Morning Jolt: Namath's pulling for Pittsburgh
Friday, January 21
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Namath's pulling for Pittsburgh
Joe may be the only Namath pulling for the Jets on Sunday. Broadway Joe hails from Beaver Falls, Pa., a suburb 40 miles north of Pittsburgh, and his brother, Frank, told Newsday Thursday that there are about 30 Namaths still residing in the area. So when the Jets meet the Steelers in the AFC Championship Game Sunday night in Pittsburgh, which team will the rest of the Namath family be rooting for? "If Joe was playing for the Jets, we'd be bleeding green and rooting for Joe and pulling for the Jets," Frank Namath said. "But right now we want the Steelers to win. It's where we live." (Newsday)Comment
Young: Mets poised for Padre-like season
Chris Young is taking some San Diego sunshine to Queens. [Young] mostly was a witness to the Padres' surprising run in the NL West last season, making just one start in April and three more in September because of recurring shoulder problems. But the former All-Star hurler -- whose incentive-filled, one-year contract with the Mets was finalized Thursday -- spoke encouragingly about being more involved in a similar run in Flushing in 2011. ... "San Diego was picked to finish last, and maybe lose close to 100 games, by a lot of experts, and the team overachieved. Based on what I've seen here, this team has the same type of chemistry." (New York Daily News)Comment
Why Denver may root against Pack
With Jim Mora out of the picture, Denver's defensive coordinator search may be on hold for weeks. If the Broncos wish to talk to Packers defensive line coach Mike Trgovac about their defensive coordinator's job, they'll need either a Bears win Sunday or some patience. With [Mora] having said no to the job, Trgovac moves to the forefront having been John Fox's defensive coordinator in Carolina for six seasons. However, league rules prohibit any assistant coach under contract and who has not been dismissed, from interviewing with another team. The Broncos can't even formally request permission to speak to an assistant coach who is still on the job with another team until that team is done playing. So, if the Packers win in Chicago Sunday, the Broncos would have to wait two weeks to talk to Trgovac about the job. (Denver Post)Comment
Must-See Photo
Maria Sharapova of Russia hits a return to Julia Goerges of Germany during their third-round match at the Australian Open on Friday. (AP)
Must-See Video
Sugar Ray Leonard rolls in a 15-foot putt at the 2011 Bob Hope Classic.
Game To Watch
Lakers at Nuggets, 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
SI Vault: More John McEnroe
This Day in Sports
- 1979 -- Terry Bradshaw throws four touchdown passes to lead the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 35-31 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XIII.
- 1990 -- In the fourth round of the Australian Open, John McEnroe becomes the first player to be disqualified from a Grand Slam tournament for misconduct since 1963.
- 1997 -- Longtime New York Yankee first baseman Don Mattingly officially announces his retirement.
