"And to take advantage of his newfound popularity surge, a lower-tiered sports league is turning Eli into a promotion. The New York Titals of the National Lacrosse League have announced that their January 31st game against San Jose will be "Eli Appreciation Night." Fans who show up wearing Manning's jersey will gain free admission to the game. But better yet, you don't even have to be a Manning fan for this promotion. You just have to be an Eli. Those named "Eli," "Elijah," or even "Elisha" will get in for free just based on their name."

Solid, next thing you know he'll be in more commercials and promos than big bro.

Looks like Canseco tried to get Maggilo to fork over some cash to invest in a film project, in order to keep his name out of his new book

"José Canseco, the former major league slugger and admitted steroid user who exposed other players in his 2005 best-selling book "Juiced," offered to keep a Detroit Tigers outfielder "clear" in his next book if the player invested money in a film project Canseco was promoting, according to a person in baseball with knowledge of the situation."

Well at least for the games in Japan. Wouldn't be surprised to see this come more common place in major sports in the future.

"When the Boston Red Sox take the field in Tokyo in late March for their first two games of the season, they'll be wearing the corporate logo of EMC Corp., the giant data storage firm in Hopkinton. It's the first time Red Sox players have ever worn a corporate brand on their uniforms, other than those of sporting goods companies. The logo is intended to highlight EMC's new role as an official sponsor of Major League Baseball Japan, and an expanded business relationship with the Red Sox"

How in the world do you spend $24k a month on gas? Looks like Shaq likes pissing his money away.

"Try to wrap your head around these numbers -- on a monthly basis, Shaq spends:

* $24,300 at the gas station filling up (dude, buy a Prius)

* $17,220 on clothes

* $6,730 on laundry and dry cleaning

* $2,305 on pet care

* $1,620 on music and magazines

* $1,495 on cable television.

Man I can see some areas where he can cut back.

"USC freshman guard O.J. Mayo may have violated NCAA rules by accepting complimentary tickets from Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony to Monday's Lakers-Nuggets game at Staples Center.

Although USC compliance officials could not be reached for comment, NCAA bylaw 16.11.2.2.3 states that student-athletes may not receive "free or reduced-cost admission to professional athletics contests from professional sports organizations, unless such services also are available to the student body in general."

Looks like Mayo received some free tickets from his buddy Carmelo Anthony. USC's sports information director must be going nuts with the whole Reggie Bush saga and now this, not the kind of press you want for your school

"Jones said he will pick up the $3 million roster bonus of wide receiver Terrell Owens, which is due June 3. Jones is open to a possible contract extension for Owens, who is entering the final year of a three-year deal."

Good move for the Cowboys the need a receiver like Owens for Romo to have success.

Looks like the Skins have got there man in Fassel after his 3rd interview

"Jim Fassel has become a top candidate for the Washington Redskins coaching job after a third interview with owner Dan Snyder.

The former New York Giants coach met with Snyder on Monday, according to a person familiar with the selection process. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the Redskins haven't publicly stated the names of any candidates."

Good old Mercy Morris thinks that even if the Patriots go 19-0 they are the 2nd best team of all time. Let it go buddy, different eras, both teams are the best of their eras!

"Well, now the Patriots are 18-0, one win better than the 17-0 Dolphins of 1972, and Morris isn't quieting down. On ESPN Radio this morning, Morris said of the Patriots, "They win on February 3, and they're the second-best team in the history of the NFL. The only reason we're the best is that nobody can take that away from us ... We're the first team ... If they win, they're going to be the second team."

Good logic Mercury.

After being dropped last week, Jose has picked up a new publisher for his sequel, Vindicated.

"Less than a week after Jose Canseco lost a publisher for "Vindicated," his follow-up book to the controversial 2005 best-seller "Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant 'Roids, Smash Hits and How Baseball Got Big," a new publisher, Simon Spotlight Entertainment, has picked up the book and will publish it in time for opening day."

" Andy Pettitte is said by friends to be upset with Roger Clemens because of Clemens' aggressive defense to the charges leveled against him in the Mitchell Report. Most of all, Pettitte didn't care for Clemens' public airing of his taped phone call with accuser Brian McNamee, which accomplished little."

Apparently the good friends aren't as good friends as the media has made them out to be.

""They were never as close as they were made out to be," a friend of both said on the condition of anonymity. "They just sort of went along with it in the media, because it was a good story."

Things continue to look bad for Clemens.

Can't wait until Pettitte rats out the lier Clemens

NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders said on Sunday night's "NFL GameDay" that "big-time players must play in big-time games.

"It must be surgery for him to get a pass on this one," Sanders continued. "I hope we come up with something in the offseason that is not severe but that warrants surgery, because there is no reason not to play, with all the medication in the world today, not to play in this big game that could propel your team into the Super Bowl."

Looks like everyone has a few questions for LT. "He's never been a running back and had a sprained MCL," Tomlinson said. "You tell me what running back has played with a sprained MCL and been effective. ... I don't know how that information gets passed on, but until you talk to the source of the problem, what's going on with me, I think it's ridiculous when people make comments like that."

LT's image continues to take a hit. Now he''ll not only be viewed as mouthy but wimpy as well.

"The new Dolphins front office wants concussion-prone quarterback Trent Green to come back for 2008.

Dolphins football operations chief Bill Parcells and General Manager Jeff Ireland have reached out to Green to express their interest in his return."

Can this guy even remember plays anymore? Not sure this is the guy you want running your team, and I'm not if I was Trent Green I would want to play again after all the vicious blows and concussions.

"An idea calling for Roy Jones Jr. to fight Felix Trinidad with a "Ron Paul for President" tattoo on his back Saturday night has been kayoed by the former boxing champion.

"This is going to be Roy Jones' last fight, and he didn't want it to be remembered for that," said Heath Whitaker, a fan of both Jones and Paul, the long shot Republican presidential candidate."

That could have opened up a whole new avenue for marketing

"Specifically, the report says that Rivers suffered a partially torn ACL, the three letters that no player ever wants to hear when doctors are examining his knee. The initial report is not online, but a few web sites, including Roto World and Pro Football Talk, have picked up on it."

Doesn't look good for Rivers... get ready Billy Volek

Man the NHL missed the boat again, this would have attracted more fans into the building. I guess you can't blame them though.

"he offer was snatched back before a thirsty hockey fan could spell Budweiser.

Shortly before lunchtime Thursday, the St. Louis Blues sent an e-mail to fans announcing "Tuesdays on Tap," a promotion offering unlimited free beverages, including beer, for certain tickets to five upcoming home games."

"You get the tickets, and we'll get the drinks," the offer stated. It promised free "all-inclusive drinks," including beer, for tickets costing as little as $25 in "select sections."

McLoughlin said the free-beverages offer was one of several team executives were considering to boost ticket sales on Tuesdays, "which lag behind the season average."