(Deep breath….) Deceptive-style runner, graduated from DeMatha High June 1997, Villanova University graduate class of 2001, holds 1 NCAA record, for all-purpose yards in a career, former nickname “The Mule” (ok, that one’s NOT true), one of many pro-athletes to come out of Washington D.C., and one HELL of a model American (Exhale…..).

Now that you’re guaranteed NOT to confuse the Eagles’ Pro Bowl running back with former (fictional) Dolphins kicker Ray Finkle, let’s talk about the key player in Sunday’s divisional playoff game (that being Westbrook…you still with me?).

Thursday night's BCS title game between Florida and Oklahoma offers an excellent matchup, featuring two Heisman quarterbacks in Tim Tebow and Sam Bradford. But will the winner really be the national champion? When will the NCAA finally create a fair playoff system? At least four other teams deserved the number one seed just as much as Florida.

So there I was last Sunday night after watching the Eagles beat the Vikings in the NFC Wild Card playoffs. I turn on MSG to learn that the Knicks had beaten the champion Celtics! First thought: The Celts' Big 3 of Garnett, Pierce and Allen missed the flight to New York City OR they had all eaten at a restaurant threatened with closure by the NYC Health Department. But no, the Knicks REALLY did win. Coach Mike D'Antoni hoped the win was something to build on. Sadly, the foundation held for less than 48 hours.

His bright smile says it all. Mark Teixeira is really happy to be here. It showed from the moment he put on his new pinstripes and as he walked onto the field at the New Yankee Stadium. The construction crews yelled out, one saying, "Mark, way to go". A fist pump followed and more flashbulbs. He turned it on for the cameras but in genuine way. Mark definitely knows who he is talking to (ooohhh the big bad media!). Hopefully he will be the same come mid-season whether things are going well or not for the team and himself. I think so...but take a listen to his press conference and tell me what you think.

Lolita Lopez for The Huddle

Turns out Jets owner Woody Johnson has taken the team's 40 years of futility to a new level. Woody needed less than 24 hours to fire Eric Mangini after the Jets late season collapse. He quickly claimed he and GM Mike Tannenbaum would work tirelessly to hire a new coach. But while other owners are flying candidates into town or flying out themselves to interview potential new hires, Woody was on vacation out of the country. That stupidity may have cost him the best guy on the board, Bill Cowher.

New Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira poses on the field at the new Yankee Stadium after finalizing his eight-year, $180 million contract with the team. (Photo by Jason DeCrow / January 6, 2009)

The Yankees free agent shopping spree continues. So long Jason Giambi (who WFAN's Steve Somers mockingly calls The Sultan of Shot) is soon to be back where the steroids began-in Oakland. Hello, Mark Teixeira. "Tex" will wear Giambi's number 25 because his favorite player growing up, Don Mattingly, is one of a legion of Yankees with their number rerired. Donnie Baseball wore number 23.

Or at least it should. The Giants and Eagles will face each other this Sunday for the third time this season. The Giants know the Eagles and the Eagles Know the Giants. They split the two regular season games with the road team winning both games. The Eagles were the only team to beat the Giants at home this season. I think the running game (especially Brian Westbrook) will decide the winner.

No, that's not a misprint. The Knicks beat the Celtics by 12 at the Garden Sunday night.

Wilson Chandler scored a career-high 31 points and Al Harrington chipped in 30 to help the Knicks snap an 8-game losing streak against the defending champs.

Wasn't it just a year ago when the Celts beat the Knicks by about 60??

Anyway, if you're still having a tough time believing that the Knicks ACTUALLY routed the champs, we have the postgame reaction to prove it. Take a listen to Harrington, D-Lee and Chris Duhon.

PHOTOS: Knicks Upset Celtics, 100-88

Credit TheSmokingGun.com for this one. We all know that NBA Great Charles Barkley was stopped the other day in Scottsdale, Arizona for driving under the influence of alcohol. Barkley, always the straight shooter, didn't try to lie to the police. In the written report, police say Barkley admitted to having a couple of drinks. Ah, but his admissions didn't stop there.

We went to the Garden before the Knicks game with the Pacers to get some players’ thoughts on the Stephon Marbury-to-Boston rumors (check out our blog post below for more).

While most of the players were tight-lipped, as I’m sure you can imagine, Q-Richardson and Tim Thomas offered some insights.

Believe it or not, every player we talked to told us the story was NEWS TO THEM!! Apparently there’s no internet access in the MSG locker rooms.

Here’s what the guys had to say.

Remember when Stephon Marbury went to the Knicks/Lakers game last month in LA and watched the game from the stands?

That night he told reporters his days with the Knicks were numbered and “the team I’m going to go to, a lot of people will be SHOCKED.”

You weren’t alone if you thought that was just Steph being Steph…CRAZY, that is. But apparently, Starbury wasn’t kiddin’.

Reports are out today that the Celtics – THAT’S RIGHT – the Celtics…defending champs….the definition of team chemistry….want Marbury to help bolster a depleted bench (OHHHHHHHHHHH Baby...imagine if they get the deal done by Sunday. Celtics vs. Knicks at MSG).

Where to begin??

In the spirit of the New Year, We in the sports office wanted to start off fresh and forget the past year of ups and downs. Please join in and tell us what you want to see happen in the sports world in 2009. Here's what we want:

Lolita (Sports chica): More crying. Who will top T.O. and Brett's tear shedding moments of '08? Seriously though, moments that will make me cry in HAPPINESS! I won't pick any specific teams or championships but if David Tyree has another catch like in the past Super Bowl, I will cry...if Mike Pelfrey pitches a complete game, I could cry (again)--that was a good game...Aug 20. at Shea...with my father in law...hanging out...before September....you get the point! Please, no collapse tears...I can't handle it!

Kaity (Anchor Lady): Sweetie, you've got to be kidding. Me? Sports? LOL

Jim (Anchor Man): I want the Mets to get a new relief pitcher to succeed Aaron Heilman as the next winner of the "Armando Benitez No-Lead-Is-Too-Big-For-This-Bullpen" award. Let's face it.. Any team can win with a strong bullpen. It takes real character to come out on top when your middle relievers are constantly giving up three-run homers.

Mr.G (Mr. G): Knicks playing defense. I don't care if the Knicks win or lose; I just want them to play defense.

Caroline (Sports producer): The Yankees back in the World Series.

Matt L (Sports Producer): For Indiana to return to glory!

Matt E. (Sports Producer): April 15, 2009, 11:00 pm. - As the Yankees wrap up a 3-game series in Tampa on the eve of the FIRST game at the NEW Yankee Stadium (April 16th vs. the Indians), a water-main breaks, flooding the field and seats, forcing the Yanks to play home games at the old Yankee Stadium for the immediate future. Now, while crews work tirelessly to fix the busted pipe and clear damage, additional construction flaws come to light and the city is forced to condemn the building. This of course means that the Yanks will never have officially moved, continue to play in the House That Ruth Built, and eventually realize that leaving the storied building was a huge mistake. Can you tell I hate the new Yankee Stadium??!! (Sidenote: If this were to happen, can this blog entry be submitted as evidence?)

Chris (Sports Producer): Some HOME wins for the Nets and for the Mets to shut up the Phils.

Dave (WPIX editor): Three championships. ("Three?", I ask.) Yes, the Giants, Yankees and Rangers. ("Wow?") What? That's not too much to ask for.

Bob (the Director): To have the sports economy reflect what is going on in this economic climate...ticket prices...

When I heard that Joe Paterno would be coaching his Nittany Lions from the box in this afternoon's Rose Bowl, I thought to myself, "isn't that a little unfair?"

Now I know JoePa was coaching from high above during the last several games of the season, but this game is a little different. First of all, he had plenty of time to rest up. Of course, you say he's 82, can't get around as well...yada yada. Second, this is the Rose Bowl...probably one of the biggest/toughest games the old ball coach has ever been in, how could you not be on the sideline?

It seems that if Paterno is in the box he will have a better grasp of what is going on on the field. Having spent time on the field myself...as well as the nosebleeds...I can tell you there is a big difference between the two in the way you see the game. On the field there is no way you can see everything that is happening on the field. So, while Pete Carroll is on the sideline relying on spotters and his coordinators to relay information to him, Paterno will be able to judge things first hand.

I think it will be very interesting to see how the Nittany Lions do against the Trojans, it's probably the bowl match up of the season, and whoever plays mistake free football will definitely be smelling very rosy come tonight.

I’ve always been fascinated by ways in which college athletes deal with adversity. Some hit a low point and are mentally unable to turn things around. Others have the self-confidence to come off the floor and take their game to new levels. Those are the athletes who have what it takes to succeed on the professional level and are sought out by coaches. This year, no one displayed more perseverance and guts than Rutgers’ quarterback, Mike Teel.

The local high school star from Don Bosco Prep in North Jersey entered the 2008 college season as a fifth year senior. Despite the team’s success over the past few seasons – the greatest in Rutgers’ history -- Mike Teel was never perceived as a topnotch quarterback worthy of being noticed by NFL scouts.

Did you check out Woody Johnson at the Eric Mangini Firing Presser yesterday? I think the Jets' owner will send Brett Favre candy and flowers on Valentine's Day. Talk about star struck. You don't see this much catering to at Rosie O'Donnell's annual holiday party. For those of you who think its weird that Woody has such love for Brett the Jet, think again.

With Eric Mangini finally shown the door, the question now is who will be the next coach of the Jets. We present our Top 5 list of the MOST-LIKELY hires, and open the floor up to discussion.

The Jets completed their considerable collapse Sunday afternoon, falling to the Chad Pennington-led Dolphins, 24-17.

The game will potentially mark the end of an era in some way for the Jets; either by the retirment of Brett Favre or the firing of head coach Eric Mangini.

We caught up with both men after the game to get their take on the Jets failed season.

And neither is Jets defensive tackle Kris Jenkins.

There’s been a lot of talk at Jets’ camp this week about Sunday’s game being Brett Favre’s last in the NFL (that is if the Jets complete a Mets-like collapse and miss out on the playoffs).

But when asked about Favre hanging it up after the season, the out-spoken Jenkins expressed his skepticism about Brett no longer being a Jet.

Click below to hear Jenkins’ snappy retort:

(Editors Note: We’re obviously aware that Favre is no longer an Atlanta Falcon and is currently a New York Jet. However, the above picture was clearly TOO AWESOME to pass up and had to be used in this post).

My father-in-law will kill me to say this because he is a HUGE Jets fan...but maybe he won't be (I mean, he is a football fan more than anything), but I am rooting for Chad Pennington on Sunday. I supported the Brett Favre trade and while I was sad to see Chad go, I thought it was time for change in the QB department. And it started off so well. Favre was taking control, brought energy (and wins) to the team and made people proud to wear Gang Green again. All the while, Chad was basking in the sun and doing his thing in Miami. My brother down there tells me his presence (Thank you Mr. Parcells. Regards, Antonio) for the Dolphins and the city somewhat paralleled what we were experiencing here. And I was happy for Chad. He was always a good player just not productive here. Now we get to this position...Chad and the Dolphins could ruin the Jets chances at a postseason journey. So now what do I do? Root for the "good guy" (I am such a sucker) or support the local team? I do know this...I WANT the Jets to move forward because of the dozens of players who deserve it....Jones, Washington, Mangold, Rhodes, shall I go on?...but I can't get rid of the fact that I would love Chad to have a good showing. Then it dawns on me. I am rooting for the game, not any particular player. I am done with the poor offensive showing from the Jets lately or the "cross my fingers" feeling every time I watch them play. I want the Jets to be the team from earlier in the season. I want Chad to do well and push the Jets to play their best ball. I want a competitive showing and when the victorious party emerges,whoever it may be, then I will be satisfied. To a happy me...Lolita Lopez

DARRON CUMMINGS/AP PHOTO
Lance Armstrong

Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, and his girlfriend, Anna Hansen, 28, are expecting their first baby in June.