LEADING OFF

Up in Armon

Cincinnati wide receiver Armon Binns, smothered by Pitt cornerback Jovani Chappel, was unable to hold on to a pass in the end zone in the first quarter of their season-ending Big East showdown in Pittsburgh last Saturday. Chappel was called for pass interference, but the Panthers then held the Bearcats to a field goal. Cincinnati came back from a 21-point deficit to win the game in the last minute, 45--44. The Bearcats finished the season 12--0 and will face Florida in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on Jan. 1 (page 52).

Shutting Off the Heat

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant fired a three over Heat guard Dwyane Wade with 0.4 seconds remaining at the Staples Center last Friday and banked it in to give Los Angeles its eighth straight victory, 108--107. Bryant and Wade led their teams with 33 and 26 points, respectively.

Out of The Blue

Cowboys linebacker Anthony Spencer stripped the ball from Giants running back Brandon Jacobs (bottom of the pile) during the first quarter at Giants Stadium on Sunday. New York QB Eli Manning (not shown) recovered the ball, and the Giants (7--5) went on to win the game 31--24, keeping their playoff hopes alive.

Tress Passing

Meryl Davis of the U.S. briefly resembled a carnival bearded lady when her ponytail swept across her neck during the free dance program in the ice-dancing final at the ISU Grand Prix Figure Skating Final in Tokyo last Friday. Davis and her partner, Charlie White, won the gold medal.

TWO PHOTOS

Photographs by Damian Strohmeyer

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Photograph by John W. McDonough

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Photograph by David Bergman

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Photograph by Itsuo Inouye/AP