This year’s Super Bowl is being run by NBC which has been planning over 18 hours of TV coverage from Indianapolis.  It will do this through: Bravo, E!, NBC, NBC Sports (formerly Versus), Style, and The Weather Channel.

NBC will be offering various highlights throughout the coverage. For example, the first episode of “Costas Tonight” will be broadcast by Bob Costas who will be hosting football legend Dan Marino and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, aired on NBC Sports, marking the first of a bunch of interview shows by Football Night.

After the game, “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” will be broadcast live, and advance tickets are already sold out.   The “Today” show will be broadcast, with Ann Curry and Al Rocker reporting live from Pan American Plaza.  Others covering the event include Savannah Guthrie and Natalie Morales.

One might think that being a parent  would come easy to celebrity types who seem to have more money than God.  But it seems that it can be just as daunting for them, as it is for the regular (wo)man in the street.  Indeed, in a recent article, football mogul David Beckham admitted to the task at hand being “scary,” although he did add that it is a “great experience” too.

Father of four kids ranging from six months to 12-years-old, David Beckham has admitted that while watching his kids grow up is great, it’s also scary because he “can see Brooklyn getting different interests. Wanting to go out with his friends, wanting to talk about girls, growing up into a young man.”  Still, however tough it may be for the famous football star, he said it’s way better raising 3 sons and 1 daughter as opposed to the other way round. 

Beckham also said how different it has been raising Harper (so far) than the three boys whom he can throw up in the air, but with his daughter it is different and she’s clearly very feminine in everything she does.  He concluded by saying that he was “glad she’s got three older brothers and a dad to look after her”!

It seems that there is a new, unique concept in the field of professional sports leagues that is going to rock the world of sports.  The concept – developed by NRI Raj Kundra with Sanjay Duttactor – comprises karate, kick-boxing, taekwondo and wrestling.  It seems like a good idea, especially since in India (where this will take place) kick-boxing is incredibly popular.  The program is due to commence on March 11.

What will happen is that this league will attract international stars who will then compete against Indian martial art experts.  The competition will be awesome.  In India already there is already a place that is training people for the league competition.  So it looks like it’s going to be a lot of fun and a great competition!

The National Football Foundation, the College Football Hall of Fame and the Liberty Mutual Insurance joined forces to recognize four special coaches who have gone beyond the call of duty. The four have been awarded the 2011 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year for the incredible performances of their teams, as well as achievements in the classroom and “selfless support of their communities and charities.”

The four prize-winners were: Rob Ash (Montana State University); Tim Beck (Pittsburg state University); Glenn Caruso (University of St. Thomas) and Les Miles (LSU).  These individuals were chosen through votes cast by the public between December 6 to December 22 together with national media selection committees, players and coaches from the College Football Hall of Fame. 

Each of these individuals will be receiving a $50,000 charitable donation from Liberty Mutual as well as a $20,000 scholarship award to be given to the alumni association at their school.  In addition, they will be honored in the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year, which is at the College Football Hall of Fame.

There is some bad news on the field for Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS).  Because one out of the six teams got dismantled from the league, the WPS may lose its professional status as America’s sport’s governing body – US Soccer – requires at least eight teams to comprise a professional league.  Apparently though, the women’s soccer teams are not going to go down without a fight after all their efforts since their inception three years ago when they began with seven teams. 

MagicJack, FL

The problem is being blamed on the MagicJack team, from Florida.  WPS asked for a one-year waiver (which it received) from the board of directors last year as it only had six teams.  But now that this figure has dropped to five for 2012, a waiver extension has been requested so that it can go through the season including the London Olympics and thereafter hopefully attract new investors before 2013.

According to the league’s commission, Jennifer O’Sullivan, the league’s main aim is to retain their Division 1 status, following the amazing 2011 season.  Time will tell is the WPS can be saved.

On Christmas Eve, at the Minsk Palace of Sports, for the 12^th consecutive year, the Baby Cup took place. This year however, it broke all records, attracting close to 400 participants.  More than 60 performances were enjoyed by guests.

The Baby Cup has four categories for the gymnasts to take part in: Hopes, Infants, Sprouts and Stars.  This year the Infants Group set a record for the Baby Cup with 54 gymnasts showcasing 101 Dalmatians.  Another new record was set by Stephanie Cherkasova – the nearly two-and-a-half year-old who performed.  There has never been such a young performer since the Baby Cup begun.  Especially interesting was that Cherkasova performed in the Sprouts group (as opposed to the Infants!). She certainly grabbed the crowd’s attention.

In years past, participants have received gifts from Father Frost but this year, winners were awarded specially-crafted medals of the Baby Cup that are totally unique and cannot be purchased anywhere else in the world.

A fun time was had by all.

Monique van der Vorst is nothing short of incredible.  At one point she was a silver medalist in the Paralympics, but now it looks like she is going to be able-bodied, and not only that, but actually be able to compete in the Olympics, having signed with the Rabobank women’s professional cycling team. 

Her story is unbelievable.  At 13-years-old van der Vorst was paralyzed from the hip down.  Now, 14 years later, she is moving!  It seems this is because she was hit by a bicycle when she was training (wheelchair-bound) for the 2012 London Paralympics. 

It was while recovering from the accident that she started to feel tingling in her feet.  Shortly after that, she was able to move them!  She then endured many months of intensive rehab and took her first steps last July.  Those in the medical field are simply unable to explain the phenomenon. 

Of course, this was amazing for van der Vorst.  But, at the same time, she was a little disappointed she couldn’t compete in the Paralympics she loved so much, which meant she really missed the actual sport, the people involved and the challenges that came along with it. It was that which made her crave to compete in the regular Olympics.

It wasn’t easy.  Indeed, she almost crashed the first attempt she made at getting on a regular racing bike.  But she got back on until she had finished the 30km training route – slowly, but she did it.  She’s not quite at Olympic level yet, but she’s getting there and, with her determination, there’s no telling just how far she’ll go.

A lot is going on – charity-wise – over the Christmas season.  It is the time of festivity but also the time of giving.  Tammy Flynn, owner of Elegance Salon & Spa, has organized various fundraising events for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin and Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. 

For Christmas 2011, she is planning for the Wishes in Wonderland Breakfast at Dave and Buster’s in Wauwatosa next Sunday.  Those who come will be privy to a breakfast and photo with Santa as well as enjoying Dave & Buster’s games, local choir and group performances and an opportunity to meet players from Milwaukee Wave as well as UFC fighter Danny Downes.  As well, for those who donate $1 more, they can create an ornament or greeting card that will be judged by the sports celebrities. So it looks like it’s going to be a lot of fun, for a good cause too

Crist has really been through the ringer.  He sustained two injuries at Notre Dame, one of which ripped his patella tendon in his game a year ago against Tulsa.  He also got a knee injury two years ago when playing against Washington State.  It was originally anticipated that Crist would be the starter for all 13 games but what happened ultimately was that Crist started just one half against South Florida and thereafter endured a 23-20 loss.

When Crist played against USC (instead of Rees) it was him who took the team to the goal line, but thereafter a snap was returned 80 yards for a touchdown.  So it didn’t exactly hit the news headlines that he was leaving, although perhaps there is a somewhat sad sentiment in the air as he was very popular among his teammates.