Padraig Harrington snatches tournament lead in Florida after Obama visit

Padraig Harrington, had a great week visiting the White House as a a guest of President Obama on St. Patrick's Day and now he may cap it all with a big tournament victory at the Transitions Tournament in Florida.

He shot a 65 to lead the field and held a one shot lead going into Saturday's play. He has not won on the tour since 2008.

Women jockeys make history at Cheltenham Races

Katie Walsh, sister of champion jockey Ruby Walsh stole the headlines on the second day of the Cheltenham festival when she fought out an historic finish with another female jockey Nina Carberry and won the opening National Hunt 4 mile chase.
The sight of the two women battling it out up the Cheltenham hill brought the capacity crowd to its feet on St.Patrick's Day.Walsh's father, Ted Walsh, who was commentating on the race broke his microphone and still could be heard screaming for his daughter.
Ruby, his son, won a race on the first day causing Irish wags to remark that Ted Walsh was now the 'leading sire at the festival'
Never before in the history of the fabled Cheltenham meeting had two women ever fought out the finish of a race at the festival. Poker De Sivola under Walsh just got home in front of Because I Couldn't See.
There were emotional scenes in the winner's circle when the Walsh family gathered to congratulate their daughter, only the second woman ever to win at Cheltenham.

Huge Irish gamble loses at Cheltenham races

The biggest Irish gamble for years went badly astray at the first race of the renowned Cheltenham festival when the odds-on Dunguib could only finish third.

Bookies were set to lose $5 million if Dunguib won so there were many happy faces in the boookmaker's ring after the odds on favorite came unstuck.

World Cup heartache again for David Beckham as Achilles injury puts him out of South Africa

It's World Cup heartache again for David Beckham as he's out of South Africa after tearing his Achilles tendon in the closing minutes of a game Sunday.

Brady Quinn an official bust, traded to Broncos

It was supposed to be the Notre Dame quarterback story with the Hollywood ending.

Brady Quinn was supposed to leave the Notre Dame campus after a stellar career there ending in 2007 and turn his local Cleveland Browns franchise around and lead them to the Super Bowl while the media flocked to cover the 'local boy from Dublin, Ohio, makes good' angle.

Except it never happened and this St. Patrick's Day Brady Quinn looks like a bust .

John Duddy wins his big fight in Texas

The narrow win now sets Duddy up for a title match against Julio Cesar Chavez in June, say boxing insiders.

Duddy will not be happy with this victory however, against a boxer considered far inferior to him.

Indeed,if Medina did not have a point deducted in the eight round for a low blow the fight would have been even closer. Duddy was at his best in the earlier rounds but the fight ended with Medina scoring some good shots as the Derry man visibly wilted.

Why Notre Dame football will suffer greatly if they join a conference

Jack Swarbrick, Athletic Director at Notre Dame is making noises about joining a conference.

Don't do it Jack.

“I believe we’re at a point right now where the changes could be relatively small or they could be seismic,” he said. “The landscape could look completely different. What I have to do along with Father Jenkins is try and figure out where those pieces are falling and how the landscape is changing.”

Notre Dame to battle Maryland in 2011 'home' game

The game, at the home of the Washington Redskins in The team has been scouting the country for locations where they can play an extra "home" game and promote the team and the college.

The first of these special "home" games was played Oct. 31, 2009 at The second will be played on Nov. 20, 2010 at the all-new Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y., where But there is no date as yet for a 2012 game.

Oscar producers cut Tiger Woods some slack

World number one golfer Tiger Woods was let off the hook at the Oscars ceremony at the Kodak Theater Sunday night when producers cut the jokes that Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin were going to deliver about the golfer, who admitted that he cheated on his wife last month.

"Some of the Tiger jokes were deemed too rude," an insider source told the New York Post.

Dublin and Connemara get ready for Kentucky Derby

Dublin and Connemara may shortly be in Kentucky. No there won't be a massive earthquake that will move continents together rather two of the top contenders for the Kentucky Derby 2010 bear those Irish names.

Dublin, trained by Hall of fame trainer D,Wayne Lukas, is one of the favorites for the Run for the Roses on the first Saturday in may. He recently finished a close second on his season reappearance at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas and will he heading for the Arkasas Derby there before the real thing.

Lukas can certainly get a horse ready for a derby --he has won the race five times -- and Dublin is his best horse in a long time as he has fallen on leaner times.It will be some scene if the old gunslinger shows up with one more bullet in his holster long after most thought he was gone.

No Red Sox welcome for tenor Ronan Tynan in Boston

Uh, oh. Looks like no one in Boston wants Irish tenor Ronan Tynan singing at Red Sox games.

One columnist has likened it to the Dropkick Murphys playing "Tessie" their Boston signature tune in the Bronx.

Tynan has

Notre Dame's Brian Kelly ready for Spring practice and return of QB Dayne Crist

Just two weeks until the Fighting Irish open up Spring training and all eyes will be on Dayne Crist who will be making his comeback from a severe knee injury last year.

Coach Brian Kelly has stated that Crist is ahead of schedule from the ACL surgery he had and he may even take part in non contact drills when practice begins.

If he does that is great news for the Irish who desperately need Crist fit and ready for the season ahead. Without him they have only rookie quarterbacks ready to start and of course, Golden Tate is no longer around to catch passes.

Danica's crash was all my fault says McDowell

Driver Michael McDowell says Danica Patrick's NASCAR crash was all his fault.

Patrick, who is leaving NASCAR for a few months as she returns to the IndyCar Series, collided with McDowell on lap 83 last Saturday and was quick off the mark to tell him it was his fault.

Halftime: Brazil 1 Ireland 0

The Republic of Ireland are 1-0 down to Brazil at halftime after a Keith Andrews o.g. gave the Samba men a scarcely deserved halftime advantage.

Ireland looked bright and eager in the first half with Robbie Keane and Kevin Doyle full of movement.

McIlroy, Harrington and McDowell set for WGC-CA Championships

Ireland defeat England by 20 to 16 in rugby

Ireland went ahead after 4 minutes when outhalf Jonny Sexton kicked through for Tommy Bowe to beat the English defense to touch down. Sexton missed the conversion.

Wilkinson replied with a penalty from 30 yards after striking the post with an earlier kick.

Tom Brady happy to be back on the bus with Patriots team mates

Tom Brady says he's happiest on the road with his New England Patriots teammates.

“There’s no place I’d rather be. This is the place where I probably have the most fun and enjoy it the most," he said.

Brady was speaking after he returned to NFL action with the Patriots in their preseason opening 27-25 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Ireland may shade England in huge rugby clash

Irish defeat British in female bobsled at Winter Olympics

Irish female bobsledders in epic battle to avoid last place

GM Brian Burke still not happy with Team USA hockey win

Brian Burke is still not happy despite his U.S. team pulling off a huge victory over Canada.

Far from 'dancing an Irish jig;' as one reporter out it. Burke thinks the USA side will have to do a lot better to win.

First ever Irish Olympic female bobsled team takes to the ice

It is not quite the Jamaican bobsled team, but the two-woman Irish bobsled team that takes to the ice in Vancouver today will be doing its own country just as proud.

She is a former Irish triple jump champion, which used to be known as the hop skip and jump in the old days. No doubt that will come in handy when she needs to kick start the bobsled.

Brian Burke's USA team play like him in hockey win over Canada

Brian Burke's decision to go with muscle and strength rather than finesse paid off in spades as the U.S. won an Olympic hockey game against Canada for the first time since 1960.

The young U.S.team that Burke has a never say die attitude that reflects their manager. Burke is working these Olympics despite losing his son a few weeks ago in a car crash.

Irish American players Ryan Callaghan and Chris Drury were magnificent in the U.S. victory. Callaghan made a late game save in which he sacrificed his body to stop a certain score. Drury scored the critical goal to put the U.S. ahead at a vital time 3-2 at the end of the second period .

Chris Drury biography on Wikipedia

Ryan Callahan may be player of the US/Canada game

Ryan Callahan has a real shot at man of the match in this epic clash between Canada and the United States.
The New York Rangers players is visibly growing in stature on the ice during this critical game and was unlucky to be denied on several occasions during that first period. It is the opportunity for the Rochester, New York native to really break out as a superstar in the biggest game so far on the Olympics calendar
2008–09 was a breakout year for Callahan, as he was third on the Rangers with 22 goals and fifth on the team with 40 total points during the regular season. Callahan was awarded the Rangers' Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award for his hard work throughout the season, and scored the winning goal in the team's playoff-clinching win in the final home game of the season. Callahan was re-signed by the Rangers on July 13, 2009.
Callahan was named an alternate captain of the Rangers on October 2, 2009. On January 1, 2010, he was named to the United States Olympic team.

Wayne Bridge will shake hands, make nice, with John Terry

Brian Burke, U.S. hockey manager, still haunted by son's death

The death of his son Brendan in a traffic accident still haunts U.S. hockey team general manager Brian Burke before Sunday's huge face-off with Canada.

"It's like that Jackson Browne song: Here comes those tears again," Burke told the Toronto Globe and Mail after attending another service for his son, who died a few weeks ago.

"It's like constantly getting hit over the head with a two-by-four. I just didn't stop crying all day."

Irish House at Winter Olympics the fake Stephen Colbert of Irish pubs

I see the Vancouver Sun has taken me to task for calling the Irish House a fake Irish pub.

It is the centerpiece of the Olympics after hours, the place where athletes hang out, the paper says, but I continue to say it is as Irish as Canadian bacon or curling. It is the Stephen Colbert of Irish pubs, pretending to be something it isn't. It is fitting that Colbert appeared there this week.

The defenders of Irish House, a prefabricated drinking pit, say it's real because the Irish team hangs out there.

Bernard Dunne retires from boxing

Former WBA World Super-Bantamweight champion Bernard Dunne, who was formerly based in America, has announced that he is retiring from boxing.

"After a long thought-out process and speaking with my family I've decided to announce my retirement from boxing.

"I've achieved all my life dreams and ambitions in the sport and it is the right moment for me.

Padraig Harrington says Tiger Woods needs to get on with it

Three-time major winner Padraig Harrington says it is time Tiger Woods got on with it and got back to playing golf.

Harrington stated he was happy that Tiger was finally going to go public tomorrow and talk about getting back to golf. He said it was about time a press conference was scheduled

"It has to be held at some stage," Padraig Harrington said. "The sooner he makes a statement, the better. And the sooner he's back to playing golf — he's pretty good at playing golf — the better."

Dropkick Murphys help Seth Westcott take Olympic gold

Why I don't like Shaun White

I can't warm to Shaun White.

Note Dame's Brian Kelly reveals most improved players

Brian Kelly charmed the heck out of a Notre Dame sports team last weekend but it was not the football side.

Kelly was guest speaker at the baseball team dinner and spoke for 14 minutes not mentioning football once to the 1,000 or so paying customers.

However he did speak with the South Bend Tribune before the dinner and dropped some important hints at what is happening behind the scenes

Fireworks in Milan as Beckham starts against Man United

Oh to be a fly on the wall at halftime of the Champions League clash between Manchester United and AC Milan in Italy tonight.

Loaner David Beckham has been picked to start against his former club for the first time since his disagreeable exit in 2003.

Irish Olympic chief says bobsleigh death track is too fast

The head of the Irish Olympic team says the bobsleigh death track at the Vancouver Winter Olympics is too fast.

Chef de mission Siobhan Hoey says the track is "simply too fast."

John Daly hoping to win skeleton sled Olympic gold

Long Islander and Irish American John Daly, 24, expects to be the next big star for the U.S. at the Winter Olympics.

He is chasing the gold in the skeleton sled competition and is fancied to win. He has a $250,000 sled to help him win victory in a competition where average speeds are at 90 miles per hour down the 4,500 foot long track..

"If there was ever a time to be ready, the time is now. I've never slid this great in a season. I'm pushing as fast as I can push," Daly told The New York Post.

Author and famed jockey Dick Francis dies

Dick Francis, best-selling author, has died at 89 in the Cayman Islands.

A former jockey, Francis's novels were all in racetrack settings an arena he knew intimately.

He wrote wrote 42 novels, but may be best known for a bizarre episode as a jockey in 1956 when seemingly riding the Queen's horse Devon Loch to victory in Britain's biggest race the Grand National. Within sight of the finish line Devin Loch jumped a shadow and fell down losing the race.

Jamie McMurray defies the odds to win Daytona 500

Jamie McMurray proved that Danica Patrick is not the only big name Irish American racer on their way to the top.

McMurray won the Dayton 500 after a race so charged with emotion that he broke down in floods of tears after his victory and just kept on crying through the subsequent press conference.
McMurray only led for two of the last laps in the second overtime, the lowest leader in laps in the history of Daytona 500 races.

McMurray is the comeback story to end all comebacks. He was cut by the Rush Fenway Racing team last year but came back to do Chip Ganassi, Felix Sabates and Teresa Earnhardt the team he joined proud this year.

Fake 'Irish House' at Vancouver Winter Olympics

"Irish House" is the big gathering place for the Winter Olympics, located just off the slopes in Vancouver. But what most of the 750 people who cram in there every night don't know is that it has nothing to do with Ireland or the Irish team.

Irish House is a giant extension of an Irish bar which is passing itself off as the headquarters of the Irish team in Vancouver. When there was a noisy celebration last week, it was blamed on the Irish team's partying and drew worldwide headlines.

This nonsense is in spite of the fact that there are only six Irish competitors at the Games, and they are all utter no-hopers who can just about ski to the local pub.

Danica Patrick crash will turn out to be a blessing

Danica Patrick crashed out of her NASCAR race on Saturday but it was not all bad news for the Irish American racer.

The expectation levels had gotten so high that she needed to bring them down a notch.

There is no question she is a huge star the stands were much fuller on Saturday, but she needs to learn her trade in NASCAR too "I remember my first year in IndyCar," she said, "where in the first couple of races I do really well, and everybody's like, 'Oh, my gosh, you should be winning!' And then it took a couple of years."

Stephen Ireland blames former manager for form slump

Hannah Kearney confident she's closing in on Olympic gold

Hannah Kearney will be hoping to impress her new friends at local watering hole the Irish House in Vancouver by bringing back Olympic gold.

The Irish American mogul skier from new Hampshire had a very successful day in the first round of competition and more is promised to make up for the heartache of Italy four years ago where she finished 22nd despite being one of the favorites.

"My goal is to win a gold medal," she told News 9 in new Hampshire . "I'm not here to lose, that's for sure.

Ireland behind France by 17-3 at half time in rugby game

Ireland were down 17-3 against France at Stade de France at half time and looked in deep trouble after a bright start in near freezing conditions.

Ireland lost 10 points when prop Cian Healy was sin binned after a blatant takedown on a French player was caught by the referee.

Minutes later hooker Gerry Flannery lashed out at a French player and reversed a penalty to Ireland by his actions. France went on to score a try.

Harrington just two shots behind at Pebble Beach

Padraig Harrington is within two shots of the lead at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am in California with a five-under-par 67 at the Golf Links after the second round

Harrington pronounced himself very happy with his effort .”You know, it was a great day to score. When I actually finished, I actually had to total up the score. I wasn't sure what it was, so that's always a good sign.

"It shows I was enjoying the day and very much in the moment, and, you know, not getting too much into the results. All those cliches that you're meant to do when you're playing golf..”

Liam Brady steps down as Ireland assistant manager

Liam Brady has stepped down as Ireland's assistant manager. The decision is a big blow to manager Giovanni Trapattoni and his other assistant Marco Tardelli who were heavily dependent on the former Arsenal and Ireland star who is fluent in Italian.

Brady says his work as Director of Youth Development at Arsenal will be his major commitment from now on and that he is no longer able to share the workload with the Ireland job.

Brady stated "The Ireland role required me to be away a lot of time and although Arsenal made clear they would have been quite happy for me to continue, I have decided it is not right in the circumstances to remain in position after I complete my contract this April. I thank the FAI and everyone in the Irish set-up. It has been a great personal experience for me and I wish Giovanni, Marco and all the players all the very best for the coming campaign."

Irish bobsled team allowed to compete in Winter Olympics

Olympics officials have agreed to allow both Ireland and Australia to participate in this months Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada.

Australia had challenged Ireland's inclusion and not theirs in this years Olympics.

Trapattoni to take Nigeria to World Cup and then return to Irish Job?

Ireland soccer boss Giovanni "This is a very delicate issue, but of course Giovanni will be interested," The news will come as a major shock to Irish fans who have grown to love Meanwhile Russian manager His agent also stated his boss was interested:

" "If - and I say if because we have not been officially contacted by the Nigeria federation - if we get such an offer, we will have to discuss with the Russian Federation and, if there could be an agreement with the Russian federation, then "Currently there is a new president at the Russia Federation and we are talking about the future of after July 15, whether he stays or goes and that might change the situation a bit.

Brian Kelly and Notre Dame magic worked for his son says Cris Collinsworth

NBC star football analyst Cris Collinsworth has described how he knew the minute Brian Kelly was hired for Notre Dame that his star prospect son Austin was headed for South Bend. He said a visit to the campus just reinforced the message.

Harvard, Stanford, Cincinnati, Kentucky and Vanderbilt were also trying to hire the wide receiver at the time but Kelly made the difference his dad told Cincinnati.com.

"A couple days later (after Kelly was hired), he offered him a scholarship," Collinsworth said. "We went up there and academically, socially and the whole atmosphere ... a light went on and it was over."

Irish rugby coach Declan Kidney names his starting team to face France

Why do Irish make the best Super Bowl coaches?

Ever notice that Irish coaches make the best Super Bowl coaches?

Patrick Sean Payton was just the latest in a string of big winning coaches who share an Irish heritage.

Bizarre super bowl bet-- will game MVP thank his dog?

You have to hand it to Paddy Power. The Irish bookmaker makes a career out of odd and unusual bets but he may have surpassed himself this Super Bowl.

One of his strangest ones this year is who will the MVP of the game thank first?

You can bet on him thanking himself at 100/1, his dog at 500/1 and Paddy Power at 1000/1.

Saints coach Sean Payton has a higher power on his side

New Orleans coach Patrick Sean Payton had a higher power helping him in the Super Bowl which I think can got him across the line.

He is named after an Irishman known variously as "The Miracle Priest" and the "Rosary Priest."

So if its fourth and goal on the final play expect Payton to be on his knees to his namesake who can surely ensure victory. A rosary, a miracle or a hail mary might be needed at some point too. The coaches, kids Megan and Connor, sure hope it won't come to that.

Danica Patrick belongs with the NASCAR boys

Danica Patrick proved she belonged with the boys.

Her sixth place finish in her first ever

Danica Patrick comes sixth in her first NASCAR race

Danica Patrick finished sixth in her first NASCAR race on Saturday in her much hyped debut in a stock car.

Patrick was up as high as fifth after working her way back after from almost spinning out of the race.

Rugby : Ireland 23 -Italy 8 at the half time break

Tries by

Notre Dame's Brian Kelly reveals what he wants in a quarterback

Brian Kelly has revealed what he wants from his four freshman quarterbacks as he looked back on his first recruiting class.

Speaking to ESPN Kelly stated he wanted what he called "FBI" -- football intelligence first and foremost, players who could "handle the mental end" of running a spread offense where so much depends on the quarterback's read.

He also said the quarterback had to be able to "protect himself" and that "athletic ability" was obviously key also.

David Beckham, not Rio Ferdinand, should be England captain

David Beckham should be made England's captain, not Rio Ferdinand.

The Los Angeles Galaxy player is on the fringes of the English squad for the World Cup but there is no doubt he is the inspirational type of figure that England needs now.

Rio Ferdinand has already got his own chequered past and he certainly lacks the presence and stature that Beckham would bring to the role.

Relief all round as John Terry sacked as England captain

England boss Fabio Capello has sacked Chelsea skipper John Terry as England's soccer captain.

Brian Kelly deserves an 'A' for first Notre Dame recruiting class

Brian Kelly's first recruiting class ended up in the Top Twenty according to Sporting News, not a bad start at all for the new Irish coach. "It's a good start for us said Kelly." I think you'll see a growth in the recruiting process for us next year"
He said next year will be even better ."You need time to recruit, you need success if you want to be able to recruit the very best.Clearly we did not have either on our side this time. We will"
Spoken like a true coach who is used to proving his critics wrong. Kelly can afford to be relaxed. In Cincinnati he took a bunch of castoffs from other programs and created a power house.
Even with the restrictions on him this year he will still be very happy.
Matt James and Christian Lombard are ready to play immediately. Hawaiian defensive linesman Kona Schwenks also has a great shot at being an immediate starter.Running back Camron Roberson may be the biggest surprise of all. Kelly fought off three other programs for his signature.
Now comes the hard part, integrating those players into the team for 2010. At least Kelly now knows what he has to work with. Given where he started from, taking over a disillusioned program with fans screaming for change, he has already come a long way.
Me, I think Roberson may be the surprise in this bunch. Mark my words.

Seantrel Henderson to announce for Miami?

Seantrel Henderosn is now expected to pick Miami according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune his home town paper .

That is good news for Notre Dame in the sense if they were not going to get him they did not want USC to have him either

Brian Kelly lands major prospect Matt James for Notre Dame

Mission accomplished for Brian Kelly after prized recruit

Brian Kelly confident Seantrel Henderson will pick Notre Dame

Wednesday is National Signing Day for college recruits and D-Day for Brian Kelly and his Notre Dame staff. That is when the key college players left unsigned will make their decisions known.

According to the South Bend Tribune, the big name to watch for the Irish is Seantrel Henderson, who was the Parade Magazine Player of the Year. He is a 6-foot-8, 340-pound offensive tackle from St. Paul, Minn., and went to the same school as wide receiver Michael Floyd. Henderson would be a huge "get" for Notre Dame, but Kelly is said to be confident he has bagged him although USC and Ohio State are probably favorites.

Rivals.com loves him: "Other than his massive body size, Henderson is extremely nimble and agile on his feet, especially laterally. He gets that from playing basketball when he's not training for football. Henderson also has great hand placement during pass protection, thus being able to direct the pass rusher outside the pocket."

Shaun White is set for more Olympic Gold in Canada

Irish American Shaun White is heading back to Canada, plotting his path to Olympic Gold in a few weeks - and the locals remember him from the time he was six.

That was when he first showed up in Canada to train with his family. Ken

Wayne Rooney the best player in the world right now

Is Wayne Rooney the best ever striker in the English premiership?

That is quite a title given the greats like Alan Shearer but against Arsenal today he surely looked the part.

Consider United's second goal. Rooney got the ball deep in his own half , slipped a pin point perfect pass to Nani, racing down the right. Rooney then ran about 70 yards as Nani approached the Arsenal box. Nani's pass to Rooney was met with the perfect first touch, and Arsenal's keeper had no chance.

John Terry will be dropped as captain for World Cup

John Terry's future with England may depend on Wayne Bridges, the player whose girlfriend he stole and made pregnant. She later had an abortion.

In a dignified statement, Bridges, now with Manchester City, stated he did not want to discuss the affair which has dominated the British tabloids all weekend. If he sticks to that, Terry has a chance to survive the tabloid storm.

English captain Terry showed his on-field brilliance when he scored the winner against Burnley in an 2-1 away win for his club Chelsea.

Robbie Keane, Spurs and Irish captain on way to Sunderland

Robbie Keane is on his way to Sunderland the British media are reporting.

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce made the offer on Friday and Harry Redknapp,who has wanted to get rid of Keane almost since the striker rejoined the club from Liverpool, has accepted.

Spurs made it clear they had a striker too many after they bought Eidur Gudjohnsen on loan from Monaco.

John Terry scandal as big as Tiger Woods in Britain

England's soccer captain John Terry is in disgrace because it has emerged that he slept with the girlfriend of a teammate, Wayne Bridges. One tabloid even alleges she got pregnant and had an abortion.

The news has hit British soccer like a hurricane, given that Terry is about to captain England in their World Cup challenge in South Africa later this year. In British terms, it is almost as big as the Tiger Woods scandal is over here.

The English captain was so determined to save face that he tried to have the High Court block publication of his name.

Brian Kelly says Notre Dame no longer a ball control offense

Brian Kelly has thrown a monkey wrench into the works at Notre Dame by announcing ball control offense is no longer a priority.

Keeping the ball as long as possible on offense has been as Irish a ploy as the Notre Dame leprechaun.

Now it will be Cincinnati on the lake, not Notre Dame Du Lac, as quick strike offense becomes the cornerstone of the team that Kelly builds.

Notre Dame Coach Brian Kelly organizes fantasy football camp

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly and his assistant coaches have begun to organize a fantasy football camp, scheduled to take place from June 7-10.

Interested participants will learn from some of the best Irish players, former and current, the skills required to make a great footballer.

Footie fanatics, who will stay on campus, will have the use of the Notre Dame facilities and follow the same schedule of events as the current program, including travel to the South Bend Marriott the night before the Blue-Gold fantasy game.

Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly keeps fans updated on Twitter

No sooner has Brian Kelly put the finishing touches to his coaching staff than he is getting himself and his family ready for the new chapter in their life.

Coach tweeted that things were progressing nicely on the homefront when he posted the following update on Saturday:

The Saints' Sean Payton and his link to Irish miracle priest

Patrick Sean Payton is going to the Super Bowl. The New Orleans coach, a Chicago area native, is named after the Irish Catholic priest, Fr. Patrick Peyton, known as the famous "rosary priest."

Fr. Peyton, a Mayo native who died in 1992, would be pleased that a boy named after him ended up leading a team called the Saints to the Super Bowl.
 

Fr. Peyton was famous for his devotion to the Knock Shrine in County Mayo where Our Lady is said to have appeared to locals in 1879. Pope John Paul showed up there in 1979 to celebrate the miracle.
 

Louk Sorensen beaten in the second round of the Australian Open

Louk Sorensen’s fantastic run to first qualify for the 2010 Australian Open and then become the first Irishman in 25 years to win a match at a Major tournament came to an end when American John Isner beat him in their second round match in straight sets in Melbourne on Wednesday, 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 7-5.

Sorensen’s success in the first round went down well with all the Irish Down Under, and court eight was full of spectators following the Irishman as he sought to claim another scalp at the first Major of the year, but it was not to be.

Louk Sorensen wins his first round match at Australian Open

Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly urges fans to help Haiti

Notre Dame head Coach Brian Kelly took time out of his busy schedule of recruiting to ask all Irish fans to keep the tragedy that is occurring in Haiti in mind, as well as respecting the huge part Martin Luther King played in shaping this country

"Support Clinton/Bush relief but don't forget the legacy of MLK!" tweeted Coach Kelly.

Quarterback Andrew Hendrix commits to Notre Dame

Four-star quarterback Andrew Hendrix has decided that his college future lies in the blue and gold of Notre Dame.

The much touted slinger out of Moeller Cincinnati had been accepting overtures from Urban Meyer and Florida, but despite praising the Gators’ set up, Hendrix has decided to join the new Fighting Irish revolution under head coach Brian Kelly.

Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly to court offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson

Brian Kelly will join the chase to lure offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson to Notre Dame when he pays an in-home visit to meet the prospect next Monday.

Henderson, out of St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall, is one of the most coveted players coming out of high school and Iowa, Ohio State, Florida, Oklahoma, USC and Miami are among the other suitors vying to bring him to their school.

WWE Champion Sheamus takes on Shawn Michaels this weekend

WWE champion Sheamus will try to keep Irish eyes smiling this weekend when he takes on Shawn Michaels in a WWE Championship match this Sunday in Minnesota.

Sheamus is just off back to back wins against John Cena, first taking the title off him and then defending his belt against the golden boy of WWE.

Now the flame-haired Dubliner will take on the wily veteran that is Shawn Michaels, who has been around the WWE for many a year.

Celtic refuse Wigan loan offer for Scott McDonald

Glasgow Celtic has refused an offer from

Irish midfielder Stephen Hunt staying put, says Hull manager Phil Brown

Glasgow Celtic says winger Aiden McGeady is not for sale

Glasgow Celtic have politely told Birmingham City to sod off and keep away from Republic of Ireland winger Aiden McGeady.

He's not for sale, says manager Tony Mowbray.

Former Notre Dame coach Weis heads to Kansas City Chiefs

Former Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis is going back to the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Weis will take on the role of offensive coordinator at the Chiefs in a move which will see him reuniting with head coach Todd Haley who shared an office with Weis when they were both tyros at the New York Jets.

Weis also worked with Chiefs current general manager Scott Pioli at the New England Patriots when, as offensive coordinator, Weis helped guide the Patriots to three Super Bowl titles between 2000 and 2004.

Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen injury may affect his draft prospects

Jimmy Clausen is out for at least three months and needs surgery on the toe he injured at the midway point of the season with Notre Dame.

What was thought to be turf toe is instead a nasty ligament injury and Clausen now needs surgery to repair it. In retrospect, the fact that he was able to battle the injury and play so well is a tribute to his guts.

Notre Dame's Brian Kelly has Urban Meyer's backing

Now that Brian Kelly has won the endorsement of Florida's Urban Meyer, the best coach in college football when he was active, the wisdom of the Notre Dame move to pick him is looking better than ever.

As ESPN reported in April 2008, Meyer came back to Cincinnati to visit his father, who was having health problems. Meyer is a former player at Cincinnati who left in 1986. His sister still works at the university.

A friend on the coaching staff, Tim Hinton, invited him to watch practice. Meyer came away deeply impressed with how Kelly ran the show and how the team had maximized its potential.

Notre Dame's Kelly taking Bearcats coaches with him

It's obvious there was a lot about Cincinnati that Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly liked.

Mainly, the Bearcats coaches he left behind.

According to reports on Rivals.com and ESPN.com, Kelly's new coaching staff at Notre Dame will include several current Cincinnati assistants.

Brian Kelly boot camp from hell at Notre Dame

Coming soon – the Brian Kelly boot camp from hell at Notre Dame.

The South Bend Tribune has details of how hard Kelly will drive the players in the coming months – and the plain vanilla nice guy we have all been seeing since he was chosen coach is about to disappear.

In its place will be a slave driver utterly committed to the task on hand of building a BCS bowl contender.

Sheamus can smack down Cena in WWE rematch

In a major surprise, the Sheamus vs. John Cena Round Two will take place on Monday night on "RAW," the WWE has announced.

Sheamus pulled off the upset of the decade when he beat Cena in their title match recently.

Now, we can expect him to do it again?. The WWE can hardly dethrone him after just a few weeks, can they? Irish Americans who have rallied to Sheamus will not be pleased if their champ loses his belt so quickly.

Brian Kelly's old Bearcats in bizarre coaching situation

Brian Kelly cannot be pleased that Buffalo have taken their new head coach Jeff Quinn from under his nose.

His former offensive coordinator was a key hire once the season ended and he had led Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl.

Right after the script was for Quinn to join his old boss and build an offensive machine at Notre Dame the likes of which had not been seen since -.. well the one they built together at Cincinnati.