From the greens to the ring, Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay was rockin’ Saturday night when Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez squared off for a rematch of their 2004 bout, which ended in a split decision. This time ‘round, the fight was just as close and evenly matched, but the judges’ scorecards deemed Pacquiao the winner by just one point.

CHEAP SHOT?

Friday, Mar. 14 – San Antonio Spurs defensive specialist, Bruce Bowen, will sit out for the first time in 500 straight games – the longest current streak of consecutive games played in the NBA. Bowen was suspended without pay for Friday night’s game against the Detroit Pistons for kicking New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul Wednesday night. Here’s what went down: Chris Paul fouled Bowen in the third quarter, prompting Bowen to retaliate by kicking Paul. Thus, the suspension. Turns out the cheap shot was anything but, costing Bowen a pretty penny of about $373,000.

ROCKETS ROLL & MORE

Tuesday, Mar. 11 – The Houston Rockets are STILL rollin’. After a 91-73 rout over the visiting New Jersey Nets Monday, the Rockets bumped their win streak up to 19, tying the third-longest winning streak in NBA history held by the 1999-2000 Los Angeles Lakers. Next up? The Rockets will go for 20 straight wins when they face the Atlanta Hawks Wednesday. In other NBA news, the Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade will miss the remainder of the season to rehab his ailing and surgically repaired left knee.

For all you football fans, here’s the latest on NFL pickups and signings. QB Trent Green (formerly of the Miami Dolphins) returns to the St. Louis Rams as a backup for Mark Bulger. The Seattle Seahawks also picked up RB Julius Jones (formerly of the Dallas Cowboys) in an effort to recharge the Hawks’ run game. Bet that’s raising a few Emerald City eyebrows – namely Shaun Alexander’s. Also, RB Warrick Dunn (formerly of the Atlanta Falcons) returns to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where Dunn played from 1997-2001.

SWEET 16

Thursday, Mar. 6 – The Houston Rockets have been on a roll – a franchise-record 16-straight-wins kind of roll – after defeating the Indiana Pacers Wednesday. The 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers hold the longest NBA win streak of all time at 33 wins, so the Rockets certainly have a ways to go. The surging Rockets – who have gone 4-0 since losing Yao Ming for the season – will try to improve to 17 straight wins when they face their I-45 and division rival Dallas Mavericks Thursday. The Mavs will be without reigning MVP Dirk Nowitzki, who is suspended one game for committing a flagrant-2 foul on Andrei Kirilenko of the Utah Jazz Monday.

A FAVRE FAREWELL

Tuesday, Mar. 4 – Green Bay Packers QB Brett Favre, 38, has decided to retire after a storied 17 seasons and told Coach Mike McCarthy of his plans on Monday night. While Favre admits that he is still physically able to play the game, he is tired mentally. Favre’s impressive career includes three NFL MVP awards, a Super Bowl title, and plenty of record-setting stats, including 61,665 career passing yards, 442 career touchdowns, and 160 wins as a starter.

During the 2007 season, Favre led a young nucleus of Packers to a 13-3 record and a division title in the NFC North, but Favre and company couldn’t oust the now-Super-Bowl Champion New York Giants. Fans can remember Favre as a consummate professional on the field – having started 253 regular-season games – and a virtual lock for the NFL Hall of Fame.

WEEKEND WHOAS!

Monday, Mar. 3 – From the NBA to NASCAR to the NFL, the weekend in sports was eventful to say the very least. In case you didn’t hear, the Houston Rockets are the hottest team in the league, going a perfect 13-0 in the month of February and winning their 15^th straight game after a 103-89 victory over the Denver Nuggets Sunday. The Rockets’ winning streak is tops in the league this season and ties the longest streak in franchise history since the Rockets’ 1993-94 Championship-winning season.

In NASCAR news, Carl Edwards is no stranger to Victory Lane, tallying back-to-back wins – the first in last Monday’s Auto Club 500 and the second win in the UAW-Dodge 400 Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Currently, Edwards is the Sprint Cup points leader, which could change if NASCAR officials dock Edwards for having a loose lid on his car's oil tank reservoir.

NFL fans might be interested to know that the Pittsburgh Steelers and QB Ben Roethlisberger have agreed to an eight-year contract worth $102 million, including $36 million in guarantees, making Big Ben, 26, one of the highest-paid players in the game today.

LEAPS…AND BOSTON BOUND?

Friday, Feb. 29 – Winners of 10 straight, the red-hot Los Angeles Lakers are streaking. As winners of just 19 games – total – the Los Angeles Clippers are sinking. As a result, the Lakers (41-17) lead the Pacific Division, while the Clippers (19-36) – who have played without the injured Elton Brand and Shaun Livingston all season – are sitting in last place and out of the playoff picture.

On Thursday, the Clippers waived journeyman Sam Cassell, 38, who has played for seven different NBA teams, including the Houston Rockets from 1993-96. Now, the veteran – yet often injury-prone – point guard can join another team, possibly the playoff-bound Boston Celtics. Cassell has averaged nearly 13 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, and 26 minutes in 38 games this season but has missed the past four games with a wrist injury.

CENTER OF ATTENTION: YAO MING OUT?

Tuesday, Feb. 26 – Houston Rockets center Yao Ming is out for the rest of the regular NBA season with a stress fracture in his left foot. As of today, the All-Star was averaging 22 points and nearly 11 rebounds per game for the surging Rockets, who have won 12 straight games. The Rockets team doctor has suggested either surgery or treat the injury with a cast and crutches. Either way, Yao would need about four months to heal and would not return this season or in the postseason for the currently seventh-seeded Rockets (36-20).

REIGN CHECK

Monday, Feb. 25 – With the rain coming down Sunday in Southern California, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Auto Club 500 came to a screeching halt at 87 laps due to wet conditions. When the race resumed on the 88^th of 250 laps Monday, Jimmie Johnson was in the lead, but Carl Edwards (who started in third) surged past both Johnson and Jeff Gordon, who finished second and third respectively.

In golf news, Tiger Woods finished with a win during Sunday’s World Golf Championship – Accenture Match Play Championship in Marana, Arizona, defeating Stewart Cink 8-and-7 in the 36-hole final round. Sunday’s win gave Tiger his 15^th WGC win, his sixth win in his last seven PGA Tour events, and his 63^rd career victory, moving him ahead of Arnold Palmer and in sole possession of fourth place on the all-time PGA Tour wins list.

BIG DEAL

Thursday, Feb. 21 – The NBA trade deadline is over. Were there more blockbuster trades? Key acquisitions? Big deals? We’ve got the skinny on some of the biggest shakers and noise-makers from around the league:

The New Orleans Hornets received Bonzi Wells and seldom-used Mike James from the Houston Rockets in exchange for Bobby Jackson, rookie Adam Haluska, and the Hornets' second-round draft pick. As part of a three-team deal, the Memphis Grizzlies acquired Marcus Vinicius from the Hornets and the Griz traded the rights to Sergei Lishouk to the Rockets in exchange for Malick Badiane. The Rockets pulled off another trade that sent Kirk Snyder to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for former Slam Dunk champ Gerald Green.

NEW KIDD IN TOWN

Tuesday, Feb. 19 – After a week of on-again, off-again trade talks between the NBA's New Jersey Nets and the Dallas Mavericks, it looks like Jason Kidd is finally a Mav. The trade sends Kidd, Malik Allen, and Antoine Wright to Dallas in exchange for Devin Harris, DeSagana Diop, Trenton Hassell, Maurice Ager, Keith Van Horn via sign-and-trade, first-round draft picks in the 2008 and 2010 drafts, along with $3 million in cash.

With the Nets struggling in the first half of the season, Kidd expressed his desire for a trade. This latest blockbuster deal should make the once-disgruntled Kidd much happier now that he’s off to a contending team – a team where he once shined and earned Rookie of the Year honors some 14 seasons ago. Kidd fans can expect the All-Star point guard to play his first game Wednesday night when the Mavs take on the New Orleans Hornets on the road.

GOOD SPORTS

Monday, Feb. 18 – Surprises? There were plenty. Thrills? You bet. This weekend in sports was definitely action packed and filled with excitement, stars, and super finishes. First off, the Great American Race was once again great, crowning Ryan Newman as the NASCAR Daytona 500 champ. Teammate Kurt Busch followed close behind, notching a 1-2 finish for the Penske Dodges and the first Daytona 500 victory for team owner Roger Penske.

During NBA All-Star Weekend, the sophomore class topped the rookie class for the sixth straight year. Jason Kapono (Toronto Raptors) repeated as the three-point shootout champ with a final, record-tying score of 25. With a “Superman” dunk heard round the world, Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic) dominated the Slam Dunk contest with three straight perfect scores. In the All-Star Game, East beat the West 134-128, naming LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) as MVP.

With the NBA’s Feb. 21 trading deadline looming, the Sacramento Kings sent PG Mike Bibby to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for guards Anthony Johnson and Tyronn Lue, F Lorenzen Wright, C Shelden Williams, and a 2008 second-round draft pick. Plus, check back for updates on Jason Kidd and the New Jersey Nets-Dallas Mavericks trade, which is reportedly still in the works...

A LOOK AHEAD

Friday, Feb. 15 – With the 2008 NBA All Star Game festivities in New Orleans and the Daytona 500 in Daytona Beach lined up, it looks like a busy weekend in sports lies just ahead.  

On Friday, kick off the All-Star weekend with the All Star Celebrity Game, featuring Common, Taylor Hicks, Master P, Chris Tucker, and more! Follow all that star action with an exciting Rookie Challenge as a talented rookie class looks to dethrone the sophomore squad, winners for five straight years.

On Saturday, sit back and enjoy an All Star Saturday Night, featuring the Slam Dunk Contest, and – for the first time in All-Star Game history – YOU decide the winner! Will it be last year’s champ Gerald Green, Dwight Howard, Jamario Moon, or Rudy Gay? Also, don’t miss the Three-point Shootout, the Skills Challenge, and the Shooting Stars competition as well.

On Sunday, the NBA All Star Game tips off as East battles West for a big win and bragging rights to boot! And look who’s heading over to Daytona Beach, Florida, for the Daytona 500 – Jimmie Johnson, Michael Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Denny Hamlin, Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Dale Jarrett, and more! Find out who will be crowned as Daytona 500 champion to take home about $1.5 million of a record $18.6 million purse!

GOING THROUGH THE BIG D?

Thursday, Feb. 14 – On this Valentine’s Day, nothing says “I love you” like a shiny, seven-player NBA blockbuster trade all set and wrapped up to go. New Jersey Nets and Dallas Mavericks fans were already getting googly-eyed Wednesday when the Nets and Mavs agreed in principle to send the Nets’ All-Star point guard Jason Kidd and Malik Allen to Dallas in exchange for Devin Harris, Jerry Stackhouse, DeSagana Diop, Maurice Ager, two future first-round picks, and cash.

However, the deal has been put on hold, at least for the moment, after Devean George blocked the trade Wednesday night. Looks like Kidd will have to wait before reuniting with the Mavs, the team that drafted him during the 1994 NBA draft. Had the trade gone through – and it’s likely it still will – it would have been the third blockbuster move of the month, following the Lakers’ Pau Gasol steal – er, deal – and the Shaq’s surprising move back West to join the Phoenix Suns.  

ON THE CONTRARY

Wednesday, Feb. 13 – There are two sides to every story. Seven-time Cy Young winner Roger Clemens says he never used performance-enhancing drugs during his career. Clemens’ former personal trainer, Brian McNamee, claims otherwise, as reported in the now infamous Mitchell Report. Clemens’ close friend and former teammate, Andy Pettitte, testified that Clemens had used HGH over a decade ago. Clemens’ is adamant that Pettitte misheard him. Now, who to believe?

Both Clemens and McNamee had a chance to take their stories to Capitol Hill for a Congressional hearing that lasted nearly five hours. Both parties offered their respective stories – under oath this time. Both got grilled. Both had their credibility questioned. But both stuck to their stories. Following the hearing, Congress seems to still be split down the middle, while the matter could ultimately be “referred to the Justice Department for a resolution – and, possibly, criminal charges.”

SUNS RISE, SUNS SET?

Thursday, Feb. 7 – Heads are STILL spinning after Wednesday’s NBA blockbuster trade that – until Tuesday – no one saw coming. Shaquille O’Neal is officially back in the West, this time with the Phoenix Suns. Skeptics of the trade wonder how or if Shaq can improve the Suns, masters of small ball, kings of the run-and-gun offense. However, even with the league’s most prolific offense for the past three years, the Suns – Coach Mike D’Antoni, Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire, et al – have zero rings to show for it.

In the past three years, who’s taken the crown? The San Antonio Spurs have won two titles (2005, 2007) with the Big Fundamental Tim Duncan dominating in the low post. The Miami Heat won the championship in 2006 with – guess who – Shaq “The Diesel” O’Neal manning the middle. While O’Neal may be older and slower than he was in his championship-winning heydays with the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat (circa 2006), Shaq will definitely give the Suns a new identity along with the championship experience the Suns currently lack.

THE HEAT IS ON

Wednesday, Feb. 6 – Word ‘round the NBA trading block says that center Shaquille O’Neal may be headed to the Phoenix Suns, which would reportedly send forward Shawn Marion and guard Marcus Banks to the Miami Heat. O’Neal – who’s been plagued with nagging injuries this season – must first pass a physical before the blockbuster trade can be completed. If the trade does indeed go through, the high-octane Suns hope that O’Neal can be the defensive presence that the team currently lacks.

It seems the West just got a little tougher, with recent NBA trades sending former Memphis Grizzlies Pau Gasol and Damon Stoudamire to the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs, respectively. Both Gasol and Stoudamire started their first games with their new teams Tuesday. Gasol’s debut included a 24 point, 12 rebound outing in the Lakers’ 105-90 rout over the New Jersey Nets. Stoudamire turned in 22 minutes and 11 points in the Spurs’ 116-89 pounding of the Indiana Pacers.

GOOD KNIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK

Tuesday, Feb. 5 – After 42 seasons and over 900 career wins, Bob Knight – revered as “The General” – resigned as head coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders Monday. Over the years, Knight – former head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers (1971-2000) and the Army Black Knights (1965-71) – has become one of the most controversial figures in sports, known as much for his temper (throwing a chair back in '85) as his high percentage of graduating players and commitment to running a clean program.

Now after a long, storied, and polarizing career, Knight has decided to part ways with the sports world that has both vilified and validated him. Bobby Knight – the winningest coach in men’s Division I basketball and winner of three NCAA Championships, one NIT Championship, and a 1984 U.S. Olympic basketball gold medal – leaves the Red Raiders (currently 12-8, 3-3 in Big 12 play) in the capable hands of son and now head coach, Patrick Knight.

A SUPER COMEBACK

Monday, Feb. 4 – The New York Giants have done it. They defeated the Patriots and proved critics and skeptics wrong in one fell Super-Bowl swoop Sunday. After roaring back from a slow 0-2 start to the season and finishing the season with a flurry of road wins (none bigger than a Super Bowl victory), the Giants are undoubtedly the NFL’s comeback kids.

Read more about the Super Bowl HERE.

BACK IT UP

Friday, Feb. 1 – The NBA announced the 14 reserves Thursday for the 57^th annual NBA All-Star Game set for Sunday, Feb. 17, in New Orleans Arena. Check back soon for updates on the Rookie Challenge and the participants in All-Star Saturday Night, featuring the slam dunk contest, three point shootout, and skills challenge.

The East’s capable back-up crew includes: Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton, Detroit Pistons; Chris Bosh, Toronto Raptors; Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison, Washington Wizards; Joe Johnson, Atlanta Hawks; and Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics.

In the West, first-time selections Chris Paul and David West will represent the host New Orleans Hornets. Other Western Conference reserves include: first-timer Brandon Roy, Portland Trail Blazers; Carlos Boozer, Utah Jazz; Steve Nash and Amaré Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns; and Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks.

In other NBA news, the Los Angeles Lakers have bolstered their depleted front line by trading Kwame Brown and two first-round draft picks to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Pau Gasol, whose stat line of 18.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.44 blocked shots through 39 games should suffice at center for the Lakers with Andrew Bynum out with an injury.