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3:30 AM

Stop and savor this special Lion in winter Paul Sokoloski Opinion

They asked Joe Paterno just what he’d be doing to celebrate his 83rd birthday last week, and one of the oldest and wisest major college football coaches in the land broke into a devilish grin.

3:30 AM

Canada’s Guay a favorite to claim gold

BEAVER CREEK, Colo. — Try as he might, Canadian downhiller Erik Guay can’t ski away from the pressure.

3:30 AM

Playoff hopes gone, Titans set sights on new goals

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans’ improbable playoff dreams are finished for this season. Now it’s back to reality with goals quickly set on two other historic marks.

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Wildcats roll with ‘underdog’ coach

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Frank Martin is stubborn. Not in the find that missing puzzle piece kind of way, but in the tell me I can’t do something and I’ll prove you wrong vein.

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Louisville prepares for test from Radford

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville coach Rick Pitino cooked a Christmas Eve dinner for some of his players who couldn’t make it home for the holidays.

3:30 AM

No. 6 WVU still unbeaten

NEWARK, N.J. — Devin Ebanks scored 22 points, Da’Sean Butler had 21 and Kevin Jones added 19 to lead No. 6 West Virginia to a 90-84 overtime victory over Seton Hall on Saturday, keeping the Mountaineers one of six unbeaten teams in Division I.

3:20 AM

Meyer exiting over health issues

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Urban Meyer resigned Saturday as Florida’s football coach after five seasons and two national titles because of health concerns that came to light when he suffered chest pains following the SEC championship game earlier this month.

3:20 AM

His Cup runneth over

The spotlight was certainly bright on the sports scene in the Wyoming Valley during 2009.

3:20 AM

Energized Penguins turn back River Rats

WILKES-BARRE TWP. – The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins returned from their holiday break with the look of re-energized team.

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RB Lewis leads Panthers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It wasn’t the bowl Pittsburgh wanted to be in, but the Panthers made a case that they’ve returned to prominence.

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Thundering Herd hold off Bobcats

DETROIT — Martin Ward ran for two touchdowns in the first half Saturday and Marshall held off Ohio 21-17 in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl.

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Okposo leads Islanders over Rangers in OT

NEW YORK — Kyle Okposo, whose sharp passing set up the New York Islanders’ first two goals, scored 4:13 into overtime and lifted his team to a 3-2 victory that snapped the New York Rangers’ four-game winning streak Saturday night.

3:20 AM

Nowitzki, Mavs hold on to top Grizzlies

DALLAS — Dirk Nowitzki scored 20 points over the first three quarters, then saw his teammates take control in the fourth to carry the Dallas Mavericks to a 106-101 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday.

3:20 AM

Kentucky feels right at home in Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Call the Music City Bowl the Kentucky Wildcats’ new postseason home.

3:20 AM

Testing main issue for bout commentary

Agreeing to split the money for what promises to be the richest fight in history was the easy part for Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao. But promoter Bob Arum predicted there would be bumps in the road because of Mayweather’s determination to protect his unbeaten record, and he was right.

3:20 AM

Artest falls at home, has concussion

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Lakers forward Ron Artest suffered a concussion and injured his left elbow after falling at his home.

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Scoring challenge answered

WILKES-BARRE TWP. – The first 30 games of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins season have been marked by inexperienced players being forced into positions in which they might not have been ready to succeed.

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Heads-up! NHL general managers might implement rule to ban high hits

NEW YORK — Keith Primeau is linked to the late Reggie Fleming even though their NHL careers were separated by decades.

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Upcoming penguins schedule

Today

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Post-Iverson, Grizzlies produce a winning chemistry

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — When the Allen Iverson experiment blew up on Memphis, it looked as if the Grizzlies had started yet another lottery countdown.

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Foes psyched for hit series

PITTSBURGH — They are the two most visible faces of tough-guy football, as personified by James Harrison’s snarling and Ray Lewis’ meanness. Fittingly, the weather routinely is cold and nasty when they meet, or much like the attitude each carries for the other.

3:20 AM

Giant motivation to top Panthers

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — After starting the season with five straight wins, the New York Giants had a feeling there would be postseason games in their final season at Giants Stadium.

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Playoff hopes fading, Jets out to stop Manning, ‘perfect’ Colts

INDIANAPOLIS — Rex Ryan watched Colts tapes all week searching for flaws. He’s still looking.

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STANDINGS

STANDINGS

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NFC Leaders

NFC Leaders

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AFC Leaders

AFC Leaders

3:20 AM

Hey Philly, here comes Dawkins

PHILADELPHIA — Lost in the hoopla surrounding the return of Brian Dawkins to Philadelphia is the importance of a game with strong playoff implications.

3:20 AM

The latest Knight growing into success at Texas Tech

LUBBOCK, Texas — Pat Knight seems to have coached himself out of an identity crisis.

3:00 AM

Improving wildlife habitat the goal

Chris Denmon has a vision that extends a mile long into the depths of State Game Lands 57 in Wyoming County.

3:00 AM

Bulletin Board

The Stanley Cooper Sr. Chapter of Trout Unlimited will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 12 at the VFW on 757 Wyoming Ave. in Kingston. The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. and the featured topic is “Prospecting for Trout: A Guide’s Perspective” with Tom Brtalik. Those in attendance will learn basic trout biology and behavior and to ‘think like a trout’ during the seminar. Brtalik’s presentation relates to fishing during any season, anywhere in the world. Brtalik is a full-time licensed professional fly-fishing guide, lecturer and instructor with more than 30 years of experience in central Pennsylvania. For information, visit www.sctu.org.