Fast Break

NFL

Strong showing in Moscow

The University of Idaho football team had a special guest at Wednesday’s practice. Mack Strong stopped by to see his former coach, Dennis Erickson, who coached the fullback from 1995-98 in Seattle.

“He’s a tremendous guy,” Erickson said of Strong, who is in his 14th season in the NFL. Strong was an undrafted free agent out of Georgia when he made Seattle’s practice squad in 1993.

Seattle has a bye Sunday and the players were given the week off. Strong was in the area because his wife, Zoe, has ties to Lewiston.

NASCAR

Don’t miss the Chase

Will Talladega launch the title run for Earnhardt? Is the points system fair or should the Chase drivers get a separate race? Fantasy NASCAR? We have it all online with daily reports from The Sporting News.

Check it out at spokesmanreview.com/nascar.

Boxing

Sport has its own Sears Tower

Nikolai Valuev strode to the weigh-in for his WBA heavyweight title defense against Monte Barrett while a crowd watched outside the Sears Tower in Chicago.

“He’s huge,” some bellowed.

“Whoa!” said others, as the 7-footer – the largest heavyweight champion in history – approached the scale outside the nation’s tallest building.

Valuev (44-0, 32 knockouts) kept on his black T-shirt and blue jeans as he weighed in at 328 pounds – about 105 more than his opponent – for Saturday’s defense at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill. A stripped-down Barrett (31-4, 17 knockouts), looking fit and trim, was just less than 223.

Blogspot

What’s the best duel in sports?

Vince Grippi dares you to argue with him. His latest challenge? He posted the following after the New York Yankees-Detroit Tigers American League divisional playoff game Thursday:

“You can take your left tackle trying to handle a speed rusher on the outside, or your shutdown corner locked on the receiver, or your quick guard taking the ball to the rim against a polished shot blocker, or your veteran goalie trying to stone a right winger racing down the ice.

“Those are all great, but the best 1-on-1 battle in all of sports is a hard-throwing pitcher facing a fast-ball hitter in the postseason.

“What drama. What fun. What testosterone. What a game.”

So what do you think? What is the best 1-on-1 matchup in sports?

Go to Grippi’s blog or simply click on the Question of the Day at spokesmanreview.com/ sports.