Long-suffering Eagles fans would never be so foolish to think a trip to the Super Bowl was a lock, even though their Birds are clearly the best team in the NFC this season.

"Something could still happen," is a dreaded, but not uncommon thought among loyalists.
Something did.

Star receiver Terrell Owens will miss the final two games of the regular season and the playoffs and possibly the Super Bowl because of a sprained right ankle, a devastating blow for a team that has lost three straight NFC title games.

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Receiving tandem leads the Pack

FOXBORO, Mass. — Not here. Not now. The New England Patriots are headed to their third AFC Championship Game in four years after a smash-mouth 20-3 victory against the Indianapolis Colts in a divisional playoff Sunday that was the football equivalent of a TKO.



The Patriots (15-2), whom many predicted would see their bid to repeat as NFL champions snuffed out by the team that possesses the league's most productive offense, instead were poised to play the role of ultimate bullies.

PHILADELPHIA -- Forgive Andy Reid for getting a little too revved up after Sunday's 27-10 victory over the Falcons in the NFC championship game.

Goaded by Fox broadcaster Terry Bradshaw, a stoked Lincoln Financial Field crowd and a national television audience, the usually mild-mannered head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles lost his composure. Will injured wide receiver Terrell Owens, Bradshaw demanded to know, be back for the Super Bowl on Feb. 6?

"Well," said Reid pausing, and then giving into the giddy moment. "I have a feeling he will."

Scottish tennis player Andy Murray, 4th seed, won the Madrid Masters by defeating French player Gilles Simon 6-4, 7-6 (8-6). Murray, who played against Roger Federer in semifinals, obtained his fourth tournament and second Masters Series this year, after his victory in Cincinnati last August.

“It’s being hard, I had a lot of pressure today,” Murray commented after the match. “Simon is a tough player.” Murray also said his services was the key to success in Madrid and thanked the Madrilenian public in Spanish: “Gracias por todo.”

The ITF (International Tennis Federation) will inspect the Orfeo Stadium in Cordoba, Argentina, again and visit the Polideportivo in Mar del Plata before deciding the city and the stadium that will host the Davis Cup finals to be played by Argentina and Spain.

The AAT (Argentina Tennis Association) officially proposed Cordoba yesterday, but in the last few hours it has been clear that Mar del Plata, a city in the Buenos Aires province with coasts on the Atlantic Ocean, has not been discarded. The finals will take place in less than 50 days.

The Lawn Tennis Association announced it signed a sponsorship deal with AEGON for the next five years and for £30 million. The main arms of the LTA to achieve the deal were Andy Murray’s 4th place in the world ranking, the huge popularity of Wimbledon and the promissory future of 14-year-old player Laura Robson.

“We are delighted that AEGON has joined us as the lead partner of British Tennis in what is a very exciting time for the sport,” Roger Draper, LAN Chief Executive, commented. “We are looking forward to developing a close working partnership with them over the coming years.”

During a magnificent ceremony, former tennis champions, including Rod Laver, Virginia Wade, Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova, celebrated the start of the U.S. Open and the 40th anniversary of the professional era. Also in the Arthur Ashe Stadium court were the familiar faces of John Newcombe, John McEnroe, Billy Jean King, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova.

The celebration’s program featured different types of music, from gospel singers to period band Earth, Wind and Fire. The champions were serenaded by the band while a film with the greatest moments of the sport was played on a screen.

The current Canadian legislation does not allow for sporting bets at casino, but this could change soon as the government has announced that it is open to the idea of legalizing this kind of bets. Minister of Justice Rob Nicholson informed during a press conference that the idea is supported by the government and there are plans to change existing laws before long.

Although there are some exceptions in the regulations concerning casinos, none of them includes betting on sports events. The government will certainly have to face a fierce opposition of some groups that argue that earning money with gambling addicts is not ethical.