Ron Johnson, the new manager of the Norfolk Tides, lets 10 horses, six dogs and two cats patrol his 35-acre spread in the tiny central-Tennessee town of Morrison. The only thing missing? Why, another horse, or dog or cat of course. "Hey, we're animal lovers," Johnson said Wednesday of his wife, Daphane, and their combined brood of five. "That's what we are."

V or VI lessons lingering thoughts from another Super Bowl come and gone... - In a lyrical sense, New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin ought to quit.

Six of the past seven seasons, a Super Bowl ring has been claimed by a player or a coach with recent South Hampton Roads roots. Had things followed script - though in the NFL, when do they ever? - this year's vicarious view would be through the onfield presence of Chesapeake's Ras-I Dowling.

I wouldn't necessarily endorse it, for physical and mental health reasons, but a daring formula has developed for creating an NFC champion over the past five seasons. First, lose to the Washington Redskins at least once. Four of the past five NFC winners managed this feat. Heck, lose twice if it's convenient, as the New York Giants did this season.

CHARLOTTESVILLE I know you're wondering. Yes, the shot clocks were operational Sunday at Virginia's John Paul Jones Arena. This wasn't some retro Peach Basket Night promotion between the 15th-ranked Cavaliers and desperate-for-an-ACC victory Virginia Tech.

When the women's pro golf tour left Kingsmill after the 2009 Michelob Ultra Open, well, it never really left. True, ownership of the resort changed hands. And a new LPGA commissioner assumed leadership of an organization tossed by internal storms and waning relevance.

CHARLOTTESVILLE The numbers tell you where the University of Virginia's basketball team stands: 16th-ranked by the Associated Press. A 14-1 record - 1-0 in the ACC - that's the Cavaliers' best start in 30 years. A two-point loss to Texas Christian from being unbeaten. The noise tells you why.

NORFOLK These Norfolk Admirals could be on to something. Of course, there's more than half the American Hockey League schedule to play. And 40 more games, especially for the southern-most team in the bus-based Eastern Conference, is no easy skate. Really, though, this could be pretty good. Or not. But that's getting too far ahead of the puck.

I caught the end of a TV interview Friday morning with Todd Blackledge, the Penn State quarterback from 30 years ago. He was talking about Penn State's reported hiring of New England Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien to succeed Joe Paterno and clean up the football portion of the monumental mess in State College.

Maybe you didn't know Chris Crocker, once of Chesapeake's Deep Creek High School, has played 126 regular-season games for four NFL teams. I didn't till I looked it up. But there it is; nine seasons, 126 games, which is a lot compared to most NFL careers. One career playoff game is not a lot, though.