Robert Griffin III is the first Baylor player to ever win the Heisman. In a year full of scandals in college sports, the win for Griffin — a dean's list student and son of two retired Army sergeants — delivers a much-needed shot in the arm to the public image of the NCAA, says Dave Zirin, sports editor of The Nation.

In June, Newt Gingrich spokesman Rick Tyler left the campaign for fear that the former House speaker didn't have the tenacity to win the Republican presidential nomination. Tyler reflects on his decision and assess the GOP front-runner's campaign.

The vast, untapped natural gas reserves in Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale are the subject of much debate. Scientists who are trying to shed light on the safety of drilling are facing a host of obstacles, including lack of funding and data. Susan Phillips Scientists who are trying to shed light on the safety of drilling are facing a host of obstacles.

David Beckham's contract with LA Galaxy ends Dec. 31. Beckham's star power has helped make soccer more popular in America. Host Audie Cornish speaks with football critic David Henry Sterry about the impact Beckham has had on Major League Soccer.

As the holiday season heads into full swing, Congress remains in full gridlock with payroll tax cuts and emergency unemployment insurance benefits set to expire. NPR's David Welna joins host Audie Cornish to talk about the many bills still on the table.

California software developer Octavio Good and his team won $50,000 for reassembling shredded documents. Host Audie Cornish talks to Good about the Pentagon-sponsored contest.

Barcelona and Real Madrid are two of the best soccer teams in the world. They're also bitter rivals, and when they met Saturday in the showcase El Clasico match-up, fans around the world turned out to watch the game. Reporter Jesse Hardman joined soccer enthusiasts at New York's Spanish Benevolent Society.

Until the last week or so, GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney has made himself scarce to the media, delivering only tightly honed messages. He now has a newfound eagerness to talk to reporters — some of them, at least.

Congress and the White House continue to debate the future of a 2-percent payroll tax cut that expires at the end of the year. Meanwhile, most voters aren't even aware they're getting it.