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Bobcats keep Allen from record, beat Celtics 94-89

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Gerald Wallace scored 19 points, including the clinching free throws with 3 seconds left, and the Charlotte Bobcats overcame top scorer Stephen Jackson's ejection to beat the short-handed Boston Celtics 94-89 on Monday night.

Shaun Livingston added a season-high 18 points, little-used Eduardo Najera had a key 3-pointer late, and the Bobcats snapped six-game losing streak to Boston in a testy game that included five technical fouls and yet another emotional outburst by Jackson.

Ray Allen scored 25 points and hit two 3-pointers, leaving him two shy of breaking Reggie Miller's NBA career record of 2,560. Paul Pierce added 22 points and Kevin Garnett grabbed 14 rebounds for the Celtics, who dressed only 10 players.

Boston, coming off emotional games against powers Dallas and Orlando, ran out of gas in the fourth quarter against Charlotte in a potential first-round playoff preview.

The Bobcats, coming off losses to Miami and Dallas, got contributions from unlikely sources.

Livingston, a backup point guard, played in crunch time over the ineffective D.J. Augustin and took advantage playing against the smaller Rajon Rondo. Najera buried a 3-pointer with 1:57 left to put Charlotte ahead 89-83.

The Celtics got within 90-87 in the final minute, but Pierce missed a layup before Nazr Mohammed hit one of two free throws with 21.7 seconds left.

It appeared to be over then, but Livingston fouled Pierce shooting a 3. He hit two of the three free throws before Wallace put it away at the line.

Gerald Henderson added 15 points while filling in for Jackson at shooting guard.

Jackson, who a day earlier shook off criticism about his collection of technical fouls, was sent to the locker room with 1:38 left in the second quarter when he wouldn't stop complaining about being called for a foul on Garnett.

Referees Kane Fitzgerald and Mark Ayotte hit him with his 12th and 13th technical fouls before play resumed, handing him his second ejection in a season that's also included a one-game suspension and a separate $50,000 fine for bad behavior.

Without their top scoring option, Charlotte still stuck around, rallying to take a 79-77 lead on Wallace's 3-pointer with 6:12 left.

The Celtics had no depth at small forward or center with big man Semih Erden (abductor strain) added to the long injury list on Monday.

He was sidelined along with Shaquille O'Neal (leg), Jermaine O'Neal (knee), Delonte West (wrist) and Marquis Daniels, who bruised his spinal cord in a scary injury Sunday. Boston's thin bench included Avery Bradley, called up from the NBA Development League earlier Monday.

Fellow rookie Luke Harangody, who was set for a D-League stint until the injuries hit, was forced to play small forward for a good chunk of minutes. The Bobcats also exposed 5-foot-9 Nate Robinson by playing the 6-7 Livingston more. He scored 10 points in the second quarter as the Bobcats took a 51-50 halftime lead that included numerous hard fouls and jawing.

Kwame Brown had to be separated from Kendrick Perkins after Perkins' hard foul in the second quarter. The scuffle produced technical fouls for Brown and Pierce. Garnett picked up a technical in the third quarter.

Allen looked to be on pace to break the 3-point record when he buried his first long-range shot 51 seconds in. But his second 3 didn't come until midway through the third quarter.

They were the only 3s Allen attempted on a 9-of-17 shooting night. Boston shot just 41 percent from the field and was outrebounded 50-37.

Allen will get a chance to break the record Thursday at home against the Los Angeles Lakers — with Miller in town to do color commentary for TNT's broadcast.

Notes: Celtics coach Doc Rivers said he exchanged text messages with Daniels on Monday and said he's "doing a lot better" but it's "going to take a while" before he can play again, possibly forcing the team to make a roster move. ... Bobcats coach Paul Silas called Allen one of the greatest shooters in league history, but said he'd like to see him face off against his former teammate in Seattle, "Downtown" Freddie Brown. ... Rivers isn't concerned with the increased criticism Garnett has received for his behavior. "I think all these people who call them out will take them on their team right now," he said. ... Bradley said he was up at 5 a.m. Monday to catch a flight from North Dakota to Charlotte through Minneapolis. ... South Carolina football coach Steve Spurrier attended the game as a guest of Rivers.

Steelers' Polamalu, Harrison silent in Super Bowl

ARLINGTON, Texas – Troy Polamalu whiffed on a tackle. James Harrison was nearly invisible.

Not the way the Pittsburgh Steelers drew this up.

Pittsburgh's big-play, hard-hitting defensive leaders were nowhere to be found when the Steelers needed them most as Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay's offense led the Packers to a 31-25 victory Sunday night.

Polamalu was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year, but was anything but the impact player who helped get the Steelers to this point. He had a chance to make a big play early, but delivered only a glancing blow on James Starks.

Polamalu delivered his biggest hit the very next play — as Greg Jennings caught a 21-yard touchdown pass.

Harrison had a sack, but made most of his noise with his mouth during the week while criticizing the NFL. He might not have much to say after this performance, though.

Dick LeBeau's defense was one of the strengths all season for the Steelers, who have a long legacy of punishers — The Steel Curtain among them — who helped bring six previous titles to Pittsburgh. This team expected to do the same, with Polamalu and Harrison leading the way, as they so often have during the last few seasons.

But Polamalu finished with three not-so-memorable tackles, while Harrison had only the sack of Rodgers in the third quarter and a few quarterback hits.

It wasn't just Polamalu and Harrison to blame, of course. The Steelers' suspect secondary gave up several big plays throughout the game as the Packers, even without the injured Donald Driver for most of the game, took aim at Bryant McFadden, William Gay and the rest of Pittsburgh's defensive backs.

The defensive line, led by the big-bearded Brett Keisel, got some pressure on Rodgers but it wasn't consistent enough, especially in the first half, to get the Packers off track.

"We don't grade on a curve," coach Mike Tomlin said. "We're not interested in moral victories and things of that nature. We didn't play well enough to win and Green Bay does, and we tip our hat to them because of that."

When the Steelers look back at this one, though, they'll wish Polamalu and Harrison had done what made them two of the elite defensive players in the NFL.

Polamalu is a matchup nightmare with the way he freelances in the secondary, but he was beaten in coverage on Jennings' 8-yard touchdown catch early in the fourth quarter that put Green Bay up 28-17.

The first quarter provided an ominous peek at how this night would unfold as Starks rumbled for 12 yards — and Polamalu had a shot at him, and missed. Jennings caught a 21-yard pass from Rodgers on the next play and Polamalu unloaded on him, his hair flying behind him, but there was one problem: the Packers receiver was already across the goal line.

"There were a lot of areas that could have swung the balance the other way and we look at every single play in all three phases when we evaluate our performances," said Tomlin.

Harrison was the Defensive Player of the Year two years ago, and was coming off another impressive season for the Steelers in which he had 10 1/2 sacks. He's a problem for receivers and tight ends coming across the middle, and for offensive linemen trying to protect their quarterbacks.

Not so much in this one. The Packers did a terrific job of keeping him out of Rodgers' face, and capped a frustrating week for Harrison.

The big linebacker was one of the centers of attention during the week leading to the Super Bowl, taking some hard shots at the league by calling the NFL's talk about wanting to protect players "a show." He sarcastically suggested a pillow could be used to soften blows he delivers to opposing players, and ripped the owners' push for an 18-game regular season.

Harrison was fined $100,000 by the NFL for illegal hits this season, but won't have to worry about his wallet after the Super Bowl.

I'm no traitor, insists Chelsea newboy Torres

LONDON (AFP) – Fernando Torres insists he is not a traitor after Chelsea's 50 million striker was accused of betraying Liverpool.

Torres is set to make an emotionally-charged Chelsea debut against his former club on Sunday just a week after completing his controversial British record transfer from Liverpool.

Reds boss Kenny Dalglish admitted he was disappointed by the timing of Torres's move, which was finalised just hours before the close of the transfer window.

Torres was well below his best for much of this season and handed in a transfer request in an attempt to force through the move once he became aware of Chelsea's interest, prompting some fans and former players to claim the Spain forward had been sulking for months.

But Torres is adamant he was always completely dedicated to the Liverpool cause and he slammed those who criticised the way he left Anfield.

"I think it is not fair. It makes no sense. I played three very good seasons there and scored lots of goals," Torres said.

"I understand it was a difficult situation, especially in the transfer window, but I have to think about my career.

"Everyone will see it is a step forward. I know the plans Chelsea have for the future, the ambition they have and what they want to achieve.

"They want to build a great team and keep competing with Man Utd and Man City to be the best club in England and to fight for the Champions League.

"When I will be 45 I would like to look back and say I am really lucky to have this picture of me as a champion.

"I explained my feelings and was honest with everyone. Everything was straight, the main thing was to be honest and fair.

"Obviously they didn't want me to leave, they tried to persuade me to stay but I told them I had made my decision.

"I don't know how the fans will be but it would a surprise for me if I get a really bad reception."

During his three-and-a-half years at Liverpool, Torres had appeared totally devoted to the Reds and he even claimed he would never play for another English club.

That pledge was swiftly consigned to history once Liverpool began to struggle and Chelsea came calling, but Torres insists he has never been the badge-kissing type who takes the plaudits then walks out when the going gets tough.

However, he felt Liverpool's decline had been too steep over the last 18 months, with the departures of Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano convincing Torres the club lacked ambition.

"I never kissed the Liverpool badge," Torres said. "When I was born in Madrid I wasn't a Liverpool or Chelsea fan. I'm an Atletico fan, maybe that is the only badge I would kiss.

"People were talking about Liverpool winning the title or getting back in the top four but I could see from the beginning of the season that we would struggle.

"When you have a chance to play for a team who can win the Champions League and Premier League and compete with the best then you have to take the chance."

Whether Torres starts against Liverpool on Sunday after just three days training remains to be seen, but in the long run he should breathe new life in a team that has lost its way in recent months and spark a sustained challenge for the Champions League.

The post-Torres era shouldn't hold too many fears for Liverpool if Uruguay striker Luis Suarez continues to display the kind of predatory instincts that bagged him a debut goal in Wednesday's 2-0 win over Stoke.

Suarez will shoulder the burden of replacing Torres for several weeks until Andy Carroll, the 35 million signing from Newcastle, returns to fitness and the former Ajax star said "It is a weight off your shoulders scoring your first goal.

"You know everyone is keeping an eye on what you do so it does relax you and helps from the word go."

Boehner rejects C-SPAN request for cameras in House

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) this week officially rejected C-SPAN's request to allow the cable network to operate its own video cameras in the House of Representatives, Michael O' Brien .

The only video of the House available to the public comes through cameras the chamber itself controls. And those cameras aren't supposed to focus on anyone but the individual speakingwhich means the public never gets to see anything else happening in the chamber.

No speaker has allowed a private entity to set up video feeds of the House, but C-SPAN continues to make the request, fighting for access and transparencyand (so say network executives) a better news product.

"We continue to feel that the public is best served by seeing a more complete picture of the legislative process than what's delivered by Congressionally-controlled cameras and will continue to work with Speaker Boehner and other leaders in the House in hope of one day gaining access on behalf of the media," C-SPAN CEO Brian Lamb said in a statement, O'Brien reported.

Boehner did announce his support for for broadcast correspondents who report from the House.

(Photo of Boehner: Charles Dharapak/AP)

Snooki: George W. Bush hotter than Obama

She may haveon Monday andlast month, but “Jersey Shore” reality star Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi hasn’t totally ruled out the discussion of politics.

During her Monday appearance at the Washington Auto Show, Snooki was asked to determine who was hotter: President Barack Obama or former President George W. Bush.

“I thought George Bush was pretty cute,” the Washington Post Snooki as saying. “For an old man.”

Snooki also mentioned her support for former Republican presidential nominee John McCain.

“I’ve really only talked to John McCain, and that’s because I mentioned him on my show..how, you know, he probably wouldn’t do tan taxing because he’s…pale,” Snooki said.

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