SportSpectator Blog

March 10, Week in Sports

:: BRETT FAVRE RETIRES (FOOTBALL)
:: NCAA BASKETBALL, CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK (COLLEGE BASKETBALL)
:: RANDY MOSS RE-SIGNS WITH PATRIOTS (FOOTBALL)

FAVRE THROWS IN THE TOWEL

On Tuesday, Packers quarterback Brett Favre, one of the most popular players in the league and a future Hall of Famer, announced that he was retiring from the NFL.
Favre holds records for the most touchdowns, passing yards, and wins by any quarterback in the NFL. The three-time Most Valuable Player also played as a starter in 253 consecutive games—an astonishing feat, given the physical demands of professional football. Favre led the Packers to a Super Bowl victory in 1996. The Packers returned to the Super Bowl in 1997, but lost to the New England Patriots.
Favre has made no secret about the fact that he has been considering retirement in recent years, so nobody is particularly surprised that Favre is walking away from the game. However, after the Packers came within one game of reaching the Super Bowl in 2007, many Green Bay fans were hoping that their hero would come back for at least one more effort.

Quote of the Week: “It’s been a great career for me, and it’s over. As hard as that is for me to say, it’s over.” — Brett Favre
Further Reading: “Passing Era: Favre Says He’s Done” – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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COLLEGE HOOPS HEATING UP

Throughout last week (and during the upcoming week), men’s college basketball teams across the country have been holding conference tournaments–single-elimination tournaments where teams in the same conferences battle until a champion is decided. “Championship Week” is a crucial part of the men’s college basketball season, not just because winning your conference is a major accomplishment, but also because the conference champions automatically qualify for the NCAA tournament, which is the major goal of every NCAA basketball team.
There are hundreds of games played during Championship Week, so it’s simply not possible to watch all of them. Generally, then, it is a good idea to follow the fortunes of the top ten teams in the country–especially when those teams play each other. The biggest game of the week took place on Saturday, when the University of North Carolina (#1) played Duke (#5). UNC pulled out a victory in the hard-fought match with Duke–consistently one of the most intense rivalries in sports.

Quote of the Week: “My friends, we are in March Madness and it is excitement galore.” — Dick Vitale, Announcer
Further Reading: “Best on Both Sides” — ESPN; Team Rankings — via ESPN

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MOSS BACK IN BOSTON

Since February 29th, free agents in the NFL (players whose contracts have expired who are eligible to sign with other teams) have started receiving offers from teams around the league. Since players in the NFL don’t move to different teams nearly as often as they do in the NBA or MLB, this is one of the rare moments when big-name players can make a big move.
The highest profile free agent this year was Randy Moss, the wide receiver who played an instrumental role in the New England Patriots’ run to the Super Bowl, where they ultimately lost to the New York Giants. Moss received excellent offers from teams around the country–most notably a generous offer from Philadelphia–but in the end, he re-signed with the Patriots, receiving $27 million over three years. While free agents will continue to be signed around the league, most of the notable players have already secured new contracts.

Quote of the Week: “I’m ready to get back. We have some unfinished business to take care of.” — Randy Moss
Further Reading: “Patriots Re-sign Moss” — Boston Herald

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WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK

:: COLLEGE BASKETBALL — As Championship Week moves forward and the tournament draws near, we are entering into “March Madness,” the peak of the college basketball season. The madness will continue this week, as the champions of conference tournaments across the country are decided. But matters will get even more exciting on Sunday, March 16th, when the NCAA Selection Committee announces the competitors in the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship. (see below)

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ALL-SPORTS UPDATE

ACTIVE SEASON

:: BASKETBALL

NBA (Pro. Basketball): With little more than a month remaining in the regular season (the post-season begins on April 19th), the 2008 playoff picture is beginning to take shape. Sixteen teams will qualify for the playoffs—eight from the Western Conference and eight from the Eastern Conference. [Official NBA Website]

NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL (College): On Selection Sunday (March 16th), the NCAA will announce this year’s competitors in the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship—often called simply “the tournament” or “the Big Dance.” The champions from every Division I Conference Tournament automatically qualify for the tournament. The other competitors are named by an NCAA selection committee. 65 teams qualify for the tournament, and the two lowest-ranked teams play a game to decide who gets the 64th spot in the Big Dance. [CBS Sports]

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:: GOLF

MEN’S GOLF: While there are professional tournaments throughout the year, the most important tournaments are the four Major Championships: The Masters, U.S. Open, The Open (The British Open), and the PGA Championship. The first of these is the Masters, which takes place in April. The Masters is played on the same course every year at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. [Official PGA Website]
NOTABLE PLAYERS: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els

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:: HOCKEY

NHL (Pro. Hockey): With less than a month remaining in the regular season (the Stanley Cup playoffs begin on April 9th), the 2008 playoff picture is beginning to take shape. Sixteen teams will qualify for the playoffs—eight from the Western Conference and eight from the Eastern Conference. [Official NHL Website]

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:: TENNIS

MEN’S AND WOMEN’S TENNIS: While there are professional tournaments throughout the year, the most important tournaments of the year are the four Grand Slam tournaments: the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open. The Australian Open took place in January. The French Open, which is held in May, is the next Grand Slam event. [USTA Website]
NOTABLE PLAYERS: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Justine Henin

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OFFSEASON

:: BASEBALL

MLB (Pro. Baseball): Baseball’s pre-season—Spring Training—is in full swing, with exhibition games being played daily in Arizona and Florida. The regular season begins on March 25th, when the Boston Red Sox play the Oakland Athletics in Tokyo, Japan. [Official MLB Website]

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:: FOOTBALL

NFL (Pro. Football): Until the NFL Draft takes place—on April 25th and 26th—NFL news will be limited to trades and free agent signings. The NFL pre-season begins in August, and the regular season begins in September. [Official NFL Website]
NCAA FOOTBALL (College): Now that signing day has come and gone, there won’t be much news in college football until the summer, when practice sessions begin. [NCAA Football, ESPN]