The final berth in the Top 16 phase is secured by Partizan Belgrade when they defeat already-qualified Fenerbahçe 91–86 in Istanbul in Group C action. (Euroleague)
Samuel Eto'o of Cameroon becomes the top-scoring player in Africa Cup of Nations history with his 15th goal, his penalty being the opening goal against Sudan. (BBC)
U.S. college:
In one of the biggest upsets of the year thus far, the Kansas State Wildcats defeated the previously undefeated #2 Kansas Jayhawks, 84–75 behind 20-point games from three different freshmen, including K-State star Michael Beasley who finished with 25 points (9-for-18 from the field). The win ends a 24-year streak of the Jayhawks winning at the Bramlage Coliseum, the Wildcats' home court. It also leaves Memphis as the lone unbeaten Division I team.
3rd ODI-South Africa 256/3 (50 overs) beat West Indies 252/7 (48.4 overs) by 7 wickets
Golf:
Tiger Woods wins the Buick Invitational in San Diego by eight strokes. The win is Woods' 62nd on the PGA Tour, matching Arnold Palmer for fourth on the list for most PGA Tour wins.
Ice hockey:
NHL All-Star Game at Atlanta:
East 8–7 West, Eric Staal of the Carolina Hurricanes was named All-Star MVP.
Sporting their first Top 25 ranking since 1969 (AP #25), Baylor defeats (#18) Texas A&M, 116–110 in the longest game in Big 12 history, going five overtimes. The Bears' Curtis Jerrells had 36 points in the win. Five Baylor players fouled out, while three Aggies played over 55 minutes, also a record.
The Patriots become the first NFL team to start a season 18–0–0, including the playoffs. Tom Brady throws three interceptions, keeping the game close. But the ball-control running of Laurence Maroney (who tallies 122 yards and a touchdown) and a tough New England defense ensure the Patriots keep the ball for nearly 22 minutes of the second half. The Chargers get only nine points out of four red-zone possessions on offense.
Giants placekickerLawrence Tynes misses two attempts at a game-winning field goal in the fourth quarter. Green Bay wins the toss in overtime, but Corey Webster intercepts Brett Favre, giving Tynes another shot. His 47-yard kick is good, sending the Giants to their first Super Bowl in seven years. Plaxico Burress records 11 catches for 154 yards. Favre throws two touchdown passes, one a 90-yarder to Donald Driver, but Ryan Grant is held to 29 yards. The Super Bowl will be a rematch of the Giants-Patriots battle from the last week of the regular season.
In Pool 2, Gloucester win the pool and earn a home quarterfinal with a 29–21 home win over (Ireland) Ulster. (European Rugby Cup)
Also in Pool 2, Ospreys secure the other second-place quarterfinal berth with a 28–21 away win over Bourgoin. (European Rugby Cup)
In Pool 3, the last quarterfinal berth is decided when the Cardiff Blues shut out homestandingBristol 17–0. The Blues, however, fall one converted try short of securing a home quarterfinal, which instead goes to Toulouse. (European Rugby Cup)
In Pool 1, London Irish win the pool and earn a home quarterfinal with a 24–11 away win over Benetton Treviso. (European Rugby Cup)
Also in Pool 1, Perpignan secure a quarterfinal berth as one of the two top second-place finishers, shutting out Newport Gwent Dragons 25–0 in Newport. (European Rugby Cup)
In Pool 5, (Ireland) Munster, in their "Fortress Thomond", ensure that there will be a new Cup holder in 2008, eliminating the current holders London Wasps 19–3. (European Rugby Cup)
Toulouse win Pool 6 in style, picking up a four-try bonus point in a 34–10 home win over Edinburgh. (European Rugby Cup)
3rd Test-India 330 & 294 beat Australia 212 & 340 by 72 runs
India ends Australia's winning streak to prevent them from getting a world-record 17th consecutive win.
U.S. college basketball:
Top-ranked North Carolina, off to its best start in over 20 years and an 18-point home favorite, falls from the unbeaten ranks 82–80 to Maryland. (AP via ESPN)
In Pool 4, Saracens become the first team to advance to the quarterfinals, defeating Glasgow Warriors 21–17 in Glasgow. The win also assures Saracens a home quarterfinal. (European Rugby Cup)
The G-14 group of leading European football clubs announces that it will disband on 15 February, after both FIFA and UEFA agree to compensate clubs for releasing their players to join national squads for Euro 2008, the 2010 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2012. (ESPNsoccernet)
College athletics:
The National Collegiate Athletic Association, the largest governing body of college sports in the United States, will allow Canadian universities to join as Division II schools as of June 1, 2008. Canadian Interuniversity Sport, the governing body of university sports in Canada, has yet to respond as to whether Canadian universities who join the NCAA will still maintain membership in the CIS, though some Canadian schools are currently members of both CIS and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. It is expected that the UBC Thunderbirds and Simon Fraser Clan will be among the first university teams to join the NCAA. (CIS via TSN)
With Philip Rivers and LaDainian Tomlinson injured, backups Billy Volek and Michael Turner lead San Diego on the game-winning touchdown drive. Peyton Manning throws for 402 yards and three touchdowns in the loss. The now-former-defending Super Bowl champion Colts' loss assures the NFL of a new recipient of the Super Bowl's Vince Lombardi Trophy in 2008 (the 2003–2004 New England Patriots remain the last team with back-to-back world championships).
After allowing 96 and 90-yard touchdown drives in the first half, the Giants defense solidifies in the second. R.W. McQuarters intercepts Tony Romo in the end zone to clinch the game. Amani Toomer catches two touchdown passes for New York.
Association football:
International club friendly at the Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Florida, United States
The Seahawks convert two early fumbles by Green Bay tailbackRyan Grant into touchdowns and take a 14–0 lead. But Grant comes back to rush for 201 yards and three touchdowns, while Brett Favre throws for three more scores. The Packers outgain Seattle on the ground, 235 yards to 22.
Cristiano Ronaldo scores a hat-trick, the first of his career, as the Red Devils go level in the league with Arsenal. He scores a free kick in the 49th minute, and also in the 70th and 88th minutes.
U.S. college basketball:
Two of the five previously unbeaten teams in Division I men's basketball go down:
First, #13 Vanderbilt comes back from a 16-point deficit to force overtime against Kentuckyin Lexington, but eventually goes down 79–73 in double overtime.
Real Madrid go through with an 80–72 away win over Partizan Belgrade. (Euroleague)
NCAA Division I:
George Washington defeats Saint Louis 46–20. The 20 points registered by the Billikens are the lowest since the introduction of the shot clock to Men's basketball in the 1985–86 season.
Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 2008: Former relief pitcherRich "Goose" Gossage is elected to the Hall of Fame on his ninth try. The former New York Yankees star closer received 85.8 percent of the vote, and is the only player voted in for 2008.
The Golden Hurricane, behind an NCAA-record 14th consecutive 300-yard passing game from Paul Smith, blow out the Falcons and amass the biggest winning margin in bowl game history.
The Bucs commit three turnovers while the Giants don't turn the ball over at all, and Eli Manning throws for 185 yards and 2 touchdowns in his first career playoff win.
2nd Test: Australia 463 (112.3 ov.) & 401/7 dec. (107 ov.) beat India 532 (138.2 ov.) & 210 (70.5 ov.) by 122 runs
Australia equal their all-time record of 16 consecutive Test wins amid controversy over dubious umpiring decisions and alleged racistsledging by Indian off-spinnerHarbhajan Singh.
5 January 2008 (Saturday)[]
American football:
NCAA Division I FBS bowl games:
International Bowl in Toronto: Rutgers 52, Ball State 30
In what proved to be his last college game, Ray Rice runs for 280 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Scarlet Knights to their second straight bowl win.
Todd Collins throws two touchdown passes in 2:15 to give the Redskins a 14–13 lead. But Matt Hasselbeck responds with a 20-yard scoring strike to D.J. Hackett, then the Seahawks defense returns two Collins interceptions for touchdowns.
Ben Roethlisberger leads the Steelers back from a 28–10 deficit in the fourth quarter, but also throws three interceptions. A 32-yard run by David Garrard on fourth-and-1 leads to Josh Scobee's game-winning 25-yard field goal. A fumble by Roethlisberger in the closing minute delivers the victory for the Jaguars.
2nd Test: South Africa 321 (118.2 ov.) & 186/3 (35.2 ov.) beat West Indies 243 (92.0 ov.) & 262 (101.5 ov.) by 7 wickets
4 January 2008 (Friday)[]
2008 Dakar Rally: Rally cancelled due to recent terrorist attacks against French tourists in Mauritania.
Tennis:
The International Tennis Federation imposes a two-year ban on Swiss star Martina Hingis after she tested positive for cocaine at Wimbledon in 2007. Hingis had previously announced her second retirement after reports of the positive test surfaced in November 2007. (AP via ESPN.com)
In Group C, Panathinaikos punch their ticket with a 67–66 home win over Partizan Belgrade. (Euroleague)
1 January 2008 (Tuesday)[]
Ice hockey:
NHL Winter Classic held at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York
Pittsburgh Penguins 2, Buffalo Sabres 1 (SO)
Sidney Crosby picks up and assist on a Colby Armstrong goal 21 seconds into the game and ends the game by scoring against Ryan Miller in the final attempt of the overtime shootout. Brian Campbell scores for the Sabres at 1:25 of the 2nd period. An NHL-record crowd of 71,217 turns out despite a steady snow.
1 – 1 
South Africa
0 – 0 
Angola
Partizan Belgrade when they defeat already-qualified 
Fenerbahçe 91–86 in Istanbul in Group C action. (Euroleague)
3 – 0 
Sudan
1 – 1 
Zambia
2 – 0 
Benin
3 – 0 
Mali
India 526 (152.5 ov.) & 269/7 dec. (90 ov.) drew with 
Australia 563 (181 ov.)
, Dario Franchitti 
, Scott Pruett 
and Memo Rojas 
(2) Jon Fogarty 
(2) Mikko Hirvonen 
(3) Chris Atkinson 
Lars Boom, 
Zdeněk Štybar, 
Sven Nys
Hanka Kupfernagel, 
Pakistan 272/9 (50 overs) beat 
Zimbabwe 235/7 (50 overs) by 37 runs
West Indies 252/7 (48.4 overs) by 7 wickets
Maria Sharapova [5] def. 
Roger Federer [1], 7–5, 6–3, 7–65
Rafael Nadal [2], 6–2, 6–3, 6–2
Daniela Hantuchová [9], 0–6, 6–3, 6–4
Lottomatica Roma defeat already-qualified 
Cibona in Group B, also sends idle 
Agnieszka Radwańska [29], 6–2, 6–2
1 – 5 
Morocco
Caroline Wozniacki, 6–1, 7–62
2 – 1 
Guinea
Gloucester win the pool and earn a home quarterfinal with a 29–21 home win over (Ireland) Ulster. (European Rugby Cup)
Ospreys secure the other second-place quarterfinal berth with a 28–21 away win over 
David Nalbandian [10], 6–1, 6–2, 6–3
Li Na [24], 2–6, 6–2, 6–4
Hsieh Su-wei [Q], 6–2, 6–2
Edinburgh. (European Rugby Cup)
Maccabi Tel Aviv over 
Aris Thessaloniki through. (Euroleague)
Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius 90–84 at home. (Euroleague)
New Zealand 393 (103.2 ov.) beat 
Bangladesh 143 (45.3 ov.) & 113/9 (47 ov.) by an innings and 137 runs
Olimpija Ljubljana 83–74 in Ljubljana. This result also sends 