Each Wednesday I share links to good articles/columns from recent happenings – with added insights and musings – from around the sporting world.  If you come across good articles, videos, etc. – please pass them along, I’d love to take a look.

College Football:

NY Times’ Pete Thamel had a Q&A with Texas head coach Mack Brown.  Brown had some high praise for all things Boise State.

Auburn reported losing $614,106 from their trip to the BCS Championship Game in Glendale.  The expenses aren’t believed to include the $200,000 paid for Cam’s services but the school did bring an eye-popping 938 people to Arizona.

Ohio State suspended Jim Tressel for the first two games of the ’11 season and fined him $250,000. Tressel failed to notify the school of NCAA violations involving Ohio State football players and a financial arrangement with a local tattoo parlor. Here are actual emails between Tressel and an unidentified individual with an undisclosed relationship to Columbus Tattoo Parlor owner Edward Rife. Don’t be surprised if the NCAA decides to punish Tressel further.

The Oregon Ducks could be in some hot water. Documents show the Ducks paid more than $28,000 to two men with ties to multiple recruits who signed LOIs with the school according to the report.

Photo via oregonlive.com

The investigation is centered around the Ducks paying an alleged recruiting middle man $25,000 for services as some believe Willie Lyles steered highly regarded running back Lache Seastrunk (pictured above) to Eugene.

The best column related to the recruiting mess at Oregon game from the Register Guard’s George Schroeder – This time, Lyles delivers NCAA’s full attention.

In light of Declan Sullivan’s death at Notre Dame, the school reportedly won’t use hydraulic lifts to film football practice anymore. I wonder if other schools will follow suit?

Based on the recent happenings at Oregon and other schools across the country – recruiting might be headed down a dark alley with third parties potentially influencing recruits.

Here’s another story about 7-on-7 football and the influence third parties have in recruiting.

Boise State recently announced their 2011 football schedule (in case you didn’t already know).

Soccer:

Sports Illustrated wrote a piece about the remarkable comeback of U.S. International and D.C. United forward Charlie Davies – Rebuilt To Last.

Arsenal’s Samir Nasri says he can almost “feel” Arsenal’s hands on the Premier League trophy as Manchester United has slipped the last couple weeks.  After yesterday’s disappointing loss to Barcelona in the Champions League the Gunners need to get their hands on some silverware this year.

I didn’t really want to put this on here but the goal was simply amazing and there’s no denying Lionel Messi is far and away the best player in the world. Here’s his video game like first goal from yesterday’s Champions League clash with Arsenal (best video I could find):

Surfing:

Sean Collins breaks down the mechanics of Snapper Rocks on surfline.  Great pics and information about the Gold Coast’s Crown Jewel.

Surfline had another sweet feature this week: A day in the life: Reef McIntosh – keeping an eye on Pipeline from dawn ’till dusk.

Check out this cyclone swell in Australia that Taj Burrow and friends took advantage of::

College Basketball:

Who knew that it wasn’t just the bowl games giving out gifts to college athletes. Apparently gifts are given out at conference basketball tournaments as well.

National Hockey League:

Seven years later, how Bertuzzi’s assault changed hockey’s tone.  A look back at the Bertuzzi incident and the culture of hockey has changed since.

Speaking of vicious hits, Bruins Captain Zdeno Chara rode the Canadians’ Max Pacioretty into the glass between the benches resulting in a scary scene in Montreal. Pacioretty was taken off on a stretcher but was reportedly conscious and moving his extremities. It will be interesting to see how the league handles the situation. :

Golf:

Hall of Famer Lee Trevino believes Tiger Woods will surpass Jack Nicklas’ record for major victories but needs to get rid of his coaches. Sounds like an interesting strategy but if anyone can pull it if, it’s Tiger.

National Basketball Association:

While this may come as a surprise to some, it doesn’t surprise me –  napping is prevalent among NBA Players.  I would take a nap every single day if I could.

Dimebag.com posted a video of MJ shattering a backboard in Italy back in 1985. Enjoy the video (HT Ryan Craven):

Horse Racing:

This is a little out of my league but seems noteworthy – Rachel Alexandra has been bred with Curlin and is in foal with an expected due date of Feb. 1, 2012. Both horses have won Horse of the Year – Curlin in ’07 & ’08 and Rachel Alexandra in ’09.

Photography:

The Top 100 Sports Pictures of 2010 – Enjoy.

Any good stories or articles I missed? Happy Humpday Everyone!