Michael Haley of the New York Islanders fights Stu Bickel of the New York Rangers in the first period of an NHL game at Madison Square Garden in New York City, Dec. 26.
Dear NHL: Hit The Puck, Not The Players
()Commentator Frank Deford suggests a New Year's resolution for the National Hockey League: No more fighting.
Sean Collins, Who Told Surfers Where To Go For The Best Waves, Has Died
He was 59 and died Monday of a heart attack suffered while playing tennis.
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Horse Breeders Seek To Rein In Bets On Barrel Races()
December 26, 2011 In Gretna, Fla., a casino's plan to turn barrel racing into a betting proposition has run into opposition from quarter horse breeders and trainers, who say the new event could destroy their industry.
At Dallas Opener, NBA's David Stern Booed By Fans()
December 25, 2011 The NBA commissioner was in Dallas for the NBA finals rematch between the Mavericks and Heat, and he was on the court for the start of the Mavs' banner-raising ceremony honoring their first championship. The jeers came as soon as he started speaking, but he quickly turned them into cheers by offering his congratulations to team owner Mark Cuban.
An Epic (And Mythic) 2011 NBA Preview()
December 24, 2011 The NBA season opens Christmas Day, and every sports writer worth his tinseled tropes has made a reference to basketball fans being able to unwrap a slate of games under the tree. The theme for this year's season preview? The mythology of the Vainakh peoples of the North Caucasus. Seriously.
The Two-Way
Because Of Somali Pirates, Ocean Racers Are In A 'Stealth Zone'()
December 22, 2011 The six-boat, nine-month-long, 39,000-mile Volvo Ocean Race that started in Spain two months ago and is set to end in Ireland next July isn't going to tell exactly where the boats are while they're in that part of the Indian Ocean.
The Two-Way
Accused Of Sexually Abusing Children Decades Ago, Sportswriter Retires()
December 21, 2011 Bill Conlin, a Philadelphia Daily News sportswriter for 46 years, retired after three women and a man came forward to accuse him of molesting them in the 1970s. His lawyer says he wants to "vindicate his name."
Sweetness And Light
The NBA Is Bullish On Christmas, By Necessity()
December 21, 2011 In 2010, Phil Jackson, then the coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, complained about the NBA's scheduling of games on Christmas Day. It seemed, he said, that "Christian holidays don't mean anything" any longer. With its season shortened, the NBA can't afford to skip the holiday this year.
