Roger Clemens by Mike Ehrmann/WireImage.com
Roger Clemens will grant his first interview since being linked to steroid use to 60 Minutes in two weeks. The star Major League Baseball pitcher, named in former Senator George Mitchell's investigation into performance-enhancing drugs in the sport, will defend himself on the CBS newsmag's Jan. 6 episode. On his web site, Clemens posted a video Sunday (watch it here) in which he said, "Let me be clear: The answer is no, I did not use steroids, human growth hormone, and I've never done so."
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New England Patriots' coach Bill Belichick by Jim Rogash/WireImage.com
New England once weathered The Perfect Storm, and now The Perfect Season is on the horizon. If the Patriots defeat the Miami Dolphins Sunday (Dec. 23, 4:15 pm/ET, CBS), they'll be 15-0, an NFL regular-season first. Topple the New York Giants the following week to go 16-0 and New England would join the 1972 Dolphins as the only teams to enter the playoffs undefeated. (The Dolphins won 14 regular-season games, two playoff games and the Super Bowl, to go 17-0.)The Patriots' dominance is even more impressive because of free agency, says Fox announcer Joe Buck, who will call Super Bowl XLII in Phoenix on Feb. 3. "What they've been able to do with roster turnover and a salary cap is extraordinary," Buck says. "What makes them phenomenal is that they've been able to consistently win while other teams go up and down." New England established itself as the first football dynasty of this millennium by winning three Super Bowls from 2002 to 2005, thanks to Bill Belichick, who Buck calls "the b...
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Apolo Anton Ohno by Steve Levin/WireImage.com
He mastered the paso doble, but now Dancing With the Stars champ Apolo Anton Ohno is getting back to what he does best: speed skating. Ohno, who won DWTS last spring, is set to compete at the U.S. Senior Short Track Championships in Kearns, Utah, this weekend. "I basically took two full summers off," Ohno tells the Salt Lake Tribune. "Not a good idea for any athlete. But the transition has been going well. I'm excited about this competition. I haven't raced for quite a long time, and it's about time."Ohno won five Olympic medals (including two gold) at the 2002 and 2006 Winter Games. This weekend he'll try to skate his way onto the U.S. team for the World Cup and world championships later this winter.
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Alex Rodriguez by Mike Ehrmann/WireImage.com, Guy Oseary by Steve Granitz/WireImage.com
Having been raked over the coals by unforgiving New York Yankees fans for his contract renegotiations, Alex Rodriguez doesn't want to bobble the ball again, and has hired Madonna's comanager to improve his image. "As I embark on this new chapter in my career," A-Rod tells Variety, "I know that I have found someone... who has earned a lot of respect in the entertainment industry." That someone is Guy Oseary, whose clientele also includes magic man David Blaine and musician Lenny Kravitz. Oseary's game plan for the Yanks' third baseman? "To help [A-Rod] have more control of his image and brand" and explore "endless possibilities" for baseball's highest-paid player. Could one of those "possibilities" include a World Series ring? Please? — Matt Webb Mitovich
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Dick Vitale by Rich Arden/ESPN
This just in from ESPN:"ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale had successful surgery today to treat ulcers on his left vocal chord. Vitale plans to return to the air in early February. He will continue to provide his college basketball observations on ESPN.com and dickvitaleonline.com while he recuperates. "'College basketball fans will miss Dick's enthusiasm in the coming weeks. But we are delighted to learn his surgery was a success and we all wish him a speedy recovery,' said ESPN president George Bodenheimer."
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Tiki Barber by Heidi Gutman/NBC Sports Photo
Just in time for the New York Giants' game against the Washington Redskins this week (Dec. 16, 8:15 pm/ET, NBC), former star running back — and current Football Night in America commentator — Tiki Barber sets the record straight on Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning, as well as the New England Patriots' "ridiculously exceptional" season. Tiki is hardly surprised by the Giants' 9-4 record, which puts them in a great position to take the first wild-card slot in the NFC. "Honestly, the Giants can go to the Super Bowl this year — they [just] have to find a way to beat Dallas in Dallas," says Tiki. But this week's home game against another bitter divisional rival, the Redskins, is an important step toward shoring up their position. And, says Tiki, "the Redskins are a dangerous team.... The Giants should win, but they can't assume that. They have to play to a high level." –Nina Hämmerling Smith Check out Interviews & Features on Sunday for our in-depth Q&A with ...
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Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings by Tom Dahlin/WireImage.com
NBC is taking advantage of its flexible scheduling clause with the NFL to move the Dec. 23 game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Washington Redskins to Sunday Night Football. The game was previously slated to air on Fox at 1 pm/ET, but given the Vikings' recent hot streak — four straight wins — NBC exercised its right to poach for prime-time....As expected, University of Florida sophomore Tim Tebow won the Heisman Trophy on Saturday, bringing ESPN a record audience for the event. The telecast drew 4.28 million viewers, a hefty 31 percent increase over last year's 2.95 million.
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Carl Edwards by Al Messerschmidt/WireImage.com
Delilah DiCrescenzo, the inspiration for the Plain White T's Grammy-nominated song "Hey There Delilah," won the USATF National Club Cross Country Championships on Saturday in West Chester, Ohio. DiCrescenzo, an Olympic hopeful in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, ran the 6-kilometer (3.7-mile) course in 20 minutes, 30.7 seconds. "I'm good friends with the guys from Plain White T's," she said after the race. "They called me a few days ago to let me know they've been nominated for two Grammys, so I'm really excited for them. It's a very unique opportunity, and a funny set of circumstances, but I'm glad to be associated with the song"….Self-congratulation at ESPN is nothing new, but it's actually warranted Tuesday when the network celebrates its popular "This Is SportsCenter" commercials. In addition to highlights from the 12-year-old campaign, The Best of This Is SportsCenter (Dec. 11, 8 pm/ET) will debut three new spots.Also Tuesday, NASCAR driver Carl Edwards takes the spotlight at...
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Patriots quarterback Tom Brady by Mike Ehrmann/WireImage.com
The undefeated New England Patriots' come-from-behind victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Dec. 3 was a ratings touchdown for ESPN. Monday Night Football attracted 17.52 million viewers for New England's 27-24 win, making it the most-watched cable telecast ever, trumping High School Musical 2’s record. Ratings peaked from 11:30 to 11:45 pm/ET, as the game was ending, with 23.9 million viewers.The Patriots are now 12-0 and will take their next step towards a perfect season on Sunday, when they host the Pittsburgh Steelers (Dec. 9, 4:15 pm/ET, CBS).In other football ratings news, the Nov. 29 game between the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers drew 10.1 million viewers, especially impressive considering the NFL Network's limited availability.
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After yet another upset-filled week of college football, the Bowl Championship Series has finalized its pairings. Missouri, perhaps a victim of the Sports Illustrated cover jinx, was No. 1 heading into the weekend, but lost in Saturday's Big 12 Championship and was shut out of the BCS bowls. Instead they'll play Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 1.Here are the Bowl Championship Series pairings:Rose Bowl: USC vs. Illinois(Tues., Jan. 1, 4:30 pm/ET, ABC)Sugar Bowl: Hawaii vs. Georgia(Tuesday, Jan. 1, 8:30 pm/ET, Fox)Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma vs. West Virginia(Wednesday, Jan. 2, 8 pm/ET, Fox)Orange Bowl: Kansas vs. Virginia Tech(Thursday, Jan. 3, 8 pm/ET, Fox)BCS National Championship: Ohio State vs. LSU(Monday, Jan. 7, 8 pm/ET, Fox)What do you think? Did the BCS voters make the right call?
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