On the ropes

Cowboys have that fighting spirit

Don't worry about the confrontation involving Dallas Cowboys cornerback Terence Newman and secondary coach Dave Campo.

Their heated conversation in the first half of last Sunday's game against the Washington Redskins that escalated to Newman shoving Campo? Newman joked it was nothing more than to promote a fight that would be on the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. undercard.

"It's going to happen in Vegas," Newman told ESPNDallas.com. "It's going down. We've got Don King promoting. You know? Actually, Jerry Jones is taking over. We're going to have Jerry. I'm kicking Don out. We'll have Jerry promoting."

Jones, the Cowboys owner, has been trying to secure a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight at his new $1.2 billion stadium.

First things first. Mayweather still needs to agree to fight Pacquiao.

"We might have to move this whole thing to Cowboys Stadium," Newman said. "It'll be Pacquiao-Mayweather and Campo-Newman. We're going to make it happen."

Monkeying around at World Cup

FIFA has more to worry about with the 2010 World Cup than just a hand-ball controversy.

South African officials now have concerns other than crime, transportation and hotel accommodations.

The latest involves marauding baboons. Cape Town officials told the Guardian the primates have learned how to open car doors and jump through windows. The newspaper reported 29 baboons raided four cars Tuesday outside Simon's Town, a small coastal neighborhood.

Wrote David Smith of The Guardian: "Experts warn that the hundreds of thousands of fans expected for the 2010 football extravaganza in South Africa will represent rich pickings."

Highlight reel

Does NFL Films ever miss anything?

In the "being in the right place at the right time category," NFL Films wired Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford for sound last Sunday against the Cleveland Browns for a segment featured Wednesday on the NFL Network and Showtime.

Stafford led the Lions to a victory with a last-second pass with an injured shoulder.

NFL Films President Steve Sabol told the Detroit Free Press through a spokesman that Stafford's performance "strips you down to your essence as a competitor and a man.

"What will you do when it counts, when you're hurting, when you're tired?" Sabol added. "In the NFL, being a hero is not a permanent condition, but rather a moment one rises to."

Check the fine print

Are you a Toronto hockey fan looking to avoid a check?

Just sign up for the new Leafs Rewards MasterCard.

Check the fine print - rumor has it you get only two minutes for charging - but the credit card could have its advantages: If the Maple Leafs stay on their 5-11-7 course, there might not be any interest.

2015 news flash

Dateline Springfield, Mass.: Allen Iverson refuses to practice his Hall of Fame induction speech.

Bump and run

The co-chairmen of the NFL's committee on concussions have resigned.

Don't tell us - they kept bumping heads?

L.A., as in L-A-T-E

What's this - the USC Trojans and UCLA Bruins kicking off at 7 p.m. their time?

"Once, you could mow the lawn after USC-UCLA was over," wrote Chris Dufresne of the Los Angeles Times. "Try mowing the lawn after Saturday's game, and it might cost you a toe and $500 for violating noise ordinances."

Net gains department

The New York State Supreme Court ruled that the New Jersey Nets can use eminent domain to clear homeowners and businesses in the way of building their new arena in Brooklyn.

Who said the 0-16 Nets couldn't win one this season?

Naming rites

Asked Gary Loewen of the Toronto Sun: "Who better to win the Champions Tour qualifying tournament than Peter Senior?"

Thrill the umpire

The umpiring shirt worn by St. Paul native Tim Tschida when he worked the final game at the Metrodome will be displayed next year in the Twins' new Target Field museum, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported.

The St. Louis Cardinals, not to be outdone, are scrambling to procure Don Denkinger's bulletproof chest protector.

Political football

Veteran NFL tackle Jon Runyan, just signed by the San Diego Chargers, says he'll retire at season's end to launch a campaign for the congressional seat in New Jersey's 3rd District.

In other words, he's taking a pass on football to work on his running game.

Keep soccer weird

Even if it requires heavy editing, North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il will ensure that his country's soccer team will at least appear to win the 2010 World Cup.

His ruling that bans state-run TV to broadcast all live games also extends to his own country. The Sun newspaper reported that policy also will include North Korea's matches until the highlights are "heavily edited to ensure that they look like the better team."

If North Korea loses, author Mike Breen suspects Kim will suddenly stop taking credit for the country's qualifying for the first time since 1966. The variation of the age-old question unsurprisingly relates to Kim: If the North Korean soccer team loses in the World Cup, but there's no video evidence, it didn't really happen.

"Once North Korea is knocked out," Breen said, "I would be amazed if there were any mention of the World Cup at all."

Good planning

The Los Angeles Clippers don't need to give fans any more reasons not to go to their games.

But Green Day provided one Monday when they put on a free concert outside Staples Center, coinciding with the Clippers' game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

NBC plans on broadcasting the concert for "New Year's Eve with Carson Daly," showing Daly's gig isn't like the old days at "Total Request Live."

Wrote Arash Markazi of Sports Illustrated: "So, um, Happy Pre-taped New Year, folks."

Count your blessings

In an online poll, the Grand Rapids Press asked fans what they're most thankful for about the Lions this year.

When your team goes winless last season, things can only go up.

As of Thursday morning, 35 percent voted for the progress of rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford. The offseason departures of Lions CEO Matt Millen and coach Rod Marinelli received 34 percent of the vote.

Quote marks

• NBC's Jimmy Fallon, on South Carolina's Black Friday tax holiday on fireams purchases: "No taxes on guns - because one thing you want right after people have been drinking and arguing with their families is gun purchases made easier."

• Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets forward and budding artist, on his favorite thing to draw: "I like to draw fouls."

• Drew Curtis of Fark.com, on the start of baseball free agency: "Or as it's known to the Yankees, 'Very nice, how much?'"

• Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews, to the Chicago Sun-Times, on losing 135-134 to teammate Patrick Sharp at a charity bowling event: "He had the bumpers on his lanes, though. That doesn't really count."

• Stephen A. Smith's take on Foxsports.com regarding Allen Iverson's announcement that he'll retire after 14 seasons: "Only a fool would believe Iverson's completely sincere about walking away from the game for good."

Sports Illustrated's Michael Rosenberg on what Thanksgiving means to football fans: "This is the week for two storied NFL traditions: the Lions playing on Thanksgiving, and people complaining about the Lions playing on Thanksgiving." - From Wire Reports