I’ve long said that there’s only one thing holding me back from tossing my cable box in favor of getting all my TV online: live sports.

In particular, I’d really miss ESPN, the legendary all-sports cable and satellite network that keeps me company at lunchtime, gets me all prepped for the NFL on Sunday, and serves up more live tennis that you could swing a racket at. Read the full story

Bears player Gaines Adams, 26, is dead, according to a report by the Greenville News of South Carolina.

Adams, a former Clemson University football star, died Sunday morning after he was taken to the Emergency Room at Self Regional in Greenwood, County Coroner James T. Coursey told the Greensville News.

Adams, a defensive end, was the fourth player chosen in the 2007 National Football League draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

He was traded from Tampa Bay to the Chicago Bears in October. An autopsy will be performed today by a forensic pathologist.

http://www.suntimes.com

According to the Chicago-Sun Times, Gaines passed away due to a heart attack:

Chicago-Sun Times Report

Gaines Adams, the defensive end the Bears acquired for a second-round draft pick from Tampa Bay this season, died this morning at 26.

Adams, according to reports in The Greenville News, was pronounced dead at the emergency room of Self Regional Hospital in Greenwood, S.C. according to County Coroner James T. Coursey.

Adams, 26, was a standout player at Clemson at defensive end, and was the fourth player chosen in the 2007 National Football League draft by the Buccaneers. He was traded from Tampa Bay to the Chicago Bears in October, though didn’t find much playing time with the struggling defensive unit.

An autopsy is planned by Anderson County officials following reports of a heart attack, though no cause of death has been declared yet.

In four years in the league, Adams, a native of South Carolina, recorded 13.5 sacks in 29 games.

The tragic news comes less than 24 hours after fellow Bears defensive lineman Dusty Dvoracek was arrested in relation to a bar brawl in Oklahoma.

http://blogs.suntimes.com/

The case of the Houston Rockets vs. Tracy McGrady appears to be nearing its end. Read the full story

Upon hearing of the Buffalo Bills’ most recent signing, Kawika Mitchell was not happy, and he voiced that discontent on Twitter.

In response to the Bills signing offensive lineman Richie Incognito, Mitchell tweeted:

“RT @ProFootballTalk Bills add Richie Incognito http://is.gd/5qtmn #NFL–BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT THIS YR. THE GUYS A BUM. DIRTY AND ALWAYS…” Read the full story

Tiger Woods isn’t just America’s greatest golfer, and he isn’t just America’s greatest philanderer. He’s also America’s greatest vocabulary teacher.

Woods hasn’t yet spoken publicly in the two weeks since his mysterious car accident led to a media feeding frenzy about his sex life. But he has issued a couple of public statements on TigerWoods.com, and in those statements he showed a grasp of the English language that was apparently too difficult for some. Read the full story

Ingram wins Alabama’s 1st Heisman

Read the full story

UH coach Sumlin declines interview at Cincinnati

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/college/houston/6766918.html

Kevin Sumlin has eliminated himself from consideration for the vacant University of Cincinnati head football coach job.

In a statement released Saturday afternoon through the University of Houston, Sumlin said he decided against interviewing for the Cincinnati job that opened Thursday when Brian Kelly left for Notre Dame.

Sumlin is 18-8 in two seasons at UH, which faces Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 31 in Fort Worth.

“After speaking with representatives with the University of Cincinnati yesterday and today, I declined an interview,” Sumlin said. “I am looking forward to our first bowl practice later this afternoon and later honoring our seniors at the football banquet tonight.”

In the release, the school said players will not be available for comment until an undetermined time.

Sumlin says no to Cincy interview

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4737118

Houston coach Kevin Sumlin has declined an interview request for the vacant Cincinnati job.

“After speaking with representatives with the University of Cincinnati yesterday and today, I declined an interview,” he said in a statement. “I am looking forward to our first bowl practice later this afternoon and later honoring our seniors at the football banquet tonight.”

The Bearcats are in the midst of leadership change after former coach Brian Kelly left the program for Notre Dame on Thursday.

Kelly posted a 34-6 record in three years at the school and has guided Cincinnati to consecutive BCS bowl appearances in the past two seasons.

Sumlin, who took the Houston job in 2008, came to the Cougars after a five-year stint as an Oklahoma offensive assistant under Bob Stoops.

The Cougars are 18-8 under Sumlin and will play Air Force in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 31.

Houston’s Kevin Sumlin declines interview for University of Cincinnati job

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20091212/SPT0101/91212007/Houston+coach+not+interested+in+UC

Houston football coach Kevin Sumlin issued a statement through the school Saturday that he has declined an interview for the coaching job at the University of Cincinnati, according to the Houston Chronicle.

“After speaking with representatives with the University of Cincinnati yesterday and today, I declined an interview,” Sumlin said. “I am looking forward to our first bowl practice later this afternoon and later honoring our seniors at the football banquet tonight.”

UC’s Athletic Diretcor Mike Thomas said Thursday he will not comment on his search for Kelly’s replacement until it is complete.

The UC job became open when Brian Kelly left for Notre Dame.

On Wednesday, Houston athletic director Mack Rhoades told the Chronicle he and Sumlin were “probably 99 percent” set on a new deal. Sumlin said the negotiations were “getting close to where we need to be.”

• Possible candidates for UC job

The Enquirer will update this story.

Sumlin Not Interested in Cincinnati Job

http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/sports/091212_someone_not_leaving_uh

Updated: Saturday, 12 Dec 2009, 4:51 PM CST
Published : Saturday, 12 Dec 2009, 1:43 PM CST

MARK BERMAN

• Game statistics

AUSTIN – Cinco Ranch dug a first-half hole that proved to deep to climb out of as the Cougars fell to Austin Westlake 42-27 in the Class 5A Division I semifinals on Saturday at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

The Chaparrals (13-2) advance to the Class 5A Division I championship game, where they’ll face Round Rock Stony Point or Euless Trinity at 2 p.m. next Saturday at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Read the full story

Soft drink brand Gatorade says it is to drop a Tiger Woods-endorsed product but said it was not related to revelations about the golfer’s private life.

PepsiCo-owned Gatorade said the decision to axe the Tiger Focus drink was made a few months ago.

Since the 14-times major winner crashed his car on 27 November, many women have claimed to have had affairs with Woods. Read the full story

‘60′ of Donaghy Read the full story

K.C. Nlemchi, Cinco Ranch

• Notable: The junior running back had 21 carries for 245 yards and three touchdowns in the Cougars’ 49-26 win over Beaumont West Brook in the Class 5A Division I Region III semifinals on Saturday.

• Quotable: “K.C. is an outstanding football player and even better young man. We always get his best effort and he is definitely a great teammate. We are glad he is on our side.”

— Cinco Ranch coach Don Clayton

Other nominees

• Marquelle Davis, Brazoswood: The junior running back tallied 32 carries for 190 yards and a touchdown in the Buccaneers’ 42-19 win over Alief Taylor in the Class 5A Division I Region III semifinals on Friday. Read the full story

The Cinco Ranch Cougars are short on experience but you wouldn’t know it from the way they’ve played recently.

Despite graduating nine of the 11 players who helped them to 45 wins the past two seasons, they picked up back-to-back wins at the buzzer coming out of the McDonald’s Texas Invitational to improve to 5-2.

And that has second-year coach Neil King feeling pretty good early on. Read the full story

Hey, Tiger Woods: Why so dumb about tech?

When it comes to digital embarrassment, celebs are apparently just stupid

updated 7:59 a.m. CT, Thurs., Dec . 3, 2009

Not since Prince Charles of Wales told then-mistress Camilla Parker-Bowles of his desire to be her feminine hygiene product has an adulterous celebrity been so humiliated by a telephone communiqué. We’re talking about Tiger Woods here, and the voice mail message he left to an alleged mistress, released earlier this week by Us Weekly. In review:

“Hey, it’s, uh, it’s Tiger. I need you to do me a huge favor. Um, can you please, uh, take your name off your phone. My wife went through my phone. And, uh, may be calling you. If you can, please take your name off that and, um, and what do you call it just have it as a number on the voice mail, just have it as your telephone number. That’s it, OK. You gotta do this for me. Huge. Quickly. All right. Bye.”

Read the full story

The continuing revelations of alleged Tiger Woods infidelities has placed the golfing megastar’s management team in what one insider called “panic mode” early Wednesday morning.

Despite the release of photographs of Woods looking a bit too friendly with a woman in a Las Vegas nightclub, and a recording — allegedly of a phone call Woods made to former “Tool Academy” reality show alum Jaimee Grubbs — the Woods source insists “Tiger still believes stonewalling the press on this is the best approach.” Read the full story

The Netherlands were the surprise beneficiary of FIFA’s late decision to abandon the principles of the 2002, 2006 World Cup draw’s seeding formula.

In those cycles, FIFA assigned weights to the two preceding World Cup finishes along with the end-of-year FIFA World Rankings from the last three years.

Today, when announcing the eight seeded teams that will be draw into separate groups for World Cup 2010, FIFA disclosed that the only factor in this year’s seeding was the October 2009 FIFA World Ranking.  The top seven nations from that last will join host nation South Africa as seeds for Friday’s draw. Read the full story

If only one half of football could win games, the Texans would have left Reliant Stadium with a victory yesterday. The Texans started the game on a 17-0 run, and appeared to have a winning game plan for the unbeaten Colts. The game had what could be described as the closest feel to a playoff game as the players and fans had felt before at Reliant Stadium. After scoring two touchdowns (they almost had a third that was lost to a Andre Johnson drop in the end zone) and two field goals, Reliant Stadium was buzzing with the fans enthusiasm and excitement. After two quarters of play, the Texans were up by thirteen, had picked off Peyton Manning twice (Brian Cushing and Brice McCain had the interceptions), and appeared to have control of the game.

Unfortunately for the Texans, Peyton Manning and the Colts defense would not allow the Colts to come out and continue their sub-par play in the second half.

After trailing 20-7 at halftime, Manning and the Colts came out of the tunnel from halftime with a new game plan that the Texans would not find a way to stop. The Colts only scored once in the third quarter (Manning to Reggie Wayne for a 4 yard TD), but began to put the Texans away for good in the final quarter of the game. In the fourth quarter, Manning would connect with Dallas Clark for a 6 yard touchdown, followed by a Clint Session interception return for a touchdown, and a 23-yard rushing touchdown for Chad Simpson on the Colts following offensive drive which put the Colts up for good.

Matt Schaub appeared to be a completely different quarterback in the second half. He would throw two interceptions before a 10-yard pass to Jacoby Jones with 18 seconds left in the fourth quarter for his only touchdown toss of the second half. The first interception Schaub threw in the third quarter appeared to be a spot pass that either: (1) did not reach its correct spot or, (2) was a result of miscommunication between Schaub and Andre Johnson. However, the second (and more costly) interception Schaub threw appeared to be an ill-advised pass on the quarterback’s part. After the Schaub-to-Jones touchdown, the Texans were only left with 18 seconds on the game clock and could not recover the ensuing onside kick for a last chance effort to tie the game.

The Texans fall to 5-6 on the year after three heartbreaking losses that have left the team, and city, questioning their once strong playoff hopes. In post game interviews, coach Kubiak repeatedly shouldered the blame for this loss against the Colts, citing game management and prior preparation. After hearing the same reasons from Kubiak following each of the Texans recent losses, many Texans fans have begun calling for Kubiak’s firing. Reports have surfaced that Bill Cowher may have interest in coaching the Texans, and after yesterday’s loss, Texans owner Bob McNair may find chatting with the former Pittsburgh Steelers’ coach appealing. Many fans called in to Houston’s Sports Radio 610 AM to express their displeasure for both Kubiak and Schaub, but the answer to ‘What is the Texans’ problem?’ may be a combination of both. While Schaub did throw two interceptions to compound his dismal second half performance, the Texans once again showed signs of conservative play calling and lack of a killer instinct after they acquired their 17 point lead.

What’s my take?

The Texans should patiently wait until the end of the season to determine whether Kubiak or Schaub (or both) should be replaced with upgraded personnel at their positions. Should the Texans manage to put together a four or five game win streak to close out their 2009-2010 season, they might still have a shot at reaching the playoffs. Although wins against teams like New England (January 3, 2010 /// 7-3 record), the Jaguars (December 6th /// 6-5 record and Texans lost 21-24 in the previous meeting on September 27), and the Dolphins (December 27 /// 5-6 record) appear to be a daunting task for this Texans squad, they do not appear to be completely out of reach if the Texans can manage to put together some complete games over the next month. Although many fans have begun calling for immediate resolutions to the Texans’ issues, they may need to wait for the season to end to clearly see the problems at hand. Talk of personnel changes at this point in the season will only compound whatever problems the Texans are currently trying to solve in order to salvage the season which began with the highest expectations since the franchise began. After the next five games if fans repeatedly hear the same “it’s on me” answers from Coach Kubiak, then the calls for Bill Cowher to replace him as coach may be the correct answer. However, if Matt Schaub cannot elevate his game of play to that of the premiere franchise quarterbacks in the NFL for the last five games, the Texans and owner Bob McNair will have to decide whether or not changing coaches is the only thing left to push the Texans into true playoff contention.

Watch exclusive videos from the game:

OMAHA, Neb. –  Creighton men’s basketball junior Wayne Runnels has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week.

A forward from Watonga, Okla., Runnels had 16 points, nine rebounds and two assists in 21 minutes off the bench at No. 21 Dayton. He made 6-of-7 shots from the floor and 4-of-6 attempts at the line. Twelve of his points came in the first half as Creighton built a 10-point first half edge.

His 16 points were by most in a Creighton debut since P’Allen Stinnett in 2007 and his nine rebounds were the most in a Creighton debut since Nick Porter in 2005.

Creighton (0-1) returns to the floor tomorrow night with a 7 pm home game against Florida A&M.