Kings and Heat win Respective OT Games

Last night featured two OT games in two different sports. First was game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals and it was in New Jersey between the Kings and the Devils. It was a tight game 1 between the two and it was tied at 1-1 as regulation ended. It was tight in OT as well until Anze Kopitar of the Kings managed to get the puck behind the defense thanks to a good pass and managed to score on a breakaway to win the game, 2-1. It was a phenomenal goal to beat Martin Brodeur. The Kings continue to amaze the NHL, now in the Finals.

The other OT game was the Celtics vs. the Heat. The Celtics early on looked like they were going to run away with this game but the Heat fought back and made the Celtics come back and force an OT. In OT, the Heat took over with Dwayne Wade hitting 8 of 23 points then. Despite 44 by Rajon Rondo in the game, the Heat win game 2 in OT, 115-111. The Heat are now up, 2-0, going to Boston.

An interesting pair of OT games with the Hockey one being the more exciting one in my opinion. Again I do like Hockey a bit more but there is an added excitement knowing that the next score will win the game. You can't really do that in basketball. Also, the long layoff didn't seem to affect the Kings as they win the first game. This was the game that the Devils needed right off not just because of the fact it was game 1 of the series but because of the long layoff. They needed to get the win before the Kings found there groove again. So much for doing that.

The Kings and the Devils play game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Saturday while the Heat will eliminate the Celtics sometime next week.

Hornets Win the Lottery

Ah the lottery. That time of the week where Americans watch on as they hope that there fortunes will change for the better only to realize that nothing has change. What a way to mock that analogy than with the Charlotte Bobcats.

The Bobcats organization has just tanked this season in an effort to get better odds for the NBA Draft Lottery. They have been so bad that some have even started to suggest that the better college teams might be able to beat them in a game. It all led to last night where they would wait to see if they got the number one pick. They had a 25% chance of getting that number one pick. They needed better odds or it not to be fixed. The Bobcats got the number 2 pick while the New Orleans Hornets got the number 1 overall pick and basically the rights to Anthony Davis. The rest of the top five are the Wizards, the Cavaliers, and the Kings in that order.

A new owner and now the number one draft pick for the Hornets. It's what this team needed considering that Chris Paul left them. A big man like Anthony Davis will take time to develop but it's a great advertising point for next season. The Bobcats have to be disappointed to not have the number one pick but that's how the "rigged" system works. I guess it will be another season of tanking for MJ's team.

The draft itself will be on June 28th. Playoffs until then.

Heat Overmatch Celtics, 93-79

Last night was game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals featuring Old Folks vs. the Miami Heat. The Celtics had a tall order of trying to beat the Heat and try to take command of the series. They didn't get anywhere close to doing that. Save for the 2nd quarter, the Heat dominated this game, specifically LeBron James. 32 points, 13 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 3 assists for James as he continues to shine for another playoff game. They were fluid in the ball moving and destroyed the Celtics, 93-79.

This wasn't just all about LeBron, this was a team effort in where the Miami Heat were just clicking. The Celtics just couldn't keep up with this level of play from the Heat. I wonder if they will be able to keep this kind of thing up when Chris Bosh returns. The Celtics need to somehow find a way to adjust to this new kind of play from the Heat or just hope that the rhythm there dies off. With this kind of performance, I'm not sure whether or not the Celtics can even win a game in this series.

First game of the series and it already seems over. Someone get the Celtics some some oxygen by the case load.

Spurs Keep Winning and Take Game 1 vs. Thunder

Sunday was a nice day for some basketball. It was game 1 of the Western Conference Finals and it was one that went back and forth... until the 4th quarter. The Thunder and the Spurs had a pretty good bought between themselves. It seemed throughout the body of the game that the Thunder were in control while the old folks couldn't keep up. However, the Spurs turned it on in the 4th quarter and outscored the Thunder, 39-27. By the end, the Thunder were down by too much to mount a last minute comeback. Spurs win, 101-98.

A great game 1 between these two sides. Just when you thought that the Spurs were going to lose, they managed to play a fantastic 4th quarter and win their 19th game in a row dating back to the regular season. The Thunder are going to have to try some new things if they are going to beat this experienced team. The Spurs are in too much of a rhythm right now. I bet the Thunder can't wait to get back to OKC to see if things will turn out differently. They will have to play a game 2 first.

3rd Indy Win for Super Dario Franchitti

Today was the last of the big three races this year. Actually the Belmont has made itself the last major race to watch this year but it's not usually the case. The Indy 500 was held earlier today and it did a fine job honoring the late Dan Wheldon the whole time who was actually last year's winner of the race. The race itself was a good one and it came to the last lap Takuma Sato tried to pass Dario Franchitti for the win but ended up spinning out of control. Dario Franchitti would end up winning the race under caution. This was Dario's 3rd Indy 500 win.

What a way for the Indy 500 to end. Another late desperate attempt to pass ends up in a crash. Behind Franchitti was Scott Dixon and Tony Kanaan, another couple of Wheldon's buddies. Sort of fitting at the end just like the beginning. This year's running also broke the record for lead changes which was 29 back in 1960. This one had 35 changes between 10 drivers. Still, congrats to Dario for winning another Indy 500. It's a trilogy now for his legend in the making.

Celtics Beat Sixers in Decisive Game 7

This series between the Celtics and the Sixers has been a good one to watch between both sides. The Sixers became a surprise team indeed proving that they deserved to be on the same court as the Celtics. That "same court" last night, however, was in Boston for a decisive game 7 to see who gets eliminated by the Heat. The Celtics were in front basically the whole way with the Sixers trying to mount comebacks and getting close at times. The final minutes came and they still didn't get any closer. Rajon Rondo made sure of that what with Pierce fouling out. The Celtics would win this one with quite a cushion, 85-75. They now go on to face the Heat in the Conference Finals.

A nice night for the Celtics but I'm sure they would've liked to have wrapped this series up a while ago and get some rest. Instead, they have to high tail it to Miami for a Monday Night game 1. Uh, and you would think going to Florida for old folks would be a welcoming thing. The big question for this series is when is Chris Bosh going to return. While they ended up dismantling the Pacers after a wake up call, I'm not sure they can get away with it again with the Celtics. They will need Bosh for this series.

The conference finals are here and we have the Spurs v. the Thunder in the West and the Celtics v. the Heat in the East. So hoping for a Thunder-Heat match up. I might actually try to sit through game 1 of the Finals that way.

Devils Clinch Spot in Stanley Cup Finals

It was game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals in the NHL and the Devils were looking to go on while the Rangers were looking to survive. It was an exciting game 5 at MSG and this game 6 was in just across the river. Just like game 5, the Devils got out to an early lead but the Rangers fought back and tied the game again. This one, however, would go into overtime. It didn't take that long, however, for the game to end when OT started. Adam Henrique managed to get the goal during a mad scramble at the Rangers' net. The Devils win, 3-2, and take the series 4-2.

The Devils oust the Rangers despite the fact it was the anniversary of some sort of guarantee win regarding this two same teams back in the 1990's. I'm glad the Devils went on but I would've rather have had the Rangers in the finals. I just love hearing soundbites from their head coach, John Tortorella. Can't always get the interesting ones.

Anyway, we are finally down to the last two teams in the playoffs: the Los Angeles King from the West, and the New Jersey Devils from the East. A upstart team that loves the offense vs. a traditional powerhouse that plays defense. I am definitely going to love watching this series.

Too Much Heat for Indiana

The series between the Heat and the Pacers was an interesting one despite what people thought about the Pacers. Indiana managed to shock quite a few people when they managed to grab a 2-1 series lead. However, since then the Heat finally got it going and started to play like All Stars. Dwayne Wade and LeBron James took over the rest of the series and turned it into a 3-2 series with the Heat ahead. Game 6 was earlier tonight and both Wade and LeBron led them to victory yet again. James had 28 points while Wade had 41 points along 10 rebounds. The Heat would finish off the Pacers, 105-93, and win the series 4-2.

Hats off to the Pacers for giving the Heat an actual challenge in the second round. Though part of that was because Chris Bosh was out with an injury. Sure LeBron and Wade needed some urgency to put this team away but when they saw that the Pacers were not going to be pushovers, they stepped up and pushed them aside anyway. Great job by both of these individuals. It makes you think that they might not need Bosh to get back to the NBA Finals. Let's just see if they still have that urgency for the next round.

Heat now wait to see if they will play the Sixers or the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. That match up between Philly and Boston will be a fun game 7 to flip to.

P.S. Cheer up, Indiana. Pacers got pretty far this year before going S-O-F-T!!! HA HA HA!!!

NFLPA Sues NFL for Collusion

The season before the NFL Lockout, the NFL went through an uncapped year. As exciting as that prospect was, there seems to have been some rules of how to still sign players. Just ask the Redskins and the Cowboys about that who were penalized due in part to their spending habits during that time. The NFLPA now seems to think there was funny business during that uncapped year. The Union filed suit against the NFL alleging that the league and the owners established a secret salary cap around $123 million in the uncapped season of 2010. The NFLPA is saying that it learned back in March that four teams were not abiding by the $123 million cap: the Redskins, the Cowboys, the Saints, and the Raiders. The players are seeking $1 billion for the players in the 2010 free agent class and $3 billion for the league violating the 1993 White Agreement.

I love it when a sport has labor disputes. The fun isn't over yet between the league and the union as there is now a serious lawsuit of collusion. If true, it would be a significant hit to the league. Whatever this lawsuit does do, it means further ill tidings between the league and the players. A bunch of players already have a bone to pick with the Commissioner for rule changes, fines and suspensions for big hits, and other issues. This adds more animosity to it.

If true, the league deserves to be punished in a way as this was clearly wrong. Hey, I might even say the decisions regarding the Redskins and the Cowboys needs to be looked at again. This coupled with the concussion lawsuit from past players will surely give the league a splitting headache.

P.S. Don't forget the lawsuit by Vilma against the Commissioner for Bountygate.

Kings Finish Off Coyotes in OT

Last Night was game 5 of the Western Conference Finals in the NHL between the Kings and the Coyotes with the Coyotes fighting for dear life. It was a back and forth kind of game throughout the first 2 periods with a stalemate in the 3rd. It seemed like the stalemate might get broken up when the Kings went down 2 guys due to penalties but somehow they managed to fight it with due in part to the Coyotes committing a penalty of their own. Regulation ended with a 3-3 tie. In OT we couldn't get a winner until a few minutes left until the 2nd OT. Dustin Penner of the Kings gets credit for the goal and wins it, 4-3. The Kings take the series, 4-1.

A fantastic road to the Finals for the Kings. They got by the Canucks, the Blues, and now the upstart Coyotes to get a shot at the Cup. I am sure that the Kings don't care who they will have to face in the Finals seeing how hot they are. Besides, I am sure they will enjoy seeing the Devils and the Rangers tear each other apart. They might get rusty but at least they will be well rested.

Warriors to Move Back to San Francisco?

When the Warriors moved from Philly to the Bay Area, they did not just move right to Oakland. They were originally in San Francisco from 1962 until 1971 when they moved to the East Bay. Then they became the Golden State Warriors as anything sounds better than Oakland being in front of it (Oh Snap). Now it seems that the Warriors want back in the city of San Francisco and there seems to be a plan to get them relocated. The team along with San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, and NBA Commissioner David Stern announced that they intend to move back to San Francisco as early as 2017. It seems that the location in mind is around pier 30-32 which is near the the Bay Bridge and the estimated cost right now is $500 million for this privately funded arena.

A big announcement for the team and the city of San Francisco. Now it still seems like it is in the developmental stage and there are a lot of obstacles in the way but if it does get done then it would bring in a lot of revenue for the city. The money coming in won't just be from the Warriors fans but from other events like concerts. As for Oakland and the East Bay, the only thing that I can tell you is that it's not a done deal yet but it doesn't look good. The city and the area has teams wanting to leave and none wanting to come in. Could it be possible that Oakland won't have any sports teams?

I wouldn't jump on that boat yet. The only thing I can say to the East bay is if you want to keep your sports teams, make your voices heard and your ticket sales even louder.

Thunder Take the Lakers Out of the Playoffs

This last series between the Thunder and Lakers was revealing for both sides. The Thunder looked like serious contenders for the title and the Lakers looked like they were falling apart. Game 5 was last night in OKC and the Thunder were looking to put the Lakers in the rear view mirror. While it was a game at half time but the 4th quarter just killed the Lakers and sealed their fate. Bryant had scored 42 in this game but it wasn't enough as he needed more from his big men. The Thunder win, 106-90, and take the series 4-1.

The Thunder move on and the Lakers go home. OKC now has a real chance to get to the NBA Finals but have to first go through the Spurs. I would favor the Spurs in this series just by how they are playing but it wouldn't surprise me if the Thunder manage to stun them. As for the Lakers, they now have to go back to the drawing board as Kobe Bryant ages another year without getting that 6th title. One of his two big guys, Pau Gasol or Andrew Bynum, must be done in LA depending on what the team can get.

The Western Conference Finals will start Sunday and I must say that I might actually take a peak at them.

Now You See Stan... Now You Don't

Stan Van Gundy has been a fun coach to watch lead the Orlando Magic. He's even funner on open mic night. Unfortunately, we all knew that it wouldn't last forever. In the battle to keep Dwight Howard on a team (a losing battle), the Magic fired Stan Van Gundy after 5 seasons with the team. The team also fired GM, Otis Smith, along with him. During Van Gundy's tenure, the Magic were in the playoffs every year and had a winning percentage of over .600 every year except for this last season. Van Gundy, of course, led his team to the NBA Finals in 2009 where they were beaten by the Lakers.

Another case of a coach losing his job because of a player. While not limited to the NBA, it seems to be a theme quite often for the Association. Understandable considering that it's easier to let coaches go rather than players. The closest league where it might be the other way around is the NFL. This shakeup might be what the Magic need but I find it hard to imagine that Dwight Howard will still be there next season. Sure, you want to be hopeful but let's not confuse it with delirious.

Anyway, I'm sure Stan Van Gundy is going to get another job soon as quite a few teams will want him. As for who Dwight Howard will pick as... I mean who the "Magic" will pick as their new head coach, will have to wait and see.

Wild Weekend at Staples Center Ends with Clippers Getting Eliminated

It was a fun weekend at the Staples Center as it was buzzing day in and day out. Five games were played at the Center over this last weekend. 4 of them were basketball games and one was a hockey game. This last day was a bit tricky as the first game was a hockey game and second a basketball game. The hockey game featured the Kings trying to clinch a spot in the Stanley Cup Finals. They failed as the Coyotes actually played a good game and got the win, 2-0. The series is now 3-1 in favor of the Kings as it heads back to Phoenix. Now the Kings have to try and clinch the spot in the desert rather than at home.

The Second Game was the Spurs looking to complete the sweep over the Clippers. The Clippers just managed to get by the Grizzlies but just couldn't seem to find a break against the Spurs. Last night was no different. The Spurs continued to look like the best team in the postseason. Tim Duncan scored 21 himself as five other Spurs players got double digits in points, three of them off the bench. Despite this, the Clippers had a couple chances to tie or take the lead at the end but failed. Spurs win, 102-99, and take the series in a 4-0 sweep. Spurs now await the Thunder or the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals.

A lot of action at the Staples Center is over and I hope the grounds crews get some overtime with all that has been happening. It looks like, however, that this kind of weekend won't happen again soon. The Kings look like they will move on but the Clippers are out and the Lakers seem to be right behind them. There might be a title for the Staples Center but it's not likely in Basketball.

I'll Have Another Leg of the Triple Crown

I can't stand these sports programs just bringing up the fact that Bodemeister was beaten by I'll Have Another down the stretch. That is old news that needs to not be repeated at... oh this is the Preakness they're all talking about. This race seemed to end like the Kentucky Derby except a lot closer. Bodemeister was leading down the stretch when once again I'll Have Another caught up and passed for 1st place barely in the nick of time. I'll Have Another wins the Preakness and the 2nd leg of the Triple Crown.

I'll Have Another shocks the horse racing world again and now has a chance for history. The Belmont Stakes are in a couple of weeks and all eyes will be on I'll Have Another. Good Luck.

CHELSEA WINS THEIR 1ST EVER EUROPEAN CUP!!!

Back in March, things were not looking so good for Chelsea. They were struggling in the EPL to get a top 4 spot and due to level of play, the team fired the manager, Andre Villas-Boas. This while the team was still alive in the UCL and the FA Cup. The team continued on and somehow found strength through it all. They would end up winning the FA Cup and somehow found their way to the UCL final despite having to face Barcelona. It was this title match that would prove to be their defining moment.

It was the UEFA Champions League Final and it was between Chelsea FC and Bayern Munich. It was already a great tournament for both sides on the road here as both teams had amazing semifinal rounds. Bayern Munich, though, had the edge as they were literally playing in their own back yard, Allianz Arena in Munich. It was home field advantage for Bayern Munich for the ultimate prize.

As for the match play, Bayern Munich dominated possession most of the way. Munich had chance after chance go by with nothing to show for it. The Chelsea defense stifled them for most of the match. It wasn't until near the end of regulation did Bayern Munich finally break through the Chelsea defense for a goal. Thomas Muller managed to head it in for goal in 83' to give Bayern Munich the lead. The Arena went nuts with the goal and victory seemed assured. Chelsea, however, spoiled the party. Off their first corner of the game, Didier Drogba managed to score the equalizer off a header in the 88' stunning the Bayern Munich fans.

The game went into extra time where another 30 minutes of football were played. Bayern Munich started to rush them again however without Thomas Muller who came off in a substitution. Frank Ribery was in the penalty box as Drogba fouled him and forced a penalty. Ribery was forced to leave the game due to injury and Arjen Robbern lined up to take the Penalty for Munich. The lead was Munich's for the taking when the Chelsea keeper, Petr Cech, saved it and made up for Drogba's mistake. The rest of extra time was Munich largely in possession but unable to score.

The game went to penalties and after Munich made their first, Juan Mata of Chelsea was stopped by Manuel Neuer, the keeper for Munich. The next two shots for each side were made. It was until the 4th shot where another miracle happened. Ivica Olic missed his shot against Cech. Then Ashley Cole of Chelsea tied it at 3-3. The 5th shot came for Munich and Bastian Schweinsteiger missed. Didier Drogba came up for Chelsea, for possibly the last time, with a chance to win it all. Drogba hit the ball left as the keeper went right and into the net it went. CHELSEA WINS!!! CHELSEA WINS!!! CHELSEA WINS THEIR FIRST EUROPEAN CUP EVER!!!

What a dramatic way to finish the season. Manchester City wins the EPL Title in an unlikely way and now Chelsea wins the UCL title in the Lion's Den on penalties. Simply marvelous. It was without a doubt one of the most unlikely runs ever in the history of the tournament. Chelsea should've been eliminated by Barcelona and they prevailed. Chelsea should've been done when Muller headed in that goal but they answered back. Chelsea should've lost that penalty from Robben and the penalties themselves but they didn't. Chelsea FC's run to the title is nothing short of a Cinderella Story, through and through.

All unlikely sports stories like this, though, have their runner ups. I must applaud Munich as they were fantastic in this match and the more dominate team. They had a good run themselves as they had to go through Real Madrid to get to the final. But they failed to execute on many of their chances and failed to put Chelsea away in the final minutes of regulation. Better luck next season for Munich.

This moment, though, belongs to Chelsea. And it meant a lot to some of their players more than others. The vets and aged players on this team finally get their glory. Among them are John Terry (did not play), Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, and Petr Cech. Their patience has finally paid off. Credit must go to the caretaker manager, Roberto Di Matteo, for helping turn this team around and to Roman Abramovich and the board for making the change (as well as sinking more money into this team than the Yankees do their own). Interesting to note that this is the first London based football club to win the European Cup (suck it Arsenal and Tottenham). They are London's finest today.

Congratulations to Chelsea FC on their first ever UCL Title/European Cup. It is without a doubt their finest moment in the club's 107 year history.

Pacers Up 2-1 Over Heat and Spurs Beat Clippers Again

Okay, how are the Pacers doing this?

The crucial game 3 in this series between the Pacers and the Heat was in Indianapolis and it got everyone now taking the Pacers seriously except for a select few who already were. This game did not go the Heat's way at all as Dwayne Wade was off, LeBron James wasn't carrying them enough, and the Pacers just started to dominate. 4 of the 5 starters for the Pacers had more than 10 points. Roy Hibbert was perhaps the best with 19 points, 18 rebounds, and 5 blocks in the game. The Pacers just ran away with it by the final minutes as they won, 94-75, and now take a 2-1 series lead over the Heat. I guess Chris Bosh was very crucial to the Heat's game plan.

The other game last night also didn't end close. The Clippers and the Spurs played their game 2 as the Clippers look to recover from game 1. They did not do so at all. Everything seemed to click for the Spurs for another night as five players crossed into double digits in points. Tony Parker seemed on his game with 22 points, 5 assists, and 5 rebounds. The Spurs would run away with this one as well, 105-88. The Spurs now have a 2-0 series lead.

I must say not particularly close games for the NBA today and possible panic for the NBA offices. Let's face it: people like to root for the hero but how can they without the villain everyone loves to hate. If the Miami Heat are eliminated by the Pacers, viewership for the NBA Postseason will go down a bit and might go down a lot if one of the teams in the NBA Finals are the Pacers. As for the Spurs, least marketable in the West even though they are good. It's like watching bread become toast or, simply put, their uniforms get made.

Do I ultimately care who makes the NBA Finals? Not really. I'll still occasionally turn the channel to it provided that a Giants game isn't on. But it's interesting that a team that is in fact the #3 seed in the East and relatively unmarketable at the same time is making these waves.

Jonathan Vilma v. Roger Goodell

This whole Bountygate story isn't over yet. Jonathan Vilma, the man suspended for a whole season for being a ring leader in this scandal, is taking action against Roger Goodell. Goodell has said that Vilma was a leader in the bounty program and for that he is being sued. Vilma has filed a defamation lawsuit against the commissioner claiming that Goodell made false statements that hurt his reputation and affected his ability to play football. Vilma has said he never participated in the bounty system with his quote on twitter saying "As I've said before..I NEVER PAID, NOR INTENDED TO PAY ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY, TO ANY PLAYER FOR INTENTIONALLY HURTING AN OPPONENT."

What seems interesting in all of this is the fact that the other players suspended have heard the evidence against them but that hasn't been the case for Vilma. It seems that something is a little fishy coming from Goodell's office if the evidence hasn't been clearly presented. Perhaps this whole lawsuit is a way to see the cards the commissioner's office is holding. The result could cause tension between Vilma and those who testified against him. As an actual case, Vilma probably has no shot in winning it. Defamation lawsuits are incredibly hard to win on part of the plaintiff (Vilma) and I'm not sure if he can clear his name just because he's part of the Saints locker room during this scandal.

Whether Vilma is guilty or not, he deserves to see the evidence against him. Goodell has no right to keep it hidden.

Lakers Get Stomped By Thunder and Other Playoff News

With the second round of the NBA Postseason well under way, the Lakers played against the Thunder... okay, not really "played" so much as "showed up." This was the first game between the two and man, did the Lakers take a pounding. It seemed like forever since the Thunder last played a game but they did not look rusty at all. After already leading 15 at half time, the Thunder didn't quit when the 3rd quarter came around and still showed the Lakers no mercy going up by another 15 points when the quarter ended. The Thunder won, obviously, 119-90. The Lakers suffered a nearly 30 point blowout. The Thunder are just too good for the Lakers right now.

As for the rest of the postseason out there, the Celtics lost game 2 of their series with the 76ers, 82-81. A costly illegal screen by Kevin Garnett might've cost the Celtics this one at the end but the first two games between these two have shown that this series is going to be close. It's tied at 1-1. Meanwhile, Chris Bosh is out indefinitely with an abdominal strain suffered in the Heat's game 1 victory of the Pacers. He is expected the miss this entire series. Not to fear, Miami. You still have Dwayne Wade and LeBron James to lead you. Sure, Bosh's absence might extend the series but it will not cost Miami a seat in the Eastern Conference Finals. Bosh, though, might be really needed for that.

Anyway, tonight proves to have a couple of good NBA playoff games as the Pacers and Heat square for game two and then the Clippers start a series with the Spurs in San Antonio. How far can the Clippers go?

MANCHESTER CITY WINS 2012 EPL TITLE!!!

The big story to follow this weekend in Association Football was Manchester City's hunt for the EPL Title. It was the last weekend in the English Premier League and it came down to the wire. Their in city rivals, Manchester United, were there chasing them down and hoping for Man City to slip up. Man U had won their last game, 1-0, over Sunderland and got the 3 points there to get 89 on the season. Man City, meanwhile, was almost done with their game and were in fact in stoppage time and down, 2-1, to Queens Park Rangers. All seemed lost for Man City much like a point in their season a few weeks ago but it wasn't over.

First, Edin Dzeko hit a heading goal off a corner kick about a minute or so into stoppage time. A huge boost for them as they had a breath of life left in them. Then, a couple minutes later, Sergio Aguero, off a return pass from Mario Balotelli, scored the game winning goal (hell, title winning goal) with about a minute and half left in stoppage time. Etihad Stadium went into a frenzy after that goal and once again when the game ended just a couple minutes later. Man City wins the EPL title and their first league title in 44 years.

What an amazing way to finish off the season. It couldn't get anymore dramatic than that. With the ups and downs of Manchester City this year, it couldn't have ended much better than this. Dominance of the arguably the world's most prestigious individual league makes the whole season worth it for Man City. I'm sure they would've loved to go farther in the tournaments they were in but there is still nothing like winning your league.

As for the recap of the end of the EPL season, the top four teams in the table are Man City, Man U, Arsenal, and Tottenham Hotspur in that order. These teams will all be part of the UEFA Champions League for next season. Newcastle United finished 5th and will be part of the Europa League next season. Chelsea just finished outside of the top 5 (6th) and will not participate in either league next year. They, however, still have the Champions League Final next week to make this season really worth it.

But for now, Congratulations to Manchester City on winning the EPL Title. You're the top team in Manchester this season and the top one in England.

Rangers Get By Caps and Lakers Eliminate Nuggets

A couple big series' ended yesterday with them being in different sports. First, game 7 of the Capitals and Rangers in Hockey ended in MSG. The Caps managed to finish off the Cup Holders in their last series but were unable to do the same with the Rangers. The Rangers scored the first goal of the game with a Brad Richards goal in the 1st period which spelled doom for the Caps in the stats department. There wouldn't be another goal until the 3rd period when Michael Del Zotto scored a second goal for the Rangers. The Caps would score one of their one to make up for it almost instantly but where unable to score an equalizer with the remaining time left. Rangers win game 7, 2-1.

Another game 7 was in the NBA featuring the Lakers and the Nuggets playing in the Staples Center. The way the rest of the Lakers played game 6, you'd think that they were the ones not feeling so good. This game, the rest of the Lakers made up for it with Pau Gasol leading the way. Gasol scored 23 points, had 17 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 blocks. Andrew Bynum had a pretty good night himself with 16 points, 18 rebounds, and 6 blocks. Plus the return of World Peace got 15 points and Steve Blake scored 19 off the bench. Kobe only had to put up 17 points. Lakers win this one, 96-87.

Game 7's are always exciting and it's not over yet. Game 7 of the Clippers and Grizzlies will be today in Memphis. The Spurs are waiting...

#1 Seed Bulls Out and Also Celtics Move On

The Bulls knew that this wasn't going to be a good postseason when their star, Derrick Rose, went out with an injury. I'm sure no one on the team, however, expected their run to end this soon. It was game 6 between them and the 76ers and the Bulls were on the edge of elimination. The Bulls didn't have Rose or Joakim Noah in this one and the rest of the team couldn't hold it together at the end. With a slim one point lead, the Bulls failed to hit free throws for cushion (Omer Asik) and then the 76ers made theirs (Andre Iguodala) with 2 seconds left to take the lead. Not a great reaction after that leads to the Bulls losing, 79-78, and are now eliminated by the #8 seed in the East. Sixers move on.

The other big series in the East featured the Celtics playing to close out their series with the Hawks rather than go back to Atlanta for a game 7. Getting insulted by a Co-Owner of the Hawks and being called old all the time must've really pumped up Kevin Garnett. KG went out there and had a great game with 28 Points and 14 rebounds. Those rebounds made a big difference in the end of the game along with a go ahead Field Goal. The Celtics hang on and win, 83-80. Not a bad game for a dirty, old man... let me rephrase that.

Celtics and 76ers punch their tickets to the conference semifinals while the Lakers have to deal with the Nuggets for one more game. Kobe might be fine by Saturday to carry his team but it would be preferred if every other Laker showed up as well.

4 HRs for Hamilton

Josh Hamilton has a rep for hitting a lot of home runs. He somehow seemed to raise that bar today. Hamilton did what is actually considered rarer than a perfect game: he hit 4 Home Runs in a single game. Going into Baltimore, Josh Hamilton went 5-5 on the day with 4 Home Runs, each of them with one man on base. Hitting a home run is no easy feat but doing it four times in one game is insane. Perhaps Hamilton was flashing back to the 2008 Home Run Derby while doing this. The Rangers would win this game (duh), 10-3, with Hamilton carrying the offense on this day.

A remarkable achievement for a Hamilton and one that bares mentioning considering he's only the 16th player ever to do it. He is also off to an amazing start this year batting .406 with 14 Home Runs and 36 RBI's. Looks like someone wants another AL MVP.

Vikes Stadium Approved... at a Cost

When the roof of the Metrodome collapsed over a year ago, you just knew that new stadium for the Vikings was just around the corner. Sure, they were already looking for a new place but something like this just brought attention to it more. With the lease at the Metrodome now up, speculation started to arise that the Vikes might move out of Minnesota to find a new place to play. That line of thought seemed to have practically gone away. The state house of Minnesota approved funding for a new $975 million stadium but the team owners will have to pay more into it. They seemingly already pledged $427 million.

So what does this mean, then? It means that the Vikes are more likely to stay... provided that they wouldn't mind paying a little more money or getting more third party money. I am glad that the Vikings are going to stay in Minnesota (probably) and also that there is still no team lined up for Los Angeles. SUCK IT, LA!!! (I have to do this because the Dodgers are good right now). The Vikings just belong in Minnesota and it would be a pity if they had to move.

P.S. "But where are they going to play in the meantime?"... Focus on the big picture, people.

Knicks Win a Playoff Game: GET THE PARADE READY!!!

If there was one team that was always interesting to follow this season it was the New York Knicks. From Linsanity to just Melo, it was like a soap opera with all the different changes and drama. Entering the postseason didn't really change that. They performed horribly in Miami and, in the middle of it all, Amare Stoudemire injures his hand by punching glass. Seriously, soap opera gold. Or is it diva gold?

Anyway, one thing that the Knicks would love to do before they get eliminated from the playoffs is actually win a postseason game. It doesn't seem like a big deal when you need to win four games in order to advance to the next round but it was to the Knicks. Facing elimination, the Knicks went into MSG to take on the Heat once more. Carmelo Anthony had to carry the team into the playoffs and he had to do it again in this game. Melo scored 41 points last night in order to help the Knicks win the game, 89-87. It might be such a big deal but it was the Knicks' first postseason win since 2001.

13 postseason losses in a row before this win for the Knicks. Now this won't help them now but it does get some sort of monkey off their backs. They do need a lot of work still in order to move forward but this a nice thing to build off of for next season. The thing is that fans want a deep playoff run and they are not going to get that this year from the Knicks. Maybe next year when the team has time to work together and when they possibly get a new coach they will go farther in the postseason.

For now, it's a consolation prize and you can say that they simmered the Heat down a bit. At least it's a sign of improvement.

Pujols Homers.... Annnnnd Time

One of the big stories of the season so far this baseball season is the fact that Albert Pujols has been slumping since he came to the Angels. He was batting under .200 and wasn't able to hit a home run yet. He was even given the day off yesterday possibly because of his slump. He was put back in the lineup today and he finally woke up. While the Angels were playing Blue jays, Pujols finally connected for a two run home run. It was hit in the fifth inning and into the bullpens in LF. After 33 games and 139 at bats dating back to last season, Pujols finally hit another home run and his first one with his new team. The Angels would win, 4-3.

A good game for Albert once again. The talk has been that he just needs to hit one home run to break the tension and get into the grove. If you're the Angels, you're hoping that is correct. He's got a lot of homers to hit to feel like spending all that money was worth it. Either that or a World Series or two.

Blues Beat Reds for FA Cup

In the battle for Master Chief's affection, Blues triumphed and managed to kill off the Reds who were distracted by funny banter and... wait, it's Chelsea vs. Liverpool not the other thing. Anyway, as I was kind of saying, the FA Cup Final was yesterday and it was between Chelsea and Liverpool at Wembley Stadium. Chelsea manage to get on the board first with two goals. First, Ramires scored a goal in the 11' which was the only first half goal. Didier Drogba then scored a second goal for Chelsea in the 52'. Liverpool would strike back with Andy Caroll scoring in the 64' but it would not be enough. Chelsea would win, 2-1, and claim their 4th FA Cup in the last six years.

Chelsea wins the domestic cup which is always a good thing but it's not their ultimate goal. That ultimate goal is in a couple of weeks but this definitely builds momentum towards it. Didier Drogba also proves he is still able to play at a high level. That is a good thing to know. Don't feel too bad though, Liverpool, you still got the Carling Cup. A consolation prize, yes, but something.

The real big picture in England is whether or not Man City can hold on and win out for the EPL title. They will play Queens Park Rangers next who will fighting like hell to stay in the EPL. One trying to win the league while the other trying to stay in it.

Kentucky Derby Winners: Thank You, Sir, I'll Have Another

Happy Cinco de Mayo, everyone. Today was the running of the 138th Kentucky Derby and it was a heck of a race. I finally got the event down and didn't bother to tune in until 3:10 PM PT. It took me a while to get that down. Kind of sad but true. Let's face it: they just draw the whole thing out for way too long. The hype is just over two hours before they actually start bringing the horses out. Who wants to wait that long?

Anyway, when the race did start, it was Bodemeister who led the race for most of the time. He led by quite a bit coming around the final turn when "I'll Have Another" came from behind and managed to catch Bodemeister and pass him near the end. I'll Have Another managed to win the Kentucky Derby with Bodemeister placing second. The winning Jockey was Mario Guttierrez making his Kentucky Derby debut. It was also the first win for trainer, Doug O'Neill, and the owner, J. Paul Reddam, who apparently named the horse after a general response he makes when having his wife's cookies.

What a Derby it was to watch. That record crowd of over 165,000 enjoyed one hell of finish in with the fastest two minutes in sports. A relatively unknown horse wins the Derby and does it from post 19 which is the first time a winner came from that post in the entire history of the event. Still an amazing finish is the draw and what will be remembered here. Let's see if this horse will "Have Another" win at a Triple Crown event.

P.S. Did Mayweather Beat Pacquiao? No? Let's move along then.

Rivera Gets Injured and Weaver's No Hitter

Haven't been able to comment on the happenings in baseball the last couple of days. So some belated rantings. First Jered Weaver of the Angels pitched a no hitter. It came on Wednesday night vs. the Twins in a 9-0 victory at Anaheim. It was the 2nd no hitter thrown within 2 weeks with the other being Phil Humber's perfecto. With this win and achievement, Weaver is now 4-0 on the season with a 1.61 ERA., 45 K's and an impressive .78 WHIP. Of course the no-no brings that WHIP down considerably, doesn't it. Seems to be a rare bright spot for the Angels as they have lost 2 since and are currently 10-17. Also, Albert Pujols hasn't hit a home run yet. Heck, he isn't even batting over .200. I thought the new owners of the Dodgers invested in the wrong thing.

There was also news from the Yankees. Mariano Rivera apparently tore his ACL and meniscus when he was catching fly balls during warmup at Kaufman Stadium yesterday. This effectively ends Rivera's season and leaves the Yankees asking who else will finish games for them this season. Rivera since then has said that he intends to come back saying that he won't go down like this. While I do hate the Yankees, I do not wish an injury to end any career (except A-rod's). Mariano Rivera is the best closer in the history of baseball and someone of that status especially deserves to go out in a better fashion.

Couple of interesting days in MLB. I, meanwhile, can't wait to see Sunday Night Baseball where Bryce Harper will perform on "National" TV. HA HA HA

Junior Seau: 1969-2012

The NFL lost one of the greats today and far far too soon. Junior Seau, a former linebacker of 20 years, has been found dead in his home. He died of a gunshot wound which is right now being investigated as a suicide. His girlfriend found him unconscious and efforts to save him were unsuccessful. He is survived by his three children. Seau was known as one of the best linebackers in NFL history in which he spent 13 years with the Chargers, 3 with the Dolphins, and 4 with the Patriots. He was 43 years young.

A very sad day for the football world all around. He was one of the best defensive players of all time and is a sure Hall of Famer. Like probably a few others out there, I can't help but speculate whether concussions sustained over his career might've led to this. Dave Duerson committed suicide last year and it has been confirmed that he had a neurodegenerative disease linked to concussions. Seau had concussions himself and I can't help but think that this might be connected. Now it's really early to speculate about this kind of thing considering that his death is still being looked into but if it is confirmed that it was a suicide, I think this comparison will be made again.

This day, however, is not about the cause of death but simply about the man himself. Junior Seau was a fine NFL player and, from what I can tell, a class act as well. He will be missed and remembered forever more.

Bounty Gate Penalties Hit a Few Players

This seems to be a side-note story after what had happened earlier today but still a relevant one. Possibly the conclusion of the Bounty Gate scandal was today as more suspensions were handed out, this time to some of the players that were involved. Defensive Lineman Anthony Hargrove, who is now with the Packers, was suspended for 8 games; Linebacker Scott Fujita, who is with the Browns now, was suspended for 3 games; Saints defensive end Will Smith was suspended for 4 games; and Saints Linebacker Johnathan Vilma, who was perhaps the most connected player to this story, got the worst of it and was suspended for the entire 2012 NFL season.

Despite the punishments that have been handed down, it seems like the Saints have gotten off light as there could've been a lot more suspensions which some thought would be slapped onto at least 20 players. Gives me pause to think on why they didn't do this. Anyway, I think the suspensions are called for, in a way. I think teams with former Saints players (and even the Saints) would've like to have known they would be without some guys before the draft happened. But it doesn't seem that bad. Vilma, sure, gets the worst of it of all as he will be suspended for the entire season. A whole year of your life and pay out the window.

Now sure all 4 players are going to appeal their suspensions. It will be interesting to see how much the union will play a role in this as they can't exactly pick sides effectively in this kind of situation. If the appeals process for them is anything like the one for the non-players, why bother.

Real Madrid Clinch 32nd La Liga Title

One the big goals for a Jose Mourinho led Real Madrid was to win, among other things, the La Liga title once more and regain dominance over La Liga again. Today Real Madrid realized that goal once more. Real Madrid won their game today at Athletic Bilbao, 3-0, and with it clinched the La Liga title. This is their first La Liga title in four years and their 32nd overall. Meanwhile, Lionel Messi scores another hat trick and breaks some sort of European single season record, ah who cares, Real Madrid is the best in Spain once more.

A great season for the club despite the way they were eliminated from the Champions League. Any time you win the top domestic league title, you have to feel like you had a successful season. No doubt, however, the bar next season is European Cup or bust, however. Got to keep raising the bar. But for now, enjoy the title and don't let Sergio Ramos hold it very long.

P.S. Hope you readers enjoy this new look to the blog. Keeping it for the next 1000 posts.

1000TH POST!!! BOO YEAH!!!

WOOO!!! So happy today as this is my 1000th post ever. Man, what have I been doing with my life.

This is a post and let's get some news out of the way. What a way for Amare Stoudemire to help his team out? Sure, punching a glass door for a fire extinguisher doesn't seem like helping but all the numbers being thrown out there on how the Knicks are actually better without him right now makes it seem like a good thing. We'll have to see Thursday night.

Meanwhile in the NFL, Rex Ryan seems to like both Tim Tebow and Mark Sanchez. Way to pick sides, Rex. Then there is John Harbaugh bringing up old news in Spygate with the Pats saying that their titles are stained and have asterisks attached to them. Way to bring a scandal back from the grave. I'm sure that most analysts (myself included) do see the titles of the Pats as somewhat tainted but that is not a good move by John to take a shot at one of the most respective coaches in the league. Wait until you are retired and irrelevant.

Anyway, I would like to wrap up by bringing up my first post ever and see how we are doing with the initial complaint. The NCAA are making headway and it does look like a playoff system is on the horizon but we are not there yet. I would welcome any initial playoff system with open arms but also press for more because what I am hearing is not enough for me. I favor a 3 round playoff system where round one is basically the BCS bowl games and then have the semifinals for round two and then the Final after that for round three. But until they enact some sort of playoff system, I am still going to complain about it occasionally. Also, can we stop schools from switching conferences. It sort of hard for system to exploit kids for a "non-profit" venture if the schools are all moving around for money.

1000 posts and going strong. I would like to thank anyone who has read my posts even it was just once. I intend to keep blogging as long as there is something wrong in the sports world. Speaking of which, WHERE IS THE DAMN SALARY CAP IN BASEBALL?!?!?!

P.S. I would like to dedicate this post to my best friend, Andrew, who recently past away. I may have not been a best friend myself but I will always remember you going forward in this world. GO GIANTS!!!