Fast Break
NFL
Vobora suddenly quite relevant
The St. Louis Rams will have a new face in the lineup when the Miami Dolphins visit today.
Rookie David Vobora, the former University of Idaho player who was this year’s “Mr. Irrelvant,” will make his first start, taking over for Will Witherspoon at middle linebacker. Witherspoon is nursing injuries and will only see limited duty today, coach Jim Haslett said.
Vobora was the last pick in April’s draft, earning him the distinction of “Mr. Irrelevant.” He provided a daily diary to The Spokesman-Review during the “Mr. Irrelvant” activities.
He was activated from the practice squad Nov. 4 and has played in the past three games, mostly on special teams.
He’ll be the first “Mr. Irrelevant” to start a game in his rookie season since 1994, when Marty Moore made four starts at linebacker for the New England Patriots.
“It’s been a dream come true to get to this point, but there’s no complacency,” Vobora said. “I always want more, and this is a good opportunity to get in and contribute and show, ‘Hey, this is what I can do; this is what I bring to the table.’ ”
NFL
Burress shoots self accidently
Super Bowl hero Plaxico Burress accidentally shot himself in the right thigh and spent the night in the hospital, another dramatic turn in a tumultuous season in which the star New York Giants receiver has been fined and suspended.
The Giants said the shooting happened Friday night and he was released from the hospital early Saturday. The team did not say which hospital Burress went to or how badly he was injured.
A team official told the Associated Press that Burress shot himself in a nightclub.
College basketball
EWU in action
Eastern Washington University’s men’s basketball team returns home tonight to take on visiting UC Irvine in a non-conference matchup that tips off at 7:05 at Reese Court.
The Eagles (3-2) are coming off Wednesday’s 88-67 road loss to Minnesota and looking to pick up their second win of the season over UCI (0-4), which opened a three-game road trip Friday night by losing to Idaho 101-47. Eastern tripped up the Anteaters 74-69 in Irvine, Calif., earlier this winter behind the 12-point, 17-rebound performance of senior guard Andy Genao.
Benny Valentine leads the Eagles in scoring at 20.3 ppg.
College football
Top 25 results
| (1) Alabama 36, Auburn 0 |
| (2) Florida 45, (23) Florida St. 15 |
| (3) Oklahoma 61, (11) OklahomaSt. 41 |
| (5) USC 38, Notre Dame 3 |
| (7) Texas Tech 35, Baylor 28 |
| Kansas 40, (12) Missouri 37 |
| (18) Ga. Tech 45, (13) Georgia 42 |
| (16) Cincinnati 30, Syracuse 10 |
| (19) Oregon 65, (17) Oregon St. 38 |
| (20) Boston College 28, Maryland 21 |