Al Davis, the Oakland Raiders owner who was one of the towering figures of professional football over the last half century, has died.

The Raiders’ web site has confirmed that Davis passed away this morning. He was 82.

In 1963, the Raiders, at the time a struggling franchise in the upstart American Football League, hired the 33-year-old Davis to be their head coach and general manager. He instantly reversed the team’s fortunes and was named the AFL’s Coach of the Year in their first season.

The chance of winning the lottery is often said to be a tad bit smaller than the chance of being hit by lightning.

Lightning is said never to strike twice at the same place.

So consider the odds of someone winning the lotter. Twice. On the same day. From the same lottery.

That’s what happened to James McAllister (62) from Acworth, USA, when he bought two scratch off tickets on Valentine’s day.

James brought his wife for a Valentine’s breakfast. Along Highway 92 he bought a Georgia Lottery Millionaire Jumbo Bucks scratch off ticket — and won $5,000.

DES MOINES, Iowa – A standout Iowa high school wrestler refused to compete against a girl at the state tournament on Thursday, relinquishing any chance of becoming a champion because he says wrestling a girl would conflict with his religious beliefs.

Run out of ideas of what to get all the special people in your life? Looking for something out of the ordinary? For something you know he doesn’t have? For something you know she won’t buy herself? Well, here are some fun, fabulous and affordable gifts that are sure to be a surprise and bring a smile this holiday season! Cheers!

Onesies, tutus, ballet flats, festive hats
Have your little ballerina girl show off her holiday sparkle in style. Space Kiddets has the most adorable tutus, onesies and ballet flats with a festive flair. The added sparkle makes these gifts ones that will make everyone joyous. And for an extra jolly giggle, try their festive hats. No parent can resist, and why would you?

Price: Starts at $24, Spacekiddets.com

(CNN) — New York Yankees All-Star players Tuesday remembered owner George M. Steinbrenner III as a demanding father figure who had a gentle side.

“He was always good to be around, recalled pitcher Andy Pettitte. “He was tough. He was fair.”

Stories about the larger-than-life Yankees owner, 80, provided a backdrop for Tuesday night’s All-Star game in Anaheim, California, where the crowd remembered the baseball titan.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi and other members of the team wore black armbands in memory of Steinbrenner.

(CNN) — The New Orleans Saints won the Super Bowl for the first time in their 43-year history with a 31-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts at the Sun Life Arena in Miami on Sunday night.

The NFC champions recovered from a slow start to deny Indianapolis a repeat of their Super Bowl success against Chicago Bears in the same stadium three years ago.

Inspired by MVP Drew Brees, who won his head-to-head with fellow star quarterback Peyton Manning, the Saints took command after trailing 17-16 going into the final quarter.

It’s almost game time. You’ve read thousands of words on Peyton Manning and Drew Brees, heard how elated the city of New Orleans is to be in the Super Bowl for the first time and received hundreds of updates on Dwight Freeney’s ankle.

Consider all that your introduction into the game.

Here’s your main course: 13 ways how the Saints can win, and 13 ways how the Colts can win.

(CNET) — It’s getting to be that time of year again: The leaves change, the temperature drops, and we redecorate our living rooms, desks, cars, and backpacks with shiny new electronics.

A recent survey by the Consumer Electronics Association found that respondents plan to spend, on average, $222 each on gadgets this holiday, an 8 percent increase over last year. And among teens and adults, computers and video games are the most wished-for items this year after clothing.

One of the grand traditions that goes along with buying electronics is being asked at the register, “Would you like to purchase the extended warranty?”

The band, which released its last full album of original music in 1970, is the focus of the simultaneous Wednesday release of “The Beatles: Rock Band” for the Rock Band video game franchise, as well as the digitally remastered box set of the Beatles 13-album discography by EMI. Analysts expect a spike in video game and CD sales, which have been declining through the year.

For audiophiles the release of the remastered CDs in mono and stereo is the first re-release of the Beatles catalogue since 1987.

“It’s probably the biggest catalogue remaster that has ever happened,” said Paul Bromby, EMI’s senior marketing manager heading the re-release for the London-based company.

NEW YORK -

With its scratches and sticky brown beer stains, the “Tetris” arcade machine near the back of a Brooklyn bar called Barcade has seen better days. Which makes sense, given that the machine was made in the 1980s.

Even today, though, it’s not hard to find 20- and 30-somethings plucking away at its ancient controls, flipping shapes made up of four connected squares and fitting them into orderly patterns as they descend, faster and faster as the game goes on.