Train to Albuquerque

If any mixed martial artist could claim the title ''Mr. Chicago,'' it would be Clay Guida.

His trademark floppy hair, boundless energy and never-say-die attitude have endeared him to local fight fans.

His blue-collar work ethic epitomizes a city that appreciates hard work and lunch-bucket values. His nickname is ''The Carpenter,'' which honors his pre-MMA profession. He hasn't forgotten his hammer-swinging roots, and his roots haven't forgotten him -- the Chicago Carpenter's Union is one of his sponsors.

In his last fight in June, Diego Sanchez beat Guida in one of the most exciting matches of the year. He lost in a split decision but did win a $25,000 …

S/he said Culture, rights

"Blaine is NOT bi. He is gay, and will always be gay. I think it s very important to young kids that they know this character is one of them. "

- Ryan Murphy, co-creator of "Glee," about an online rumor that Blaine, the show's new character, would actually end up being bi instead of gay, perezhilton.com, Feb. 14. Fans are rooting for the characters, Kurt and Blaine, to become boyfriends.

"The left is trying to co-op gays and I don't think we should let them. They should be on our side. We 're for low taxes, we 're for low crime, we 're against the terrorists that want to kill gays. Gays are natural conservatives. "

-Ann Coulter, conservative commentator, in a …

England beats NZ by innings and 9 runs in third test to win series 2-0

England clinched a 2-0 series victory over New Zealand on Sunday, winning by an innings and nine runs, with Ryan Sidebottom taking 6-67 to help dismiss the tourists a second time.

New Zealand had resumed on 177-5 under sunny skies on the fourth day of the third test, and the match finished an hour before lunch as Sidebottom took four of the day's wickets.

"I never envisaged winning by an innings, but full credit to the way we've played our cricket," England captain Michael Vaughan said.

The Kiwis had been forced to follow on after being dismissed for 123 in their first innings on Saturday.

Gareth Hopkins only added five runs …

African-American high school seniors honored

The National Achievement Scholarship Program will announce todaythe winners of a combined $2.5 million in scholarships nationwide.

The program, which is conducted by the National Merit ScholarshipCorp., honored 800 scholastically talented black high school seniors.The scholarships can be used at any regionally accredited U.S.college or university.

Here are the Illinois and Indiana winners:

ILLINOIS

Chicago: Roderick G. Baker, Akilah Terry and Bardford R. Williamsof Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, Corinne N. Charity and EmilyH. Harris of Walter Payton College Preparatory, Precious A. Edmonds,Devry Advantage Academy, Abdel H. Halloway, …

Kato Proves Comical in `Watcher' Role

Tonight, America's favorite freeloader debuts in "a town where awar is raging - a war between dark and light, right and wrong, goodand evil." That town is not the Los Angeles of the O.J. Simpsontrial, it's the Las Vegas of UPN's "The Watcher" (8 to 9 p.m. onChannel 50.)

Kato Kaelin, who had his nationally televised audition on thewitness stand, plays a sleazy businessman who is murdered, then has achance to redeem himself. The amusing, "Quantum Leap"-like premisehas Kaelin coming back …

Braga beats Partizan 2-0 in Champions League

BRAGA, Portugal (AP) — Rodrigo Lima scored a stunning free-kick to set Braga on its way to a 2-0 win over Partizan Belgrade on Tuesday, the Portuguese club's first victory in the Champions League group stage.

The Brazilian forward struck after 35 minutes, lifting the ball over the defensive wall with pace to beat Partizan 'keeper Vladimir Stojkovic from 30 yards (meters).

Braga wrapped up the win in injury time when substitute Luis Aguiar squared the ball for Matheus to tap into an empty net after a swift counter-attack.

Braga, who finished second in the Portuguese top flight last season, qualified for the group stage for the first time by beating Celtic and then …

Pakistan police: Plot foiled on hotels, diplomats

Two highly experienced Taliban militants were arrested while planning to attack top hotels and kidnap diplomats in Pakistan, and one of the men claimed to have helped plan previous strikes.

The two men, both deserters from a government paramilitary force, were arrested recently in a hotel in Rawalpindi, a crowded city near Islamabad, said Islamabad Police Chief Bin Yamin.

He declined to say Monday when the men were arrested or what information lead authorities to them. The militants' identities and the specific targets weren't disclosed.

The announcement comes, though, as top Pakistani officials head to Washington for bilateral talks. Pakistani …