THIS DAY IN SPORTS HISTORY - DECEMBER 28TH

1905 - Intercollegiate Athletic Association of US founded (becomes NCAA in 1910)

1947 - Chicago Cards beat Philadelphia Eagles 28-21 in NFL Championship game

1948 - Jorge Velasquez, jockey (Kentucky Derby-1981, Preakness-1981) is born.
1952 - Detroit Lions beat Cleveland Browns 17-7 in NFL Championship game

1958 - What might be called greatest NFL game, Colts beat Giants 23-17

1960 - Raymond Bourque, Montreal, NHL defenseman (Team Canada, Boston) is born.

1972 - Adam Vinatieri, WLAF punter/kicker (Amsterdam Admirals, NE Patriots) is born.

1975 - Red Army beats NY Rangers 7-3 at Madison Square Garden

1991 - 8 are crushed to death at a RAP basketball game at City College, NYC

2008 - The Detroit Lions finished the season 0-16 with a 31-21 lost to the 

Green Bay Packers. The first time in National Football League history that a 

team went winless in a 16-game season.

Cowboys' Tony Romo has surgery, out for Eagles finale

In this Nov. 28, 2013, photo, Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks Kyle Orton (18) 

and Tony Romo (9) warm up for an NFL football game against the Oakland

Raiders in Arlington, Texas. Orton will make his first start at quarterback 

in his two seasons with the Cowboys on Sunday night after Romo had 

back surgery.

Tony Romo's season is over, and the Dallas Cowboys will have to win without their star quarterback in a third straight playoffs-or-bust finale.

Coach Jason Garrett said Romo had back surgery Friday, and Kyle Orton will start when Dallas faces Philadelphia on Sunday night with the NFC East title and a postseason berth on the line.

Garrett said Romo underwent treatment all week in hopes of playing after injuring his back in a season-saving 24-23 victory against Washington. The winning touchdown came after the injury on Romo's fourth-down pass to DeMarco Murray in the final 2 minutes.

Romo hurt himself when he tripped over his foot while trying to escape pressure earlier in the fourth quarter.

''He might have had his finest hour against the Redskins last week, what he did at the end of that ballgame under the circumstances,'' Garrett said. ''Pretty special.''

Romo lost the past two winner-take-all finales - to the New York Giants two years ago and Washington last season. He also lost to the Eagles in the same situation in 2008 and now will miss a chance to improve his 1-6 record in elimination games.

''He's devastated,'' Garrett said. ''Devastated. He puts a lot into this.''

Philadelphia (9-6) is trying to complete a worst-to-first turnaround from a 4-12 season under first-year coach Chip Kelly. The Cowboys (8-7) want to end a three-year playoff drought and avoid a third 8-8 finish in Garrett's three full seasons as coach.

Dallas will have to do it without its defensive leader, too.

Linebacker Sean Lee will miss his third straight game with a sprained neck. He'll wind up sidelined for five of the last six regular-season games. He was out for two with a hamstring injury.

Lee was forced to watch last year's season-ending loss to the Redskins with a toe injury sustained in the sixth game.

''You have this picture of how the season is going to go and two years in a row, it doesn't go the right way from a personal standpoint, from a physical standpoint,'' Lee said. ''I'm just trying to stay positive, trying to help out any way I can, but I hate not being on the football field.''

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on his radio show that the team and Romo hoped an injection would ease the pain enough to allow him to play. But his condition didn't improve, and Jones said doctors advised it was better not to wait for surgery.

Jones said the hope is that Romo will be ready for offseason practices in May.

Romo missed all the offseason workouts this year after surgery to remove a cyst from his back in April. Garrett and Jones said the latest injury is not related, but wouldn't be more specific about Friday's procedure.

News of the second back surgery comes nine months after Romo signed a six-year, $108 million extension with $55 million guaranteed.

''He played very well coming off the first procedure he had in the spring,'' Garrett said. ''We are completely confident he's going to rehab and come back 100 percent.''

Orton, who declined to talk to reporters Friday, will make his first start since the finale in 2011, when he finished the season in Kansas City after getting replaced by Tim Tebow in Denver. He's appeared in three games and thrown just 15 passes in two seasons as Romo's backup.

''We've been operating as if Kyle Orton is going to be our starting quarterback,'' Garrett said. ''At the same time we were trying to do whatever we could to see if we could help Tony and get him back as quickly as possible. We just felt like this was the best course of action.''

Thunder's Russell Westbrook out until after All-Star break

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook had arthroscopic knee surgery Friday and will be sidelined until after the All-Star break.

Westbrook will miss at least 27 games.

''He will be missed,'' coach Scott Brooks said before Oklahoma City's game Friday night against the Charlotte Bobcats. ''Obviously we are a very good team with him, and without him we're still going to be a very good team.''

General manager Sam Presti said in a news release earlier in the day that Westbrook has been playing pain-free, but ''recently had experienced increased swelling'' in his right knee.

''After consultation and consideration by his surgeon in Los Angeles, a plan was established to monitor the swelling that included a series of scheduled MRIs,'' Presti said in the release. ''On the most recent MRI it was determined by the surgeon that there was an area of concern that had not previously existed, nor was detectable in the previous procedures, and it was necessary to evaluate Russell further. The consulting physician determined that arthroscopic surgery was necessary to address the swelling that was taking place.''

Brooks said Reggie Jackson, who is averaging 12.5 points, will start. Jeremy Lamb will also see increased playing time in Westbrook's absence.

''Guys believe in what he does for our team,'' Brooks said of Jackson. ''He's only going to get better. He's a young point guard in this league.''

Westbrook's knee problems began in April when he tore his meniscus in the second game of the Western Conference playoffs, sidelining him for the remainder of the postseason and all but ending Oklahoma City's chances of reaching the NBA Finals.

He had a second arthroscopic surgery as the Thunder were preparing for training camp after developing inflammation in the knee. However, Westbrook missed only two regular-season games before returning to the floor.

Oklahoma City has since gone on a 21-3 tear with Westbrook in the starting lineup.

The five-year NBA player is averaging 21.3 points, seven assists and six rebounds for the Thunder, who entered Friday night's game with a 23-5 record, a half-game behind the first-place Portland Trail Blazers in the Northwest Division.

Oklahoma City has won 10 of its last 11 games.

In his last game on Christmas, Westbrook didn't look like a player who was in pain, finishing with 14 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in a 123-94 rout of the New York Knicks.

Brooks said he didn't know the knee was an issue until after Wednesday's game.

''He's passed every medical benchmark and he was playing great basketball, probably some of the best basketball in the entire league,'' Brooks said. ''We're looking forward to him coming back and getting back to the level that he has played at - and he will.''

THIS DAY IN SPORTS HISTORY - DECEMBER 27TH

1919 - Red Sox owner Harry Frazee announces they will deal any player 

except Harry Hooper, Hooper is sent to the White Sox after 1920 season.

1953 - Detroit Lions beat Cleveland Browns17-16 in NFL Championship game.

1959 - Baltimore Colts beat NY Giants 31-16 in NFL Championship game.

1962 - Bill Self, college basketball coach is born..
1964 - Cleveland Browns beat Balt Colts 27-0 in NFL Championship game.

1979 - Carson Palmer, American football player is born.

1981 - Oiler Wayne Gretzky becomes fastest NHLer to get 100 points (38th game).

1987 - Steve Largent sets all-time NFL record for career 

catches when he catches his 752nd pass.

1991 - Bengals hire Dave Shula as youngest NFL coach (32).

Packers' Rodgers back, to start Bears game

Aaron Rodgers has been cleared to return from a left collarbone injury, just in time to start Sunday for the Packers against the Chicago Bears in a game to decide the NFC North title.

With no advance warning and little fanfare, the franchise quarterback received the long-awaited good news at the same time as the rest of his teammates Thursday.

''This is a fun day for me, but I think the focus needs to be on this game and the opportunity we have to win the division,'' Rodgers said.

Soon enough. But the spotlight for now is squarely on the return of one of the NFL's most irreplaceable players.

Green Bay (7-7-1) is 2-5-1 since Rodgers went down during the first series of a 27-20 loss Nov. 4 to Chicago. The Packers have managed to hang on, with a shot to win a third straight division title with a victory Sunday at Soldier Field.

''I'll start with the announcement that we're preparing for the Chicago Bears with Aaron Rodgers as our starting quarterback,'' coach Mike McCarthy told reporters Thursday after practice.

Win and Green Bay returns to Lambeau Field the following weekend to host a wild-card team in the first round of the playoffs.

''We're in it. You know we have a chance against our rivals, and what a better way than to go down there and get some redemption and host a home playoff game,'' Rodgers said.

The last two months have been filled with angst for Packers fans. Discussions about whether Rodgers should risk future injury or return to bolster Green Bay's playoff chances have filled sports talk radio shows and holiday office parties.

Now imagine what it was like for the Packers' brass and team doctor. The organization made a big investment in Rodgers this past offseason, signing him to a five-year contract extension through the 2019 season worth as much as $110 million.

''Every football player that plays in this game Sunday will have risk. I think we all understand that,'' McCarthy said. ''So we've done our due diligence. We've gone through all the evaluations and we feel it is time. Aaron is ready to play.''

Finally at 8:05 a.m. Thursday, McCarthy gave the official word at a team meeting. No rousing speeches or rounds of applause.

''The scene? We were sitting in the team room and he told us,'' Rodgers said matter-of-factly. ''That was the scene.''

Rodgers is returning just when pass-rushing linebacker Clay Matthews is leaving the lineup again with a right thumb injury. Green Bay also has gone the majority of the season without tight end Jermichael Finley (neck). Projected starting left tackle Bryan Bulaga went down in training camp. Defensive end Johnny Jolly (shoulder/neck) was the latest Packer to get knocked out for the year last week.

Still, the Packers managed to start 5-2 despite the injuries with Rodgers leading the offense.

Things changed drastically after the 2011 NFL MVP got hurt on a sack while scrambling out of the pocket in the Week 9 loss to Chicago at Lambeau Field. The Packers went on a five-game winless skid, shuffling through three more starting quarterbacks.

Green Bay then won two straight with backup Matt Flynn before falling 38-31 last week to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Losses by Chicago and the Detroit Lions set up the winner-take-all finale Sunday with the Bears for the division.

Rodgers' impending return wasn't the only good injury news Thursday in Titletown.

Rookie running back Eddie Lacy was held out of practice with a lingering ankle injury, though McCarthy expects his 1,100-yard rusher to play Sunday. Playmaking receiver Randall Cobb, out since Week 6 with a leg injury, is moving well in practice and appears to be getting closer to returning.

While he won't make the final call, Cobb said ''This week in practice I'm going out and preparing to play.''

And now with Rodgers back, positive vibes are reverberating through the locker room.

Rodgers has gained added perspective from having to watch from the sideline with a headset. He's been there to help Flynn. He understands that every move he makes in Chicago will be dissected by armchair quarterbacks.

''It's easy to talk about it with you guys and understand the risks,'' he said. ''But when you're out on the field, it's about performing and playing and not worrying about it.''

LeBron James wins AP Male Athlete of the Year

The only thing that keeps LeBron James up worrying at night is basketball, which simultaneously makes perfect sense and no sense.

On one hand, he's the game's best player.

On the other, he's rarely impressed with himself.

Even after a year like 2013 - when a spectacular wedding, a second NBA championship and a fourth MVP award were among the many highlights enjoyed by the Miami Heat star - he still is, as he puts it, striving for greatness. Or, technically, more greatness, since his enormous list of accomplishments just keeps growing.

James was announced Thursday as The Associated Press' 2013 Male Athlete of the Year, becoming the third basketball player to capture the award that has been annually awarded since 1931. James received 31 of 96 votes cast in a poll of news organizations, beating Peyton Manning (20) and Jimmie Johnson (7).

''I'm chasing something and it's bigger than me as a basketball player,'' James told the AP. ''I believe my calling is much higher than being a basketball player. I can inspire people. Youth is huge to me. If I can get kids to look at me as a role model, as a leader, a superhero ... those things mean so much, and that's what I think I was built for. I was put here for this lovely game of basketball, but I don't think this is the biggest role that I'm going to have.''

Past winners include Joe Louis, Jesse Owens, Muhammad Ali, Carl Lewis, Joe Montana, Tiger Woods and Michael Phelps. Serena Williams was the AP Female Athlete of the Year, announced Wednesday.

James joins Michael Jordan and Larry Bird as NBA players to win the award.

''I don't think I've changed much this year,'' James said. ''I've just improved and continued to improve on being more than just as a basketball player. I've matured as a leader, as a father, as a husband, as a friend.''

So far in 2013, with a maximum of three games left to play, James has appeared in 98. The Heat have won 78 of them.

None of those was bigger than the four Miami got in the NBA Finals against San Antonio. In Game 7, James was at his best, scoring 37 points, including the jump shot with 27.9 seconds left that essentially was the clincher.

''He always rises to the occasion when it matters the most,'' Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.

Business-wise, James is booming. Some estimate his annual income around $60 million, less than one-third of that being made on the court. His wife has opened a juice bar in Miami, and David Beckham wants James to be part of the Major League Soccer team he plans on bringing to South Florida in the next couple years.

Countless people want to align with James. Few make him listen. Beckham did.

''You want to be a part of it, but it has to feel real to you,'' James said. ''You don't want to do something that doesn't feel much to you, that you're just doing for the money. We all have money. For me, my time is more than money at this point in my life.''

James has another ''decision'' to make in 2014. He can become a free agent again this summer, though still smarting from the circus atmosphere that followed him during his final season with the Cleveland Cavaliers four years ago, James is staying largely silent on what might happen.

He insists he has no idea.

''I'm so zoned in on what my task is here this year that it's hard to think about anything else,'' James said. ''A guy the other day asked me what I'm going to do for New Year's, and I haven't even thought about that.''

When asked if there's anything he doesn't like about Miami, James offered few complaints, other than the often-clogged street - Biscayne Boulevard, or U.S. 1 - that leads to the arena the Heat call home.

''What is there not to like about Miami?'' James said. ''It is a home. My family is very happy; I'm very comfortable. But U.S. 1? I wish that was a highway.''

Bear in mind, he's not always unhappy when that street is gridlocked.

The last two years, he's been largely responsible for hundreds of thousands of people lining that road for Heat championship parades.

And if he gets his way, they'll be back next June.

Posting period for Japanese pitcher Tanaka starts

The bidding for Japanese star pitcher Masahiro Tanaka has begun.

All 30 major league teams were notified that the 30-day period to sign the star 25-year-old right-hander began at 8 a.m. EST Thursday, according to MLB spokesman Michael Teevan. Clubs have until 5 p.m. on Jan. 24 to attempt to reach an agreement with the ace.

If Tanaka and a major league team come to terms, that franchise is required to pay his Japanese club, the Rakuten Eagles, a posting fee, now capped at $20 million under a deal reached two weeks ago between MLB and Nippon Professional Baseball. Under the old, no-limit system, the Texas Rangers paid over $50 million for the right to negotiate with Yu Darvish before the 2012 season.

Tanaka will be represented by Excel Sports Management during the process. Other Excel Sports clients include Dodgers two-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw and Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter.

Rakuten rejected the new posting system but was outvoted in balloting by Japan's 12 teams. The Japan Series champion then said it was going to retain Tanaka, whose rights it holds for two more seasons.

Eagles President Yozo Tachibana, however, changed course Wednesday, saying that Tanaka deserved a chance to play in the majors. Tachibana cited Tanaka's 24-0 regular-season record with a 1.27 ERA and his ''outstanding contribution to the team'' over seven seasons as reasons for choosing to post the player.

A day after throwing a complete game in a Game 6 loss in the Japan Series, Tanaka saved the clincher, bringing the first league championship to the team based in Sendai, which is still recovering from the devastation wrought by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

Several major league teams argued that under the system established in 1998, only the richest franchises could afford to bid on the right to sign star Japanese players still under club control. The new system levels the process - and also means the player could get a contract around $100 million.

The New York Yankees are among several teams in need of top-line starting pitching.

Under the rules of the three-year agreement, starting with the day after a player is posted and continuing for 30 days, any team willing to pay the fee may attempt to sign the player. A club pays the posting fee only if it signs the player, and the fee is then submitted in installments, with the timing dependent on the amount.

A player who is not signed may not be posted again until the following Nov. 1.

During the previous agreement, Boston obtained Daisake Matsuzaka from the Seibu Lions before the 2007 season for $51,111,111.11 and agreed to a $52 million, six-year contract. Texas got Darvish from the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters before the 2012 season for $51,703,411 and gave him a $56 million, six-year deal. Darvish finished second in this year's AL Cy Young Award voting.