Professional

HOMESTEAD, Fla. – NASCAR chairman Brian France wants Jimmie Johnson to be commended for his four-year run atop NASCAR, and not used as an example of why the championship format might be flawed.

Donovan McNabb called it a “must win,” and just to be clear, he was only referring to his Philadelphia Eagles.

LAKE FOREST – The way the Bears are struggling, Pro Bowl linebacker Lance Briggs can understand why fans around Chicago would have their doubts.

LOS ANGELES – The numbers are not what Luol Deng monitors to gauge his comeback from the stress fracture in his right leg last season.

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – For Hendrick Motorsports, this NASCAR season might seem easy as 1-2-3.

CALGARY, Alberta – On a Thursday night when they scored a season-high seven goals, it was a Cristobal Huet save that got the Blackhawks rolling.

Unless Gordon Beckham improves his Spanish, or shortstop Alexei Ramirez expresses himself better in English, the biggest challenge for the White Sox’s new double-play combination might be communication on the field.

LOS ANGELES – As soon as he finished hugging ex-teachers and ex-coaches who greeted him at the Galen Center entrance on the USC campus, Taj Gibson knew what was coming.

HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Chad Knaus was clearly distracted as he leaned against a cart during a casual conversation before last week’s race in Phoenix. His eyes darted around, finally settling on an aerosol can and a box of towels.

Devin Hester could have blamed last Thursday’s mental lapses on the hours he spent at his fiancee’s side, waiting for their son to be born.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – Perry Fewell shared a simple but blunt philosophy in taking over as the Buffalo Bills interim head coach after Dick Jauron was abruptly fired on Tuesday.

CHICAGO – From their first Prospects Camp in the summer of 2007, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane have experienced just about everything in their Blackhawks careers together. Now that the young forwards are poised to sign contract extensions, fittingly they likely will do so at the same time.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Everyone from general manager Gar Forman to coach Vinny Del Negro to teammates have called Brad Miller and John Salmons stabilizing forces since leaving this NBA outpost via trade last February 18.

NFL

GREEN BAY, Wis. – In a miserable tailspin one week, solid playoff contenders the next.

CLEVELAND – Even after Baltimore had punished Brady Quinn, Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis got in one more vicious hit on Cleveland’s quarterback.

AVONDALE, Ariz. – Brad Keselowski’s crew chief was headed to the pre-race driver meeting when Juan Pablo Montoya cut him off at the door.

LAKE FOREST – With four losses in five games and a 4-5 record, defensive tackle Tommie Harris realizes the Chicago Bears’ hopes are fading fast.

AVONDALE, Ariz. – When a fluke accident cost Jimmie Johnson a huge chunk of his points lead, he knew there was no more room for error in his bid to win a NASCAR record fourth consecutive championship.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Charles Woodson helped Green Bay’s defense finally play up to its potential against a big-time opponent, forcing two fumbles and picking off a pass by Tony Romo on the goal line as the Packers beat the Cowboys 17-7 on Sunday.