North Dakota's scoring wiz, Jocelyne Lamoureux, hopes for special finale

In her junior season, North Dakota forward Jocelyne Lamoureux led the nation in scoring and was a finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award, given to the nation's best collegiate female hockey player. Yet despite her multiple individual awards, Lamoureux felt there was something missing because the team didn't reach the postseason. This season she's concentrating on doing the little things to give her team a better chance in her senior season. Her profile, for the "Kaz Watch" series for USA Hockey; http://www.pattykaz.com/news_article/show/225743?referrer_id=718465

A hair-raising thought: the Raiders' D without Wheeler

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: Linebacker Philip Wheeler was perhaps the Raiders' best acquisition last season. Now, after leading the team in tackles in 2012, Wheeler is a free agent and Oakland must decide if he's worth bringing back. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Wheeler-Was-One-of-Raiders-Best-Acquisitions-in-2012-190694131.html

Can Niners afford to keep nose tackle Sopoaga?

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Isaac Sopoaga has been an anchor on the defensive line at nose tackle, but as he enters free agency there are questions about whether the 49ers can -- or should -- re-sign him. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Niners-Could-Cut-Ties-With-Defensive-Anchor-190701441.html

Raiders' schedule in 2013 among easiest in NFL

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: Oakland, which may need all the help it can get in 2013, has the fourth-easiest schedule in the NFL, based on opponents' winning percentage: http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Raiders-Schedule-for-2013-Among-Easiest-190380421.html

49ers may keep Smith for insurance, keep him from Cards

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Although the odds are that QB Alex Smith will leave, it's not a certainty. Some suggest the team can afford him, plus by keeping him on roster, 49ers wouldn't allow him to go to division-rival Cardinals. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Niners-Could-Decide-to-Keep-Alex-Smith-190387301.html

Providing in-home care for elderly is her calling

Gabriela Brown knows she provides a service everyone hopes they never need. Her Constant Companions gives in-home care for the elderly, and she has trained care-givers in homes across San Diego's North County, down to Chula Vista and into Riverside County. Yet as much as nobody really plans for using her services, she feels good knowing that she's there to help people when they need it. Since she was a teenager, she's known she's wanted to help people. My story on her for U-T San Diego's "On the Job" series: http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/feb/08/tp-in-the-service-of-seniors-poway-company/

Akers' price may be too step for 49ers

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Is kicker David Akers worth more than $3 million against the 49ers' salary cap next season? Probably not. The team can release him, renegotiate his deal to a lower price or keep him as is and hope the problems of 2012 were a result of injury. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/For-49ers-Keeping-Akers-May-be-a-Gamble-190212561.html

49ers' Jenkins vows to crack receiving rotation in 2013

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area: Niners' No. 1 pick A.J. Jenkins didn't catch a single pass in 2012. Now he vows to work hard over the offseason to become better and fight his way into becoming a playmaker for the team in 2013. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Niners-Invisible-Receiver-Jenkins-Wants-to-be-Seen-in-2013-190020921.html

Raiders face a costly question with Carson Palmer

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area: QB Carson Palmer is due to make $13 million in 2013. With the Raiders exceeding the salary cap, does that mean they'll have to ask him to take a pay cut... or release him? http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Palmers-Big-Salary-a-Problem-for-Raiders-190035991.html

Harvard standout Jillian Dempsey is 'living the dream' playing for a Crimson program she watched as a kid

In the sixth grade, Jillian Dempsey decided she would one day play hockey at Harvard. Now a senior for the Crimson, Dempsey is one of the nation's top goal scorers on a team ranked in the nation's top five and says she's "living the dream" playing for a school she loves so much. My story on Dempsey for USA Hockey's Kaz Watch series. http://www.pattykaz.com/news_article/show/222623?referrer_id=718465

Raiders' defensive line targeted for remaking

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: Once, Richard Seymour and Tommy Kelly where the anchors of a strong defensive line in Oakland. Now that line is overpaid and underperforming. This offseason it's likely the target of a big improvement project. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Raiders-Defensive-Line-a-Target-for-Reshuffling-189847251.html

Goldson, Moss, Walker among 49ers' free-agents to be

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: The Niners have most of their key players signed to contacts beyond 2013, but a handful of starters and key contributors -- including Dashon Goldson, Randy Moss, Delanie Walker and Isaac Sapoaga -- will be unrestricted free agents. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Niners-Face-Important-Free-Agent-Decisions-on-Key-Players-189838761.html

The day after: 49ers still primed for long-term success

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: The day after a Super Bowl loss can be tough. There's never a guarantee that a team will return to the big game. Yet the 49ers showed over the course of the past two seasons under Jim Harbaugh and GM Trent Baalke that they have what it takes to stay in the Super Bowl hunt for many years to come. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Even-in-Defeat-Niners-Have-a-Bright-Future-189668341.html

Despite loss, 49ers have a winning hand for future in Kaepernick

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Colin Kaepernick was sloppy in the first half, then electric in the second as the 49ers lost to the Ravens 34-31 in Super Bowl XLVII. Though the 49ers lost, Kaepernick proved again that the Niners will have an elite QB for years to come. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/After-Shaky-Start-Kaepernick-Almost-Rallies-49ers-to-a-Win-189602181.html

After lights come back on, so do 49ers

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Sunday's Super Bowl XLVII was a tale of two halves, before and after a 34-minute power outage. After the lights came back on, the 49ers finally began to play the way they can, but it proved too late in a 34-31 loss to Baltimore. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Niners-Get-Plugged-in-After-Power-Goes-Out-189603851.html

Baalke is the superstar behind 49ers' Super Bowl team

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: For years, the 49ers struggled to regain their elite status from the Joe Montana-Steve Young years. Now that the Niners are back, who deserves the most credit? Trent Baalke, who went after Jim Harbaugh and has brought in so much talent. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Baalke-Was-Architect-of-this-49ers-Super-Bowl-Team-189565071.html

Can shaky Akers be steady in Super Bowl XLVII?

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Going into Sunday's Super Bowl, the 49ers appear to have few question marks. Solid offense, solid defense. But kicker David Akers' inconsistency is a major concern. What if the game comes down to a late Akers' kick? http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Big-Question-Mark-Hangs-Over-David-Akers-Head-189499911.html

Niners getting a boost from LaMichael James

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Rookie running back LaMichael James had to sit and wait...and wait and wait. But since he finally got a chance to play in the Niners' final four regular-season games and the playoffs, he's given them a fresh pair of legs and a dangerous, multipurpose weapon on offense. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/LaMichael-James-Giving-49ers-a-Jolt-of-Energy-189499161.html

Niners' secondary wary of Flacco's mad-bomber mentality

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has a strong arm and a passion for going for the home run whenever possible. In fact, stats show he throws more long passes than any other NFL QB -- and has an exceptional success rate. Going into Sunday's Super Bowl, 49ers DBs are well aware of his big arm and know they can't make any coverage errors. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Flaccos-Arm-Strength-Will-Challenge-49ers-Secondary-189375421.html

Power vs. power: Iupati vs. Ngata in Battle of the Trenches

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: 49ers left guard Mike Iupati has blossomed into one of the NFL's best run blockers. Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata is one of the league's premier run-stuffers. Sunday's matchup could be one of the best. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Duel-Between-49ers-Iupati-Ravens-Ngata-Could-be-Special-189372091.html