January 30, 2012 Table Of Contents
LEADING OFF
Inside: THE WEEK IN SPORTS
It's time for the aging Celtics to plan for the future. Step one: Break up the Big Three
By Chris Mannix
Undecided on a college choice, top quarterback recruit Gunner Kiel finally picked Notre Dame and solved the team's biggest need
The trend toward early commitments has removed some of the suspense from national signing day on Feb. 1, but with just one week to go until recruits can put their names on letters of intent, four of Rivals.com's top 11 recruits remain up for grabs. Where they go could affect the title picture over the next four seasons.
By Andy Staples
THE BOTTOM LINE ON THE DOTTED LINE
How critical is signing day? As this chart ranking the top recruiting teams since 2008 shows, being a title contender (Alabama) requires blue-chippers, but blue-chippers don't ensure being a title contender (Texas)
COMPILED BY Gene Menez
As the first week of the Australian Open showed, a big heart is often more important at a major than a big game
Former MMA fighter Gina Carano stars in a big-budget action film
By Loretta Hunt
NFC CHAMPIONSHIP
Behind Eli Manning, Tom Coughlin, a ferocious pass rush and the right leg of Lawrence Tynes, the Giants are headed to the Super Bowl, where they'll face the Patriots for the Lombardi Trophy. Sound familiar?
By Peter King
AFC CHAMPIONSHIP
A heartfelt, and heart-stopping, victory over Baltimore in the conference title game leaves the Patriots a win away from a Super Bowl title that would cap a year of high emotion
By Damon Hack
The Giants and the Patriots each have a new blueprint for success in this rematch, but the result? It will be familiar
By Jim Trotter
PRO BASKETBALL
FINALLY, IT'S HIP TO BE A CLIP
By Lee Jenkins
PRO HOCKEY
Sixteen years after it abandoned North America's coldest city—and its smallest market—for sunnier, sexier climes, the NHL has returned better than ever, giving loyal fans of the reincarnated Jets, and every Canadian, something to cheer about
By Mark Bechtel
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
THE BLESSED LIVES OF HERB POPE
The senior forward has cheated death—not once, but twice. So should it be any surprise that he has revived the fortunes of Seton Hall?
JOE PATERNO
By Tim Layden
Rather than be bitter at how his career ended, the coach marveled at his fortunate life
POINT AFTER
By Phil Taylor
Departments
Bill Clinton brings his lifelong love of golf to his new role as tournament host
Ryan Braun picked up his MVP award as baseball awaited a ruling on his drug appeal
By Joe Lemire
By Tim Layden
Jimmy Fallon puts the spotlight on sports during Super Bowl week
Edited by Alexandra Fenwick
One man's quest to put running's iconic distance back on track
By Dan Patrick