In both cases focus is increased among the MU players

Walgreen, meanwhile, said on Monday that its Decembersame-store sales rose 4.9 percent CVS does not typicallyrelease monthly sales reports. (Reporting by Jessica Wohl; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn) Stocks. (My apologies, Bleacher Reporters, for my two weekabsence. That's what final exams and corrective eye surgery will do to you. Nevertheless, here is my preview for the Braggin' Rights game tonight between the University of Missouri Tigers and the University of Illinois Fightin' Illini).While it hasn't reached Chicago Cubs status yet, the Missouri Tigers may have forgotten what the Braggin' Rights Trophy looks like.The Tigers look to avoid extending its losing streak against the Illini tonight in the annual basketball game in St Louis.Mike Anderson may have proven to be Superman for MU, turning the program around to the tune of an Elite Eight run last year and school-record 31 victories.

But Bruce Weber and Company have been Coach Anderson's kryptonite, sweeping the Tigers in all three previous matches.However, unlike earlier games in the skid, MU has been competitive against Illinois in CMA's three tries, losing by slim margins of three and one in his first two games before falling by 16 last year despite the talented squad of DeMarre Carroll and Leo Lyons.This year, the departure of those two former Tiger post players looks to be the X-factor.Junior center Mike Tisdale, measuring in at 7'1'', will give Mizzou some problems down low. Tisdale and his 2.1 bpg look to derail any low post effort tonight by the Tigers.Overcoming the psychology of a losing streak is possibly the most formidable obstacle for the Tigers tonight.Worrying about what's happened in this series past will not get the Tigers a W. By obsessing over the previous nine losses and the lack of momentum coming into tonight's game, MU creates an image of Illinois that doesn'tnecessarily exist.However, ignoring the streak could have an equally debilitating effect on MU.By looking at this game as any other game, the team attempts to achieve its' goal by lessening its focus. Often times, this "elephant in the room" creates an unconscious obsession equal to that of focusing on the history of the streak.In both cases, focus is increased among the MU players.While this may sound like a good thing, athletes perform at their best in theabsence of focus,absence of thought.Tonight, Coach Anderson must make the preparations to get his players in the moment, focused enough to execute but not over analyze and come out stuffy and tense.Or else the Tigers might have to start investigating Steve Bartman-like excuses for their futility against Illinois..

HELSINKI, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Swedish specialty steel and toolmaker Sandvik (SAND.ST) has started talks to temporarily lay off950 people at its Tampere, Finland unit, the firm said onMonday, declining to say how long the layoffs might last. "(It's due to) the continuation of the (tough) situationthat we can follow in the news," Sandvik Mining and ConstructionOy's head, Kari Parvento, said. Sandvik said in November it could temporarily lay off some200 people in Finland due to the difficult market conditions.Parvento said Monday's announcement superseded this plan (Reporting by Brett Young; Editing by Greg Mahlich). NEW YORK, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Freddie Mac (FRE.P) (FRE.N)said it plans to sell new two-year and five-year referencenotes later this week.

Stocks Bonds IPOs Global Markets The securities will be sold through underwriters led byGoldman Sachs, Barclays Capital and Citigroup Specific sizesof the offerings were not announced Settlement is January 8. (Reporting by Lynn Adler; Editing by Theodore d'Afflisio) Stocks Bonds IPOs Global Markets. Here we go again.When it seems the biggest diva in all of sports mellowed into an unselfish legend and future Hall of Famer, willing to guide the Minnesota Vikings to the Super Bowl that fans have implored for years, Brett Favre is returning back to his old psyche.There’s not a season progressing, without the famous quarterback of all-time crying out loud to the world.And each season revolves around Favre, hijacked when he has difficulty making up his mind on if he returns or retires. But now the drama isn’t in relations of un-retiring or retiring saga. Instead he’s acting out in the usual self-centered, egotistic mindset, an impolite stunt that is now old news.