Here's your wakeup call -- a combination of newsworthy andor interesting tidbits -- for Thursday, February 7:
BASEBALL
Kings of Denial: The Tigers' Jhonny Peralta . . . (AP)
. . . the Orioles' (and ex-Red Sox) Danny Valencia . . . (CSN Baltimore)
. . . and the Mariners' Jesus Montero and the Blue Jays' Melky Cabrera all say they have no connection, none, with the Florida anti-aging clinic currently under investigation by Major League Baseball. (AP)
Todd Helton "humbly" asks for the public's forgiveness after being arrested on a DUI charge in a suburban Denver town. (AP)
Baseball's most famous Tea Partier is back with the Rays. (AP)
What did your mother always tell you about horsing around? (AP)
Boston Bruins
Even in 1865, mothers were throwing away valuable old baseball cards. (AP via nbcsports.com)
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
An upsetting night: No. 2 Kansas loses to the Topeka YMCA, excuse me, at TCU . . . (AP)
. . . No. 16 Creighton is blown out at Indiana State . . . (NBC's College Basketball Talk)
and No. 17 Cincinnati is the latest to fall to "no longer a pushover" Providence College. (College Basketball Talk)
Coaches getting fired -- or "resigning" -- in midseason used to be unheard of in college basketball. Now . . . (College Basketball Talk)
At last, a suspect and a motive in the stunning murder of Cal State Fullerton women's assistant Monica Quan and her financee: An ex-L.A. cop who was represented by Kwan's father before a disciplinary board when he lost his job. (AP)
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Who won and who lost on National Signing Day? Take a look. (footballrecruiting.rivals.com, via NBC Sports)
Even LeBron James was impressed at the job done by Mississippi, which snared the No. 1 player in the country: Robert Nkemdiche, a 6-foot-5, 260-pound defensive end from Loganville, Ga. (AP)
But national champion Alabama was happy with its haul, as well. (AP)
As was Ohio State. (AP)
And -- surprisingly -- Penn State. (AP)
Some of the experts say Notre Dame did better than anyone, and coach Brian Kelly "loves agreeing with experts." (AP)
The Irish recruits say they're ready for the challenge of trying to win starting jobs on a deep, talented team. (CSN Chicago)
Any doubt that Ray Lewis III would head to the U.? (AP)
-- Meddling mothers . . . (NBC's College Football Talk)
CYCLING
I imagine Lance Armstrong will become very familiar with the insides of courtrooms over the next few years, and it's starting now. (AP via nbcsports.com)
GOLF
Bifurcation and deer antlers are taking attention away from what's been a sensational first month to the 2013 season. (AP)
HOCKEY
John Tortorella is a breath of fresh air in the Belichikian world of publicly mealy-mouthed coaches, but sometimes he goes a bit too far. (NBC's Pro Hockey Talk)
Worried about Ilya Kovalchuk, who's muddling along with two goals and five points in nine games? Pete DeBoer isn't. (Pro Hockey Talk)
It's just a "lower-body injury." He's day-to-day. That's what the Flames say about Miika Kiprusoff. What they do, however, is sign another goalie, Danny Taylor. (AP)
The Blue Jackets' Brandon Dubinksy avoids a suspension -- but not a 10,000 fine -- for boarding the Kings' Rob Scuderi the other night. (AP)
PRO BASKETBALL
Even though the NBA has been this far untouched by the public PED scandals that have plagued baseball and are now beginning to taint football as well, commissioner David Stern thinks it's time to test for HGH in his league. (AP)
Yeah, Stan Van Gundy said John Wall's not an elite talent and may have reached the ceiling of his potential and isn't the kind of guy you can build your franchise around, but that doesn't mean he doesn't think he's, you know, good. (CSN Washington)
Wall was good enough last night to help the Wizards snap the Knicks' five-game winning streak. (AP)
The diagnosis is in: Torn plantar fascia for Pau Gasol. (AP)
David Stern and national television were a bad mix for the Spurs earlier this year, but not last night. (AP)
Back when Rick Carlisle was sitting on the Celtics' bench during the glory days of the 1980s, who would have thought he'd amass 500 career wins -- and counting -- as an NBA coach? (AP)
That's three wins in three nights for the Pacers. (AP)
And that's the season for Jason Richardson. (CSN Philly)
PRO FOOTBALL
Geez, just because we fired the guy doesn't mean we won't give him a Super Bowl ring. (CSN Baltimore)
More veterans are shown the door: Ahmad Bradshaw and Chris Canty by the Giants . . . (AP)
. . . and Demetress Bell by the Eagles. (CSN Philly)
Donald Driver shows himself the door in Green Bay. (AP)
The Raiders say that, despite what many think, they're not trying to sneak out the door in Oakland. (CSN Bay Area)
But they are blocking off "Mt. Davis" -- that hideous monstrosity of new seats that was built as part of the effort to lure them back from Los Angeles in 1995 -- to lower the seating capacity of whatever their stadium is called now and, they hope, get them more sellouts. (CSN Bay Area)
Tragic news: The aunt and uncle of 49ers tight end Delanie Walker were killed by a drunk driver early Monday morning in New Orleans after San Francisco's Super Bowl loss to Baltimore. (CSN Bay Area)
SOCCER
There weren't many -- as in, any -- whose stocks rose after the United States' 2-1 loss to Honduras in their World Cup qualifying opener. (NBC's Pro Soccer Talk)
TENNIS
First Rafael Nadal won a doubles match in his comeback from a knee injury. Now he wins in singles. (AP)
Venus Williams' back is still bothering her, so she's skipping the Qatar Open. (AP)