BCS standings: LSU and Alabama on collision course to decide No. 1, for now

 

The crowd at the top is thinning.

The college football weekend started with eight undefeated teams but is down to six.

Clemson and Kansas State lost, Stanford barely held on and Louisiana State and Alabama, without playing, reaffirmed their grip atop the Bowl Championship Series standings as they prepare for their huge showdown Saturday at Tuscaloosa, Ala.

LSU remained first in the BCS standings released Sunday with an average of .9734, followed by Alabama at .9591.

The order of the schools is moot, as the winner Saturday will be the undisputed No.1 next week with the loser scrambling to get back in the race.

Oklahoma State, after an impressive win over Baylor, solidified its No.3 BCS ranking with an average of .9310.

Stanford survived a triple-overtime thriller over USC and moved up two positions this week to No. 4 at .8615. Boise State, which had the week off, slipped one spot to No. 5 at .8522.

Rounding out the BCS top 10 are Oklahoma at No. 6, Arkansas, Oregon, South Carolina and Nebraska.

Oklahoma moved up four spots this week and is the highest-ranked one-loss team. Oregon dropped two positions to No. 8 and Arkansas, despite struggling to beat Vanderbilt, moved up three spots to No. 7.

Houston (8-0) moved up four positions to No. 13 and is the only undefeated team outside the BCS top 10.

The top two teams in the final BCS standings, to be released Dec. 4, will play Jan. 9 for the BCS national title in New Orleans.

-- Chris Dufresne

Photo: LSU's Kenny Hilliard celebrates after scoring a touchdown against Auburn last week. Hilliard and the Tigers put their No. 1 ranking on the line this week against No. 2 Alabama. Credit: Jamie Squire / Getty Images

WTA Championships Diary: Another milestone for the extraordinary rise of Petra Kvitova

Petra Kvitova, WTA champion

Some year for Petra

Petra Kvitova began the 2011 season as a rather unknown lanky Czech ranked No 34 in the world. She has finished it as the world No 2, Wimbledon champion, and WTA champion, and with over $5 million in prize money. Not bad for a 21 year-old.

The Czech was at her gut-screeching best for the first five games of the final against Victoria Azarenka, throwing in aces and drop shots alongside her fearsome forehand to lead 5-0. But then she went walkabout, dropping four games in a row to Azarenka, who to her credit, didn’t waste the opportunity. Although Kvitova sneaked the first set 7-5, Azarenka, with the crowd firmly behind her, battled back to take the second. But then Kvitova decided to find one of her purple patches, and despite squandering a championship point at 5-2, served out for a 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 victory.

She is now odds-on favourite to be crowned the WTA player of the year.

Young and old

The WTA’s top three singles players may all be aged 22 and younger when the new rankings come out on Monday, but that doesn’t mean the age of the golden oldie is over.

38 year-old Lisa Raymond and 35 year-old Liezel Huber used their combined aged of 73 to excellent effect to become the WTA doubles champions. They beat Kveta Peschke and  Katerina Srebotnik 6-4, 6-4, Huber became world No 1, and they now have their sights set on the Olympics. And why on earth not.

As for the young guns, it's safe to say that we can expect to see plenty more of Kvitova and Azarenka in 2012 – both of them are not at all far off Wozniacki in terms of points, just 115 for Kvitova, so we could well have a new world No 1 during the Australian Open.

Turkey done good

The week in Istanbul has been such a success from the WTA’s point of view that Stacey Allaster, WTA CEO and Chairman, compared it to the glory days of Madison Square Garden. Slight exaggeration, perhaps.

But the fact remains this tournament has been very illuminating from a fan-base point of view. 11,000 people a day, peaking at 13,676, and with 70,824 in total? Quite something.

That’s what happens when you price tickets at 10 and 20 lira (£3 and £7).

The great grunting debate

"I thought we'd get away without that," joked Stacey Allaster as grunting came up in conversation again, confirming that the WTA plans to speak to players and coaches about noise on the court after receiving increasing amounts of negative feedback  from fans.

But, she did say that it is up to the players to complain if it's bothering them, implying that if that was the case, the tour would react accordingly.

"I haven't had one player come to me and complain, not one," Allaster said.

Her view was backed up by Huber, who said "As long as the players don’t stand up and say, Hey, this bugs me, then it’s the player’s fault."

Azarenka, who greeted the question about her noise level with a wry smile, also said that players are just not bothering about what their opponent is doing on the court.

"Whatever helps players to be better, that's their own way. I have to respect that. Somebody has to jump around, somebody have to say bad words or whatever. It's their own way. I just try to focus on myself and that's it."

Changes afoot

The WTA is set to introduce a new level of tournaments, WTA Challengers, to sit in between the ITF $100K and the $220 WTA International events. There will be two in 2012, as pilot events, with plans for 8-10 by 2013. Prize money will be $125K, and they are likely to be in the Asia-Pacific region.

The women’s tour is also bumping up its prize money by eight per cent to $52.4 million for the 2012 season.

What’s next?

The last WTA tournament of the year is the Tournament of Champions in Bali (lucky them), while the men compete in Basle and Valencia this week, before Paris, and then London. It’s the final stretch…

For the ladies who've been in Istanbul this week, it's very much holiday time. Azarenka is off to Minsk, and a Rihanna concert in Zurich, Kvitova is heading home, maybe to a spa, and then to off-season training in the mountains. Happy holidays to them.

Soundbites

“I have had too good of a career to kind of just be mediocre”

Lisa Raymond on Lisa Raymond

“Can I have a real one?”

Victoria Azarenka on being handed a model of a Turkish Airlines plane

Something a little different…

According to Vegas Confidential, there is set to be a bidding war for the film rights to Andre Agassi’s explosive autobiography “Open.” Steven Spielberg and Jerry Bruckheimer are both said to be interested.

Lessons learned in Istanbul

If someone offers you ‘brains’ in a restaurant, they’re not speaking figuratively.

UFC 137: Nick Diaz versus GSP back on again; BJ Penn and Mirko Cro Cop retire

Newslines from UFC 137:

Carlos Condit steps side for GSP to defend welterweight title against Nick Diaz next

Beaten BJ Penn retires; defeated Mirko Cro Cop announces it is all over for him

Roy Nelson and Cheick Kongo both call for heavyweight title shot

Donald Cerrone enhances his credentials for a lightweight title shot

Nick Diaz will face Georges St Pierre for the UFC welterweight title next up, in the wake of his victory at UFC 137 over BJ Penn. Diaz told a Mandalay Bay Events Center crowd he thinks UFC champion Georges St-Pierre faked an injury in order to avoid the fight. "He's not really injured; he's scared," said Diaz.

The move earned St-Pierre's attention, and UFC president Dana White confirmed at a news conference an hour later that Carlos Condit has agreed to step aside in order to make the fight. St Pierre said: "This is what I wanted since the beginning. Let's do what was supposed to be done originally. I've always wanted this fight — now I want it even more. I can't wait for Superbowl weekend."

White said: "Condit has agreed that he will fight on the same event. We spoke about it and if he wins, he will fight the winner of Diaz and GSP."

White announced the change with Diaz in attendance at press conference. Diaz then complained his preparation for the Penn fight and the lead up to the card. Diaz and his camp appear to believe that the fighter should not have been withdrawn from the original main event against St-Pierre. His manager Cesar Gracie echoed similar views after the news conference. But now it's game on.

UFC legends BJ Penn and Mirko Cr Cop retired in the Octagon in Las Vegas after their respective contests. Cro Cop was stopped by Roy Nelson; Penn decided to call it a day after a mainly stand-up war with Nick Diaz in which the ramparts were slowly taken apart for the Hawaiian. It was one-sided in the last two rounds, as Diaz set about Penn's body and head with a relish. The onslaught in the second round all but did for Penn. All but did… yet the hugely popular mixed martial artist came forward himself in the third, but his tired arms would not allow him much success against the relentlessness, and spite, of Diaz. Some will call it a war. But it was one-sided in many ways.

Diaz was marginal favourite coming in with the bookmakers. Penn looked tense. There were great exchanges in the stand up in the early seconds. Both had success. Penn with the right; Diaz with a right left. They then went to the ground, they rolled. Penn got the better of it, taking dominant position. It was Penn's round. But the second saw a dramatic shift. Diaz punished Penn for almost three and a half minutes. They may become known as the 200 seconds which heralded Penn's retirement call. If this is to be his swan song, it was a great way to go out. But who knows.. ? Although Penn left no caveat, minds can change when spirits repair.

For the record, it was 29-28, 29-28, 29-27 in Penn's favour. Diaz was his inimitable self straightaway after the contest. He was asked about fighting GSP. "I don’t think he's hurt. He’s scared." 'GSP, GSP' they crowd in the events center chanted. Penn had kind words for Diaz, who had admitted in the lead up to this contest that Penn had been his first MMA idol. "It sucked when I learnt I'd be fighting him," said Diaz. Most likely felt something similar to that for Penn to lose to a protegee. Always gracious Penn said: "Hats off to Nick Diaz, he was the man in there tonight. But it's time for me to call it a day. I have a daughter, another on the way, and i don't want to go home looking like this."

Time will tell.

Dana White said afterwards: "Diaz can fight. Penn got busted up tonight. Nick Diaz is the real deal. And what a warrior BJ Penn, there were moments in that third round even when he was exhausted he was firing back…"

Frenchman Cheick Kongo emerged victorious against Matt Mitrione. Kongo did just enough to take the first round against Mitrione and completely outstruck the American in the second. He then slammed his opponent to the ground twice in round 3. The canvas vibrated with the combined weight of the two big men thumping onto the surface. From the top, he threw strikes and elbows. I had it 30-27.

Roy Nelson ended the career of the ever popular Mirko Cro Cop. “I’m getting too old for this s***. I want to fight for the heavyweight championship. I want the winner of [Junior] Dos Santos and [Cain] Velasquez,” said Nelson.

Kongo also stated afterwards that he wants a re-match with Velasquez, to whom he lost in their first meeting, and a shot at the heavyweight title belt. The contenders are stacking up.

Nelson had Cro Cop onto the ground in the opening round, having taken the famed left leg strike of the Croatian and a left upper cut. Nelson appeared to rock Cro Cop with a right hand early in the second round, then slipped. Cro Cop, seizing his moment, let fly with a welt of left hands, as Nelson covered up. The American recovered to get a takedown. Nelson had Cro Cop in crucifix for the final minute, pounding his opponent from above. After a quiet start to third, Nelson unleashed a big straight right, Cro Cop fell flat, and ‘Big Country’ pounced, pounding at the fallen Croatian. It brought him a TKO victory.

Donald Cerrone bulls Dennis Siver in another impressive display

Donald Cerrone against Dennis Siver was always destined for something special.

They stood, they threw, Cerrone conquered. Siver’s world was rocked by a heavy left leg kick from ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone, leaving his legs jiggly, although the German scrambled to recover his feet and land with a left-right combination.

Seconds later, Siver was off balance again, stumbling out of contact, and to the ground. Cerrone galloped after his foe. Flattening Siver out, the submission by rear naked choke was inevitable. As Siver reddened, the canvas got thumped by the flat of the German’s hand. It took Cerrone 2 minutes 22 seconds to complete the rout. Title shot ? Maybe not for two fights, but certainly Cerrone is now heading that way.

Bart Palaszewski reckons he broke both hands KO-ing Tyson Griffin

Bart Palaszewski knocked out Tyson Griffin with a barrage of punches in the opening round of their 148lb fight after Griffin weighed in at 149 yesterday. The veteran of 48 fights, making his UFC debut, rocked Griffin with two left hands, and as his opponent covered up, he let fly like a threshing machine. He cut Griffin to the floor, his legs crumpling like a loose shirt. Dramatic finish.

Brandon Vera lost soul of the light-heavyweights

Strange to see Brandon Vera not even headlining the prelims. Time was when he was talked about in the same buffed terms as Jon Bones Jones is today. The world was Vera's oyster. He was the next best thing. He defeated Frank Mir. Would he go on to be a double divisional champion. Vera defeated Eliot Marshall, winning the first two rounds, but was dangerously rocked in the third. But the bigger picture is that the enigmatic fighter now resides in the wilderness of the roster. So much talent. Such a waste.

FULL RESULTS from UFC 137:

Preliminary card (Facebook)

Middleweight bout: United States Dustin Jacoby vs. United States Clifford Starks

Starks defeated Jacoby via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27).

Middleweight bout: United States Chris Camozzi vs. France Francis Carmont

Carmont defeated Camozzi via unanimous decision (30–26, 30–27, 30–27).

Lightweight bout: United States Ramsey Nijem vs. United States Danny Downes

Nijem defeated Downes via unanimous decision (30–25, 30–26, 30–27).

Light Heavyweight bout: United States Brandon Vera vs. United States Eliot Marshall

Vera defeated Marshall via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28). This fight aired on the Preliminary card after the Siver / Cerrone fight.

Preliminary card (Spike TV)

Catchweight (148 lb) bout: United States Tyson Griffin vs. Poland Bart Palaszewski

Palaszewski defeated Griffin via KO (punches) at 2:45 of round 1.

Lightweight Bout: Germany Dennis Siver vs. United States Donald Cerrone

Cerrone defeated Siver via submission (rear naked choke) at 2:22 of round 1.

Main card

Featherweight bout: Japan Hatsu Hioki vs. United States George Roop

Hioki defeated Roop via split decision (29–28, 28–29, 29–28).

Bantamweight bout: United States Scott Jorgensen vs. United States Jeff Curran

Jorgensen defeated Curran via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 30–27).

Heavyweight bout: Croatia Mirko Filipović vs. United States Roy Nelson

Nelson defeated Filipović via TKO (punches) at 1:30 of round 3.

Heavyweight bout: France Cheick Kongo vs. United States Matt Mitrione

Kongo defeated Mitrione via unanimous decision (30–27, 29–27, 29–28).

Welterweight bout: United States BJ Penn vs. United States Nick Diaz

Diaz defeated Penn via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27, 29-28).

USC football: Referee comments on controversial end of regulation play

After USC's 56-48 triple-overtime loss to No. 4 Stanford, USC Coach Lane Kiffin said he was disappointed with the officials because there should have been one second left on the clock at the end of regulation to kick a possible game-winning field goal.

The situation occurred after receiver Robert Woods caught a pass from quarterback Matt Barkley and tried to get out of bounds on Stanford's sideline. Officials ruled that Woods was tackled before he got out of bounds to stop the clock.

Kiffin said he told an official that he was going to call a timeout with one second left. He also said that the referee told him after a replay ruling that if there was one second left, he wouldn't have time to call a timeout.

"But I've been around football long enough and seen plenty of timeouts called with one second left on the clock," he said. "That isn't my opinion and I'm not complaining. I'm just stating the facts."

Referee Mike Batlan said time had expired.

"The ruling on the field was that we were going to overtime," Batlan said. "Through review, it was seen that the knee was down and time had expired, and therefore we were headed to an overtime peirod.

"Any coach can ask for a timeout, but he doesn't get one until the official grants or signifies it. I was not part of any conversation or meeting with regards to a requested timeout. I really can't comment any further after the review and ruling on the field."

RELATED:

Photos: USC vs. Stanford

Stanford defeats USC, 56-48, in triple overtime

Bill Plaschke: Trojans work hard but don't play smart against Cardinal

--Gary Klein

Photo:USC receiver Robert Woods catches a touchdown pass behind Stanford cornerback Barry Browning in the second overtime at the Coliseum on Saturday night. Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

Metro Pucks Weekly: Blown Leads, a Controversial Call and a Lot of Losses

Our weekly review of the performances of the three local N.H.L. teams.

Grades

Rangers: The win Monday in Winnipeg was quickly forgotten, as the Rangers had a miserable pair of losses to open their schedule at the remodeled Madison Square Garden. They were beaten in every aspect of the game in the second and third periods of a 4-2 loss to Toronto on Thursday. They also blew a 4-1 lead in the third period to Ottawa and eventually lost the game, 5-4 in the shootout Saturday. “Some of the details of our game are still weak,” Coach John Tortorella calmly said after the deflating loss to the Senators. “Until we get the solid foundation of the details, we’ll sputter.” They face a big challenge Monday when the Sharks come to the Garden. Grade: C minus

Devils: After an impressive 3-0 win in Los Angeles on Monday, New Jersey ended its road trip with losses in Phoenix and Dallas. The Devils were unable to score clutch goals in the third period of their losses. Ilya Kovalchuk and Zach Parise, their go-to stars for offense, were both scoreless and minus-2 Saturday in Dallas. Coach Peter DeBoer was very pleased with the effort in Dallas. “I told the guys after the game if we play like that, we’ll win a lot more than we lose,” he said. New Jersey plays the surging Maple Leafs at the Prudential Center on Wednesday. Grade: C

Islanders: They have lost five games in a row, but it was not all bad for the Islanders this week. After getting shut out by the Penguins at home Tuesday, they took a 2-0 lead but lost, 3-2, in the shootout Thursday in Pittsburgh. They outplayed San Jose on Saturday but lost a heartbreaker in overtime when the Sharks scored a power play goal after a mistake by the on-ice officials. The Islanders do not play again until Thursday, when they host Winnipeg. Grade: C minus

Blown Call of the Week

Early in 4-on-4 overtime on Long Island on Saturday, Travis Hamonic cleared the puck off the top of the glass and into the stands. However, the two referees and two linesmen did not see the puck hit the glass and Hamonic was given a two-minute penalty for delay of game. Brent Burns scored for the Sharks 38 seconds into the power play for the win. The decision was particularly galling to the Islanders because the officials met to discuss Hamonic’s clearing attempt and still got it wrong. Under the rules, referees are not allowed to consult video replay for a better look. Here it is:

Metro Players of the Week

Dan Girardi, Rangers; Andy Greene, Devils; Marty Reasoner, Islanders – A loss-filled, star-less week like this presents a good opportunity to salute unheralded players who rarely hear their names called out for the three stars of the game. Girardi continues to play big minutes for the Rangers while Marc Staal is sidelined and management struggles to find defensemen the coaching staff can trust. Girardi played half of the 65-minute game Saturday. Greene, the Devils’ smooth-skating defenseman, had two assists and was plus-5 over three games this week. Reasoner, the journeyman grinder the Islanders signed as a free agent in July, has been a strong penalty killer and was dominant on faceoffs against the Sharks.

Trending

Down: Brandon Dubinsky – This is how badly the season is going for the Rangers’ forward: on Saturday against Ottawa, he created more and was as active as he’d been in any game his season, and he still ended up  minus-2 with two shots on goal in 21 minutes of ice time. Dubinsky has not scored a goal through nine games in 2011-12.

Up: Brad Richards – Although he was outworked by Milan Michalek on the game-tying goal for the Senators, Richards showed signs of life in his offensive game, scoring two goals and adding an assist on Saturday.

Up: Adam Henrique – The Devils’ rookie center has played well since his recall to replace Jacob Josefson. Saturday in Dallas, he won 7 of 11 faceoffs and admirably returned to the game after blocking a shot with his right foot at the end of the second period.

Down: Devils’ “Dirty” Goals – New Jersey scored just six goals in three games this week. A grinding team, the Devils need to crash the opposing net more frequently and with more tenacity.

Up: Travis Hamonic – The Islanders’ second-round draft pick in 2008 has emerged as one of the league’s finest young defensemen in his own zone. Hamonic possesses strength, toughness and hockey sense.

Down: Islanders’ ticket sales – On Saturday, the franchise honored Pierre Turgeon and the rest of the 1993 Patrick Division playoff champions and offered 50 percent off tickets to anyone who showed up in a Halloween costume. Announced attendance was 11,742. For a heavily promoted rivalry matchup against Pittsburgh on Tuesday, Nassau Coliseum was only half full.

This Week’s Head-Scratcher

Islanders Coach Jack Capuano said Evgeni Nabokov, after allowing just two goals in 65 minutes Thursday in Pittsburgh, “was fatigued and not feeling well.” Nabokov was replaced for the shootout by Rick DiPietro, who had yet to play this season. Nabokov said he sustained an injury during the first period, played through the discomfort, but “Jack pulled the trigger” to substitute DiPietro. The Islanders lost the shootout because they failed to score on their three tries while Evgeni Malkin scored on DiPietro. Capuano didn’t come close to making eye contact with reporters in Pittsburgh after the loss, and don’t be surprised if we learn more of this story down the road.

UFC: Carlos Condit steps aside for GSP to face Nick Diaz next

Nick Diaz will face Georges St Pierre for the UFC welterweight title next up, in the wake of his victory at UFC 137 over BJ Penn. Diaz told a Mandalay Bay Events Center crowd he thinks UFC champion Georges St-Pierre faked an injury in order to avoid the fight. "He's not really injured; he's scared," said Diaz.

The move earned St-Pierre's attention, and UFC president Dana White confirmed at a news conference an hour later that Carlos Condit has agreed to step aside in order to make the fight. St Pierre said: "This is what I wanted since the beginning. Let's do what was supposed to be done originally. I've always wanted this fight — now I want it even more. I can't wait for Superbowl weekend."

White said: "Condit has agreed that he will fight on the same event. We spoke about it and if he wins, he will fight the winner of Diaz and GSP."

White announced the change with Diaz in attendance at press conference. Diaz then complained his preparation for the Penn fight and the lead up to the card. Diaz and his camp appear to believe that the fighter should not have been withdrawn from the original main event against St-Pierre. His manager Cesar Gracie echoed similar views after the news conference. But now it's game on.