January 13th update

Anirudh's NFL Playoff predictions

While generally speaking we simply stick to the facts and report news items we deem relevant, the NFL playoffs are so big that we thought we'd take a shot at predicting the next round of games. Without further ado:
• New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers, Saturday at 4:30 PM – The high flying Saints offense travels to California to take on a very stout 49ers defense. Drew Brees, off of a year where he broke most every record possible, looks to solve the puzzle created by 49ers rookie coach Jim Harbaugh. Sportico prediction: Saints 33 – 49ers 16
• Denver Broncos at New England Patriots, Saturday at 8PM – Patriots look to contain Tebow. A porous Patriots defense look to try to do what the #1 defense in the league couldn’t do last week. Tebow continues to amaze, and could really be a curveball in this game. Sportico prediction: Patriots 27 – Broncos 20
• Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens, Sunday at 1 PM – The Texans look to continue their improbably run against the Ravens tough defense. Ravens coach John Harbaugh will look to continue the progress of his inconsistent quarterback Joe Flacco. This game should come down to Ravens star RB Ray Rice, and the Texans having no real answer to Rice. Sportico Prediction: Ravens 20 – Texans 10
• New York Giants at Green Bay Packers, Sunday at 4:30 – Best game of the weekend features the feared Giants pass rush versus Packers superstar quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers and his team are looking to be the first back-to-back Super Bowl winner since the 04-05 Patriots. The Giant’s Eli Manning is looking for his second Super Bowl ring, which would make him probably the least heralded 2-time winner. Sportico Prediction: Packers 42 – Giants 38


Selig gets 2 year extension

• The MLB Owners voted 29-1 on Thursday to give 77 year-old MLB commissioner Bud Selig a two-year contract extension through the 2014 season, which will further one of the great non-playing careers that the sport has seen. Selig has held the position and performed the duties since 1992, although it took 6 years for baseball to officially name his as the commissioner. If he stays until September 2016, he would surpass Kenesaw Mountain Landis (1920-44) as the longest-serving baseball commissioner.

• Selig's contract had been due to expire this Dec. 31 and he had talked of doing some teaching after leaving the job. But he said he began hearing lately from owners who wanted him to stay on. Selig has been one of the more creative minds in baseball to say the least, expanding the playoffs from 4 teams to 8 (and he wants to do so even more) and beginning interleague play. He's also overseen one of the biggest controversies in sports as the steroid scandal as well as the '94 strike which caused the World Series to be cancelled for only the second time in MLB's 100+ year history.