Here's your wakeup call -- a combination of newsworthy and/or interesting tidbits -- for Monday, February 25.

AUTO RACING

• Joe Posnanski thinks this year's Daytona 500 -- the horror of Saturday's crash, the excitement of Sunday's finish -- reminded us of why we watch sports. (nbcsports.com)
• Danica Patrick says she "really can't complain" about her eighth-place finish. (AP)
• But Dale Earnhardt Jr. wasn't all that happy coming in second, even though he made a late charge to get there. (AP)
• At least Patrick and Junior finished. An early crash wiped out several top contenders, including 2007 Daytona winner Kevin Harvick and three-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart. (AP)

BASEBALL

• The Yankees may be in the market for an outfielder now that Curtis Granderson is out for 10 weeks, but the name on everyone's lips -- Alfonso Soriano -- doesn't make much sense. (NBC's Hardball Talk)
• The Yanks are desperate for a little good news, so here's some: Derek Jeter may be ready to get into a game in two weeks. (AP)
• Turns out neither the Pirates nor Team Canada were all that wild about Russell Martin's enthusiastic plan to play shortstop in the World Baseball Classic. So he's decided if he's not playing short, he's not playing in the WBC. (AP)
• Zack Greinke's Dodger debut goes well. (AP)
• So does Dice-K's first game with the Indians. (AP)
• Bruce Bochy doesn't know how he did it, but Pablo Sandoval managed to get down to his required weight . . . and so Bochy let Sandoval, who came to camp looking like he did when he lost his job in the 2010 postseason for being too fat, play in the opening exhibition games. (CSN Bay Area)
• Bet you didn't know Ernie Banks was actually baseball's first black manager. For an inning, anyway. (CSN Chicago)

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

• Boston College plays the role of sacrificial lamb to perfection at Duke. (AP)
• No. 4 Michigan State loses again, this time to No. 18 Ohio State. (AP)
• One of the reasons the Spartans are struggling: Keith Appling has all but disappeared. (NBC's College Basketball Talk)
• No. 20 Pittsburgh was bound to bounce back after two losses to ranked teams, and -- unfortunately for St. John's -- the Panthers did just that yesterday. (AP)

GOLF

• It's a reprieve for the belly putter! On the PGA Tour, anyway. (AP)

HOCKEY

• The Penguins finally fess up and admit Evgeni Malkin has a concussion. (NBC's Pro Hockey Talk)
• But Sidney Crosby was able to pick up the slack yesterday, scoring twice as the Penguins beat the Lightning. (AP)
• That's now 18 straight games without a regulation loss for the Blackhawks. (CSN Chicago)
• Not as long, but still impressive: The Ducks have won six a in a row. (AP)
• Losing four of their last five is bad enough. But what they're really worried about in New Jersey is Martin Brodeur's bad back, which forced him to be scratched prior to yesterday's loss to the Jets. (AP)
• Nobody's pumping Bobby Loo's tires this morning, not after he allows eight goals in the Red Wings' 8-3 rout of the Canucks. (AP)

PRO BASKETBALL

• Because of Kobe Bryant, Amnesty THAT has entered the sports lexicon. (AP)
• And it comes at Mark Cuban's expense, but he swears he didn't mean it the way Kobe took it. (AP)
• Dwight Howard says that, because of his offseason back surgery, a) he hasn't been in top shape and b) it's cost the Lakers games. But if you potential free-agent suitors are worried, don't be; he swears he'll be just tip-top next year. (NBC's Pro Basketball Talk)
• The Heat's 11th straight win doesn't come easy. (AP)
• You shoot 29.1 percent from the floor, especially against the Thunder, and you're going to lose by 30. You should know that, Bulls. (CSN Chicago)
• Looks like Derek Fisher's going back to Oklahoma City. (Pro Basketball Talk)
• Will Bynum is hit with a one-game suspension. (AP)
• Is 'Melo next? (rotoworld.com)

PRO FOOTBALL

• Star Lotulelei, a defensive tackle from Utah who is widely viewed as one of the best players in this year’s draft, was found to have a heart condition when examined at the Scouting Combine. (NBC's Pro Football Talk)
• Having had football taken away from him because of general off-field choochery, Honey Badger swears he's learned his lessons. (AP)
• Sounds like tension is mounting between RGIII's camp, obviously worried about his long-term health, and the forces pushing to get him back on the field by Opening Day. (Pro Football Talk)
• The 49ers may have a buyer for Alex Smith: The Chiefs. (CSN Bay Area)
• Speaking of the 'Niners, it appears they won't tag Dashon Goldson again. (CSN Bay Area)
• Sean Smith is drawing interest from the Eagles. (CSN Philly)
• They're breathing easier in Baltimore: The Ravens and Joe Flacco are talking contract. (CSN Baltimore)
• That may not be the reason Jacoby Jones is Dancing With The Stars, but, hey, it wouldn't be a bad way to celebrate. (Pro Football Talk)

TENNIS

• Your weekend winners: Kei Nishikori in the U.S. National Indoor Championships . . . (AP)
• . . . David Ferrer in Buenos Aires . . . (AP)
• . . . and Petra Kvitova in the Dubai Championships. (AP)