SportSpectator Blog

February 23, Week in Sports

 :: A-ROD’S STORY FULL OF HOLES (Pro. Baseball)

:: NO. 4 PITT TOPPLES NO. 1 UCONN (College Basketball)

:: STOUDEMIRE LIKELY OUT FOR YEAR (Pro. Basketball)

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OH, WHAT A TANGLED WEB…

The A-Rod saga continued this week, as Rodriguez called a press conference on Tuesday to further explain how he had tested positive for steroid use. However, Rodriguez’s statement was full of holes and contradictions, and he has gotten himself into much more trouble as a result.

During the press conference, A-Rod claimed that he bought one of the performance-enhancing substances in question (”boli,” or Primobolan) over the counter in the Dominican with the help of his cousin. However, in the days since, a horde of sports journalists have discovered that using “boli” alone would not have accounted for the increased levels of testosterone in A-Rod’s blood test and that in any case, Primobolan was illegal in the Dominican during the time in question. Furthermore, the press learned that A-Rod’s cousin, Yuri Sucart, was A-Rod’s constant companion as recently as the 2007 season, often staying in the hotel room next to Rodriguez. Rodriguez, has said that he quit using steroids after 2003. That now seems very questionable, since Sucart’s roommate on these road trips was Angel Presinal, a trainer who has been banned from Major League Baseball since 2001, largely due to the prevailing opinion that he is a major steroid supplier to athletes.

Now that Rodriguez has created a web of lies, his situation is unimaginably worse. As Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman drily stated after the press conference, “Alex is not very good at communicating, to be quite honest.”

Quote of the Week: “No one thinks about himself more and knows himself less than Alex Rodriguez.” — Joel Sherman, New York Post

Further Reading: “A-Rod answers questions, raises more ” — Jayson Stark, ESPN

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OUTMUSCLED: PITT POUNDS OUT WIN AGAINST HUSKIES

Last week, the University of Pittsburgh Panthers defeated the University of Connecticut Huskies, who were ranked the best team in the country at the time. UConn and Pitt are conference rivals and two of the best teams in the country. Both of them will be strong competitors in this year’s March Madness tournament.

The Pitt-UConn matchup was billed as a battle of the big men, and it lived up to expectations. Huskies center Hasheem Thabeet is one of the best players in the country, and he is known for his tenacious defense. However, he was simply no match for Pitt forward DeJuan Blair, who completely dominated the game. In the end, Blair posted 22 points and 23 rebounds, while Thabeet, who found himself in foul trouble early in the game, was limited to 5 points and 4 rebounds. The two teams are scheduled to play each other again on March 7, in what is sure to be a must-see rematch.

Pitt is known for their extremely physical style of play, which often results in a lot of bellyaching by the defeated team. This game was no exception, as Huskies coach Jim Calhoun made a point of complaining about the officiating. Those comments notwithstanding, Calhoun can expect more of the same when the teams meet again in March.

Quote of the Week: ”We’ll get back to playing basketball our next game.” — Jim Calhoun, Huskies Coach, insinuating that Pitt’s style of play is overly physical

Further Reading: ”Blair, Pitt pull down UConn” — Mark Blaudschun, Boston Herald

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EYE CARAMBA! STOUDEMIRE SIDELINED BY INJURY

Phoenix Suns All-Star Amare Stoudemire re-aggravated an eye injury during a game and was forced to undergo surgery on Friday. Stoudemire, perhaps the best player for the Suns, is expected to miss the rest of the season.

Stoudemire’s injury took place the day after the NBA trade deadline. While there were no blockbuster trades before this year’s deadline, it had been widely rumored that the Suns were trying to trade Stoudemire. After determining that the potential deals on the table were not good enough, the Suns kept their All-Star, hoping that he could lead the team to the post-season this year. For that reason, Stoudemire’s injury is particularly devastating to the franchise, since they are now without their most explosive offensive player and have nothing to show for it.

The Suns had been hoping to have a strong second half of the season. Without Stoudemire in the lineup, it now seems unlikely that the team will even make the playoffs.

Quote of the Week: “Well, that was a fun two-game interlude. And we now return you to your regularly scheduled snakebit version of the Phoenix Suns.” — John Hollinger, ESPN

Further Reading:  “Stoudemire has surgery to repair retina ” — Marc Stein, ESPN

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WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK

:: BASEBALL: Though A-Rod has not scheduled any interviews this week, there is always the chance that he will throw together a zany press conference. Even if he doesn’t, though, fallout from the A-Rod steroid story will continue to dominate the news.

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ALL-SPORTS UPDATE

ACTIVE SEASON

:: BASKETBALL

NBA (Pro. Basketball): The 2008-09 season is currently underway. It runs from late October to April of 2009, when the playoffs commence.  [Official NBA Website]

NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL (College): The college basketball season is currently underway and runs through “the Tournament,” which takes place in March. [CBS Sports]

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:: FOOTBALL

NFL (Pro. Football): Now that the Super Bowl is over, the next major NFL event is the draft, which takes place in late April. [Official NFL Website]

NCAA FOOTBALL (College): The college football season is now over, with Florida defeating Oklahoma in the national championship game. [NCAA Football, ESPN]

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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 Masters is scheduled for the first week of April. [Official PGA Website]

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson

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:: HOCKEY

NHL (Pro. Hockey): The hockey season is currently underway and runs through April of 2009.  [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 are the four Grand Slam tournaments: the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open. The next event is the French Open, which takes place in May. [USTA Website]

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic

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OFFSEASON

:: BASEBALL

MLB (Pro. Baseball): The Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in this year’s World Series. During the off-season, baseball news will focus on major trades and player signings. [Official MLB Website]

February 16, Week in Sports

:: A-ROD ADMITS TO USING STEROIDS (Pro. Baseball)

:: MATT KENSETH WINS DAYTONA 500 (NASCAR)

:: WEST WINS NBA ALL-STAR GAME (Pro. Basketball)

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A-ROD’S MEA CULPA

Alex “A-Rod” Rodriguez, the star third baseman for the New York Yankees who was accused of using steroids in a Sports Illustrated article last week, admitted that he used illegal substances from 2001 to 2003. While many other great players have been accused of using steroids, Rodriguez is probably the greatest player to ever come out and openly admit it.

During his confessional interview with ESPN’s Peter Gammons, Rodriguez stated that the culture in baseball at the time had a large part to do with his decision to use performance-enhancing drugs. He also claimed that he completely stopped using illegal substances in 2003, which seems to be true on the surface, since he has never been linked to a positive test since then. Coincidentally, Rodriguez’s “decision” to stop using steroids occurred right about the time that the league implemented a rigorous drug testing program.

A-Rod is already dealing with the fallout from the scandal, with people saying that he should be suspended or barred from entering the Hall of Fame someday. However, many people are also furious that while A-Rod is under fire for being on a list of 104 athletes who used performance-enhancing drugs, the other 103 individuals are getting off scot-free.

Quote of the Week: “He’s a young man and he has a special chance to do a lot of special things numbers-wise. But now they’re going to be tainted. People don’t forget.” — Joe Torre, L.A. Dodgers Manager

Further Reading: “Rodriguez Admits to Use of Performance Enhancers ” — Tyler Kepner, New York Times

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KENSETH A RAINY DAY WINNER

On Sunday afternoon, Matt Kenseth won the Daytona 500, which was shortened due to rainy weather conditions. The Daytona 500 is the first major event of the NASCAR season, and it is also the biggest race of the year, considered to be the “Super Bowl” of the sport.

There were two major events that factored into the outcome of Sunday’s race–the bad weather and a major crash in the middle of the race. On Lap 124, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Brian Vickers initiated a massive pileup that knocked some of the best drivers out of contention. Since the 200-lap race was shortened by 48 laps because of the rain, the crash was a truly decisive moment.

This was an important win for Matt Kenseth, who has never before won the Daytona 500. Moreover, Kenseth went all of last season without notching a single win.

Quote of the Week: ”It’s going to be really wet out here, because I’m crying like a baby.” — Matt Kenseth, after winning the race

Further Reading: ”Crazy finish favors Kenseth ” — Associated Press, via ESPN

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THE WILD WEST

The Western Conference beat the Eastern Conference by a score of 146 to 119 on Sunday night during the NBA All-Star Game. The All-Star game is an exhibition game played by the best players in the NBA. Former teammates Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal were named co-MVPs of the game.

The NBA All-Star Game, like all All-Star Games except the one played in baseball, does not count for anything–it is simply a fun game where the biggest stars in the sport come together. More importantly, perhaps, is the fact that the All-Star Game represents the halfway point of the NBA season. With the season half over, the standings look pretty much how everyone expected. The Boston Celtics, who won the championship last year, have the best record in the NBA with 44 wins. Kobe Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers, who competed against the Celtics in last year’s Finals, have the best record in the Western Conference, with 42 wins. Many analysts believe that those two great teams will meet again in this year’s Finals series.

There are a number of fun events associated with the NBA All-Star game, including the three-point competition, the skills competition, and a game of HORSE. The most exciting event is the slam dunk contest, which was won this year by Nate Robinson.

Quote of the Week: “The Big Legendaries” — Shaq’s nickname for Kobe and himself

Further Reading:  “VIDEO: Nate Robinson, Slam Dunk Contest ” — YouTube

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WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK

:: BASKETBALL: The NBA trading deadline is February 19th. Expect some big trades this week, including the move of Amare Stoudemire, who will almost certainly be traded.

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ALL-SPORTS UPDATE

ACTIVE SEASON

:: BASKETBALL

NBA (Pro. Basketball): The 2008-09 season is currently underway. It runs from late October to April of 2009, when the playoffs commence.  [Official NBA Website]

NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL (College): The college basketball season is currently underway and runs through “the Tournament,” which takes place in March. [CBS Sports]

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:: FOOTBALL

NFL (Pro. Football): Now that the Super Bowl is over, the next major NFL event is the draft, which takes place in late April. [Official NFL Website]

NCAA FOOTBALL (College): The college football season is now over, with Florida defeating Oklahoma in the national championship game. [NCAA Football, ESPN]

———-

:: 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 Masters is scheduled for the first week of April. [Official PGA Website]

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson

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:: HOCKEY

NHL (Pro. Hockey): The hockey season is currently underway and runs through April of 2009.  [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 are the four Grand Slam tournaments: the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open. The next event is the French Open, which takes place in May. [USTA Website]

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic

———-

OFFSEASON

:: BASEBALL

MLB (Pro. Baseball): The Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in this year’s World Series. During the off-season, baseball news will focus on major trades and player signings. [Official MLB Website]

February 9, Week in Sports 

:: A-ROD ACCUSED OF USING STEROIDS (Pro. Baseball)

:: MICHAEL PHELPS SUSPENDED FOR DRUG USE (Olympics)

:: BARRY BONDS COURT DOCUMENTS SHOW POSITIVE DRUG TESTS (Pro. Baseball)

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SI DROPS A BOMB ON “A-FRAUD“

Sports Illustrated reported that New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids in 2003, when he was playing with the Texas Rangers. Rodriguez, commonly referred to as “A-Rod,” is the most accomplished player of his generation, and he is on pace to break several of the most revered baseball records.

The test results in question came from a 2003 testing program conducted by Major League Baseball, intended to determine how pervasive steroid abuse was in the game. The results of the test were supposed to be totally confidential, and the league promised that it would not take any disciplinary measures based on the test’s results. Though those results are still confidential, that didn’t stop several sources familiar with the program from spilling the beans to Sports Illustrated and independently verifiying that Rodriguez was on the list. This story is bound to grow in the coming weeks, and though it’s hard to tell what will come of it, it certainly promises to be one of the biggest scandals in sports this year.

A-Rod’s name has also been in the news because of revelations about his relationships with his teammates, as detailed in former Yankees manager Joe Torre’s book. According to Torre, A-Rod was not particularly liked by his teammates, who called him “A-Fraud” behind his back.

Quote of the Week: “Alex Rodriguez was supposed to be the guy who saved baseball, the way that Mark McGwire did in 1998. He was supposed to ride in and save the home run record from the clutches of suspected steroid user Barry Bonds. He was supposed to be the guy who would show that clean players could be just as prolific as the cheaters…. Rodriguez wouldn’t respond to the information in the report, but anything he says really isn’t going to change the fact that this will stick to him forever.” — Buster Olney, ESPN

Further Reading: “Exclusive: A-Rod Tested Positive in 2003 ” — Selena Roberts and David Epstein, Sports Illustrated

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WHAT WOULD TONY THE TIGER SAY?

Last week, News of the World, a British tabloid, published a photo of American swimmer Michael Phelps smoking marijuana. Phelps, who won a record 8 gold medals in the Beijing Olympics, is the most prominent Olympic athlete in the world.

In the days following the photo’s publication, there were two significant consequences for Phelps: USA Swimming suspended him from competition for three months, and he lost his Kellogg sponsorship. Though the suspension will make Phelps’ preparations for the world championships in Rome a little bit more difficult, in reality it is nothing more than a slap on the wrists. Furthermore, Phelps’ other sponsors stood by his side, so the loss of Kellogg will hardly make a dent in his endorsement money. So far, even people who would never consider themselves “Phelps Phans” seem to be coming out in defense of the Olympian.

Besides, Phelps has bounced back from worse indiscretions in the past, such as his drunk driving arrest in 2004. Phelps was underage at the time, but that incident did little to affect his stature in the sport.
Quote of the Week: ”Mom wasn’t happy.” — Michael Phelps

Further Reading: ”Phelps suspended from competition ” — Associated Press, via ESPN

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AND HERE’S ANOTHER HIT, BARRY BONDS

This week, it emerged that there are a number of court documents that definitively prove that Barry Bonds used steroids. Bonds, who holds the MLB home run record, has been indicted for perjury and his trial is scheduled to begin next month.

Barry Bonds has become the most prominent figure of the “steroid era” of baseball. However, while it seems unlikely that even the most naive fan could still believe that Bonds was free of performance-enhancing drugs, until now there has never been definitive proof that Bonds knowingly used steroids. That being said, while the case against Bonds has grown the past few years, it is also relatively unimportant until a court of law proves that he is guilty of perjury, which would also mean that he had deliberately used steroids. The judge in Bonds’ case has suggested that she would not include the majority of the most devastating documents without the testimony of Bonds’ former personal trainer.

Also included in the unsealed court documents was a transcript of a taped conversation between Bonds’ manager and trainger about Bonds’ steroid program. That conversation is also being submitted as “proof” that Bonds knowingly took steroids and later lied about it.

Quote of the Week: “We know that he hasn’t played a game since Sept. 26, 2007, yet the specter of Barry Bonds continues to loom over the entire sport.” — Howard Bryant, ESPN.com

Further Reading:  “Drug tests, transcripts included in unsealed Bonds documents ” — Associated Press, via ESPN

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WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK

:: NASCAR: The Daytona 500 takes place on Sunday, February 15. Many people consider the Daytona 500 the biggest racing event of the year, dubbing it the Super Bowl of NASCAR.

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ALL-SPORTS UPDATE

ACTIVE SEASON

:: BASKETBALL

NBA (Pro. Basketball): The 2008-09 season is currently underway. It runs from late October to April of 2009, when the playoffs commence.  [Official NBA Website]

NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL (College): The college basketball season is currently underway and runs through “the Tournament,” which takes place in March. [CBS Sports]

———-

:: FOOTBALL

NFL (Pro. Football): Now that the Super Bowl is over, the next major NFL event is the draft, which takes place in late April. [Official NFL Website]

NCAA FOOTBALL (College): The college football season is now over, with Florida defeating Oklahoma in the national championship game. [NCAA Football, ESPN]

———-

:: 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 Masters is scheduled for the first week of April. [Official PGA Website]

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson

———-

:: HOCKEY

NHL (Pro. Hockey): The hockey season is currently underway and runs through April of 2009.  [Official NHL Website]

———-

:: TENNIS

MEN’S AND WOMEN’S TENNIS: While there are professional tournaments throughout the year, the most important tournaments are the four Grand Slam tournaments: the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open. The next event is the French Open, which takes place in May. [USTA Website]

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic

———-

OFFSEASON

:: BASEBALL

MLB (Pro. Baseball): The Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in this year’s World Series. During the off-season, baseball news will focus on major trades and player signings. [Official MLB Website]

February 2, Week in Sports

:: STEELERS BEAT CARDINALS TO WIN SUPER BOWL (Pro. Football)

:: NADAL DOWNS FEDERER AT AUSSIE OPEN (Pro. Tennis)

:: SERENA WILLIAMS WINS AUSSIE OPEN, RECLAIMS NO. 1 SPOT (Pro. Tennis)

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 MEN OF STEEL

The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Arizona Cardinals in a close, hard-fought game to win this year’s Super Bowl. The Super Bowl is the championship game of the NFL season, and the most highly-watched sporting event of the year.

The Steelers, though heavily favored by many analysts, had to pull out all the stops to win the game by a score of 27-23. Without a series of incredible plays–including a 100-yard interception return at the end of the first half and the breathtaking winning catch by Santonio Holmes–the Steelers could very well have lost the game. The Steelers entered the fourth quarter winning 20-7, but the Cardinals came roaring back to take the lead, scoring 16 unanswered points, including a stunning reception by Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald. However, the Steelers marched down the field as time ran off the clock and scored the go-ahead points with less than a minute to play. Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes was named the Super Bowl MVP.

Though the Steelers certainly earned the victory, the game ended on a somewhat controversial play. With just seconds left in the game, the Cardinals still had a chance to pull out a miracle comeback. However, they lost the ball on a ball that was ruled a fumble by the officials, though it very well may have been an incomplete pass. Furthermore, the referees did not even choose to use instant replay to review the play, effectively ending the game. It is hard to say whether or not the officials blew the call, but there were enough questionable calls during the game that you can be sure to hear some angry Cardinals fans on the radio and around the office.

Quote of the Week: “It will go down as one of the most thrilling Super Bowls of all-time. But, as has become all too common in the NFL, an officiating controversy threatens to overshadow the stellar play on the field.” — Chris Chase, Shutdown Corner

Further Reading: “Holmes’ grab lands Steelers record sixth Super Bowl title” — Greg Garber, ESPN

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KINGS OF THE COURT

Rafael Nadal defeated Roger Federer on Sunday in Melbourne to win the men’s singles final at the Australian Open. The Australian Open is the first of four Grand Slam events of the year–the most important tournaments in tennis.The rivalry between Nadal and Federer is one of the greatest in professional sports, with Federer playing the role of the veteran player in the sunset of his career and Nadal as the heir to the throne. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that Nadal, who has defeated Federer in their last three Grand Slam clashes, has already eclipsed his rival. Nadal now has a chance to win all four Grand Slam events in a single calendar year for the first time since Rod Laver did it in 1969.

Despite Federer’s recent losses to Nadal and the growing opinion that he is on the decline, he is just 27 years old and still one of the best players in the world. However, this loss was particularly painful for Federer, since he is just one Grand Slam title short of Pete Sampras’s record of 14 Grand Slam titles. The next Grand Slam tournament is the French Open, which takes place in May.

Quote of the Week: ”Maybe I’ll try later. God, it’s killing me.” — Roger Federer, on congratulating Nadal

Further Reading: ”Nadal defeats Federer at Australian Open” — Associated Press, via New York Times

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BACK ON TOP

On Saturday, Serena Williams won the women’s singles final at the Australian Open, handily defeating Dinara Safina, who was the top-ranked female player in the world going into the match.

Williams was ranked No. 2 in the world going into Saturday’s match, but by beating Safina she reclaimed the top spot. Since Williams won the U.S. Open in September, Saturday’s victory also means that she has won back-to-back Grand Slam titles–a feat that has not been accomplished since 2004. During this year’s tournament, Serena also became the all-time leading money winner among female athletes.

Serena and Venus Williams captured this year’s doubles title, as well. The Williams sisters, despite being seeded 10th in this tournament, are the most dangerous tennis duo in the world. In the past year, they have now won two Grand Slam events, as well as a gold medal in the Beijing Olympics.

Quote of the Week: “Serena was too good … I was just a ballboy on the court today” — Dinara Safina, after the match

Further Reading:  “Serena rolls to 10th Grand Slam title” — Associated Press, via ESPN

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 WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK

:: COLLEGE BASKETBALL: For those of you hoping to get a leg up on your co-workers during March Madness, now is the time to be doing some homework. Next Saturday, 20 of the top 25 teams in the country are playing. None of the big dogs are playing each other, but it’s a great opportunity to see some of the best of the best in action. Many of the games are on ESPN, and Notre Dame vs. UCLA will air on CBS in the early afternoon.

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ALL-SPORTS UPDATE

ACTIVE SEASON

:: BASKETBALL

NBA (Pro. Basketball): The 2008-09 season is currently underway. It runs from late October to April of 2009, when the playoffs commence.  [Official NBA Website]

NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL (College): The college basketball season is currently underway and runs through “the Tournament,” which takes place in March. [CBS Sports]

———-

:: FOOTBALL

NFL (Pro. Football): Now that the Super Bowl is over, the next major NFL event is the draft, which takes place in late April. [Official NFL Website]

NCAA FOOTBALL (College): The college football season is now over, with Florida defeating Oklahoma in the national championship game. [NCAA Football, ESPN]

———-

:: 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 Masters is scheduled for the first week of April. [Official PGA Website]

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson

———-

:: HOCKEY

NHL (Pro. Hockey): The hockey season is currently underway and runs through April of 2009.  [Official NHL Website]

———-

:: TENNIS

MEN’S AND WOMEN’S TENNIS: While there are professional tournaments throughout the year, the most important tournaments are the four Grand Slam tournaments: the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open. The next event is the French Open, which takes place in May. [USTA Website]

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic

———-

OFFSEASON

:: BASEBALL

MLB (Pro. Baseball): The Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in this year’s World Series. During the off-season, baseball news will focus on major trades and player signings. [Official MLB Website]