The winner of tonight’s Heat-Knicks game can dine out on it all All Star Weekend.

The loser won’t be able to get rid themselves of the bad taste for almost a week.

It has become a big season for both teams. The Heat of course are among the best teams in the league.

The LeBron James-Dwyane Wade-Chris Bosh is blending in a rhythm like all great trios do. Their supporting cast has been terrific and the Heat are 26-7.

The Jeremy Lin saga has saved what had been a disaster for the Knicks. The team is 9-2 with Lin in the lineup and they are finally getting Lin, Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire on the floor together. And their supporting cast has been re-energized.

The Heat would love to crush the Knicks to extinguish any thoughts they have of being a threat to them in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Knicks can prove with a win that they can run with the big boys.

No question this can be a statement game. So who has more on the line?

While we get out the scales, here is some good work by some good people that we might have missed while sleeping or driving by the Peyton Manning billboard in Miami.

Troy Aikman talking about the NFL’s demise.

The Rangers have tabled talks with Josh Hamilton.

A picture tells a 1,000 words. Here are thousands on Danica Patrick.

I’m so glad I hung onto my Jeremy Lin rookie card.

Michael Jordan is suing an apparel company.

Jim Harbaugh is the new IU basketball manager (at least for one night)

Would you pay $1 million for Novak Djokovic’s body?

Larry Eustachy has a cautionary tale to tell.

Steven Spielberg was once a sportswriter?

Here is our list of the greatest characters in sports movies.

USA TODAY columnist Christine Brennan writes that the IOC is slow on achieving equality.

Copyright 2012 USATODAY.com

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Jamaal Franklin scored the first five points of overtime and finished with 12 overall as No. 24 San Diego State beat Wyoming 67-58 on Wednesday night to snap a three-game losing streak.

The Aztecs (21-6, 7-4 Mountain West) trailed by nine points four times, the latest with 11:10 to play, and avoided what would have been their first four-game losing streak since February 2005.

Wyoming (18-9, 4-7), lost its fourth straight and for the fifth time in six games.

Both teams had chances to win in regulation. With the score tied at 55, San Diego State’s Chase Tapley missed a layup with 3 seconds left. Wyoming’s Luke Martinez couldn’t hold onto a pass and time appeared to expire. But the referees put 0.7 seconds back on the clock and Larry Nance Jr. missed a shot at the buzzer.

Copyright © 2010 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

DECATUR, Ga. (AP) — Prosecutors have dropped DUI charges against Pittsburgh Steelers receiver and Dancing With the Stars winner Hines Ward.

DeKalb County Prosecutor Sonja N. Brown said Wednesday that Ward pleaded guilty to reckless driving and was given a year on probation. She says he also was fined $2,000 and must do 80 hours of community service. He also must undergo alcohol evaluation.

The 35-year-old Super Bowl XL MVP was arrested last year after he failed to maintain his lane and hit a curb. He failed several field sobriety tests and was booked into the DeKalb County jail and later released on bond.

Ward used to be a primary receiving target but last season wasn’t used as much. He has two years remaining on his deal and has said he’s willing to restructure it to finish his career with Pittsburgh.

Copyright © 2010 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.