Weekend Watchdog: Look ‘Hoos in contention
When I arrived in Charlottesville in the summer of 1995, the Virginia Cavaliers were coming off a finish in the NCAA Elite Eight.
The 16 seasons since the arrival of Ralph Simpson had been pretty good for the school – a pair of NIT titles, two visits to the Final Four and shares of four ACC regular season championships.
The 16 years since haven’t been much to talk about.
The 2011-2012 Cavaliers started strong, pushing their way toward the top. They get a chance to impress Saturday when they visit North Carolina at 1 p.m. on the ACC Network. Read more
Weekend Watchdog: XLVI
The menus are planned.
By the end of Sunday, one team will have won its fourth Super Bowl.
The big game – and big commercials – will be on NBC this year. The New England Patriots and New York Giants kickoff Super Bowl XLVI sometime after 6:30 p.m. – depending on the length of the performance of the Star Spangled Banner.
It’s been 10 years since Tom Brady and the Patriots splashed onto the scene, edging the Rams in the final seconds. And it’s been seven years since their last title – thanks to the Giants’ win four years ago. Read more
Weekend Watchdog: Time for stars to shine
From the ice to the tropical sun, the best players gather this weekend.
The NHL holds its All-Star game Sunday at 4 p.m. in Ottawa, just before the NFL’s Pro Bowl in Hawaii.
Due to his action last Sunday, the Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin plans to miss the festivities on NBC Sports Network.
Who’s going to be playing on which team Sunday? They host a Fantasy Draft Thursday at 8 p.m., and the skills competition is Saturday at 7 p.m.
The Pro Bowl now kicks off Super Bowl week, meaning the best players of the best two teams will miss the event. Instead of canceling the trip after the big game. NBC has the coverage starting at 7 p.m. Read more
Weekend Watchdog: Who’s going to Super Bowl XLVI?
We know Madonna’s going to be doing the halftime show February 5.
We know there’s going to be some good commercials.
Sunday night, we’ll know which teams will meet in Indianapolis for Super Bowl XLVI.
The AFC goes first, at 3 p.m. on CBS. New England and its dominant offense face the Ravens and their tough defense – third in the NFL for the season. Read more
Weekend Watchdog: Best NFL weekend of the year
If you watch ESPN at all, you know Chris Berman’s going to be excited this weekend.
It’s time for the final eight NFL teams to meet. Four teams with first round byes hosting the four teams that won last weekend.
The weekend starts off Saturday at 4:30 p.m., as the Saints visit San Francisco on FOX. Both teams finished 13-3, and Drew Brees’ record-passing season will go against a tough 49er defense. Read more
Weekend Watchdog: Championship time
The best two teams in college football meet Monday.
The best of the college football playoff level meet Saturday afternoon.
Saturday and Sunday, the NFL starts its run to the Super Bowl.
It’s a good time to be a football fan.
New Orleans hosts two of the big games – a Saints playoff game and the BCS National Championship between LSU and Alabama. ESPN has coverage Monday at 8:30 p.m.
LSU enters the game as the top-ranked team in the nation, thanks to a 9-6 overtime win over Alabama in November. With other rivals dropping down the stretch, the Crimson Tide climbed back into the championship game rematch.
There’s a few more games before the Tigers and Tide battle. FOX has the Cotton Bowl Friday at 8 p.m., matching Kansas State and Arkansas. Saturday at 1 p.m., Pittsburgh faces SMU in the Compass Bowl on ESPN, and Sunday at 9 p.m. Northern Illinois plays Arkansas State in the GoDaddy Bowl.
The real Division I playoff concludes Saturday at 1 p.m. on ESPN2, with Sam Houston State playing North Dakota State. Read more
Weekend Watchdog: Chilly in Philly?
For the second straight year, the NHL brings its Winter Classic to Pennsylvania.
We’ll see if it will be chilly enough in Philly.
The Flyers host the Rangers Monday at 1 p.m. on NBC in the fifth Winter Classic. The fourth Classic, last year in Pittsburgh, had to be moved to the evening due to rain. Previous Classics in Buffalo, Chicago and Boston provided enough cold and thrills to make the contest a highlight of the schedule.
The festivities include an Alumni Game Saturday at 1 p.m. on Versus. Read more
