
Gameplan
• REVISIT
Miami's vice squad
In The U, a documentary about Hurricanes football in the 1980s, Michael Irvin says, "We were bad boys, and we were enjoying being bad boys." Pretty much sums it up; think four NCAA titles and Fiesta Bowl fatigues. But director Billy Corben goes deeper, with insights from dozens of 'Canes (Saturday, ESPN).
• SEE
Invictus
Banner days for rugby: It's now an Olympic sport, and it's featured in a buzz-worthy Oscar-season film. Clint Eastwood directs, Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon star in the story of the 1995 rugby World Cup, which South Africa hosted and Nelson Mandela used as a postapartheid unifying force. Invictus hits theaters Friday.
• WATCH
Division II championship
Must be December: Lights are hung, malls are jammed and Northwest Missouri State is in the D-II football final. On Saturday the Bearcats make their fifth straight trip, against Grand Valley State. They've lost four years running; no, Susan Lucci did not study there. NMS tries again on ESPN2.
• ADMIRE
The Answer's answers
You thought nothing could top Allen Iverson's infamous "talkin' about practice" rant. Check out his teary reintroduction to the Philly media when he returned to the 76ers last week. (It's on YouTube.) Iverson may not make the Sixers great, but postgame coverage will be more interesting.
• WATCH
Bengals vs. Vikings
Once, opponents thought shutting down Adrian Peterson was the key to beating Minnesota. No more: Thanks to Brett Favre, the Vikings are 3--1 against teams in the top five in rushing defense. They get another shot on Sunday against the Bengals (CBS), the AFC North leader and the second-toughest run defense.
The Pop Culture Grid
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Athletes in the mix | My advice to Tiger is ... | Fad that should never come back | Weirdest thing a fan said to you | When I'm done playing I'll likely ... | Crepes, pancakes or waffles? |
PIERRE THOMAS Saints RB | No comment | Fanny packs | Someone called me a sexy squirrel | Go to law school | I like all three |
BOBBY RYAN Ducks LW | Check the rearview mirror | Trucker hats | Was I Scarlett Johansson's brother? | Gain 150 pounds | Crepes |
CHRIS JOHNSON Titans RB | Keep your head up | Baggy clothes | Asked by a guy to sign his arm so he could get a tattoo of my name | Become a rapper | Pancakes |
HENRIK SEDIN Canucks C | Take care of your family | Bell-bottom pants | An old woman asked me to sign her breasts | Train horses | Pancakes |
Inside the Grid
Ryan, whose home arena is 30 miles from the International House of Pancakes main office in Glendale, Calif., prefers the French specialty, though he acknowledges crepes are "just thin pancakes." Johnson, who has seven straight 100-yard rushing games, naturally likes pancakes' consistency: "They're always nice, fluffy and soft."
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PETER READ MILLER (IRVIN)
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© WARNER BROS./EVERETT COLLECTION (INVICTUS)
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KENNY FELT/ICON SMI (NORTHWEST MISSOURI)
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TIM SHAFFER/REUTERS (IVERSON)
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TOM DAHLIN (FAVRE)
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CORBIS (PANCAKES)
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BILL FRAKES (HORSE)
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JEFF VINNICK (SEDIN)
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JOHN BIEVER (JOHNSON)
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DAVID E. KLUTHO (RYAN)
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BOB ROSATO (THOMAS)
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GARY OMBLER/GETTY IMAGES (FANNY PACK)
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DAVID AZIA/AP (JOHANSSON)