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Coach K Is King

Krzyzewski and Knight's relationship goes
far beyond the basketball floor.

A man that once learned from the best, now takes his place among the best.

Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski surpassed his mentor and the legendary Bob Knight for the most wins in Division I men's basketball history with a 74-69 victory over Michigan State in the Farm Champions Classic Tuesday.

The win was the third in as many games on the year for the No. 6 ranked Blue Devils, while it was the 903rd of Kryzewski's career. With most of his family, friends, former players and Knight, who was broadcasting the game for ESPN, in attendance, it was anything but an emotional night for the man known as "Coach K".

In front of a sold out crowd Madison Square Garden, Krzyzewski had tears in his eyes after embracing Knight post game, thanking him for all he had done for him over the years.

"I just told Coach I love him," Krzyzewski said. "I wouldn't be in this position without him. It's a moment shared. I know he's very proud and I'm proud to have been somebody who's worked under him and studied under him and tried to be like him."

After brief stints at Army, Indiana and Texas Tech, Krzyzewski first came to Duke in 1980 and has never looked back, recording 830 of his 903 victories in Durham.

Along with now becoming the winningest coach in NCAA history, Krzyzewski owns a NCAA-record 79 NCAA tournament victories, is second on the all-time list with 11 Final Four appearances, he has earned 12 Coach of the Year honors, 12 ACC regular season titles and 13 ACC championships.

Let's not forget his four NCAA Tournament Championships, second only to the late John Wooden's ten during his time at UCLA.

If that weren't enough, Krzyzewski enjoyed success in the most recent Summer Olympics, just like Knight once did. Both were able to lead the United States men's national team to a gold medal in 1984 and 2008 respectively. Krzyzewski was also able to capture gold in the 2010 FIBA World Championship and will have another opportunity for his second Olympic gold medal next summer in London.

As for the game, junior guard Andre Dawkins led all scorers with 26 points, 18 of those coming from beyond the arch. Dawkins sparked a 20-1 run late in second half for the Blue Devils, extending their lead, 61-41.

Krzyzewski, left, was Knight's starting point
guard at West Point.

But Spartans head coach Tom Izzo never let his team quit as they forced multiple turnovers and eventually cut the Blue Devils' lead to five in the game's final minute, giving Coach K and the New York City crowd a scare.

Krzyzewski will look to further his legacy in the team's next game when they host Davidson, Nov. 18, but tonight the Knight will now take a bow to the king.

Justin-credible

Verlander's 2011 season will go down as one
of the best in baseball history.

In a unanimous decision, Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander was named the American League Cy Young recipient Tuesday, receiving all 28 first-place votes from the members of the Baseball's Writers Association of America.

In the finest year of his brief, but bright seven-year career, Verlander stated his case as the best pitcher in the game, posting career-bests in wins (24), winning percentage (.828), earned run average (2.40), innings (251), WHIP (0.92) and now has the hardware to prove it.

Verlander becomes only the third pitcher in history to win the award while wearing the Tiger uniform. Right-hander Denny McLain was the first Detroit pitcher to take home the honor way back in 1968. McLain would repeat and win his second the following season in 1969, but had to share the honor with Baltimore's Mike Cuellar.

Fifteen years later, Willie Hernandez became not only the second Tiger in history to be recognized, but the second relief pitcher in history to receive the trophy, going 9-3 with 32 saves and a 1.92 ERA in 1984.

To go along with their Cy Young awards, both McLain and Hernandez are part of a limited class, receiving the AL Most Valuable Player Award in the same season, a feat Verlander hopes to accomplish as well.

Since the award was established in 1956, only nine pitchers in Major League history have been both honored with the Cy Young and MVP in the same season. Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley was the last pitcher to earn both honors as a member of the Oakland Athletics in 1992.

The 28-year-old Verlander becomes only the ninth AL pitcher to win the award by unanimous decision and the 21st overall. Now-New York Mets left-hander Johan Santana was the last AL pitcher to receive a unanimous selection, while pitching for the Minnesota Twins in 2006, oddly enough Verlander's rookie campaign.

Verlander's 24 wins, 2.40 ERA, and 250 strikeouts led the AL this season, becoming the 16th pitcher in AL history to win the pitching Triple Crown and with that, history held true.

The four-time All-Star is the 12th pitcher in Major League history to win the pitching Triple Crown and receive a unanimous selection in the Cy Young voting. Roger Clemens is the only pitcher to win the award and not have his selection unanimous after winning the Triple Crown. That came in 1997, when Clemens was pitching for the last-place Toronto Blue Jays.

Hall of Famer Hal Newhouser was the last Detroit pitcher to earn the Triple Crown. That coming in his 1945 MVP season.

It's a fitting end to a year that didn't start in the right direction. Verlander started off the season rather slow, going 2-3 in his first 7 starts, but after throwing his second career no-hitter on May 7, north of the border, the right-hander went 22-2 in his final 27 starts of the season, helping the Tiger capture their first AL Central division title in franchise history.

With Verlander totaling his maximum 160 points in the voting, Angels pitcher Jered Weaver finished second, tallying 97 points. Tampa Bay's James Shields and New York's CC Sabathia finished third and fourth, respectively.

With his first career Cy Young in the bag, Verlander puts his sights on the MVP, an award announced on Nov. 21.

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