Sunday, November 28, 2010

Rival Romping

Ohio State grabbed a share of their record-tying sixth straight Big Ten title with a 37-7 win over rival Michigan at the ‘Shoe. The 11-1 Buckeyes put up 24 second and 13 third quarter points, respectively on their rout of the visiting Wolverines. Michigan fell to 7-5 in their seventh consecutive loss to the Buckeyes. Ohio State shares the conference spotlight with Michigan State and Wisconsin.
The Wolverines put up a fight in the first quarter but never led during the contest. Michigan’s electric quarterback, Denard Robinson, was a one-man show. Robinson rushed for 105 yards and completed 8-of-18 passes. Rich Rodriguez’s kicking unit is unreliable at best, and the Wolverine offense was forced to go for it on fourth down situations. The Maize and Blue had little success against the persistent and pervasive Buckeyes’ defense. The Michigan offense came into Saturday’s showdown averaging 37 points per game. Yesterday, they had more than a little trouble reaching that average against some of the Big Ten’s best defenders.
Terrelle Pryor, the exciting signal caller for the home team, was just as phenomenal with the football as Robinson. Both quarterbacks slipped through the defenses and fended off tackles. Pryor threw for 220 yards and a pair of scores, while adding 49 yards on the ground. Michigan shut out Pryor and the Buckeyes during the first quarter and succeeded in keeping them out of the end zone until midway through the second. The Wolverines won the coin toss and opted to kick off despite having perhaps one of the conference’s more dismal defenses. But the Buckeyes went three-and-out on their first drive and Michigan responded by shaving five minutes off the clock with nothing to show for it on the ensuing drive. Ohio State punted again after Jake Stoneburner fumbled a pass and failed to convert a third down. Robinson headed another lengthy Michigan drive, but the lost the ball deep in the red zone. Ohio State recovered the ball and in the second quarter, Devin Barclay kicked a 33 yard field goal for the day’s first points.
The Buckeyes coasted to a 10-0 lead on Dane Sanzenbacher’s seven yard pass from Pryor with 12:29 remaining in the first half. Senior receiver Sanzenbacher scored the first touchdown of the game and finished with 71 receiving yards. Michael Shaw netted the only Michigan touchdown with a second quarter one yard run. Robinson set up the score with a diving try at the end zone, falling just short of the goal line. Shaw’s touchdown trimmed the OSU lead to three points, but the slim deficit wouldn’t last long. Jordan Hall returned the kickoff 85 yards for another Ohio State touchdown to put the Buckeyes up 17-7. The Buckeyes continued to romp Michigan, coordinating an impressive 60 yard drive on their next possession. Pryor propelled the Buckeyes with his legs and moved the chains with efficient, smart throws. The drive ended with DeVier Posey’s catch covering 33 yards that sent OSU into the locker room with a comfortable 24-7 advantage. Posey had an 82 yard day for the Buckeyes. Despite piling up 258 total yards, the Wolverines’ lone touchdown was all they had to show for it. Ohio State did pick up a pair of questionable celebration penalties for forming an “O” with their gloved hands.
Robinson exited the game for several stretches during the second half. Tate Forcier replaced the dynamic quarterback and began by being intercepted on his first play from scrimmage. Travis Howard’s leaping snag shifted the momentum even more the Buckeye way. Howard also recovered two fumbles. The Buckeyes declawed Michigan the rest of the game, with Dan Herron scoring on a 32 yard third quarter run and Barclay extending the lead with a pair of field goals. Herron had just five carries on the day but finished with 175 yards, including a school record 89 yard run. Forcier couldn’t complete anything, as Michigan gained just 93 yards after the break. The Wolverines’ closest chance at scoring occurred in the fourth quarter with the Jim Tressel’s team sitting on a 30 points lead. Forcier’s six yard pass was incomplete at the OSU six yard line, and OSU took over in their own territory. Ohio State had 478 yards on offense and converted 10 of 19 third downs in decking Michigan.

Parting Points: News from Miami- Randy Shannon is out at the “U” and the Heat continue to wilt.

Kudos to FSU for knocking off Florida and the Razorbacks for defeating LSU.

“All Americans come from Ohio originally, if only briefly”- Dawn Powell

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Boise Black & Blue

Black Friday in Reno was just that for the Boise State Broncos. The Broncos scored the first 17 points at Mackay Stadium only to see their lead evaporate in overtime. The nation’s longest winning streak, at 34, is over. Boise State fell 34-31 to Nevada, the Broncos first loss since 2007. The 10-1 Broncos’ BCS-busing hopes also vanished in defeat. Kyle Broztman, the normally efficient kicker for Boise State, missed a field goal in regulation and one in overtime as the Broncos suffered a heartbreaker against the 11-1 Wolf Pack. Nevada emerged victorious in a wild game when redshirt freshman, Anthony Martinez, kicked the game winning field goal from 34 yards out.
The Broncos leapt out to a 3-0 advantage in the first quarter on a Brotzman 33 yard kick. Doug Martin’s four yard touchdown run completed a 13 play, 87 yard drive for Boise State in the second quarter. Quarterback Kellen Moore added a passing touchdown to senior wideout, Titus Young, to give Boise State a commanding 17-0 lead with 5:47 remaining in the first half. Nevada cracked the scoreboard at 4:20 with a five yard rushing touchdown from Vai Taua. The Broncos responded with a 51 yard run by junior tailback Doug Martin, and headed into the break ahead by 17 points. The Boise State offense was almost unstoppable in the first half. Young made six catches on the night for 129 yards and a touchdown, and Martin rushed for 152 yards and a pair of scores. Moore passed for 348 yards in the crucial Friday night loss. Boise State’s defense also held the high-powered Nevada offense in check during the opening half. Wolf Pack passer, Colin Kaepernick was sacked on back-to-back plays and interecepted once. Nevada got two first downs against the Broncos, a first against Boise State, but George Iloka’s intercepted a tipped pass to extinguish the Pack’s promising drive. Nineteenth ranked Nevada would have the last word, however.
The Pack came back to tie the game at 24-24 after three straight scores in the second half. Nevada found their rhythm and punished the Broncos with their running attack. The Wolf Pack racked up 288 yards behind Kaepernick and Taua. Kaepernick scored on an 18 yard run to trim the Boise State edge to ten points in the third quarter. Defensive end, Tyrone Crawford, blocked Martinez’s 35 yard field goal attempt in the third quarter as Nevada settled for just three points during the frame. Rishard Matthews’s 44 yard scramble added another seven for Nevada, and Martinez bounced back by banging home a 24 yard field goal to knot the game in the fourth quarter. Nevada shut out the Boise State offense throughout most of the second half. Matthews picked up 172 yards on 10 receptions to lead all receivers. Martin scored his second touchdown of the night with just under five minutes in regulation to put the Broncos back on top. The spectacular 79 yard reception was followed by Nevada converting two key third downs. Matthews’ seven yard reception made it a 31-31 affair with thirteen seconds left in the game. The Broncos had one last chance to win the game in regulation, but Brotzman missed a 26 yarder to send the game into overtime.
Moore was stymied in the extra session and the Brotzman was ushered in to try a game winning kick. The 29 yard attempt was booted short to the right by a kicker who leads all active players in career scoring. On the ensuing Nevada possession, Martinez drove the winning field goal between the uprights to upset the darlings of the BCS.

Parting Points: Backyard Brawl 2010 goes to the Mountaineers.

OSU vs. Michigan today. Go Buckeyes!

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Thankful Thursday

Again For You

I love you as if I never
Have room to love another
Again
Living with you
Is like being stuck in a tree so high
You cannot see the ground
Life goes on all around you
But your head is in the clouds
You’re the hand that breaks my fall
And keeps me coming back for more
I’m thankful for the way
You crack a smile on my face
If I live to see tomorrow
I’ll be grateful to see you
Again
Every day without you
My heart breaks a little more
I may well be sentimental
But you’ve made me more than loved
I feel as though I’m gratified
Simply because my heart is alive
For you

Parting Points: Happy Thanksgiving!

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Duke Defends, Delivers

The Duke Blue Devils and Marquette Eagles clashed in the CBE Classic semifinal Monday night. The high-profile hoops programs squared off at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, with the top-ranked Devils squeezing out a 82-77 victory. Duke faces Kansas State in the championship game tonight. The reigning national champs have now won 14 consecutive games and are 4-0 this season. The Devils steamrolled their previous opponents by an average of 41 points.
Mason Plumlee poured in 25 points to lead the Blue Devils. The sophomore center contributed six rebounds and six blocks as he helped wear down the Golden Eagles. Duke took an early lead before Marquette rebounded to tie the game. The Devils bounced back with a 9-0 run to tear ahead by 14 points with 11:15 remaining in the half. Marquette lacked a perimeter player to keep up with Plumlee and countered with questionable shots against Mike Krzyzewski’s Devils. Jimmy Butler led the Eagles, who struggled from the arc, with 22 points. Darius Johnson-Odom missed all eight of his shots in the first half. The Big East powerhouse Eagles labored for points against the NCAA’s elite Devils. Marquette was able to tie the game three times but it was Duke who took a 41-30 advantage into the locker room.
The Devils were harassed for 19 turnovers during the contest as the Eagles outscored Duke 46-42 in the second half. The Eagles’ defense also stripped the ball 11 times and effectively disrupted the pass. The Marquette guards did a tremendous job in applying pressure and got a boost from bench player, Jae Crowder, in the second half. Crowder scored 15 points, including a baseline jumper to tie the game at 57-57. The Devils answered with nine straight points following Crowder’s chip-in. Plumlee was credited for four of the baskets in the late Duke run. Guard Nolan Smith put up an efficient 18 points in victory and grabbed nine rebounds, and Kyle Singler added 14. Quick-learning freshman, Kyle Irving, carried the Devils with seven assists, while Junior Cadougan matched Irving with seven assists for the 4-1 Eagles.

Parting Points: Philip Rivers sure looks sharp; Brad Childress not so much.

Song of the day-“It Don’t Mean a Thing” by Duke Ellington

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Idoneous Intensity In Iowa

Dan Herron bulled into the endzone with 1:47 remaining in the final quarter as Ohio State survived Iowa on Senior Day at Kinnick Stadium. The Big 10 showdown pitted the eighth ranked Buckeyes and 21st ranked Hawkeyes with conference title implications on the line. Ohio State pulled out a 21-17 victory in the final minute to remain in contention for a share of the Big 10 championship. Ohio State has won the conference six straight seasons but Wisconsin and Michigan State are also vying for Big 10 primacy this year. The Hawkeyes fell to 7-4 while OSU bumped their record to 10-1. For the Buckeyes, it was the first fourth quarter comeback of the season.
Marvin McNutt’s 19 yard touchdown reception with one minute to go in the first quarter gave Iowa their first lead of the game. McNutt finished with 92 receiving yards. Hawkeye quarterback, Ricki Stanzi, was sharp and accurate. The Ohio native threw for 195 yards and a score in the Iowa loss. Iowa’s balanced attack caught the Buckeyes off guard and off the scoreboard until Devin Barclay’s 18 yard field goal in the second quarter. OSU quarterback, Terrelle Pryor, threw two interceptions and the Bucks’ offense was mistaken-prone throughout the first half. Pryor matched Stanzi in yardage but his receivers could not hold on to the ball and he made several ill-timed passes. Pryor did find Dane Sanzenbacher six times during the game. Sanzenbacher snagged 102 yards on the day, including two pretty passes for 42 yards on OSU’s first scoring drive. The Buckeyes couldn’t reach the end zone, however, and settled for their only points of the half on Barclay’s kick. The Buckeyes drove into Iowa territory late in the half, but Pryor was picked off in the end zone by Micah Hyde. Iowa took a 7-3 advantage into the locker room.
The second half was all about dual-threat Pryor. The OSU signal-caller came out of the break running on first downs and picking up yardage with his legs. Pryor led the team in rushing with 78 yards. The Buckeyes took their first lead of the game midway through the third stanza when Pryor connected with Reid Fragel from five yards out. Iowa tied it at 10-10 five minutes later. Derrell Johnson-Koulianos caught a 23 yard bomb from Stanzi and McNutt hauled in a 18 yard reception to put the Hawkeyes in position to score. The thrifty Buckeye defense held strong and stalled Stanzi’s effort to reach the endzone. Michael Meyer punched home a 31 yard field goal to even the score for 3:26 remaining in the third quarter. The Buckeyes would have to rely on the athletic Pryor to move the ball. It turns out, the quarterback was up for the challenge as he took over the game in the final quarter. Even after a costly miscue, Pryor responded well to the negative play. The Big 10 battle would come down to the final few minutes in nail-biting fashion.
Marcus Coker burst into the Iowa endzone after Shaun Prater intercepted Pryor at the OSU 27 yard line in the fourth quarter. The Buckeyes answered with Jordan Hall’s 33 yard kick return, but Pryor’s targets failed to catch the ball and the Hawks sacked towering Terrelle. The clutch kicking Barclay booted a 48 yard field goal, a career long, to cut the deficit to four. Ohio State’s defense stepped up with a sack and a tipped pass on the next Iowa drive. Brian Rolle and Ross Homan led the charge on defense and the cornerbacks for OSU made the necessary tackles. The Hawkeyes went three and out on the ensuing kickoff and it was all Buckeyes from there. In dramatic fashion, OSU orchestrated a 76 yard drive culminating in Herron’s game winning leap into the endzone. DeVier Posey dropped what would have been a touchdown pass on third down for the visitors. On fourth down with 4:02 remaining, Pryor rushed for 14 yards and the first down. Pryor’s conversion on fourth and ten made all the difference. Sanzenbacher caught a 24 yard pass at the two yard line to keep the drive alive three plays later. OSU took the lead for good, leaving a stunned and bewildered Kinnick Stadium crowd. The Hawkeyes’ final attempt to tie or take the lead was thwarted when Cameron Hayward sacked Stanzi and McNutt was short of the first down on fourth-and-22.

Parting Points: Song of the day- “You Mean the World to Me” by Toni Braxton

Friday, November 19, 2010

Bears Blanking & Blitzing

The Bears defense harassed Dolphins’ third-string quarterback, Tyler Thigpen, in Thursday’s shutout in Miami and improved to 7-3 on the season. Chicago swarmed Thigpen in the 16-0 victory in their first trip back to Miami since losing Superbowl 41. Julius Peppers led the defense with three of the six sacks, and Robbie Gould kicked three field goals to provide the majority of the offense. Chicago quarterback, Jay Cutler, completed 16-of-25 passes for 156 yards and was just impressive enough in the win. Matt Forte ran for 97 yards and finished the Bears’ scoring with a two yard touchdown plunge late in the third quarter. The Bears moved one-half game ahead of the Packers in the NFC North after winning their third straight contest. The Dolphins fell to 5-5 after a miserable home loss in which they did essentially nothing right and couldn’t catch any breaks.
Gould’s 46 yard field goal with 3:48 remaining in the opening quarter gave the visitors a 3-0 edge. Cameron Wake’s sack of Cutler forced the Bears to settle for three during the drive. The Chicago kicker planted a 24 yard field goal through the uprights midway through the second quarter to increase the Bears advantage to six. That was all the scoring in the first half. Chicago’s defense cracked down with tight coverage and Thigpen was ineffective in communicating with his receivers. The Dolphins running attack was non-existent against the league’s best team against the rush. Now their playoff chances are almost non-existent too. Miami failed to put up any points on the board for the second time in 40 seasons. For Chicago, it was the first shutout in four years.
Thigpen worked the ground with 27 rushing yards to lead all Dolphins, but the former Coastal Carolina player couldn’t keep the chains moving. Brian Hartline managed five receptions for 70 yards to lead all Miami receivers and Brandon Marshall caught three passes before leaving the game with an injury. Marshall was tagged for a taunting penalty after throwing the ball at Cutler when he was heading out of bounds. Cutler, Marshall’s former Denver teammate, pinpointed Johnny Knox as his favorite target on Thursday. Knox hauled in five receptions for 55 yards. The Bears scored twice after halftime on Gould’s third field goal and Forte’s scramble into the end zone. The Dolphins defense couldn’t get off the field as Chicago controlled the time of possession and was more efficient on third downs. Miami converted just one third down in eleven tries and Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown combined for 11 rushing yards. Cutler was intercepted by Benny Sapp and Charles Tillman recorded a pick for the Bears. The Dolphins finally got inside the Bears’ 35 yard line on the game’s final play, but for the most part was un-bearable to watch.

Parting Points: Congrats to Felix Hernandez and Roy Halladay on winning this year’s CY Young awards.

Hawaii is heading to the Mountain West Conference.

Notre Dame vs. Army at Yankee Stadium this Saturday.

“People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses, or the problems of modern society.”- Vince Lombardi

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Gator Gnashing

The Buckeyes basketball team employed a similar strategy as the OSU football squad, erupting in the second half to take down the Florida Gators 93-75 last night. The closely contested season opener in Gainesville went the Buckeyes’ way as freshman, Jared Sullinger and senior, David Lighty scored 26 points each in the victory. Sullinger was 13-of-17 with ten rebounds as the Buckeyes outlasted number nine Florida. The youngest player on the floor at O’Connell Center, eighteen year old Sullinger had 16 of his points in the second half. Kenny Boynton led the Gators, hitting five of eight from beyond the arc and finishing with 21 points. OSU defeated Florida for the second time since the 2007 NCAA tournament. The Gators were the victors in that game three years ago.
Ohio State’s stifling defense was effective early but the Buckeyes trailed 41-38 at the half. Florida outscored the visitors in the paint and hit more second-chance points than the Bucks in the first half. Billy Donovan’s team scored on six of seven possessions to open up with a 15-14 edge. The Gators dominated the boards and their offensive rebounding outmatched the Buckeyes. Erik Murphy contributed eight points and grabbed three offensive rebounds off the bench for the Gators. Florida stretched their lead to seven before Ohio State broke back with four points to close in at the half. Dallas Lauderdale, the towering 6’8” center, played 18 minutes for Thad Matta’s Buckeyes. Lauderdale’s absence was advantageous for the Gator offense. Florida took advantage inside.
The lead changed 11 times in the opening of the second half. Ohio State didn’t pull ahead until midway through the half when Jon Diebler’s trey put them up for good. A seasoned shooter, Diebler poured in 14 points, including four from downtown. The Gators seemed to lose their composure on offense during the second half as number four Ohio State outscored them 55-34. Erving Walker had 15 points for Donovan’s Gators, but it was the Buckeyes’ defense that stood in the end. Sullinger finished with his second straight double-double. William Buford grabbed three of the team’s six steals and Florida’s turnovers ignited the OSU defense. Florida shot the ball well but couldn’t contain the Bucks’ second half tempo. Ohio State shot 62% from the field and won the turnover ratio by ten. The Buckeyes performed uncontested layups, dunks and premier perimeter shots, culminating in impressive come-from-behind win.

Parting Points: The UConn women continue to roll, now streaking at 80 straight wins.

Managers of the year honors to Ron Gardenhire and Bud Black.

It’s Splitsville for Eva Longoria and Tony Parker.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

“Boom” Boosts Buckeyes, Sinks State at ‘Shoe

A second half surge and a pair of key turnovers propelled the Buckeyes past the Nittany Lions in Columbus on Saturday. Ohio State scored 35 unanswered points after halftime to improve to 9-1 on the season. The scarlet and gray held Joe Paterno at 400 victories and his visiting Happy Valley squad scoreless in the second half to remain in the Big 10 title chase. The Buckeyes erased an 11 point deficit and outscored the Lions 21-0 in the final quarter to win decidedly, 38-14. Penn State remains winless at the Horseshoe under Paterno, despite scoring two touchdowns in Columbus for the first time in the legendary coach’s tenure.
Eighth-ranked OSU tallied the game’s first points with a first quarter 26 yard field goal by Devin Barclay. Lions’ quarterback Matt McGloin looked like a seasoned pro against the Buckeyes’ defense in the first half. The Scranton sensation passed for 159 yards and two touchdowns, while completing half of his 30 passes. McGloin tossed two picks in the second half that proved costly in preserving Penn State’s three game winning streak. Justin Brown hauled in a 23 yard sling from McGloin to make it 7-3 with just over four minutes remaining in the opening quarter. Derek Moye added a six yard touchdown catch three minutes into the second quarter to lift the Lions to a 14-3 edge. The 6-4 Lions made their lead stand as Paterno’s defense forced the Buckeyes to punt time and time again. Penn State sparkled in stringing together long drives with their aggressive receivers. OSU signal caller, Terrelle Pryor, finished with 139 yards passing and a pair of scores, but moving up the field in the first half proved problematic for perfectionist Pryor.
The Buckeyes came out of the locker room and entered the third quarter trailing by eleven. The hole was soon erased via a tremendous rushing effort. OSU accumulated 314 yards on the ground to Penn State’s 113. Dan “Boom” Herron ran for a career high 190 yards on 21 carries, including the first touchdown run of the third quarter. Herron amassed yardage with amazement during the 96 yard drive that set up the Buckeyes’ only rushing touchdown. Defensive back, Devon Torrence, was tormented by Penn State’s offense all day. Torrence got his revenge with a third quarter interception return for a touchdown to give the Bucks their first lead of the game. Ohio State continued to execute and run the ball well, while the defense cracked down against the roller coaster State offense with the brash quarterback. There wouldn’t be another score for the white-and-blue on this day.
Pryor found leg room to run in one of his best rushing games since last year’s Rose Bowl victory over the Oregon Ducks. He finished with 49 yards to match the Lions’ leading rusher, Evan Royster. The Buckeyes threatened to score early in the fourth quarter, but Pryor aired out an errant pass that was picked off by Malcom Williams at the two yard line. McGloin completed just 2 of his 12 passes in the second half and the Lions had little success getting first downs. Ohio State got the ball back following Pryor’s only miscue. After a penalty pushed them back to their own 42 yards line, the home team promptly found the end zone again. Dane Sanzenbacher pulled down a 58 yard bomb from Pryor to give the Buckeyes a 24-14 advantage with less than ten minutes in regulation. The pass was tipped by a Penn State defender but laned in the hands of the talented Bucks’ wideout. Penn State’s hopes of a comeback disappeared when Travis Howard intercepted McGloin and ran it 30 yards for the score. Pryor passed to Jake Stoneburner from three yards out to finish the Buckeyes’ scoring and a 7 play drive. DeVier Posey led the Buckeyes with three receptions for 63 yards, but it was Herron who keyed the second half surge.

Parting Points: The Cowboys are 14 point underdogs against the Giants today. Holy smoke…

Wisconsin whipping...enough said.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Rookies Rise at the Rock

The floundering Devils finally found a way to eke out a victory. New Jersey capped a 4-3 win over Edmonton at the Prudential Center in overtime. Ilya Kovalchuk netted a power play goal in the extra session as the Devils skated to their first home decision. The $100million forward for New Jersey also snapped a personal seven game goal drought. Kovalchuk netted the game-winner at 3:27 in overtime to break the Devils’ seven game slide in Newark. New Jersey is 5-10-2 while Edmonton dropped to 4-6-4.
The Oilers were 0-for-2 on power play opportunities and continued their dismal penalty-killing. Edmonton’s Colin Fraser scored a pair for first period goals in Martin Brodeur’s return to goal for the Devils. Fraser found the back of the net after Jordan Eberle’s pass went through the legs of defender, David Clarkson. Five minutes later, Fraser beat Brodeur by skating ahead of the Devils’ defenders and taking advantage of New Jersey mistakes in the defensive zone. He send a screened shot into the net for a 2-0 Edmonton edge. Rookie Alexander Vasyunov scored his first NHL and the only for the Devils in the opening period. Vasyunov took a pass from Patrik Elias to cut the Oilers’ lead in half.
Sam Gagner buried the Oilers’ third goal of the game during a second period line change lapse by New Jersey. Brodeur made 21 saves on the night and the defense tightened up as the game went on. Brian Rolston, in his first game back from a hernia, zipped the Devils’ second goal by Devan Dubnyk with a rebound from the crease. Rolson’s goal turned the game into a 3-2 contest late in the second period. Dubnyk made 35 saves for Edmonton, but couldn’t persevre the one-goal lead in the third period. Another Devils’ rookie, Mattias Tedenby secured a third period goal to tie the game at 3-3. It was Tedenby’s first career goal and the first power play goal by New Jersey on Friday night. The equalizer would hold through regulation as the teams went to an overtime period. Both rookie forwards played their best games so far in Friday’s win. The Devils’ penalty killing was perfect in stopping all four power-play chances.
The Devils snatched a victory in overtime on Kovalchuk’s rifle shot from the left circle. New Jersey earned two points for the win, pulling them out of a tie with Edmonton and the Islanders for fewest in points in the league. Elias had six shots on goal followed by Tedenby’s five and Travis Zajac’s four. New Jersey outshot Edmonton 39-24 and escaped the Rock with their first win this season. The Devils play at 8-4 Boston on Monday night.

Parting Points: Minnesota’s Kevin Love has arrived. Mr. 30-30 for the first time since before I was born (1982)

Boise State is 9-0 after pummeling Idaho 52-14.

OSU vs. PSU!

Song for Saturday- Dion and the Belmonts’ “I Wonder Why”

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Wall Works Wizardry in Win

The Houston Rockets are still winless away from home after losing 98-91 to the John Wall and the Wizards at the Verizon Center. The Washington rookie helped his team top the Rockets by picking up his first career triple-double in his 42 minutes on the hardwood. The former Kentucky Wildcat finished with 19 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds as the Wizards improved to 2-5. The veteran-like 6’4” Wall looked polished for a phenom. The Rockets just looked awful. Houston is just 1-6 on the season despite leading midway through the fourth quarter in Wednesday’s loss. The oft-injured Yao Ming was sidelined with an ankle ailment and departed the game in the first quarter without scoring a point. The Rockets have lost six of their last seven contests.
Kevin Martin scored 31 points for Houston to lead all scorers. He also knocked down 13-of-15 from the charity stripe as the Rockets hit 89% from the line. Houston’s Luis Scola contributed 24 points before fouling out. The Wizards capitalized on Houston’s inferior interior defense in the first half. Andray Blatche grabbed 11 rebounds to go along with 20 points for the Wizards. Gilbert Arenas did not start for Washington, but played 23 minutes to add score five. Al Thornton chipped in 20 points for Washington, while the athletic Wall stole the show as the Wizards pulled ahead 53-46 at the half. Wall committed just one turnover and snagged five steals in an all-round veteran-like performance. Houston outscored the home team 26-20 in the third quarter behind Martin and Scola. The Rockets raced out to an 85-84 lead in the fourth before rupturing and surrendering a 10-0 Wizards’ run.The Wizards wrenched back their advantage after blowing an 11-point lead. Houston collapsed and crumbled down the stretch, committing five turnovers. The Wizards were the only team sinking buckets and the Rockets’ couldn’t keep them out of the paint late in the game. The number one draft picked secured his triple-double with five minutes to go in the final quarter.

Parting Points: Sad passing- Mariners’ announcer Dave Niehaus

Happy Veteran’s Day!

Monday, November 8, 2010

Soar & Sore

Dallas’ debacle season continued against the Packers on Sunday night. The Eagles edged the Colts by two in an intriguing, firework-like contest at the Linc. The upstart Raiders and Chiefs played a thrilling overtime game with the black-and-gold pulling through in the end. But the 1pm game between the New York Jets and Detroit Lions is the focus of this post.
The Jets soared to an overtime victory over the Lions in Detroit. New York improved to 6-2 and benefited from poor coaching, a little bit of green luck and another Lions’ choke job. Detroit fell to 2-6 on the year after suffering a heartbreaking 23-20 home loss. Nick Folk’s 36 yard field goal on the final play of the fourth quarter sent the game into an extra session. The Jets’ place kicker nailed a 30-yarder in overtime to lift the Jets over a sore Detroit squad. New York sits in first place in the AFC East after the Patriots were topped by Colt McCoy’s Cleveland club.
Matthew Stafford, the gifted signal caller for Detroit threw for a pair of touchdowns and 246 yards before leaving the game midway through the fourth quarter. Stafford suffered a shoulder injury and was replaced by Drew Stanton. Detroit coasted to a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on Brandon Pettigrew’s 10 yard reception. The Oklahoma State product hauled in Stafford’s pass after an 11 play drive at 9:16 in the first. The Jets did not answer until the clock read 3:57 in the second stanza. Folk planted a 31 yard field goal to cut the Lions’ lead to four. After a Detroit punt, the sloppy Jets (five fumbles) got the ball back. Facing third-and-nine, quarterback Mark Sanchez lofted a bomb downfield to Braylon Edwards. The Gang Green receiver made the 74 yard catch and ran it to the end zone with a minute left before halftime.
The Jets’ 10-7 advantage didn’t last long after the break. Detroit threatened to score on their first drive out of the locker room. Stafford drove the Lions inside the five yard line, but Detroit would have to settle for a field goal opportunity against Rex Ryan’s stingy defense. Jason Hanson’s kick was good, but New York was charged with a roughing-the-kicker penalty. The Lions had new life, albeit at the cost of their kicker. Stafford ran the ball in from one yard out after faking a handoff to Jahvid Best in the backfield. Defensive tackle and top draft pick, Ndamukong Suh replaced Hanson, but booted the extra point, making it 13-10 in favor of the Lions.
Neither team executed the run very efficiently. LaDainian Tomlinson was held to 55 yards on 15 carries for New York. Best rushed for a mere 48 yards in the loss. Nate Burleson’s two yard pass from Stafford with 3:17 left to play gave the Lions a ten point cushion. The Jets would soon erase that protection. Sanchez orchestrated a 56 yard drive on six plays, culminating in a one-yard quarterback scramble. Stanton had little success completing passes and running out the clock. The Lions afforded New York too much time, and after a Detroit punt, Folk planted the game-tying kick. In overtime, the Jets needed just five plays to race down the field. Santonio Holmes charged down the field and grabbed a 52 yard pass from Sanchez to set up the winning field goal. Holmes, the dynamic receiver from Ohio State, finisihed with 114 yards. Burleson nearly matched him, with 113, for the Lions. Sanchez finished with a career-high 323 yards, which makes sense when you look at the two bombs he threw for completions. The Jets are riding a seven game road winning streak as they head to Cleveland next Sunday.

Parting Points: The Yankees are pursuing Cliff Lee. Really!?

The Giants absolutely destroyed the Seahawks yesterday. It’s been a rough year for Pete Carroll.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Stinging Style Sparks Smiles

For all its glitz and glamour, basketball is still a game created for the fundamentally-sound. James Naismith, who was born on this day in 1861 would, at the very least, smile at that notion. The rest of the professional game is all together “cringe-worthy”, some might argue. But there’s still that elementary excellence about the game that keeps people interested. It’s exhibited just enough to overlook a sport entwined with rap stars, unprofessionalism and showy slam dunk contests. Basketball is still, at its core, a game of agility, touch and balance. It’s a game of defense (although it’s been downplayed this decade), anticipation and footwork. Passing is paramount because basketball is a team sport. Last night the New Orleans Hornets won a team game. In my opinion, Tim Duncan and Chris Paul represent what basketball is all about. Paul was on display last night against the Miami Heat. Here’s a recap:
All Star Paul is the epitome of a point guard. He spreads the ball around to the offense and engages him teammates. The Hornets are off to a sizzling start, due in part to Paul’s incredible scoring and defensive abilities. The other part of the story is how New Orleans is playing basketball how the game is meant to be played. The Hornets are coming off a season in which they missed the post-season and are under the direction of a rookie coach. New Orleans defeated Miami 96-93 at home last night to improve to a franchise best 5-0 start. Emeka Okafor scored a team high 26 points for the Hornets. Okafor contributed 13 rebounds as the former UConn star evoked memories of his dominant college days. The 6’10” center went 12-of-13 from the field. Paul’s unique ability to distract defenders and his speed during the dribble enabled Okafor a big night. Paul finished with 19 assists, bucketing 13 points along the way. Five New Orleans shooters finished in double digits, proving team ball is the name of the game.
The Heat, propelled by Dwayne Wade’s 28 points, did not lead until late in the final quarter when LeBron James’ free throw put them up 90-89. James poured in 20 points in 41 minutes and Chris Bosh completed the Big Three scoring with 15 points. Wade also pulled down 10 rebounds in the loss. James dominated the assists column for Miami, with ten. Center Zydrunas Ilgauskas added a dime in points for the 4-2 Heat, who tried in vain to take the sting out of New Orleans. The Big Three’s tremendous efforts couldn’t overwhelm the opponent on Friday night. Paul set the game’s tempo from the beginning with repeated drives to the basket. He slipped through screens and stayed ahead of the defense with crossover dribbles most of the game. Miami’s rebounding was inconsistent, and Okafor proved too much for the Heat’s defense. The Heat rallied from 14 down and had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds. Eddie House missed a shot off the rim, preserving the Hornets’ honorable unblemished record.
The outlook for the Hornets looks supreme, especially if New Orleans can lessen Paul’s burden. Paul is shooting nearly 52% this season and the offense behind him has been solid. But it’s the defense that has New Orleans thriving. The Hornets are among league leaders in defensive efficiency. They have discouraged opponents from shooting by protecting the paint. The team-wide commitment and strategy is effective and plays to Okafor’s strength and size. The Hornets are also cleaning up on the glass. Rebounding is so fundamental to basketball and Monty Williams’ team ranks as one of basketball’s best. Marco Belinelli, Paul and backups Marcus Thornton and Willie Green are rebounding well above their career averages at this point in the season. Paul’s presence causes opponents to be weary of passing, and that usually results in careless turnovers. Opponents are paying attention to the aggressive Paul and the protection on the outside discourages penetration down the baseline. New Orleans’ defense has vastly improved from a season ago. The Hornets are a force to be reckoned with and nobody should be smiling about their style more than Mr. Basketball himself. Happy Birthday, Naismith.

Parting Points: Dismal Devils, just dismal!

Add to Heisman hopeful players involved in scandals: Cam Newton

Who is more aggravating than Nick Saban? Perhaps Brad Childress…

Speaking of Nick’s: Congrats to Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo. Wedding bells will be ringing. But why does the media insist on referring to (my baby) Nick as “Jessica Simpson’s ex?” Give the guy the respect he deserves, please.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Rutgers’ Reign Ruptured

The Scarlet Knights sure would have liked to inject some of Ray Rice’s legs into their offense on Wednesday night. South Florida upset Rutgers 28-27 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. The Big East battle featured a rusher just as prolific as Rice, but he belonged to the Bulls. Moise Plancher ran for a career high 135 yards to help USF upend the Knights and improve to 5-3 on the season. Plancher, however, also nearly cost the Bulls the game. Offensive lineman, Jacob Sims, recovered Plancher’s fourth quarter fumble and returned it for the winning touchdown. Fans know the Big East is the laughingstock of college football this year, but Rutgers has been the toughest foe for South Florida since their entrance into the conference. The Bulls finally got over the hurdle last night with a one-point home victory.
South Florida snapped a four game losing streak behind B.J. Daniels’ two touchdown passes, a pair of field goals, a safety, and a fumble recovery for a score. Daniels finished with 149 yards through the air and was picked off once. He was 10-of-17 on the night. The USF signal caller connected for two first half touchdowns as the teams went into the locker room knotted at 17-17. Evan Landi’s four yard reception midway through the first quarter gave the Bulls a 7-0 edge. The touchdown was set up by Terrence Mitchell’s 47 yard punt return. Rutgers came back to tie the game with .44 seconds remaining in the opening stanza. Mason Robinson returned a punt 60 yards for the Scarlet Knights’ first touchdown.
Chas Dodd completed 19-of-22 passes for 139 yards behind center for Rutgers. Mohamed Sanu snagged seven passes and threw the only touchdown pass for the Knights. Sanu’s toss came late in the second quarter, with South Florida ahead by four. Rutgers recorded a field goal to begin the second quarter. The Bulls bounced back with Daniels’ second touchdown pass, a six yard pitch to wideout, Dontavia Bogan. Sanu’s 21 yard pass to Mark Harrison gave Rutgers a three point lead with 6:28 left in the half. Maikon Bonani kicked a 47 yard field goal to tie the game with less than a minute before the break.
Joe Martinek, who finished with -6 yards rushing, managed a one yard touchdown run to begin the second half and give Rutgers their biggest lead of the night. The Bulls were whistled for 35 penalty yards during the momentum-swinging series. Bonani’s 21 yard field goal cut the Scarlet Knight lead back to four points and a safety to end the third quarter cut the advantage to two. Kordell Young caught a screen pass in the end zone, but was tackled before crossing the line to give the Bulls a pair of points. Daniels was intercepted on the first play of the fourth quarter. The home team still trailed by five after Rutgers’ San San Te booted a 30 yard field goal. The safety net wasn’t enough for the Knights as the Bulls scored the game’s final, and winning, touchdown. Rutgers is now 4-4 on the season.

Parting Points: Motor-mouth in the Motor City? That’s right, Randy Moss is a Titan. Oh, and Buffalo claimed Shawn Merriman.

Does it get any worse for the NJ Devils? Martin Brodeur will bounce back, but Zach Parise is out for three months.

Sources say the NCAA is going to drop charges against Michigan’s Rich Rodriguez.

RIP Sparky Anderson.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Choice Champions

They’re a team rich in history and on this Election Day, they are world champions. Willie Mays, Dusty Rhodes, and Johnny Antonelli are just three names from the last time the Giants were world champions. Leo Durocher was the team’s skipper and “The Catch” was the talk of the nation. Fifty-six years later, it’s Buster Posey, Cody Ross and Freddy Sanchez. I had a healthy disdain for Barry Bonds’ San Fransico Giants. I have to admit, the 2010 World Series champions are an easy team to fall in love with. Texas’ tenacious lineup never threatened San Francisco pitching. The Giants toppled Texas four games to one with dominant arms and timely hitting. The Rangers, a team who had no problem putting up 30 plus runs against New York, were shut out twice in five games. Texas’ offense went from decimation to deficiency. San Francisco battled Cliff Lee twice in the series and came out on the upside both times. On Monday, San Francisco’s 3-1 game five victory propelled them to a world championship. Now Giants fans are enjoying their most gratifying moment since the team’s move from the Polo Grounds.
The only disappointing thing about the Giants winning the series (except for it not being the Yankees) is Barry Zito’s benching. It would have been great for the veteran southpaw to pitch during the series, but who am I to argue with Bruce Bochy’s decision to leave him off the roster. Zito doesn’t have that devastating curveball he once possessed and has since been replaced by the likes of hurlers, Tim “The Freak” Lincecum, Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez and Madison Bumgarner. There’s no guarantee Zito would have been helpful in delivering the Giants their first title since 1954.
What accolades haven’t been said about Edgar Renteria? Renteria delivered three hits in game four and had the tie-breaking homer off C.J. Wilson in game two. He went 7-for-17 with six RBIs in the series. The speedy World Series MVP is as proven a clutch hitter as anyone. The 34 year old slugger who slapped a game winning single in game seven of the Fall Classic 13 years ago for Florida showed up again last night. Renteria ripped Lee’s cut fastball to center in the seventh inning Monday to become the unlikely hero of the World Series. The shortstop’s three RBIs broke a tie game and were all Lincecum needed to shut the door on the Rangers’ promising season. Lincecum outdueled Lee, adding another glorious feat to his already awesome career. He allowed a single run in eight frames last night. The Giants scored 29 runs over five games but their pitching strength cannot be undermined. Lincecum, Cain and Bumgarner kept the Rangers quiet at the plate with a batting average against of only .190. As the old adage goes: Good pitching beats good hitting any day. Congratulations to the San Francisco Giants!

Parting Points: Best San Francisco band? It’s close. There’s Third Eye Blind, Journey, Tony! Toni! Tone!, Chris Isaak, and Santana. But, my choice would be Green Day.