today's globe sports section

No more horsing around

Forget the recent victories over the Titans, Bucs, and even the capable Dolphins. With Peyton Manning and undefeated Indianapolis looming Sunday night, the Patriots will now get a sense of just how realistic their championship hopes are.

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Bob Ryan Bob Ryan

Today's Globe Sports front-page

Stoned cold

In the second period, Matt Hunwick whirled around the Pittsburgh net, tucked a backhander over the glove of Marc-Andre Fleury and under the crossbar, and saw the puck hit the back of the net. (By Fluto Shinzawa, Globe Staff)

What’s new for Colts?

To a certain degree, a game like this Sunday’s doesn’t need to be broken down. (By Albert R. Breer, Associated Press)

Boras does some early Holliday shopping at GM meetings

Multiple reports have it that the Red Sox made a four-year, $60 million offer to left fielder Jason Bay, though general manager Theo Epstein has not confirmed that. But if the Sox don’t retain Bay, the main power-hitting outfielder available is Matt Holliday, who is represented by Scott Boras. (By Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff)

BC’s Brown ready for her swan song

Ayla Brown could not be distracted. She could not lose her focus, even as second-year Boston College women’s basketball coach Sylvia Crawley tried to unnerve the 6-foot senior guard from Wrentham during an end-of-practice drill called “Pressure Free Throws.’’ Weary from running wind sprints with her teammates - as penance for missing their pressure foul shots during a recent preseason ... (By Michael Vega, Globe Staff)

Baseball

There are plays to be made for Epstein, Red Sox

On the surface, the Red Sox would seem only to lack a left fielder and a shortstop to be ready for the 2010 season. Once those spots are filled, only some minor roster tweaks would remain. (By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff)

Basketball

Jazz thumbnails

■ When, where: Tonight, 7:30, at TD Garden, Boston. ■ TV, radio: CSN, WEEI (850). (Boston Globe)

Billups sparks Nuggets’ win

Chauncey Billups sat and laughed, figuring the Denver Nuggets would celebrate soon enough. In the meantime, the Chicago Bulls were having their moment. (Associated Press)

Bump in road hard to get over

In sports, teams often consider themselves only as good as they were in their last game. But the Celtics are not encouraged or motivated by their 86-76 victory over the New Jersey Nets last Saturday, their seventh win in eight games. (By Frank Dell’Apa, Globe Staff)

Leukemia found in Abdul-Jabbar

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is being treated for a rare form of leukemia, and the basketball great said his prognosis is encouraging. (By Ben Walker, Associated Press)

Hockey

Thomas gets help, gives nothing

Maybe he didn’t get to relax, or let his guard down, or allow his mind to wander during timeouts to some warm Caribbean isle, but Tim Thomas finally got to breathe a little last night, which is something he’s rarely been able to do this season. (By Kevin Paul Dupont, Globe Staff)

Bruins rookie Marchand gets the message on his edgy play

Early in Saturday’s third period against the Sabres, Brad Marchand appeared to throw an elbow at Buffalo’s Mike Grier as the players skated off the ice. Marchand wasn’t called for a penalty, but later in the period, the incident would come back to haunt the Bruins center. (By Fluto Shinzawa, Globe Staff)

Penguins fall after brutal trip

They are banged up, to be sure, not unlike the Bruins. The potent Pittsburgh Penguins aren’t at full strength, and that hasn’t helped their cause lately. However, they still have plenty of offensive talent up front. Last night, against the Bruins at TD Garden, the Penguins displayed more of a power outage than any semblance of a scoring threat in ... (By Nancy Marrapese-Burrell, Globe Staff)

Flames, Kiprusoff blank Canadiens

When Miikka Kiprusoff and Jarome Iginla both produce, the Calgary Flames can get away with scoring only once. (Associated Press)

Soccer

Robert Enke, 32, German soccer team goalie

FRANKFURT - Robert Enke, a goalkeeper expected to play for Germany at the World Cup, died after being hit by a train in what police suspect is a suicide. He was 32. (By Nesha Starcevic, Associated Press)

Colleges

Women's capsule previews

BOSTON COLLEGE Record: 23-12 (7-7 Atlantic Coast Conference) Key players returning: 6-0 Sr. Ayla Brown (6.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg); 5-8 Sr. Mickel Picco (15.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg); 6-4 Jr. Stefanie Murphy (10.8 ppg, 6.5 ppg); 6-6 Jr. Carolyn Swords (15.4 ppg, 9.0 rpg). Key newcomers: 5-9 G Kerri Shields, Drexel Hill, Pa.; 5-9 G Kelsey Reynolds, Mishawaka, Ind.; 6-2 F ... (Boston Globe)

Insults preceded fight, fatal stabbing

VERNON, Conn. - The fight that led to the stabbing death of University of Connecticut football player Jasper Howard began when one of his teammates insulted a woman at a school-sponsored dance, according to a police affidavit released yesterday. (By Pat Eaton-Robb, Associated Press)

New England Divsion 2-3 women's basketball

DIVISION 2 TEAMS TO WATCH Franklin Pierce: Second-ranked Ravens return nine players from a 29-6 squad that fell to Minnesota State-Mankato in national final, 103-94; former head coach-turned-assistant Steve Hancock is back in lead role. (Boston Globe)

High schools

Boston English tops Winchester, stays perfect

Boston English didn’t skip a beat. Six days after defeating Latin Academy for the Boston City League volleyball championship, the second-seeded Blue & Blue (17-0) stayed unbeaten and advanced to the Division 2 North semifinals after beating No. 7 seed Winchester, 3-2, last night at English. (By Ryan Thomas, Globe Correspondent)

Additional Sports Coverage

Cincinnati to stick with Collaros at QB

College football Quarterback Zach Collaros will start for fifth-ranked Cincinnati against West Virginia Friday, with Tony Pike expected to play as well for the first time since he hurt his non-throwing arm. Collaros has started the last three games and kept the Bearcats undefeated. He threw for 480 yards during a win over Connecticut Saturday night . . . California ... (Boston Globe)