The London 49ers Beat the Broncos

Though technically a home game for the 49ers, it was really a neutral environment for them and the Broncos as they played the annual NFL Game in London. As for the 49ers, they had to take on Denver without their starting QB, Alex Smith. Instead of going to David Carr, they went with Troy Smith at QB. The game started off slow as it was 3-0 with the 49ers leading at half time. The Broncos grabbed a 10-3 lead later on with a Tim Tebow TD run and a Matt Prater Field Goal. The 49ers would not lose hope, though, as Troy Smith would score a TD on the ground and then threw a TD later to Michael Crabtree. Frank Gore would score a rushing TD next to help seal the victory for the 49ers, 24-16.

Slow start for both sides but Troy Smith really came out and had a good second half in order for the 49ers to win. Perhaps with another good week behind center, Troy Smith will remain the starting QB. However, Alex Smith may be healthy enough to play after next weeks bye. DAMN IT!!!

A Rookie on the Mound? What a Treat!!!

The World Series continued on Halloween and it was a Trick for Texas and a Treat for San Francisco. The Giants put Madison Bumgarner, a rookie, on the mound to face the powerful Rangers' lineup. He Tricked them all night long as he pitched 8 innings allowing only 3 hits and no runs. Freddy Sanchez would be a boost defensively and Aubrey Huff would hit a 2 run Home Run in the 3rd. Two more runs would later score to give the Giants a 4-0 win over the Rangers. The Giants are now treated to a 3-1 lead in the series. Only one more is needed to be called champions.

A bit of worry for the Giants sending a second lefty to the mound after what the Rangers did to Jonathan Sanchez. But Bumgarner was cool and didn't succumb to the pressure all night long. Good for him. As for the Rangers, it's the second time they've been shutout in the series and the 2nd time they've been shut out at home all year long. Tomorrow's Game 5 kicks off the month of November with Tim Lincecum and Cliff Lee facing off for the second time. Will this round be a pitchers duel or another hitters showcase?

Two More Top Teams Fall, Ducks and Tigers Prevail, Utah Evades an Upset and More

The theme of upsets carried into this week of College Football as the Michigan State Spartans and the Missouri Tigers fell to their respective opponents. The Iowa Hawkeyes finally brought down the "300" crowd, 37-6. 3 INTs by Kirk Cousins and 3 TD passes by Ricki Stanzi brought down this BCS hopeful. Missouri fell to Nebraska, 31-17, with much of the credit going to their quick RB Roy Helu Jr. who ran for 307 Yards and 3 TDs. These two loses certainly rock the BCS boat.

As for the top two teams, they did just fine. Auburn managed to get by Ole Miss, beating them 51-31. Cameron Newton threw pretty well with 209 Yards and 2 TDs while the rushing attack was lead by Michael Dyer who ran for 180 Yards and 1 TD. As for #2, Oregon went down to the LA Coliseum to take on USC. The Trojans managed to keep pace with the Ducks for a while and even grabbed the lead a couple times. But the Ducks would eventually pull away and win it, 53-32. Oregon's Darron Thomas was a key figure with his 288 Passing Yards, 4 TDs and 1 INT, along with RB LaMichael James who ran for 239 Yards and 3 TDs. The Ducks continue to fly high.

As for some other top teams, Utah would hold off the Air Force long enough to win, 28-23. It was close at the end but the upset was halted, anyway, due to 5 turnovers committed by Air Force. Meanwhile, their MWC rivals, TCU, faced UNLV. The Horned Frogs would beat the Rebels, 48-6. Andy Dalton's 252 Passing Yards, 2 Passing TDs and 1 Rushing TD helps keep his team undefeated. Utah and TCU face off next week in Utah. In the WAC earlier this week, Boise State beat Louisiana Tech, 49-20. Though a win, many are citing a lack of style points from the Broncos. They won the game, didn't they? Isn't that what matters? Oklahoma and Ohio State beat their respective opponents impressively as the Sooners beat Colorado, 43-10, and the Buckeyes beat Minnesota, 52-10. These two victories help keep them close in case more top level teams should fall behind.

Another week passes as Auburn and Oregon remain at the top. Pity about Michigan State and Missouri but they are still alive in their conference as there is no undefeated team in the Big Ten or Big 12. Still a very wild scenario.

Giants Grab a 2-0 Series Lead

The pitching duel that everyone expected in Game 1 came in Game 2 with C.J. Wilson and Matt Cain. These two pitchers played very well as Wilson allowed 2 earned in his 6 innings while Cain allowed no runs at all in his 7 2/3 innings. The Rangers were close to breaking into the runs column against Cain like Ian Kinsler's near home run shot to center in the 5th inning. The ball just bounced off the very top of the wall. That was was lucky for the Giants the ball didn't go over as Cain then managed to work out of that inning. Edgar Renteria would hit a Solo Home Run in the 5th and Juan Uribe would bloop in Cody Ross in the 7th to get a 2-0 Giants lead. The Giants would really break it open in the 8th inning as they added 7 more runs thanks to 4 straight walks and 3 more hits. Giants take a this one, 9-0, and now have a 2-0 World Series lead as they head to Arlington.

The Giants continue to surprise with their manufacturing of runs and unexpected big innings. Though I must say that the Rangers really shot themselves in the foot in the 8th inning. They needed only one out to send it to the 9th but they couldn't find the strike zone. Saturday's game at Arlington will feature Jonathan Sanchez dueling Colby Lewis in a hitter's ballpark. Keep it up Giants.

Giants Take Game 1 of the World Series

Game 1 of the World Series had a dream match up of Cliff Lee against Tim Lincecum. Another pitching duel for the ages... potentially. It was not that at all. Both pitchers played well below par but who was worse? Cliff Lee , surprisingly. He was as cool as ice for a while but the Giants eventually got to him in the 5th inning putting on 6 runs. Lee would leave giving up 6 earned runs in the ball game (not all in that inning). The Giants would manage to extend their lead in the 8th and went on to win it, 11-7, and take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Lee had to go through the Rays and the Yankees but the one team that actually beat him in the postseason was the Giants? I must say I was expecting Lee to be lights out while Timmy tried to keep up. Timmy didn't do great himself as he allowed 4 earned runs but he pitched long enough for that bullpen to take over. Luckily the Giants bats came alive. Game 2 is tonight with the C.J. Wilson and Matt Cain as the starting pitchers.

Paul the Octopus: A Modern Day Nostradamus

The World has lost one of the it's most beloved analysts and friends: Paul the Octopus. Of course Paul is remembered as the Octopus who correctly predicted every outcome of Germany's games at the World Cup and also the World Cup Final itself. It was a bit strange in many ways that he did predict these correctly considering he was just getting food out of one box or the other. He died of natural causes and will be cremated. The world has lost a friend and Vegas has lost a sure thing. Rest in Peace, Paul.

Controversial Fumble in Miami, Iron Man Getting Rusty, What Happen to Them Cowboys and More

Week 7 already had a different tone going into it considering the NFL is cracking down on violent hits. It wouldn't be an issue this week but there would still be some controversy. At the end of the Steelers-Dolphins game, it was 3rd and goal for the Steelers as they looked to regain the lead. Big Ben Roethlisberger decided to tuck it and run for the TD. He initially scored a TD while fumbling the ball. The play would be challenged and the refs overturned the TD saying that the ball started to come out before it crossed the goal line. However, because the refs stopped seeing who had the ball when one ref ruled it a TD, that led to the refs saying they couldn't determine who had the ball (even though a Dolphins player came up with it) so they ruled the Steelers had it at the half yard mark. Jeff Reed would kick a Field Goal and that would win the game for the Steelers, 23-22. What a ripoff for Miami. Why can't the refs see who had the ball in a fumble like that just in case it is reviewed? That goes for TD runs and plays where the ball carrier is ruled down.

As for the other games, the Patriots barely got the win over the Chargers, 23-20. Chargers shot themselves in the foot 4 times with 4 turnovers. Man they are good at giving a game away. So are the Saints who also turned the ball over 4 times thanks to Drew Brees throwing 4 INTs... TO THE BROWNS!!! The Saints would lose the game, 30-17... TO THE BROWNS!!! And, since we're going with 4's, the Redskins' DeAngelo Hall picked off Jay Cutler 4 times in the Redskins win over the Bears, 17-14. One of those was run back for a 92 Yard TD. I don't know if I should say "Hall is on fire" or "Cutler is back to normal."

As for the Prime Time Games, the Vikings would face the Packers at Lambeau Field where the Packers would beat Favre, 28-24. This was the first time Favre has lost at Lambeau as part of another team and it might be his last. He threw 1 TD and 3 INTs last night and it is apparent that he has 2 fractures in his ankle that could end his 291 consecutive games started streak. Perhaps Father Time has finally caught up to Favre. Injury would loom over another QB in the Monday night game when Tony Romo came out of the Giants-Cowboys game in the 2nd Quarter when Michael Boley tackled him into the ground (cleanly) and broke his collarbone. I hate to say it but it needs to be said. We can't afford to tackle any more Quarterbacks. We need to institute a two hand touch rule on QB's. And also the Cowboys are now 1-5 as they lose to the Giants, 41-35. The Cowboys have to be done for the year considering their record and the possibility of losing Romo for a few games.

Football seems alright since the devastating hits announcement, except for two injured QB's and a loophole in the rules. But a great week nonetheless.

P.S. Yes I know the 49ers lost to the Panthers, 23-20. But the way I see it is that we are almost as good as the Cowboys. Wait.

P.P.S. I'm not serious about the two hand touch with the QB's. Flags around their hips would do just fine.

The Zoo Brings Down Oklahoma, Tigers Beat the Tigers, Badgers Keep Rolling and More

The Last two weeks featured the number one ranked teams upset while visiting conference opponents. Alabama fell to South Carolina and then Ohio State fell to Wisconsin. Why should this week be any different? The #1 BCS Ranked ranked Oklahoma visited the Missouri Tigers. Missouri pulled of some good plays like the kick off return for a TD to start the game by Gahn McGaffie. The Tigers managed to stay a step ahead of the Sooners except for the Sooners' brief lead in the third quarter. Turnovers and a great Missouri offense would eventually doom Oklahoma as the Tigers knock off the Sooners, 36-27, making it the third straight week #1 has been knocked off.

Meanwhile a fight for the #1 Spot was playing out in the SEC between two more Tigers, LSU vs. Auburn. Auburn's 440 rushing yards would eventually out do LSU as Onterio McCalebb ran for a 70 yard TD which turned out to be the winning score. Auburn won the Tiger Bowl, 24-17. Auburn would later be named #1 in the BCS standings. Meanwhile, the SEC saw Alabama make their re climb back to the top by beating Tennessee, 41-10. The Running combo of Trent Richardson and Mark Ingram helped them greatly.

As for the other top teams, a Big Ten match up between Wisconsin and Iowa played out for a dramatic ending. This tight game would end with Wisconsin winning, 31-30, thanks to Montee Ball's run at the end and hand extension for the TD. Iowa wouldn't have time at the end for a comeback as they ran out of time outs. Michigan State continues to chug along as they beat Northwestern, 35-27. Kirk Cousins would give them the lead back with 2:00 to go by throwing a TD pass to B.j. Cunningham. Then the Spartans scored again in less than a minute with a TD run by Edwin Baker. As for the MWC, TCU and Utah win their respective games; the Horned Frogs beat Air Force, 38-7, and the Utes beat Colorado State, 59-6.

Auburn now is #1 as Oregon takes #2 as they beat UCLA, 60-13. What about Boise State?

GIANTS TAKE THE NL PENNANT!!!

Game 6 of the NLCS commenced in Philadelphia as the Giants looked to close out the series. The Phillies scored the first two runs but the Giants would come back and tie it in the 3rd inning with a Aubrey Huff single and a error by Ryan Howard to get Huff home. Jonathan Sanchez would leave the game due to bad pitching and pegging Chase Utley. The game looked lost as the Giants bullpen had to pitch the rest of the game without giving up a run. Somehow, they did just that. 5 different pitchers came in for the Giants and held the Phillies at bay. Juan Uribe would finally break the tie in the 8th with a Solo Home Run to right field that barely cleared the fence. Brian Wilson would just close the game with the tying run on second by striking out Ryan Howard with a back door slider. The Giants win, 3-2, and win the series, 4-2. They're heading to the World Series for the first time since 2002.

This whole time the Phillies were picked as the easy favorites for the World Series against the Yankees but nobody picked the Giants against the Texas Rangers. This Rag Tag Giants team managed to pull off an upset with Cody Ross as the NLCS MVP. Almost two months ago, Ross was on the Marlins and now through waivers and a great performance, he is headed to the World Series. Perhaps not the World Series the majority of America expected or wanted but it is certainly and a very intriguing one. The Rangers look like the favorite with Cliff Lee, their Bullpen, and their hitting lead by Josh Hamilton. Game 1 of the World Series starts Wednesday at AT&T Park.

P.S. The Phillies were also favored with similar strengths. Something to think about.

GOODBYE YANKEES, HELLO RANGERS!!!

Even though the Giants missed an opportunity to clinch the NL Pennant in San Francisco, I am still very happy. Game 6 of the ALCS came with the Rangers looking to clinch the AL Pennant at their home stadium in Arlington. The game would be tight for a while until the 5th inning when the bats of the Rangers came alive. First Vladimir Guerrero hit a double that scored 2 runs and then Nelson Cruz would hit a home run that scored 2 more. Meanwhile Colby Lewis held the Yanks to one run in 8 innings of work. Neftali Feliz would close the 9th and seal the 6-1 victory. The Rangers eliminate the Yankees and go on to their first World Series ever.

The AL East will not be at the World Series this year after 3 straight appearances by 3 different teams. As for the Rangers, it's always great to hear a team get their first ever pennant, especially a team that has had such a bad history in the postseason. Cliff Lee will undoubtedly be the starter for Game 1 waiting for the Giants or the Phillies.

P.S. IT BETTER BE THE GIANTS!!!

Giants Walk Off with Game 4 and Yankees Stay Alive

Postseason baseball got more exciting today with Game 4 of the NLCS. The Phillies needed a win to even the series at 2-2 while the Giants were looking to extend their edge. While pitching has dominated the playoffs, it would not dominate this game as both Joe Blanton and Madison Bumgarner were pulled in the 5th. This game would go back and forth in the later innings until it was tied at 5 in the bottom of the 9th. Aubrey Huff got on first with a single and then Buster Posey hit a single to move Huff to third. Juan Uribe then came to the plate and hit a deep fly ball to get Huff home and score the winning run. Giants win 6-5 and take a 3-1 series lead. Phillies now face the same the situation that the Yankees have.

Speaking of the Yankees, they played Game 5 of the ALCS earlier that day hoping to stay alive in October. CC Sabathia allowed 11 hits in his 6 innings but only 2 runs were scored on his watch. Meanwhile, the Yankees' bats got them the lead and they didn't look back as they won, 7-2. They force a Game 6 in Arlington set for Friday.

Giants look to seal the deal tonight with Lincecum going against Halladay again. Will these two be at their best tonight?

Giants Regain Their Edge and The Yankees are in Trouble

More baseball postseason action was played yesterday with two more great games. First was Game 3 of the NLCS as the Giants looked to get their one game lead back as they took on the Phillies at AT&T Park. Matt Cain looked to overpower the Phillies and to outlast Cole Hamels. He would accomplish both of those goals. Hamels would allow 3 runs in 6 innings while Cain had 7 shut out innings with 5 K's. Though he hit a couple of batters, he did not allow any runs which is the important part. As for offense, Cody Ross comes through again as he gets a RBI single in the 5th to get the scoring started for the Giants. The Giants would tack on two more and win the game, 3-0. They now have a 2-1 series lead.

As for the ALCS, the Rangers had to make due without Cliff Lee. Tommy Hunter would come out in the 4th inning as he allowed 3 runs. Derek Holland came in and plugged the whole right up for 3.2 innings. Meanwhile, Bengie Molina came out and hit a 3 run home run in the 6th to give the Rangers the lead. Texas would never look back and went on to win the game, 10-3. They now have a 3-1 series advantage.

The Yankees now have their backs against the wall needing to win 3 straight games to get to the World Series. It seems even worse knowing that Cliff Lee would be the last stop of that stretch. As for the Giants, they look good with that great pitching rotation as they have two more games at home.

New Managers for Cubs and Braves

While the baseball season has not ended yet, there are some preparing for the next season. The Braves have already named Fredi Gonzalez as their new manager earlier this month. He used to be the Braves third base coach for a number of years but more recently has been manager of the Florida Marlins. He was fired from that job, however, back in June. As for the Cubs, they have hired a new manager as well. Mike Quade has been named the permanent manager of the team. He was the interim manager when Lou Piniella retired and had a 24-13 record leading the team. The Cubs must have been impressed with the team's output and his past dedication as the Manager of their minor league affiliate, the Iowa Cubs, and then as the third base coach for the them.

So much for Ryne Sandberg taking over or the speculation that Joe Girardi might come home to Chicago after this season. Joe probably wouldn't have left anyway. Good luck to Fredi and Mike as they take over for a couple of Hall of Fame managers.

Football or Softball?

This weekend had some cruel hits in the game of football with the most notable being the hit from Dunta Robinson on DeSean Jackson. Jackson is now out with a concussion. Two other concussion like hits were given to Josh Cribbs and Mohamed Massaquoi by James Harrison. Who should probably be given more attention is Rutgers DT Eric LeGrand as he made a big hit on special teams and didn't get up. He was taken to the hospital and after some surgery, he was discovered to be paralyzed from the neck down. Truly a tragic situation. Because of the Jackson concussion, the Harrison hits, and the LeGrand hospitalization (anyone not taking this into account is a fool), the NFL will announce that even first time offenders of "Devastating Hits" and "Head Shots" will face suspension.

Is this the right thing to do or is this an overreaction? I can't say either way. Football is a violent game that is loved by millions for its big hits and brutality. This vague ruling may alter the game too much as it leaves many wondering on what exactly a "Devastating Hit" is? This ruling could lead to players holding back and making more mistakes because they don't want to be suspended. This in turn may lead to a less extreme game that people may not want to see. But perhaps the craving for big hits has gone too far. Surely there has to a be a limit so that a major injuries like LeGrand's and more concussions don't happen. There has been more awareness to concussions in recent years and what they can do to a person in the short and long term.

Perhaps society has gone too far with brutality and, as a result, football needs to be monitored more carefully. Then again, the sport may have changed too dramatically because of this vague ruling.

P.S. Anyone now for 18 Games?

Phillies Even NLCS and Cliff Lee Paralyzes the Yankees

The NLCS continued last night and had the Phillies looking to even the series up at 1-1. They would acheive that goal with Roy Oswalt on the mound. He pitched 8 innings, allowed one run, and struckout 9. The Phillies would blow it open in the 7th with four runs and win it, 6-1. Earlier tonight, game 3 of the ALCS would be played in New York as Cliff Lee looked to contain the Yankees. He did just that with 8 shut out innings and 13 strikeouts. The Rangers would win this 8-0 thanks to Lee and a great 9th inning for the Rangers. Rangers now have a 2-1 series edge.

Both of the Championship Series' continue tomorrow as the Giants look for a win at home while the Yankees look to even their series. Don't screw up now, Cain.

Week 6: Cowboys Worse Than Vikings, Branch Back in New England, Kolb Picks Apart Falcons and More

When the season started, the Cowboys vs. Vikings Week 6 match up was probably looked at with a lot more vigor and anticipation. However, the excitement was lessened by the fact that both teams were 1-3 entering the day. The Vikings did not especially look great but got the win anyway, 24-21 thanks to more foul play by the Cowboys. How do you get called for an excessive celebration penalty for the 2nd week in a row? Romo was good again while being bad at the same time with 3 TD passes and 2 INTs. Favre threw 1 TD but did not throw an INT. Probably no INT's more important at this point. Moss caught 5 receptions for 55 yards in his Minnesota return.

Meanwhile on Moss' old team, the New England had a re-debut of their own as Deion Branch played his game back in a Patriots uniform. He would come in handy as well helping the Pats come back from a 10 point deficit. Branch would get 9 receptions for 98 yards and a TD catch. The Pats would win it in OT on a Gostkowski Field Goal, 23-20. Though not really a re-debut, it would feel like one as Big Ben Roethlisberger made him first start since his suspension. He would help in destroying the Browns and ruining Colt McCoy's NFL debut with a Steelers win, 28-10. Big Ben threw for 257 yards, 3 TDs and 1 INT.

Enough with debuts and comebacks; what about teams that had something to prove. The Saints showed they were still the dominate team in the NFC South by beating the up and rising Bucs, 31-6. Drew Brees 263 passing yards, 3 passing TDs, and 1 INT showed the NFL that the Saints can still score. The St. Louis Rams upset the Chargers, 20-17, as they hope to have a meaningful season with Chad Bradford. Will there be another rookie QB leading a team in the playoffs? Maybe Kevin Kolb had more to prove than a whole team as he lead the Eagles in a all bird battle with the Falcons and won, 31-17. Kolb threw for 326 Yards, 3 TDs, and 1 INT in hopes of regaining the starting job permanently.

The Eagles are now 4-2 as they have yet to have a sure starting QB while their rivals, the Cowboys, keep making mistakes and are now 1-4. This is a weird situation.

49ers Finally Win

After 5 weeks of misery, close games, and blowouts, the 49ers finally won a game. They took part in another edition of the Battle of the Bay facing the Oakland Raiders. It looked like that the Raiders might actually get another win maintaining a 6-3 lead. Alex Smith, though, would get the 49ers on top throwing a TD Pass to Michael Crabtree for 32 Yards at the end of the 3rd Quarter. Smith would later throw another TD Pass to Vernon Davis. The 49ers held the lead and won, 17-9. They are now 1-5.

How did we win? Well the rushing attack actually worked in this game as Frank Gore ran for 149 Yards. Also the 49ers defense was good again allowing no TDs and getting 2 INTs off Jason Campbell. Probably the most important thing though was committing no turnovers. No INTs or fumbles held back the 49ers and cost them the game. The offense did just well enough to win: nothing more, nothing less. As for the road ahead, we could win most of them but it is highly unlikely that the 49ers will make the playoffs. Sorry Jed York.

Number 1 Falls Again, Texas Busts Nebraska, Florida Plunges Deeper and More

Last week had #1 Alabama fall to South Carolina and give the #1 spot to Ohio State. The Buckeyes did not take advantage of that. Ohio State visited #18 Wisconsin looking to stay #1 but getting some very rough treatment. Terrelle Pryor was shut down while Badger RB, John Clay scored 2 Rushing TDs to help his team. Good rushing and some luck gave the Badgers the win, 31-18. The Buckeyes fall as Oregon looks to take the #1 spot away. Meanwhile, Boise State looks good for #2 as they demolish another WAC Team, San Jose State, 48-0.

As for the other tops teams, TCU takes down BYU, 31-3. Andy Dalton's 4 TD passes keep the Horned Frogs near the top of the polls. #7 Auburn takes out #12 Arkansas as they score 28 unanswered points at the end to win it, 65-43. 330 combined rushing yards and 6 combined rushing TDs carried the Tigers to victory. Oklahoma continues to make their presence known shutting out Iowa State, 52-0. Landry Jones was key as he threw for 334 Yards and 3 TDs in the win.

Some tops teams, however, take a tumble down the polls. Nebraska looked locked for a BCS Bowl Game while those hopes are now in jeopardy thanks to Texas. Garrett Gilbert managed to get the Longhorns the win by scoring 2 Rushing TDs and getting 71 rushing yard as well. I didn't know he could run. Nebraska's offense was incapacitated as their only TD was off a Punt Return. Texas wins, 20-13. South Carolina would also fall after beating Alabama the week before. Kentucky beat the Gamecocks, 31-28, by making a comeback and scoring the game winning TD threw the air to Randall Cobb with 1:15 left in the game. The Once powerful Florida loses their third straight game, this time to Mississippi State, 10-7. The Gators defense was there but so was the Bulldog's.

Another upset will certainly shake things up a lot. Can Boise State or TCU actually get to the National Title Game. At this rate, both of them might get in.

Lincecum Edges Halladay and the ALCS Tied 1-1

Game 1 of the NLCS featured Tim Lincecum facing Roy Halladay in a dream pitching match up. Overall it fell short of expectations. While each pitcher did fine, neither did phenomenally. Lincecum allowed 3 runs in 7 innings while Halladay allowed 4 Runs in 7 innings. That score line would stay as the Giants take Game 1, 4-3. Meanwhile, the ALCS had the Rangers seeking a game 2 victory after a game 1 disappointment. The Rangers would grab an early lead once more only this time they were able to hold on to their lead. Rangers tie the series 1-1.

The NLCS continues tomorrow with Jonathan Sanchez going against Roy Oswalt while game 3 of the ALCS continues Monday.

Red Sox Purchase the Reds

John Henry does have sway in the world. Not just with the Boston Red Sox and baseball but Football too (or Futbal). After some court fights with the previous owners, New England Sports Ventures, who is lead by John Henry, has bought Liverpool F.C. for $476 Million. This high profile Football Club might now be turned around by the new owners as Henry stated "We are committed first and foremost to winning." Of course any new owner is going to say something that obvious to give their fan base some excitement. This may be true, however, as John Henry's group oversaw 2 World Series Titles for the Red Sox which ended the Curse. Perhaps he can help Liverpool get a league title and a European Cup. Either way, LETS GO REDS!!!

P.S. Maybe Theo Epstein did more for the team but Henry was still there.

Does Boise State Really Deserve Number 1?

Now this sounds like a situation that would be null and void if we had a playoff system in College Football. But I've already hit this bell once or twice... okay, every Saturday. Apparently how it stands, Boise State would likely be the the #1 team when the BCS Standings come out for the first time this weekend. While there is no doubt in my mind that they won't stay there by season's end or even be in the top two, do they deserve the number 1 spot at all? My answer is yes.

I'm not just saying this because I like the Broncos a lot but because of their overall work material over the past two seasons. Critics of this thought process will say "you can't base anything on the season before." But that's just it. College Football analysts do it all the time. They give out poll numbers at the beginning of the year for heavens sake. That is partially based on who's returning the next season. A lot of starters from Boise State's team are returning Seniors so you have to look at last years' performance. They are 19-0 going back to last season.

As for the argument of they don't have worthy opponents to face or they wouldn't stand up to a BCS Conference schedule... I don't have an argument. It's not Boise State's fault they got TCU in the Fiesta Bowl instead of a BCS team. All I can say is that how you look at a school is based on their history and BSU have looked very good in the past few years winning two Fiesta Bowls. Notre Dame is still regarded as a good program and they stink. If there is a Non BCS team that deserves a chance at a National Title, it's Boise State of 2010... assuming they don't lose. In that case, I take everything back.

P.S. This controversy can all go away with a Playoff System.

Rangers to Face Yankees in ALCS

The deciding Game 5 of the Rangers and Rays took place in Tampa Bay (OK technically St. Pete's). So far neither team has won at home and that trend wouldn't end in Game 5. Cliff Lee was called to pitch one more masterful game and he did by pitching a complete game allowing 1 ER and striking out 11. The Rangers offense would piece together runs throughout as they won, 5-1, and beat the Rays. It's a pity they now have to face the Yankees who just dismantled the Twins, again. Cliff Lee won't pitch Game 1 in the ALCS but look for him to pitch by Game 3. The League Championships Series' start Friday with the Yankees and the Rangers. Giants and Phillies start their series Saturday.

NHL 2010/11 Season: It's Already Back?

Okay I did not know that Hockey was back. It gets such little coverage in the beginning of the season that it's hard to tell. I know it comes back this time of year but I don't know what to make of it. The Blackhawks don't look like a Stanley Cup favorite as they had to get rid of a bunch of players because of cap space issues. Detroit always looks like a favorite so I won't say them. IT'S TOO OBVIOUS!!! San Jose won't win it because they always fall short in the postseason. Also the Caps won't win because they rely too much on Ovechkin. That just leaves the New Jersey Devils. They're my Stanley Cup favorite for the 2010/11 season. Now go out there and prove me wrong.

P.S. I'm so phoning this guess in. Imagine my preview for the 2010/11 NBA Season. I'll say it now: Lakers.

Redskins Prevail in OT, Ton of Surprises, Randy Moss Back in Purple and More

Week 5 in the NFL featured some good games and answered further questions about how good some teams are. One test of strengths was the Packers vs. the Redskins. A low scoring game that involved a Redskins comeback and also a missed field goal by Mason Crosby that hit the upright. In OT, Washington got their chance to win the game as Graham Gano kicked a 33 Yard Field Goal to win it, 16-13. Another test was for the Chiefs as they faced the Colts. They didn't allow a TD from Peyton Manning and actually didn't allow a TD until late in the 4th Quarter when Mike Hart scored an 11 Yard TD run. Impressive but they fall short, 19-9. Maybe if their QB, Matt Cassell, where to play better as well.

Tampa Bay continues to surprise the league as they upset the Bengals, 24-21. Josh Freeman leads the Bucs downfield for a game tying TD pass to Mike Williams with just 1:26 to go in regulation. Thanks to a Bobby Piscitelli INT with less than 30 seconds to go, Connor Barth managed to score the game winning Field with just 1 second left. Great win for Tampa as they start to look like a legitimate threat. Titans also make a surprise of their own as they defeat the Cowboys in Dallas, 34-27. Mistakes and turnovers, including Tony Romo's 3 INTs, cost the Cowboys as they are now 1-3. Titans look good at 3-2.

Maybe the biggest shocker of the week came when the Saints lost to the Cardinals, 30-20, as Arizona debuted Max Hall in his first career start. No offensive TDs for the Cardinals (unless you count the fumble recovery by Levi Brown) and yet they prevail over the Champs. Some key turnovers cost Drew Brees and the Saints. Ironic huh? And yet there are more stunners. The Oakland Raiders beat the San Diego Chargers, 35-27. Perhaps this win will give back Jason Campbell's starting role.

As for a normal game, the Vikings and the Jets faced off on Monday Night as Randy Moss made his Minnesota Re-debut. He caught 4 balls for 81 yards and 1 TD which turned out to be Brett Favre's 500 career TD pass. Despite two more TD passes from Favre, the Jets win, 29-20, thanks to a 29 Yard INT TD return by Dwight Lowery with 1:30 to go in regulation. So much for that Favre comeback win.

Week 5 ends with more surprises and upsets than college. Another example that shows the pros are better.

P.S. Yes I know the 49ers lost to the Eagles, 27-24. Just when you think Alex Smith is getting good, he throw an INT to seal the loss. I hear great things about Kellen Moore.

Giants Move On to the NLCS

Game 4 of the Giants and the Braves series kicked off in Atlanta as the Giants looked to advance. Derek Lowe started for the Braves and held back the Giants until the 6th when Cody Ross tied the game with a home run. Brian McCann would then hit a homer himself to give the Braves the lead back at 2-1. However, Lowe got into trouble in the 6th loading the bases with a walk. He was pulled and after a controversial throw to 2nd (INSTANT REPLAY!!!) and then a single by Cody Ross, the Giants had the lead 3-2. Brian Wilson would come in the 9th and hold back the Braves for the win at 3-2. Giants take the series, 3 games to 1.

Giants now go on to face the a much tougher opponent: the Phillies. At least they will have a fresh Tim Lincecum ready to pitch.

P.S. But they will have Roy Halladay. DAMN IT!!!

Two Sweeps, Rays Even It Up, and A Buckner Sighting

This weekend proved to be very intersting unless you're the Twins or the Reds who were elminated by the Yankees and Phillies. They now go on to their respective LCS' to wait for their opponent. The Yankees are waiting for the Rangers or the Rays as the Rays have come back and tied the series at 2-2 winning games 3 and 4. They go back to Tampa Bay for the decisive game 5. As for the Phillies, they are waiting for either the Giants or the Braves. Brooks Conrad of the Braves made 3 errors one of which went through his legs and allowed the game winning run to score for the Giants. Giants take a 2-1 series lead winning game 3, 3-2.

Four teams are fighting for two spots. Who's it going to be?

P.S. Seriously who? My bookie needs to my picks.

Alabama Falls, Spartans Beat the Wolverines, Florida Drops Another and More

One of the best moments in South Carolina history came when they faced the Number 1 team in the country, Alabama. They had never defeated a #1 team before but they ignored that fact and came out and took control of the game. Stephen Garcia threw 3 TDs passes to give the Gamecocks the lead 21-9 at half time. As expected, the Crimson tide regrouped a bit at the half and managed to bring it within 7 a couple of times. However the shift of momentum didn't stop South Carolina as they answered with a couple TDs by Marcus Lattimore. The Gamecocks would hold off McElroy and pull of the upset of the year, 35-21. The Crimson Tide's 19 game winning streak is ended by #19 South Carolina. As for the Number 2 and 3 teams, they both passed with flying colors. Ohio State beat Indiana, 38-10, and Oregon beat Washington State, 43-23.

Another SEC rivalry faced off in Gainesville featuring Florida and LSU. LSU finds a way to win this one with a TD pass to Terrence Toliver from Jarrett Lee leaving just 6 seconds left in regulation. LSU wins, 33-29. Meanwhile an all Michigan showdown happened at the Big House with Michigan state vs. Michigan. The lack of defense by the Wolverines was going to come back and haunt them sometime and it certainly did here. 249 rushing yards and 3 Rushing Tds helped fuel the Spartans. Denard Robinson was figured out finally as he was picked off 3 times and limited to under a 100 yards running. Spartans blowout the Wolverines, 34-17.

Another in state rivalry featured Florida State vs. Miami. The Seminoles won this game, 45-17, thanks to a great rushing attack of 298 yards and 4 rushing TDs. Boise State and TCU win their games respectively as they try to remain relevant. The Broncos beat Toledo, 57-14, and TCU beats Wyoming, 45-0. Regrettably, their national presence is slipping away. Auburn wins another game late in regulation beating Kentucky, 37-34, thanks to a game winning Wes Byrum field Goal as time expired. They got to stop cutting it close.

Alabama's loss will push them back in the polls and will likely put Ohio State at #1 and Oregon at #2. It will be interesting to see where #19 South Carolina ends up after this week.

4 Run Lead Not Good Enough

The NL's two Division Series' featured game 2 of the Reds vs. the Phillies and the Giants vs. the Braves. Both of these games had one thing in common: comeback. The Reds and the Giants both at one point had 4-0 leads over their opponents. It looked like the Giants were going up 2-0 in the series while the Reds would've tied the series at 1-1. Neither of which had happened. The Phillies came back and managed to beat up the Reds thanks to some crucial errors and clutch hitting. Phillies win, 7-4, and grab a 2-0 series lead. The Giants couldn't hold their lead either as the 8th inning would doom them thanks to an error and an Adrian Gonzalez double. The Giants would lose in 11 innings, 5-4, thanks to Rick Ankiel's Home Run into McCovey Cove. The Braves tie the series at 1-1.

The Giants and the Reds learn that no lead is a safe lead, especially in the playoffs.

P.S. I would tell the Twins this but they never seem to learn. OH SNAP!!!

Lincecum Fans 14 in Win and Yankees and Rangers Up 2 Games

Tim Lincecum made his first postseason start and didn't do much worse than Roy Halladay did. Timmy pitched the shutout with 14 K's, 2 hits allowed, and one walk. As for the Giants offense, Cody Ross hit in Buster Posey in the 4th after Posey got into scoring position by stealing second and getting a favorable and erroneous 'Safe' call by the umpire. I think we gained a Instant Replay advocate with the Atlanta Braves. That one run would be it as the Giants beat the Braves, 1-0, and lead the series, 1-0.

Meanwhile the Yankees and the Rangers continued their luck despite being the away teams. The Yankees beat the Twins, 5-2, and the Rangers beat the Rays, 6-0. Both the Yankees and the Rangers have a 2-0 series lead against their respective opponents. Not a good spot for the Rays or the Twins as they need wins to stay alive. The Divisional Round continues tomorrow with Game 2 of the Giants vs. the Braves and the Phillies vs. the Reds.

A No Hitter for Halladay... IN THE POSTSEASON!!!

Roy Halladay already proved his worth this season when he pitched a Perfect Game back in May against the Marlins. A truly historic day for him and POSSIBLY his best performance. I say possibly because he may have outdone himself earlier today. Roy Halladay, who was making his career postseason debut, made history as he pitched only the second No Hitter in postseason history as the Phillies defeated the Reds, 4-0. The other person who pitched a postseason No Hitter was Don Larsen who pitched a Perfect Game for the Yankees back in the 1956 World Series. Halladay had 8 K's and one walk in his second No Hitter of his career and season.

Maybe not as impressive statistically as a Perfect Game, but this No Hitter has to have been done under more pressure to win than any regular season game. It might be unfair to call it an equal feat but maybe a distinctive one.

P.S. Texas Beat the Rays, 5-1, and the Yankees beat the Twins, 6-4 (damn it). Giants and Braves play their first game tomorrow.

P.P.S. Randy Moss is now a Viking. Hope this doesn't bite New England in the a** in Week 8.

Back to Minnesota?

Randy Moss said at the beginning of the season that he didn't feel like he was wanted in New England. He still played in the first four games for the Patriots and has done alright but that feeling of neglect is coming back. There are reports indicating that the Patriots almost have a trade in place for Randy Moss. Where is Moss going? BACK TO THE VIKINGS!!! The Vikings are actually willing to take back Randy Moss? They must really be desperate.

Now some things have changed in Minnesota since Moss left. Brad Childress is now the coach but mainly it's Brett Favre as Diva. I MEAN QB!!! It still early in the season but the Vikings are in full panic mode. Though it is a bit understandable considering their next 4 opponents: Jets, Cowboys, Packers, and Patriots. It's a very tough stretch considering that 3 of those are road games. The Vikings do need to win a couple of those games to stay alive and Randy Moss might be Favre answer as he is still struggling with his current receivers.

P.S. That Patriots game will be in New England. If the deal goes through, Moss will really feel unwanted in New England.

McNabb's Philly Homecoming, Jets Dismantle the Bills, Giants Stop the Bears and More

Week 4 in the NFL featured Donovan McNabb playing his first game back in Philadelphia since he was traded. I was impressed that the crowd actually gave him a standing ovation for his years with the Eagles. The game was played and was less action filled than hoped. Michael Vick had to leave the game with a chest injury when he ran the ball on a play that would be called back for holding. Still not a great amount of offense for either side as the Redskins take it, 17-12. McNabb prevails in his homecoming despite poor numbers of 8/19, 125 Passing Yards, One Passing TD and an INT.

The Jets would continue to impress as they defeat the Bills, 38-14. Sanchez played another good game but the story was LaDanian Tomlinson who ran for 133 Yards and 2 TDs on 19 Carries. LT proves he still has something left in the tank. The defending champions, New Orleans Saints, barely get their third win as they defeat winless Carolina. So far no blowouts for the Saints but they are 3-1. The Colts and Peyton Manning looked like they were going to force OT against the Jaguars but Jacksonville manage to get the ball close enough for a 59 Field Goal Attempt. Josh Scobee made the long kick as time expired giving the Jaguars the win, 31-28.

The Sunday Night Game featured the undefeated Bears taking on the Giants in New Jersey. The Giants defense shut down Mike Martz's offense and beat the Bears, 17-3. Pittsburgh finally lost a game as they fell to the Baltimore Ravens, 17-14. Joe Flacco threw the game winning TD to T.J. Houshmandzadeh with less than a minute to go. Big Ben still has a 3-1 team to work with as he returns to his team after this game. The Monday Night Game closed out the week with the Dolphins dropping another at home with this one against New England, 41-14. A few special team plays gave the Patriots the win making them 3-1.

A satisfactory week of football concludes as there will be speculation if Kevin Kolb can get back the starting QB job in Philadelphia. He may have a week or so to prove himself thanks to Vick getting injured.

2010 MLB Regular Season: A Look Back and Forward

The season ended with some excitement at the end as the Giants beat the Padres in order to get into the playoffs. The Braves also got in as the Wild Card team thanks to this win and their win over the Phillies. The Rays would clinch the AL East by beating the Royals and also by the Red Sox beating the Yankees. The Yankees now are the Wild Card team of the AL. This season proved to be a long one as the year of the pitcher. 5 No Hitters in the year and two of them were Perfect Games. Perhaps the most memorable moment of the season, however, came with the Imperfect Game thrown by Armando Galarraga and ruined by Jim Joyce. Good controversial times.

Now we looked ahead to the postseason and who will win the World Series. In the AL, the Yankees will face the Twins and the Rangers will take on the Rays. The NL has the Giants facing the Braves and the Phillies going against the Reds. My prediction? Same back in April: the Phillies will win the World Series. They have 3 great starters and a batting order that is to be feared. The Yankees will be a close second and will likely force a 7 game series against the Phillies. Feels good to be in October.

P.S. Yes I would've love for the Red Sox to be in the Playoffs but at least the Giants are in. Better luck next year, Sox.

P.P.S. WE WANT INSTANT REPLAY!!!

So Close Yet 0-4

As usual, the 49ers disappoint yet again. The offense was horrible despite firing the offensive coordinator last week. Alex Smith threw for 188 Yards, 1 TD, and 2 INTs. Despite their poor offensive performance, they could've won this game. The 49ers were ahead 14-13 with less than two minutes to go when Matt Ryan threw an INT to Nate Clements. Clements ran hard trying to score and fumbled the ball when Roddy White knocked it out from behind. The Falcons recovered it and they had another shot. They drove down field to set up a 43 yard field goal attempt from Matt Bryant. Bryant made it of course and the 49ers lost, 16-14.

The 49ers look terrible once more and fall short again. Admirable effort against Atlanta but it just that: effort.

Giants Take the NL West at the Very End

The Padres have had control of the NL West for almost the entire season and looked like they could be one of the surprise teams of the year. That lead of the Padres would eventually dissapear and go to the Giants. With only 3 games left, the Giants and Padres face each other with the Giants needing only one win to clinch the NL West. They lost the first two games as San Diego was trying to force a one game playoff. The last game of the year came with Jonathan Sanchez showing how good he was... at batting? Sanchez managed to hit a triple in the 3rd inning and then score later with Freddy Sanchez hitting him in. Freddy would score, also, thanks to a double by Aubrey Huff. Those 2 runs and one more via a Buster Posey Home Run in the 8th gave the Giants a 3-0 lead going into the 9th inning. Brian Wilson was sent out and managed to grab the save getting 2 ground outs and then striking out the last man. Giants win and take the Division, 3-0.

The Giants advance to the postseason for the first time since 2003 when they last won the NL West. This team will face the Braves in the NLDS starting in AT&T Park. The Giants are a dangerous team to play as they have a great rotation with Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, and Jonathan Sanchez. If their rotation is hot, they could go very far in October.

P.S. Your welcome Atlanta. Enjoy the Wild Card spot while you can. GO GIANTS!!!

Oregon Out Scores Stanford, Spartans Win Another Without Dantonio and More

The two most hyped games of the weekend came and went but only one was worth noting. That game was Stanford vs. Oregon in Autzen Stadium. It looked like a Stanford blowout early on as the Cardinal grab the lead 21-3 by the end of the 1st Quarter. The Ducks would not take the loss, however, as they fought back and made it interesting. It was 34-24 at halftime in favor of Stanford and the Ducks would take control of the game in the 2nd half. They scored 28 unanswered points to win it and shut down that Stanford offense, even when Andrew Luck got them within 5 yards of the end zone. Ducks win the game and possibly the Pac 10, 52-31. As for Alabama vs. Florida...

Other games of the week included the Michigan State Spartans prevailing over the Wisconsin Badgers, 34-24. A remarkable win despite the Spartans Head Coach, Mark Dantonio, watching from the booth. A great story of a team persevering or they don't to give their coach a second heart attack. Texas falls a second straight week, this time losing to Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry, 28-20. Sounds like the end of the road for the Longhorns. Denard Robinson continues to pad his stats in Michigan's win over Indiana, 42-35. He threw for 277 Yards and 3 TDs and ran for 217 Yards and 2 TDs. The last rushing TD become the winning score with 17 seconds left on the clock. Iowa beats Penn State, 24-3, as the Hawkeyes win their first Big Ten game of the year. Looks like another disappointing season for Joe Paterno as he is 3-2.

Another solid week of College Football as the Ducks look like they might pass Boise State at number 3 despite the Broncos destroying New Mexico State. I love the Broncos but the Ducks look like the better team right now. The Broncos need to be in a stronger conference than the WAC or the MWC.

P.S. Like I said, ONLY ONE WAS WORTH NOTING!!!

Another Managerial Vacancy

The end of the season is almost here and speculation about managerial jobs has arisen. Lou Piniella has left the Cubs, Bobby Cox will retire after being the Braves manager for two decades, and Joe Torre will not return to the Dodgers. Their will be another vacancy listed among them as Jerry Manuel will no longer be Mets manager and be let go along with Mets GM Omar Minaya. So many prominent vacancies has all of baseball wondering who will be going where.

More attention has been given to Joe Torre and his possibilities. Will he retire? Will he manage the Mets? Will he drink more Wheat Grass on Camera? I do believe Torre will manage somewhere even though he's stated he won't be actively looking. It's hard to believe that he will let his career end with the Dodgers what with their horrible year and the divorce that shook the franchise. As for the Mets possibility, it will be a hard sell to Joe but I could see it happen.

P.S. He stole the spotlight when they honored George Steinbrenner. He might want to try and steal some attention from the Yankees.