Only Two Spots Remain

The last week of the season is here and playoff berths are in the air. The Rangers, Twins, and Phillies punched their postseason tickets already and were waiting for the rest to board. A few more would join the playoff express as the Yankees and Rays won their games last night respectively and earned playoff spots. Though it hasn't been decided which one is the Wild Card, it should be the Rays as no one is going to their games anyway. Also the Cincinnati Reds claimed the NL Central last night in walk off fashion as Jay Bruce hit a home run to center field to beat the Astros, 3-2. This is their first playoff berth and Division Title since 1995. An amazing achievement for this team.

The only spots that are really undecided are the NL West and the NL Wild Card. The Giants beat the Diamondbacks last night, 4-2, as the Padres lost to the Cubs, 5-2. The Giants now have a 2 game lead over the Padres in the NL West. The Padres are not only behind the Giants but also the Braves in the Wild Card race being behind them by 1.5 games. The NL West looks like it will be decided in an exciting 3 game series at AT&T Park between the Padres and the Giants. Get that photo finish ready.

A Fumble Costs the Packers

The Packers visited the Chicago Bears to finish off Week 3 on Monday Night. This rivalry is always a fun one to watch as it has so much history to it. Tonight would not disappoint. The Packers jumped out to an early lead but the Bears keep close and came back. It would all come down to the Fourth Quarter as it was tied at 17 all as the Packers were moving down field for the win. A Aaron Rodgers' pass to James Jones ended horribly as Brian Urlacher caused a fumble that would be recovered by the Bears. Jay Cutler would then lead the Bears down field which would lead to a Robbie Gould Field Goal that was made with just seconds left on the clock. The Bears would win it, 20-17.

The Bear surprise the NFL further becoming one the three remaining undefeated teams at 3-0. The other two are the Chiefs and the Steelers. I don't think any analyst had these 3 teams as the last unbeatens in the league. The Bears might've managed to turn themselves around as they have beaten the Packers and Cowboys for their last two games. The Bears look to continue their unbeaten streak for a while longer as they face the struggling Giants next.

Hartley Hooks a Kick, Cowboys and Vikings Win, Jets Prevail in Miami and More

Every Saints fan remembers Garrett Hartley for making the game winning Field Goal against the Vikings to send the Saints to the Super Bowl. While the Saints will always love him for this moment, they might just love him a little less now. This week's game vs. the Falcons called for another OT Field Goal by Hartley. Hartley just had to make a 29 Yard Field Goal to win it but he hooked it to the left. The Falcons would get the ball and drive down field for their Kicker, Matt Bryant, to make a 46 Yard Field Goal to win the game. Falcons give the Saints their first loss, 27-24. Definitely a sad day for the Hartley.

The Cowboys and the Vikings have gotten back into a winning groove by winning their first games of the year. The Cowboys beat the Texans in Houston by a final of 27-13. Roy Williams finally plays like he should've been all along getting 5 Catches for 117 Yards and 2 TDs. The Vikings get their first win by beating the traditionally terrible Detroit Lions. Adrian Peterson carried this team getting 160 Rushing Yards and 2 TDs. Final score: 24-10.

Other games included the New York Jets holding off the Miami Dolphins for a Sunday Night win. Mark Sanchez threw for 256 Yards and 3 TDs to prove his doubters wrong yet again. Nice job by the Jets Defense to hold off the Dolphins on the last drive. Final score: 31-23. Steelers continue to win without Big Ben this time beating the Buccaneers, 38-13. Charlie Batch had a alright game in the air throwing 3 TDs and 2 INTs while Rashard Mendenhall ran for 143 Yards and a TD. Seattle stuns another West Coast Team, this time beating the Chargers, 27-20. Despite solid possession time, the 5 turnovers might've doomed the Chargers in this one. Is Seattle a legitimate playoff team? Sam Bradford and St. Louis pull off an upset beating the Redskins, 30-16. Bradford threw for 235 Yards, one TD and one INT while his rushing support got him 133 Yards and 2 TDs.

Week 3 ends with a QB duel on Monday Night: Green Bay vs. Chicago. Can Jay Cutler continue his luck against the Packers?

Nothing But Fool's Gold

So much for a Golden Opportunity. Just when the 49ers look good, they play an embarrassing game against the Chiefs. Now the Chiefs were 2-0 entering this game but their offense didn't look that good beforehand. It looked great today. Matt Cassel threw 250 Yards, 3 TDs and 1 INT and got help from the Chiefs running game which ran for 207 Yards. Another bad offensive performance for the 49ers as the Chiefs defense shut down Frank Gore and forced Alex Smith to pass the ball a lot. He threw 23/42 for 232 Yards, 1 TD (at the end when all hope was lost) and 1 INT. He was also sacked five times thanks to the Chiefs and an inexperienced 49ers Offensive Line. Chiefs blowout the 49ers, 31-10.

49ers are now 0-3 to start the season and look like they won't make any impact in the league. Teams know to contain the running game and force Smith to throw the ball. Until Alex Smith starts throwing like an elite QB, which he won't, the 49ers are doomed. Our defense looked awful as well giving up 457 Total Yards. So much for keeping the game close. This team looks horrible and it's going to get worse next week as they face the Falcons "who just beat them Saints." Alex Smith, just leave the team. PLEASE!!!

P.S. Even Aaron Rodgers was making an impact when he was getting sacked a lot. NO MORE EXCUSES!!!

UCLA Upsets Texas, Arkansas Can't Hold Back the Tide, Cinderella Lives and More

Texas' hope for getting back to the National Title game were ultimately doomed today as they got blown out by UCLA, 34-12. 5 turnovers killed the Longhorns along with 264 yards of UCLA Rushing. Meanwhile, another upset was in the works as Arkansas looked like they were going to topple #1 Alabama. They had the 20-7 lead in the third quarter but just couldn't hold on. The Crimson Tide fought back and thanks to some key interceptions at the end, won the game 24-20. Razorback QB, Ryan Mallett, just couldn't keep possession giving Alabama the win.

Alabama's SEC rival, Florida, saw another good game today and made some headlines. Trey Burton, back QB for the Gators, ran the ball 5 times for 40 yards and 5 TDs and even caught one TD pass in his 5 receptions. Is he really still a QB? Ohio State would walk all over Eastern Michigan winning 73-20. Terrell Pryor continues his Heisman bid throwing for 224 Yards and 4 TD's and running for 104 Yards and One TD. Denard Robinson made an impact in Michigan's game against Bowling Green running for 129 Yards and 2 TDs before leaving the game with an injury. He would be fine and so would Michigan as they won, 65-21.

The Cinderella team named Boise State kept their BCS Busting hopes alive as they came out triumphant over Oregon State, 37-24. Kellen Moore impressed more people with 288 Passing Yards and 3 TD passes. Utah also kept their BCS chances alive with a win over San Jose State, 56-3. A combined 272 rushing yards and some aerial assaults from Jordan Wynn got the Utes the Victory. TCU's dream is alive, as well, as they beat Southern Methodist, 41-24. Perhaps a little more under the radar than last year, TCU keeps on winning thanks to a combine 190 Rushing Yards and 4 TDs on the ground.

A major upset marks this Saturday in college football while Alabama avoids one. Can Urban Meyer and Gators stop the Crimson Tide next week?

P.S. Notre Dame loses for a third straight game as Stanford blows them out, 37-14. Already a bad year for Brian Kelly? You Betcha!!!

Two Big Hits

Pitchers have dominated the baseball world all season long but even a few great batters must leave a mark. Two milestone hitting stats were achieved today in the same game. The Toronto Blue Jays played the Seattle Mariners where Jays player, Jose Bautista, hit his 50th home run of the season. No Analyst would've ever guessed that Bautista would hit 50 this year or even 40. He becomes the 26th player to hit 50 or more in a season. Ichiro of the Mariners would not be outdone and made a little history of his own. Ichiro got a single in the 5th inning which put him at 200 hits for the season. This makes him the first player to ever have 10 straight 200 hit seasons. He has a total of 2230 hits in his MLB career.

The game ended with Bautista's Home Run being the only run as the Blue Jays won, 1-0. Maybe not the most historic night but one worth noting at least.

DWI for Braylon Edwards

There are two important rules a person like Braylon Edwards should never break. One is taunting the opposing team. The other is drink and drive. Edwards couldn't follow either of those rules but the drinking and driving one is worse. Braylon Edwards was arrested on Tuesday on DWI charges or Driving While Intoxicated. The officer pulled him over originally because of his overly tinted windows. When the Alcohol breath had become apparent, Edwards was taken into custody with a .16 blood Alcohol content which is twice the legal limit. Edwards was released and has rejoined his teammates on the practice field.

The kicker of this story was that the team had a deal with a car service that will pick up and drive players wherever they want to go. This service is designed to avoid these kind of possible disasters. Funny that he didn't give them a call. Edwards has no excuse for this and may get suspended because of his and his known previous offenses. The Jets have already taken some action saying that while he will play, Edwards won't start Sunday's game. Hopefully this has been a humbling week for Braylon Edwards and a lucky one considering he could've hit someone like Donte Stallworth did. I hope he learns to do the right thing next time: PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL FOR A CAR!!!

Michael Vick to Start Again

The off season for the Philadelphia Eagles was basically summed it with Donovan McNabb being traded to the Washington Redskins so that Kevin Kolb could take the reins for the Eagles. That was the plan until Kevin Kolb got a concussion and was forced to sit out for a week. Seeing how well the backup as done, Michael Vick has been named the starting QB of the Philadelphia Eagles... for now. He has done well as the starter proving that he can still be a running QB and, more importantly, that he can throw the ball. This has been a tough decision for Andy Reid as he may be caving to the pressure from the fans and some of the media.

They play the Jaguars this Sunday at Jacksonville which is a toss up considering the Jags beat Denver in Week 1 and then lost to San Diego in Week 2. They're not an a top level opponent which gives the Eagles a considerable chance to win. Though I may be worried more about the Eagles' defense as they let the Lions get back in it last week. Blow them out Vick and you should make it to Week 4.

P.S. POSTING NUMBER 400!!! Who says that I don't do anything productive!!! Wait?

Jimmy Clausen to Start Sunday

When the Panthers drafted Jimmy Clausen in the 2nd round of the 2010 NFL Draft, they were basically telling Matt Moore that he had a short lease to roam with. Though Moore had a good performance at the end of last season, it was not enough for Carolina to hang all their hopes on. That might have been a good pick as Moore had thrown 4 INTs, 2 TDs, had a completion percentage of 40.8 and a QB rating of 41.8. That short lease is gone and has been replace with a cage (this analogy is really falling apart). Now the lease is on Jimmy Clausen as he has been named the Starter for Sunday's game against Cincinnati. Though Jimmy didn't do any better than Moore when he went in against the Buccaneers, Jimmy will have a full week to prepare for this start and hopefully perform good enough to make this a permanent change.

49ers start 0-2 in 2010

Late Game drama filled Monday Night Football to finish Week 2. Things looked bad early for the Niners with that Safety and then the Saints taking a 9 point lead. They didn't give up, however, and fought back even taking the lead at one point. It would all come down the final minutes as the 49ers were down 22-14. Alex Smith drove them down field for the TD and the two point conversion, all with no time outs. Possibly the most clutch I've ever seen him. Too bad there was enough time for the Saints to make another drive for the win. Garrett Hartley scored the game winning field goal 25-22.

Last year the 49ers started 2-0 and now have the opposite start this year. Mike Singletary better hope this doesn't become a trend. They do have a winnable game against Kansas City next. At least it used to be considering the Chiefs are 2-0. As for Alex Smith, he had a great last drive but threw 1 TD and 2 INTs. Perhaps a glimmer of hope for this team.

Cowboys and Vikings 0-2, Jets Soar Without Revis, Peyton Wins the Manning Bowl and More

The Vikings returned to Minnesota for their home opener against the Miami Dolphins. Favre was looking to rebound after a loss to New Orleans in Week 1. He would not rebound at all. Favre threw no TD's, 3 INTs, and fumbled the ball in his own end zone which was recovered by the Dolphins' Koa Misi for the TD. The Dolphins pull off the upset and win, 14-10. Meanwhile Tony Romo and the Cowboys had the exact same scenario the Vikings had: they lost in Week One abroad and had their home opener this week. It was pretty much the same result. The Cowboys forgot how to run the ball again and Romo was a bit off throwing 1 TD and 2 INTs. The Bears actually beat the Cowboys, 27-20, with Jay Cutler throwing for 277 yards, 3 TDs and no INTs. THAT'S RIGHT, NO INTERCEPTIONS FROM JAY CUTLER!!!

A big game came for the Jets as they faced New England in New Meadowlands Stadium. The Jets were down 14-7 with Randy Moss just scoring a TD while Darrelle Revis grabbed his leg in pain. Revis was done for the day and the Jets were losing to the Patriots. Rex Ryan didn't give up, however, and managed shut down Brady in the 2nd half with his defense getting 2 INTs. Mark Sanchez, meanwhile, lead the Jets to a victory scoring 2 of his 3 TDs in the 2nd half proving he can be a clutch QB. The Jets would win, 28-14. The Sunday Night Game had a good match up as well with Peyton Manning vs. Eli Manning, Colts vs. Giants. Peyton made it no contest, however, by throwing for 255 Yards and 3 TDs while his running game got busy with a team total 160 yards on the ground. The Colts actually ran it more than threw it. Colts bring down the Giants, 38-14.

Other notable games include Green Bay winning their home Opener against Buffalo, 34-7. Aaron Rodgers threw for 255 Yards and 2 TDs to lead the Cheese Heads to glory. Tampa Bay surprisingly starts 2-0 by beating Carolina, 20-7. The Panthers even pulled Matt Moore and put in Jimmy Clausen who didn't do any better. Houston wins a wild one over the Redskins in Washington, 30-27. In OT, they managed to ice Redskins Kicker, Graham Gano, and drove down the field to get their Kicker, Neil Rackers, to score the game winning field goal. The Steelers continue to do well without Big Ben as they start the season 2-0 beating the Titans, 19-11. The Steelers Defense stopped Chris Johnson while their offense did nothing. Impressive to still win. Last to mention in this posting is the Eagles beating the Lions, 35-32. Vick threw for 284 Yards and 2 TDs while not doing much on the ground running for only 34 yards with 7 carries. LeSean McCoy helped on the rushing attack getting 120 Yards and 3 TDs.

Week 2 ends with more surprises and upsets. Anyone think 0-3 for the Cowboys and Vikings?

P.S. Favre, next time come back for Training Camp or just retire... FOR GOOD!!!

Spartans KO the Irish, Michigan Justs Beats UMass, Auburn Gets By Clemson and More

Week 3 for College Football kicked off as Brian Kelly was looking for a win over Michigan State. It was a tight game as it was tied at 28 headed into OT. After a Notre Dame field goal, it looked like the Spartans would do the same thing. Instead they fake a field goal attempt and Aaron Bates threw a TD pass to an open Charlie Gantt for the win. Spartans win, 34-31. Not a great overall start for Brian Kelly as he and the Irish are 1-2.

Auburn would have a OT victory of their own as they played against Clemson. Auburn would fight back from 17-0 and take the lead 24-17. It would tie at 24 and head into OT. After a Auburn Field Goal, it looked like Clemson tied it with a field goal of their own but there was an illegal snap on the play against Clemson. The Kicker, Chandler Catanzaro, would miss the next one giving Auburn the win, 27-24.

As for the Heisman hopefuls, Denard Robinson continued to make his early case in a close win for Michigan over UMass. He threw for 241 Yards, 2 TDs and one INT while running for 104 yards and 1 Rushing TD. The Wolverines would get by UMass by a final of 42-37. Nebraska's QB, Taylor Martinez, sprung into the Heisman race throwing for 150 Yards and a TD pass while running for 137 yards and 3 TDs. The other QB and Heisman Hopeful, Jake Locker, had a horrible day throwing 4-20 with 71 yards, 1 TD and 2 INTS. His Heisman stock just went down. Nebraska beats Washington, 56-21.

Of course Alabama beat Duke, 62-13, but the story was returning Heisman winner, Mark Ingram, who ran 151 yards and 2 TDs. He's still got it.

P.S. Is every College QB now a scrambling QB?

Should Vick Lead the Eagles?

Last Sunday saw the debut of Kevin Kolb and also his early exit thanks to a concussion. Michael Vick came in and took over the team and lead them back in contention. They still lost the game to the Packers, 27-20, but Vick showed that he still had the goods throwing 16-24 for 175 Yards and 1 TD pass. More importantly for Vick, he showed he can still scramble better than anyone running for 103 Yards on 11 carries. Whether the Eagles like Vick or not, they will start him Sunday due to Kevin Kolb's concussion.

But a larger question looms over the team: Should Michael Vick be the starting QB for the Eagles? They have invested so much in Kolb already and have said he is the guy but Vick has shown he can still play. The Eagles might have beaten the Packers if Vick played the whole the game. Of course, Kolb is the staring QB for the long term and might do better once he is healed. Vick will have a shot a to prove his starting case as he will lead the Eagles against the Lions this Sunday. He needs to win big and have big numbers to not be ignored.

P.S. If it was a playoff contender like the Cowboys and he beat them then he would have the starting role. But because it's the Lions, he has to win big.

Mayweather's Illegal Punch

Boxers need to know one thing about their sport: KEEP IT IN THE RING!!! Floyd Mayweather didn't get this message as Mayweather has been arrested recently for domestic abuse related charges. It is alleged that Mayweather hit his ex-girlfriend, Josie Harris, and threatened her life and also threatened to beat up two of their children. The accusations has lead to 8 charges being filed against Mayweather by the Clark County DA (Las Vegas region). If convicted on all charges, Mayweather could face 34 years in prison.

Another athlete in trouble with the law and one of Boxing most exciting stars. While we must presume innocence, Mayweather's name has been tarnished and his reputation will suffer as he will be labeled as an abuser.

Goodbye Heisman

All the controversy surrounding Reggie Bush and the Heisman Trust is over. Speculation on whether the Trust would take away Bush's Heisman has ended because Reggie Bush has decided to voluntarily forfeit the award. Though he seemed like he would lose it anyway, Bush comes out a better man simply giving up the Trophy. This is the first time in the history of the Heisman that the award has ever been given back. Bush is a better man for simply giving up the top MVP trophy. This experience has no doubt been a humbling one for him and I'm impressed with Bush making this move. Still ashamed of him but less so now.

Monday Night Upsets

Week 1 of the NFL came to a close with a double header of Monday Night Football. The New Meadowlands Stadium made it's debut last night when the Giants beat the Panthers. The Jets made their New Meadowlands debut tonight as they faced the Ravens. However, they would not get a win for the home crowd. The story was defense on both sides but more for the Ravens. Baltimore held the Jets to 176 yards and only 6 first downs. The only TD of the game was scored by the Ravens' Willis McGahee on a one yard run in the 2nd quarter. Bad offense was all around but hurt the "soon to be champs" more as the Ravens win, 10-9.

The 2nd game featured the San Diego Chargers facing the Kansas City Chiefs. This rainy game turned out to be a stunner as the Chiefs made some breakaway plays. Jamaal Charles had a 56 yard TD run in the 1st quarter and, just before the end of the 1st half, Dexter McCluster returned a punt 94 Yards for a TD. The Chargers made a minor comeback, however, getting it within 7 thanks to a 59 yard TD pass from Phillip Rivers to Legedu Naanee. The Chargers would get it another shot within the last minute of the game but failed to convert on 4th and Goal as Phillip Rivers threw an incomplete pass intended for Malcom Floyd in the back of the end zone. The Chiefs pull off the win, 21-14 at home.

Nice to end Week 1 with a couple upsets and some more late game drama. Is Week 2 here yet?

P.S. I know the Ravens win over the Jets isn't really a upset. It just that someone needed to take Rex Ryan down a peg.

A Complete Career

The Final of the 2010 US Open was pushed back a day due to weather and was played on Monday. It featured Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Both men were looking to earn their first US Open title but Nadal was looking to complete a career. Rafa would do just that. He would beat Djokovic in four sets: 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2. Rafael Nadal won his first US Open title and completed his Career Grand Slam. After nine years of being a pro, he has won every Grand Slam event. He becomes the 7th player ever to have completed the Career Grand Slam. He is just 24 years old and has a total of nine Grand Slam titles. How many more will he win?

P.S. Now that Nadal has tasted them all, someone needs to ask him which one has the most flavor.

Texans Outgun the Colts, Patriots Beat the Bengals, A Penalty Costs the Cowboys and More

The First NFL Sunday proved to be great as usual. The Reigning AFC Champions, the Indianapolis Colts, faced the Houston Texans in what turned out to be a shocker. The Texans actually won the game, 34-24. Manning had a big day throwing 40-57, 433 Passing Yards and 3 TD Passes but it was Houston's HB Arian Foster that stole the show running for 231 yards and 3 TDs on the ground. Houston shows up looking like a playoff team. Meanwhile, the other Manning brother and the Giants opened their New Meadowlands Stadium facing the Carolina Panthers. Though sloppy throughout, the Giants pick up the win with Manning throwing 3 TDs to Hakeem Nicks. Matt Moore, on the other hand, looked more like Jake Delhomme in this game (not a compliment).

The Patriots had a good opener of their own facing the Bengals and their WR Duo. It was no problem for the Pats, however, as they won 38-24. They lead 31-3 at one point and never looked back. Tom Brady threw for 258 Yards and 3 TDs. Two of those TDs went to Wes Welker. The other side had Chad Ochocinco as the top star getting 12 catches, 159 Yards and a TD reception. T.O. had 7 catches for 53 yards and no TDs. We did have a overtime thriller in Week One, already, as the Steelers and the Falcons went into OT tied at 9. It was Rashard Mendenhall that scored the games first and only TD. He ran off for a 50 yard TD run for a Steelers win. Another notable game included the Titans crushing the Raiders, 38-13. Forget about Oakland being recharged for the year as they couldn't stop Chris Johnson or Vince Young. Johnson ran for 142 Yards and 2 TDs while Young threw for a 154 Yards and 2 TDs. How do they keep winning with Young?

The Sunday Night Game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Redskins was boring for the most part being mainly about defense. The first TD was scored by Redskins CB DeAngelo Hall off a fumble recovery. Romo would finally hit Miles Austin for TD pass in the 3rd quarter. There was a bit of drama at the end though as the Cowboys were down 13-7 with less than 2 minutes left and all their timeouts. They went down the field thanks to some lucky plays and had time for only one more play inside the Red Zone with 3 seconds left in the game. Confusion seemed rampant among the Cowboys but they got a play off Romo somehow found Roy Williams in the end zone for the game winning TD... except that Cowboys lineman Alex Barron was called for holding. The game ended with the Redskins winning 13-7.

A lot of drama and excitement in week one as there were upsets, last minute plays, and blowouts. Feels like Football is back!!!

Where's My Pitchfork?

The 49ers played their first game against Seattle in Qwest Field. This game also featured Pete Carroll's return to the NFL as head coach of the Seahawks. This seemed like a year that the 49ers could get into the playoffs as NFC West champions. So much for that. The 49ers looked awful in this game. The Offense was the key weakness as they couldn't deliver a TD in the moments they were in the red zone and they couldn't get back to the red zone in the 2nd half. The Seahawks defense shut down the running game and walk over the offensive line leaving Alex Smith vulnerable. Smith actually looked well in the beginning but later when the 49ers were forced to go to the passing game, he lost his composure and couldn't get the 49ers back in it. Seahawks destroy the Niners, 31-6.

Smith finished the day 26/45 with 225 passing yards and 2 INTs. Alex Smith proves to be a disappointment yet again. The Seahawks knew that Smith was questionable and shut down the running game to force him to try and win it through the air which he could not do. Alex is no Tom Brady or Peyton Manning. He cannot take a team and carry them to a victory by himself. He needs the run to be effective if he is to be successful. Today it was not. Yes, it might be early to throw in the towel but their next opponent is the New Orleans Saints who are better than the Seahawks.

As for the Seahawks and Pete Carroll, F U!!! A message asked to be relayed from USC.

Wolverines Beat the Irish, Buckeyes Evade the Hurricanes, The Trojans Hold off the Cavaliers and More

College Football continued with another great Saturday of games. One of the highlights was Michigan vs. Notre Dame. This was a classic as Notre Dame fought hard in the 2nd half to come back and take the lead, 24-21. Denard Robinson, QB of the Wolverines, wouldn't take it laying down and lead Michigan to victory scoring the game winning TD with 27 seconds left in regulation. Robinson had a total of 502 total yards, 258 on the ground and 244 through the air. The Wolverines win it, 28-24.

Meanwhile, a showdown between two old rivals was happening at the Horseshoe in Ohio. Ohio State squared off against Miami. Miami's Jacory Harris had a horrible day through the air as he was picked off 4 times by the Buckeyes. Meanwhile, Terrelle Pryor lead the Buckeyes to an impressive win scoring a passing TD and a rushing TD. Buckeyes beat the Hurricanes, 36-24.

There were a few other notable games on Saturday including USC facing Virginia. Though leading for most of the game, USC didn't win it in convincing fashion. 17-14 was the final score for Lane Kiffin's first game at the Coliseum (as USC's head coach anyway). It wasn't a pretty win but a win nonetheless for the Trojans. Meanwhile their PAC-10 rivals, Oregon, faced Tennessee. It seemed that Tennessee might win this game grabbing a 13-3 lead at one point. That didn't last long, however, as Oregon scored 45 unanswered points to win it, 48-13. LaMichael James was a big reason for that win running the ball for a 134 yards and one TD. Other scores include Oklahoma beating Florida State, 47-17, Utah over UNLV 38-10, and TCU destroying Tennessee Tech, 62-7. Of course there was Virginia Tech losing to James Madison, 21-16, as this loss now gives doubt to whether Boise State's win over Virginia Tech was really worth noting. The Broncos chances of getting into the National Title game are dwindling fast.

P.S. Not that they had a chance in the first place. I like the Broncos a lot but being in the WAC hurts their chances so much.

Clijsters Wins the 2010 Women's US Open and The Men's final is set

Kim Clijsters went into Saturday looking to win the US Open on the Women's side. She had already beaten Venus Williams in the Semifinals to get there and would not be denied by Vera Zvonareva. She would dominate the match beating Zvonareva 6-2, 6-1. Clijsters wins her 2nd straight US Open and her third Grand Slam (all at the US Open). A great day for Clijsters as she gets $2.2 Million total from the combination of winning the tournament and coming in 2nd at the US Open Series, whatever that is.

The Men's side has yet to be resolved. In fact they just played the Semis on Saturday. Novak Djokovic faced Roger Federer for a spot in the final. It was a grueling match as Federer seemed to have the upper hand near the end. Djokovic, however, survived a couple of Match Points for Federer and fought on eventually winning the match, 5-7, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2, 7-5. Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal faced Mikhail Youzhny in his Semifinal match. It would prove to be a breeze for him as he won in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4. Nadal now advances to his first US Open Final. Both Nadal and Djokovic have never won the US Open.

P.S. It's official, the Age of Federer is over.

Bruce Pearl's Humiliation

College sports seemingly can't get around scandals for very long. Yesterday's scandal involved Tennessee Men's Basketball Head Coach, Bruce Pearl. The NCAA had apparently conducted a 17th month investigation of his program's recruiting and during that time Pearl had given misleading and incorrect information to investigators. How do we know this? The NCAA sent a letter to Tennessee saying they were going to investigate the entire athletics department. This letter probably spurred Pearl into publicly apologizing for his actions. While the NCAA will likely punish Pearl and the program, Tennessee has already handed out some punishment of their own by reducing Pearl's pay $1.5 Million over the next five years and prohibiting him from participating in off campus recruiting for one year.

It seems like the NCAA is facing a new scandal every 15 minutes. USC recruiting scandals, Professional Agents signing players in the SEC, coaches leaving for new jobs while still working for some other team (Brian Kelly, Lane Kiffin, and Nick Saban to name a few). I know coaches changing jobs isn't scandalous but it should be. College Football and Basketball used to seem noble and innocent long ago but now it's all about money and benefits. With that comes problems. Coach Pearl was just a guy trying to make his program more productive by going outside the rules. These violations seem to keep coming and I wouldn't be surprised to hear of another one before the end of the year.

P.S. The NCAA seems to also be investigating possible recruiting violations involving Tennessee's Football program under Lane Kiffin's one year stint. He learned how to jump ship just like his mentor, Pete Carroll.

Champs Win 2010 Opener

The NFL regular season kicked off today with a rematch of the NFC Championship game featuring the Minnesota Vikings and the New Orleans Saints. This was the Saints homecoming after their Super Bowl victory back in February and they were greeted by 70 thousand strong and even a marching band. The Saints marched in strong as they scored a TD on the opening drive thanks to Drew Brees' passing attack and a TD Pass to Devery Henderson. It was a struggle for both sides to move the ball with good defenses and off season rust. Favre did manage to break down the Saints defense near halftime throwing a TD Pass of his own to Visanthe Shiancoe.

While the first half had the Saints playing at a pass happy rate, they slowed things down in the second half and manage to exploit the ground game. It would lead to a TD run by Pierre Thomas that gave the Saints the lead. They wouldn't let it go either as Favre just couldn't click with his receivers in the second half. The Saints would win it, 14-9. Maybe Brett Favre should've come back for training camp as his timing with his WR's seemed to be off. As for Drew Brees and the Saints, they start their Title Defense with a win.

Super Bowl XLV Prediction

The NFL season starts tomorrow with a rematch of the NFC Championship game, Vikings vs the Saints. A great way to start a season off with Brett Favre trying to get some revenge against the Saints defense. These two teams might also be Super Bowl contenders come February. Other teams have been mentioned in this regard. Speculation is arising from the Dallas Cowboys as they might be over their playoff hump. Green Bay has valid reasons to be excited with Aaron Rodgers and a improved offensive line. The Colts may be great again with Manning and a healthier defense. Rex Ryan knows who his pick is as he takes his "soon to be champions" New York Jets through the season.

So who will hoist the Lombardi Trophy in February? My pick is the Packers. My pick for the AFC is the Colts but the Packers will prevail. They may not be the most talked about team but I've got a feeling that Green Bay will prevail over all. Suck it Favre!!!

The 600 Save Club

Baseball history was made last night by Trevor Hoffman. The 42 year old closer earned his 600th career save as the Brewers beat the Cardinals, 4-2. Hoffman is the first closer ever to 600 saves. Hoffman has been known as a deadly closer in his career, perhaps as good as Mariano Rivera. Though less talked about, Hoffman is still one of the best closers of all time and he proved it again last night with this career achievement. Though Rivera is less than 50 saves behind him, Hoffman reaches the 600 milestone first.

2010 AFC East Preview: ALL HAIL REVIS!!!

The AFC East has waited for all of training camp and the preseason to see if Darrelle Revis will play this year for the Jets. He was holding out for a bigger contract hoping to be the highest paid corner in the league. The Jets knew they were significantly weaker without him and decided to negotiate for a 4 year extension with $32 Million Guaranteed. Though Revis didn't get he wanted, he still got more money and didn't lose any playing time.

As for the rest of the division, the Patriots are trying to cope with a younger defense. Also Randy Moss seems to feel unwanted by the Patriots which leaves Tom Brady in a bit of a predicament. The Miami Dolphins seem better with Brandon Marshall joining their team. With also Chad Henne and Ronnie Brown, they will put up a good fight. The Bills look like the same from last year as they will likely to play another game of Do-si-do with their QB's.

And the Winner of the AFC East will be... The J-E-T-S, JETS JETS JETS!!! Revis is their main guy and with him back they have arguably the best defense in the NFL. True Mark Sanchez isn't a great QB but he was clutch in the playoffs last season which indicates he will improve this year. The Patriots will likely edge out the Dolphins for a Wild Card Spot. Belichick will get this defense working more effectively which will get them into the playoffs. Miami will be close behind the Patriots though. As for the Bills, it looks like they have favorable draft picks on the way.

Reggie Bush May Lose Heisman

The Heisman Trophy is arguably the most coveted MVP award in team sports. It has a great history attached to it and all college football athletes dream of winning it. However, the Heisman's proud history is about to turn a corner. Back in July, USC gave back their copy of Reggie Bush's Heisman Trophy as a sign they want nothing to do with Reggie Bush. Perhaps getting the idea from USC's move, the Heisman Trust is expected to strip Bush of his 2005 Heisman Trophy. The Trust's Spokesperson said they haven't made a decision yet. Still seems bad for Reggie.

Is this a good move by the Heisman Trust? No. This is simply a retroactive decision based on the transgressions of USC and Reggie Bush in the past. It would've been different if they found this out before hand but to take the trophy back now would be silly. Everyone knows that Reggie Bush won that award and nothing the Trust can do will ever change that fact. I do understand why they are doing it (integrity) but it wouldn't change a thing.

P.S. Reports also say that the 2005 Heisman Trophy Winner will be vacant. We still know who won.

Boise State Survives Against Virginia Tech

Boise State has done some amazing things over the last few years that have turned the heads of many college football analysts. Still it hasn't been enough to get them into a BCS Title Game but the Broncos are hoping that this season leads to that opportunity. With so many senior starters returning, the Broncos began their National Title Campaign against the Virgina Tech Hokies. This time, however, they traveled to Washington D.C. and played against Virginia Tech at FedEx Field. What a way to kick off week one.

The Broncos took an early lead in the first quarter and looked to be too much for the Hokies. Virginia Tech started out weak with some key mistakes but managed to regroup. Over time, they fought back and managed to take the lead in the 3rd Quarter. Boise State hung in there though and down 30-26 had one last drive to give with about 2 minutes left and no time outs. They drove down field with their star QB, Kellen Moore, leading the way. Thanks to some clutch passes and a penalty against Virginia Tech, the Broncos were in striking distance and Moore threw a TD pass to Austin Pettis to take the lead 33-30 with 1:09 left in regulation. The Broncos Defense then managed to contain Tyrod Taylor for a turnover on downs that ended the game.

The Boise State Broncos stay in the Title discussion and seem to have a easy road to ahead of them. Ironically, that is the main thorn in their side. Despite this win, they will never impress voters while they play in the WAC Conference.

2010 AFC North Preview: The Three Way Race

This division may be the most chaotic. There are 3 teams that could win the AFC North title... and the Browns. The Cincinnati Bengals seem as Strong as ever and maybe better with T.O. now teaming up with Ochocinco. It seems especially well for Carson Palmer. Don't forget Cedric Benson as the HB who had a comeback 2009 season. The Baltimore Ravens seem reloaded as well as Joe Flacco also got another receiver to throw to. Anquan Boldin will open up the pass attack for Flacco and the defense, while aging, is still good. As for the Steelers, sure they don't have Big Ben for the first 4 games but don't count them out. The Team is still strong around the QB and the defense is back to full form with Troy Polamalu returning as the Strong Safety. The Browns are the only team that doesn't have a shot at a playoff birth. It will likely lead to another developmental year. Maybe Colt McCoy will start.

So who will win the 3 way race? After a complex game of eeny meeny miny moe, I'm going to say the Ravens. While the Steelers or Bengals might overcome this prediction, my gut feeling says that Baltimore will be the winners. However, there is no doubt in my mind that a Wild Card team will come from this division and I would have to chose the Bengals over the Steelers. It's hard to say the Steelers considering they don't have Big Ben for 4 games so the Bengals seem like a safer bet. One thing is for certain, it will be a very fun division to follow.

P.S. A Special Prediction: Colt McCoy will start playing around Week 6. Jake Delhomme won't waste any time in losing the starting job.

2010 AFC South Preview: Colts Will Win the Race

Last year had the Colts take this division virtually unopposed. The Titans, meanwhile, were the opposite of the Broncos starting: bad but finishing well. Still not good enough for the playoffs. But enough about last year, what about 2010? The Colts will always be strong with Peyton Manning leading the way. He seems to hit every receiver he has at some time or another. Then of course the Titans might regroup this year with Vince Young playing the whole season. Chris Johnson might be the most important player on that roster as the speedster seeks more yardage. Whenever the Texans are brought up, the same question gets asked: will they finally make the playoffs? They do have Matt Schaub who threw very well last year and that always threatening Andre Johnson. As for the Jaguars, forget the playoffs. They just want to be able to stay in Jacksonville. The Economy and their recent efforts have them on the edge of leaving the city.

So who will rise up and take the AFC South? The Colts obviously. While the Titans and the Texans might be in the Wild Card Picture, the Colts are still the best team in the division. They won every game they tried to win last year (except the Superbowl) and neither the Titans nor the Texans made enough improvements to challenge them. I think the Texans could actually grab the number two spot but will fall of short of the playoffs again. The Titans will fall to third as Chris Johnson leads the way in the Fantasy world. As for the Jaguars, do I see a moving van?

A Few Debuts, A Duck Assault, and A Minor Upset

Since College football is still fun to watch, it must be talked about. Sorry to the side of me that is angry at the NCAA and the BCS.

In the first week of College Football, there were some notable debuts. One was of course Brian Kelley's first game as Notre Dame's head coach. It was a good one as well as the Irish won 23-13 over Purdue. Always nice to start off with a win. So did Jimbo Fisher in his debut as head coach of the Florida State Seminoles. The Noles beat Samford 59-6. Chris Ponder was a huge difference in this game throwing 4 TDs in the win at home. Some QB notable QB debuts as well as John Brantley and the Gators beat the Miami of Ohio, 34-12, in a rough win. The other QB debut was Garrett Gilbert leading Texas to a win over Rice, 34-17. Maybe not really a debut but his first start. His debut didn't go so well facing Alabama in the National Championship Game.

Some other notable stories include the Oregon Ducks flying all over New Mexico, 72-0. Kenjon Barner filled in nicely for LaMichael James as he ran for 147 yards and 4 TDs. Ducks might be Pac-10 winners again with that offense. Meanwhile, their former QB Jeremiah Masoli made his debut for Ole Miss. but the story was the amazing comeback for Jacksonville State as they fought back to force OT at 34 all. When down 48-41 and on 4th and long, Coty Blanchard threw an amazing pass to the back of the endzone to Kevyn Cooper for the score. They decided to try and end it going for 2 and Blanchard maanged to shovel it to Middleton for the score. Jacksonville State wins 49-48. Certainly the top finish of the week.

The excitement isn't over, though, as Boise State faces Virginia Tech hoping this will get them into the National Title Debate. It won't but GO BRONCOS!!!

P.S. Alabama and Ohio State winning isn't news on week one. Maybe next week or against rivals.

Matt Leinart Cut by the Cardinals

Ken Whisenhunt and the Arizona Cardinals are done with Matt Leinart. The Former Heisman winner has been released from the Cardinals after 4 seasons with the team. Leinart was the 10th overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft but never lived up to expectations while at Arizona. This move seems to indicate that Derek Anderson will be the starting QB for the Cardinals. As for Matt Leinart, he might get an QB opportunity with someone else in the years to come but will likely be only offered back up roles for now. Maybe the Bills would be interested as they seem the most shaky at the QB spot, but they already have 3 QB's. We'll have to wait and see if any team takes Matt Leinart this year.

2010 AFC West Preview: The Other Wild Wild West

The AFC West has had the same script for two years now: the Broncos take a early divisional lead then slump and let the Chargers take the Division title. In a weird way, it's set up for the same thing. The Broncos do seem a little weaker after trading Brandon Marshall away but still have Kyle Orton and Knowshon Moreno. The Chargers still look good but need the to have Vincent Jackson and Marcus McNeil resigned and working out with the team. This leaves an opportunity for the other 3 teams to take the lead while San Diego has to deal with the holdouts. However, the Broncos may not be second best this year as the Raiders seemed to have regrouped with Jason Campbell as their new QB. Also the Chiefs and Matt Cassel may look better this year with new Offensive Coordinator Charlie Weis.

So who will take this dramatic finishing division this year? The Chargers again. San Diego has had control of this division for 4 years now and will not let it go with Phillip Rivers in charge. The Raiders will likely be a close second for a chance at a Wild Card Spot, that is if Al Davis is not calling the plays. Th Chiefs could improve a bit but will likely fall short of a winning record again. The Broncos will make some noise early on as usual and then let everyone down in Denver.

P.S. The Hot Seat is calling for both Tom Cable and Norv Turner.

2010 NFC West Preview: A Golden Opportunity

The Wild Wild West got crazier over the off season with many moves all around. Kurt Warner's retirement has left a gaping hole for the Cardinals that neither Matt Leinart nor Derek Anderson can fill. Whoever they choose, they will just have Larry Fitzgerald to throw to in double coverage thanks to the departure of Anquan Boldin. The Rams do get Sam Bradford which, no doubt, will be in development this year which has been made tougher thanks to the season ending injury of Donnie Avery. Seattle seems unchanged except for their new head coach, Pete Carroll. Seattle could be a dark horse team but one of their "has been" WR's has to step up for Matt Hasselbeck.

So who do I think will win the NFC West: The 49ers!!! Perhaps the most stable NFC West team during the off season working off a 8-8 2009 season. They have a talented WR in Michael Crabtree, a top TE with Vernon Davis, Frank Gore who can run with bursts of speed, a defense that has shown it can be great, and some new additions for that offensive line. There is no excuse why the 49ers shouldn't claim the NFC West... except for Alex Smith. Now Smith did have his best season yet last year with 18 TDs, 12 INTs, and a passer rating of 81.5, but he has proven to be a sloppy QB for most of his career. Smith is the only question mark on this team. If he has a great year, then the 49ers will get into the playoffs. If he waivers, I'll be the first person to run him out of the SF Bay Area. Where is my pitchfork?

2010 NCAA Football Preview: Who Will Be Prom Queen?

College Football starts today after a grueling off season that involved money, teams declaring conference moves, players talking to agents, and even a school giving back a Heisman trophy. We now look forward to another illegitimate season that will no doubt be worthless if you really think about it. Winning the National Championship is only about two things: having a good regular season record and being in a top conference. Sounds like Boise State is already out. Essentially it comes down to popularity as the top two teams in country are decided by voting and not a playoff system like most sports. The NCAA, the schools, and the BCS SHOULD be ashamed of themselves but they are too busy diving into pools of money earned by college athletes.

How will the season go? There will be upsets, blowouts, great performances, a team outside one of the BCS Conferences that steps up, and, at the end, controversy about how the BCS system is flawed. Just like every year. As for a National Title Contender, I DON"T CARE!!! Ask me when we have a playoff system.

2010 NFC South Preview: Who Dat?

The NFC South this year looks really exciting. The Superbowl Champs, the New Orleans Saints, look like they are able to make another good run with Drew Brees and his receiving core. The Falcons, meanwhile, look strong yet again and could go far if Matt Ryan doesn't get injured along the way. Then there's the Panthers who are questionable at best going into the season with Matt Moore who looked terrific at the end of the last year. An issue with the team may be confidence in Matt Moore when they acquired Jimmy Clausen in the NFL Draft. Though that was more of a lucky pick really. If Moore performs well, they are a playoff contender. Then there's the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who are still in development mode with their main QB Josh Freeman. The offense around Freeman doesn't look good with Cadillac Williams being there HB and two rookies, Arrelious Benn and Mike Williams, as their two main WR's.

My NFC South Prediction: Saints will edge out the Falcons. This division has been a wild one in recent years but I think there will be some stability with the Saints repeating as Division Champs. Atlanta could get in as a Wild Card team but has some stiff competition from the NFC East and North. The Panthers and the Bucs will likely be developing players this season. I would be watching Carolina and their QB situation. If the season goes downhill early, they may switch to Jimmy Clausen.

While the Saints seem poised to take the NFC South again, I wouldn't chose them as Superbowl Repeats. It's hard to repeat as champs in any sport and their defense made the right plays at the right time so much last year it just seems unlikely that this lightning will strike twice. My Superbowl pick is... uh? Timmy's stuck in the well? Got to go.

2010 NFC North Preview: Vikings or the Packers?

The NFC North was fun to watch last year with Brett Favre going against the Packers twice and beating them both times. The Vikings were dominate in the North last year with Green Bay taking a Wild Card spot. Both teams this year seem reloaded for a new NFL season. The other two teams in the North might as well be irrelevant. The Bears QB woes with Jay Cutler seem to have not affected their judgement of how to run the team as they have hired the pass happy Offensive Coordinator, Mike Martz. Cutler, however, still has no one exceptional to throw to. Meanwhile, the Lions enter another year of development and analysis to see what else needs improving for the next off season. The addition of Ndamukong Suh will certainly help the defense and the offense looks alright with Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson. The Lions do seem poised to make some surprising upsets this year and, if things go right, could get in the playoff hunt next year.

But we are talking about 2010. So who will conquer the North this season? While it's likely that both teams will get into the playoffs anyway, I choose the Packers to win the division, not the Vikings. The Packers putting off season effort on that vulnerable line will help this team very much and may get them further into the Playoffs. Aaron Rodgers may also take this team further as he seems to be getting better with a QB Rating of 103.2 last year. The Vikings are still a good team and it wouldn't surprise anyone if they won the division again but it just seems unlikely that Brett Favre will have another season like 2009. Players have to drop off in production eventually. Right?

P.S. Unless Brett Favre is really Dorian Gray. Think about it. He still as giddy as a school boy and he is clearly ruining his image.