Tim Ellsworth

Giants’ early woes sparked Tyree to share faith, leadership for turnaround
Some Patriots see beyond NFL record book

NE Chaplain’s authenticity: ‘I’ve lived it’
Pats chaplain devises spiritual game plan
Giants’ owners’ character draws praise

More stories on the Super Bowl will be posted throughout the week.

ESPN anchor Dana Jacobson returned to the air today after a weeklong suspension she earned for her profanity-laced tirade at a roast for ESPN’s Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic.

Read my story about the matter at Baptist Press Sports.

I’m guessing Jacobson’s not the kind of woman King Lemuel had in mind when he wrote Proverbs 31.

Faith factor seen in NFL conduct policy
Baylor rips Nebraska, improves to 18-1
HSU Cowboys win sixth straight
On 90th birthday, Harwell still going strong

A great story about Washington State University basketball coach Tony Bennett:

Bennett transforms Washington State into basketball powerhouse

Plus:
Chadron State’s Woodhead wins Harlon Hill Trophy
Rogers scores 19 in SBU win
Patterson leads MC past LC

Drew leads Baylor’s turnaround
Former C-N star now lives out faith in NFL
Tigers, Robertson agree to contract
Roussin leads CBU to win
OBU holds off Arkansas-Monticello
Locke: Of steroids and sin

Baseball owners have given Bud Selig a three-year contract extension.

Seriously? Good grief. Nobody in the world needs to be fired more than Bud Selig does.

I originally posted this back in September, but given New England’s presence in the AFC championship game against San Diego this weekend, thought it would be appropriate to post again. Good stuff.

UPDATE: The embedded video was taking a long time to load, so I removed it. If you want to see the video, go here.

Former major leaguer Doug Glanville has an interesting op-ed piece in today’s New York Times about steroids, aging and fear.

The newest round of Congressional hearings danced around Miguel Tejada, the remorse of baseball leadership and a lot of could haves, should haves, and might haves. Moving forward, we must openly address not only the drug issues plaguing the sports we love, but the culture of fear that shakes our society.

We’re scared of failure, aging, vulnerability, leaving too soon, being passed up — and in the quest to conquer these fears, we are inspired by those who do whatever it takes to rise above and beat these odds. We call it “drive” or “ambition,” but when doing “whatever it takes” leads us down the wrong road, it can erode our humanity. The game ends up playing us.

I’ve been a Glanville admirer ever since I read this article by Jayson Stark about the video game exploits of Glanville and Curt Schilling.

“Not enough attention is paid to the off-the-field motivators that create nasty on-field grudges,” Glanville revealed. “I believe video atrocities top the list. Curt Schilling assassinated my lovable Dwarf Paladin in EverQuest, happily smiling as his character stood in the safety of the town guards. That can create serious internal friction.”

Another great quote from Glanville:

“Schill has to live with what he has done,” Glanville said. “He can tell whatever story he wants, but the facts are the facts. Bingbong was set up, led to an untimely death in the prime of his life for no other reason than pure malice. Things like that do not go unavenged. Sometimes it spills out onto the field of play.”

The St. Louis Cardinals and Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly agreed to a Scott Rolen-Troy Glaus swap, pending the passing of physicals by both players.

Hat tip: Scott 

Cowboys’ Henry recounts tough childhood
Packers’ players believe in power of prayer
Beijing: A city of opportunity
Locke: The meaning of sports
Ellsworth: Lowering the bar

During the telecast of the Music City Bowl between FSU and Kentucky, ESPN college football analyst Ed Cunningham made a statement that left me shaking my head.

FSU coach Bobby Bowden got it right in his comments about the matter, and placed the blame squarely where it belongs – on the shoulders of the players who cheated.

Read the rest of my column at BP Sports.

Unless the St. Louis Cardinals do something dramatic by Opening Day — or a lot of somethings dramatic — their lineup is going to be one of the ugliest lineups I’ve seen in St. Louis in a long time.

Here’s the way it’s looking right now:

1B-Albert Pujols
2B-Adam Kennedy
3B-Scott Rolen
SS-Cesar Izturis/Brendan Ryan
LF-Chris Duncan
CF-Colby Rasmus/Rick Ankiel/Skip Schumaker
RF-Ankiel/Ryan Ludwick
C-Yadier Molina

Rotation: Adam Wainwright, Braden Looper, Joel Pineiro, Matt Clement, Anthony Reyes

Aside from Pujols, the infield is one huge question mark. Will Rolen still be with the team in April? What will his production be like? Up the middle is a nightmare. Kennedy and Izturis? That’s enough to throw me into a fit of convulsions.

The outfield could provide some pop with Duncan, Ankiel and Ludwick, but it’ll also lead the league in strikeouts — probably by far. It’d be great if Colby Rasmus would claim the center field job, but you certainly can’t expect him to tear it up as a rookie.

Wainwright has the makings of an ace, but after him there’s a bunch of nothing in the rotation.

Who in the world is going to get on base ahead of Pujols? He almost didn’t reach the 100 RBI mark this past season. With the players he’ll have around him, he’ll be fortunate to get there in 2008.

Can this team even win 75 games? I don’t see how. Unless things change, my prediction for the season is 74-88 and a fifth place finish.

Ward leaves NBA spotlight to coach Christian high school
Football has given Tadman platform to witness
ANALYSIS: ‘Reform’ a common theme in sports, politics and religion in 2007
Union’s women top Lyon to remain unbeaten

In an exclusive interview with Sports Illustrated, Brian McNamee stands by his testimony that he injected Roger Clemens with steroids.

Clemens, of course, denies those allegations and has filed a defamation lawsuit against McNamee. In a press conference Monday, Clemens played a taped segment from a telephone conversation with McNamee — which, as far as I’m concerned, didn’t prove anything.

So, you’ve got two different versions here. Who do you believe, and why?