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In Longhorn Country, Locals Are Going Purple for TCU

PASADENA, Calif -- Consider this: At UCLA, which has nearly 400,000 living alumni and a legendary men's basketball program, administrators are desperately trying to raise $100 million to rebuild the campus arena. They're still well short of that target, even after 18 months of effort.

Meanwhile, at Texas Christian University, a small Fort Worth private school that's been a college sports vagabond and hasn't won a national title in football since the '30s, administrators began soliciting donors earlier this year for a $90 million stadium renovation. They raised it all -- in eight months. .

"This is a transformation," said TCU athletic director Chris del Conte, who arrived 15 months ago after stints at Rice and Arizona. "We have a better stronghold on the community than we've had in the past, no question."

That's no small feat, especially in a metropolitan area consumed by the Dallas Cowboys, and in a pigskin-mad state that's long been clad in the burnt-orange of Texas (total enrollment: 50,000) or the maroon of Texas A&M (48,000). But in 2010, Lone Star fans are embracing purple - TCU's color - as the No. 3-ranked Horned Frogs prepare to play No. 5 Wisconsin on Saturday in TCU's first appearance in the Rose Bowl.

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Angels Reportedly Front-Runners for Adrian Beltre

Filed under: Angels, Athletics, Rangers, MLB Rumors, MLB Hot Stove, MLB Free Agency

With every passing day, it seems clearer and clearer that Adrian Beltre and the Angels belong with one another.

A week ago, news broke that the Angels were pulling their offer to Beltre off the table. That move came with the caveat that they were still interested in signing Beltre, but they weren't interested in being played against other teams, real or imagined, for his services. It looked like a smart move then and it looks even smarter now.

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports that the Angels remain at the top of the list of Beltre suitors. The A's, who were an early mover for Beltre's services, have walked away after having several offers refused by the third baseman and his agent Scott Boras. The Rangers would like to sign Beltre, but the cost is prohibitive and the fact that they'd need to deal Michael Young or move him to designated hitter isn't sitting all that well with them.

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Peyton Hillis Misses Practice But Eric Mangini Remains Optimistic

Filed under: Browns, NFC North

Cleveland Browns' running back Peyton Hillis missed practice again on Friday, after missing Wednesday and Thursday's practices (including Monday's outdoor workout) due to sore ribs. On the second play of the Browns matchup against the Ravens last Sunday, Hillis took a clear shot in the ribs from Baltimore's Pro Bowl safety Ed Reed as he was going down. As a result of the hit, Hillis rested this week so he can heal and be ready to face the Steelers in the Browns finale on Sunday.

However, Browns' Head Coach Eric Mangini is optimistic that his leading rushing will be ready to take on Pittsburgh.

"The only guy that is missing here today is Peyton (Hillis) but I'm still optimistic that he'll be able to play," said Mangini in his Friday's press conference. "I feel pretty good about it but we will see. We will see tomorrow where he's at and just take it from there. That's been primarily the main thing is the soreness and it gets better each day but figure another day of rest will give him the best chance to be effective on Sunday."

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Non-AQ Report: TCU, Gary Patterson Have Rare Opportunity

Filed under: New Mexico State, TCU, UCF, Bowl Games

What, Gary Patterson worry? Not a chance.

TCU is becoming an old pro at playing in high-pressure situations and Saturday's Rose Bowl game against Wisconsin is no different. This is the same TCU team that has gone undefeated in the last two regular seasons to get into a BCS game, so the Horned Frogs know exactly what they need to do to be successful.

"I don't feel like we're the small guy," Patterson said during his press conference Thursday. "We've only lost three games the last three years. We lost to Oklahoma and (it) played in a national championship game. We lost to Utah that beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, and then Boise a year ago. So we've been in big games and we've proven we can play on a big stage.

"We're treating this like any other ballgame. That is one of the things we have. We understand we have to play at a very high level to beat a Wisconsin team."

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Looking Back at the 2010 Golf Storylines, On and Off the Course

Filed under: PGA, PGA Championship, Ryder Cup, FedEx Cup

If golf 2010 reminded us of anything it was that seasons are often remembered not as much by what was accomplished as they are by the moments that made people pay attention.

There are news stories and then there are newsmakers. Although easily confused, the two are as different as a hook and a slice. News is the result of proficiency and production. Something happens. It is created by events, challenge and adversity.

Making people look is always interesting, but not always an accomplishment.

Because no season in memory so blurred the lines as 2010, somebody has to sort the laundry.

NEWSMAKER -- Tiger Woods

Never has so many words been written and said about a golfer who did not win a single event.

Everybody knows why. Woods' tumble from his lofty perch became news, but the reasons that caused it were all self-inflicted wounds.

The rest of the story: There's a little National Inquirer in everybody.

NEWS STORY -- Lee Westwood

The 38-year-old Englishman replaced Woods as the world's No. 1 ranked golfer. Considering almost six years had passed since anyone could make a similar claim, that's news.

Westwood won only once on the PGA Tour in 2010, but finished second in both the Masters and British Open. And after coming back from being sidelined for almost two months, he immediately starred in Europe's Ryder Cup victory and added a victory in South Africa.

The rest of the story: Now, let's talk about a major championship.

Mick Elliott: 2010 PGA Season Was a Wild Ride

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