Natalie Portman to host SNL

It's a rumor at this point but that's what NataliePortman.com is saying. The episode that she is rumored to host air live on March 4. Speaking of Natalie, she will be a presenter this evening at the Golden Globes. You can watch that on NBC.

Keep former UK assistant and current Tennessee Tech Coach Mike Sutton in your thoughts and prayers.

Last April, Sutton was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a rare inflammatory disorder that causes paralysis. He was left bedridden and on a ventilator. He spent more than seven months in three hospitals before being released Nov. 18.

Sutton, 49, has returned to coaching in a limited capacity. He is confined to a wheelchair. Assistant Steve Payne has taken over many of the day-to-day operations but insists that the Golden Eagles (11-5, 6-2 Ohio Valley) remain Sutton's program. Sutton attends practices and home games and two weeks ago made his second road trip of the season as Tech lost at Eastern Kentucky.

When Sutton appeared on the McBrayer Arena floor he was applauded warmly. Fans remember him as an assistant at the University of Kentucky under Tubby Smith before he took over Tech in 2002. He has been inundated with cards, letters and phone calls from well-wishers.

"It's amazing," he said. "I told someone earlier that the most important thing in life is people. I am very blessed. A lot of people have cared a great deal and have expressed their concern through prayers and letters and calls. I just can't thank everyone enough."[...]

"He spoke to the team," UK coach Tubby Smith said "He looked better. He is much more vocal...I saw a lot of good signs for a guy who had been on a ventilator for six months. Thank G-d he has come a long ways from where he was only able to blink his eyes."

There is still hope out there that Emily Hughes will be at the Turin games.

Sometime between now and Jan. 27, a five-person, USFSA-appointed committee will watch her perform both her short and long programs.

If she is deemed unfit for Olympic competition, alternate Emily Hughes will join 2006 national champion Sasha Cohen and Saturday night's runner-up, Kimmie Meissner, on the U.S. team.

Here's a partial transcript from Senator Bayh speaking with Wolf Blitzer.

Comedy shows in Canada are no longer allowed to show clips of government debates.

How to save the Oscars? I don't know but if they can get Andy Samberg and Chris Parnell as presenters, they might be able to save the show.

First, they let Matt Morris go. Now, it's being said that the 2006 season may be the last for Jim Edmonds as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals.

"I'm 35 now," the Gold Glove center fielder said at the Cardinals' 10th annual Winter Warm-Up at the Millennium Hotel. "If you're an athlete and you're running around every day, it's getting to the end of your career."

The Cardinals hold an option for Edmonds on the 2007 season. Edmonds, who will turn 36 on June 27, batted .263 with 37 doubles, 29 home runs and 89 RBIs in 142 games last year. It was his lowest average since 1999, when he hit .250 in 55 games with the Anaheim Angels.

"If they don't pick (the option) up, I don't know how many opportunities there are going to be for me to play," Edmonds said. "I'm going to approach it like this season will be one of the last ones I have. Hopefully, they'll allow me to come back. But if they don't, I have to be ready for Plan B."

Edmonds spends his off-seasons near Los Angeles and said he wasn't familiar with the Cardinals' personnel changes.

"I haven't really heard too much of what's going on," he said. "I came back here a couple of weeks ago and people said, 'What do you think about your new teammates?' I said, 'Which ones?' I didn't know who we signed or anything.

"When you're in California, it's like you're on an island of movie stars and other stuff. It's not much into sports. If you're not in L.A. watching Kings hockey or the Lakers or something, you don't get a lot of news."

Edmonds will be flanked by newcomer Juan Encarnacion in right and a most likely a platoon in left involving Larry Bigbie, John Rodriguez and So Taguchi. Encarnacion replaces the retired Larry Walker; the other three would replace Reggie Sanders, who signed a free-agent contract with Kansas City.

"I'm happy (for) one thing: I won't have to worry about running into Reggie anymore," said Edmonds, whose collision with Sanders in July sent Sanders to the disabled list with a broken leg.

Jack Santo has started the Ground Floor Theatre in Cleveland.

The Cincy Post has an article on the late Coach Rupp and race relations.