SPORTSbyBROOKS

We followed up the WWE's "Royal Rumble" with a full serving of SbB - as newcomer Mike won the SbB Grand Prize, taking home a new RCA TV courtesy Best Buy.

SbB Girls Melissa, Colene, Andie and Karen were also out in full force and helped provide free cash cards to the SbB faithful, courtesy SportingBetUSA - just in time for the Big Game on Super Sunday.

Thanks to Coors Light, Best Buy, SportingBetUSA, EA Sports and Jay, Rob, Fabian, Shane, and the whole gang at Yankee Doodles!

The results are out from the annual Best Buy survey on big screens TVs - and their predictably profound effect on male behavior on Super Bowl Sunday.

I concur, if only to prevent having to meet the NFL's Frankenstein monster, Jerry Jones:

The National Electronic Dealer Association also reports sales of large screen televisions "increase by 500 percent during the week prior to Super Bowl."

I wonder what those figures are every time a new Jenna Jameson flick hits the stores.

NAME FAME: A recent BBC documentary about a famous British race car driver asserted that the driver was written out of the record books because of his association with the Nazis in the 1930s.

In a published piece, the British auto racing magazine CARKEYS disagrees with the documentary, but fails to mention the real reason why the driver's fame has lasted so long.

SPORTS BUSINESS DAILY recently quizzed Mark Cuban and Sac Kings co-Owner Gavin Maloof about the prospect of the NBA expanding into Europe and Las Vegas.

Cuban on Vegas: "It's one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S., and I think it could absolutely support a sports team."

Palms Hotel co-Owner Maloof on the league operating in Sin City: "I would second that. I think Vegas would be a great market."

Cuban: "We've got to deal with what we have here first, and once we're excelling across all of our opportunities here in the U.S., then it makes sense to look to expand."

Conversely, ESPN.com has David Stern once again lobbying charging onto the continent, while dismissing Vegas as a possible future league site: "Europe is sufficiently different and expansive of our market, with television and all those other things that we talk about, that that's going to occupy our time in terms of deciding whether there's a business there.

"Our current view is that Las Vegas is a great city. Gambling is a fine commerce activity, ... but so long as there's a sports book, it's not a subject that's of great interest to us. And we have no teams to move there. And we're certainly not going to be expanding. So it's academic."

COMPATRIOT COMPROMISE: The WALL STREET JOURNAL opines that with the South Carolina primary, "where the Carolina Panthers rule," going off two days after the Super Bowl, John Kerry "may have to tone down" his allegiance to the Patriots.

The ASSOCIATED PRESS reports Laura Bush "encouraged football fans to spare $1 from their Super Bowl party budgets to help fight hunger and poverty."

The First Lady: "Let us transform Super Bowl weekend into the biggest weekend of compassion in this country."

SPORTS BUSINESS DAILY reports the Panthers-Eagles conference championship game garnered 40.4 million viewers, making it the most-watched NFC Championship game since Rams-Bucs matchup in 2000 drew 42.6 million viewers.

LAME PREGAME: The NEW YORK POST's Page Six has always-injured Vince Carter "sipping Cristal with teammate Jalen Rose at LQ the night before the Knicks beat the Raptors at the Garden ... and Hugh Jackman" touting his toddler son to Dikembe Mutombo in the Knicks locker room.

ESPN's Tony Kornheiser, on Giants Quarterback Jesse Palmer starring in a future edition of ABC's "The Bachelor": "I know they’re going to put 25 hot babes in front of him and let him pick, but shouldn’t an NFL quarterback be able to get his own women without some phony-bologna bevy of beauties scooped up from the streets of L.A.? Isn’t this bad for the NFL?"

ESPN's Michael Wilbon, Kornheiser's foil on "PTI": "I think the NFL loves this because the NFL, unlike your boy Bud's league, understands how to market itself."

NBA ironman A.C. Green made his color commentary debut last weekend as he teamed with Rich Waltz for Fox Sports Net's coverage of the Arizona State-Oregon State men’s basketball game.

Green replaces Lenny Wilkens, who left to become the Knicks' next coaching casualty.

BRAZIL NUTS FOR NENE: The ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS has a profile on Denver Nugget Nene's popularity in Brazil. For the first time the South American nation now broadcasts a NBA game on cable every week but astonishingly only "3 1/2 million homes have cable." This from a nation of nearly 200 million citizens.

About one-third of the TV games (in Brazil) involve the Nuggets and Nene "is being used to promote several of the games."

Immediately following the NFL Championship game, we'll play SPORTSbyBROOKS with the SbB Girls - with an XBox going to Super Sunday's SbB Champion.

SportingBetUSA.com will also provide free cash cards - just in time for Pro Football's Championship game on Super Sunday.

To book a room for that weekend, call (800) 642-8158 and mention VegasHotSpots.com, Las Vegas' premier agency for all-inclusive, VIP nightlife packages.

SbB Girl Marisa is currently on a nationwide tour promoting the upcoming Lingerie Bowl. Marisa will be a cheerleader for the game - which will be played on Super Sunday at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

Have a lonely hockey fan - who is also a blow-up doll fetishist - in your life? I've got a solution for him/her:

"LeGolie is the first automated, inflatable hockey goaltender that is portable, and can be used on either the ice or street."

Or motel room. Just a matter of time before your local adult novelty store has this on the shelves.

The Sault Ste. Marie news website SooToday.com reports that thieves broke into a local ice arena and stole jerseys, gloves and hockey sticks from the local junior team.

ADWEEK reports that as part of an upcoming print advertising campaign, sports apparel company Pony will feature a "tattoed baby, a toe wrapped in a condom and a foot giving the finger."

Pony VP of Marketing John Lewis said the print ads are supposed to "stop and make you think and consider the brand in a way you haven't before."

The ad copywriters said they introduced an "element of danger," in the campaign and that the baby with the "Mom" tattoo "represents the notion that Pony has always behaved as a young, fresh brand."

First porn stars, now babies with tattoos. Can't understand why Pony hasn't stormed past Nike and Adidas.

The SYDNEY DAILY TELEGRAPH reports a major controversy in the cricket world. A player on the Indian national team was spotted "rubbing a lolly" on a cricket ball during a match with Zimbabwe.

The ASSOCIATED PRESS reports that Angels Owner Arte Moreno, Diamondbacks Owner Jerry Colangelo, Diamondbacks Manager Bob Brenly and Diamondbacks GM Joe Garagiola, Jr., had dinner with President Bush Wednesday night in Phoenix.

Guesting on Fred Roggin's KMPC-AM show in Los Angeles, Garagiola said when he initially got the call to dine with Bush, he thought it was a prank: "I remember sitting there at the table, waiting for the President, and telling the people with us that I was expecting Ashton Kutcher to walk up and say 'You've been punk'd!'"

When asked if there were any Margaritas consumed at the table, Garagiola said, "I don't have the security clearance to reveal that kind of sensitive information."

Garagiola also said Bush joked about a disastrous trade he once made as then-President of the Texas Rangers. In 1989 Bush's Rangers traded Sammy Sosa to the Chicago White Sox for Harold Baines.

Speaking of Ashton Kutcher, he told ESPN Radio this week that he once played middle linebacker on his high school football team in Iowa.

Kutcher said he patterned himself after Bears' backer Mike Singletary: "I kept my eyes as wide open as I could - I tried to be just like him."

Kutcher on his career highlight: "I made it on the Friday night highlights once - after I just waylaid some receiver coming across the middle."

The ASSOCIATED PRESS reports there is "more than one Belichick making news these days."

Although Coach Bill Belichick's Patriots have won 14 straight, Belichick the horse "will be trying to end a three-race losing streak today in the $34,000 allowance feature at Gulfstream Park."

The ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH reports that "Anheuser Busch will have its usual fourth-quarter (Super Bowl) spot promoting responsible drinking, this year featuring Lakers forward Rick Fox."

Fox hasn't exactly been a designated driver for the Lakers this season. He's yet to play a minute due to a foot injury.

The LOS ANGELES TIMES reports the Angels, the club that has made MLB's most high-profile offseason acquisitions, will have only 90 of their games broadcast locally in SoCal - the lowest such slate in the league.

BROAD JUMPED: Ross Newhan of the LOS ANGELES TIMES reports that L.A. real estate magnate Eli Broad's late cash bid for the Dodgers "was nothing more than grandstanding and tended to produce a sour reaction in baseball."

Newhan's source: "Why go public? I've never seen a deal made that way. If he was truly serious, he knows what he would have had to do, and going public wasn't it."

CORPORATE COP: SPORTS BUSINESS DAILY asks ESPN VP John Skipper, the man who oversees production and marketing for ESPN.com and ESPN The Magazine, if ESPN-TV plans to renew its drama series "Playmakers."

Skipper: "I'm not going to go anywhere near that. I've got too much inside information. It would be professionally detrimental for me to answer."

Earlier this week during Letterman's viewer mail segment, One letter asked Dave: "After a long week, what do you do to unwind?"

Letterman: "I really enjoy the football. It’s really exciting, and of course, we know now that Super Bowl XXXVIII is between the New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers, and one of our staff members is actually a diehard Carolina Panthers fan, and we thought it would be fun to bring him out here tonight. ... Ladies and gentlemen, please say hello to Tom Vernon!"

Letterman: "I'm kidding! There are no diehard Carolina Panthers fans. It’s a joke."

WASHINGTON CAPPED: The winner of the Nextel/NHL Stanley Cup Challenge, a two-month national shootout competition, will have the chance to shoot against Capitals goalie Olaf Kolzig for $250,000 during this year's Stanley Cup Finals.

I guess the league is assuming the Caps won't be playing in the finals. Pretty good bet on their part.

The BOSTON GLOBE reports that contrary to previous media reports, Houston's Reliant Stadium roof will be open for the Super Bowl, "weather permitting."

Steve Harvey of the LOS ANGELES TIMES provides the most logical solution for the owner-less Dodgers:

The pic was actually taken just before FOX bought the Dodgers, and Harvey notes "If you were one of those who shunned this fellow's sign, you have only yourself to blame for Fox's unsuccessful reign at Dodger Stadium. Get your coins ready this time."

The MEMPHIS COMMERCIAL APPEAL reports that Memphis Grizzlies players, as an off-the-court fashion statement, have taken to wearing throwback jerseys of former NBA and college players.

James Posey recently donned the duds of former University of Wyoming basketball star Fennis Dembo.

Teammate Lorenzen Wright: "Posey didn’t even know who he was, and we didn’t even know who he was. (Coach Hubie Brown) had to give us the history on the guy. He's the only one who knows who most of these guys are."

The ASSOCIATED PRESS reports that despite being the road team against Tampa Bay in their opener in Japan, the Yankees will likely still wear their home pinstripes - so Hideki Matsui can impress the home folks.

The ASSOCIATE PRESS reports that thanks to a "Flashdance" 90-second dance routine, Michigan State's mascot took first place in the 2004 Universal Cheer Association/Universal Dance mascot contest.

Attention college hoops equipment managers: The MIAMI HERALD reports there'a 7-1 Florida High School hoops player named: Chief Kickingstallionsims.

Two Big Ten schools are interested in the Native American from Boynton Beach, who has 17 family members that are seven-feet or taller.

The big question isn't where he'll attend college, it's how to fit that name on the back of a jersey.

Leno: "CBS announced plans today for a third ‘CSI’ show called 'CSI: New York.’ I got a better idea. How about 'CSI: Philadelphia?’ With all those Eagles fans throwing themselves in front of buses and jumping out of windows, they got enough bodies for two seasons."

"Kobe Bryant has been dropped as a spokesperson for McDonald’s. They did not renew his contract. Do you see Kobe at McDonald’s? He seems more like a room service kind of guy."

German sports station DSF reports Boris Becker will host a half-hour talk show beginning in the spring.

The CHARLOTTE OBSERVER reports Pittsburgh-based PLB Sports, the company that helped start Flutie Flakes breakfast cereal, is launching "Jake's Flakes" for Panthers Quarterback Jake Delhomme.

The NEW YORK TIMES notes Comedy Central's Jon Stewart provided commentary for NBC on the President's recent "State of the Union" speech.

After hearing President Bush reference steroids in professional sports, Stewart said he had hoped that the President would have also spoken out against "instant replay and artificial turf."

The LONDON GUARDIAN provides the real reason why women's soccer never really caught on in the USA.

The British daily blames Diana Ross at a '94 World Cup ceremony in Chicago: "Opening proceedings in Chicago, Diana Ross merely had to dispatch a penalty into an open goal from all of three yards.

Speaking of the World Cup, the BBC reports just how "hard" it is to get on a team in the qualifying process.

Lawrence Harvey is a 30-year-old accountant who plays in a British Senior League. Harvey will play for the country of Turks and Caicos Islands, a Carribbean Island, because he lived and worked there for a couple of years.

Don Barrett of LARadio.com points out, "KNX sports guy Randy Kerdoon reported this morning that the LA Dodgers finally made a player move, which was punctuated with a chorus of Hallelujah."

Scott Burnside of ESPN.com claims Tie Domi has become a role model for the NHL's parade of thugs.

Excerpt: "He is one of the last fighters from the era when it was not uncommon for players to fight two or three times in one game. Many times, Domi would start the game with a fight as the puck was dropped.

"Domi admitted, 'I used to love those days, ... Those days are long gone.'"

Penny Allen, the superintendent of the Greater Essex County District School Board: "This is a very high-risk activity with no tie to the regular school curriculum."

No true Canadian would ever make this call. Driving to school each day is riskier than playing in an organized hockey league.

White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card guested on NBC's "Today" and was asked by host Matt Lauer, "Be honest with me now, when was Tom Brady invited to this (State of the Union) speech?"

Card: "He was invited before the Patriots, who I love, were successful because he is someone who recognizes that steroid use in professional athletes is not good."

Lauer: "A little gamesmanship here? The two most talked about guys in New England (are) John Kerry and Tom Brady. A little bit of gamesmanship for the voters in New England?"

Card: "Tom Brady was invited before John Kerry emerged from Iowa the way he emerged. Tom Brady is a terrific fellow. I’m a huge Patriots fan, so I was glad he was here."

HEAD EAST: ST. PAUL PIONEER-PRESS columnist Charley Walters writes the Twins' stadium search could be moving east: "St. Paul has a much better chance of landing the Twins than most people know."

JETS EXEC GROUNDED: The NEW YORK POST's Page Six reports that Matt Higgins, the man largely responsible for picking the site and building plan for NYC's Ground Zero memorial, has joined the New York Jets and is now in charge of "quarterbacking their bid to win approval for a new stadium on the far West Side of Manhattan."

Meanwhile, CRAIN'S NEW YORK BUSINESS reports "Insiders say the management of Madison Square Garden is considering announcing that it is opposed to a Jets stadium on Manhattan's far West Side.

"The two venues would sit just four blocks apart, and MSG executives believe that a new stadium would siphon off events."

The NFL has announced that the retractable roof of Reliant Stadium will be closed at the Super Bowl.

Tony Kornheiser on ESPN-TV: "I like it open because if you're going to build a stadium with a retractable roof you build it so you have the option of - hello? - opening the roof.

"If it's 60 degrees and clear on Super Bowl Sunday in Houston they should open the roof. ... They have a flyover. You can't see the flyover if the roof is closed."

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