MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — They called the football game played here Monday night a national championship, a title clash for the ages, epic, monumental, historic.

Then Notre Dame kicked the ball

It seems reasonable to question why any wise man would even entertain thoughts of leaving a place where a monument to him has been erected outside his office. Or in the case of Nick Saban, along the Walk of Champions outside Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., where a 9-foot statue

KAPALUA, Hawaii — After waiting 67 hours 25 minutes to hit his first shot, Steve Stricker finally opened a defense of his Tournament of Champions title Monday with a 358-yard drive on the 520-yard par-4 first hole at the Plantation Course.

The wind-whipped event, shortened to 54 holes and extended

LOS ANGELES — Chicago was great for Jamal Crawford’s first four N.B.A. seasons, with adoring fans and lots of shot opportunities, even if his Bulls went 89-239.

New York, of course, had even brighter lights and a lot of shot opportunities, too, even if his Knicks went 118-221 in four-plus

For most coaches in the N.F.L., what ultimately defines them is the difference between winning and losing. For Washington Redskins Coach Mike Shanahan , however, that age-old distinction has

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Manti Te’o was 5, on a drive around his hometown, Laie, Hawaii, when his father turned to him and asked, “Son, when you play football, what number do you want to be?”

The number he chose would be with him for the rest of his career.

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Brian Boyle sat at his stall at the Rangers ’ practice rink, beaming.

“It’s different when you have a goal, when you