MVN: Most Valuable Network

On weekdays we highlight posts from Most Valuable Network that are considered to be a cut above the rest. This work is the best of MVN, the posts that made us think -- and we want to make sure you see it, too. Consider nominating a post for recognition via e-mail.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are about to face off against the Baltimore Ravens for the third time this season, notes James Pete. "There isn't anything about this football game that doesn't scream epic. These two teams absolutely hate each other, and the Steelers' winning both the regular season games only enhanced a rivalry that was already becoming one of the best in football."

From Steel Tradition:

LaMarr Woodley, Lawrence Timmons and James Harrison may just set some kind of freak-standard at linebacker that nobody can ever reach. All three were all over the place [against the Chargers], in particular Woodley. That beast not only lived in Rivers' face, but also hounded Sproles all game long. I just can't stop thinking that Sunday might just be the game when Woodley takes a step towards immortality.

Pizza Cutter recaps yesterday's Hall of Fame results. The 2009 class' headliner, Rickey Henderson, is often lauded for his stolen base title -- but he is also the all-time leader in times caught stealing.

From Statistically Speaking:

Henderson stole a lot of bases. Yes, he was a pretty good base stealer, but he was also a good hitter who got on base a lot and liked to run when he got there. And he was fast. And he could hit a few HR. Yes, the SB totals are nice, but let's appreciate Rickey for what he was. A pretty good hitter.

Joe Boikess gave the Cleveland Cavaliers the top spot in NBA Outsider's power rankings this week, and Zach Harper and Brandon Gallawa agree with the decision in their edition.

From Talk Hoops:

You have to assume in the playoffs that LeBron is going to score 40 points. And you have to assume that the Cavs won't give up more than 90 points per game. So can you keep the rest of the Cavs players to under 50?

Will a proposed Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton fight be pulled from the schedule due to a revenue split dispute? Tim Starks says that boxing's 2009 is starting to look like "The Year Of The Withdrawal."

From The Queensberry Rules:

Pacquiao's team reportedly wants better than a 50-50 split, thinking he's the bigger star and deserves 60-40. You know what I don't get? The fight's been nearly signed, sealed and delivered for weeks. Why didn't this issue arise earlier? If I'm Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum, knowing that the Oscar De La Hoya fight almost fell through over a similar dispute with the Pacquiao team over the split, the first question I'm asking to his management before I even go into negotiations for the fight is, "What split do you want?" Or maybe this did happen and Arum just tried to strong-arm Pacquiao into a split he didn't want? At any rate, that's reportedly the hold-up.