"The 300"...Make That 500

Josh Smith scored a career best thirty-two points (12-of-15 from the field) to help the Atlanta Hawks beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 99-93 on Saturday night for their third victory on the trot. He went 7-for-7 from the floor in the first half accumulating seventeen points in the half. Smith is third in the NBA with his 2.4 average and last Saturday against the Knicks, he became the youngest player ever to block five hundred shots.

'March Madness' - NCAA Four Take Seedings.

Defending champions Florida have been given one of the top seedings in the NCAA tournament on Sunday, along with Ohio State, Kansas and North Carolina. All four teams booked their positions by winning their conference tournament championship games.

The tournament involving sixty-five teams, known as 'March Madness' begins on Tuesday night in Dayton, Ohio, with a play-in game between the two lowest ranked teams. On Thursday afternoon, it's action all the way on the court.

The Gators aim to become the first repeat champions since Duke in '92. Florida, which won the football championship in January, will begin its bid for another title in the Midwest region with a game on Friday against Jackson State in New Orleans.

Thanksgiving Important for Cowboys

Dallas can celebrate Thanksgiving with their Cowboys team in first place in the NFC East if they can overcome the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday.

Four days after beating the Colts (their first loss of the season) the Cowboys (6-4) will host the Buccaneers (3-7) who are bottom of the NFC South Division.

Coach Bill Parcells said: "We didn't have much time to enjoy the win over the Indianapolis Colts".

Parcells was delighted with a defence that forced four turnovers, two interceptions of Peyton Manning, and held the Colts to just two touchdowns in a 21-14 well deserved victory.

One of the turnovers was a 39-yard interception-return for a touchdown by young linebacker Kevin Burnett.

Parcells should also be happy with Tony Romo who is 3-1 since being starting quarterback.

Tampa Bay are 3-4 since quarterback Bruce Gradkowski replaced starter Chris Simms.
Last time out Gradkowski threw two touchdown passes and Carnell Williams rushed for a season-high 122 yards in a 20-17 win over Washington.

The Cowboys cut Johnson and signed Terrell Owens last March.

Owens has been good for Dallas, catching 53 passes for 724 yards and seven scores.

Dallas are 23-14-1 on Thanksgiving but have lost six of its last nine holiday games, including two of three under Parcells.

Last season, the Cowboys got beaten in overtime to Denver, 24-21.

The Buccaneers have never played on Thanksgiving.

Patriots And The Cardinals

The Patriots go into their bye week at 4-1 and top of the AFC East. New England haven't exactly lit up the park with their play but as always they have found a way to win tight games.

Belichick when interviewed was wearing a St Louis Cardinals jersey. When asked about it he said that he wanted to show support for Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa, who will faces the New York Mets in the National League Championship Series a World Series place. Belichick is a fan.

New England will get back to their regular routine on Monday. Nex up is a trip to Buffalo - currently 2-3.