East

Bears coach Lovie Smith believes his team is poised for a late-season Super Bowl run after beating the Patriots 7-3 in the second half of Sunday's game at Soldier Field.

Former Cubs ace Mark Prior, who hasn’t pitched in the major leagues since 2006, signed a minor league deal Tuesday with the Yankees to be the team’s designated "Towel Drill Instructor." New Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild could think of nobody better than Prior for the job.

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has become well-known for insisting on dressing like a Sherpa mountain guide on the sidelines. This has inspired the coach to introduce his own line of “NFL Sherpa Wear” for those who also wish to resemble unbathed, mud-covered mountain folk.

At long last, fan favorite Kerry Wood is coming home to Chicago. In fact, he will never leave thanks to GM Jim Hendry who Thursday inked the oft-injured Wood to a lifetime contract with the Cubs worth upwards of $200 million.

Hockey fans nationwide breathed a huge sigh of relief Tuesday as Sidney Crosby and the Penguins were knocked off the pedestal of a 12-game winning streak losing to rival Philadelphia Flyers. The Penguins made no excuses for themselves during the post-game media conference, except Sidney Crosby who was quick to point fingers at fellow teammate Evgeni Malkin.

It turns out that NY Jets strength coach Sal Alosi wasn't trying to injure anyone on the Miami Dolphins when he tripped Nolan Carroll. He was actually filming a commercial for Buffalo Wild Wings.

The chance to win a championship is usually at the top of every athlete’s list when it comes to choosing with whom to sign during free agency, but the chance to be back with a favorite mascot is rarely cited as a reason. That’s why it was surprising to hear that the biggest reason Cliff Lee signed with the Phillies over the Yankees and Rangers was because their mascot, the Philly Phanatic.