The Daily Fives for January 8th, 2011 From the Sports Mac

1. Jim Harbaugh agrees to become the new head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, signing a five-year, $25 million contract.

2. Louisiana State runs all over Texas A&M to blow out the Aggies and win the 75th Cotton Bowl.

3. Amar'e Stoudemire scores 23 points for the New York Knicks in his first game back in Phoenix since leaving as a free agent last summer.

4. Toronto scores four power-play goals in less than five minutes, the first team to do so in over 12 years, in a demolition of the Thrashers in Atlanta.

5. The NCAA rules that Enes Kanter is permanently ineligible and will not play basketball for the University of Kentucky.

Results of 2011 Cotton Bowl: final score: 41-24

LSU rallied from an early deficit to dominate the Cotton Bowl, with Jordan Jefferson throwing three touchdown passes to Terrence Toliver en route to a 41-24 win.

Coryell Judie started the game on a high note for A&M with a long kickoff return that set up a 6-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Tannehill to Uzoma Nwachukwu. When Randy Bullock added a 39 yard field goal for the Aggies it was 10-0 early.

But LSU's Jordan Jefferson was about to have one of the best games of his career. He hit Terrence Toliver for a 42 yard touchdown late in the first quarter, then ran it in from a yard out early in the 2nd, and LSU had the lead, 14-10.

A&M responded with a great play when running back Cyrus Gray, seemingly caught in the backfield, threw to a wide open Nwachukwu in the end zone, and the Aggies were on top again 17-14.

But that would be their last lead of the game. LSU's Stevan Ridley, who was declared eligible for the game just days before, scored on a 17-yard run, then Toliver caught his 2nd TD pass from Jefferson late in the half to make it 28-17 LSU at halftime.

Toliver and Jefferson hooked up once again in the 3rd quarter, this time for 41 yards, to make it 35-17 LSU.

A&M's last chance came early in the fourth quarter after Tannehill found Kenric McNeal on a 4 yard touchdown strike to pull within two scores at 35-24. Then the Aggie defense stopped LSU on a 3rd and 10 on A&M's 33 yard line.

But LSU's Josh Jasper, one of the nation's best kickers, connected on a 50 yard attempt, making it 38-24. Worse for the Aggies, Tannehill was intercepted two plays later. The Tigers drove again inside the 10 and Jasper made another field goal, making the score 41-24 with 2:30 left. A&M fumbled on the next play from scrimmage.

Jefferson had 158 passing yards, most of those to Toliver who had 112 receiving yards. Ridley had 105 rushing yards and Spencer Ware 102 as the normally stout Aggie defense couldn't handle the Tigers on the ground. Tannehill had 204 passing yards but was intercepted three times; Cyrus Gray had an even 100 yards rushing to go with his TD toss.

MOKONDO

The Texas A&M Aggies shot out of the gate in the Cotton Bowl, but it was Les Miles and the LSU Tigers imposing their will down the stretch to cruise to a 41-24 victory in Dallas. The Aggies scored the first 10 points of the game and looked to have LSU on their heels early, but the Tigers responded. A flurry of touchdowns in the second quarter was all it took for the Tigers as they rolled down the stretch.

It was a record-setting performance for LSU wide receiver Terrence Tolliver. His three touchdown catches were the most in Cotton Bowl history, and came as a surprise to anyone that's watched LSU this year. Know for their running, and a passing game bordering on inept, the Tigers finished with three passing touchdowns in an aerial attack that proved to be quite efficient.

Of course, the rushing attack was still there, with the Tigers rushing for 288 yards and two touchdowns. Tolliver finished with 102 yards and two touchdowns on five catches to lead all receivers while Stevan Ridley carried the ball 24 times for 105 yards and a score. Spencer Ware added 10 carries for 102 yards and a touchdown on the ground, as well.

Texas A&M got an up-and-down performance from quarterback Ryan Tannehill. The junior finished with 182 yards and two touchdowns through the air, but also threw three costly interceptions. Cyrus Gray hit the century-mark on the ground, rushing for exactly 100 yards on 20 carries. Uzoma Nwachukwu caught four passes for 38 yards and hauled-in both of the Aggies passing touchdowns.

Maryland Staged Terror Theories Develop After Package Explosions?

Many people are now coming up with Maryland staged terror conspiracy theories after shocking news broke out earlier Thursday that said two packages exploded at the Maryland Department of Transportation headquarters in Hanover and at a government building in Annapolis. Would the FBI stage such a thing?

The packages apparently emitted smoke and a sulfur smell, when opened. They slightly burned the fingers of the employees who handled them, but nobody was seriously hurt. The Associated Press notes in their report:

"When both packages were opened there was a reaction that caused a flash of fire, a brief flash of fire, smoke and a smell," state police spokesman Greg Shipley said. "This is not to be compared with a significant explosion that you think of when you say that word."

In total, four peoplersons went to the hospital, as a result of these two packages which slightly exploded. Luckily, nobody was seriously hurt by these incidents. Two were injured slightly, while two others wanted to be checked out, due to the fact they were in the vicinity of the exploding packages. At this time, it's hard to speculate on what the purpose was behind these mailings.

Still, it seems as if this incident has lead to conspiracy theorists starting up their ideas of how the FBI and the US government may have been involved. None of these theories can be readily found online, meaning they are probably lurking in secretive forums or private groups on the web. According to one website's take on the matter:

"Despite such news reports, conspiracy theorists have surfaced online calling the incident a Maryland staged terror plot. Some are even claiming that the FBI staged the explosions. Seriously!? Who actually believes that nonsense? "

What do you think of this latest news? Was it a Maryland staged terror incident? Were the explosive packages caused by an individual acting alone or some other group?

Maryland Staged Terror Theories Develop After Package Explosions?

Many people are now coming up with Maryland staged terror conspiracy theories after shocking news broke out earlier Thursday that said two packages exploded at the Maryland Department of Transportation headquarters in Hanover and at a government building in Annapolis. Would the FBI stage such a thing?

The packages apparently emitted smoke and a sulfur smell, when opened. They slightly burned the fingers of the employees who handled them, but nobody was seriously hurt. The Associated Press notes in their report:

"When both packages were opened there was a reaction that caused a flash of fire, a brief flash of fire, smoke and a smell," state police spokesman Greg Shipley said. "This is not to be compared with a significant explosion that you think of when you say that word."

In total, four peoplersons went to the hospital, as a result of these two packages which slightly exploded. Luckily, nobody was seriously hurt by these incidents. Two were injured slightly, while two others wanted to be checked out, due to the fact they were in the vicinity of the exploding packages. At this time, it's hard to speculate on what the purpose was behind these mailings.

Still, it seems as if this incident has lead to conspiracy theorists starting up their ideas of how the FBI and the US government may have been involved. None of these theories can be readily found online, meaning they are probably lurking in secretive forums or private groups on the web. According to one website's take on the matter:

"Despite such news reports, conspiracy theorists have surfaced online calling the incident a Maryland staged terror plot. Some are even claiming that the FBI staged the explosions. Seriously!? Who actually believes that nonsense? "

What do you think of this latest news? Was it a Maryland staged terror incident? Were the explosive packages caused by an individual acting alone or some other group?

'Million Dollar Money Drop': Target logo, Orkin pest questions puzzle fansThursday's episode of "Million Dollar Money Drop" shows us that the easiest

Thursday's episode of "Million Dollar Money Drop" shows us that the easiest questions can cause the biggest headaches. On the popular game show, contestants Sherman Mitchell and Omar Williams were asked two questions that, on the surface, seemed to have the most obvious answers: 1) How many red rings surround the bullseye on the Target logo and 2) According to Orkin, what creature is the No. 1 pest problem in America (ants, bedbugs, or roaches)?

Without using Google, were you able to figure out the answers?

Despite most of America shopping in Target on a daily basis, it's likely that that particular question caused you to strike the "Thinker" pose. If your brain hurts from pondering the answers or you're just too lazy to search the Internet, here it is--the Target logo has just one red ring (it does have a small red circle at its center), and the biggest pest problem is America is none other than the ant.

On Fox, "Million Dollar Money Drop" shows us that, at the end of the day, no matter how many college degrees you hold, we really aren't as smart and observant as we think we are.

Local Mega Millions winner could mean windfall for ailing governments

onight, some lucky person might win the $355 million Mega Million multi-state lottery jackpot, which is sold in the District, Maryland and Virginia, among other states. And while thousands of people across the region are lining up to buy tickets, there's a reason to root for an area resident even if you don't personally win: A local winner could mean a serious windfall for government treasuries in dire need of help these days.

In the District, a sole winner who accepts the lump cash payment of $224.2 million would pump a full $19 million into the coffers of a city anticipating a fiscal 2012 shortfall of $400 million or more, via an 8.5 percent withholding for income tax. (That's after the feds take 25 percent, or $76.8 million.)

In Maryland, where lawmakers must close a $1.6 billion gap, a sole winner opting for up-front cash would send $20.7 million into the state treasury, via a 9.25 percent withholding.

And in Virginia, where Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) needs to find $191 million in savings, a 4 percent withholding would raise just shy of $9 million.

"We could definitely use it," said Buddy Roogow, executive director of the D.C. Lottery.

Unfortunately the chances aren't great: Mega Millions is sold by 40 other jurisdictions besides the three in the Washington area. And the high interest in the record jackpots means more players are playing more numbers, increasing the chances of a split pot.

But Roogow said that even if a D.C. resident doesn't hit it big, the jackpot has been good for city coffers. "People are buying other things [at lottery agents]; it's good for the retailers," he said.