Monday's sports briefs

Murphy QB Curtis named state's best

MURPHY ? Murphy senior quarterback Seth Curtis has been named the NCPreps.com 1-A football player of the year.

Curtis was also the Citizen-Times All-WNC Player of the Year and the Smoky Mountain Conference Back of the Year after leading the Bulldogs (12-4) to the NCHSAA 1-A championship, the first state title for the Cherokee County high school since 1996.

Curtis threw for 2,111 yards and 21 touchdowns with five interceptions, while rushing for 1,301 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Holiday hoops tourneys begin today

ASHEVILLE ? At least a dozen holiday basketball tournaments featuring Western North Carolina high school teams begin today. For a complete schedule of today?s first-round games, see Page C4.

Syracuse remains No. 1 in the nation

With Syracuse No. 1 for a third straight week, the top seven teams remain the same in The Associated Press' Top 25 college basketball poll.

The Orange received 54 first-place votes from the 65-member national media poll on Monday. Ohio State, Kentucky, Louisville, North Carolina, Baylor and Duke held their places from last week.

Solid ratings for NBA's return

NEW YORK ? NBA fans seem more excited about basketball?s return than bitter about the lockout based on television ratings for the league?s delayed openers.

The five Christmas games Sunday attracted large audiences, with the Bulls-Lakers matchup drawing the third-highest preliminary rating for a regular-season game on ABC. The 6.5 overnight rating trailed only a 7.3 for last year?s highly anticipated Heat-Lakers showdown and a 7.9 for another meeting between Miami and LA in 2004.

Rangers catcher hits umpire

CARACAS, Venezuela ? Texas Rangers catcher Yorvit Torrealba has been suspended from Venezuela?s professional baseball league for 66 games for striking an umpire.

Torrealba was arguing with the home-plate umpire Friday after striking out. He angrily put a hand on the umpire?s mask and shoved him. League President Jose Grasso Vecchio called Torrealba?s behavior unacceptable and a violation of league rules.

Source: http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20111227/SPORTS/312260046/1002/rss

giants denver broncos patriots steelers ravens bengals new england patriots