 Nellie Fox, #3 Harold Baines, #4 Luke Appling, #9 Minnie Minoso, #11 Luis Aparicio, #16 Ted Lyons, #19 Billy Pierce, #35 Frank Thomas, #72 Carlton Fisk

MVP Awards:4

Cy Young Awards: 3

Silver Slugger Awards:13

Gold Glove Awards:32

Chicago Blackhawks

Home Arena: United Center

Established: 1926

Stanley Cups: 4 (1933-34, 1937-38, 1960-61, 2009-10)

Conference Championships: 2 (1991-92, 2009-10)

Members of the Hall of Fame: 45 (Sid Abel, Doug Bentley, Max Bentley, George Boucher, Frank Brimsek, Billy Burch, Paul Coffey, Charlie Conacher, Lionel Conacher, Roy Conacher, Art Coulter, Babe Dye, Phil Esposito, Tony Esposito, Bill Gadsby, Charlie Gardiner, Herb Gardiner, Ebbie Goodfellow, Tommy Gorman, Michel Goulet, Glenn Hall, George Hay, Bobby Hull, Dick Irvin, Tommy Ivan, Duke Keats, Hughie Lehman, Ted Lindsay, Harry Lumley, Mickey MacKay, Stan Mikita, Howie Morenz, Bill Mosienko, Bert Olmstead, Bobby Orr, Pierre Pilote, Rudy Pilous, Bob Pulford, Denis Savard, Earl Seibert, Clint Smith, Allan Stanley, Barney Stanley, Jack Stewart, Harry Watson)

Retired Numbers: #1 Glenn Hall, #3 Pierre Pilote, #3 Keith Magnussen, #9 Bobby Hull, #18 Denis Savard, #21 Stan Makita, #35 Tony Espisito

Hart Memorial Trophies (Most Valuable Player): 6

Art Ross Trophies (Most Points Scored): 8

Vezina Trophies (Award to Best Goalie): 10

Chicago Bears

Home Stadium: Soldier Field

Established: 1919

League Championships: 9 (1921, 1932-33, 1940-41, 1943, 1946, 1963, 1985)

Conference Championships: 4 (1956, 1963, 1985, 2006)

Members of the Hall of Fame: 26 (Paddy Driscoll, Sid Luckman, Bronko Nagurski, Mike Singletary, George McAfee, Dick Butkus, George Halas, Bill Hewitt, Link Lyman, Bill George, George Trafton, Clyde (Bulldog) Turner, Joe Stydahar, George Connor, Ed Healey, Harold (Red) Grange, George Musso, Stan Jones, George Blanda, Doug Atkins, Danny Fortmann, Mike Ditka, Walter Payton, Dan Hampton, Gale Sayers, Jim Finks)

Retired Numbers: #3 Bronko Nagurski, #5 George McAfee, #7 George Halas, #28 Willie Galimore, #34 Walter Payton, #40 Gale Sayers, #41 Brian Piccolo, #42 Sid Luckman, #51 Dick Butkus, #56 Bill Hewitt, #61 Bill George, #66 Clyde Turner, #77 Harold Grange

MVP Awards: 2

Offensive Player of the Year: 1

Defensive Player of the Year: 3

You make the call... Vote for your favorite and maybe you will win one of those Chicago Deep Dish Pizzas. 

Well probably not, but vote anyways and help your team become the King of the Windy City!

It was not a matter of if, but whom.

And the "whom" is a man who lords over gleaming, vintage Coke machines.

We're speaking of the first spin-off from "Pawn Stars," the four-headed monster of a reality show that's created a torrent of publicity for the once nondescript pawn shop on Las Vegas Boulevard, just a skateboard sashay north of Charleston Boulevard.

Whoa. Some sentence there.

Anyway, the show is filled with interesting "expert" guest-stars, seasoned pros who help the Harrison boys and the ever-affable Chumlee price and restore the odd array of items toted through the store's front doors. Among those experts:

• Sean Rich of Tortuga Trading Inc. a master antique gunsmith.

• Dana Linett, president of Early American History Auctions Inc., an expert in early American history.

• Wally Korhone, owner of Rusty Nuts Rods and Custom, adept at vehicle and motorcycle customization.

But the man who has leapt from cameos to a full-fledged series of his own is Rick Dale of Rick's Restorations Inc. No weather-beaten gas pump or moribund jukebox is too battered to be restored by Dale, who says he has been "restoring memories for over 28 years!"

At least, his website says that. The last time I talked to him he was still eagerly awaiting a signed contract from History Channel, which also is home to "Pawn Stars."

That contract was signed Friday, and a crew from Leftfield Productions (the company that also produces "Pawn Stars") is in town for three weeks of filming. The title of the show is not finalized, though employing the word "Restoration," or a variation thereof, would seem a natural. So would the name, "Rick."

The show's schedule or launch date has not been announced, either, but one episode will feature Monte Carlo illusionist Lance Burton, who suffered a uniquely Las Vegas home-décor dilemma.

The swirling plot:

Burton's home sits on a high bluff near BLM land south of Henderson. The house was hit particularly hard by April's wind storms, which reached gusts of 60 mph. Leading up the driveway into the entrance are a pair of tall, old-English style lamps from the Monte Carlo. Burton inherited these effects during the hotel's build-out of Diablo's Cantina, which made those lamps disposable.

But one night, as he returned home from a show at Monte Carlo, Burton noticed something strange at his home — darkness.

"I looked up the driveway and the lamps had been blown over," Burton said during a phone interview Tuesday afternoon. "They were shattered. The next morning I was trying to figure out what to do and (Burton's publicist) Wayne Bernath told me about this guy on 'Pawn Stars' who restores things. I got a hold of him and he said, 'Yeah, I can do this.'"

But not right away — Burton has been holding the pieces until an episode of "Generic Vegas Restoration Reality Show" can be built around the rebuilding.

"He'll have to weld all these cast aluminum parts together, "Burton said. "But if he can fix this, I will be impressed."

B.G.'s comedy inferno

Comic Brad Garrett threw them open Monday night.

The doors to his new club at Tropicana, I mean.

A full house warmly greeted the former "Everybody Loves Raymond" co-star, who has summoned longtime Las Vegas pianist George Bugatti to join him onstage at the space once occupied by the Comedy Stop. It's a lot different today, cloaked in the type of plush burgundy effects favored by old steakhouses. The walls are lined with art of such famed comedians as Steve Martin, George Carlin and Richard Pryor.

Rob Sherwood, who has been a popular comic in Vegas for several years, opened the show. Bugatti was given generous time to sing whatever he liked, including Billy Joel's "Pressure," between acts. I first met Bugatti during his run at Fontana Lounge at Bellagio. Today he's gigging regularly at Casa di Amore Italian Restaurant on East Trop. Garrett is seeking old Vegas-style haunts; Casa di Amore certainly is one.

Garrett also is a surprisingly good impressionist, which is not an easy feat when you stand 6-feet-8 inches and you're not impersonating Larry Bird.

Garrett channels Sammy Davis Jr., Rodney Dangerfield and even Herman Munster, as his TV buddy Ray Romano once told Garrett he looked like the illegitimate child of Herman Munster and Greg Brady. Garrett tells some great yarns of opening for Frank Sinatra, who used to bring him back to the stage by calling for "Greg Barrett, ladies and gentlemen!"

"So, like a schmuck I'm taking a bow for someone else's name!" Garrett bemoaned. "Some nights Frank knew me, and some nights, he didn't. But you never argued with Frank."

Those stories, more than the look of the room, give Garrett some genuine Vegas credibility. He can talk of performing at such famed and imploded hotels as the Desert Inn. He's a likeable, funny man, on and off the stage.

Lance: The Return

Burton offered no new news as to his professional residence after he closes at Monte Carlo after Labor Day weekend. He's still enjoying TiVo, a previously underutilized entertainment gizmo. But his girlfriend, Gabriela Versace, does have a new stage — at Sammy Hagar's Cabo Wabo Cantina at Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood on the famous Las Vegas Strip.

Versace is the new host of "Rock Star Karaoke" at Cabo Wabo. Versace was once the host of "Erocktica" at the Rio. What this means, in part, is that you'll occasionally see Lance Burton walking the Miracle Mile Shops on Sundays. And now you know why.

Fourths of June

What do "Phantom — Las Vegas Spectacular," "Love" and CityCenter all have in common? All were launched in June 2006. "Phantom" and "Love" are celebrating their fourth anniversaries a little more than a week apart, with "Phantom" celebrating by placing masks on 1,800 fans at the anniversary show and "Love" by sending the cast to Niagara Falls to meet with Ringo Starr. CityCenter's groundbreaking cement pour marking start of construction was June 26, 2006. Don't know what all this means, other than there was a lot of big stuff going on in June 2006.

Line!

From the deplorable supervillain Gru, addressing his minions in the upcoming animated heist film "Despicable Me.": "We will have stolen the Statue of Liberty!" Minions cheer. "The small one, from Las Vegas!" Minions groan. Gru should have lifted Hoover Dam instead.

Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at twitter.com/JohnnyKats.

Goose On The Lake Festival :: 06.04.10-06.05.10 :: Settle Lake :: Allegre, KY

Goose Creek's Charlie Gearheart

Very quietly, this small gathering on a private farm in rural Kentucky has evolved into one of the coolest secrets in the summer festival season. Built around an annual celebration of country rock pioneers Goose Creek Symphony, this is a place where real musicians find audiences receptive and attentive to whatever is dished out because it's done with real heart, blister-won skill and raw talent. And beyond the offerings onstage, Goose On The Lake had the chillest, wonderfully mature group of freak flag waving free spirits you'd ever want to find. Taken together, the music, bucolic setting and primo companionship carved out a little piece of heaven on earth.

Lloyd Settle

Benny Skyn

Nashville's The 5 Tones threw down a hard blues-rock gauntlet next, and the juxtaposition, like many this weekend, was sharp and exciting. There's not a lot of acts on the bill but the quality of each cracks like a whip, drawing one's attention quickly and continually rewarding it. Musicians are appreciated at Goose On The Lake, and that simple fact seemed to bring out the best in each performer. The sweat plastered t-shirts and contorted faces of The 5 Tones spoke volumes about the trio's dedication to get right down to the ground water in their genre, digging ferociously with tangy harp, slicing guitar and a rhythm section that just didn't quit. The encore cover of the North Mississippi Allstars' "Po' Black Maddie" is another clue to their sound, but these guys take it all the way out, separating themselves a good distance from the many who toy around in these dark waters. Kindred contemporaries include Super 400 and Rose Hill Drive, and as the next performer noted during their set, "They've got a Robin Trower Bridge of Sighs thing going on." All good stuff and reasons to keep an ear bent towards The 5 Tones.

Dave Gleason

Friday evening's Goose Creek Symphony set was a hopping hodgepodge of deep album cuts and rarely played numbers, with most of the heavy hittin' fan favorites saved for Saturday night. Friday was for connoisseurs, and as a 25-year hardcore listener seeing them play live for the very first time I was in hog heaven. That word 'heaven' keeps popping up simply because it hangs close to this gathering. Perhaps others' vision of paradise is different than my own, but outside of the sweltering, hellishly humid southern heat, this is a pretty nice approximation of what at least one corner of heaven looks like in my mind. And you couldn't ask for a much better soundtrack than the Goose, who started off with a patient, phenomenal reading of "Going Down The Road Feeling Bad," which like many songs other bands have popularized sounds utterly new in their hands.

Goose Creek Symphony

What's stunning is the band's leader and chief songwriter Charlie Gearheart - as big and amazing a character as ever breathed life into this stupid, angry, rough world - is in his seventies and fellow original member/co-founder Paul "Pearl" Stradlin is no spring chicken either. The rest of the band is a mix of ages, some quite young, but all stellar players with clear dedication to knocking this music into the cosmos. Yet, Stradlin and Gearheart pitched in as hard as anyone, and neither this set nor Saturday's were short affairs. They all seem powered by this music, which similarly eases invigorating sap into the listener. Folks looked positively lit up across the lawn as night fell, sunburnt flesh cooling as Goose Creek's energy moved along the grass and into our limbs. Sure, strong corn liquor and pleasant smells in the air didn't hurt, but the key ingredient was the songs and their sublime performances - subtlety is a huge factor in Goose Creek's appeal and longevity. Gearheart declared near the end, "We'll end early enough for folks to get back to their tent and get some." Afterwards, Lloyd announced, "If you think music can't free people then take another puff!"

Backstage View by Dennis Cook

Many people floated on the large, private lake during the afternoon, paddling around and sharing brews and laughter on the water. Long before music started up again with two more fantastic sets by Benny Skyn and Dave Gleason and his boys, laughter and gently splashing water provided a charming backdrop to relaxin' in the shade.

Frank Hudson

Paul Burch & The WPA Ball Club were another surprise winner following Hudson, bringing in oodles of swing into country, folk and jazz inflected songs that touched on both American and English traditional music and then snatched it by the arm into modernity. Accordion, fiddle and Burch's guitar danced continually, creating a much fuller sound than one might expect from a trio. With an inviting voice and a big songbook full of quality material, Burch and the WPA evoked the past in a way that makes it new.

Wanda Jackson

"Keep listening and eventually we'll play one you like," the vintage rock queen declared, and they pretty much walked the line throughout their enjoyable, oldies rich set. Jackson arrived in the 1950s with one of the most distinctive voices to ever rock 'n' roll, and she's largely maintained it, though it sometimes took a bit to warm up or cracked occasionally. So be it; she's rock royalty and still offered up good times decked out in the most fringe I've ever seen on one shirt and a simply classic wig. When she let out a still-girlish squeal on monsters like "Fujiyama Mama" and "Riot In Cell Block No. 9" it raised your pulse a bit and reminded one how essential sex is to rock, which oddly didn't jar against the welcome gospel pieces and Jesus-saved-me rap also included in her set.

The main attraction for most, based solely on the sheer numbers on the lawn and their hooting enthusiasm, was Goose Creek's fest closing set. Without exaggeration, this performance ranked with the best I've seen by any band, every bit the equal to the transcendent experiences I've had with the Grateful Dead, Radiohead, The Black Crowes and other giants. What Goose Creek share with this bunch is the same undeniable originality, sheer talent and resounding conviction. One can play music to entertain and shake a coin out of folks' pockets, but for some it's a calling and a privilege to get up on stages and make music. A strong sense of ritual infused this show, with sage burning and a low, percussion driven 'ohm' building into the first song proper, a stunning reading of "These Hills" from 2002's I Don't Know album followed by their theme song, "Welcome To Goose Creek." In just two numbers one was struck by a sound forged over a lifetime, a music born from craggy, private places but delivered in a way that makes people dance away their troubles and rejoice in the now.

Goose Creek Symphony

Watching the sweaty, dazed young faces along the rail it was clear this isn't some nostalgia kick. This music has the power to directly connect to real music people, the sort open to the kind of blackly humorous, intricately woven yet rowdily delivered music that Goose Creek Symphony lays down. There were plenty of gray hairs like myself - freakin' as well as our bodies allow - but the younger fans reveal the huge potential for this music to light up myriad lives. It's right in front of us, waiting to lift your heels and twist your brain. And thankfully so is Goose On The Lake. Here's to Year 16 in 2011 and many more for Goose Creek themselves.

See many more pics from this wonderful festival here.

JamBase | Kentucky
Go See Live Music!

Another season of The Ultimate Fighter comes to an end as season 11 finalists prepare to do battle. This is a card loaded with present and past TUF alumni. It should be a good night of fights. Who will be the next Ultimate Fighter? The time has come to find out.

I encourage you to read my breakdowns to see why I made the predictions that I made. At the end of the breakdowns, I will have my official picks listed. Thanks for reading. Enjoy the fights!

Court McGee Vs. Kris McCray

Key Victories :

McGee (DaMarques Johnson )

McCray (Igor Almeida )

Forecast

Disappointing is an understatement when The Ultimate Fighter Season 11 comes to mind. The show is starting to feel like a perpetual pump of reality induced television without any true new talent to show for it. Seasons 1-3 have given us more authentic talent than all other seasons combined.

I understand people want “great TV personalities”. Maybe I was mistaken in thinking this show was about the fighters and producing new MMA talent. Anything else is basically a rendition of MTV’s Real World or Jersey Shore. During the season, I fully expected Jamie Yager (Kid Goku) to turn Super Saiyan and destroy the competition. My assumption was quickly proven wrong as even Jamie’s massive fro couldn’t cushion the fists of Josh Bryant.

When the dust settled, we were left with two unlikely finalists. Whether either guy becomes the next breakout MMA star remains to be seen. Who will win a six figure UFC contract and become The Ultimate Fighter? Well, that question will be answered this Saturday night when Court McGee takes on Kris McCray.

Fighting out of Layton, Utah, Court McGee was the dark horse of this season. People often joked about him not fitting the mold of a “modern day warrior.” At first glance, McGee may resemble a lad who’s experienced the Rumspringa and never looked back.

His appearance proved to be deceptive on TUF 11. McGee defeated three other opponents to make it to the finals. He was selected on the show as Chuck Liddell’s sixth pick. After the show, McGee has continued training with Liddell and John Hackleman at The Pit.

Kris McCray was selected by Tito Ortiz as his third overall pick. McCray is a member of Team Gold Medal Grappling. He is primarily a wrestler. On the show, it was revealed that he set the record for total fights competed in during a TUF season (five). According to Dana White, McCray fought every Tuesday in the house.

Keys to Victory

McCray will have the size advantage in this fight. McGee has to avoid getting caught under the bigger man. He needs to establish a good distance. Stay on the outside and work McCray with short combinations and kicks. He has to wear McCray down and force him to make a mistake. As the fight wears on, McCray tends to get really sloppy with his punches and take-down defense.

McGee is a solid grappler in his own right. He has to take advantage of what McCray gives him. McGee has to be scrappy in his defense. If pressed against the cage, he has to fight for the under-hooks. If taken down, he has to keep an active guard by creating space and looking to explode to his feet.

Kris McCray has to be the aggressor in this bout. During the TUF season, he did a great job of using his superior size to wear on opponents and secure take-downs. This fight should be no different. McCray needs to use his size to wear McGee down. He should try to push McGee against the fence, work short strikes and snag the take-down.

Stamina was a huge issue for McCray on the show. That could be attributed to having to adapt to the crazy TUF experience. Whatever the reasoning, McCray has to avoid getting wild and conserve his stamina. There is no shame in losing to the better man. There is shame in losing because of poor conditioning.

Prediction

It’s hard to judge these new guys coming off the show. The whole TUF experience can be overwhelming and actually hurt a fighter’s performance. Mixed Martial Arts is a sport that requires full dedication and preparation.

In the house, fighters have to overcome the following: alcohol in a party-like environment, reality TV cameras and late night antics, living with opponents, staying injury free, adjusting to a new coach in a short period of time and little rest between fights.

The fighters who show up on the finale are a better indication of where these guys are actually at in their MMA careers. With that said, I have to go with what I’ve seen so far. When the fight begins, the Billy Goat Gruff mean muggin’ will be on.

McGee will get the better of the exchanges on the feet and avoid the majority of McCray’s initial take-down attempts. A desperate McCray will overextend on a combination and get dropped in the second. I expect both fighters to look better than they did on the show.

Matt “The Hammer” Hamill Vs. “The Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine

Key Victories

Hamill (Mark Munoz, Tim Boetsch, Reese Andy)

Jardine (Chuck Liddell, Forrest Griffin, Brandon Vera, Wilson Gouveia)

Forecast

While Matt Hamill hasn’t lost a bout since 2008, Keith Jardine hasn’t won one either. It’s becoming hard not to go into every Jardine fight expecting him to get dropped violently and go into exorcism-like convulsions. He’s extremely lucky to still be headlining a UFC event. We’ll see what happens in this battle of TUF alumni.

Matt Hamill is a member of Team Punishment. The team features fighters like Tito Ortiz, Rob McCullough and Justin McCully. Hamill’s style consists of Freestyle Wrestling, Greco-Roman Wrestling, Boxing and BJJ. In the 2001 Summer Deaflympics, he took home a gold medal in Freestyle Wrestling and a silver medal in Greco-Roman.

At the Rochester Institute of Technology, he was a three-time NCAA Division III National Wrestling Champion. In his last bout, he was awarded the victory over Jon Jones after a disqualification for illegal elbows. That fight wasn’t going anywhere near Hamill’s way from the beginning.

Keith Jardine is a black belt in Gaidojutsu (Wrestling and Judo combination) under Greg Jackson. He trains at Jackson’s MMA with GSP, Rashad Evans, Jon Jones, Shane Carwin, Nate Marquardt, and Andrei Arlovski. Out of his last five bouts, Jardine is 1-4. Inconsistency has been a problem for him in the past, but this is the first time we’ve seen him rack up consistent losses. Jardine’s style consists of Boxing, Kickboxing, and Gaidojutsu.

Keys to Victory

Matt Hamill has to stick to what he’s good at. Jardine’s primary weakness is his chin versus explosive fighters willing to aggressively engage. Hamill doesn’t possess the punching power of a Thiago Silva or Wanderlei Silva. That doesn’t mean he lacks power completely. Hamill is very good at cinching the clinch and wearing down opponents with his dirty boxing. Instead of aimlessly throwing punches, he needs to close the distance and do some clinch work.

Jardine has nasty leg kicks. Defense will be very important for Hamill. He can’t sit there and take kick after kick. He has to be ready to check them. With Jardine being the better striker, Hamill may struggle in the exchanges and snagging the clinch. If this happens, he may have to revert to his Freestyle roots and initiate outside take-down attempts. This could throw Jardine off his game as this is something we don’t see often from Hamill.

Distance, kicks and clinch defense should be Jardine’s motto heading into this bout. He doesn’t want to give Hamill any hope of grabbing a leg or utilizing the clinch. He needs to stay on the outside and work Hamill with kicks and punches. There has to be snap behind everything that is thrown. Hamill doesn’t mind eating punches to clinch his opponents and begin the dirty boxing onslaught.

Jardine has to be careful in the exchanges. The time has come for him to get back to the basics in his boxing defense. Like “The Running Man” and “The Cabbage Patch”, Jardine’s “Old Man Houseshoe Shuffle” is played out. There should be no more talk about his “unorthodox” standup. That “unorthodox” standup has gotten him KTFO’d four times in the UFC. Come on now…he has Greg Jackson behind him. Let’s see some improvements.

Prediction

Jardine will stick to a sound game-plan. He will batter Hamill on the outside with kicks and punches. Hamill’s inability to check the kicks will be his downfall in this fight. In the third round, Hamill will be unable to continue from the multiple leg kicks. Jardine can rest easy. He should escape being highlighted in the next Ultimate Knockouts DVD, for now…

Chris “The Crippler” Leben Vs. Aaron “A-Train” Simpson

Key Victories :

Leben (Mike Swick, Patrick Cote, Jorge Rivera, Jorge Santiago, Alessio Sakara)

Simpson (Ed Herman, Tom Lawlor)

Forecast

Fighting out of Oahu, Hawaii, Chris Leben trains at Icon Fitness MMA. He is a Boxer, Wrestler and BJJ artist. Out of his 19 wins, 10 have come by KO. Before losing to Anderson Silva, Leben had racked up five straight victories and was on the verge of a title shot. Since the brutal loss, he has been an inconsistent 4-4 in the UFC.

Leben is quickly finding himself being pushed by mid-carders to the bottom of the Middleweight totem pole. If not careful, his inconsistency and problems outside of the cage could soon land him his walking papers. At UFC Fight Night 20, Leben defeated Jay Silva by unanimous decision.

Aaron Simpson won four wrestling state championships at Antelope Union High School in Wellton, Arizona. He went on to compete at Arizona State and was a two-time NCAA All-American. When the WEC dropped its Middleweight and Light Heavyweight divisions, Simpson made his UFC debut in April 2009.

With a perfect 7-0 record, he has finished six of those bouts by KO or TKO stoppage. In his last bout, he took fight of the night honors and a split decision over Tom Lawlor.

Keys to Victory

We need to see a more methodical Chris Leben in this fight. It was interesting seeing him choose wrestling over brawling in his bout with Jay Silva. While he isn’t the better wrestler, he can confuse Simpson by mixing up his offense. Leben has to keep a low base. Simpson will undoubtedly be looking for take-downs of his own.

On the feet, Leben needs to work his boxing and avoid getting greedy. It’s almost a reflexive action for a reeling wrestler to shoot in for a take-down. Unless Simpson is seriously hurt, Leben should land what he can and get out. If taken down, Leben needs to be aggressive in his search for submissions and opportunities to explode back to his feet.

Aaron Simpson has to avoid being baited into a battle of "rock ‘em, sock ‘em robots." He needs to be patient in every aspect of this fight. Leben tends to overextend and throw slow combinations and kicks. If patient, Simpson may get a gift take-down courtesy of an overaggressive Chris Leben.

On the ground, Simpson shouldn’t underestimate Leben’s submission skills. Leben isn’t anywhere near a Demian Maia, but he still has competent ground skills. Simpson should use his ground and pound to chip away at his opponent. This could be a grinder. Leben is as tough as they come.

Prediction

Stylistically, this isn’t a good fight for Chris Leben. Aaron Simpson is the better athlete and stronger grappler. Look for Simpson to repeatedly drag a frustrated Leben to the ground. This won’t make for the most exciting fight as Leben’s underrated guard will keep Simpson from transitioning. Simpson will control and grind out a unanimous decision.

Spencer “The King” Fisher Vs. Dennis Siver

Key Victories :

Fisher (Thiago Alves, Sam Stout, Jeremy Stephens, Caol Uno, Matt Wiman, Aaron Riley)

Siver (Paul Kelly)

Forecast

Spencer Fisher is known for his explosive standup and putting on exciting performances. I can’t remember a boring Spencer Fisher fight. Sporting a style of Boxing, BJJ and Muay Thai, Fisher is a natural southpaw. He currently trains at Team Sityodtong. The MMA school is known for fighters like Jorge Rivera, Marcus Davis, Stephan Bonnar and Patrick Cote. At UFC 104, Fisher was stopped in the second round by Joe Stevenson.

Fighting out of Mannheim, Germany, Dennis Siver is a Sambo, Kickboxer and BJJ artist. He is a purple belt in BJJ and currently a member of OC Fight Team. Like Fisher, Siver is also known for good standup and putting on exciting performances. Who could ever forget Siver’s TKO victory over Paul Kelly via spinning back kick. In his last bout, he was soundly picked apart by Ross Pearson in a unanimous decision loss.

Keys to Victory

Fisher needs to be the aggressor in this fight. Siver really struggles against boxers who are efficient and aggressive in their standup. Despite possessing solid offensive standup, Siver is severely lacking in the countering department. Fisher should exploit this weakness by pushing the pace and extending on his combinations. He has to be weary of take-downs and submissions. Siver has a ground game that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Siver has to stand his ground in this fight. When pressed, he needs to counter or look for the take-down. With Fisher being the better boxer, Siver will have to set up his offense. He should use his kicks and feints to open up his standup and take-down opportunities. For Siver to win, he will have to put on a well-rounded performance. He has to keep Fisher guessing.

Spencer Fisher and Ross Pearson have similar styles. This is somewhat of an advantage for Siver. It gives him an opportunity to dissect his mistakes and try to rectify them against a similar opponent.

Prediction

This fight should mimic Siver’s bout with Ross Pearson. Fisher will avoid take-downs while getting the better of the exchanges. This should be a fight of the night candidate as Fisher takes the unanimous decision.

Official Picks

Court McGee By Round 2 KO

Keith Jardine By Round 3 TKO Stoppage (Leg Kicks)

Aaron Simpson By Unanimous Decision

Spencer Fisher By Unanimous Decision

Glydebourne; Liverpool

Apart from one potent glimpse of a red duster ensign fluttering in a sea breeze, Glyndebourne's electrifying new Billy Budd imprisons us below deck. This sense of oppression is as it should be. The salt of Britten's marine opera is acrid not with brine alone but with the human sweat of toil and conflict. This 1950-51 masterpiece, based on Herman Melville's posthumous novella, could inhabit any place of confinement, as in Richard Jones's recent production for Frankfurt set in a bullying, public school-style naval academy.

The HMS Indomitable, under the command of its popular, humanist captain, "Starry" Vere, is a man o'war fighting the French but in fear of mutiny among its own men. It is also a ship of life sailing the perpetual high seas like a star in the galaxy, in Melville's words "but one craft in a Milky Way fleet". Vere himself, a man who has "read books" and "tried to fathom eternal truth", feels himself lost on the "infinite sea".

Theatre director Michael Grandage, in his first attempt at opera, holds this balance perfectly in a tense staging meticulously and passionately conducted by Sir Mark Elder. Cast and chorus are outstanding. The London Philharmonic negotiates Britten's lurching, shifting-sand harmonies with proper vigilance and exhilarating involvement. The wistful, lullaby nonchalance of the alto sax is only the most conspicuous of the composer's astonishing musical inventions. Paule Constable's lighting design, with its pools of confined daylight, complements the lustrous, shadowy score. If this Billy Budd sets the tone for the 2010 festival, it heralds a vintage Glyndebourne year.

A ribbed cross-section of a Napoleonic ship in Christopher Oram's grand, claustral design brilliantly encases the action throughout. Yinka Shonibare's new "ship in a bottle" for Trafalgar Square's fourth plinth, based on Nelson's Victory, makes a timely visual touchstone – the very ship Britten's librettists, EM Forster and Eric Crozier, visited in Portsmouth to do their nautical homework. Forster in particular felt he was truly out of his depth in comprehending life below deck, but he responded to the underlying homoeroticism of the story to "a sexual discharge gone evil" and recognised Melville as a fellow "suppressed homosex".

This aspect is implicit, but never overworked, in Grandage's shrewd production. Britten himself, who nearly came to blows with Forster when the novelist took exception to some of the music, was more interested in the moral complexities of Vere, a role created for his partner, the tenor Peter Pears, and here sung eloquently, if at times on the first night too wanly, by the ever-perceptive John Mark Ainsley. The central relationship is between the good, high-minded captain and his sadistic master-at-arms, Claggart (Phillip Ens).

Both are unsettled by the arrival of the innocent, stammering, archetypal "handsome sailor" Budd, here played with eager, light-limbed fervour by Jacques Imbrailo. Claggart hates him because, to borrow a line from Iago, he "hath a daily beauty in his life that makes me ugly". A tragedy unfolds that summer of 1797 which preys on Vere for the rest of his days.

Each cameo role in the all-male ensemble cast takes on personality and musical character, especially Ben Johnson's Novice, Jeremy White's Dansker, Iain Paterson's Mr Redburn and Matthew Rose's Mr Flint. As good-hearted, whiskery Dansker ties the noose for his friend Billy to be hanged from the yardarm, Britten's genius for expressing human feeling cries out. Is any moment in opera more heart- wrenching?

A few years before tackling Billy Budd, in 1941, Britten wrote a small-scale version of the second movement of Mahler's Symphony No 3. He had a particular affinity with the Austrian composer, whose music was still hardly known. One reason was the scale, and the forces required, especially in that same symphony, which lasts nearly two hours and calls for a vast orchestra, soloist, female chorus and youth choir. Lopsided in its six uneven movements and abandoning all symphonic rules, it has always won a mixed reception.

Yet done well, it can achieve visionary grandeur. This was true of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic's account to a packed Philharmonic Hall, under the baton of chief conductor Vasily Petrenko, who won special applause for having been named male artist of the year in the Classical Brit awards. The Russian-born Petrenko, also principal conductor of the National Youth Orchestra, has a relaxed podium style. On a steamy night, just the kind on which the symphony was premiered in June 1902, he was cool and economical with his gestures.

Challenged by the heat, some of the brass and wind tuning suffered but the rude, raucous martial passages and the lilting dance tunes sprang to life vividly. In rich, lambent voice, mezzo Karen Cargill took on the challenge of Nietzsche's famous "superman" lines from Also Sprach Zarathustra in her fourth movement solo. Mahler wanted to "mirror the whole world" in this work, which accordingly moves up through the universe to love and the angels in the last movement. Without this ascending thrust, a performance can collapse in overblown folly. Petrenko, quite a superman in his own, un-Nietzschean way, succeeded and won a standing ovation. This fiery partnership continue their Mahler cycle in the autumn.

A seminar entitled Women Make Music: Female Music Creators and the Gender Gap, held at Kings Place in London and robustly chaired by the Observer's Miranda Sawyer, brought together five superwomen from across musical life to ask why there aren't more female composers. The classical world has long been a male preserve. When editing a music magazine with a strongly female staff, I was congratulated by an oppressed male reader for unearthing so many "musical young ladies". He then accused me – it was that kind of letter – of "penile envy" (sic). That was last century, but only just.

Matters have improved. Women dominate music publishing. Orchestras are full of them. A reasonable number have works performed at the Proms: around 15% of contemporary compositions. The elephant that occupies the gender gap is an absence as yet of any masterpiece comparable with Billy Budd or Mahler's Third written by a woman. Get on with it, sisters.

Benjamin Britten's collaboration with EM Forster on the opera Billy Budd was anything but plain sailing

It was perhaps inevitable that Benjamin Britten's admiration for EM Forster would lead to collaboration. In 1941, an article by the novelist about George Crabbe's The Borough had been significant in Britten's decision to write Peter Grimes, and from the mid-1940s a friendship between the two men, 34 years apart in age, flourished.

Forster's wish to write a "grand opera" led Britten to suggest Herman Melville's final work – Billy Budd, Sailor. A meeting was set up in January 1949 at Britten's home in Aldeburgh, Suffolk, to discuss the project. Eric Crozier (the composer's principal collaborator during the late 1940s) later recalled how all three began to discuss the story and its suitability for musical treatment: "Britten produced a writing pad, and we examined the story methodically. I still treasure three bits of paper … There are two pages in Britten's writing, one listing all the characters in the story, the second tabulating Melville's dramatic incidents." On the third sheet Britten drew a side elevation of a sailing ship, which Forster annotated with the different names of the decks, "to help us find our way around".

Two important decisions were taken immediately. The principal tenor role would be allotted not to the naive Billy but to the ship's commander, Captain Vere, in any case the obvious character for Peter Pears to play; and the action of the opera would be enclosed by one of Britten's favourite dramatic devices: a prologue and epilogue in which Vere is revealed as an old man recollecting his days as a naval commander, questioning his actions and, in the epilogue, finally recognising that Billy has saved and blessed him.

Although the librettists needed to research naval history and planned an outing to HMS Victory, Forster was keen to make a start and sent Crozier a draft of Vere's prologue, which is close to the final sung text. They returned in March 1949 to Aldeburgh, where they worked through Billy Budd while Britten disappeared to his study to compose his Spring Symphony. A draft emerged, sometimes by one of them, sometimes by both, which could be shown to Britten.

The librettists were back in Aldeburgh in the summer; now it was Britten who dominated proceedings. His musico-dramatic genius would prevail in fashioning a new version of the libretto that formed the basis of the opera's text as composed. "The work has restarted well," wrote Forster. "Eric Crozier is here and doing his stuff without jibbing, and I seem able to turn honest English prose with duetinnos or arias when required to do so. Luckily nothing has to rhyme. I would like to hear some musical notes from Ben, but apparently they don't start yet – only musical ideas."

The libretto text was subjected to a careful (and wholly typical) scrutiny by Britten, which he needed as preparation to writing the music. The composer asked his librettists for a choral climax to the original first act, a scene that does not feature in Melville's original. While this scene gave the opportunity for Vere to be shown as a man of action and the understandable object of veneration by the ship's company, Pears was apparently never comfortable, feeling he did not possess a heroic enough voice to carry it off successfully. Moreover, one senior critic at the premiere ridiculed the scene by comparing it to Gilbert and Sullivan's HMS Pinafore, and Britten, wounded by the jibe and mindful of his partner's difficulties, excised the scene when he came to revise the opera a few years later.

The final version of the libretto – in four acts – was completed early in 1950, by which point Britten had begun composition. By April, he had completed the composition draft of the first act and played it through to Forster. Forster told a close friend: "I have had my first difference of opinion with him – over the dirge for the Novice. He has done dry contrapuntal stuff, no doubt original and excellent from the musician's point of view, but not at all appropriate from mine. I shall have a big discussion when the act is finished." A play-through of the second act in November provoked Forster into a tactless criticism of Britten's setting of Claggart's aria, O Beauty, O Handsomeness, Goodness. "It is my most important piece of writing," he wrote to the composer, "and I did not, at my first hearings, feel it sufficiently important musically … I want passion – love constricted, perverted, poisoned, but nevertheless flowing down its agonising channel; a sexual discharge gone evil. Not soggy depression or growling remorse. I seemed to be turning from one musical discomfort to another, and was dissatisfied. I looked for an aria perhaps, for a more recognisable form. I liked the last section best, and if it is extended so that it dominates my vague objections may vanish."

Shaken by this letter, Britten sought advice from Pears and Crozier; it was left to Crozier to tackle Forster on the composer's behalf and attempt to prevent any further deterioration in the relationship.

Forster replied to Crozier's entreaties with appropriate humility, explaining how his criticisms of the music for the Novice had been apparently taken well, and therefore he felt it would be perfectly reasonable to raise his concerns about Britten's setting of Claggart's monologue.

But Britten was never one to take criticism easily, even from someone he revered, and cracks in the relationship temporarily appeared. Even so, he did reconsider the aria, though he left its redrafting until after he'd reached the end of the opera.

Britten was careful to keep Forster informed of his progress. "Act II is nearly done," he wrote in December 1950, "I've had some trouble with Novice & Billy, but got that one solved, & want to talk my solution over with you sometime." The "battle scene" caused some problems in January 1951, for which Britten called on Crozier's help, and he told Pears in early January: "I've started Act III & am quite excited by it. It's nice to be rid (temporarily) of Act II about which I'd got quite a thing."

Britten continued to make steady progress. On 12 February he told Imogen Holst that most of Act III was drafted, "but I have had agonies over it. Every bar is written with depression & insecurity looking over my shoulders." It was Pears who restored Britten's morale. The composer wrote to him on 16 March: "It was lovely to play it over to you, & you gave me back my confidence which has been slowly ebbing away. In a work of this size & tension that is one of one's greatest problems."

Britten finished the composition draft in August, and the full score in November 1951, by which time rehearsals were well underway for the premiere, which was given on 1 December 1951 at Covent Garden.

Britten was grateful to Forster: "Apart from the great pleasure it has been, it has been the greatest honour to have collaborated with you, my dear," he wrote to his friend. "It was always one of my wildest dreams to work with EMF – & it is often difficult to realise that it has happened. Anyhow, one thing I am certain of – & that's this; whatever the quality of the music is, & it seems people will quarrel about that for some time to come, I think you & Eric have written incomparably the finest libretto ever. For wisdom, tenderness, & dignity of language it has no equals. I am proud to have caused it to be."

Billy Budd opens at Glyndebourne on 20 May. Box office: 01273 813813. Philip Reed is editor-in-chief of Letters from a Life: The Selected Letters of Benjamin Britten (Boydell Press). Extracts from Britten's correspondence are © the Britten–Pears Foundation; extracts from Forster's correspondence are from Mary Lago and PN Furbank (eds.), Selected Letters of EM Forster, vol. 2 (London: Collins, 1985)

Sometimes having the best defense doesn't always mean you are guaranteed a title. Though the Pittsburgh Steelers have won four times with the top rated defense in points allowed, the Dallas Cowboys have won six total titles despite never once having the top rated defense in points allowed in their entire franchise history.

Here is a list of some of the greatest defenses in pro football history to have not won a title during their magical seasons.





1967 Los Angeles Rams



This was the heyday of the Fearsome Foursome, maybe the greatest defensive line in pro football history. It is also the only year they finished first overall in defense, giving up 14 points per game.

The Rams finished first again in 1974 and 1975, and only Merlin Olsen was left from the legendary line. A true statement of his greatness. There were five members of the defense to make the Pro Bowl that year, Olsen, Deacon Jones, Roger Brown, Maxie Baughn, and Eddie Meador. The offense was the top ranked in the league and boasted five Pro Bowlers, Tom Mack, Roman Gabriel, Bernie Casey, Jack Snow, and Les Josephson.

Olsen, Jones, and Mack are inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and Baughn, Brown, and Meador should be as well. Under their second year head coach, Hall of Famer George Allen, the Rams were dominant by posting an 11-1-2 record under the defensive genius.

They then were soundly beaten 28-7 by the Green Bay Packers in the NFL Division Title Game just two weeks after having beat them 27-24. It may be the best team to have never won a title. Many Rams from that era say it was the best team they ever played on.



1975 Los Angeles Rams



They blew through the season at a 12-2 record, beating the eventual champion Pittsburgh Steelers 10-3 in the last week of the regular season.

The defense gave up a paltry 9.6 points per game, and put five men, Merlin Olsen, Jack Youngblood, Fred Dryer, "Hacksaw" Jim Reynolds, and Isiah Robertson in the Pro Bowl. The offense saw Tom Mack, Harold Jackson, and Lawrence McCutcheon also went to the Pro Bowl. Olsen, Youngblood, and Mack are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

They made it to the NFC Championship before Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach threw four touchdown passes, including three to Preston Pearson, in leading the Dallas Cowboys to a 37-7 win.

Though they fell a game short of the Super Bowl, they had a season worth remembering.





1977 Atlanta Falcons



Before the famed "46" Chicago Bears defense, there was the "Gritz Blitz". The philosophies were the same. You sent EVERYONE at the quarterback on virtually every play. The Falcons gave up a measly 9.6 points per game, yet this was a team of understated superstars. Only Claude Humphrey and Rolland Lawrence, along with punter John James, made the Pro Bowl off their defense.

The Falcons problem that year was offense, which finished 25th out of a then 28 team league. They averaged just 12.8 points per game, which helped Atlanta go 7-7 that year. A little more offense could possibly have taken them a long way that season.





1979 Tampa Bay Buccaneers



The Buccaneers of the 1970's are most remembered for winning just one game between 1975 and 1976. People tend to forget they turned it around by the end of the decade. Led by Hall of Famer Lee Roy Selmon, their only Pro Bowler that year, the defense was ranked first in the NFL. They gave up just 14.8 points per game.

Making it all the way to the NFC Championship Game, they fell short by losing to the Los Angeles Rams 9-0, thanks to their quarterbacks completing just four passes on 26 attempts.

They weren't the prettiest team to watch that season, but they had many fans cheering them on because of their underdog status that was enhanced by their awful beginnings.







1945 Washington Redskins




Eerily similar to the 1943 Redskins team that finished first in the NFL in defense, but lost to the Chicago Bears in the championship game.

What makes this team different is that they started six rookies, including two rookie left tackles that split time. They also has two players with one year of experience and one player with two years of experience. The entire roster had just 2.4 years of experience as a whole.

What they did have was Hall of Famer "Slinging" Sammy Baugh at quarterback, safety, and punter. Baugh and rookie running back Steve Bagarus were the only Redskins named First Team All-Pro. Bagarus was out of the NFL by 1948.

The Redskins made it to the NFL Championship Game, but lost to the Clreveland Rams 15-14. Baugh was hurt in the game, missing most of it, but not before making history. He threw a pass out of his own end zone and hit the goal posts that used to stand on the goal line at the time. It was ruled a safety, where the rule was changed soon after the game that would determine passes like that would be dead balls or incomplete passes.

The team gave up just 12.1 points per game that year, and Baugh's four interceptions for 114 yards led the team. A surprising team that no pundits could have foreseen them having the successes they ultimately had.






1964 Baltimore Colts



This may have been one of the greatest Colts teams ever. Hall of Famer Don Shula was in his second season as a head coach, and he had Pro Bowlers Johnny Unitas, Lenny Moore, Jim Parker, Raymond Berry, Dick Szymanski, and Bob Vogel on offense. Unitas, Moore, Parker, Berry, and John Mackey were members of that offense that were later inducted into Canton.

The defense was good too. They finished first in the NFL, giving up 16.1 points per game and has a plus 22 Takeaway/Giveaway Differential. Hall of Famer Gino Marchetti made the last of his 11 Pro Bowls that year at the age of 37. Bobby Boyd was the only other defensive player to make the Pro Bowl.

They made it to the NFL Championship Game after posting a 12-2 record. They ran into the Cleveland Browns in the title game, who dismantled them in a 27-0 victory. Though other Colts teams won championships, the 1964 team was as good as them.





1992 New Orleans Saints



Much like the 1991 Saints that were ranked first in defense, giving up just 13.2 points per game, the 1992 team ranked first and gave up just 12.6 points per game. They were called the "Dome Patrol".

All four of their starting linebackers, Ricky Jackson, Sam Mills, Vaughn Johnson, and Pat Swilling, made the Pro Bowl in 1992. Jackson is a member of Canton. They weren't as good at creating turnovers as the year before, having a plus 9 Takeaway/Giveaway Differential as opposed to plus 18 the year before, but they could get at the opposing quarterback. The starters got at them 54 times that year, led by defensive end Frank Martin's career best 15.5 that year. They got 45 the year before as a starting unit.

What always hurt them was a lack of offense, which helped them get bounced out of the first round of the playoffs each season. This lack of postseason success has left these great defenses largely forgotten in the annuals of NFL history.





1967 Houston Oilers



This is the only team in franchise history to finish first in their league in defense, giving up just 14.2 points per game. The offense scored just 18.4 points per game, which gave them a 9-4-1 record.

The defense had four Pro Bowlers, Jim Norton, Miller Farr, Pat Holmes, and George Webster. They also had a rookie who turned out to be the greatest strong safety in football history in Hall of Famer Ken Houston. The offense sent Bob Talamini, Walt Suggs, Woody Campbell, and Hoyle Granger to the Pro Bowl.

They then faced the Oakland Raiders in the AFL Championship Game, and were destroyed 40-7. The offense coughed up the ball three times, and were shut down to just 146 total yards. Oilers fans may remember their team going to the first two AFL Championships and winning in 1960 and 1961, but the 1967 team was very good in their own right.




1980 Philadelphia Eagles



Head coach Dick Vermeil came into town in 1975, and quickly built a winner. The 1980 and 1981 teams both finished first in the NFL in defense.The first Eagles defenses since 1950 to reach this status, and the last so far.

The 1980 team is best remembered for reaching Super Bowl XV before losing to the Wild Card Oakland Raiders 27-10. The defense had just one Pro Bowler that year, nose tackle Charles Johnson, but they did also have such gridiron greats like Bill Bergey and Claude Humphrey along with excellent players like Carl "Big Daddy" Hairston, Frank LeMaster, John Bunting, Jerry Robinson, and Herman Edwards.

The offense had Pro Bowlers Ron Jaworski and Harold Carmichael, along with Wilbert Montgomery, Stan Walters, Jerry Sisemore, Guy Morriss, and Wade Key. It was a solid squad that scored 24 points per game and gave up just 13.9 points per game.

Though they did not win it all, this team holds a special place in Philadelphia lore. Fans saw this team grow up year by year into a force to be reckoned with.






1968 Kansas City Chiefs



Hall of Fame head coach Hank Stram had four teams in Kansas City, 1968 and in their 1969 championship year, finish first in the NFL in points allowed. The 1960 Dallas Texans also accomplished this feat in their expansion season, and again in their 1962 championship season.

The 1968 team featured seven Pro Bowlers on defense, Bobby Bell, Buck Buchanan, Emmitt Thomas, Willie Lanier, Johnny Robinson, Jerry Mays, and Jim Lynch. The offense had three in Len Dawson, Ed Budde, and Jim Tyrer, as well as kicker Jan Stenerud. Bell, Lanier, Thomas, Buchanan, Dawson and Stenerud are inducted into Canton.

The Chiefs bolted out to a 12-2 record behind a defense that gave up just 12.1 points per game with a plus 22 Takeaway/Giveaway Differential. They reached the AFL Division Game, but were dominated by the Oakland Raiders 41-6 after coughing up the ball four times.

Though they went on to win Super Bowl IV the next year, the 1968 defense was statistically superior to the team that won it all.



1966 Buffalo Bills




The Bills had just won two consecutive AFL Championships heading into the season behind two top ranked defenses. The 1966 team was again ranked at the top, giving up 18.2 points per game.

The defense featured six Pro Bowlers, Ron McDole, George Saimes, Mike Stratton, Butch Byrd, John Tracey, and Jim Dunaway. The offense had six, Jack Kemp, Wray Carlton, Bobby Burnett, Paul Costa, and Hall of Famer Billy Shaw.

They reached their third straight AFL Championship Game, but were soundly defeated 31-7 by the Kansas City Chiefs. Though modern fans recall the Bills teams that lost four Super Bowls, they shouldn't forget the time that Buffalo won two titles in three tries.








1970 Minnesota Vikings


Most people know the Vikings went to four Super Bowls between 1969 to 1977 without a win, but many forget about the squad that got bounced out of the first round of the playoffs in 1970.

Three defensive linemen, Alan Page, Carl Eller, and Gary Larsen, went to the Pro Bowl, as did strong safety Karl Kassulke. Page, Eller, and free safety Paul Krause, the NFL interception king, are in Canton.

The offense ranked third in the league despite replacing quarterback Joe Kapp with journeyman Gary Cuozzo one year after making it to Super Bowl IV. Running Back Dave Osborn and wide receiver Gene Washington made the Pro Bowl behind a great Vikings offensive line that featured Hall of Famer Ron Yary, Ed White, and Mick Tingelhoff.

The defense allowed just 10.2 points per game and their Differential of 192 points also led the NFL, as did their yards allowed, first downs allowed, passing yards allowed, touchdowns allowed total and passing and rushing, and turnovers forced.

Their 1969 team was comparable in that they allowed a paltry 9.5 points per game allowed, which led the leagues, as did their Differential of 246 points. Though ranked first in points, first downs, and yards allowed, as well as every passing defense category, their run defense and turnovers created that year ranked second.

The 1970 Vikings may have been the best defensive season of the glorious Purple People Eaters.

Long live God, down with Allah

For [the Flemish magazine] Knack, Benno Barnard writes freely what he was not allowed and was unable to say on the pulpit of academic freedom. Read the essence of his speech, in which Barnard argues that the separation of church and state since the beginning was embedded in Christianity, in contrast to Islam.

Note from the author:

At the request of the editors I post here some excerpts from my aborted lecture for the “Vrijzinnige Dienst” of the University of Antwerp. The title is indeed a provocation — given that I was expecting to provoke an audience of middle-aged liberals. Meanwhile, to my mind, there is nothing in the following I have not already stated before, but repetition is the servant of the truth. Also, of course, of the lie, but you will have to look elsewhere for that, for example in De Morgen [left-wing Flemish newspaper].

Prologue (apologies to Shakespeare)

I warn you, dear audience — I have not come to praise liberalism, I have come to bury its fundamental mistake. That fallacy is that “religion” is the enemy of all intellectual independence and spiritual progression. And the premise of this fallacy is that you could interpret the legacy of Moses and Christ in a similar way to the legacy of the Prophet.

I want to demonstrate that this is dangerous nonsense, that liberalism is but precisely a logical product of the Jewish and Christian tradition; yes, that atheism also has biblical roots.

Let me first slightly position my own thinking and my own view of “religion”, so you understand who is addressing you. To begin with, I am an Anglican, just like my heroes W.H. Auden and T.S. Eliot. I belong to one of those slightly watered-down regional variants of Christianity; unlike the majority of my Christian-educated contemporaries, I have never found reason enough to distance myself from my church.

The Jewish roots of Christianity

As a connoisseur of the ancient Hebrew language and Hebrew literature, my father has raised me with the notion that Christianity in its core is a large sect of Judaism. In summary, that means the following.

The ancient Jews decided it is better to load a billy goat with all one’s sins than a human. The Lamb of God took on the role of that goat (the metaphor is somewhat in the atmosphere of a children’s farm), and in doing so allowed atheism penetrate the religion. A dead godliness! Isn’t that a paradox that twists your neck into a corkscrew? In that context, however, I dare to state that although my deeply atheist friends Wim van Rooy^[3] and Geert van Istendael^[4] have raised their children without a deity, they nevertheless did so in the best Christian manner.

The Christian roots of humanism and [classic] liberalism

If we wish to surrender our culture to Islam, we will first have to understand that Lucas Catherine^[1] is a liar and secondly, that we should take a different attitude towards our Judeo-Christian heritage than nowadays is the case. We will have to acknowledge that our humanist and modernist views, our liberal democratic tradition, and our ideas about human rights not only are not only superior to all existing alternatives, but also that they are products of that legacy. If you want to renounce Christian civilization on the basis of its ungodly acts in the past, you can also abolish the social democratic parties, using as an argument the practices of Stalinism.

Many veterans of 1968, haunted by memories of cruel priests and nuns, embrace what is to me an amazing pensée unique, as if they are connected to one single central brain that constantly emits evil pulses.

I have no understanding with God. Yet my children, just as I, are baptized Anglicans, and our house is in the border region between Judaism and Christianity. To begin with, I want my children to acquire as much knowledge as possible in that area, learn to read the little crosses on the mental map of Europe that is being imprinted in their brains. That is not so very self-evident. School education is largely a disaster. Five years ago, the multicultural kindergarten of my children — this was in Antwerp — banned any declaration of Christmas as being the birth of Jesus, but did celebrate the Sugar Feast [Eid al-Fitr, end of Ramadan], which we have nothing to do with. […]

Do we hear the thunder of the cavalry coming to the rescue? This I read in “La defaite de la pensée” by Alain Finkielkraut: “Enough playing: now that thinking, art, and everyday life have sunk into debauchery; we must again have them undergo the salutary sufferings of religious unrest; the hereafter must again become the continuous horizon and the ultimate goal of all human activities.”

Rite and ethics

What many God-renouncers do not understand is that religion is not a system of cognitive truths, but to begin with a liturgical, ritual praxis, which serves to prevent us from going insane in this universe — a place that already made Pascal so nervous. I do not at all believe in the virile cry that we should be happy with the futility of everything. I think death is a scandal. Or, to put it another way: the evolution-practice is our problem. And I think that in Christianity at least a there is a respectable attempt made to respond to that practice.

But there is more than the rites, which by themselves have a very calming effect on the neurosis-prone nervous system. There is also the evangelical ethic, which in short comes down to the idea that I must love Herman de Ley^[2] as much as I do myself. Everyone understands that this will not come lightly to me.

In an unprecedentedly cruel social system — that of the Roman empire — a small, quick-tempered man preached a difficult, almost impossible ethics, which I personally find to be of a much too annoying character. Two millennia later we have collectively become insensitive to the radical nature of such notions as forgiveness and being willing to sacrifice, precisely because Christian teaching has held that up to us for so long. We are like big children who are annoyed by the whining of their parents. It is as if we say they have left us a lot of old junk, of which we want a few paintings and gramophone records, but not the rest of the inheritance.

Separating Church and State in Christianity

The fall of Christianity is known to me. I do not need to have it here in the purple of the cardinal, which color stands for the blood shed by the Church. But the fact that Christianity tarnished and disavowed its own ethical criteria says nothing against those criteria. Moreover, our historical consciousness reacts to Christianity as to the news: it’s only worthwhile when it’s disastrous.

The English conservative philosopher Roger Scruton defends the thesis that the separation of church and state was from the outset was built into Christianity. The apostle Paul, who paired Roman citizenship to juridical knowledge, appealed to the right of the early church to be protected by the secular power of Rome — but it did not occur to him to be willing to replace the legal order. “Give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, and unto God what is God’s,” as Jesus said about paying taxes. Man in the Christian vision is — all still according to Scruton — both a servant of God and of a secular order. That this order after a long period of brilliance and horror has finally become democratic, we owe — according to him — to the Christian heritage. The Enlightenment is the product of the gospel; our ideas about human rights are translations of the Ten Commandments into the dialect of our time. We must not seek to install God’s kingdom on earth, but try to live together using mild and reasonable laws.

Primacy of religion in Islam

Political misery is mostly the result of bad intentions or good intentions. As soon as you found the Kingdom of God on earth, you discover you have imitated hell. Realistic intentions are more realistic. According to Scruton, and also according to me, the Judeo-Christian conception of social organization is fundamentally different than the Islamic one. The legal order in Islam purports — in all dominant beliefs of Islam — to be founded on the divine commandment, and the only logical Islamic form of state is the theocracy, with Sharia as the lawbook. Human rights? Equality of men and women? Tolerance of other beliefs? Weakness reflecting western superstition! Intolerable decadence! Fortunately, the vast majority of Muslims possess enough common sense to reject theocracy and Sharia.

Epilogue (to the deniers of Christianity)

The difference between God and Allah is that God does not need to exist. The death of God is not necessarily disastrous for Western civilization; though the decline of religion is, as I believe it: with her a world of stories and customs dies that connects us with our ancestors. My annoyance with the God-deniers is not that they deny God, but consider their enlightened status as a liberation from the Judeo-Christian history. In other words: I have no problem with God-deniers, but I do have a problem with Christianity-deniers.

Dewinter provided the bodyguards to Benno Barnard

During his lecture at the University of Antwerp the Dutch writer Benno Barnard was assisted by two personal bodyguards of Vlaams Belang leader Filip Dewinter. This is what the regional TV channel ATV reported Monday.

The author himself went to Vlaams Belang to request advice for protection [Vlaams Belang politicians, like PVV politicians, are about the only ones needing protection in the Low Countries], for the Antwerp police refused to provide any. According to ATV the bodyguards were then made available through Tanguy Veys, Chairman of the Vlaams Belang fraction in the provincial council of East Flanders and a confidant of Filip Dewinter.

The lecture of Barnard, entitled “Long Live God, down with Allah”, was disturbed last Wednesday night by fanatical Muslims, as called for by the website “Sharia4Belgium”.

[1] Lucas Catherine [Lucas Vereertbrugghen] is a well-known left-wing Flemish writer, publicist and Israel-basher, who equated the Sharia4Belgium Muslims with Punks: “A group of marginal religious punks. Instead of flaming hair spikes and piercings they wear turbans and burqas,” and accused Barnard of demonizing Muslims. The Dutch writer and journalist Martin van Amerongen once quoted “De Groene Amsterdammer” in a short article on Lucas Catherine, saying: “How is it possible that people who consider themselves left-wing to lapse into such blatant anti-Semitism,” and added: “He is one of tomorrow’s murderers.”

[2] Herman de Ley is a professor at the University of Gent, former director of the Center for Islam in Europe of the University of Gent, Islam appeaser and Stalinist. According to De Ley, criticism of Islam is taboo; only the West bears the blame for everything that goes wrong in the world.

[3] Wim van Rooy is, among other things, a writer and former editor of “PEN-Tijdingen”. This magazine of the Flemish PEN writers association published his impressive study “Europe and Islam, the malaise of multiculturalism”: “I try to show in my book that the Islam as the youngest offshoot of monotheism rightly means a total break with the Judeo-Christian thought that preceded it. A moral order has been baked into the first two monotheisms, along with a potential for secularization that Islam totally lacks. In this sense, Judaism and Christianity are infinitely superior to the Islam as culture, religion and ideology.” [source]

[4] Geert van Istendael [Vanistendael] is a writer, poet and essayist. He is also chairman of voorzitter van PEN-Flanders, and as an Islam critic, along with Barnard wrote for example an opinion article against the headscarf. “Al Qaeda and the Sharia are logical consequences of the petrified religion called Islam that for a thousand years with tooth and nail has opposed any free interpretation of the revealed texts.” In response to the lecture-scandal, Van Istendael stated: “our rights and freedoms urgently needs a defense.”

BEST FRONTWOMAN HYBRID: SLEIGH BELLS
Alison Mosshart's dangerous sex appeal + CSS singer Lovefoxxx's upbeat dance-floor groove + Crystal Castles badass Alice Glass' noisy ferocity = Alexis Krauss, a school teacher turned steamy indie siren leading Brooklyn duo Sleigh Bells. Saturday night, she shifted from hip-hop and electro sass to power-rock, gyrating her hips in black tights, a mesh shirt showing a hot pink bra, and gold hoop earrings. She flipped her hair and fired over low-end electro beats and terrorizing nu-metal guitars courtesy of ex-Poison the Well axeman Derek. "No, no, no!" she huffed and puffed. Actually, yes, yes, yes! -- WILLIAM GOODMAN

Surfer Blood / Photo: Matt Kiser
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Circa Survive / Photo: Eric Nowels
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Minus The Bear / Photo: Eric Nowels
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BEST GROWTH SPURT: SURFER BLOOD
When I saw wobble-pop purveyors Surfer Blood play at last year's CMJ festival in New York City, I was underwhelmed. Singer-guitarist JP Pitts sounded strained and yelpy and the band as a whole seemed nervous and unsure of what to do with itself on stage. Not anymore. On Saturday night, Pitts sang with full-throated accuracy and strutted around the stage like he belonged, leading the band through catchy, Weezerian songs from this year's Astro Coast. At one point, second guitarist Thomas Fekete plucked out a solo with his teeth, prompting a friend to say, "Not that kind of band, dude." He's right, but it was great that Fekete had the balls to go for such a flashy bit of showmanship. --DAVID MARCHESE

BEST COVER: CIRCA SURVIVE
Playing to a throng of diehard fans on the frozen tundra of Stubb's BBQ, this Philly-based, turbocharged rock act was forced to pack as much wallop into their abbreviated set as possible after temperature-related issues with in-ear monitors sabotaged their start. But frontman Anthony Green is a force of nature, a whirling dervish of flailing arms and legs with a fuel-injected holler sourced from somewhere deep within. And while he lamented that it was "as cold as a billion dicks" outside, and had trouble hearing himself, Green quickly made folks forget they'd lost feeling in their extremities, particularly on a cover of Nirvana's "Milk It." Guitarists Colin Frangicetto and Brendan Ekstrom married Kurt Cobain's gnarly riffage with some stunning higher register wails, while Green took the vocals into operatic ranges never reached by the late grunge icon. If Courtney Love had heard them from down the street at the Perez Hilton party, where Hole was playing, she'd undoubtedly have already tweeted 47 love notes to Circa Survive. -- PETER GASTON

BEST MATERIAL FROM MODEL MATERIAL: KAREN ELSON
"I think I'm getting frostbite!" Karen Elson told a modest crowd during an outdoor set on a blustery, 40-degree afternoon at the French Ligation. Indeed, if anybody was there just to gawk at the supermodel wife of the White Stripes' Jack White, they were sorely disappointed. Fronting a color-coordinated band (peach and black), Elson declined an offer of a coat from a fan and soldiered on. The guitar-wielding 31-year-old, whose debut album (produced by her hubby) will be out this summer, has a loungey, twangy vibe that ventures into ethereal territory on her recently released single "The Ghost That Walks." And a nice touch: a rendition of Jackson C. Frank's "Milk and Honey," known primarily from cover versions by Nick Drake and Sandy Denny. -- KEVIN BRONSON

BEST UNDERATTENDED GIG: FRANKIE AND THE OUTS
In an indie rock popularity contest, Frankie Rose would be hard to beat, since the Brooklynite has drummed for garage-pop mainstays Crystal Stilts and Vivian Girls. This fall Frankie split from the Stilts to focus on her own jangle-pop project, Frankie and the Outs, who performed at Spiderhouse's chilly outdoor showcase. The band's debut 7-inch was out this fall on pioneering indie pop label Slumberland Records. "Thee Only One," like most of her songs, soundED straight from '80s fuzz-pop group (and labelmates) Black Tambourine's discography, with extra girl group harmonies for good measure. But ultimately the temperature beat the band; they called it quits after an all-too-short five-song set. -- JENN PELLY

BEST MEN IN BLACK: THE BOXER REBELLION
You've heard music like the Boxer Rebellion's before -- dark, brooding, churning Brit-rock made by lads who keen their angst over ringing guitars and 4/4 beats. The quartet, which made waves when its 2009 digital release Union cracked the Billboard charts, seems intent on separating itself from the pack. American singer Nathan Nicholson and his bandmates (an Australian and two Brits) easily won over a Cedar Street Courtyard crowd with songs like "Evacuate." Now for the big stuff: recording their third album this summer with Ethan Johns (Kings of Leon, Ryan Adams, the Vines), and landing a song in the next Twilight movie. -- KB

BEST ATTEMPT AT WARMING UP A COLD NIGHT: MINUS THE BEAR
"This weather is a tuning nightmare," said Minus the Bear singer-guitarist Jake Snider towards the end of his band's set on Stubb's fairly unprotected outdoor stage, just after another gust of wind ripped through the hoodied masses. The 40-degree temperatures were a nightmare in general -- most out-of-towners were vastly unprepared for yesterday's cold spell -- but the Seattle quintet's decision to play "Pachuca Sunrise," a cut from their 2005 album, Menos el Oso, was a fitting distraction. Its opening line about a night on a beach in the Mediterranean, coupled with warm, wavy guitar work from Snider and Dave Knudson, proved a truly transporting combination for a fleeting moment -- until that next gust of wind. -- PG

BEST EXAMPLE OF SONIC DÉTENTE: P.K. 14
In their homeland, Beijing quartet P.K. 14 might be ahead of the curve. Here, where the rebelliousness of the Clash and the riffage of Sonic Youth are familiar cultural currency, it's too easy to finger P.K. 14's lineage. The foursome brought admirable energy and stage aerobics to its set at the Chinese Invasion's showcase at Speakeasy, but the material felt pretty cut-and-paste, even given the language barrier. Better (and less desperate for subtitles) was the punk shoegazing of the Velvet Underground-inspired Carsick Cars, who preceded P.K. 14 to the stage. -- KB

P.K. 14 / Photo: Kathryn Yu
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Bone Thugs-N-Harmony / Photo: Kyle Dean Reinford
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Black Tsuk / Photo: Kathryn Yu
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Dam-Funk / Photo: Matt Kiser
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BEST FLUX-CAPACITOR: BONE THUGS-N-HARMONY
"Yo, let's take this shit back, wayyyyyyy back," Krayzie Bone said onstage at the Fader Fort. "Back to 1995, motherfucka!" The reunited Cleveland rap group then busted out a handful of tracks off their four-million-selling '95 release, E. 1999 Eternal: "1st of tha Month," "Tha Crossroads," and "East 1999." The sound was initially a bit muddy on their turbo-fast raps, but hit a smooth streak when they got all Boyz 2 Men on "I Tried" and "Days of Our Lives," two piano ballads with three-way vocals. Hey, they're not joking about the "harmony" in their name. The throwback streak continued with tributes to Tupac, Eazy-E, and Notorious BIG, including a particularly awesome version of "Notorious Thugz," their collabo with Biggie. "Bring that fat motherfucker back to life!" Bizzy belted. Oh, snap! -- WG

BEST T-SHIRT AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF YOUR MUSIC: BLACK TUSK
You know that skull being pierced by two swords? Yeah, that's Black Tusk, the Savannah, GA, trio that comes at you with three vocalists, an army of tattoos, and a scream-heavy fusillade of bottom-heavy riffage that set the entire crowd at Encore in motion. They call it "swamp metal," but that's almost misleading -- the way guitarist Andrew Fidler and bassist Jonathan Athon fold their notes into the precise pounding of drummer James May is anything but murky. An underground Mastodon? -- KB

BEST PARTING WORDS FOR SXSW: JAPANDROIDS
There's a reason why some call SXSW a "rock'n'roll spring break": Loads of increasingly-past-their-prime music enthusiasts attempt to rediscover their younger selves, who could romp around town unfettered for 20 hours at a time, stretching nights to see the sunrise. For those folks, ourselves included, Japandroids were the perfect band to cap this year's festival, reminding us both how fun it is to bounce around a rock club, unintentionally spilling beer on nearby patrons, and how we're trying to stay young as long as we can. "I don't wanna worry about dying," Brian King sang on "Young Hearts Spark Fire." "I just wanna worry about those sunshine girls." One to grow on, indeed. A later line, during "The Boys Are Leaving Town," was more fitting for the drunks flailing about gleefully in front of the stage at Galaxy: "Will we find our way back home? I don't know." Everyone remembers what room they're in, right? -- PG

BEST CROWD INTERACTION: RHYMEFEST
"Hold up, hold up," the Chicago rapper said to stop his DJ. "For all the white people in the building, it goes, 'I got money, money I got,'" he instructed, clearly scolding the nerdy Frat dudes in the front row, singing the wrong lyrics to a cover of 50 Cent's "I Get Money," stiffly dancing in their stripped Abercrombie polos. Later, after a taste of the husky, thick raps from his May 18 release El Che with a rousing "Talk My Shit," Rhymefest dropped 2006's "Brand New," his collabo with Kanye, and took notice of a dude in the frontrow mouthing all 'Ye's lyrics. Rhymefest paused mid-song, instructed him to step onstage and rap Ye's verses. The youngster held his own, too. "I'm Dirty -- Eastside make some noise!" the newbie hollered to the crowd. "I didn't ask you to hype the crowd," Rhymefest responded. "Get off the fuckin' stage." -- WG

BEST DANCE PARTY: TANLINES
A venue called Paradise proved a fitting one for Brooklyn-based Tanlines, a duo of ex-Don Caballero bassist Eric Emm and ex-Professor Murder multi-instrumentalist Jesse Cohen: Their tropicalia-laced rhythms turned a mix of expectant badge-holders and random Austinites into a beach party. Jams like "Three Trees" and "Real Life" -- you can hear them on the band's MySpace -- were fleshed out into booming, room-shaking anthems, equally perfect listening for sharply dressed hipsters and one spazzy, Joe Pesci-esque local. In a week laced with dance acts with much larger hype, I wished I'd taken a peek at these Tanlines far sooner. -- PG

BEST KEYTAR JAMS: DAM-FUNK
Okay, R&B whizz Dam-Funk was very likely the only one jamming out with that squiggly-sounding symbol of '80s ridiculousness, but good lord did he make it funky. Airing tracks from his fantastic double album debut, Toeachizown, the L.A. slickster put on the most dance-inducing set I saw at SXSW. Backed by a drummer, keyboardist, and iBook, Dam laid down sleek electronic grooves that boogied like Rouger Troutman barreling down the freeway in a Delorean and which provided plenty of space for his strangely soulful keytar solos. Dam's a bad dude -- in a good way. --DM

BEST BAD ATTITUDE: TURBO FRUITS
Nashville trio the Turbo Fruits play three-chord garage rock that fizzes over with slaphappy drumming, cracked guitar leads, and simple, bluesy melodies. It's a sound that we've heard before, but the dropout sneer in Jonas Stein's voice as he sang about frying his brain and getting stoned (different things, evidently), and the band's revved engine roar gave what could have been a derivative set a wonderfully rebellious edge. A raucous cover of "Shakin' All Over" made me want to roll up my sleeves, show off the "Born to Lose" tattoo I never got, and smack the man in the mouth. -- DM

Turbo Fruits / Photo: Matt Kiser
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Yelawolf / Photo: Kyle Dean Reinford
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Thee Oh Sees / Photo: Matt Kiser
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BEST UNWARRANTED CRACK COVER: YELAWOLF AND BOB DYLAN
Southerner Yelawolf, a pro skateboarder-cum-rapper covered in tattoos and sporting a long Mohawk with a gold ghetto-blaster around his neck, is the weirdest new addition to hip-hop -- dude is a genre-fuck influenced by Eminem-esque murder ballads and Bone Thugs' super-speed style, plus Kid Rock, punk rock, and, evidently, Bob Dylan. On "Mixin' Up The Medicine," his collabo with Juelz Santana, he transformed a lyric to Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues" -- "In the basement mixing up the medicine" -- into a cocaine anthem. -- WG

SECOND BEST UNWARRANTED CRACK COVER: GET BUSY COMMITTEE AND THE KNIFE
This Los Angeles trio -- rappers Apathy and Ryu, and producer Scoop DeVille -- kicked things off at Club DeVille (the irony!) by playing a video of an '80s D.A.R.E. commercial, featuring Peewee Herman warning about the dangers of crack cocaine, before dropping a sample of the Knife's "Heartbeats." Over the chest-rumbling, electro-pop beats, Apathy and Ryu dropped rhymes about -- what else? -- "cokeheads, buglars, and crack fiends." Which is surely exactly what the experimental Swede duo hoped for their dance floor gem. -- WG

BEST REASON RISK FROSTBITE: DUM DUM GIRLS
"We've got two more songs and then we risk hypothermia," said Kristen Gundred, a.k.a. lead Dum Dum girl "Dee Dee," before a packed patio at Spiderhouse coffeeshop. They're known to play with blank facial expressions, but the Californian goth beauty and her crew of dolled-up black leather-and-lace bandmates seemed particularly miserable in the 40 degree weather. Despite frozen fingers, their dark, distorted pop sounded sharp. Performing tracks from their Sub Pop debut I Will Be, the Dum Dum Girls blend Jesus and Mary Chain's goth fuzz with surf guitars and moody, vintage vocals. -- JP

WORST MISSED POTENTIAL: THE FRESH & ONLYS
Almost everything is in order for this San Francisco rock quartet: Their charmingly skuzzy garage rock sound is both weird, with noisy shoegaze guitars and psychedelic song structures, and classically indebted, with a Detroit proto-punk feel and surf rock and rockabilly flourishes. Guitarist Wymond Miles is the stand-out, playing the role in tattered black leather jacket and a bolo tie, shredding on his vintage Fender Jaguar on tracks off their latest release, Grey-Eyed Girls. Singer/guitarist/co-founder Tim Cohen's voice, while excellent on record, was indecipherable and muddy. He wasn't much to watch either: standing idle in a tattered t-shirt, with his big beard and long hair, his aesthetic didn't fit the band's shtick. WANTED: Charismatic singer with sex appeal and stage command. Just sayin'. -- WG

WORST BAND TO LISTEN TO WITHOUT EAR PLUGS: THEE OH SEES
San Francisco rock ragamuffins the Oh Sees put together a nicely ramshackle set of loopy freakbeat -- the sort of thing that I like to imagine one could've heard crashing out of windows on Haight Street in 1965 -- but I should've taken my mom's advice and brought ear plugs. The fuzz screaming from frontman John Dywer's 12-string guitar made me feel as if I should take my ear drums out for an apology dinner. Keyboardist-tambourine player Brigid Dawson appeared to be singing some harmonies as well. Can anyone out there confirm? --DM

WORST TIME TO LEAVE YOUR GLOWSTICK AT HOME: HOOD INTERNET
Chicago-based mixtape maestros Aaron Brink and Steve Reidell made rocking the dance floor look easy at Karma. Mash, plug and play — for the eighth time in 2½ days at SXSW. Whether you move to the music or play spot-that-song (was that really Lil Wayne and Royksopp? Julian Casablancas and Omarion? Dr. Dre and Class Actress?), the duo is undeniably fun. Now if those nerds could only make their laptops dance. -- KB

IN BRIEF:

Québécois shoegazers the Besnard Lakes are known for their mountainous, dramatic sound, but before their set Saturday at the Galaxy Room they soundchecked to "Louie Louie." -- KB

I got frozen out of seeing Nashville riff rock duo Jeff the Brotherhood because the club had reached capacity by the time I arrived. Bad for me, good sign for the band, which has a real charisma and gift for combining punkish energy with stoner stomping. -- DM

When Of Montreal's Jamey Huggins performed as his solo project James Husband at the Polyvinyl Records showcase, two other members of his day band, drummer Davey Pierce and keyboardist Dottie Alexander, played in his quintet, which covered the Bangles' "In Your Room." -- KB

Baltimore hip-hop duo Oh Snap! was fair to partly cringeworthy, but they have spawned funny T-shirts based on one of their songs: "I'm Too Fat to Be a Hipster." -- KB

Sometimes having the best defense doesn't always mean you are guaranteed a title. Though the Pittsburgh Steelers have won four times with the top rated defense in points allowed, the Dallas Cowboys have won six total titles despite never once having the top rated defense in points allowed in their entire franchise history.

Here is a list of some of the greatest defenses in pro football history to have not won a title during their magical seasons.





1967 Los Angeles Rams



This was the heyday of the Fearsome Foursome, maybe the greatest defensive line in pro football history. It is also the only year they finished first overall in defense, giving up 14 points per game.

The Rams finished first again in 1974 and 1975, and only Merlin Olsen was left from the legendary line. A true statement of his greatness. There were five members of the defense to make the Pro Bowl that year, Olsen, Deacon Jones, Roger Brown, Maxie Baughn, and Eddie Meador. The offense was the top ranked in the league and boasted five Pro Bowlers, Tom Mack, Roman Gabriel, Bernie Casey, Jack Snow, and Les Josephson.

Olsen, Jones, and Mack are inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and Baughn, Brown, and Meador should be as well. Under their second year head coach, Hall of Famer George Allen, the Rams were dominant by posting an 11-1-2 record under the defensive genius.

They then were soundly beaten 28-7 by the Green Bay Packers in the NFL Division Title Game just two weeks after having beat them 27-24. It may be the best team to have never won a title. Many Rams from that era say it was the best team they ever played on.



1975 Los Angeles Rams



They blew through the season at a 12-2 record, beating the eventual champion Pittsburgh Steelers 10-3 in the last week of the regular season.

The defense gave up a paltry 9.6 points per game, and put five men, Merlin Olsen, Jack Youngblood, Fred Dryer, "Hacksaw" Jim Reynolds, and Isiah Robertson in the Pro Bowl. The offense saw Tom Mack, Harold Jackson, and Lawrence McCutcheon also went to the Pro Bowl. Olsen, Youngblood, and Mack are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

They made it to the NFC Championship before Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach threw four touchdown passes, including three to Preston Pearson, in leading the Dallas Cowboys to a 37-7 win.

Though they fell a game short of the Super Bowl, they had a season worth remembering.





1977 Atlanta Falcons



Before the famed "46" Chicago Bears defense, there was the "Gritz Blitz". The philosophies were the same. You sent EVERYONE at the quarterback on virtually every play. The Falcons gave up a measly 9.6 points per game, yet this was a team of understated superstars. Only Claude Humphrey and Rolland Lawrence, along with punter John James, made the Pro Bowl off their defense.

The Falcons problem that year was offense, which finished 25th out of a then 28 team league. They averaged just 12.8 points per game, which helped Atlanta go 7-7 that year. A little more offense could possibly have taken them a long way that season.





1979 Tampa Bay Buccaneers



The Buccaneers of the 1970's are most remembered for winning just one game between 1975 and 1976. People tend to forget they turned it around by the end of the decade. Led by Hall of Famer Lee Roy Selmon, their only Pro Bowler that year, the defense was ranked first in the NFL. They gave up just 14.8 points per game.

Making it all the way to the NFC Championship Game, they fell short by losing to the Los Angeles Rams 9-0, thanks to their quarterbacks completing just four passes on 26 attempts.

They weren't the prettiest team to watch that season, but they had many fans cheering them on because of their underdog status that was enhanced by their awful beginnings.







1945 Washington Redskins




Eerily similar to the 1943 Redskins team that finished first in the NFL in defense, but lost to the Chicago Bears in the championship game.

What makes this team different is that they started six rookies, including two rookie left tackles that split time. They also has two players with one year of experience and one player with two years of experience. The entire roster had just 2.4 years of experience as a whole.

What they did have was Hall of Famer "Slinging" Sammy Baugh at quarterback, safety, and punter. Baugh and rookie running back Steve Bagarus were the only Redskins named First Team All-Pro. Bagarus was out of the NFL by 1948.

The Redskins made it to the NFL Championship Game, but lost to the Clreveland Rams 15-14. Baugh was hurt in the game, missing most of it, but not before making history. He threw a pass out of his own end zone and hit the goal posts that used to stand on the goal line at the time. It was ruled a safety, where the rule was changed soon after the game that would determine passes like that would be dead balls or incomplete passes.

The team gave up just 12.1 points per game that year, and Baugh's four interceptions for 114 yards led the team. A surprising team that no pundits could have foreseen them having the successes they ultimately had.






1964 Baltimore Colts



This may have been one of the greatest Colts teams ever. Hall of Famer Don Shula was in his second season as a head coach, and he had Pro Bowlers Johnny Unitas, Lenny Moore, Jim Parker, Raymond Berry, Dick Szymanski, and Bob Vogel on offense. Unitas, Moore, Parker, Berry, and John Mackey were members of that offense that were later inducted into Canton.

The defense was good too. They finished first in the NFL, giving up 16.1 points per game and has a plus 22 Takeaway/Giveaway Differential. Hall of Famer Gino Marchetti made the last of his 11 Pro Bowls that year at the age of 37. Bobby Boyd was the only other defensive player to make the Pro Bowl.

They made it to the NFL Championship Game after posting a 12-2 record. They ran into the Cleveland Browns in the title game, who dismantled them in a 27-0 victory. Though other Colts teams won championships, the 1964 team was as good as them.





1992 New Orleans Saints



Much like the 1991 Saints that were ranked first in defense, giving up just 13.2 points per game, the 1992 team ranked first and gave up just 12.6 points per game. They were called the "Dome Patrol".

All four of their starting linebackers, Ricky Jackson, Sam Mills, Vaughn Johnson, and Pat Swilling, made the Pro Bowl in 1992. Jackson is a member of Canton. They weren't as good at creating turnovers as the year before, having a plus 9 Takeaway/Giveaway Differential as opposed to plus 18 the year before, but they could get at the opposing quarterback. The starters got at them 54 times that year, led by defensive end Frank Martin's career best 15.5 that year. They got 45 the year before as a starting unit.

What always hurt them was a lack of offense, which helped them get bounced out of the first round of the playoffs each season. This lack of postseason success has left these great defenses largely forgotten in the annuals of NFL history.





1967 Houston Oilers



This is the only team in franchise history to finish first in their league in defense, giving up just 14.2 points per game. The offense scored just 18.4 points per game, which gave them a 9-4-1 record.

The defense had four Pro Bowlers, Jim Norton, Miller Farr, Pat Holmes, and George Webster. They also had a rookie who turned out to be the greatest strong safety in football history in Hall of Famer Ken Houston. The offense sent Bob Talamini, Walt Suggs, Woody Campbell, and Hoyle Granger to the Pro Bowl.

They then faced the Oakland Raiders in the AFL Championship Game, and were destroyed 40-7. The offense coughed up the ball three times, and were shut down to just 146 total yards. Oilers fans may remember their team going to the first two AFL Championships and winning in 1960 and 1961, but the 1967 team was very good in their own right.




1980 Philadelphia Eagles



Head coach Dick Vermeil came into town in 1975, and quickly built a winner. The 1980 and 1981 teams both finished first in the NFL in defense.The first Eagles defenses since 1950 to reach this status, and the last so far.

The 1980 team is best remembered for reaching Super Bowl XV before losing to the Wild Card Oakland Raiders 27-10. The defense had just one Pro Bowler that year, nose tackle Charles Johnson, but they did also have such gridiron greats like Bill Bergey and Claude Humphrey along with excellent players like Carl "Big Daddy" Hairston, Frank LeMaster, John Bunting, Jerry Robinson, and Herman Edwards.

The offense had Pro Bowlers Ron Jaworski and Harold Carmichael, along with Wilbert Montgomery, Stan Walters, Jerry Sisemore, Guy Morriss, and Wade Key. It was a solid squad that scored 24 points per game and gave up just 13.9 points per game.

Though they did not win it all, this team holds a special place in Philadelphia lore. Fans saw this team grow up year by year into a force to be reckoned with.






1968 Kansas City Chiefs



Hall of Fame head coach Hank Stram had four teams in Kansas City, 1968 and in their 1969 championship year, finish first in the NFL in points allowed. The 1960 Dallas Texans also accomplished this feat in their expansion season, and again in their 1962 championship season.

The 1968 team featured seven Pro Bowlers on defense, Bobby Bell, Buck Buchanan, Emmitt Thomas, Willie Lanier, Johnny Robinson, Jerry Mays, and Jim Lynch. The offense had three in Len Dawson, Ed Budde, and Jim Tyrer, as well as kicker Jan Stenerud. Bell, Lanier, Thomas, Buchanan, Dawson and Stenerud are inducted into Canton.

The Chiefs bolted out to a 12-2 record behind a defense that gave up just 12.1 points per game with a plus 22 Takeaway/Giveaway Differential. They reached the AFL Division Game, but were dominated by the Oakland Raiders 41-6 after coughing up the ball four times.

Though they went on to win Super Bowl IV the next year, the 1968 defense was statistically superior to the team that won it all.



1966 Buffalo Bills




The Bills had just won two consecutive AFL Championships heading into the season behind two top ranked defenses. The 1966 team was again ranked at the top, giving up 18.2 points per game.

The defense featured six Pro Bowlers, Ron McDole, George Saimes, Mike Stratton, Butch Byrd, John Tracey, and Jim Dunaway. The offense had six, Jack Kemp, Wray Carlton, Bobby Burnett, Paul Costa, and Hall of Famer Billy Shaw.

They reached their third straight AFL Championship Game, but were soundly defeated 31-7 by the Kansas City Chiefs. Though modern fans recall the Bills teams that lost four Super Bowls, they shouldn't forget the time that Buffalo won two titles in three tries.

1970 Minnesota Vikings