By JAMES PATON, Scripps Howard News Service

John Elway may feel a little anxiety as he immerses himself in his new business venture: a Web site catering to fantasy football fans.The former Denver Broncos quarterback was burned last time he tied his name and reputation to a fledgling Internet operation. MVP.com, the sporting goods retailer launched with Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretzky in 1999, failed about a year later.

Ski industry executives are giving thanks for a banner year as heavy snowfall and a surge in international tourists outweighed the impact of a sluggish economy.Ski resorts across the U.S. attracted more than 60 million visitors, a gain of 9 percent from the previous season, the industry's trade group said.