COLLEGE FOOTBALL

It’s official:  This year’s Heisman Trophy recipient is Oklahoma Sooners’ Quarterback Sam Bradford. He had an incredible year in the Big 12, and will be playing in the BCS National Championship game against Florida on January 8th.  Bradford is also predicted to be a top pick in the 09 NFL Draft.  He thanked God, his parents, his coach, and his entire team by individual position.

NBA

The Cavs looked to improve their win streak to 12 games against the Atlanta Hawks.  Cleveland’s win streak actually began with the Atlanta Hawks 11 games ago. Lebron had 33 points on the night, but this was Atlanta’s night.  It was a neck and neck game all the way up to the end, but Atlanta’s Joe Johnson had a huge fourth quarter with 11 points, and Mike Bibby had some clutch assists to barely edge the Cavs.  Atlanta 97, Cleveland 92.

Elsewhere in the NBA, Philadelphia has given up on head coach Maurice Cheeks.  The 76ers were supposed to compete in the East this year due to the key addition of superstar free agent, Elton Brand.  However, that experiment didn’t work out, and the Sixers are 9-14, after losing 8 of their last 10 games.  Not good news for a head coach.  Cheeks was fired yesterday, and hopefully his replacement can help turn things around in Philly.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Another record came to end.  The #23 Kansas Jayhawks currently have a 30-game home winning streak, and were expected to easily topple a 2-6 UMASS team.  But, this pesky UMASS team just wouldn’t quit.  They even pulled up by 11 points in the first half.  Kansas came back in the second, but UMASS simply kept the heat up.  Keep in mind too, that UMASS’s coach is Derek Kellogg, the assistant coach at Memphis last season.  And for those of you who forgot, Memphis lost to Kansas in last year’s championship game by one point off a last second shot by Mario Chalmers that unnecessarily sent that game into overtime.  This time, however, Coach Kellogg saw that play coming, as Tony Gaffney got piece of Kansas’ Sherron Collins last second shot, and the UMASS Minutemen held on to win the game.   Ricky Harris led the way for UMASS with 18 points.  UMASS 61, Kansas 60.