Wakeup Call: RGIII makes a Giant impression, even in defeat

Here's your wakeup call -- a combination of newsworthy andor interesting tidbits -- for Monday, October 22:

BASEBALL
Is this starting to look like the Giants' year, or what? (CSN Bay Area)

Game 7 against the Cardinals certainly seems to be tilting in their favor. (NBC's Hardball Talk)

Still, it's not like the Cards haven't been here before. (AP)

Whichever one of them gets to the World Series, Jose Valverde will be ready. (AP)

And the hits just keep on coming for the Yankees: Now CC Sabathia's going to have his elbow examined by Dr. James Andrews. (AP)

The Marlins' dismantling continues, as they dispatch Heath Bell to Arizona. (AP)

With old friend John Farrell headed to Boston, old friend DeMarlo Hale could be headed to Toronto to replace him. (CSN Baltimore)

Ramiro Mendoza? Pitching in the World Baseball Classic? There's hope for Rich Garces yet! (Hardball Talk)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Some changes in the BCS standings. (AP)

Not in the AP Top 25 poll, though. (AP)

COLLEGE BASKETBALL
I can see Rick Pitino punishing Chane Behanan by making him sitting out a game. But banning him from talking to the media? (AP)

The son of Minnesota coach Tubby Smith, assistant coach Saul Smith, is on indefinite unpaid leave after a DUI arrest. (AP)

HOCKEY
They're talking. Just not negotiating. (AP)

And why should they? The NHL has basically said we're not moving off our last offer. (NBC's Pro Hockey Talk)

With the season in limbo, some NHL players are starting to get in a little trouble. (CSN Bay Area)

PRO BASKETBALL
Dwight Howard "actually shed a couple of tears" in the moments before his Laker debut. It was Laker fans who were crying afterwards, as Howard's 19-point, 12-rebound performance couldn't stop L.A. from dropping to 0-6 in the exhibition season. (AP)

A ruptured benign cyst in his left knee will keep Amare Stoudemire out of the Knicks' lineup for two to three weeks. (AP)

Stephen Curry, meanwhile, is sidelined with a routine old ankle sprain. (AP)

Tamika Catchings can finally add a WNBA title to her list of achievenments, as she and her Indiana teammates defeated Minnesota for the championship. (AP)

PRO FOOTBALL
One man's treasure . . . (CSN Houston)

. . . is another man's trash. (CSN Baltimore)

RGIII made a believer out of the Giants, even in defeat. (NBC's Pro Football Talk)

The Steelers didn't have a lot, but they had enough to beat the Bengals. (AP)

Even though Jonathan Vilma's return didn't do much for the Saints' defense, Drew Brees was, well, Drew Brees in New Orleans' victory over the Bucs. (AP)

And as Bountygate drags on and on, now the NFLPA is just saying no to Paul Tagliabue, too. (AP)

Chuck Armstrong's out of the hospital, and he watched the Colts' win over the Browns at home (Pro Football Talk)