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buSineSS to finiShThe Phoenix Open will finish today; Mark Wilson is leading. Page 2

MONDAY ❘ February 7, 2011719-636-0250 or SPortS@gazette.comDeliverY questiONs? CAll 1-866-632-NeWs

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return of the melo rumorsThe Knicks aren’t predicting when the blockbuster Carmelo Anthony trade will get done. Page 2

Searching for PowerCC struggled in the power play against Denver. Page 3

Forsberg signs up; debut is uncertain

avalanche

ENGLEWOOD • Peter Forsberg is returning to the NHL. The former league MVP signed a $1 million prorated contract for the remainder of the season

with the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday.

He joined the team on its charter to Phoenix after prac-ticing at the team facility and meeting with general manager Greg Sherman to sign the deal.

“Peter believes he can com-pete at the NHL level based on how his workouts went,” Sher-

man said. “He will provide ad-ditional leadership to our club and he will have an impact with this young team.”

Forsberg said he made the decision to return following a three-year hiatus before Sun-day.

“I was a little back and forth,” he said. “I kind of made up my

mind before practice if nothing went wrong in practice I would see Greg.”

He said he doesn’t think he can play Monday night against the Coyotes and isn’t sure when he can get into an NHL game again.

Former star decides foot can take it, is on road trip

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sEE fOrsbErG • PaGE 6

The Associated Press—

Peter Forsberg of Sweden has been skating with the Avalanche for a couple of weeks. The Avs have lost three straight and face Phoenix tonight.

The ASSociATed PreSS File

mileto has lots of help this year

Kaitlyn Mileto has reached double digits in scoring in all but one game over the past two years. But that one excep-tion was a big one.

With Mileto fouling out with just six points in last year’s 4A quarterfinals, Mesa Ridge saw its sea-son end with a 64-55 loss to Mullen.

The question is, are the Grizzlies (18-1, 11-0 4A Metro) built to withstand the rare off night from Mileto this year behind a surrounding cast that isn’t as talented as the one they had a year ago?

Yes, according to coach Eric Hulen.

“The roles are more de-fined this season, which makes it easier in tight situations to find a go-to player,” Hulen said. “Last season was tough at times, because we had so much talent and only one basketball.”

Last year’s graduating class included three Di-vision II players in point guard Brandi Collins (Regis) and post players Sarah Curby (Colorado-Colorado Springs) and Leanndra Gilbert (Mesa State).

In short, the ensemble cast is gone. But it’s not like Mileto is suddenly a solo act.

The key supporting play-er is LaShai Powells, who is averaging 12 points and

by NATHANAEL MARLEypreps@gazette.com—

gazette preps

Roles defined at Mesa Ridge

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see grizzlies • Page 3

Mesa Ridge’s Morgan Slayton has averaged 11.2 points in 4A Metro contests this year.

THE GAZETTE filE

s u p e r b o w l x l v g r e e n b a y 3 1 , p i t t s b u r g h 2 5

The children of Green Bay’s Nick Collins play in the confetti on the field after the Packers’ 31-25 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl. Collins’ 37-yard pass interception for a touchdown may be been the game’s key play.

The aSSoCiaTed PreSS PhoToS

Lombardi trophy makes trip home

Packers build lead, withstand Steelers

ARLINGTON, TexAs • For-get Lombardi on Broad-way. Green Bay has the newest Super Bowl hit: Aaron Rodgers.

Capping one of the great-est postseasons for any quarterback, Rodgers led the Packers to their first NFL championship in 14 years Sunday, 31-25 over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Packers reclaimed the Vince Lombardi Trophy, named for their legendary coach who won the first two Super Bowls and is making his own star turn in New York these days in the play named after him.

Rodgers, the game’s

MVP, thrilled his legion of Cheesehead fans with a spectacular six-game string and extended the Packers’ record of NFL titles to 13, nine before the Super Bowl era.

“Wow! It’s a great day to be great, baby,” said Greg Jennings, who caught two of Rodgers’ three touch-down passes.

The favored Packers managed to overcame key injuries, building a 21-3 lead, then hung on to be-come the only second No. 6 seed to win the cham-pionship. Coincidentally, the 2005 Steelers were the other.

by barry WilnerThe associated Press—

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see PACKeRs • PAGe 4

inside

aaron rodgers completed 24-of-39 passes for 304 yards and three touchdowns and was MVP.

RodgeRs wRites own tale of favRe faR away

ARLINGTON, TexAs • Ab-solutely no need to bring up Ol’ What’s His Name ever again. Aaron Rodgers is a Super Bowl champi-onship quarterback in his own right.

And he’s the game’s MVP, too. That’s an honor Brett Favre, his Green Bay Pack-ers predecessor, never earned.

With precise passes and cool under pressure, Rod-gers completed 24-of-39 passes for 304 yards, three touchdowns and no inter-ceptions Sunday night to lead the Packers to a 31-25 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers for Green Bay’s first NFL title since Favre’s in the January 1997 Super Bowl.

Rodgers is 27 years old, just as Favre was then.

by HoWard FendricHThe associated Press—

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see ROdGeRs • PAGe 4

• Steelers do best job of giveaway. Page 4.

• Summary, Past results, MVPs. Page 4

• Anthem flubbed by Aguilera, Page 5

• Brady unanimous as MVP. Page 5