U.S. Men’s Hockey Team Claims Silver


patrick kane jonathan toews olympics

3-2 Overtime Loss To Canada

Second Silver Medal in Past Three Olympic Winter Games

Miller named Tournament MVP

VANCOUVER, B.C. – Zach Parise (Prior Lake, Minn./New Jersey Devils/Univ. of North Dakota) scored the game-tying goal with 25 seconds left in regulation, but the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team fell to Canada, 3-2, in overtime here this afternoon in the gold-medal game of the XXI Olympic Winter Games. Team USA claimed its second silver medal in the past three Olympic Winter Games (2002).

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Team USA Will Take Home Gold Because…


by Peter Christian

Later today Team USA will take the ice in Canada Hockey Place for the chance to win the gold medal in the men’s ice hockey tournament. It will mark only the 2nd time in Team USA history that they’ve played in an actual “Gold Medal Game” (The medal round was not an elimination tournament until 1992, so all previous Gold or Silver medals for USA Hockey were the result of their rankings in the round robin of the medal eligible teams). The last (and only time) they played in a Gold Medal Game was against Canada during the 2002 Salt Lake City, Utah Olympics. That resulted in a 5-2 win by the Canadians and a US silver medal.

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Evan Turner Closes In on the Naismith


By: Hans Hetrick

It’s the end of February. Time to start polishing off the shiny trophies and big awards. And everyone’s favorite Buckeye these days, “His Royal Smoothness” Evan Turner, is up for college basketball’s player of the year award.

Barring any surprises, it’s a two-man race between Turner and Kentucky’s John Wall.

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Catching up with Illini all-time leading scorer Deon Thomas


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Illinois Moves Self Squarely Onto Bubble


By Paul Schmidt

It was an opportunity to end a fringe bubble team’s season.

It was an opportunity to keep themselves squarely in the field.

Now, it seems that the Illini just might be fighting for their lives. [Read more...]

Illinois-Minnesota Live Blog, NCAA’s at Stake!


By Paul Schmidt and Paul M. Banks

Let’s not understate the importance of this game: Illinois MUST win at home, and Minnesota MUST win to keep their slim NCAA hopes alive. Neither team can afford the blemish of this loss.

The key will be which team doesn’t succumb to the immense pressure that comes with must-win games nearly every time out at this time of the season.  Tip off is in just a couple of minutes! [Read more...]

Illinois-Minnesota Preview


Illinois fans rush the court after the game  Demetri McCamey

By Paul M. Banks and Mike Gallagher

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2010 NFL Scouting Combine Journal


By Peter Christian

The NFL Scouting Combine is one of the sporting events which truly exemplifies my dorky sports obsession. Long before the days of the NFL Network, I was always wishing I could see the drills and skills of the rookie prospects. Now, however, I don’t have to wish and clamor for that ability because for the next week, I will dedicate more than 12 hours to watching the drills live and on replay to whet my appetite for more knowledge about the players that will be drafted on April 22nd, 23rd and 24th.

New this year is the ability to watch both groups on the field with the aid of NFL.com which means I am plopped in front of the TV and the computer… My wife and kids hate me right now, but I’ve got my Powerade, I’m wearing my Under Armour. I’m ready to dive into my own nerdiness.

Laugh away, I’m having the time of my life.

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Field of 65 (TSB’s Bracketology) 2-27-10


By: David Kay

We are getting to crunch time and since now is when college basketball teams need to bring their ‘A’ game to stay in the NCAA Tournament picture, so must I.  Expect to see a couple Field’s of 65 per week leading up to Selection Sunday.  I have gone back to school for The Sports Bank’s version of bracketology and here is what I think the NCAA Tournament brackets will look like.
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Vinny Del Negro Defeats his Former Roommate Nate McMillan


By Paul M. Banks

It’s hard to find examples of former college roommates who both go on to enjoy substantial success at a very high level. Former roomies at North Carolina St. Vinny Del Negro and Nate McMillan both went on to have solid playing careers in the NBA. Both former members of the Wolfpack also coached their respective teams into  the NBA Playoffs. I guess they’re the NBA’s answer to former Harvard roommates Tommy Lee Jones and Al Gore

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Bulls Beat Trail Blazers, Just like the ’92 Finals (Sort of)


By Paul M. Banks

The Chicago Bulls welcome the Portland Trail Blazers to the United Center tonight. Sure, it’s not the 1992 NBA Finals, but it is an important contest with playoff implications on both sides.

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USA Hockey in Gold-Medal Game


?6-1 Victory Against Finland at Olympic Winter Games propels Team USA forward.

All 6 Goals come in first period

VANCOUVER, B.C. – The U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team scored six first-period goals en route to a 6-1 win against Finland here today in the semifinal round of the XXI Olympic Winter Games. With the victory, the U.S. improved to 5-0-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) and advanced to the tournament’s gold-medal game on Sunday (Feb. 28).
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