Ribs

1. Carlos Ruiz's elbow          2. J.C. Romero's back 3. LeSean McCoy's ribs       4. Michael Vick's ribs

The game was there to be taken and, inexplicably, Hersey Hawkins would not take it. The game was there to be grabbed by the throat and, inexplicably, Hersey Hawkins would not grab it. It was a night that cried for The Hawk and, inexplicably, he was unable to answer the cry. In recent seasons, when Charles Barkley has been unable to create Barkleymania, The Hawk has been the 76ers' next-best answer. He would take his textbook jumper, step out and launch his deadly three-point shot, drive doggedly to the basket and score inside or draw fouls.

Norm Eggen did it again! For the fourth straight year, which in this case is "since the beginning of time," Norm and his talented crew from the "Old Country Deli" won top honors, "People's Choice," at the Fourth Annual San Luis Obispo Rib Cook-Off. Ribs, barbecued ribs, are big in San Luis Obispo. They are served by the thousands every Thursday night on Higuera street when the street is blocked off between Osos and Nippomo. Local farmers bring in pickup loads of fresh produce and set up stalls along both sides of the street.

If you started the year with a resolution to get into shape, you might want to skip this article and move on to something on the sports page that will inspire you to exercise. If, however, your quest for a healthy lifestyle has been so successful that you're planning to reward yourself with a little treat, I have just two words for you - Fat Jack's. No, that's not an accusation or a warning to stay on your diet, it's a fabulous rib and blues joint on Route 73 in West Berlin that will have you shouting "Yee ha, y'all" with the first bite.

Eagles quarterback Michael Vick told the Daily News he did not tell anyone from CBS that he actually had three broken ribs, and not the torn rib cartilage the Eagles announced after Vick was sandwiched between two Redskins defenders Oct. 3. During yesterday's broadcast, announcer Jim Nantz said Vick gave that account of the injury during a Saturday conversation. "I never said that," Vick said following his postgame news conference. In the long run, it might not matter much - torn rib cartilage is a pretty big deal, no less signficant than broken ribs.

Add defensive end Greg Townsend to the list of injured Eagles. Townsend is nursing sore right ribs - the result, he says, of being kicked while on the ground in a scrum during last Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals. And, incidentally, the cast that defensive end William Fuller will wear to protect his right thumb is smaller than the cast Andy Harmon has been wearing for the past seven games. Fuller has an unusual fracture under his right thumbnail. He is probable for the Falcons game.

Cleveland's Eddie Murray suffered two broken ribs on his left side when he was tagged hard while sliding into home plate yesterday in the third inning of the Indians' 7-0 victory over the Twins in Minneapolis. He was expected to go on the 15-day disabled list today.. Murray, who got his 3,000th career hit Friday night, singled, doubled and drove in a run in his first two at-bats yesterday, raising his hit total to 3,005. He took himself out of the game while batting in the fifth inning.

New York Yankees pitcher Carl Pavano has two broken ribs, a result of a car accident several weeks ago that he did not tell the team about until Saturday. Pavano, who has not pitched in the major leagues since June 2005 because of shoulder, back, buttock and elbow injuries, is scheduled to make a rehabilitation start tomorrow for triple-A Columbus. General manager Brian Cashman said yesterday that Pavano had made three rehab starts with the rib injuries. Barry Bonds' personal trainer was on his way back to jail after being held in contempt of court for refusing to testify before a grand jury investigating the San Francisco slugger.

Charlie Garner's season is over. The Eagles placed the running back on injured reserve yesterday, 18 days after he suffered two broken ribs in a game against the New York Giants. Garner became the fifth Eagles player to go on IR since Dec. 1. Fullback Mike Reed was promoted from the practice squad to take Garner's spot on the roster. Reed became the seventh player added to the 53-man roster this month. Garner was hampered early this season by a severely sprained ankle suffered in the preseason.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa - In the moment after his collision with England forward Emile Heskey, U.S. goalie Tim Howard grabbed his side and looked as if he might not play another minute in this World Cup. On Sunday, those worries resurfaced. One day after the United States's hard-fought 1-1 tie against England, Howard's status became uncertain. U.S. coach Bob Bradley told reporters at the team's compound that Howard was being evaluated with a rib injury and "a decision will be made as to whether he'll need further tests.

IF THE FLYERS want to win in Pittsburgh on Saturday - and in the first round of their likely Stanley Cup playoff series - they will have to do so without their good luck charm. Peter Laviolette said that the Flyers' reason for success in Pittsburgh is their postgame meal, in which they have ribs delivered to their charter plane from DeeJay's in Weirton, W. Va. The Flyers are 5-0-0 at the Consol Energy Center since it opened on Oct. 7, 2010. Turns out, the owner of DeeJay's, Dewey Guida, couldn't take the heat from the kitchen after getting blasted by Penguins fans.

1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes 1 large onion, coarsely chopped 3 garlic cloves, crushed and peeled 2 tablespoons capers, drained and rinsed 1 (4-inch-long) serrano or 2 Thai  chiles, stemmed, half of the  seeds removed, coarsely chopped 2 tablespoons sugar 1 tablespoon smoked paprika Kosher salt and freshly ground  black pepper 2 (1-pound) rib-eye steaks, each about 1 inch thick 2 tablespoons olive oil 1. In a food processor, combine the tomatoes, onion, garlic, capers, chilies, sugar, paprika, and 2 teaspoons salt.

WORKING WITH a savvy butcher has its advantages. "At a supermarket, you get what you get," said chef Derek Davis, owner of Derek's in Manayunk. Davis owned a boutique butcher shop, Main Line Prime, before the economy tanked. "If you want your steaks cut thick, your chicken boned, your roast tied, the butcher can do. It's all about the service. " Here's what a good butcher can do for you: 1. Save you money. That's right. While you may pay more per pound for some cuts, you'll be surprised at how competitive most butcher-shop prices are. And a good butcher can save you money by steering you toward cheaper cuts.

Michael Vick sat out practice with sore ribs Wednesday, though coach Andy Reid said he expects the quarterback to play Sunday against the Jets. "He was a little tender from the game [but] not as bad as before," Reid said. The Dolphins had four sacks on Vick on Sunday and hit him six times in the quarterback's first game back since suffering broken ribs Nov. 13. "He's taken a lot of shots, he extends plays, that's always been his M.O.," said center Jason Kelce.

If it appeared that Michael Vick wasn't 100 percent healthy against the Dolphins, the Eagles quarterback hasn't dispelled the notion. Despite the Eagles' 26-10 win, Vick, who missed the previous three games with broken ribs, struggled against Miami. He wasn't the only one on offense to be off his game, but Vick completed only 15 of 30 passes and was intercepted once. "I'm getting better," Vick told philadelphiaeagles.com on Tuesday. "It's been tough the last three or four weeks.

Eagles quarterback Michael Vick says physically he is "getting better" after returning to the field for the first time after missing three games with broken ribs. "It's been tough the last 3-4 weeks," Vick told the team's website. "Last week didn't make it any better. I'm just trying to stay alive and just trying to be accountable to my teammates and my team. " The question of Vick's unwillingness to slide and avoid contact continues to arise. "I don't want him to take the big hits," coach Andy said Monday.

Despite what little hope there is, the Eagles - a day after learning they still weren't mathematically eliminated from the playoffs - received a slim ray of sunshine with Michael Vick's return to practice. Vick missed the last three games with broken ribs. Monday's practice was just a light one, but the Eagles quarterback said that he would "absolutely" be able to play Sunday at Miami. "I'll definitely be out there," Vick said. "I feel like I've got to be accountable for my team.

Despite what little hope there is, the Eagles - a day after learning they still weren't mathematically eliminated from the playoffs - received a slim ray of sunshine with Michael Vick's return to practice. Vick missed the last three games with broken ribs. Monday's practice was just a light one, but the Eagles quarterback said that he would "absolutely" be able to play Sunday at Miami. "I'll definitely be out there," Vick said. "I feel like I've got to be accountable for my team.

SIFTING THROUGH the wreckage of the Eagles' 21-17 loss to the Cardinals while wondering which alarm clock manufacturers Drew Rosenhaus has contacted about hiring DeSean Jackson as a pitchman:   Vick's day I have occasionally been accused of being a glass-half-empty guy. Just to show you nothing could be further from the truth, I'm going to give you some positive news about Mike Vick's performance in Sunday's loss. While he completed just 47 percent of his passes, averaged just 3.8 yards per attempt, failed to throw a touchdown pass for the third time in the last seven games and recorded only the 15th multiple-interception game of his career, his 32.5 passer rating was just the seventh lowest of his 9-year career.

Turns out the Eagles' loss to the Cardinals was even worse than first thought. Quarterback Michael Vick suffered two broken ribs early in Sunday's game, adding to the team's problems and putting his status in doubt for the Eagles' contest against the New York Giants. Vick isn't sure if he will play Sunday night. "It's painful right now," he said. "That's all I can say. " Earlier this year, the Cowboys' Tony Romo played through a broken rib, and the Patriots' Tom Brady fought through the injury without missing a game in 2010.