Keeler: Plenty of buzz for Open

With the French Open less than a week away, I find myself getting unusually excited about this year's event.

Nations: Securing a place in history

Two down, one to go.

Clippers earning respect

Kobe Bryant nailed a 3-pointer in the final minutes of the game, then high-fived Justin Timberlake as he went back...

Nations: VCU's potential move just business

Sounds like bad news is heading the Colonial Athletic Association's way this week.

Keeler: Celebrity interviews no big deal

I'll be the first to admit I'm lucky to have the job I have.

Nations: Harper's revenge done the right way

I finally checked enough items off the old to-do list on Sunday night to plop in front of the TV for a couple hours to watch Washington Nationals uber-prospect Bryce Harper live and in action.

Keeler: District battles heat up

While many in the area get excited over the Apple Blossom Festival, I can guarantee that I am not one of them. However, I do get excited knowing that it's Festival week, because that means the spring playoffs will soon be here.

Nations: A Derby dilemma for dad

I have a real dilemma on my hands this week as I start to anticipate the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby, a.ka. "The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports."

Eller: Palmeiro should get in Hall

It wasn't until recently that I realized what I wanted to do in this business. My passion for sports has always been there, while my knack for writing is something that's developed over the past few years (and will continue to do so for quite a while), leading me to where I am today.

Nations: Newton's Heisman win isn't surprising

Don't you just miss a good, old-fashioned surprise? So Auburn's dynamo quarterback, Cam Newton, took home the Heisman Trophy as college football's best player Saturday night, complete with the requisite ESPN buildup and special to fete his greatness.

Nations: Non-BCS programs automatic also-rans

This will not be yet another BCS-bashing diatribe. There will be no elegant playoff solutions here. That doesn't mean wishful thinking is off-limits, though. After all, it is the holiday season. TCU got a big present on Monday, when the school's board of trustees voted unanimously to accept an invitation to join the Big East Conference in all sports starting in the 2012-13 school year ... or rather, football season since this move is purely, completely and transparently 100 percent about football.

Stafford: Fighting Irish still have rich tradition

This past weekend my friend Sam and I sat in a New Jersey restaurant and waited for his wife, Lindsay, to finish her shopping. We'd gotten bored after 30 minutes of looking for nothing in particular, and Lindsay showed few signs of weariness. Sam and I needed something more masculine to hold our attention, so, naturally, we went to a bar and ordered nachos and watched college football.

Keeler: BCS might crumble on shopping's famed day

Black Friday. Usually those are words that excite many women around the country. Many women can't wait to go out and shop all day and night, running up their credit card bills and having a girls day out.

Jeff Nations: McNabb, Redskins retake the headlines

Normally, I love writing Monday columns. So many possibilities, after all ... a full slate of college football games to break down, or pivotal NFL match-ups to analyze. College basketball just kicked off last week and in-state teams, the NBA and NHL are still wide-open affairs this time of year, NASCAR's Chase for the Sprint Cup is rapidly winding down, baseball is just starting to hand out those tradition-rich awards we seem to endlessly debate.

Keeler: Duke in position for next title run

I've always hated the expression about bleeding a certain team's color. We all know that the only color you can actually bleed is red. However, if I were to bleed another color for a sports team, there's no question it would be blue -- as in Duke blue. With college basketball season set to begin this week, I can't help but feel just a little more excited. Duke is not only the No. 1 men's team, but also the defending champion. And I'm not sure the program has ever been in better shape.

Brian Eller: Benching McNabb was wrong decision

The last time most of us saw Rex Grossman, he was on the biggest stage in professional sports, trying to lead the Chicago Bears past the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLI. It was a messy game, played in rain-soaked Dolphins Stadium, and Grossman was out-shined by the great Peyton Manning.

Stafford: Hornets' current record a mystery

It's hard to believe that Shenandoah, despite having some of the most productive individuals in the USA South, is only 2-2 in conference play.

Keeler: Metheny showing signs of old self

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Any area fans that watched as Sherando graduate Ross Metheny threw his first college touchdown for the University of Virginia on Saturday saw something familiar as he was celebrating -- his fist pump.

TK's Corner: Sometimes risk is worth the reward

As he typed in everyone's picks for the week, Jeff Nations couldn't help but snicker.

Eller: Torre's interest a boon for Mets

A day after admitting he was "curious" about the possibility of managing the New York Mets, soon-to-be unemployed Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre apologized, saying his comments weren't intended to "make people believe I wanted to manage the Mets."

Nations: Winning has fans forgiving in Philly

You have to wonder how many Philadelphia Eagles fans are plunking down some serious cash for a No. 7 jersey today. After Michael Vick's dazzling performance in Sunday's 35-32 victory over the vaunted Detroit Lions, you've got to figure his jersey is selling a bit more briskly than, say, Kevin Kolb's No. 4.

Stafford: Good friends are hardest to forget

Evan's shots hummed through whichever corner he chose, kissing orange paint before catching worn net; my shots labored through water just to get to the goal.

TK's Corner: Stafford gets last laugh with Dukes

Jeremy Stafford strutted into the office on Monday with a huge smile on his face. He didn't have to say a word, but he did anyway.

Tommy Keeler: State's football picture changing

Take a good look at the Associated Press college football poll this week. At the very bottom, where it mentions "others receiving votes," something looks odd.

Eller: Dreaming on the job just a perk

As a writer, I must confess something to you, the reader. Sometimes, I forget you're there. Don't hate me for it. It's an honest oversight on my part when it happens.

Nations: Local WR continues to battle adversity

It would appear that the Philadelphia Eagles have firmly put "The Future" into the past. Among the assorted undrafted rookies, fringe free agents and low-depth chart veterans cut loose by Philadelphia on Saturday was former Sherando High School standout Kelley Washington.

Stafford: Edwards brings buzz to Hornets

The excitement is humming at Shenandoah University. SU's football team has a clean slate -- last year's 1-9 debacle has been whitewashed from the Hornets' memory like old, crusty paint.

Tommy Keeler: New era begins for Sharapova

Let's just get this out there right away -- Maria Sharapova is attractive. There's no denying it. However, Sharapova is...

Eller: Schedule expansion a mistake for NFL

Say it with me, National Football League. I will not adopt an 18-game schedule. Once more. I will not adopt an 18-game schedule.

Jeff Nations: Hokies' opener gift for title shot

Let's face it -- sports writers love Virginia Tech. It must be so, just looking at this week's Associated Press preseason top 25 football poll.