Football

NEW YORK -- Thousands of fans roared as New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning hoisted the team's Super Bowl trophy from a glittering blue-and-white float Tuesday during a victory parade through New York City, which Mayor Michael Bloomberg quipped should now be nicknamed the "Big Blue Apple."

The parade set off from the southern tip of Manhattan and moved slowly north to City Hall as fans stood dressed head-to-toe in Giants gear and confetti wafted slowly down from the high-rises that line the street.

Manning, joined by coach Tom Coughlin, Bloomberg, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and other teammates, waved and grinned from the float as a deep roar rose from the crowds.

Thanks, Big Ten.

The bruised feelings and backbiting over recruiting last week confirmed my long-standing argument that it's nothing more than an image-obsessed, ethically convenient, regionally focused football conference. It exists in its own little parochial enclave, conning itself and its legions of apologists that it operates from a higher moral compass than other, more competitively dominating conferences.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Take that, Brady. You too, Peyton.

Eli Manning is the big man in the NFL after one-upping Tom Brady and leading the New York Giants to a 21-17 victory over the New England Patriots in Sunday's Super Bowl -- in older brother Peyton's house, at that.

Goodness, there's nothing quite like a great Souper Bowl.

Yes, that's spelled correctly.

Souper Bowl, as in the Souper Bowl of Caring, a charitable organization started more than 20 years ago with the mission to feed the hungry.

It's that time of year again -- time for the annual gridiron spectacle.

No, not the Super Bowl, but the Scripps Howard Celebrity Super Bowl Poll. Starting in 1986, the rich and famous from entertainment, news, sports and pop culture have told Scripps Howard who they think will win the Super Bowl.

Our interview with Troy Aikman is the latest in a series of Q&As with prominent figures.

Troy Aikman's season as Fox's lead NFL analyst closed Jan. 22 with the NFC championship game won by the New York Giants over the San Francisco 49ers in overtime.

OGDEN -- College coaches say recruiting is a year-round process.

John L. Smith had two months.

Smith, hired in December to replace retired Weber State football coach Ron McBride, announced his first recruiting class Wednesday on national signing day.