Fox has announced that "Idol Gives Back," the fund-raiser that in its inaugural edition generated $76 million for charity, this season will be broadcast Wednesday, April 9, from 8 to 10 pm/ET.Promising an event "bigger and more ambitious than ever," Fox thus far has lined up Bono, Brad Pitt, Reese Witherspoon, Miley Cyrus, Mariah Carey, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, Fergie, Chris Daughtry, Carrie Underwood, Annie Lennox, John Legend and Snoop Dogg to participate. Kelly Clarkson must be busy. — Matt Mitovich
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Superbowl XLII by Shaun Best/Reuters
Wow. Just wow. Last night’s most memorable catch was, all together now, a—mazing. After miraculously maneuvering out a handful of defense from the thirsty-for-blood Patriots, Manning managed to heave the ball to David Tyree— who caught the ball off his helmet (Watch it here)! Later, Manning finished with a 13-yard pass to Plaxico Burress with only 39 seconds for the winning touchdown! Your take: Was this the biggest upset in NFL history? Was it all pure luck? Did the right team win? Let's hear it!More online videos
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Eli Manning and Tom Coughlin by Mike Blake/REUTERS
Use our Online Video Guide to relive Manning's clutch 32-yard completion to David Tyree, as well as his game-winning TD toss to Plaxico Burress.With big brother Peyton cheering him on, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning silenced his critics for good, engineering an improbable 17-14 upset win over the previously unbeaten New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. Manning completed 19 of 34 passes, for 255 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. And for the second-consecutive year a Manning brother was named MVP of the game, with Eli following up Peyton, who led the Colts to victory in '07.The heavily favored Patriots suffered their first loss of the season, dropping to 18-1 and failing in their bid to became the first team since the 1972 Miami Dolphins to go undefeated. Rather than making history, the Pats will now have to settle for the next edition of Trivial Pursuit.The game didn’t get off to a promising start for either team. New England led 7-3 after the first half, ...
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Oh, it’s on now! With only two weeks until the Giants and Patriots make their way to the Superbowl, it’s time for the trash talking to begin. Video of Tom Brady was released showing the quarterback limping in a foot brace towards girlfriend Gisele Bundchen’s home in New York’s West Village. The New York Post took this as an open invitation to call the QB a "petal pushing flower boy" and "Girlie Man" who "wears a bootie." Isn’t Superbowl season the greatest? Your move, Boston Herald. More online videosYour take: Think he’s screwed come Superbowl Sunday or do you think the media is making something out of nothing? And of course, who will you be rooting for in two weeks—Tom or Eli?
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Brett Favre by Tom Dahlin/WireImage.com
When the NFL season began, few football fans would have predicted an NFC Championship game between the Green Bay Packers and the New York Giants. Four months later, one of those teams is about to advance to Super Bowl XLII.For the Packers and their quarterback, Brett Favre, it's been a dream season. Less than a year ago, many were speculating that the 38-year-old future Hall of Famer would finally be packing it in. But, defying all expectations, the Packers ended up with the second-best record in the NFC, and Favre passed Dan Marino with NFL career records for touchdowns thrown and passing yards. Early criticism that the Packs' offensive approach was unbalanced has been put to rest thanks to the emergence of former backup Ryan Grant, who seemed to come out of nowhere to dominate on the ground in the back half of the season. As for New York, change has come in fits and spurts. The Giants got off to a slow start, losing their first two games and looking sloppy on offense and positivel...
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Seinfeld courtesy Sony
In an amusing if ultimately inconsequential bid to throw Eli Manning off his game, Green Bay, Wisconsin, affiliate WLUK-TV has canceled a rerun of Seinfeld (the Giants QB's favorite program) slated to air Saturday at 5:30 pm. The purpose is to deprive Manning, who at that time would be in his hotel room relaxing before Sunday's NFC Championship game, of the smallest pleasure — not that there's anything wrong with that. — Matt Mitovich
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Donovan McNabb of the Philadelphia Eagles
For additional NFL preview, read "John Madden's Opening-night Predictions" and "Brett Favre's Back, Chasning New Records".
Anyone who takes a snap in the NFL is going to be second-guessed by Monday-morning quarterbacks. But some signal-callers are under more pressure than others this season. "The climate of pro football is this," says CBS' Phil Simms: "If teams don't like what they've got, they say, 'Let's just change the quarterback and the coach, because that will cure it all.'"
Case in point: The Giants' Eli Manning is a lightning rod for criticism "just because he happens to be in New York, and I guess New York fans want him to be Peyton Manning," says CBS' Boomer Esiason, noting that Manning's "sleepy Southern personality drives them crazy here."
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