R.G.'s Weekly Sports ReCap: Saturday 12/14 - Friday 12/20

My 'notable' happenings and keynotes from this past week in the sports world:

 

College Football: Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jameis Winston became the second consecutive freshman to win the prestigious Heisman Trophy as the nation's top collegiate player in 2K13. Winston, despite dealing with some adversity off the field, was phenomenal on it - passing for 3,820 yards and 38 touchdowns with an astounding 190.1 QB rating and 68% completion rate. Alabama Crimson Tide signal-caller AJ McCarron was the runner-up in the voting; Northern Illinois QB Jordan Lynch placed third....The Texas Longhorns announced that Mack Brown will command the sidelines for the final time as head coach on Monday 12/30 vs the Oregon Ducks in the Alamo Bowl after 16 seasons and one national championship. (2K5)

NFL: After finishing with the worst record in the league last season, the Kansas City Chiefs rebounded in a big way in 2K13 to clinch a playoff berth with a 56-31 victory over the Oakland Raiders on the road. Chiefs running back and sure-to-be league MVP candidate Jamaal Charles became the first player ever to scored four touchdowns as a receiver and one on the ground in the victory.

NBA: Players of the Week (Monday 12/9 - Sunday 12/15)....Eastern Conference - G Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers; Western Conference - F LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland Trail Blazers.... After just six games returning from a torn Achilles tendon injury, Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant fractures his left knee against the Memphis Grizzlies, and will now miss an upwards of six weeks of action....As of Friday 12/20, the Indiana Pacers (21-5) continue to lead the East, while out West, league-leading scorer Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder are atop the standings at 21-4.

MLB: Notable free-agent signings....2B Brian Roberts, New York Yankees (one-year, $2M); Reliever Joaquin Benoit, San Diego Padres (two-years, $15.5M).

NHL: Washington Capitals All-Star winger Alex Ovechkin scored his 400th career goal is just his 634th game in the league in a 4-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. Ovechkin became the sixth-fastest to tally 400 shots successfully in the nets in NHL history.

Men's College Basketball (Div. I): Associated Press Top 10 - 1. Arizona  2. Syracuse  3. Ohio State  4. Wisconsin  5. Michigan State  6. Louisville  7. Oklahoma State  8. Duke  9. Villanova  10. U.Conn

Women's College Basketball (Div. I): Associated Press Top Ten - 1. U.Conn  2. Duke  3. Tennessee  4. Notre Dame  5. Kentucky  6. Stanford  7. Louisville  8. Maryland  9. Baylor  10. South Carolina