Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Pitt-Pocket

The Pittsburgh Panthers stole a win against undefeated Connecticut Monday night in Petersen Events Center. The sixth ranked Panthers topped fourth ranked UConn 78-63 in a Big East battle of supremacy. Both teams have been ranked in the Big East’s top two for the past decade and another chapter was added to the rivalry last night. The Panthers improved to 13-1 in beating the Huskies for the fourth consecutive time in the series between the teams. Kemba Walker stole the show for the Huskies with 31 points, but it was the Panthers who were too much for Uconn’s defense. Walker added five steals and four rebounds. Junior Ashton Gibbs led Pitt with 21 points and senior Brad Wanamaker turned in 14 as the Panthers won their third straight game. Pittsburgh held the previously unbeaten Huskies to 32 percent shooting. Connecticut is now 10-1 on the season.
The Panthers showed last night why they remain an unblemished 8-0 against top five teams since 2002. Four players scored in double digits for Jamie Dixon’s Panthers. Pitt marched to a 37-28 halftime lead as the efficient offense and transition defense finally showed up on the same night for the home team. Nasir Robinson logged 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for Pitt. Panthers’ center, Gary McGhee, also contributed 11 points while snagging 11 rebounds in the victory. McGhee and Robinson recorded double-doubles as Pitt held a commanding and comfortable lead throughout the conference’s first matchup of top ten teams.
The steamrolling Panthers shot 52 percent from the field and Gibbs was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line. Pittsburgh never trailed during the contest and even carried a 17 point lead at one point during the second half. The Huskies attempted a late comeback but Pitt’s balance and depth were too much to overcome. Connecticut shot the ball poorly and was clearly outplayed. Walker was a one-man wrecking crew, putting up nearly half of Connecticut’s 63 points. Walker finished with a game high in buckets, but he needed 27 shots to do so. The Connecticut junior shot just 10-for-27 from the field. Connecticut has lost five of their last six conference openers. Jim Calhoun is just 1-for-5 at Pitt’s arena.

Parting Points: Jerry Jones is searching for the next Cowboys’ coach. Dallas is 4-3 under interim coach, Jason Garrett. The “boys genius” seems to make the most sense for me (unless Bill Cowher suddenly becomes available).

The Saints clipped the Falcons in a meeting between two of the NFC’s best teams.

How good is Dustin Brown? I love this Ithaca, NY native for the Los Angeles Kings. If you take anything from the plus/minus statistic, Brown is in the top three. (Personally, I don’t think that’s a great measure of individual performance)

This is post #700 and the final one of 2010! Have a Happy New Year.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Frozen Fumble

The Aaron Rodgers-led Packers romped the New York Giants in a playoff clash at Lambeau Field. Rodgers unleashed four touchdown passes and threw for 404 yards to keep Green Bay’s playoff hopes alive in a 45-17 New York thrashing. The Packers’ offense shredded New York’s defense for a season high 515 yards as the Giants fell to 9-6. New York has an outside chance of making the post-season but they will have to do so through the backdoor. Big Blue failed in their attempt for win-and-you’re-in Sunday afternoon at the frozen tundra. The Giants couldn’t stop Rodgers or hold on to the ball. Eli Manning threw four interceptions as his turnover numbers continue to climb to epic proportions. Green Bay entered Sunday’s game needing two games to make the playoffs. The Packers host Chicago in the final regular-season game next week. New York must beat the Redskins and hope the Packers lose next week or the Saints lose their final two games.
Green Bay raced out to a 14-0 lead and were the only team to score in the opening quarter. Jordy Nelson outran the Giants secondary for an 80 yard touchdown on the Pack’s second possession of the game. James Jones’ three yard reception from Rodgers gave Green Bay a two touchdown edge with less than two minutes left in the first quarter. The G men finally hit the end zone when Hakeem Nicks hauled in a 36 yard touchdown pass from Manning to cut the Green Bay lead in half. The Giants’ quarterback was 17-for-33 in the loss, with a pair of touchdown passes and 301 yards. After the Giants recovered a Nelson fumble in the red zone, Manning found Mario Manningham five minutes before halftime to tie the game at 14-14. The 85 yard play was the longest of Manning’s career, but the splendor would be thwarted on the next Packer drive. Green Bay fullback, John Kuhn, turned a 79 yard drive into a seven point Packers’ lead with an eight yard run up the middle. The Giants went into the locker room down by a touchdown.
Mason Crosby’s 31 yard field goal made it 24-14 in favor of the home team. Lawrence Tynes kicked a 38 yarder through the uprights as the Giants and Packers traded field goals to begin the second half. Rodgers tossed two more touchdown passes in the final two quarters to give Green Bay a sizable lead. Rodgers hit Donald Lee from one yard out and Kuhn with a five yard dish as the Pack overpowered Big Blue. Kuhn finished the Sunday scoring with another touchdown run with 4:20 left in regulation to lift the Packers 45-17. Green Bay scored 24 points off the Giants’ six turnovers. Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs lost fumbles as New York added to their 36 turnovers this season. Greg Jennings caught seven passes for 142 yards for Green Bay. Manningham caught four passes for 132 yards to lead New York receivers.

Parting Points: Playoff clinchers so far-New England, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York (Jets), Chicago,& Atlanta

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Boxing Bevy

The term “box” is bountiful in sports. The word is used profusely in almost every athletic game we play. Since today is Boxing Day, let’s revisit the boxes we encounter in our favorite sports.
First, there’s the actual sport of boxing. The combative fist-fight competition is one dating back to ancient history. When I think of boxing, I think of red Everlast gloves, bloody noses and knockouts (KO’s). I think of jabs and uppercuts, Rocky movies and Ali’s rope-a-dope. Boxing was as American as any other sport in its heyday. Boxing developed an international following because fans embraced contenders like Joe Frazier, Mike Tyson and The Manassa Mauler, Jack Dempsey. The interest is waning in the sport today. Manny Pacquiao is the king of the sport in this 21st century society. I’d like to see boxing revived because it’s a true combat sport that requires physical skills, balance and good reflexes.
Box out is a term frequently used in basketball. Coaches team the proper technique of “boxing out” because defense and rebounding are imperative to the game. Boxing out requires a defensive player to make contact with the person they are guarding. Boxing out is protecting the hoop by drawing the player away from the basket. Good body positioning and pivoting are key to a successful box outs.
Most professional hockey players are familiar with the penalty box. It’s the area on the side of the rink where players who commit penalties must sit for a set number of minutes during a game. The infraction could be for hooking, tripping, cross-checking or interference. Nobody wants to be in the penalty box because it leaves your team short-handed on the ice unless both teams commit penalties.
The service box is of upmost importance in tennis. The left and right service boxes are divided by a center line and bounded off by the service line. Any serve landing within the box is playable. Players must aim their serve into the opposite diagonal box and avoid hitting the net. Service placement is so vital to being an effective tennis player.
Eight in the box defense is common in football. The alignment consists of eight of the eleven players near the line of scrimmage. Defensive lineman and linebackers are usually considered in the “box”, normally occupied by seven players. Coaches will call for an “eight in the box” defense against a strong running team to make a solid defensive front. It’s typical for a safety to leave his post and line up near the line of scrimmage in this formation.
The batter’s box is 36 inches wide. It’s the area where the batter must stand when receiving a pitch in a baseball game. When I played Little League, there were several kids who had trouble staying in the box. Many feared getting beaned, but stepping out of the box during a delivery is not permitted. As soon as a batter steps out of the box, the ball is dead and the batter is out. As you can see, the batter’s box has gigantic implications.

Parting Points: Cowboys lose a tight one on Christmas night…

Book for Sunday- “The Imperfectionists” by Tom Rachman

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Greatest Gifts

My heart still beats like crazy every Christmas morning. I still get excited seeing all the presents under the tree and watching my family as they open each gift. My sister and I used to have a Christmas Eve routine. We’d stay awake, indicated by coughing signals throughout the night. When the living room was dark and quiet, we’d meet in the hallway and tiptoe to the tree just to see the presents. That element of surprise and happiness may never go away, even as we become adults.
It’s probably very easy shopping for me. Anybody who has a sports fan on their Christmas gift list knows what to buy. It’s a pretty sure bet any present having to do with their favorite team will suffice. I’ve gotten sleigh-loads of sports gifts through the years. There’s the OSU toothbrush my sister bought me, the perfectly-folded white tennis shorts I received from my mother, and the World Series hardcover my dad got me one year. I’ve gotten baseball bats and caps, sports ornaments, and dozens of Yankee paraphernalia. Treasured gifts include the handheld Tiger baseball game I played hour after hour the year my Grandmother bought it for me. One Christmas, I opened, with much delight, a basketball shooting toy similar to a pinball machine. My two favorite sports-related gifts are a David Wells autographed ball cap from his perfect game and a Troy Aikman jersey. Another gift I still cherish is a leather Yankee bracelet given by a friend a few years back.
Every year, I look forward to at least one sports gift. It’s a sure bet I’ll get a few—after all, sports is what I do. It’s who I am. But I don’t think the greatest gifts come in tangible form. No, the greatest gifts are those you can’t put on a shelf or over your head. A parent’s love. Your sister’s comradery. The blessing from a friend. A co-worker’s acknowledgment. The smiling stranger. The greatest gifts come from the feeling you get when you exchange glances with a loved one on December 25th. Or when you think about a friend you lost this year before you go to bed on Christmas Eve. It’s the sight of a colorful Christmas tree and a beautiful life you’ve been blessed with. Or that sparkling person who somehow moves you to tears with the slightest gesture. Snazzy bats and signed baseballs can’t compare to the gift of a human heart. So here’s a big thank you to those people who have given me a piece of their heart on Christmas. Here’s to those who will always have a place in mine—the one that still beats like crazy every Christmas morning.

Parting Points: Song for Xmas-“Thank You” by Dido.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Thursday Take-Twos (Tattoo edition)

Reports out of Columbus about a possible investigation into the Ohio State football team have Sugar Bowl implications. During last night’s game between Boise State and Utah, OSU alum and ESPN reporter, Kirk Herbstreit indicated the university is meeting with officials regarding allegations about players’ participation in receiving tattoos for autographs. According to the report, as many as nine football players are being charged with allegations of trading undocumented autographs and memorabilia for tattoos. Herbstreit reported the IRS raided a tattoo parlor, where the memorabilia was discovered. The investigations were apparently an offshoot of another probe by law enforcement agencies of unlawful behavior by the parlor owner, according to the Columbus Dispatch. The NCAA is looking into the charges of illegal benefits. All players remain eligible at this time for the upcoming Sugar Bowl against Alabama. Several starting players are being named in the tattoo allegations and their status for the bowl could be in jeopardy if the committee takes action. At the very least, the allegations are a distraction to the team as they prepare to beat an SEC school in a bowl game for the first time.
Speaking of tattoos and athletes, is Carmelo Anthony headed to the New York Knicks? Anthony has a “live now, die later” tat on his left arm. The Knicks should adopt that motto and go hard for the Denver superstar. Melo told the Nuggets he will not sign a three year contract extension unless he is traded to the Knicks. If Anthony remains in Denver for the rest of the season, he will become an unrestricted free agent. A trade to Manhattan would be ideal for the upstart Knicks, who added a top flight player in Amare Stoudemire this off-season. Danilo Gallinari and Landry Fields are among the players the Knicks could swap in exchange for Melo. The Nuggest have interest in rookie Fields, who has starred in every game and been a huge reason for New York’s surge this season. The NBA trade deadline is February 24th. Anthony, a former Syracuse standout, would be a nice fit for New York. Fans are split on adding Anthony to the lineup because the Knicks are so hot right now. Defensive-minded and one of the best pure scorers, Melo would boost the Knicks to serious title contenders if he was traded. Sympathy and prayers go out to the 26 year old Nuggets’ All-Star who recently lost his sister to a pre-existing medical condition.

Parting Points: I wrote this blog this morning…so here is the update. Five OSU players have been suspended for five games in 2011. Terrelle Pryor, Dan Herron and Devier Posey are among the players listed. Totally unfair, when you consider Cam Newton was able to suit up the entire season, win the Heisman and participate in the national championship game for doing FAR worse than the Buckeyes.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Final Exam

You put into play all the images in your mind
The words and ways you memorize the lines
It’s like observing from the sidelines
The pusher who turns back the ball every time
She defends every shot as if spitting out terms
For a final exam she knew before she learned
But how do you beat a pusher this stern
When she scales the court with all her burn
Why, don’t play her game or lower your own
But move quickly to receive the fair volleys that drone
Take the dinks over net and break the rhythm and tone
By sending a passing shot to the backcourt alone
At that moment you’ll realize you’ve passed the test
You can settle in for all the rest
The answers lie not in the observers’ request
But in the one who questions her own bequest

Monday, December 20, 2010

Eagles’ Explosive Endeavor

The New York Giants endured an incredulous debacle of a loss Sunday at the new Meadowlands Stadium. Big Blue lost a 38-31 decision to the NFC East rival Eagles on the final play of the game. DeSean Jackson, the speedster in green and white, raced a punt return back 65 yards for the winning touchdown with 13 seconds left in regulation. Jackson has burned teams with his speed all season, but none as electrifying and dramatic as the winning runback of yesterday’s 31-31 ball game. The Eagles scored 28 unanswered points to erase a 31-10 fourth quarter deficit. The Philadelphia victory puts the Eagles in sole possession of first place in the division. Philadelphia swept the two game season series against New York with yesterday’s comeback win. The Giants will have to settle for a wildcard if they hope to make the post-season. New York fell to 9-5 in one of the worst losses in franchise history.
Mario Manningham put the Giants on the scoreboard with his first of two touchdown catches with 3:36 to go in the opening quarter. Manningham caught a 35 yard pass from Eli Manning to complete a nine play, 71 yard drive for the G-Men. The Eagles scored their only points of the first half two minutes into the second quarter. David Akers sent a 34 yard field goal into the end zone to make it a 7-3 game. The Giants’ offense unloaded a pair of touchdowns and added a field goal to increase their lead to 24-3 at the break. Manningham hauled in his second touchdown, a 33 yard bomb from Manning. The receiver finished with 113 yards on eight catches as the Giants trounced Philadelphia during the first half. Lawrence Tynes’ 25 yard field goal was followed by Hakeem Nicks’ eight yard score. Jeremy Maclin’s fumble late in the half was picked up by Giants’ safety, Kenny Phillips to set up Nicks’ touchdown. The Giants outgained the top-ranked Eagles’ offense 222-74 in the first half. It looked like Big Blue was going to coast to the top of the NFC East.
Michael Vick ran for a game high 130 yards and threw 242 behind center for the Eagles. The Giants succeeded in slowing Vick with blitzes for most of the game. Big Blue’s defense sacked Vick twice and constantly applied pressure. Vick completed just six passes for 33 yards. His first touchdown came via a third quarter strike to Maclin to make it 24-10 Giants. Kevin Boss pulled in an eight yard pass from Manning early in the fourth quarter to negate Maclin’s touchdown. The Eagles, facing a huge fourth quarter deficit, shocked the Giants in the final seven and a half minutes. Vick made late work with his arm and the Giants couldn’t tackle or defend. New York’s first 53 minutes of strong play went for naught. Eagles’ tight end, Brent Celek, got the comeback started with a 65 yard touchdown off a missed Phillips tackle. Celek turned a 30-something yard gain into seven points. Vick’s four yard touchdown scramble cut a rejuvenated Philadelphia’s deficit to one score. Maclin avenged for his earlier fumble with a 13 yard touchdown grab with 1:13 left to tie the game at 31-31. Then, there was the final play. Rookie Matt Dodge punted to the Eagles’ elusive return man and Jackson responded accordingly to top off the 28 point rally.

Parting Points: Song of the day- “The Way to Your Heart” by Soulsister

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Selby’s Shot Sinks S.C.

There are dozens of things that make me happy. King crab legs, kisses on the cheek and Kansas basketball are just a few. That’s why when the latter occurred on Saturday in Lawrence, Kansas, I was rapturous. The Jayhawks defeated USC 70-68 to preserve their consecutive home game winning streak. Third –ranked Kansas has 65 straight wins at Phog Allen Fieldhouse. Yesterday, Bill Self’s squad upended Southern California with the help of freshman guard, Josh Selby. Selby made his KU debut, finishing with a game high 21 points in 27 minutes. The Baltimore native went 5-for-11 from the field and hit the go-ahead bucket with 24 seconds on the clock. Not bad for your first college game.
The 10-0 Jayhawks steadily built a 39-25 lead against the Trojans in the first half. Selby sunk five of eight three pointers, including his first two attempts. The visitors trailed by double digits most of the game but the Jayhawks struggled to generate offense after halftime. The well-schooled, scrappy USC shooters took the lead in the game’s final minutes. Donte Smith led USC on an 11-0 run and Jio Fontan hit a pair of free throws to put the Trojans up by two points with two minutes to play. USC’s quick guards found their way into the lane and pounded away at KU’s poor post-defense. Donte Smith led the Trojans with 20 points, including five baskets from downtown. USC outscored Kansas 48-39 in the second half.
The Jayhawks held the rebounding edge throughout the game against one of the best rebounding teams in college basketball. KU fought back with their gritty freshman leading the way. Marcus Morris threw the ball to Selby with the game on the line. The clutch Kansas guard unfurled another three-point attempt in the final minute to give Kansas the lead for good. The Trojans called time out, trailing 69-68. USC blew its chance to win the game in the last five seconds when Fontan turned the ball over on an inbounds pass. Kansas’ Tyrel Reed made a free throw for the final margin. The starting senior guard had a game high five assists in the Jayhawk’s victory.

Parting Points: The second-ranked Buckeyes remain poised—79-57 winners over South Carolina.

Gilbert Arenas to the Orlando Magic---good move?

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Wishes & Wants

All I want for Christmas is:
A J.R. Smith dunk
Cam Newton’s trophy case
And some Brett Favre spunk
I want Troy Polamalu’s hair
Yao Ming’s doctor’s job
And a little of Sid Crosby’s flair
I’ll take a chunk of Cliff Lee’s check
Along with Tom Brady’s fame
And Vincent Jackson’s hands just for the heck
I would like a Jared Sullinger three
Packaged with a Jonathan Quick stop
All of these I want under my Christmas tree

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Team Talk Thursday

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/frank_deford/12/15/uconn.streak/index.html

Frank Deford wrote an excellent article in his weekly column yesterday. The article focuses on bringing attention to women’s team sports. Deford applauds Connecticut’s women’s basketball team and writes how women are usually recognized for individual efforts instead of team efforts. I agree with Deford. Women tennis players, swimmers, runners and skiers grab the headlines in a male-dominated professional sports world. Seldom do we see headlines praising women’s basketball , softball or hockey teams. The only time women who participate in team sports make the news is when they take their shirts off or pull someone else’s hair during a soccer match. Controversy makes the news. I can’t remember the last time I heard any fan (male or female) say they snagged tickets to a women’s college volleyball game.
Women’s sports have never generated the interest men’s sports have enjoyed. They probably never will. Most girls don’t grow up with the idea of becoming a professional athlete. It’s just not a reality. If you are a woman athlete and you play a team sport, the highest achievement you can hope for is at the college level. Even Olympic women’s team sports don’t rate. The USA softball and hockey teams had rosters filled with incredibly talented athletes. Nobody seemed to care. It was the men’s team that was supposed to bring home the gold. Just look at Team USA men’s basketball, often called “The Dream Team”. People flock to men’s sports at the professional, and college, level. As Deford says, how often do sports commentators even reference women’s teams?
Nothing is going to change as long as women are prevented from participating in society’s elite sports. Football and baseball dominate American culture, and they are only played by men. Title IX helped women make tremendous strides, but only at the scholastic level. There is a glass ceiling in athletics much like there exists one in the business world. Women’s team sports cannot take over and the reason is this: professional sports will always be a male-dominated field. Women don’t draw headlines and they don’t draw other women fans. Even the NFL, possessors of the most women fans, will never become a women’s world. Girls don’t strive to play football because they are just not brought up that way. The same goes for baseball. Sure, there are women who can hit 100 mph fastballs and catch a football. But it’s a heck of a lot easier to be a women tennis player or a downhill skier in today’s society. Individually, you can’t disrupt or threaten an entire sport the way you could if you were a team. Perhaps women are fearful of becoming too dominant, too good. Perhaps men don’t think much of women’s teams because they insist men are stronger athletes. A number of reasons exist why women’s sports haven’t caught society’s eye and why fans fail to embellish women teams. The NFL is an established brand and the market is expanding every day. There is a market for women who play teams sports but it’s very difficult to sell something without a brand.

Parting Points: RIP Bob Feller.

Pittsburgh hired Miami of Ohio’ Michael Haywood…a good choice.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Cliff's Choice

The pitching-rich Phillies just added another ace in lefthander, Cliff Lee. Philadelphia landed Lee Monday night after weeks of speculation. The free agent All-Star agreed to return to the Phillies for $120 million over five years. Lee’s choice surprised many around baseball, including the teams who courted him throughout the past few months. The Yankees and Rangers lost out on signing the southpaw, despite heftier contract offers. Jon Daniels and Brian Cashman couldn’t snag the pitcher, who chose comfort over dollars. Now the NL East champions have an added boost in an already stellar starting rotation for 2011. The addition of Lee gives the city the greatest quartet since Boyz II Men: Lee, Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt.
The Phillies traded Lee approximately a year ago. The free agent pitcher went to Seattle before being traded to Texas. Lee helped propel the upstart Rangers to the World Series after a spectacular division series against the Yankees. Lee suffered two difficult losses to the Giants in the Fall Classic, but his post-season dominance is proven. He was the best free agent pitcher on the market. The Rangers and Yankees went head-to-head in hopes of acquiring the lefty for next season, but it was Lee’s former club who signed the hurler. New York offered a seven year deal in excess of $160 million, while Lee’s current team offered a six year guarantee for an undetermined amount. The 32 year old signed a lucrative deal with the Phillies after the team came close to matching Lee’s other offers. Lee spurned those offers and now the Phillies have four bona fide aces. The agreement is the third biggest ever for a pitcher, and Lee is all too pleased to return to the City of Brotherly Love.

Parting Points: The Big Ten announced their new division names: Legends and Leaders.

Brett Favre’s streak is over.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Eagles’ Enormity

Jason Garrett’s gritty Cowboys were bested by the Eagles 30-27 on Sunday night at Cowboys Stadium. Rival Philadelphia got an enormous lift from standout receiver, DeSean Jackson and running back, LeSean McCoy in improving to 9-4 on the year. Jackson finished with 210 yards and scored on a 91 yard touchdown pass from Michael Vick to snap a 20-20 tie in the fourth quarter. The former Pittsburgh rusher, McCoy, finished with 149 yards on the ground. Dallas, led my sure-handed tight end Jason Witten’s two scores, dropped their ninth decision in an otherwise disappointing season.
Dallas’ defense was overtaken by Vick’s play-action as the Eagles put seven points on the board three minutes into the contest. The Eagles made big plays all night, including during the first touchdown drive. Jackson hauled in a 60 yard pass and Vick capped the six-play drive with a one yard touchdown run. Cowboys’ signal-caller, Jon Kitna, strung together a touchdown drive midway through the first quarter to even the score at 7-7. Tashard Choice added some important gains with the run and Miles Austin got the ‘Boys into Phily territory. Kitna avoided the tenacious blitz from the Philly defense to hit Witten in the end zone from one yard out.
Vick’s two yard pass to Todd Herremans completed a 51 yard, three minute drive and put the Eagles back on top by seven in the second quarter. Vick and Kitna were both picked off during the second quarter. The Cowboys scored with eight seconds before halftime courtesy of David Buehler’s 50 yard field goal. Dallas scored the first ten points of the second half to take a 20-14 advantage. Buehler made a 43 yard field goal to narrow the gap, and took the lead on Felix Jones’ storming scurry off a screen pass into the end zone three minutes later.
David Akers kicked a pair of field goals to tie the game at 20-20 into the fourth quarter. Dallas was able to stall the Eagles and hold them to three until Jackson’s incredible 91 yard touchdown reception. The speedy receiver turned a ten yard pass into a huge gain and a Philadelphia lead. The Eagles held the momentum, adding an Akers’ field goal set up by Kitna’s second interception of the game. Kitna responded with an impressive 80 yard drive and another touchdown pass to Witten. The Cowboys pulled within three points but the Eagles ran out the clock with less than five minutes to earn the victory. Philadelphia hammered down the win despite the Cowboys’ comeback attempt. Dallas is 3-2 under interim coach Garrett. Jackson’s 210 yards were third most in franchise history.

Parting Points: The Patriots are in the playoffs…

Cliff Lee is still keeping everybody in suspense…

Song of the day- “I’d Lie” by Taylor Swift

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Sports Short

Sports recap: Pitt lost to the Vols; Giants-Vikes postponed to Monday night in Detroit; Will Muschamp signed on at Florida; Cam Newton drilled the other Heisman candidates by a landslide.

And now for a short poem:

I’m not over you
I hate that I think I am
I tell myself to give up
But my tears still hope for your hands
When was it that I didn’t feel this way
When the taste in my mouth wasn’t bitter from goodbye
When was it that I had room left in my heart
And the voice in my head didn’t hold your song
The hardest part of missing you
The hardest thing of letting go
Is that I know I never will
You are the memory I console
You are the bounce in my step
The love I still follow without regret

"I won't be idle with despair"- Jewel

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Thursday Take-Twos (Coaching Vacancy Edition)

It has been an eventful week on the coaching front. The 3-9 Denver Broncos canned head coach, Josh McDaniels, earlier this week. The infamous videographer was fired, ending a scandal that has plagued the team and slapped them with fines for not reporting the violations. McDaniels’ blunders included letting Brandon Marshall and Jay Cutler go and firing defensive coordinator, Mike Nolan. The rebuilding project is underway now that 34 year old McDaniels is out. Eric Studesville was given the interim tag, and will finish out the season as head coach. Jon Gruden and Bill Cowher’s names have already popped up as replacements. Reports from Denver indicate the Broncos haven’t set a timetable on hiring a new coach. The Broncos are still paying part of Mike Shanahan’s contract in addition to the remaining two years of McDaniels’ due. Former Florida quarterback, Tim Tebow’s future is in question, but he could see more playing time down the stretch of the season.
And speaking of Florida, Urban Meyer dropped a bomb on the college football world (especially those in Gator Nation) when he announced his retirement after ten seasons. This is Meyer’s second retirement in two seasons. Last year, the two time national championship head coach cited health as his reason for stepping down. Yesterday, Meyer resigned due to family reasons. The 7-5 Gators endured a disappointing 2010 under Meyer, and the once renowned and prominent program is now an average team. Meyer attributed Florida’s slide to the stream of assistant coaches who left the program. The loss of one of the best college ballplayers this decade surely did not help Florida. Tebow’s departure left plenty of rebuilding for the spread option offense. Meyer’s ability to recruit will be missed, and his trio of 13-win seasons will be hard to top. Boise State’s Chris Peterson, Oregon’s Chip Kelly and Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops are respectable candidates to fill the polarizing Meyer’s shoes. Personally, I’d like to see Skip Holtz or Greg Schiano take over in Gainesville. Neither coachhas a 95-18 record, but both have the ability to transform and lead. Both also have experience working for a major college programs (Holtz at Florida State and Schiano at Miami) in Florida. Schiano was the 2006 Big East Coach of the year at Rutgers. Holtz led the East Carolina Pirates to two C-USA titles before taking a position at USF. It’s likely Florida will go after a big name, but they should afford a lower-ranking coach an opportunity. The problem with all the above-named coaches is they have no experience with SEC football. There will probably never be another Tebow-Meyer tandem at Florida, but it shouldn’t stop the Gators from pursuing excellence.
Dave Wannstedt stepped down after six seasons with the Pittsburgh Panthers. Wannstedt’s resignation was a long time coming, with the final blow occurring after the Panthers were crushed by West Virginia on November 26th. The loss impacted the Big East-leading Panthers’ shot at the conference title. Talented and heavily favored Pittsburgh underperformed under Wannstedt, and many in the organization felt the head coach lost the team. Pitt won just one bowl game in Wannstedt’s tenure. Wannstedt never truly wanted to leave, but was forced out under pressure on Tuesday. The former Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears head coach will remain with Pittsburgh as a special assistant to the AD. The next Pitt coach will step into a decent position, with a solid team already in place. Standout running back, Dion Lewis, will return next season for the 7-5 Panthers. Pitt is an easy sell, with products such as Dan Marino, Tony Dorsett, and Mike Ditka coming out of the organization. Gruden and Cowher are the big names being mentioned, but in my opinion, Pitt needs to promote from within. Offensive coordinator, Frank Cignetti, is a good place to start. Cignetti will coach the BBVA Compass Bowl game against Kentucky if Wannstedt chooses not to finish out the year. Cignetti began at Pitt just a year ago, but the Panthers’ offense got off to a 9-1 start in 2009 after his introduction. He is an offensive minded coach who has spent time with the NFL’s Saints, Chiefs and 49ers, as well as premiere college teams at California and upstart North Carolina. Miami of Ohio’s Michael Hayward is another solid candidate should the university look outside the program. Schiano and Holtz are also my picks to be considered for this job simply because they know Big East football. Schiano revamped Rutgers when there was very little there. I can only imagine what he would do with the Panthers’ squad.

Parting Points: Crosby scores two, Pens win again.

Song of the day- Madonna’s “Borderline”

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Cream of the Crop

Patriots by six touchdowns!
The Jets ran out of fuel in Foxboro. New England nuked New York, holding Gang Green to three measly points in Monday night’s AFC East division showdown. Last night helped separate the pretenders from the players, and it wasn’t pretty for Rex Ryan and the showy Jets. The Patriot’s dismantled the Jets to the tune of a 45-3 romp and improved to 10-2. The Jets, winners of five consecutive games on the road, fell to 9-3. Second year signal caller for Gang Green, Mark Sanchez, threw three interceptions and kicker, Nick Folk, missed a try from 53 yards. Brady embarrassed the Jets’ defense in prime time with 326 yards and four touchdowns. Ryan was outcoached, the defense was outmatched and the Jets were outclassed on the road.
The Jets looked off guard and unprepared most of the evening, but stopped New England on their opening drive. Brady tossed three incompletions before handing the ball back to the visiting team. New England didn’t come up short very often the rest of the way. Shayne Graham’s 41 yard field goal made it 3-0 Patriots. New England took over at the 43 yard line after Ryan unsuccessfully gambled on Folk’s 53 yard field goal attempt. Benjarvus Green-Ellis plowed into the end zone from one yard out to give the Patriots their first touchdown and a 10-0 edge. Deion Branch completed the first quarter scoring with a 25 yard touchdown reception with one minute remaining.
The Jets were shut out in every quarter but the second. Folk’s 39 yard kick at 12:14 into the second stanza were the only points New England would afford the humbled team from New York. The Jets’ secondary struggled badly without safety Jim Leonard. The defense allowed 405 total yards, including Danny Woodhead’s 102 receiving for New England. The running back chewed up a yardage on just four receptions and Green-Ellis added 72 yards on the ground. Brandon Tate four yard catch midway through the second quarter made it 24-3 in favor of the home team at the half.
Sanchez was out of sync with his offense and was picked off by on three consecutive drives in the second half. Wes Welker was Brady’s favorite target, hauling down four receptions for 80 yards and a score. Welker caught an 18 yard pass from his MVP quarterback, the only points of the third quarter for either team. Brady was 21-of-29 in another efficient effort behind center. His fourth touchdown pass of the game came seconds into the final quarter after Devin McCourty intercepted Sanchez at the New England 45 yard line. Brady hit Aaron Hernandez following an eight play, 94 yard New England drive. Brady sliced up the Jets’ secondary on rout to his 26th straight regular season home win. Green-Ellis hammered the final nail in the coffin with his second touchdown run, a five yard scurry with 9:20 left in regulation. The Patriots appear to be the elite team in the AFC, tied with Atlanta at the top. Brady is making a strong showing for another MVP award, while the Jets are simply winning close games and losing the big ones. The Jets have finally hit a road block.

Parting Points: RIP Don Meredith.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Tigers Take Title

Cam Newton, Gene Chizik and the Auburn Tigers are headed to the BCS Championship game after winning the SEC title. The Tigers walloped 18th ranked South Carolina 52-17 in the Georgia Dome on Saturday to improve to 13-0 on the year. Auburn will face the Oregon Ducks, winners against Oregon State yesterday, in the national title game in Arizona. The Tigers’ controversial quarterback, Newton, fired six touchdown passes and raised his bid for the leading Heisman Trophy candidate. Newton pushed his season touchdown total to 28 passing and 20 rushing three days after the NCAA ruled him eligible to play. For Auburn, it was the seventh SEC title in school history. Steve Spurrier’s Gamecocks finished with a 9-4 record.
The Tigers compiled 21 points and 227 yards on offense by the end of the first quarter. Onterio Mccalebb sealed a 12 yard pass from Newton to give Auburn a 7-0 lead two minutes into the contest. McCalebb returned the opening kickoff and Newton’s threw a 61 yard bomb to Darvin Adams that set up the touchdown two plays later. The Gamecocks evened the score 7-7 by taking their first possession into the end zone. Patrick DeMarco hauled down a Stephen Garcia pass over the middle for a 25 yard score. Auburn’s flashy junior quarterback kept making plays, shuffling into the end zone from five yards out midway through the first quarter to give the Tigers a 14-7 advantage. Newton ran for 73 yards and a pair of touchdowns in guiding the Tigers to victory. He hit Adams in stride for a 54 yard touchdown with 2:09 remaining in the opening quarter to provide the Tigers a 14 point lead.
Alshon Jeffrey’s one yard touchdown reception with sixteen seconds left in the first half was the first scoring of the second quarter. Newton lost his first fumble of his college career and Garcia was intercepted in a sloppy second quarter on both ends. Wes Bynum, the reliable field goal kicker for Auburn, missed a 36 yard attempt and South Carolina’s defense held the Tigers’ offense to zero points until Newton found Adams as time expired in the half. Adams caught a tipped pass by S.C.’s Devonte Holloman in the end zone to give the Tigers a 28-14 edge at the break. The receiver finished with 217 yards and a pair of scores on the day.
Newton’s one yard touchdown run, his second rushing score of the day, opened the second half scoring for Auburn. T’Sharvan Bell followed the Newton run with an interception return for a touchdown to pad the Auburn lead. The eight yard pick-six gave the Tigers a sizable 42-14 advantage with 7:23 to play in the third quarter. Emory Blake, who finished with 63 yards on five receptions, caught a seven yard pass from Newton three minutes into the fourth quarter. Trailing 49-14, the Gamecocks finally answered back with a 33 yard field goal by Spencer Lanning. Lanning missed from 42 yards out early in the half. Running back for Auburn, Michael Dyer, wore down the Gamecock defense and carried the ball 14 times for 64 yards. It was the senior back for Chizik that scored the final touchdown of the game. Mario Fannin scurried into the end zone for a six yard score with 2:22 to play. Newton finished his storybook season with a career best 335 yards and completed 17 of 28 passes. Garcia was intercepted twice in tossing 170 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The Gamecocks are possibly headed to the Outback Bowl after being blown out in Atlanta yesterday.

Parting Points: Derek Jeter is signed- three years for $51 million and a fourth year option. The BoSox deal for Adrian Gonzalez.

Congrats to the Connecticut Huskies for clinching a BCS Bowl game. I’m disappointed in the Seminoles for losing to VT.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Everlasting

I'm getting in the Christmas spirit. There are so many wonderful gifts in this life, but I think the most precious is the everlasting.

At the end of the day
All that really matters is how we make our own way
The sorrow and the weeping
Find their place to stay
Our Father in the heavens
He carries on His shoulders
All the borrowed burdens
Sent along by others
And when we kneel in silence
Falling like a sparrow
He hears and grips the heart
For an everlasting ‘morrow

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Highlights in Houston

The reeling Lakers have lost four straight after being dispatched by the Rockets in Houston on Wednesday night. L.A. was beaten 109-99 at Toyota Center as the pesky Rockets held off Kobe Bryant’s 27 and a season high 22 points from Lamor Odom. The Lakers haven’t lost four consecutive games since April 2007. The struggling defending champions are now owners of a 5-4 road record and 13-6 overall. Houston improved their dismal season start to 6-12. Kevin Martin led the Rockets in points and Shane Battiers knocked down back-to-back three pointers to carry them to victory with less than three minutes in regulation.
Martin finished with 22 points and was a flawless 10-10 at the charity stripe. Luis Scola added 14 points for Houston, who shot just over 50% from the field. Odom bucketed 25 points and had 11 boards in the loss as L.A. snapped a three game winning streak over Houston. The Lakers outscored the Rockets in the first quarter and maintained a three point advantage into the break. Martin had 20 points, and Battier 11, in the second half to lift the Rockets. Houston trimmed their deficit to two points by the end of the third stanza. Kyle Lowry, the former Villanova point guard, contributed with a game high 10 assists.
The Lakers missed their last seven shots and were overpowered 33-21 in the final quarter. Lowry’s pass to Battier with 2:05 remaining resulted in a tie ball game. Battier sunk the downtown shot for a 97-97 score, and struck again on the next Rockets’ possession to pull Houston ahead by three. Battier was fouled inside a minute to play and drilled three free throws for a six point home advantage. The Lakers shot just 33% in the second half. They failed to score again after Bryant drained a pair of free throws in L.A.’s 22% shooting fourth quarter. Pau Gasol, the fluid power player, came down with a left hamstring pull and was limited to just eight points for the Lakers. Houston’s bench outscored L.A.’s in the first half, and the Rockets’ defense clamped down to taunt Gasol and Bryant the remainder of the contest to earn the win. For the ailing home team, Wednesday was finally a happy highlight.

Parting Points: Duke looks dominant with their flamboyant freshman, Kyrie Irving.

I like this athletic kid, Jordan Hill for the Rockets. For starters, he shares his name with a terrific singer.

Song of the day- “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana