To know list: 8 noshes of brain food

Sporting News, The, Dec 9, 2005

[1] WINTER WONDERLAND

A blizzard of green awaits baseball's free agents

When the winter meetings begin in Dallas on Monday (see page 14), the developments we expect to see include the Blue Jays spending as never before, the Mets continuing to overspend and the Marlins doing anything except spending.

And this is what we know we'll see: free agents ending up with plenty to spend. Not since the winter of 2000, when the meetings last were held at the Wyndham Anatole, has the market been so favorable for players.

There won't be any $252 million deals, which Alex Rodriguez got that year, but then again, there aren't any Alex Rodriguezes available. There are, however, plenty of solid players set to receive star-type contracts.

Catchers Ramon Hernandez and Bengie Molina could land deals similar to the four-year, $40 million contract Jason Varitek got from the Red Sox a year ago.

Righthanders Kevin Millwood and Matt Morris are expected to cash in with long-term deals after having to sign one-year contracts last winter. Their suitors will conveniently forget that Millwood went 9-11 in 2005 and Morris had a 5.32 ERA in the second half.

Veteran closers Bob Wickman and Todd Jones should have their choice of multiyear deals even though neither was able to secure more than a one-year contract last offseason.--Stan McNeal

[2] NBA ROOKIES

The kids are all right

Chris Paul is the early favorite for NBA Rookie of the Year. Just behind him: Andrew Bogut and Deron Williams. Surprised? Of course not. Those three were supposed to be immediate-impact types. But this rookie class also has lots of pleasant surprises.--Sean Deveney

Potent point guards

Nate Robinson, Knicks Best point guard on his team.

Luther Head, Rockets Perimeter shooting a plus.

Orien Greene, Celtics Starting because of his "D."

Foreign aid

Sarans Jasikevicius Pacers On the floor in clutch situations.

Jose Calderon, Raptors A pass-first point man.

Sergei Monia, Trail Blazers Scoring is coming around.

Big help

Channing Frye, Knicks Toughness faded fast.

Charlie Villanueva, Raptors Rugged scorer and rebounder.

Ike Diogu, Warriors Low-post threat the Warriors need.

[3] HEISMAN HYPE

Leinart is a Bush supporter ... maybe

Perhaps SPORTING NEWS Insider Matt Hayes disagrees (see page 36), but a different Matt who will be casting a Heisman Trophy ballot appears to be going for Southern California tailback Reggie Bush. That vote would be from Matt Leinart, Bush's teammate, who gets a vote as a past winner.

Bush has been doing some heavy campaigning. "I told him he is voting for me," Bush says. "He already won one. It's my turn."

Leinart reveals his vote can be had. "As long as (Bush) stays on my good side," Leinart says.

Ah, so that means Bush is your man ... right, Matt?

"Wait, isn't this a secret ballot?" Leinart says.

Oh, yeah. Dang.--SD

[4] IN THE SPOTLIGHT

The NFL's point men

There's a scoring race going on in the NFL.

Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander is threatening Priest Holmes' single-season touchdown record of 27.

Cardinals kicker Nell Rackers is on pace to break the single-season field goals record of 39 shared by Olindo Mare and Jeff Wilkins.

And with fantastic finishes, both players could eclipse the record for most points in a season--176, by former Packers running back and kicker Paul Hornung. Just imagine an Alexander-Rackers hybrid.--Zach Bodendieck

Through 11 games

             TDs    FGs    Pts.    Scoring pace

Alexander    20     --     120     174
Rackers      --     32     110     160

[5] TSN STAFF POLL

Who's the best running back in the NFL?

LaDainian Tomlinson, Chargers    65%
Larry Johnson, Chiefs             3%
Edgerrin James, Colts             6%
Shaun Alexander, Seahawks        26%

Note: Table made from pie chart.

[6] QUICK CLICKS

Celeb bloggers are everywhere

If you don't have a favorite blog by now ... well, what's wrong with you? The Internet trend-turned-mainstay has hit sports--three of the four major pro leagues feature blogs prominently on their websites. A sample of the highest-profile sports bloggers:

NHL.com

Elisha Cuthbert, actress

"It just pains me to see Todd Bertuzzi have to deal with the nonstop harassment and, of course, the booing. Mind you, my mother feels that way and so do my friends."

MLB.com

Tommy Lasorda, former Dodgers manager

"I don't like (new Dodgers G.M.) Ned Colletti because he's Italian--I love him because I'm Italian!"

NBA.com

Flea, Red Hot Chili Peppers

"The Laker scouts are probably over in Europe drinking absinthe and chasing girls in Bohemian bars in Prague."

[7] HOOPS SCOOPS

Stuff we know now that we didn't know then

With the Thanksgiving holiday complete, college basketball fans can digest what was learned from such tournaments as the Maui Invitational, Great Alaska Shootout and NIT Season Tip-Off.

UConn will survive without Marcus Williams. The Huskies' depth and wealth of offensive weapons got them through the rugged Maui field, even with their point guard suspended until January. Now, a soft schedule--with no road games until Big East play--will help them along.