Spring Strides

Beware the strides of March
Where Mo Rivera begins his arch
Mo Rivera knows his foe
He can fan them all
Amateur to Murderer’s Row
Mo Rivera takes his stride
The short leg kick left
Beauty even age can’t hide
The biting steam of his cut fastball
Splitting atoms in the air
Worthy of a curtain call
Rivera is in the Mo zone
A familiar layer of land
Where every batter stands alone
Rivera is called on in the clutch
With his unprecedented track record
No one this lifetime will ever touch
Beware the strides of March
Where Mo Rivera begins his arch

Parting Points: Song for the day- “Good” by Better Than Ezra

Leonard’s Last

Thursday March 3rd, Wes Leonard took his last shot. He made a basket no one will ever forget and paid dearly for the game he loved to play.
I’m sure you’ve heard by now the story of the 16 year old Michigan high school basketball player who collapsed and died after hitting the game winning shot for his team. Wes Leonard’s death is tragic, scary and sad. It’s frightening when any young person loses their life inexplicably. It’s especially horrific when death occurs following one shining moment in an athlete’s lively existence. Leonard was a high school junior with a gift. He participated in both basketball and football for Fennville High School. An enlarged heart causes Leonard to go into cardiac arrest immediately after nailing the game winning shot in overtime Thursday night. The American Heart Association advises children with dilated cardiomyopathy not to participate in sports. The risk of heart failure increases during competition for people with this condition. The symptoms are never really apparent if you are unaware of your diagnosis. Those who knew Leonard said he took excellent care of his body. It is truly scary as an athlete to imagine having your life taken away by a health condition. It’s become too familiar a situation for many athletes. It makes you wonder if preventative measures are being taken seriously. It makes you wonder what you would do if you found out you couldn’t compete because of a heart condition. Personally, I’m not sure I would be able to handle that news. I’m accustomed, like many athletes, to pushing myself beyond my limits. It would make me think twice if I knew I couldn’t push myself hard. It’s a shame what happened to Wes Leonard. It would be an even bigger shame if nothing were done to prevent other young athletes from a similar fate.

Tar Heels Take Tallahassee

There were plenty of great games Wednesday in college basketball. Pittsburgh knocked off South Florida, Duke defeated Clemson and West Virginia took it to 16th ranked UConn. Then there were the Tar Heels, who harassed ACC opponent, Florida State 72-70 in Tallahassee. Freshman, Harrison Barnes, hit a three-pointer from the top of the key with three ticks on the clock to lift NC over the Seminoles. The 18 year old silenced the boisterous FSU home crowd after the Seminoles rallied from seven down in the second half. The Tar Heels now lead the ACC by a half-game over Duke. John Henson turned in 19 points and 12 rebounds in the win as the Heels locked up a number two seed in the ACC tournament. The men in powdered blue jerseys can clinch a top seed with a win over the Blue Devils on Saturday.
Florida State fell short of their bid to complete an undefeated conference record at home. The first half saw nine lead changes and nine ties. Derwin Kitchen had 13 points overall for FSU, who led by seven midway through the first half. Backup, Ian Miller, had a big first half and finished the game with seven points and four assists for the home team. North Carolina earned the rebounding edge and shot 47.2 during the contest. Henson took over the first half with three blocked shots and six rebounds. The towering sophomore tapped in 10 first half buckets but the visitors still trailed by a point at the break. Florida State’s bench outscored NC’s reserves 20-5.
FSU guard, Michael Snaer added 11 points as the ‘Noles played without top shooter, Chris Singleton. FSU’s tremendous defense has kept them ahead of the pack in the ACC. Last night the Tar Heels trumped that tenacious defense, forcing the ‘Noles to scramble off balance in the end. North Carolina took the lead midway through the second half. . Leslie McDonald contributed 10 points for the Tar Heels, including a pair of treys that gave NC a five point lead with just over fourteen minutes remaining. Kendall Marshall knotted a three-pointer with four minutes to go to lift the Tar Heels to a seven point advantage. North Carolina won their fifth straight game on FSU’s court after fighting off the ‘Noles one point lead with 18 seconds left. Kitchen’s free throws gave the Seminoles a 70-69 advantage but the home team turned the ball over and Barnes sealed the deal with the game winning basket.

Parting points: The NFL is considering extending the collective bargaining agreement talks. I just hope they settle because a year without football would be devastating.

March Mad-less

Going, Going Gone

Soft kisses on stormy nights
That it what you are to me.
The thought of touching you,
Sets my smile in motion
As far as the eye can see.
I can’t hide the way I feel
As you move into me.
The reassuring breath of you,
Is like the sun that breaks the clouds
Between the offing and the sea.
Now that you’re gone,
You’re afraid we went too far
And I’m afraid of what we are.
But we’re not children anymore,
Responsibility is more than a chore.
Because you are gone,
I’m alone behind this shield
Neglectful of how your body feels
Hurtful from the things you said
As tired as the time that fled.
What remains are broken strings,
Empty hands wrapped in tears.
The separation from you,
Not unlike the shoulders strong
Burdened and beaten by years.



March Mad-less

At cliff’s edge,
What holds you back
When all the others slip through the crack?
What prevents the poison
From pushing you tolling
As if you were a pebble rolling?
Devoid of glory,
What drives your reason
When you enter your darkest season?
What begins the rise
From dejected to determined
As if you caught hold of the screaming wind?

Brooklyn's Best

R.I.P. Duke Snider--Brooklyn's finest centerfielder, New York's other #4.

Missing: Melo Meshing

Carmelo Anthony and the new-look Knicks were crushed by Cleveland 115-109 at Quicken Loans Arena Friday. The dreadful but diligent Cavaliers bested New York in Anthony’s second game since being traded from Denver. The Cavs won for just the 11th time this season behind five double digit scorers. Veteran forward, Antawn Jamison, led the way with 28 points and 13 rebounds and J.J. Hickson scored 24 to go along with a game-high 15 boards in the win. Anthony tallied 27 points, shooting 9-for-22 from the field. New York’s A’mare Stoudemire led all scorers with 31 points and contributed five blocks. The 6’10” Stoudemire is still adjusting to life with Anthony on his side. Both players undeniably excel at succeeding individually, but are unfamiliar with playing together. It could take a while before the Knicks begin to mesh. Last night, New York took Cleveland too lightly and paid for it.
Baron Davis was sidelined during the second half for Cleveland, but the Cavs still scored 62 in his absence. Cleveland took advantage of New York’s confused defense and utilized their scrappy roster to put up 115 points overall. Anthony scored 14 first quarter points as the Knicks led 30-28 heading into the second stanza. The home team rebounded to post a 25 point second quarter that tied the game at the break. Jamison’s offensive rebounds proved the difference in the second half. Ramon Sessions added 12 buckets, including nine free throws for the Cavs, who shot 70% from the foul line. New York quickly fell behind, scoring just 22 to Cleveland’s 30 in the third quarter.
Chauncy Billips pocketed 20 fourth quarter points for the Knicks and finished the game with 26. Billips’ jumper with two minutes to play cut the Cavs’ edge to 103-101. The short-handed Cavs would not be denied. Instead, they canned the Knicks by working the shot clock down and relying on swift shooting Daniel Gibson to hit a late three. Gibson’s launch made it a five point Cleveland lead with thirty ticks and was the real dagger for New York’s comeback hopes. Anthony came through with a layup to trim the lead to three, but missed a free throw and was fouled out on the next play. Anthony notched just 11 points through the last three quarters and left with a numb elbow. Stoudemire ironically seemed to do his best scoring with Anthony on the bench. Cleveland held the edge on the boards 62-42 and was able to outwork New York for their second win against the Knicks this season.

Parting Points: Yankees’ Spring Training opener today!

Steeltown Sizzle

Lamar Patterson scored the first five points of the second half as the Pitt Panthers easily dispatched the visiting Mountaineers 71-58 last night. The reserve finished with a career high 11 points for fourth ranked Pittsburgh. Patterson replaced the injured Talib Zanna and sparked the Panthers’ second half home comeback against Big East rival, West Virginia. Nasir Robinson led Pitt with 15 points, while Casey Mitchell knocked down 22 for the Mountaineers. Pittsburgh has a two game edge in the conference. West Virginia sits at a three-way tie for ninth place. The Panthers beat WVU for the tenth time in their last 11 tries.
Gilbert Brown poured in 11 points during the first half but the Panthers quickly found themselves in a 7-0 hole. The Panthers stormed back to even the score against the hard charging team from the Mountain State. Pitt fell behind to trail 31-30 at the break but the Mountaineers couldn’t maintain their advantage after halftime. West Virginia’s second half collapse began early. The Mountaineers missed five of their first seven attempts and were crippled by cold shooting. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, shot 65% in the final 20 minutes and finished with 57.4% for the game.
Patterson and the Panthers built a 47-36 lead with just under 12 minutes left. Brad Wanamaker put up 11 points, eight assists and added seven rebounds in the win. Pittsburgh’s transition defense hobbled Bob Huggins’ Mountaineers and WVU never threatened again. Gary McGhee was a force on defense with two blocks as Jamie Dixon won for the 213th time as Pitt’s head coach. Joe Mazzulla scored nine and pulled down six rebounds for the Mountaineers, who were outscored 41-27 in the second half. The Panthers also bested the Mountaineers in rebounding by three. The win pushes Pitt’s record to 25-3 overall, including a staggering 9-2 road record. There are three conference games remaining before the Big East tournament. Pitt looks like a top seeded team who can pummel just about any opponent.

Parting Points: Song of the day- “I’ve Got My Mind Set on You” by George Harrison

Controlling the Conference in Columbus

Ohio State was in top form at home last night in cruising past conference rival, Illinois. The Buckeyes bounced the Illini 89-70 at Value Center Arena behind a remarkable David Lighty performance. Lighty scored 21 points, including 13 consecutive buckets to lead second ranked Ohio State to their 26th victory. Lighty added four rebounds and a pair of assists in 39 court time minutes. The Buckeyes turned the ball over just three times and stole the ball nine times in an impressive win. Illinois committed 16 turnovers and fell to 17-11 overall on the year. Ohio State maintains a one game lead over Purdue in the Big Ten.
William Buford carried the Buckeyes in the first half with 17 points. Jared Sullinger pitched in 11 points and dominated the boards with 11 rebounds. The game was close in the first half until the Buckeyes pulled away late. Mike Tisdale led the unranked Illini with 12 points in the first half and finished the game with 14. Ohio State took a 15 point advantage into the break and expanded it to 17 early in the second half. But Illinois cut the deficit to six points five minutes later. Senior Mike Davis tallied a team high 18 for Illinois.
The Illini kept pace with the home team, shooting 52 percent to OSU’s 53. The Bucks’ loose second half defense allowed Illinois back into the game. Illinois got to the charity stripe just three times, and struggled to stop the speedy Buckeyes in the paint. The visitors rallied to within nine points with just over ten minutes in regulation. The Illini scored on five of their first eight possessions in the second stanza, but Lighty helped the Buckeyes seize control with a personal 10-0 run. OSU held a comfortable lead for the remainder of the contest. They never dipped below double figures again. Freshman Aaron Craft pulled had six assists and 12 points for Ohio State. Conference leading shooter, Demetri McCamey, did not start but punched through 15 buckets for the losing team.

Parting Points: Band of the day- The White Stripes

The Nets are trying to match the Knicks. New Jersey acquired All-Star, Deron Williams, from the Jazz.

The Cardinals’ Adam Wainwright will be sidelined with an injured elbow.

Enduring the East

The West withstood the Eastern storm in Sunday night’s annual NBA All-Star game in Los Angeles. Staples Center favorite, Kobe Bryant, poured in 37 points and grabbed 14rebounds in the Western Conference’s high scoring 148-143 victory over the Eastern Conference. Bryant was named MVP for a record-tying fourth time in his career. The intensely competitive Lakers’ star threatened Wilt Chamberlain’s All-Star game record 42 points in stopping LeBron James and the East. James finished with a triple-double, the second one in All-Star game history (Michael Jordan, 1997). James had 29 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in the loss.
Amar’e Stoudemire shined for the East, tallying 29 points and Kevin Durant chipped in 34 for the winning West. Bryant’s L.A. teammate, Pau Gasol, added 17 points in 24 minutes as the West carved out a ten point advantage after the first quarters. Bryant bucketed 21 points and Gasol was a perfect 6-for-6 in the first half. The Heat’s Chris Bosh kept the East in the contest with 12 first half points off the bench. The West led 76-64 at the break. Blake Griffin, Saturday’s winner of the slam dunk contest, contributed just 8 points and 5 assists for the Western All-Stars.
The West registered 16 steals against a sloppy Eastern squad through three quarters. A Bryant three pointer put the West ahead 90-79 late in the third. The East trailed by 17 points entering the final stanza, where reigning MVP James led a late comeback to cut the deficit to five by the final margin. Miami’s Dwyane Wade scored 14 points before exiting in the third quarter with an ankle ailment. Durant, the NBA’s leading scorer, clinched the game with a pair of free throws after the East got back within three points. Ray Allen had 12 points and Derrick Rose and Joe Johnson added 11 apiece for the East. New Orleans’ Chris Paul picked up five steals and trade target, Denver’s Carmelo Anthony, finished with seven assist for the West.

Parting Points: Providence handed Ohio State their second loss of the season.

I’m excited for the Don Mattingly biography coming out in March.

Addicting song of the moment- “Pumped Up Kicks” by Foster the People

Dwight’s Dandy Drama

Dwight Hardy secured a last second lay-in with 1.2 seconds left to lift St. John’s over fourth-ranked Pittsburgh at Madison Square Garden on Saturday. Hardy’s winning scoop shot provided the Red Storm a 60-59 clipping of the Panthers before a raucous crowd of over 14,000. Saturday’s victory was the fifth time this season St. John’s has toppled a top ten team. It was only the third loss for the Panthers, who still shine in first place in the Big East at 12-2. The Red Storm, currently unranked, have beaten Duke, UConn and Pitt this season. On Saturday, they thrilled the home fans with a heart-stopping one point win to improve to 17-9 overall.
The Panthers went into halftime ahead 27-26 in Ashton Gibbs’ return to the hardwood after missing two weeks due to an injured knee. Gibbs scored a career and game high 26 in the loss on 8-of-14 from the field. The sixth leading scorer in the Big East, Gibbs tallied 15 points in as many minutes during the opening half. Hardy totaled 19 points and added three steals to lead the Johnnies. St. John’s senior forward, Justin Burrell, contributed a quiet 15 points in the win. Pittsburgh, winners of their last six conference road games, was poised to make it seven in New York. The Red Storm had other plans in attempting to snap their own five game losing streak. There were eight lead changes during the second half until Hardy put an end to it all with a spectacular layup. Pitt led by as many as five after Brad Wanamaker’s jumper with 3:20 remaining. Wanamaker was held to just six points, as only Gibbs scored in double figures for the Panthers.
Pitt had a three point lead and the basketball with less than two minutes to go in the second half. Junior, Travon Woodall committed a turnover on an errant pass that led to a pair of D.J. Kennedy free throws to trim the lead 56-55. Gary McGhee pulled in a pass under the basket but fumbled to give St. John’s the ball back on Pitt’s next possession. Hardy’s jumper was off the mark, but Kennedy grabbed the rebound to keep the ball in the hands of the Red Storm. Following a foul, Hardy tied the game on a basket from the line. He missed his second free throw but the Storm again collected the rebound against one of the best rebounding team in the game. Hardy knocked down a pair of free throws after being fouled again to add to the late game drama. Woodall’s trey gave Pitt a one point edge with 11 seconds left before Hardy dribbled past Gilbert Brown for the deciding bucket.

Parting Points: More college hoops action from Saturday--WVU toppled Notre Dame, Texas fell to Nebraska and Kansas owned Colorado.

Career Conquest

The Los Angeles Kings were the unwanted beneficiaries of Henrik Lundqvist’s 200th career win behind net in a shootout loss to the Rangers. New York defeated the Kings 4-3 and Marian Gaborik snapped a seven game drought in an extra session triumph. The Rangers have won two in a row following a six game slide. Mats Zuccarello netted the deciding goal at the Garden on Thursday in a milestone game for goalie Lundqvist. The Rangers’ netminder made 25 saves as New York improved to 31-24-4. Los Angeles fell to a nearly identical 32-22-4 on the season.
New York allowed the Kings to score first on Dustin Brown’s turnaround shot 5:25 into the first period. Brown beat Lundqvist with a spin move during an LA power play to put the Kings on top 1-0. Ryan Callahan produced the equalizer for the Rangers four minutes into the second period. He planted Derek Stepan’s rebound into the net beyond the reach of Jonathan Bernier. Callahan finished with a goal and an assist in the victory. New York took a 2-1 lead at 6:10 in the final stanza on Gaborik’s 17th goal this season. Rookie defensemen, Michael Sauer, added an assist on the goal.
Matt Greene’s blast past Lundqvist at 7:50 knotted the game at 2-2, but the Rangers retook the lead again with just over three minutes to play. Artem Anisimov gave New York a 3-2 advantage on a wraparound goal credited to Brandon Dubinsky. Los Angeles needed just 47 seconds to tie the game for the third time of the evening. Brown’s second goal of the night and 20th of the season sent the contest into overtime. The Rangers began overtime with a four minute power play, but could not break through with the winning goal and were instead penalized to wipe out the advantage. The Rangers finally prevailed with their 16th one-goal win of the season in the shootout round. Zuccarello slapped a score in the shootout and Lundqvist thwarted Anze Kopitar’s third round attempt to preserve his 200th career victory. Bernier made 34 stops in defeat. The Kings are in a five way tie for fifth in the crowded Western Conference, while the Rangers are seventh in the East.

Parting Points: Miguel Cabrera charged with DUI. Nice job.

Derrick Rose scores a career high 42 in the Bulls win over San Antonio on Michael Jordan’s birthday.

Buckeyes Bounce Back Beautifully

February frenzy is the pre-cursor to March Madness. Ohio State bounced back in a big way after their loss in Wisconsin on Sunday. The second ranked Buckeyes fought past the Spartans 71-61 on Tuesday. The win lends credibility to why Ohio State still deserves a number one seed in the NCAA tournament next month. William Buford helped get the Bucks back on track with 23 points. Ohio State forced 19 turnovers and pulled away in the second half at Value City Arena for their 12th conference win. Michigan State fell to 6-7 and is log jammed in fifth place in the Big 10. Kalin Lucas led the Spartans with 14 points and five assists in MSU’s sixth straight loss on the road.
Ohio State and Michigan State traded leads eight times throughout the tight first half. Ohio State took a one point edge into the break despite being out-rebounded by MSU. The Buckeyes capitalized on Michigan State’s early foul shooting. Ohio State’s eleven buckets from the stripe secured their first half advantage and made up for poor shooting by a few of Thad Matta’s starters. The Spartans pieced together an impressive first half by shooting over 50%, but couldn’t complete the game in Columbus. MSU opened the second half with a 36-35 lead on Garrick’s Sherman’s layup. OSU answered on back-to-back Spartan turnovers and regained the lead. The Spartans countered again to keep the seesaw second half swinging before David Lighty completed a three-point play for a 45-44 OSU edge.
Tom Izzo’s team was doomed by turnovers as Ohio State widened their lead heading into the final twelve minutes. Jon Diebler and Lighty finished with 12 points each, while Jared Sullinger was held to just 11 points. Draymond Green’s desperation three from the top of the key was followed by a Lucas drive down the lane to narrow OSU’s lead to two. Buford drained a downtown shot from the left wing for a 56-51 Buckeye advantage with just over nine minutes on the clock. Green and Adreian Payne contributed ten points for Izzo’s Spartans. Michigan State rallied to get within four points at the four minute mark, but Ohio State knocked down eight free throws to surge ahead. Ohio State made 23-of-29 from the charity stripe. Michigan had only six attempts from the line. Aaron Craft was pivotal down the stretch for OSU, adding four steals and five free throws on the night. The Buckeyes have won 18 consecutive contests in Columbus.

Parting Points: Albert Pujols is officially a free agent. Where will he land?

On the bookshelf- “Irretrievable” by Theodor Fontane

Love Is Baseball

Love is taking slides,
Making strides.
In a nutshell,
Love is baseball.
Love if lifting,
Watching whiffing,
Women, men and all,
Love is baseball.
Love is a victory,
Witnessing history.
A game to tell,
Love is baseball.
Love is a diamond,
Reoccurring trend.
A peak in Fall,
Love is baseball.

Victory at Villanova

The Panthers are breathing a sigh of relief after an anxious final second play on Saturday. Fourth ranked Pittsburgh escaped The Pavilion in Pennsylvania with a 57-54 victory over the Villanova Wildcats. The Panthers quieted the Cats in snapping Villanova’s 43-game home winning streak. Villanova rallied to make it a one possession game with one minute to go, but Pittsburgh survived down the stretch to squeeze out the three point win in a Big East battle. The Panthers proved they remain the team to beat in the rugged conference. Pittsburgh owns a 23-2 overall record and is 11-1 in the Big East. Pittsburgh has won six consecutive road games and is poised for a riveting run in the conference finals. ‘Nova dropped to 7-5 after falling at home for the first time since January 2007.
Brad Wanamaker, a Philadelphia native playing for Pittsburgh, led all scorers with 21 points. The Panthers played without Ashton Gibbs, but Pitt’s counter-punchers came up with big baskets in his absence. The Wildcats led 27-24 after the low scoring first half. The home team was also playing without their top starter in Corey Stokes. Villanova’s Mouphtaou Yarou collected eight points and five rebounds in the first eight minutes of the game. Yarou blocked four shots and made Pitt think twice about driving the lane. The Panthers went 0-5 beyond the arc to open the game and finished just 10% from the rainbow. Nasir Robinson had a team high seven buckets for Pitt in the first half while Antonio Pena and Corey Fisher paced the Cats with seven points apiece.
Villanova slowed down to begin second half play. The Cats made just three baskets in fourtheen minutes. Wanamaker gave Pitt their first lead midway through the first half with a three point play at 14:23. The Pittsburgh senior guard converted another three point play with 2:46 after the Wildcats scored eight unanswered points. The Panthers’ offense improved after the intermission, shooting 50% from the field. The game also became more physical, as Fisher and Robinson were called for technicals. The Pittsburgh starters carried the bulk of the load. Jamie Dixon’s bench provided just three points in the victory. Pena hit a three-pointer with 58 seconds left to make it a three point affair.
Wanamaker scored 15 of his 21 points in the second half but committed a key turnover with 27 ticks on the clock. Maalik Wayns was stopped on his way to the basket following a ‘Nova timeout and the home team were forced to attempt a three-pointer with four seconds remaining. Dominick Cheek’s trey caromed off the rim and Maurice Sutton hauled in the rebound. Sutton relayed the ball back to Wayns for one last shot. Wayns sank the three but it was after the buzzer as the Panthers held on to win. Wayns finished with 13 points (obviously not including the key three after time expired).

Parting Points: Ohio State has fallen as many suspected. Wisconsin beat the Buckeyes in Madison to hand the last unbeaten college team their first loss of the season.

Champs Climbing

My lack of blogging can be attributed to entering the most boring period in professional sports. There really isn’t much going on outside the hardwood and NHL. Pitchers and catchers report on Monday, but until baseball season officially opens, the next few weeks are going to be tough save for the tremendousness that is March Madness. The LA Lakers’ treachery is starting to show. Los Angeles collected wins in Boston and New York this week, establishing the World Champs as “back”. LA has won the first four games of a seven game road trip. The defenseless New York Knicks were beaten at home last night 113-96 in Phil Jackson’s last appearance at the Garden. LA’s head coach announced he is retiring after the season. Kobe Bryant put up 33 points against the Knicks, who seem to have gradually fallen off the playoff radar. The Knicks slipped to 26-26, twelve games behind Atlantic-leading Boston. The Lakers, meanwhile, improved to 38-16. That’s good for a ten and a half game edge in the Pacific division.
Bryant drained 19 of Los Angeles’ 30 first quarter points but the Knicks scored 28 to make it a two point contest after the opening stanza. The Knicks looked mediocre in trying to keep pace with LA. Bryant knocked down 3-of-4 3-point attempts in the first quarter and exploded on nearly every opportunity he was afforded. Amar’e Stoudemire shined for Mike D’Antoni’s team. Stoudemire finished with a double-double and made 6-of-7 from the free throw line. Raymond Felton was a perfect 4-of-4 from the field for New York during the first quarter. Felton scored 20 points in the loss, while Stoudemire bested him by four. The Knicks’ Danilo Gallinari missed 11 of 15 shots but finished in double figures. His rookie teammate made just six shots. LA’s strong defense was too much for the flailing, fumbling Knicks.
Pau Gasol tallied 20 points in 32 minutes for the visiting Lakers. Andrum Bynum added 12 points and nine rebounds. LA’s bench stepped up to give them a 62-48 halftime advantage. Shannon Brown went 6-of-10 from the field with 12 points as reserve guard. Brown’s aerobatic dunk highlighted a second quarter spurt for LA. The Knicks played sloppy basketball and Stoudemire was called for a technical foul in the third quarter. For the All-Star Stoudemire, it was his 14th technical, two shy of a one game suspension. The Lakers were able to breeze down the stretch with a comfortable lead as New York never threatened. Bryant’s jumper early in the third quarter gave the Lakers an 18 point edge. Phil Jackson’s team extended their lead with Bryant on the bench. The Lakers held the lead for the game’s final 35 minutes, eventually ballooning to 22 at one point in the final stanza.

Parting Points: Song for Saturday- “Follow You Follow Me” by Genesis

The Cavs finally won a game---over the fruitless Clippers.

Breakpoint

It’s not about the game on the court,
But the tricks of the brain
At breakpoint.
It’s not the gait or the stroll,
But the mind’s eye
With control.
When you see through square holes,
The shuffling shoes,
Thoughtlessness roles.
When you see it distort,
The swings and serves,
Sorrowful joints.
You’ve reached the nerve
With each critical point,
Holding serve.
You’ve reached approbation
With no falling back,
Breaking fixation.

Cheeseheads Conquer

Steelers’ Scorched on Super Sunday
National Anthem goofs and dreadful halftime shows aside, Superbowl XVL turned out to be an intriguing gala. I was bracing for the unequivocal Pittsburgh comeback, but it never did come to fruition. The persistent Green Bay Packers were too good; their gifted quarterback too efficient. Green Bay won a 31-25 decision in Dallas to earn another trophy for the franchise that brought us Vince Lombardi. Their champion signal caller, Aaron Rodgers, was awarded the game’s MVP. The Steelers fell short of their seventh title due to costly turnovers and an ineffective passing game.
Rodgers capped an incredible post-season run to give the Packers their first championship trophy in 14 years. The quarterback for Green Bay threw three touchdowns and completed 24-of-39 passes for 304 yards in the win. Ben Roethlisberger, meanwhile, tossed a pair of interceptions into double coverage and finished with 263 passing yards. Roethlisberger recorded two touchdown strikes but the Steelers’ offense was kept in check by a resilient Green Bay attacking scheme. The Packers put up 14 first quarter points, making the AFC Champion Steelers look like the more inexperienced team on the field. Pittsburgh went three-and-out on the opening possession after Green Bay won the coin toss and deferred the ball to the second half.
The Packers showed off why they were able to win three playoff games on the road late in the first quarter. Rodgers orchestrated an 80 yard drive on nine plays to give the green and yellow the first points of Superbowl XVL. Jordy Nelson hauled in a 29 yard pass with 3:44 remaining in the opening stanza. The touchdown reception was just one of Nelson’s nine on the day. Nelson led all players with 140 yards receiving. The Packers wasted no time in increasing their advantage to two scores by capitalizing on Roethlisberger’s first interception. Safety, Nick Collins got the pick-six for Green Bay when he stole Big Ben’s pass and raced 37 yards into the end zone. The Steelers followed their turnover with a seven minute, 13 play drive culminating in a field goal. Shaun Suisham’s 33 yard kick through the uprights cut the Packers’ lead to 14-3.
Green Bay’s solid secondary struck again in the second quarter, despite Pittsburgh moving the ball well offensively. Roethlisberger was hit while releasing the football. The ball bounced between various players before Green Bay’s Jarrett Bush came up with it to set the Pack up at midfield. The mobile, strong-armed quarterback, Rodgers, fired frozen ropes and managed just four plays before hitting Greg Jennings from 21 yards out. Green Bay pummeled Pittsburgh’s defense with a five-wide set and overcame some hard hits from the Steelers’ secondary. With the end of the first half approaching, Pittsburgh responded with an impressive drive. Roethlisberger moved the chains 77 yards before finding his old reliable receiver, Hines Ward. Ward was wide open for the eight yard touchdown catch with 39 ticks on the clock. The Steelers trailed 21-10 at the half.
Both teams exchanged punts to begin second half play. The Steelers were the first to score five minutes into the third quarter. Rashard Mendenhall rushed eight yards on a five play Steelers drive to trim the Pittsburgh deficit to four points. Mendenhall had a strong day in the backfield, with 63 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown. Pittsburgh’s rugged defense found its footing in the second half and kep the Packers off the scoreboard until early in the final stanza. The Steelers were poised to finally take the lead in the fourth quarter when Mendenhall fumbled. Rodgers flicked a second touchdown pass to Jennings on the ensuing drive to put the Packers up by eleven with just under twelve minutes to play.
Pittsburgh did not let up. Roethlisberger kept it coming with an aerial attack. Mike Wallace’s over-the-shoulder touchdown reception from Big Ben was followed by a successful two-point conversion to make it a three point game. Green Bay knocked home a field goal with 2:07 left, allowing the Steelers one final possession and a chance at the win. Roethlisberger ordered the hurry-up mode on offense and quickly completed a pass for first down. He overthrew Wallace deep down field to set up a fourth down with one minute remaining. The drive stalled 69 yards short when Wallace dropped a very catchable pass, and the Steelers were forced to turn the ball over on downs. Pittsburgh’s comeback in Dallas was stunted as the Packers prevailed to their fourth title in franchise history. Wallace finished with 89 yards receiving and Ward was credited with 79. The Packers ran for just 50 yards but it didn’t seem to matter last night. Rodgers was simply the best player on the field, and that’s what mattered in the end.

Parting Points: Tom Brady was the first unanimous MVP.

Take Twenty-four

Undefeated Ohio State manhandled Minnesota 82-69 at Williams Arena in Minneapolis Sunday. The top-ranked Buckeyes basketball team collected their 24th consecutive win in their latest victory over the 18th ranked Gophers. David Lighty sparked the Buckeyes with 19 points and all five starters for Thad Matta finished with double figure games. Ohio State’s unbeaten season still stands, despite a physical, foul-filled conference contest on the road.
Jared Sullinger scored 18 points and pulled down 13 rebounds in the Buckeyes’ 11th Big Ten win. William Buford added 15 in Ohio State’s second win in Minnesota in the last six tries. The Bucks’ hot hand began the game by building a 28-16 lead. The Gophers trailed by eight at the half as the balanced and athletic Buckeyes controlled the pace. Dallas Lauderdale helped the Buckeyes pull away early in the second half with solid inside shooting. Lauderdale scored the first six points of the second half. Lauderdale and Jon Diebler finished with ten points apiece and combined for 13 rebounds against the conference’s leading rebounding squad. Ohio State’s free throw shooting was anything but stellar. Sullinger made just two of his eight attempts from the line and the team averaged just 50% in the game.
The Gophers were led by Blake Hoffarber’s 16 buckets, followed by Ralph Sampson III’s 14. Freshman reserve, Chip Armelin chipped in 14 points as Minnesota lost for the fourth straight game. Minnesota didn’t have enough firepower, although they kept the contest a competitive one. They would only get as close as ten points, keyed by a couple of clutch three pointers. The Gophers stuck with a zone defense in the final period and succeeded in limiting the Bucks to ten points in the last four minutes. The Gophers Achilles heel seemed to be turnovers, as they matched their season high 19 in the defeat. Next up for the nation’s number one team is a Saturday visit to Wisconsin.

Parting Points: GO STEELERS! Happy Superbowl Sunday.

Crippled Cavs

Questions frequently asked: Is Brett Favre really retired? Should Pete Rose be in the Hall of Fame? Can the Cavs really win without LeBron James? The answer to all three should be a resounding YES. I believe Favre is done. I think Rose should be in the Hall no matter how many times he placed bets on the game. And, yes Cleveland can most certainly win a championship without James…it might just take an enormous effort and colossal changes. One man does not make a team. However, one man’s absence does impair one.
If Cleveland excels at anything, it’s losing. The crippled Cavs are on the verge of breaking a single season record for consecutive losses. Memphis handed the Cavs their 23rd straight loss in a Friday night 112-105 drubbing at FedEx Forum. The Grizzlies turned a one point fourth quarter deficit into a 13-0 run to seal the deal. It seems only fitting that the Cavs lost 23 a year after #23 exited for sunny skies in Miami. Zach Randolph propelled the Grizzlies with 29 points and 13 rebounds against the league’s worst team. The Cavs are now just 8-42 on the season. Cleveland hasn’t won a game since beating the Knicks in overtime on December 19th. Friday’s win gave Memphis a season best five in a row and eighth place in the Western Conference playoff race.
The Grizzlies roared back after Cleveland controlled the game for most of the first three quarters. J.J. Hickson tied a career high with 31 points for the visiting team. Hickson had a hard time handling Memphis’ monster front line. The 6’9” Cavalier brought down nine defensive rebounds and finished with a total of 15, but his team failed to close it out in the end. The Cavs forced eight first quarter turnovers and held the Grizzlies in check for most of the half. Rudy Gay drained 26 points and Mike Conley added 21 in the win. Ramon Sessions had a big game, with 20 points, for Cleveland. Antwan Jamison tallied 19 in the loss, but made just 1-of-8 from beyond the arc. Cleveland took advantage of the Grizzlies’ 2-3 zone and the absence of Marc Gasol. Gasol sat out with three fouls as he watched his team fall behind by ten points midway through the first period.
The Cavs closed out half number one with a 6-2 run despite the Grizzlies hitting their first ten shots of the night. Cleveland led 59-52 at halftime and carried a 12 point advantage into the third quarter before allowing it to slip away. The Cavs committed 10 turnovers that proved costly and cost them the lead. Meanwhile, Memphis out-rebounded the visitors and dominated the free throw line. The Grizzlies shot 90% from the charity stripe. The home team rallied to take an 83-80 edge late in the third stanza. The Cavs fought back fiercely to maintain the lead and succeeded in re-taking it heading into the fourth quarter on Jamison’s layup. Cleveland crumbled from there, allowing the Grizzlies to put up 13 straight points. Randolph collected 11 fourth quarter buckets to help Memphis coast to their eighth win in nine tries.

Parting Points: Kevin Love is replacing Yao Ming on the All-star team. Wow, really? Ming can’t play?

Congrats to the NFL Rookies of the Year- Sam Bradford and Ndamukong Suh.

Seamless in Scarlet

Four days into February and Ohio State basketball remains undefeated. If you’re not a dubious Buckeye fan, you’re enticed, euphoric and excited. Others may be waiting for the ball to drop on OSU’s unblemished 23-0 season. Last night in Columbus, Ohio State collected a win against rival Michigan. The Buckeyes notched a 62-53 victory over the Wolverines, looking like a team that could definitely win a national title. Textbook-skilled freshman, Jared Sullinger hammered in 19 points and 15 rebounds to lead everybody else who saw minutes on the court, on either team. Sullinger turned the ball over four times but otherwise was outstanding. The Wolverines enjoyed a three point lead at the half, but their archrivals rallied to improve to 9-0 in the Big 10. OSU is the only unbeaten team remaining in college basketball. That’s definitely something to cheer about. With Sullinger at the helm, there’s no telling how far this team can ride their unbeaten streak.
The Buckeyes faced Michigan for the second time in less than a month on Thursday night. In January, OSU squeezed out a four-point triumph over the Wolverines. Ohio State took control early on in the game last night. OSU carved out a 7-0 advantage in the first two minutes of the contest. Following a timeout, Michigan slowly climbed back into the game. The Buckeyes were outplayed by Michigan and trailed 26-23 at halftime. Darius Morris fired 10 shots and added five rebounds to lead the blue and maize in the first half. Michigan forced ten first half turnovers and limited the home team to 36% shooting.
Ohio State mopped up the damage of the first half as Michigan struggled to grab takeaways after the break. David Lighty led the OSU charge in the second half. Lighty’s jumper six minutes into the second half gave the Buckeyes the lead, and Ohio State never trailed again. Michigan did tie the score momentarily at 36, but Aaron Craft’s defense started an 8-0 Buckeye run. Michigan fought hard to stay in the game. Evan Smotrycz and Hardaway traded threes to cut the Michigan deficit to two. But Ohio State was clearly up for the test. The Wolverines lost the second half rebounding battle as the Buckeyes’ defense stepped up. Tim Hardaway led the 13-9 visitors with 15 points on 3-of-7 from downtown. William Buford had a strong game for Ohio State, finishing with 13 points and hitting three timely 3-pointers. The 6’9” Sullinger wore out Michigan defenders. The Wolverines were called for 23 fouls on the night and shot just four three throws of their own. Lighty and stupendous senior, John Diebler contributed 9 points in the win.

Parting Points: Song of the day- “Starting Today” by Natalie Imbruglia

Not a whole lot going on. The Mets’ owners are in hot water, Andy Pettitte’s days on the diamond are done, LeBron scored 51 points and the debate for NBA All-star snubs is on.

Saluting the Southpaw

His pickoff move came second to none
That southpaw arm a flame-throwing one
Come playoff time, he was the man
Number one in the clutch, painting the corners like a crayon
He had CY Young material, a stellar career
His stare down scowl something to fear
The rings on his fingers the dynastic symbols
Of an incredible pitcher who warmed our souls
Farewell to dandy Andy Pettitte
Number forty-six, we won’t forget it

Nets Notch Nuggets

Winning basketball games is usually a mere laborious task for the New Jersey Nets. The fourteen win ballclub who calls Newark’s Prudential Center home has become a blip on many an NBA opponent’s schedule. But last night the Nets had little trouble against a Carmelo Anthony-led visiting Nuggets squad. New Jersey dropped Denver 115-90 to pick up their 15th win of another losing season. The Nets scored the most first half points they have all year, connecting on 25-of-40 in a vehement victory at home. The Melo sweepstakes may have ended, and the Nets proved last night why they just might not need Anthony’s services after all. New Jersey stopped a two game skid while the Nuggets suffered their 20th loss this season.
Anthony scored a game high 37 points in 40 minutes but his Denver teammates were virtual no-shows on the hardwood. The Nuggets made just 35% of their 3-pointers and found themselves in a 19-7 hole halfway through the first stanza. Denver ripped off nine consecutive points but New Jersey rushed ahead to a ten point advantage on Travis Outlaw’s 13 point first quarter. Devon Harris was an assist assailant, compiling an aggressive career high 18 in the New Jersey win. The Nets sailed ahead by as many as 18 points for a 63-50 advantage at the intermission. Anthony kept the visitors in the game with 23 first half points and nine of ten from the charity stripe. Brook Lopez led New Jersey with 27 points. The center from Stanford made 11-of-18 from the field and was a perfect 5-for-5 from the line. Despite Anthony’s offensive dominance, the hosts were ferocious in forcing 16 turnovers and outrebounding the Nuggets by 11.
The Nets hit 9-of-15 from downtown and were led by Kris Humphries’ big second half off the bench. Chauncey Billups supplied 19 points (16 in the second half) and Brazilian, Nene Hilario, sunk 16 for Denver, who mounted a slight comeback after the break. J.R. Smith drained a pair of foul shots to trim the Nuggets’ deficit to just four with less than a minute on the clock. The Nets continued their clutch shooting and never allowed Denver to take the lead. New Jersey outscored the Nuggets 30-21 in the final quarter to finish over the 100 point mark. Monday was the 15th straight road game Denver has allowed an opponent 100-or-more points. Anthony Morrow poured in 18 in the win, including four 3-pointers.

Parting Points: Snowy Tuesday tune- “Quit Playing Games With My Heart” by Backstreet Boys

Georgetown knocked off Louisville last night as the Big East seeding continue to shuffle.

Blazing, Burying the Blue

The defending national champs were curtailed by a rising Red Storm squad at Madison Square Garden Sunday. Third-ranked Duke was throttled by St. John’s 93-78 in an upset loss on the road. Sunday was only the second loss of the season for the Blue Devils, who trailed 46-25 at halftime. The Johnnies overpowered Duke in front of a sellout crowd. St. John’s defeated the top-ranked Devils after losing five of their last six contests going into Sunday’s showdown. The Storm has taken some heavy punches and double digit losses to top 25 teams, but not this time. Duke’s poor shooting combined with the Storms’ Dwight Hardy’s big game made winners of the home team. St. John’s improved to 12-8 on the season in what could be considered Steve Lavin’s biggest high profile win so far as the Red Storm’s head coach.
Hardy shot 9-of-13 from the field and finished with 26 points to lead the Johnnies. Duke struggled from the arc, missing on 21 three-point attempts during the game. The Devils made just one 3-pointer in the first half and missed ten consecutive attempts. Nolan Smith tallied a game high 32 points and drained a pair from downtown for Duke. Kyle Singler put up 20 points for the Blue Devils, who turned the ball over 17 times and were limited to inside shooting. St. John’s played conservatively in the second half, clinging to a sizable lead at the break. The rumbling Red Storm shot 12 percentage points above their season average in the first half.
Justin Brownlee tallied 20 points and had nine rebounds for the Storm. Brownlee and Paris Horne’s six assists tied for the team lead. Sean Evans played his best game as a Johnnie, burying ten buckets off the bench in 11 minutes. The Storm took advantage of every Duke turnover, turning them into points of their own. The Johnnies stormed out of the halftime break to take their stunning largest lead of the day. D.J. Kennedy’s dunk was followed by a Hardy layup as the defending Devils looked uncomfortable at the Garden. The Devils did come back to score 53 points to the Storm’s 47 in the second half. But it wasn’t enough to overcome a dismal start. The Storm attacked Duke and found the open shots to erupt on the floor.

Parting Points: Happy Birthday to The Ryan Express

Trouble in the Third

The Chicago Bulls improved to 22-4 at the United Center with Friday’s 99-90 victory over Orlando. The Magic’s Dwight Howard had a monster performance, scoring 40 points in the loss, but it wasn’t enough to snap the surging Bulls’ three game winning streak. Chicago is tied with Miami for second in the conference. Three Chicago players scored in double figures. The Bulls limited Orlando’s three point shooting and outrebounded the visitors 54-40. Luol Deng led Chicago with 26 points and MVP candidate, Derrick Rose, finished with a double-double.
Jameer Nelson, the Magic’s point guard who burned the Bulls in the last meeting between the teams, played just eight minutes. Nelson exited with an injury in the first quarter as Chicago pulled ahead 24-23 at the end of one. Howard was strong from the field and nearly impeccable from the line but received little help from his teammates. The Magic managed to hold a 51-46 advantage at the half courtesy of Howard’s rebounding and dominant offense. The rusty Bulls made just five of their first twenty field goal attempts but rallied after the half to trim the Orlando lead.
Deng scored 14 third quarter points to pace Chicago’s comeback. Rose scored 26 points and added 12 rebounds as the Bulls hit their stride heading into the fourth quarter. The Bulls held Orlando to just 4-of-14 shooting in the third. Chicago hit the 34 point mark in the third quarter, doubling up Orlando, who scored just 17. The Bulls made 13-of-21 shots in the table-turning third. Carlos Boozer contributed a massive 16 points and 16 rebounds for the Bulls, who maintained their lead throughout the final quarter. Gilbert Arenas pocketed 11 buckets off the Magic bench, but Rose put the game away on a pair of free throws in the final minute to hold off a late push by Orlando. The Central-division leading Bulls knocked down 8-of-18 from the arc in the win. Howard finished just five points shy of a career high in scoring.

Parting Points: Congrats to Kim Clijsters in her three set comeback triumph over Li Na.

Finish without a Fuss

You see the world through salty eyes,
The weight of it all heavy on your brow
With sweat that stains and sustains your flesh,
You soak it up without a fuss.
The sun will always shine through here
The start of rallies end to end,
Tosses teeming low will haunt your heart,
Your back will fear the baseline’s hand.
While in the troughs you’ll find the strength,
A whistling rocket buried deep away
The running forehand collapsing in place,
Riling a world submerged in pride.

Parting Points: Song for Friday-Tony Rich Project “Missin’ You”

Columbus’ Cool Customers Continue Creaming Competition

Buckeyes Blast Boilermakers
William Buford drained 19 points and was one of six Buckeyes scoring in double figures as top-ranked Ohio State pasted Purdue in Columbus 87-64 Tuesday. Ohio State won for the 21st consecutive time and remains unbeaten after dismantling the 12th ranked Boilermakers. The streak marks the fourth longest in Buckeye basketball history. The red hot Buckeyes have been tearing up the hardwood since day one of this season. The fever pitch remains on the rise and the Bucks continue to add credibility to their number one ranking with solid defensive rebounding and stellar inside shooting. OSU shot 52% from the field in Tuesday’s Value City Arena victory. The Buckeyes outrebounded the Boilermakers by 14 and led by as many as 31 points against their Big 10 opponents. Purdue fell to 17-4 with the loss.
Ohio State made 6-of-9 from beyond the arc in the first half. The Bucks took a commanding halftime edge and shot 56.7% in the opening session. Jon Diebler poured in 10 points during the first half and finished with 19 on the night. The defense held Purdue without a second-chance point in the first half. Freshman Aaron Craft contributed nine points off Thad Matta’s deep bench as the Buckeyes spread the ball around throughout the game. Buford, David Lighty and Deshaun Thomas all had seven buckets by the break. JaJuan Johnson was the only Purdue shooter able to get anything going offensively. Johnson had 11 points by the half for a Boilermaker team that struggled to hit their three-point shots. Johnson finished with a game high 22 points and led Purdue with seven rebounds. the Buckeyes snatched any momentum back with runs of 14-2 and 13-5 to swell their lead to 35-13 with roughly six minutes left in the half. Purdue trailed 46-26 at halftime.
Jared Sullinger, the hard-to-guard rookie, made his mark in the second half for the dazzling Buckeyes. Sullinger knocked down 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the win. He also added seven from the charity stripe. Purdue played a better second half and trimmed their deficit to 17 three times. The lethargic Boilermakers, relying on Johnson and E’Twaun Moore as their only offensive sources, couldn’t piece together a rally. Purdue scored 38 second half points to OSU’s 41 as Buford and Sullinger exchanged late treys to seal the deal for the home team. OSU carved out a 30 point advantage, aided by Thomas’ rebound with 4:19 on the clock. Thomas finished with 13 points, while Lighty scored 11. OSU hit 11-of-19 from the rainbow and now reside two games in front in the Big 10.

Parting Points: The Big East is stacked.

A quote from the epitome of cool- “I never planned anything in my life”- Cool Hand Luke

Steelers Shine, Sail to Superbowl

The Jets’ joyride season ended in a 24-19 defeat at Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field Sunday night. New York fell into an insurmountable 24-3 halftime hole before rallying to make a game of it in the second half. Pittsburgh held on to win, the prize being a trip to the Superbowl to face the Green Bay Packers. The Steelers are headed for Dallas after grabbing their third AFC Championship in six years last night.
Pittsburgh quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, scrambled on the Steelers’ opening drive in single digit temperatures to chew off nine minutes on the clock. Roethlisberger orchestrated a 15 play drive capped by Rashard Mendenhall’s one yard touchdown lunge to put the Steelers up by seven. The Jets struggled to get first downs and Pittsburgh maintained excellent field position throughout the first quarter. Roethlisberger was intercepted for the first time in 200 attempts on the Steelers’ second drive, but the Jets’ offense could not capitalize. Shaun Suisham booted a 20 yard field goal to put Pittsburgh out in front by ten points midway through the second session. The Steelers thundered into the end zone again with two minutes left in the half. Roethlisberger charged from two yards out to complete a 66 yard Pittsburgh drive for the 17 point advantage. Rex Ryan’s bombastic third ranked defense could do little to prevent the Steelers from adding another touchdown or slowing down Mendenhall.
Ike Taylor hit Jets’ signal caller, Mark Sanchez, to force a fumble with less than two minutes remaining in the second quarter. Cornerback William Gay scooped up the loose ball and rushed 19 yards the opposite way for a third Pittsburgh touchdown. The Steelers outgained the Jets 231-50 in yards during the first half. The Jets scooted 44 yards to reach field goal territory near the end of the second quarter. All New York could muster was a Nick Folk 42 yard field goal as time expired on the AFC Championship game’s first half. Pittsburgh dominated time of possession, leaving the trash-talking Gang Green offense down four scores heading into the locker room. The Steelers held an absurd 135-1 advantage on the ground in the first half. Mendenhall finished with 121 rushing yards (95 in the first half), only the second time a back has accumulated over 100 against Gang Green all season.
The Jets awoke from a slumber to score 16 unanswered points in the second half. Pittsburgh failed to score again after the break. In the first drive of the half, Sanchez hit Santonio Holmes for a 45 yard touchdown strike to cut the deficit to 24-10. Sanchez had two touchdown passes on the night and threw for 233 yards in the loss. Mike Devito recovered a safety in the fourth quarter following a Roethlisberger bobbled snap to miraculously make it a two possession game. New York had a chance to score again midway through the fourth, but the Steel Curtain’s goal-line stance made them come up empty. Previously injured Jets’ wideout, Jericho Cotchery caught a four yard touchdown pass from Sanchez with three minutes left in regulation. The Jets trailed by five and took the lead in yardage during the second half, but it was too little too late. Pittsburgh had too much of a first half cushion to forego the lead. Mendenhall was handed the ball three times before rookie, Antonio Brown secured a Pittsburgh first down on a 14 yard reception with two minutes to go. The Jets didn’t have any timeouts left with 1:48 left. The Steelers ran out the clock and improved to 14-4 on rout for a chance at their seventh Superbowl in franchise history. A date with Green Bay is set for February 6th at 6:30pm.

Parting Points: It should be a good Superbowl. The Pack are a 2 ½ point favorite.

Who the heck is Caleb Hanie?

Inhibiting Illinois

Ohio State brings their number one ranking to Assembly Hall in Champaign, Illinois this afternoon. The Buckeyes tipoff at noon against the 23rd ranked Illini hoping to extend their undefeated season another day and improve to 20-0 on the year. Ohio State faces a tough test at hostile Assembly Hall in what should be the first of a series of challenging contests in the coming weeks. The Buckeyes will face seven teams ranked in the top 25 in their next nine games.
Today, their 14-5 Big Ten opponents boast an admirable crew in defensive-minded Illinois. The Illini lead the conference in three-point shooting and three-point shooting defense. Assist man, Demetri McCamey, will be a catalyst for the home team. Last season, Evan Turner and the Buckeyes held McCamey to just nine points in a 72-53 victory on the road. The pressure will be heavier for this season’s matchup. Illinois have immense front-court size, solid shooting from beyond the arc and are savvy in the back-court. Starting guard, D.J. Richardson and forward, Bill Cole both shoot well from a distance and will be a tricky test for OSU’s outside guards. Senior Mike Davis leads the Illini in shooting and center Mike Tisdale is more than accurate from the line. The Buckeyes are capable of disposing any team in college basketball, but they must contain the high scoring Illini. Illinois is so effective in creating opportunities for their shooters. The Buckeyes must be careful not to turn the ball over.
Illinois already toppled Michigan State at home this season. The Illini are a team that struggles on the road so should be prepared for a number one ranked OSU squad. Bruce Weber will have them equipped to handle the likes of Jared Sullinger’s outside looks and David Lighty’s diligent drives to the basket. The Bucks had a difficult time defending Penn State in their win over the Lions last weekend, but rebounded to suffocate the Hawkeyes 70-48 on Wednesday. Which OSU team will show up in Champaign this afternoon?

Parting Points: Song of the day-“6, 8, 12” by Brian Mcknight

Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon reunite in Tampa. Interesting pick-ups for the Rays.

Augustin Attacks

The Bobcats nixed the Sixers by three on Thursday night after Philadelphia rallied from an eight point deficit in the final quarter. Charlotte pulled out a 100-97 victory at Time Warner Cable Arena to snap a two game skid. The Bobcats rode D.J. Augustin’s career high 31 point performance in slipping past less- than-mediocre Philadelphia. The 76ers and Bobcats are both owners of 17 wins, with Philly possessing one more loss than the 24 loss Charlotte club. The Sixers sit in third place in the Atlantic behind Boston and New York with little hope of reaching the post-season. Ailing Charlotte is all but out of the playoff hunt, clinging to fourth place in the Southeast.
Charlotte scored 30 first quarter points in a commandeering opening session. Augustin paced the home team with 14 first quarter points, including three from beyond the arc. The diminutive point guard added 11 buckets in the second quarter, hitting a perfect 5-of-5 from the field on uncontested drives through the lane. Augustin dished out a game high eight assists in handing the Sixers their fourth lost in six games. Thaddeus Young contributed 21 points off the bench and Andre Iguodala added 19 for Philly, who trailed by six at halftime.
Iguodala had five rebounds and five assists in the loss but missed a shot off the rim in the final 11 seconds as the Bobcats held on to win. Philadelphia took the lead twice during the second half. Philly scored a quick six to open the third quarter, aided by a pair of Elton Brand jumpers. Brand finished with a game high, 10 rebounds and poured in a dozen points. Young gave the visitors a one-point edge off his own rebound with 1:52 left in the fourth. The Bobcats answered back with two of Gerald Henderson’s 11 points. Henderson then drained a 19-footer with 26 seconds to increase the Bobcat lead to three. Brand’s tip-in with just over seven ticks remaining cut the deficit to 98-95 after Iguodala’s miss. But Augustin sunk both shots from the line to put Charlotte on top by five. Nazr Mohammed played 20 minutes for Charlotte and scored 15 points. Jrue Holiday led the 76ers with seven assists and finished with 13 points in defeat.

Parting Points: The Yankees signed Andruw Jones. Seriously, Yankees?

Andre Agassi was elected to the Tennis Hall of Fame.

Capitals Cede Control

The Philadelphia Flyers blew a 2-0 third period lead but were bailed out in overtime by Andrej Meszaros. The Czech native’s wrist shot at 1:07 in the extra session propelled the Flyers to a 3-2 home victory over their Eastern Conference nemesis. Washington came up on the short end after posting a pair of goals by Mike Knuble and Alexander Ovechkin to force overtime. Meszaros punched the winning goal through to beat Semyon Varlamov. It was just the second goal of the season for the first year Flyer skater. Meszaros split time in Ottawa and Tampa Bay before coming to the City of Brotherly Love. Tuesday marked the sixth straight overtime loss for the visiting Capitals.
The Capitals controlled play for most of the first 20 minutes but East-leading Philadelphia held a 1-0 edge after the opening period. Jeff Carter scored on a wraparound goal for his 20th of the season to give Philly the early lead. Michal Neuvirth started the game in net for the Caps, but was replaced after the first period due to injury. Carter fed the puck to All-Star Claude Giroux, who snuck the puck through the posts, with 6:22 left in the second period. The Capitals trailed 2-0 after two periods and were limited to less than 30 shots on goal for the 11th straight game. Washington managed just 12 shots on goal in the first 40 minutes. Sergei Bobrovsky was brilliant as the Philly netminder through two sessions. Bobrovsky finished with 23 saves.
Washington’s first goal came at 7:58 in the final frame. Rookie center for Washington, Marcus Johansson stripped the puck and tried to score. Johansson’s shot missed the goal. Knuble recovered the puck and slung his 11th goal through the net to put the Caps on board against his former team. Less than a minute later, Ovechkin fired a shot that scooted behind Bobrovsky and tied the game at 2-2. It was Ovechkin’s 16th goal and it erased the Flyers’ advantage. Washington went without a power play opportunity during Tuesday’s contest and failed to score the go-ahead goal before suffering defeat in overtime. The Flyers benefited from just one power play chance but the extra-man opportunity passed without a Philly goal. Instead, the teams battled against each other into an extra period for the third time this season. The Capitals now sit fifth in the East, seven points behind the front-running Flyers. Head coach, Paul Holmgren, earned a three year contract extension with the Flyers yesterday.

Parting Points: Federer over Simon in a five set second round thriller.

I’m tired of the Carmelo Anthony rumors already.

Perfect Panthers Scratch Syracuse

‘Cuse’s Claws Clipped

Jets-Steelers aren’t the only New York-Pittsburgh highlight matchup this week. Two teams with perfect slates converged in the Steel City last night. The zone-busting Pittsburgh Panthers are still undefeated after Monday’s stomping over smooth-sailing Syracuse at Petersen Events Center. The Panthers improved to 19-0 on the season with a 74-66 victory over the third-ranked Orange. Pitt scored the first 19 points of the game during an eight minute opening run against their Big East foes. The Orange missed their first ten shots of the night. Pitt’s Nasir Robinson unloaded nine consecutive points and finished with 21 as the Panthers took sole possession of first place in the conference at 6-0.
The Orange ripped off 17 straight points after the 19-0 Panther run in the first quarter. Pitt followed with seven more points only to be followed by seven from the Orange. Syracuse’s C.J. Fair pocketed 16 points and nine rebounds in the loss. Junior guard, Ashton Gibbs, knocked down a three-pointer with three seconds remaining in the first half to give the Panthers a 31-27 halftime edge. Syracuse had four fewer rebounds than the home team in the first half and the momentum appeared to shift the Orange way after the break. Syracuse tied the score at 41 on James Southerland’s trey but Pitt’s Travon Woodall responded with a downtown bucket as Pitt re-took the lead.
Syracuse’s usually strong shooting from the field stalled in the second half. The Orange had several opportunities to take the lead but failed to score each time. Rick Jackson had ten points to go along with 11 rebounds for the Orange, who played without top scorer, Kris Joseph. The visitors tried to hold their own on the road, but their 18-0 record would fall at the hands of the clawing cats. The Panthers’ defense, ignited by a Talib Zanna block in the second half, was too much for ‘Cuse. The Panthers were able to solve Syracuse’s 2-3 zone defense as well. Pittsburgh went on a 9-1 run with 10:49 remaining to take a 53-44 lead. Robinson did not slow down in the second half. He made 8-of-12 shots from the floor and contributed eight rebounds. Senior Gary McGhee helped the Panthers gain the rebounding edge (44-30) against the conference’s best on the boards, Jackson. Brad Wanamaker finished with 15 points and Gilbert Brown added 12 for the fifth ranked Panthers. The 2003 national champion Orange fell for the first time this season and the home Panthers sifted through the second half unscathed.

Parting Points: OSU=number one in the polls

Boston beats Orlando on KG’s defensive heroics. Welcome back, Garnett.

Cutler, Chicago Catapult to Conference Contest

Solider Field will host the NFC Conference Championship next week, pitting one of football’s oldest rivalries against each other for a chance to go to the Superbowl. The Bears will play division rival Green Bay on Sunday for the first time in an NFC Conference title game after walloping the Cinderella Seahawks 35-24 yesterday afternoon. Jay Cutler’s playoff debut went splendidly as the Bears built a 28-0 lead and never looked back. Cutler accounted for four touchdowns, including a pair of rushing touchdowns as the home team made easy work of stumbling Seattle.
Cutler connected with Greg Olsen for a 58 yard touchdown strike three minutes into the contest and Chester Taylor’s one yard run made it 14-0 in favor of Chicago after one quarter. Olsen finished with 113 yards, while Matt Forte rushed 80 yards on 25 carries. Chicago dominated both sides of the ball as the Seahawks couldn’t snap their eight game road playoff losing streak at a snowy Solider Field. Cutler continued to shred the Seattle defense by breaking tackles and finishing with 43 yards rushing on eight tries. The quarterback gave the Bears a three touchdown edge with a six yard hustle into the end zone in the second quarter. Cutler picked up where he left off after the break, scoring on a nine yard touchdown run early in the third quarter. The 70 yard scoring drive made it 28-0.
Seattle finally etched the scoreboard with just under two minutes remaining in the third quarter. The Seahawks scored ten straight points to cut into the Chicago lead. Olindo Mare knocked home a 30 yard field goal in the third quarter and Mike Williams provided Seattle with their first touchdown in the fourth. Seahawk signalcaller, Matt Hasselbeck, tossed two Williams for the two yard touchdown reception following a Bears’ turnover. It was one of three touchdown passes by Hasselbeck on Sunday. Chicago recoverd an onside kick with eleven minutes left in the game and needed just three plays to reach the end zone again. Cutler and Kellen Davis made it a 35-10 contest after hooking up for a 39 yard touchdown with 4:40 remaining. Seattle capped off a 74 yard, seven play drive with another Williams’ touchdown and drove the field for another 55 yards culminating in a Brandon Stokley nine yard touchdown catch. Twenty seven second remained on the clock, however, with Chicago still in the driver’s seat, ahead by 11. Chicago piled up 437 yards in the win and now face the Packers for the NFC title. Green Bay is on a roll, having knocked off the Eagles and Falcons. Winning on the road is clearly not a problem for the Packers.

Parting Points: Monday’s tune- “The Kids Aren’t Alright” by the Offspring

Steel Strong

Pittsburgh’s James Harrison says it best. The Steelers just go out there and do what they have to do. Harrison and the Steelers are moving on to the AFC Championship game after bashing Baltimore 31-24 at Heinz Field Saturday afternoon. It will be Pittsburgh’s fifth AFC Championship game in the past decade. Meanwhile, Ray Lewis and the Ravens can’t seem to overcome their playoff woes against their Pittsburgh foes. Despite a two touchdown lead at halftime, the Ravens’ Superbowl aspirations were shredded again by the men in gold and black. Lewis, the twelve time All-Star, has suffered three losses in the post-season to the Steelers. Pittsburgh is a win away from a return to their third Superbowl in six seasons.
The Ravens forced mistakes in the first half and made the Steelers pay for each one as the top-notch defense capitalized on Pittsburgh miscues. Baltimore jumped out to a 21-7 lead after scoring on two short touchdown drives. Turnovers, penalties and defense were the story of the game on both sides of the ball. The Ravens managed just 125 yards against Pitt’s vaunted defense. Baltimore committed three turnovers in the second half after an impressive thirty minutes of football. The Ravens pressured quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger all day. Big Ben was sacked six times yet went without an interception and threw for 226 yards in the win. Joe Flacco did not fare as well as his counterpart Big Ben. Flacco fumbled and was intercepted in the one-touchdown performance. Lawrence Timmons led the Pittsburgh defense with seven tackles and Harrison had three sacks. Lewis had six tackles for defensive-minded Baltimore, while Terrell Suggs matched Harrison in sacks.
Rashard Mendenhall got the Steelers rolling with a touchdown on Pittsburgh’s first possession of the game. The running back had two touchdowns despite rushing for just 46 yards. The one touchdown home lead evaporated quickly. Baltimore scored 21 unanswered points to close out the first half on top. Ray Rice ran 14 yards to cap off a Ravens’ drive with 1:20 left in the first quarter. The Ravens scored less than a minute later after Pittsburgh coughed up the ball on a Roethlisberger incompletion. Cory Redding scooped up the ball and ran it back for the Baltimore touchdown. In the second quarter, Mendenhall fumbled at the Steelers’ 16 yard line and on the next drive, Flacco found a wide open Todd Heap for a four yard touchdown grab. Tight end Heap led Baltimore with 43 receiving yards. The half ended with a missed field goal by Pittsburgh kicker, Shaun Suisham. The Ravens entered the locker room with the most points they scored against the Steelers since 2007.
Heath Miller hauled in a nine yard pass from Roethlisberger five minutes into the third quarter as the Steelers began their cutthroat comeback. The Steelers needed four plays to reach the end zone. Pittsburgh took over at the 23 yard line following a Rice fumble and Mendenhall scrambled for a 14 yard gain to set up Roethlisberger’s strike to Miller. The home team got the ball back after Flacco was picked off. Pittsburgh tied the score at 21-21 on Hines Ward’s eight yard touchdown reception. Safety Ryan Clark was credited with stripping the ball from Rice and intercepting an overthrowing Flacco for a 17 yard return the other way. Baltimore committed a third turnover in the third quarter on the next possession, much to the delight of the Heinz Field faithful. Matt Birk’s snap was too early for Flacco and Brett Keisel recovered for Pittsburgh. But the game was still knotted at 21 heading into the final stanza.
Baltimore and Pittsburgh traded fourth quarter field goals. Suisham hitt one from 35 yards and Billy Cunduff tied the game again with a 24 yard kick with 3:54 left on the clock. Pittsburgh executed a dramatic drive to finish off their comeback. The Steelers faced third-and-19 at their own 38 yard line when Roethlisberger uncorked a 58 yard pass to rookie Antonio Brown deep in Raven territory. It took Mendenhall three tries, but he managed to break through the Baltimore defense into the end zone for the game-winning touchdown with 1:33 left to play. The final was not secured until T.J. Houshmandzadeh dropped a Flacco pass that would have given Baltimore a first down on Pittsburgh terrain. Roethlisberger completed 19-of-32 passes for two touchdowns as the Steelers stymied their division rivals yet again.

Parting Points: Aaron Rodgers is playing out of his mind this post-season, much to nobody’s surprise I suspect.

Spurs Sprint in Standings

The Dallas Mavericks have dropped four games in a row. San Antonio crushed the Dirk-less Mavs 101-89 at AT&T Center Friday night, making short work of their Southwest division foes. Tony Parker poured in 18 points to lift the Spurs to their fifth straight win and an NBA best 34-6 record. Parker sparked San Antonio in the first quarter and Richard Jefferson buried back-to-back three-pointers to highlight the second quarter. The visiting Mavs trailed 51-30 at the break in what has been a tailspin month for the 26-12 club. The Mavericks are just 2-7 without their big man, Nowitzki. Dallas couldn’t contain Parker or point guard,Tim Duncan during the first half. Neither Spurs’ shooter played in the fourth quarter as the Mavs were hammered on the boards all night. It was San Antonio’s 14th straight home win this season.
Shawn Marion scored 14 points to lead Dallas, who shot just 39.7 percent through three quarters. The Mavs’ Jason Terry added nine points on a 3-for-14 shooting effort. Dallas closed within 13 points on a Tyson Chandler dunk in the third quarter, put an 18-7 Spurs’ spree dismantled a Dallas comeback rally. Dallas’ bench could not surge in the fourth quarter to avoid defeat. Duncan paced the Spurs with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Former Pitt Panther standout, DeJuan Blair, collected 18 points and led San Antonio with 13 boards. Manu Ginobili contributed 11 buckets as four Spurs scored in double figures. San Antonio was a stellar 79% from the line as they carved out a 24 point lead heading into the final quarter.
Friday’s win marked the second time this season the Spurs have handed the Mavs a beat-down. The Spurs are headed for home-court advantage throughout the playoffs as long as they remain healthy and firing on all cylinders. Dallas still remains in the top three in the Western Conference (seven games behind the Spurs) but the injury-plagued Mavs must find a way to start reeling off victories instead of just reeling.

Parting Points: The Big 10 is sticking with Leaders & Legends and Cam Newton is heading to the NFL.

Thursday Take-Twos (Unbeaten Edition)

Duke and Ohio State entered Wednesday night with unblemished records. The Blue Devils traveled to Tallahassee to face the11-5 Seminoles, while the Bucks played at Crisler Arena against 11-5 Michigan. Only one unbeaten would remain…
Florida State took down Duke in Tallahassee for the second time in five years to snap the Devils’ 25 game winning streak. The top ranked Blue Devils were defeated 66-61 at Donald Tucker Center on Wednesday for the first time this season. It was the national champ’s first setback since March 2010. FSU’s senior guard, Derwin Kitchen collected 22 points, including 17 in the second half, to carry the Seminoles to their 12th win. Chris Singleton added 18 points in the victory while Kyle Singler led Duke with 20. Duke is sure to be replaced at the top despite a strong comeback in the second half last night. The Devils struggled in the first half, missing ten 3-point attempts as the Seminoles took a 28-24 halftime lead. FSU surged to an eleven point advantage early in the second half but the Devils made it a tight game in the final minutes. Duke erased FSU’s 40-29 cushion and went on to tie the game at 42-42 with a 13-2. Singleton sunk two free throws with 33 seconds left to give the ‘Noles a five point edge. Nolan Smith’s trey cut Duke’s deficit to two with less than thirty ticks remaining but a pair of free throws and a bucket sealed the deal for the home team. Smith finished with 19 points for the number one Devils.
The Wolverines hosted rival OSU Wednesday on the day their football team announced the hiring of SDSU’s Brady Hoke. Michigan rallied from a 53-41 deficit but the Buckeyes held on to win the contest 68-64 to remain undefeated this season. Ohio State used a 12-0 second half run to put some distance between the one point halftime score. William Buford led the Bucks with 19 points and nine rebounds. David Lighty scored 12 points for the number two Buckeyes, who could be sitting pretty on the top of the college basketball world when the rankings come out this weekend. Lighty hit five free throws in the final five minutes of the game as OSU won for the 17th time this season. Darius Morgan had 18 points to carry the Wolverines, who shot over 50% from the field in a strong effort. Evan Smotrycz tied the game at 41with a shot from the arc shortly after halftime. Ohio State followed with a 12-0 run and used a barrage of defense and free throws to cling to their lead. Michigan held the Bucks without a field goal in the game’s final eight minutes. Ohio State hit 17-of-25 from the charity stripe. The Wolverines did a tremendous job containing fab freshman, Jared Sullinger. The 6’9” Sullinger has scored in double figures all but twice this season. Michigan limited him to just 12 and forced him to turn the ball over six times. Ohio State is off to the best start since 1990. That team began the season 17-0 too. The next game for the Bucks comes Saturday at Penn State. OSU looks to add to their ten game road winning streak.

Parting Points: Song for Thursday- “Hesitate” by Stone Sour

I don’t care what the Jets say off the field this week. If they don’t harass Tom Brady on Sunday, their weekly gabs really don’t matter.

Ducks Drown in Defensive Dual

OreGONE!
The offense that took everybody to school in 2010 was slowed on Monday night. The Auburn Tigers outrushed and outlasted offensive-minded Oregon in the BCS National Championship in Glendale, Arizona last night. The Tigers improved to 14-0 with a 22-19 victory and brought the title home to Auburn for the first time in 52 years. Wes Byrum kicked his sixth career game-winning field goal as time expired to cap off the tussle between two unbeaten teams. Oregon was held 30 points below its number one nationally ranked scoring average. The Ducks’ star tailback, LaMichael James, was limited to 49 yards as the Tigers’ defense proved the difference in the game.
The first quarter was a scoreless battle as neither team could piece together sustaining drives. Rob Beard hooked a 26 yard field goal to begin the second quarter and give the Ducks an early 3-0 edge. Auburn started rolling offensively on the ensuing drive. Heisman Trophy winner, Cam Newtom, recorded the first touchdown pass of the 2011 BCS championship game. Newton passed for 265 yards and two touchdowns in leading the Tigers. Newton’s 35 yard gem to Kodi Burns with 12:00 left in the half gave the Tigers a 7-3 lead. Darron Thomas, who threw for a pair of touchdowns in the loss, orchestrated a 93 yard drive on just four plays to set up Oregon’s second quarter touchdown. Thomas hit Jeff Maehl in stride for 81 yards and followed the launch two plays later with an eight yard pass to James. The Ducks went ahead 11-7 on Beard’s two-point conversion. Maehl led all receivers with nine catches for 133 yards.
Safety Mike McNeil led the Tigers with 14 tackles and the Auburn defense picked off Thomas two times during the game. Defensive tackle, Nick Farley was dubbed the defensive MVP of the contest. Farley had one sack and a forced fumble. It was Mike Blanc who recorded a safety with 3:26 remaining the first half to cut the Ducks’ lead to two points. Emory Blake’s 30 yard catch after the two minute mark put the Tigers ahead 16-11 at the break. Blake finished with 54 yards, as did junior wideout, Darvin Adams. Auburn began the second half by running the ball on four straight plays as the Ducks plowed their way into the red zone again. The drive stalled after two incomplete passes by Newton. Auburn settled for three on Byrum’s 28 yard kick, to increase their lead to 19-11. Byrum’s kick was the only scoring by either side during the third quarter.
The fourth quarter was a seesaw of possession changes until Thomas connected with Maehl for ten yards with just under five minutes in regulation. Thomas found D.J. Davis on fourth-and-five for another 29 yards as the Ducks’ quarterback came out firing late in the fourth quarter. David Paulson’s seven yard grab was followed by James’ second touchdown catch. James’ two yard reception and another two yard conversion tied the game at 19-19 with 2:33 left in the game. Auburn returned the kickoff to the 25 yard line, giving Newton three-quarters of a field to work with on the final drive of the night. Newton hit Blake with a 15 yard strike and Michael Dyer rushed 37 yards for another Auburn first down. Dyer chewed up another twenty yards on two carries to bring the Tigers into field goal range. The speedy running back was splendid in the final quarter as the Tigers raced against the clock, and against the Duck defense. Byrum lined up for a 19 yard field goal attempt with two ticks remaining on the clock, and nailed it, to complete the 73 yard drive for Auburn.

Parting Points: Nice job by Boise State’s Chris Petersen in shunning Stanford to stay with the Broncos. It’s good to see a coach stick with the same team.

Answers in the Aftermath

Digging through the aftermath of 2010, I came across this poem I must have written one evening before (or during) an MBA class. It was in the back of a notebook, next to a pitiful scribble of a Yankee insignia. Luckily, I recovered the scribbling instead of tossing it in the trash. I'm not even entirely sure what this poem means, but it makes me sad and inspired at the same time. What if all I know about love is as good as it's going to get? I used to think this way about sports. What if I’ve reached my proverbial athletic peak? I figure I'm never going to be the same athlete I once was again. Regretfully, I am a self-admitted quitter. I've realized something strikingly similar about love and sports. Neither can be eroded from my memory. Both evoke feelings of sadness and inspiration, often simultaneously. I’ve resigned to give up on both. I’ve turned away. But just maybe turning back time, recalling the past, will keep me going in the present. Perhaps it will keep me striving for something better than as good as it once was. Sometimes the road back is long. I’ve since climbed back into competition and I’ve fallen harder in love than I thought was possible. I think when you come from a place that hurts, you’re apt to believe anything. So my question to this small band of blog readers is this: what answers can we derive from the aftermath? The answer, in my opinion, is to keep going. Believe anything can happen.

If I could turn back the clock for you,
I’d gladly suspend time to the day you were new.
It all seemed impossible until I tried,
Looking into your face I would not be denied.
If I could return to the moment we met,
I wouldn’t change a thing because I haven’t regret.
You were steady and sure with my shaky hand,
Your strength told me you were capable of command.
If I could go to our spot once again,
We’d sure pull off another incredible gem.
That initial advance we took without fear,
Fostered these feelings I hold so dear.
If I could capture the very second we touched,
I’d remember how the pure contact was hushed.
You with your colorful comments so plush,
Me with anticipation from the adrenaline rush.
If I could rewind time, this promise I’d renew,
The pledge to never turn my back on you.
You gave the intimation this is where we belong,
The silver lining I’d wanted too long.
If I could turn back the clock for you,
I’d take care not to ruin something unbelievably true.
It all comes back to me when I reflect,
How can anything else ever have the same effect?
And yet I know something will.

Parting Points: “And you close your eyes, he’s not coming back/so you work it out, overfeed the cat/and the plants are dry and they need to drink/so you do your best and you flood the sink/sit down in the kitchen and cry…and it makes you laugh it makes you cry”-from “Aftermath” by R.E.M.

Subpar Seahawks Silence Super Saints

There will be a new Superbowl champion this year after the New Orleans Saints lost a 41-36 shootout duel to the Seahawks in Seattle. The defending champs were ousted from the playoffs by a team who finished the regular season with a losing record. For the first time in the history of the NFL playoffs, a team with a 7-9 record has recorded a playoff victory. Just how did the Superbowl champs fall at Quest Field to a Seattle team most people believed had no right to be in the post-season? Look no further than the quarterback. Thirty-five year old Matt Hasselbeck compiled 272 yards and four touchdowns as the seven-win Hawks topped the Saints and returned to top form. Marshawn Lynch, the dynamic running back for Pete Carroll’s Seahawks, scored on an electrifying 67 yard rush with three minutes left to clinch the first playoff win for a losing team. Lynch broke tackles all afternoon and rushed for 131 yards in establishing the Hawks’ ground game. Seattle’s defense took shots at MVP Drew Brees and the Saints’ offense down after down and now will face either Atlanta or Chicago next weekend.
Garrett Hartley went 3-for-3 on field goals Saturday afternoon. The New Orleans’ kicker posted the first points of the game three minutes into the first quarter as Seattle held the high-octane Saints to three points. Heath Evans’s one yard pass from Brees gave the defending champions a 10-0 lead following Hasselbeck’s lone interception of the day (to Jabari Greer) and a passer interference penalty against the Hawks’ Walter Thurmond. Seattle found a way to answer back after trailing 10-0. The Hawks benefited from good field possession on their second possession and Hasselbeck recovered to find the hands of John Carlson. Carlson’s 11 yard touchdown grab was one of two scores for the tight end on the day.
Former Seahawk, running back Julius Jones, padded the Saints’ edge to 17-7 with a second quarter rushing touchdown from five yards out. The Seattle offense answered back again, needing only six plays to drive 70 yards down the field for another score. Carlson caught a seven yard pass from the Seattle signal caller to cut the Saints’ lead to three points. The underdog Hawks added a 29 yard field goal by Olindo Mare and a Brandon Stokley 45 yard touchdown reception to take their first lead of the afternoon with 1:15 remaining in the half. Stokley led the Hawks with 73 receiving yards and picked up his first touchdown of the season. The Saints were able to manage a field goal before time expired in the half. Brees launched a 40 yard bomb to Devery Henderson to set up Hartley’s 22 yard kick for the 24-20 halftime score in the air-it-out affair at Quest.
Seattle’s championship caliber run continued after the break on third-and-two during the first home possession of the second half. Hasselbeck connected with Mike Williams on a 38 yard lob to put the Hawks ahead by eleven. Williams snagged five receptions for 68 yards in the win. Mare’s second field goal increased Seattle’s advantage to 34-20 with 5:27 to play in the third quarter. The Saints chipped into the two touchdown lead maintained by Seattle as the Hawks’ offense stalled slightly in the final stanza. Jones found the end zone for a four yard touchdown and Hartley added his third field goal to make it a four point game again. Hasselbeck completed 22-of-35 passes on Saturday but threw five consecutive incompletions in the fourth quarter with Seattle clinging to a slim lead. The Hawks tried to run out the clock with 4:20 remaining in the game. Lynch was handed the ball on second down and went on a power run to the end zone. Six different Saints attempted to tackle the speedy Lynch, but his 67 yards was the longest by a Seahawk in six years. Most importantly, his outburst gave the Hawks the cushion they needed to finish off New Orleans. Brees added a late touchdown pass to Henderson for the final margin, but an onside kick went Seattle’s way to complete one of the biggest upsets in playoff history. Brees finished with 404 yards and two touchdowns but will not be wearing another Superbowl ring this season.

Parting Points: An exciting weekend in sports- Jim Harbaugh is San Francisco bound (here’s hoping he can make Troy Smith into an elite passer), Pitt pummeled Kentucky on the gridiron, the Mountaineers master Georgetown on the hardwood, the Jets pull off another lucky win on the toes of Nick Folk, and Matt Garza is traded to the Cubs.

Durant Dumps Dirk-less Dallas

Shawn Marion’s hook shot and 21 first half points weren’t enough for the short-handed Dallas Mavericks to drub the Oklahoma City Thunder. Marion finished with a season-high 25 points in the 99-95 loss to Kevin Durant and the top-shooting Thunder in Dallas. Durant carried Oklahoma City, scoring 28 points and adding three assists in the American Airlines Center win. Scott Brooks’ Thunder improved to 24-13 on the season following Thursday night’s road win.
Dallas played without All-Star Dirk Nowitzki for the sixth straight game, but clung to a 55-51 edge at the half. Jason Terry pocketed 19 points, while Tyson Chandler and DeShawn Stevenson contributed 14 a piece for the Mavs. Chandler was a menace on the boards, racking up 18 rebounds. Marion had 12 first quarter points to lead the charge but the Thunder roared back to trim the deficit after in the second half. The Mavericks endured poor shooting in the third quarter as the Thunder took a three point lead heading into the final frame. Cold shooting Dallas scored only 40 second half points and went just 5-for-16 in the third quarter. Jeff Green scored 16 points for the visitors to go along with nine rebounds. Russell Westbrook also had nine assists in the win and shot 5-of-6 from the charity stripe. Westbrook finished with 15 points as the Thunder snapped a two game losing skid and rolled past depleted Dallas.
The Mavericks’ defense had trouble with the Thunder’s inside game during the final quarter. Jason Kidd was held without a point in 40 minutes on the hardwood. Kidd dished out seven assists and added 10 rebounds but the Thunder quickly pulled in front late in the game. Stevenson’s long trey in the final minute gave Oklahoma City a five point lead and Durant went to the line with half a minute remaining in the game. Durant banked both shots to account for the final margin and give the Thunder their first win over Rick Carlisle’s Mavs in three tries this season. Oklahoma City is just one-half a game behind Utah in the Northwest division. Dallas is also in second place, three back of the conference leading Spurs. The Mavs are just 2-4 in Nowitzki’s absence.

Parting Points: Song for Friday- “The Storm is Over Now” by R. Kelly

Fantastic Finish

SEC Streak Snapped in Sweet Success
How sweet it is! The Big 10 is back, at least for a night. The conference that was demolished demoralized and destroyed New Year’s Day redeemed itself in Tuesday’s All-State Sugar Bowl. The Ohio State Buckeyes defeated Arkansas 31-26 and snapped a nine game losing streak against the SEC in bowl games. Terrelle Pryor led the six-ranked Buckeyes over the Razorbacks with a brilliant 336 yard performance at the Louisiana Superdome. The junior quarterback tossed two touchdowns, completed 14-of-25 passes and chewed up 115 yards on the ground. Pryor was named the Most Outstanding Player, but it was a team effort for Jim Tressel’s men in scarlet and gray last night. The defense shined in ending a 33 year drought and helping the Bucks improve to 12-1 this season. OSU held Arkansas to 11 points under their season average. The Hogs mustered a forceful comeback, but OSU’s defense was spot-on. Cam Heyward boosted the Buckeyes with beastly defense to add to his repertoire as the nation’s top lineman. Defensive lineman, Solomon Thomas, picked up his first career interception to seal the thrilling win.
Ohio State’s stud receiver, Dane Sanzenbacher scored the game’s first touchdown three minutes following kickoff. Pryor fumbled the football near the end zone, and Sanzenbacher recovered to complete the 8 play touchdown drive. Ryan Mallett and the Razorbacks answered with a touchdown two minutes later. After D.J. Williams’ 35 yard catch and run was called back when the tight end was ruled down, Mallett completed a 17 yard pass to Joe Adams to tie the game at 7-7. Dan Herron’s nine yard run lifted the Buckeyes to a gaunt 14-7 first quarter lead with 7:17 remaining in the frame. Herron reeled off 87 yards on 24 carries in the victory.
The second quarter began much like the first for Ohio State. Sanzenbacher scored his second touchdown, a 15 yard reception that was reviewed before being ruled a touchdown. Speedy wideout, DeVier Posey, handed the Buckeyes a 28-7 cushion with just under two minutes before halftime. A six play, 68 yard drive culminated in Posey’s 43 yard catch from Pryor to widen the Bucks’ lead. Posey led OSU with 70 yards receiving. Zach Hocker trimmed the Hogs’ deficit to 18 with a 20 yard field goal as time expired on the Sugar Bowl’s first half.
Eighth-ranked Arkansas scored 11 third quarter points to make it a ten point game heading into the fourth quarter. Hocker added a 46 yard field goal and OSU kicker to begin the second half. After the Buckeyes and Hogs both went three-and-out, Devin Barclay matched Hocker from 46 yards to give OSU a 31-13 advantage. Jarius Wright and the Razorbacks showed some life near the end of the third quarter. Mallett orchestrated a 75 yard drive, hitting Wright in the end zone on the seventh play for the Hogs’ second touchdown. Williams caught the two point conversion to make it 31-21 in favor of the Bucks with 16 minutes left in the game.
Ohio State opened the fourth quarter with a punt and Herron was tackled by Anthony Leon in the Buckeye end zone for the Arkansas safety on the next possession. The rallying Razorbacks’ next drive resulted in another Hocker field goal to trim Ohio State’s lead to five. Pryor and the Buckeyes faced four-and-one from their own 37 on the ensuing drive. Pryor handed to Herron, who dropped and recovered the football. Ohio State punted the ball away with six minutes remaining, plenty of time for an Arkansas game-winning drive. But the Bucks’ defense got the stop and gave the offense another chance to store away the victory. From their own four yard line, Ohio State picked up a pair of first downs on three Herron rushes and two Pryor scurries. Both teams traded timeouts before Herron picked up two yards on second down from the OSU 34 yard line. The Hogs used another time out to stop the clock before Ohio State failed to convert on third down with two minutes to go. Ben Buchanan’s punt was blocked by Arkansas and you could feel the stomach of every OSU fan turn. Mallett had a final shot at the end zone. Fortunately for Buckeye backers, Mallett’s second down pass was picked off by Thomas on the ensuing drive. And so it goes, OSU wins the Sugar Bowl in electrifying fashion.

Parting Points: Hump-day lyrics - “True to your school” by the Beach Boys

The Devils held the Wild to 18 shots on goal, but managed to lose 2-1 on a fluke goal.

Note-all five suspended Buckeyes pledged to return next season.

Bowl Blogging

TCU is coming up roses
Stanford annihilates opponents
Army erases a drought
Michigan tries to forget their clout
Syracuse survives controversy
Notre Dame shows no mercy
Tulsa takes Hawaii by storm
Boise State wins with much scorn
Oklahoma State remembers the Alamo
Iowa’s Insight comeback is a great show
Louisville holds on in the B.O.B. Bowl
Alabama gives New Mexico plenty to mull
FIU kicks their way in the Little Ceasar
Oklahoma decimates in a Fiesta pleaser
Washington extends their Holiday against Nebraska
SDSU grabs a laugher at the Poinsettia
Troy defeats as Ohio falls again
Tonight is when the real bowls begin

Parting Points: Congrats to Jim Harbaugh, one of my favorite former football players, and the Stanford Cardinal.

Rich Rodriguez is out at Michigan…I think Pitt should hire him.

Swan Song

Urban Meyer’s Florida farewell went something like this: Gators 37, Nittany Lions 24. The Florida head coach who announced he is stepping down after a six year reign with the Gators finished his career a winner in Tampa’s Outback Bowl. Penn State was represented by the all-time leader in bowl wins in legendary coach, Joe Paterno. The Nittany Lions couldn’t squeeze out a victory in a horrifying New Year’s Day for the Big 10 conference. Ahmad Black’s interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter helped send the 46 year old Meyer home with one final coaching victory. Despite the loss, Paterno expects to return for his 46th season in Happy Valley.
Jordan Reed and Josh Brantley shared time under center for the Gators, who finished the season 8-5 two years after winning a national championship. Trey Burton also saw time at the quarterback position for Meyer yesterday. Penn State’s Matt McGloin threw for 211 yards and a touchdown as the Lions dropped their sixth game of the season. Sophomore McGloin also tossed five interceptions into the chomping Florida defense at a Gator-backing Raymond James Stadium. The Lions’ signal caller completed just 17 of 41 passes on Saturday. Brantley was picked off once, during Florida’s first play from scrimmage. The Lions took advantage of the miscue, pulling ahead to an early 7-0 lead five minutes into the contest. McGloin found Derek Moye for the five yard touchdown to cap a ten play drive. Florida intercepted McGloin on Penn State’s next possession and went on to tie the game early in the second quarter off another McGloin turnover. Omarius Hines’ 16 yard run knotted the game at 7-7.
Later in the second frame, Justin Brown dropped a third down pass near midfield and Penn State was forced to punt. Alex Butterworth’s punt was blocked by the Gators and recovered by Lerentee McCray. McCray rushed down the field 27 yards for the second Florida touchdown, and the Gators’ first lead of the bowl. PSU’s Michael Zordich plunged into the end zone from one yard out to tie the game again at 14-14. The Lions tacked on a Collin Wagner field goal to lead 17-14 at the half.
The seesaw game continued after the break. Florida’s Chas Henry booted a field goal six minutes into the third quarter to give the Gators a three point edge. McGloin’s two yard touchdown run put the Lions back in the driver’s seat with 4:39 remaining in the third. Henry then nailed another field goal, from 47 yards, to finish the third quarter scoring. Mike Gillislee took the ball in from a yard out following a Penn State interference penalty on third down. Gillislee’s touchdown extended the Gator lead to three and Henry added a field goal to push the margin to six midway through the final quarter. Penn State’s all-time leading rusher, Evan Royster, moved the ball 30 yards on two plays as the Lions marched into Florida territory hoping for a comeback. Black’s interception up the sideline ended any PSU hopes, however. The 80 yard return clinched the Outback Bowl for Florida and was Black’s second interception of the game. Will Muschamp will replace Meyer next season, but the (Urban) legendacy of Meyer’s tenure will not soon be forgotten.

Parting Points: I’m not sure which loss was more embarrassing-Michigan State or Michigan.

Charlie Weis has accepted the offensive coordinator position at Florida.

Song of the day- “All I Have to do is Dream” by the Everly Brothers