NFL:
After last week’s wins in NFL Playoff action, the Green Bay Packers will take on the Seattle Seahawks for the NFC title on Sunday at 3:05, then the Indianapolis Colts will go head to head with the New England Patriots at 6:40 for the AFC title.
The New York Giants are bringing back Steve Spanguolo as defensive coordinator. Spagnuolo was hired yesterday, returning to the team he helped win the 2007 NFL championship. New York also hired Tim Walton as secondary/cornerbacks coach.
NBA:
In the NBA, Milwaukee routed New York 95-79 in London, Houston beat Oklahoma City 112-101, and it was Cleveland over the Lakers 109-102.
Austin Rivers has joined the Los Angeles Clippers to play for Doc Rivers in the first father-son, player-coach combination in NBA history. The Clippers acquired Austin Rivers from the Boston Celtics yesterday in a deal that included the Phoenix Suns.
NHL:
Over on the ice, Boston topped the Rangers 3-0 for its fifth straight win, Minnesota shut out Buffalo 7-0, Vancouver blanked Philadelphia 4-0, Colorado doubled up Florida 4-2, Tampa Bay edged Edmonton 3-2, Ottawa beat Montreal 4-1, Detroit skated by St. Louis in overtime 3-2, Winnipeg topped Dallas 2-1, Calgary bested Arizona 4-1, and it was San Jose over Toronto 3-1.
NCAA:
Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones says he's staying in school. After leading the Buckeyes to their national championship game win over Oregon, Jones says he's determined to graduate and improve his quarterbacking skills.
Stanford quarterback Kevin Hogan will return to school as a fifth-year senior, instead of entering the NFL draft. Hogan led the Cardinal to Rose Bowl berths in his first two years as the starter. He has thrown for 6,518 yards, 48 touchdowns. Hogan is 24-8 as the starter.
MLB:
Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos is the winner of the 25th Tony Conigliaro Award. The honor goes to the player who demonstrated spirit, determination and courage. Ramos survived a kidnapping in his home country of Venezuela in 2011. Since then, he has come back from a series of injuries. Members of the Conigliaro family will present the award next Thursday at the 76th Boston Baseball Writers' Association of America's annual dinner.
Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig, at the close of his final owners meeting, has announced that the 2016 All-Star game will be held in San Diego. This year's game will be in Cincinnati, meaning the All-Star game will be in back-to-back National League parks for the first time since 2006 and 2007.
BOXING:
A spokesman for Muhammad Ali says the boxing great is back in the hospital for follow-up care related to a urinary tract infection.
Ali family spokesman Bob Gunnell says that the former heavyweight boxing champion was admitted to an undisclosed hospital earlier this week. He says Ali is expected to be released Friday.
Ali was initially hospitalized on Dec. 20 for what turned out to be a severe urinary tract infection. That hospitalization ended last week.
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