Here's your wakeup call -- a combination of newsworthy andor interesting tidbits -- for Tuesday, January 29.
BASEBALL
So much for all that Javier Vazquez talk . . . at least for now. (NBC's Hardball Talk)
Derek Jeter gets back on a baseball field for the first time since breaking his ankle in last year's ALCS and says "everything went well." (AP)
The slow but steady -- emphasis on slow -- comeback of Michael Pineda continues. (Hardball Talk)
There'll be no Freddy Garcia in the Bronx this year; he's signed with the Padres. (Hardball Talk)
But Juan Rivera's back. (AP)
Sore shoulder? Cole Hamels doesn't know what you're talking about. (CSN Philly)
Boston Red Sox
Nick Johnson was always a stathead's dream and a trainer's nightmare. Now he's a memory. (Hardball Talk)
Miss George Steinbrenner, do you? There's always Jeffrey Loria. (Hardball Talk)
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Looks like the Catholic 7 will have to come up with a name for its new league; the Big East says it's keeping the brand. (AP)
Stay at 10 schools? Expand to 12? Align themself with some other conference, like the ACC? The Big 12 athletic directors kicked around all those ideas. (AP)
As expected, Michigan takes over the top spot in the AP poll. (AP)
Kansas has the nation's longest winning streak . . . barely. (AP)
Louisville breaks its three-game losing skid with a last-second victory over Pittsburgh. (AP)
Remember when Clemenza told Sonny Corleone, "Paulie? Won't see him no more." True to his New York roots, Rick Pitino went all Clemenza when asked about sophomore guard Kevin Ware. (NBC's College Basketball Talk)
Kentucky will resume its rivalry with North Carolina next year. (AP)
The Notre Dame women spoiled Pat Summitt Night in Tennessee by beating the Lady Vols, 77-67. (AP)
Forget the polls. Forget the records. The UPS Team Performance Index says UConn is the best in women's basketball right now. (AP)
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Pennsylvania pols are pushing the NCAA to give Penn State its scholarships back. (AP)
Some last-minute scheduling changes: Virginia cancels its September game at Penn State in order to play Oregon . . . (AP)
. . . and BYU and Hawaii pull the plug on their 2013 and '14 meetings. (AP)
GOLF
"Only Tiger Woods could win his 75th Tour title by four shots and leave us thinking he somehow didn't deliver all the goods." (golfchannel.com) Man, there's just no pleasing some people.
HOCKEY
None of us were too crazy about the Canucks when they played the Bruins in the Stanley Cup Finals two years ago. Turns out we're not alone. (NBC's Pro Hockey Talk)
To no one's surprise, P.K. Subban and the Canadiens reached agreement on a new contract. (AP)
PRO BASKETBALL
My only question: Do they practice in the D-League? (NBC's Pro Basketball Talk)
Hang in, Sixers fans. Andrew Bynum's almost ready. (CSN Philly)
The Rockets hand the Jazz their worst home loss in franchise history. (AP)
Poor Warriors: As Andrew Bogut returns, Stephen Curry goes down. (CSN Bay Area)
Now that his wife is sufficiently recovered from her undisclosed illness, Rick Adelman is back coaching the Timberwolves. (AP)
No, the Rudy Gay trade talks aren't dead yet. (Pro Basketball Talk)
PRO FOOTBALL
After all the hoo-hah about PED use in baseball, it looks like Congress is finally getting serious about looking into the same problem in football . . . which, despite all the visual evidence that screams it's a problem in this sport, has pretty much skated so far. (NBC's Pro Football Talk)
Whatever disappointment Alex Smith feels over losing his job to Colin Kaepernick isn't showing. (Pro Football Talk)
Maybe President Obama would think twice about letting his son (if he had one) play football, but not Jim Harbaugh . . . even though little Jack Harbaugh isn't five months old yet. (CSN Bay Area)
Ed Reed, however, sides with the President. (CSN Baltimore)
Reed also sides with those who don't believe Ray Lewis is really retiring. (CSN Washington)
Roger Goodell thinks there was an "improved quality" to this year's Pro Bowl, though he still won't say whether or not he'll cancel it. (AP)
The Saints gave GM Mickey Loomis a five-year contract extension last August, and finally got around to announcing it yesterday. (AP)
Ever doubt for a minute that this was coming? (CSN Philly)
SOCCER
Forget the Cowboys or the Yankees. Man U. is the real money-maker in professional sports. (Reuters via nbcsports.com)
TENNIS
With his third straight Australian Open title under his belt, Novak Djokovic is setting his sights on the French Open. (AP)
