SportSpectator Blog

November 17, Week in Sports

SportsGuru — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 01:23:24 +0000

November 17, Week in Sports

:: JIMMIE JOHNSON WINS THIRD STRAIGHT TITLE (NASCAR)

:: MLB PLAYER AWARDS ANNOUNCED (Pro. Baseball)

:: MLB MANAGER AWARDS ANNOUNCED (Pro. Baseball)

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J.J. CRUISES TO THREE-PEATNASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson won the Sprint Cup on Sunday evening. The Sprint Cup is a year-long racing series that is the most prestigious of the NASCAR season. Jimmie Johnson has now won the Sprint Cup three years in a row.

Though NASCAR is one of the most popular sports in the country, it often fails to get a significant amount of attention in the mainstream sports media. Johnson’s three-peat, however, is a huge achievement. That, combined with the fact that Johnson is one of the most well-known and likable representatives of the sport, should mean that Johnson gets the praise that he deserves this week. This is just the second time ever that a driver has won three straight Cup titles. The last person to do it was Cale Yarborough, who accomplished the feat in the mid 1970s.

Johnson had built up such a huge lead in points this year that entering Sunday’s race, he essentially only had to complete the race without wrecking his car in order to win the title. Carl Edwards, another top NASCAR driver, won Sunday’s race, but it was not enough to catch up to Jimmie Johnson.

Quote of the Week: At least we can lay our heads down tonight and know we won some races and just got beaten by a true champion” — Carl Edwards

Further Reading: ”JJ: The Greatest Driver Ever?” — Associated Press, via ESPN

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THE KIDS CAN PLAY

Last week, Major League Baseball announced the winners of two of the major player awards–Rookie of the Year and Cy Young. Each award is given out to two players–one from the National League and one from the American League. The Rookies of the Year were Evan Longoria and Geovany Soto, and the Cy Young winners were Cliff Lee and Tim Lincecum.

The two winners of Rookie of the Year–Longoria and Soto–came as no big surprise to anyone. Longoria is the starting third baseman who led the upstart Tampa Bay Rays to a World Series appearance, and many baseball analysts believe that he is the second coming of the New York Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez–quite a compliment, considering “A-Rod” will likely wind up being one of the greatest of all time. Soto, the NL Rookie of the Year, is the starting catcher for the Chicago Cubs. Good defensive catchers who hit consistently for power are hard to come by, which made Soto an obvious pick. Despite being a rookie, he brought a veteran presence to the Cubs this year, which earned him a number of honors, including a starting spot on the NL All-Star team–the first time that award had been given to a rookie catcher in the National League.

The Cy Young award is awarded to the best pitchers in the league, and it is a huge honor that people around the league remember for years. Cliff Lee of the Cleveland Indians won the award for the American League. Lee, who struggled so much last year that he was sent to the minors, had a resurgent year, dominating hitters and winning 22 games for the Indians. Tim Lincecum of the Giants was an unlikely superstar this year. Lincecum is often described as undersized–for what it’s worth, he’s 5′ 11″–and he pitches for the San Francisco Giants, one of the worst teams in the league. Despite those factors, he posted a record of 18-5. Given how bad the Giants are, that record is phenomenal and worthy of the league’s highest pitching award.

Quote of the Week: “But Lincecum is an anomaly in a conformist sport, a lithe, 5-foot-11 pitcher with a gymnast’s body who doesn’t ice his arm and bounces back after almost every start.” — Andrew Baggerly, Mercury News

Further Reading: “Lincecum beats out Webb, is Giants’ second Cy Young winner” — Associated Press, via ESPN

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HATS OFF TO THE SKIPPER

Major League Baseball also announced the AL and NL Managers of the Year last week. The winners were Joe Maddon of the Tampa Bay Rays and Lou Piniella of the Chicago Cubs.

This is the third time that Piniella has been named Manager of the Year–he was previously awarded the honor in 1995 and 2001, when he managed the Seattle Mariners. Piniella led the the Chicago Cubs to their division-winning season and best record in the National League. Charlie Manuel, the manager for the Philadelphia Phillies, came in second place. Votes for the player and manager awards are placed before the playoffs, or else Manuel certainly would have given Piniella a run for his money.

Maddon won the AL award by a landslide, having coached the Tampa Bay Rays from a last place division finish in 2007 to a World Series appearance in 2008. Ironically, Maddon replaced Lou Piniella as coach of the Rays when Piniella accepted a job with the Chicago Cubs in 2006. Maddon was a lock for Manager of the Year, but winning the award still must have seemed surreal for the 54-year old coach, who received news that he had received the honor while on his honeymoon in Italy.

Quote of the Week: “When a guy can quote Albert Camus and Albert Einstein, and he’s talking about how you put a bullpen together, you know you’ve got something special.” — Martin Fennelly, Tampa Bay Tribune, on Joe Maddon

Further Reading: “Rays’ Maddon, Cubs’ Piniella win Manager of the Year honors” — Associated Press, via Sports Illustrated

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WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK

:: BASEBALL: The league is announcing the Most Valuable Players for the American League and National League this week, which should keep baseball in the news even though the sport is currently in the off-season. There are also trade talks under way, which could mean that some of MLB’s biggest name players could be switching teams at any point during the next few days.

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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 started last week and runs through “the Tournament,” which takes place in March. [CBS Sports]

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:: FOOTBALL

NFL (Pro. Football): The regular season is now underway. The Tennessee Titans are currently the best team in the league, with an undefeated record. [Official NFL Website]

NCAA FOOTBALL (College): The college football season is now in full swing. The BCS Standings currently place Alabama as the best team in the country. [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. Now that the PGA Championship is over, mainstream golf news will most likely revolve around Tiger Woods’ return from injury and preparation for next year’s Majors. [Official PGA Website]

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson

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:: HOCKEY

NHL (Pro. Hockey): The hockey season runs through April of 2009. By the new year, the league power rankings should be pretty well set. [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. [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]

November 10, Week in Sports

SportsGuru — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 01:06:15 +0000

November 10, Week in Sports

:: BARACK OBAMA ELECTED PRESIDENT (Pro. Sports)

:: ALLEN IVERSON TRADED TO PISTONS (College Football)

:: TENNESSEE TITANS IMPROVE TO 9-0 RECORD (Pro. Football)

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NOW STARTING, FROM CHICAGO, NUMBER 44…

As President-elect Barack Obama sets up his transitional office, the sports world is abuzz with questions about what his presidency will mean for American athletics.

Obama’s passion for sports is well-documented. He is a huge fan of the Chicago White Sox, well-informed on the nuances of fantasy football, and a proponent for playoffs in NCAA football. He also plays basketball regularly, and earlier stated that if he were elected President, he would have a basketball court installed at the White House. While all of these issues relate to Obama as a sports fan, his presidency is also expected to have practical consequences in professional sports. For instance, many experts have noted that his tax policies would effect team owners and players, which ultimately might be a determining factor in free agency signings and player contracts. It is hard to tell whether or not that will actually be an issue, but sports analysts are closely monitoring the player market in Major League Baseball to see whether or not Obama’s election has an impact.

Of course, Obama is by no means the first President with connections to professional sports. George W. Bush was a former owner of the Texas Rangers, who pressured lawmakers and sports commissioners to clean up the world of professional sports, which played a big part in the steroid investigations in baseball and other sports.

Quote of the Week: ”I think it is about time that we had playoffs in college football. I’m fed up with these computer rankings and this and that and the other. Get eight teams–the top eight teams right at the end. You got a playoff. Decide on a National Champion.” — Barack Obama, on college football

Further Reading: ”Change is coming to sports, too, under Obama” – Lester Munson, ESPN

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DETROIT FINDS ‘THE ANSWER’

In a dramatic move that is shaking up the league, the Detroit Pistons traded star guard Chauncey Billups and two other players for Denver Nuggets superstar Allen Iverson. Iverson is one of the biggest stars in the league, and Billups was the NBA Finals MVP when the Pistons won the title in 2004.

The Pistons, who have made the playoffs every year since 2001, are one of the strongest teams in the league. During their current streak of making the playoffs, Billups has been one of the faces of the franchise, which made this trade a hard decision for Detroit. However, during their years of success, the Pistons have only managed to bring home the championship once, in 2004. By adding Allen “The Answer” Iverson, the Pistons are hoping to reclaim the NBA title. That being said, picking up Iverson is a risky move that could potentially flop, as it did with the Philadelphia 76ers and Denver Nuggets, who also thought that Iverson was “the Answer.”

The Nuggets, on the other hand, are thrilled to have Billups on board. They have made the playoffs every year since 2003, but every single year they have been knocked out of the postseason in the first round. The Nuggets are hoping that they addition of the veteran Billups, known for his poise and passing game, will help the team advance in the playoffs this year.

Quote of the Week: “Whoa, now this came out of leftfield.” — Vince Ellis, Detroit Free Press

Further Reading: “Pistons get Iverson for Billups, McDyess, Samb” — Vince Ellis, Detroit Free Press

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TITAN-IC SEASON

The Tennessee Titans improved to a league-best record of 9-0 with a 21-14 victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday. The Titans have all but guaranteed a spot in the playoffs this year, and they have a chance to finish the regular season with a perfect record–one of the most difficult team achievements in sports.

The Titans are not a flashy team, and their biggest players are not household names. As a result, they have earned their 9-0 record very quietly, and week in and week out their doubters predict that they will lose their first game. However, the Titans have gone on winning, primarily because of the production of their explosive running backs, Chris Johnson and Lendale White. Despite a terrible performance by both Johnson and White on Sunday, the Titans still managed to beat the Bears, preserving their flawless record.

Part of the reason that the Titans’ success has received so little attention thus far is because of the fact that last year, the New England Patriots went undefeated in the regular season for the first time in decades. The Patriots–who had glam-quarterback Tom Brady and stud receiver Randy Moss–were a team that fans around the country loved or hated with equal passion. The Titans, for the time being, have yet to inspire those kinds of emotions in casual fans. If they continue to win these next few weeks, though, they will be the center of attention for the most popular sport in the country.

Quote of the Week: “Maybe they have some kind of angel around them or something. I don’t know” — Rashied Davis, Bears Wide Receiver

Further Reading: “Perfect Form” — Associated Press, via ESPN

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WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK

:: COLLEGE BASKETBALL: The College basketball season begins this week. While there are no major match-ups in the first few days of the season, many of the top teams in the country will get their first taste of the national spotlight. If you’re looking for an edge in your office pool next March, now is the time to start scouting teams.

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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 begins on November 10th and runs through “the Tournament,” which takes place in March. [CBS Sports]

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:: FOOTBALL

NFL (Pro. Football): The regular season is now underway. The Tennessee Titans are currently the best team in the league, with an undefeated record. [Official NFL Website]

NCAA FOOTBALL (College): The college football season is now in full swing. The BCS Standings currently place Alabama as the best team in the country. [NCAA Football, ESPN]

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:: GOLF

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson

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:: HOCKEY

NHL (Pro. Hockey): The hockey season runs through April of 2009. By the new year, the league power rankings should be pretty well set. [Official NHL Website]

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:: TENNIS

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

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OFFSEASON

:: BASEBALL

November 3, Week in Sports

SportsGuru — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 01:51:41 +0000

November 3, Week in Sports

:: PHILLIES WIN WORLD SERIES (Pro. Baseball)

:: TEXAS TECH UPSETS NO. 1 TEXAS (College Football)

:: NORTH CAROLINA RANKED NO. 1 (College Basketball)

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PHEW! PHILADELPHIA GETS LONG-AWAITED CHAMPIONSHIP

The Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night to win the World Series. The Phillies have not won the World Series since 1980, and the city of Philadelphia has not had a championship team since 1983.Philadelphia fans have been waiting for this championship for a long time, and they were forced to wait even longer since rain delays plagued this year’s World Series. The most controversial moment of the chamionship occurred last Monday, during Game 5 of the series. When torrential rains came down during the middle of the game, league commissioner Bud Selig decided on the fly to suspend the game. This ultimately meant that the game was simply paused and then resumed on Wednesday with the score tied and three innings left to play. It was through that game that the Phillies clinched the title, squashing the upstart Rays, baseball’s feel-good story of the year.

Cole Hamels, the 24-year old star pitcher of the Phillies, was named the MVP of the series. Hamels was not even alive the last time the Phillies won the World Series.

Quote of the Week: ”Save the jokes, the taunts and all those insults about the losingest team in sports.” — ESPN News

Further Reading: ”For Phillies and City, Title Is Worth the Wait“ – Tyler Kepner, ESPN

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SEEING RED: TEXAS TECH SHAKES UP RANKINGS

In one of the most exciting college football games of the year, the Texas Tech Red Raiders defeated the Texas Longhorns, the top-ranked team in the country. With that victory, Texas Tech rose in the BCS rankings, which ultimately determine which teams get to face off in the national championship game.

The Lornhorns have been a very strong team all year, but Texas Tech dominated them for most of the game, at one point leading by two touchdowns. However, the Red Raiders’ lead began to shrink as the game progressed, and with a minute and a half left in the game, the Longhorns actually took the lead. But Texas Tech put together an incredible drive down the field as the seconds ticked away, and they scored a touchdown with one second left in the game, taking the lead once more. When that touchdown was scored, the Texas Tech fans rushed the field even though there was still time left on the clock. Once everyone had been cleared from the field, the game resumed, and the Red Raiders sealed their victory.

As a result of the game, Texas Tech rose in the rankings from No. 7 to No. 2, and Texas dropped from No. 1 to No. 5. No. 2-ranked Alabama won their game 35-0 this weekend, guaranteeing their rise to the No. 1 spot.

Quote of the Week: “On the sideline, I dreamed that I would catch a pass and go in the end zone for a game-winning touchdown, but I do that every game.” — Michael Crabtree, the star wide receiver who caught the game-winning touchdown

Further Reading: “Don’t Blink” — Ivan Maisel, ESPN

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CLICKING HEELS

The North Carolina Tar Heels are currently ranked the No. 1 college basketball team in the country by a unanimous preseason vote. This is the first time in the history of the preseason poll that there has been a unanimous No. 1.

North Carolina is largely ranked so highly because of the presence of Tyler Hansbrough, last year’s national player of the year. Many people thought that Hansbrough would have left the college game for a career in the pros, but he decided to play one more year at North Carolina. With many college players leaving for the NBA after just one or two years, a star veteran is something that very few college teams have to offer, which accounts for the Tar Heels’ top rank. However, last week news broke that Hansbrough was sitting out practice with a stress reaction in his right shin. If the injury turns out to be serious, it would be a disaster for the North Carolina team. Moreover, if the injury turns out to have long-term consequences, it would also mean that Hansbrough would have made the mistake of a lifetime by waiting an extra year before signing an NBA contract.

After North Carolina, Connecticut was ranked No. 2 in the country. Louisville, UCLA, and Pittsburgh rounded out the top five.

Quote of the Week: “This, you see, is the time of year when most teams are trying to figure out who they are and what they have. North Carolina, on the other hand, is fine-tuning the roles of well-established veterans. If the rest of America is going over algebra I right now, North Carolina is already on advanced calculus.” — Seth Davis, Sports Illustrated

Further Reading: “Tar Heels voted as first unanimous preseason No. 1 in AP poll” — Associated Press, via ESPN

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WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK

:: FOOTBALL: On Sunday night, the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles will play in what should be an excellent matchup between two of the traditionally strongest teams in the league. Both teams play in NFC East, which will add to the intensity of the game. The Giants, the defending Super Bowl champions, will enter the game as the favorite.

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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 begins on November 10th and runs through “the Tournament,” which takes place in March. [CBS Sports]

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:: FOOTBALL

NFL (Pro. Football): The regular season is now underway. The Tennessee Titans are currently the best team in the league, with an undefeated record. [Official NFL Website]

NCAA FOOTBALL (College): The college football season is now in full swing. The BCS Standings currently place Alabama as the best team in the country. [NCAA Football, ESPN]

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:: GOLF

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson

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:: HOCKEY

NHL (Pro. Hockey): The hockey season runs through April of 2009. By the new year, the league power rankings should be pretty well set. [Official NHL Website]

———-

:: TENNIS

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

———-

OFFSEASON

:: BASEBALL

October 27, Week in Sports

SportsGuru — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 04:00:38 +0000

October 27, Week in Sports

:: PHILLIES LEAD RAYS 3-1 IN WORLD SERIES (Pro. Baseball)

:: COWBOYS SNAP TWO-GAME LOSING STREAK (Pro. Football)

:: NBA SEASON PREVIEW (Pro. Basketball)

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PHILLY FEVER

The Philadelphia Phillies are currently leading the Tampa Bay Rays 3 games to 1 in the World Series, which means they are one win away from taking the title. The World Series is a best-of-seven series that determines the champion at the conclusion of the baseball season.Up until Sunday night, every game in the series had been decided by just one or two runs, making for a very close, extremely competitive matchup. However, the Phillies, sparked by two home runs by slugger Ryan Howard, beat the Rays 10-2 in Game 4, which has changed the nature of the series completely. With a 3-1 advantage, the Phillies are now poised to win the championship. They only need one more win to finish off the Rays in the World Series, and their chances look very good–especially considering the fact that their best pitcher, Cole Hamels, is scheduled to take the mound in the next game.

But as Yogi Berra once said, “It ain’t over till it’s over.” The Rays are not finished yet. The remaining games in the series will be played on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday night.

Quote of the Week: ”It will be absolute bedlam. It will be one of the craziest places on Earth.” — Ryan Howard, on what Philadelphia will be like if the Phillies win

Further Reading: “Wide Awake” — Associated Press, via ESPN

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STAR POWER: COWBOYS EKE OUT WIN OVER BUCS

The Dallas Cowboys defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 13-9 on Sunday afternoon, snapping a two-game losing streak. The Cowboys were off to a good start this year, but they have struggled greatly the past two weeks. Since they were widely expected to be a Super Bowl caliber team, their struggles have not gone unnoticed.

Part of the reason that the Cowboys have played so poorly lately has been because of the mounting injuries the team has sustained–the most important of which is Tony Romo’s broken pinkie, which has sidelined the team’s superstar quarterback. Without Romo, the Cowboys have relied on backup quarterback Brad Johnson. Johnson was coming off a particularly poor performance, which made Sunday’s victory all the more important for the Cowboys. Moreover, the Buccaneers are one of the better teams in the league, so the Cowboys’ victory is a strong indication that they are still one of the most competitive squads in the NFL. Once Romo is back and healthy, the Cowboys will likely recover their status as one of the favorites to go far in the postseason this year.

Quote of the Week: “We got the dinks and dunks.” — Terrell Owens, Cowboys receiver, on the team’s narrow victory

Further Reading: “Star Turn” — Associated Press, via ESPN

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HOOP DREAMS

The 2008-09 NBA season begins this Tuesday with three games: Cleveland vs. Boston, Milwaukee vs. Chicago, and Portland vs. Los Angeles. The NBA season always begins in late October and the regular season runs through April of the following year.

Since every team begins the year feeling optimistic, only time will tell which teams will be the strongest this season. However, there are a number of story lines that figure to be prominent in the 2008-09 season.

1. Boston Celtics: Last year, the Celtics were the story of the year. After trading for Kevin Garnett, they had the winningest team in the league, and they ultimately won the NBA Finals. Everyone will be watching to see whether or not they can repeat last year’s success and defend their title.

2. Los Angeles Lakers: Last year, the Lakers made it to the NBA Finals, where they were easily defeated by the Celtics. However, with star guard Kobe Bryant at the helm, the Lakers are perennial contenders, and expectations will be high this year, as always.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers: Since the arrival of LeBron James, the Cavaliers have become one of the most exciting teams to watch every year. James is one of the best players in the league, and since he single-handedly led his team to the Finals in 2007, everyone knows that his presence alone raises the game to a championship level of play.

Quote of the Week: “

Further Reading: SI.COM’S NBA ENEMY LINES – Sports Illustrated’s team-by-team preview

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WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK

:: BASEBALL: The World Series continues this week, with games to be played on Monday night, and then Wednesday and Thursday night if necessary.

:: BASKETBALL: The NBA season begins this week. On opening night, the Cleveland Cavaliers — Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers — Portland Trail Blazers will play featured games on TNT.

:: FOOTBALL: Next Sunday, the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants are playing each other at 4:15 ET. Both teams have had good seasons, and a lot of pride will be on the line, so it should make for an outstanding game.

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ALL-SPORTS UPDATE

ACTIVE SEASON

:: BASEBALL

MLB (Pro. Baseball): The World Series begins this week. The best-of-seven series is the culmination of the baseball season, and this year it will be played by the Tampa Bay Rays and Philadelphia Phillies. [Official MLB Website]

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:: FOOTBALL

NFL (Pro. Football): The regular season is now underway. The standings will begin to take shape in just a few weeks, once teams begin to play their division rivals. [Official NFL Website]

NCAA FOOTBALL (College): The college football season is now in full swing. The BCS Standings currently place Texas as the best team in the country. [NCAA Football, ESPN]

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:: GOLF

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson

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:: HOCKEY

NHL (Pro. Hockey): The hockey season runs through April of 2009. By the new year, the league power rankings should be pretty well set. [Official NHL Website]

———-

:: TENNIS

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

———-

OFFSEASON

:: BASKETBALL

NBA (Pro. Basketball): The Celtics defeated the Lakers to win the NBA Finals, ending the 2008 season. The 2008-09 season runs from late October to April of 2009, when the playoffs commence. [Official NBA Website]

NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL (College): Now that the tournament is over, college basketball news will focus on which players leave their schools for the NBA, and which college teams land the premier high-school players for next season. [CBS Sports]

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October 20, Week in Sports

SportsGuru — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 04:00:52 +0000

October 20, Week in Sports

:: RAYS BEAT RED SOX IN SEVEN FOR WORLD SERIES BERTH (Pro. Baseball)

:: PHILLIES BEAT DODGERS TO REACH WORLD SERIES (Pro. Baseball)

:: BCS RANKINGS ANNOUNCED (College Football)

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BYE BYE, BOSTON: RAYS ADVANCE TO WORLD SERIES

The Tampa Bay Rays won the decisive game seven of their series against the Boston Red Sox on Sunday night, propelling them into the World Series. This is the first time in franchise history that the Rays are playing in the World Series.

Unless you are from Boston, the Rays are the feel-good story of the year. They have long been a laughingstock in the league, and last year they had the worst record in all of baseball. Now, in their first post-season appearance, the Rays have won the American League pennant. They did it in dramatic fashion, beating their arch-rivals, the Boston Red Sox, in a hard fought series. After trailing the series 3-1, the Red Sox, last year’s World Series champions, clawed their way back, forcing a Game 7. The Rays, a very young team built around speed on the bases, solid pitching, and superb defense, came through when it mattered. The face of the Rays is their manager, Joe Maddon, who stands perched at the top of dugout every game, watching the action through his hipster glasses. The players often credit him with changing the team’s mentality and leading them to their success this year.

Since the American League won the All-Star Game this year, the Rays will have homefield advantage during the World Series. Game 1 will be played on Wednesday night.

Quote of the Week: ”We were so happy out here, I think everybody shed a couple tears. I was in the bottom of the dogpile, I couldn’t breathe, and I wouldn’t trade that moment right there for anything.” — David Price, Rays pitcher

Further Reading: “Rays the Roof” — Associated Press, via SI.com

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FIGHTING PHILS MAKE FALL CLASSIC

The Philadelphia Phillies beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4 games to 1 in the National League Championship Series, earning a spot in the World Series. The last time the Phillies won the pennant was in 1993.

The Phillies had an emotional end of the season, fighting their way into the playoffs the last week of the regular season. The emotional ride continued in the post-season when Phillies manager Charlie Manuel’s mother passed away during the NLCS. However, Manuel’s personal grief and the franchise’s struggles notwithstanding, the Phillies are playing extremely good baseball right now. Led by stars Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, Cole Hamels, and Brad Lidge, the Phillies have the kind of power hitting and dominant pitching that will make them a formidable opponent for the Tampa Bay Rays in the World Series.

The city of Philadelphia has four sports teams, the Phillies, Eagles, 76ers, and Flyers, but they have not won a championship in the city of Brotherly Love since the 1980s. The Phillies, for their part, last won the World Series in 1980, and as a franchise they have the most losses in the history of the league.

Quote of the Week: “After hearing about the ‘93 team over and over and over again, we finally have a chance to make our mark.” — Jimmy Rollins

Further Reading: “Rollins’ homer sparks Phillies to first World Series berth in 15 years” — Associated Press, via ESPN

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DON’T MESS WITH TEXAS

On Sunday afternoon, the first edition of college football’s BCS standings was released. The BCS standings are a critical part of the college football season, since they ultimately determine which teams play in the all-important bowl games at the end of the year.

The first edition of the standings ranked the following teams as the best five in the country: 1. Texas, 2. Alabama, 3. Penn State, 4. Oklahoma, 5. USC. Texas claimed the number one ranking after their huge victory over Oklahoma a week ago. Moreover, Texas defeated Mizzou this weekend. As a result, virtually all of the college football experts believe that Texas is the most dominant team in the country right now.

However, it should be noted once again that college football rankings tend to change very quickly. If Texas were to lose next weekend, for example, they would plummet in the rankings. Since a number of teams currently in the top 10 in the BCS standings still have to play each other in the coming weeks, these standings are guaranteed to change. At the end of the year, the top two teams in the BCS standings play each other for the national championship.

Quote of the Week: “Texas will be undefeated. We’ll have a BCS Championship game with an undefeated team, I believe: Texas.” — Barry Switzer, former coach and football analyst

Further Reading: BCS Standings Week One

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WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK

:: BASEBALL: The World Series begins this week in Tampa Bay. The World Series is the culmination of the baseball season, and this year the Tampa Bay Rays and Philadelphia Phillies will face off for the championship. Game 1 will take place on Wednesday night. The full schedule is available at www.mlb.com.

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ALL-SPORTS UPDATE

ACTIVE SEASON

:: BASEBALL

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:: FOOTBALL

NFL (Pro. Football): The regular season is now underway. The standings will begin to take shape in just a few weeks, once teams begin to play their division rivals. [Official NFL Website]

NCAA FOOTBALL (College): The college football season is now in full swing. The BCS Standings currently place Texas as the best team in the country. [NCAA Football, ESPN]

———-

:: GOLF

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson

———-

:: HOCKEY

NHL (Pro. Hockey): The hockey season runs through April of 2009. By the new year, the league power rankings should be pretty well set. [Official NHL Website]

———-

:: TENNIS

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

———-

OFFSEASON

:: BASKETBALL

NBA (Pro. Basketball): The Celtics defeated the Lakers to win the NBA Finals, ending the 2008 season. The pre-season is currently underway, and the 2008 season begins later in October. [Official NBA Website]

NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL (College): Now that the tournament is over, college basketball news will focus on which players leave their schools for the NBA, and which college teams land the premier high-school players for next season. [CBS Sports]

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October 13, Week in Sports

SportsGuru — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 03:54:36 +0000

October 13, Week in Sports

:: RAYS AND RED SOX TIED IN ALCS (Pro. Baseball)

:: DODGERS FIGHT BACK AGAINST PHILLIES (Pro. Baseball)

:: TEXAS UPSETS NO. 1 OKLAHOMA (College Football)

———-

UNLIKELY FOES: RAYS AND RED SOX TIED IN ALCS

The Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox are currently playing each other in the American League Championship Series–the second round of the baseball post-season. The winner of the best-of-seven series, currently tied 1-1, will represent the American League in the World Series.

This series has drawn the most attention from baseball fans for a few reasons. First of all, the Tampa Bay Rays have been the feel-good story of the year. Before this season, the Rays had never before finished a season with a winning record, let alone made the playoffs. However, this year they have been one of the best teams in baseball, knocking off every team in their division, including the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, to win the AL East. Despite the Rays’ dominance during the year, the rival Red Sox still made the playoffs as the Wild Card team. Ever since their World Series victory in 2004, the Red Sox have been a powerhouse in the league, and one of the most popular teams in the country.

Furthermore, there is a lot of bad blood between the Rays and the Red Sox. The two teams have engaged in massive brawls six times over the past eight years. It is safe to say that many of the players on the Rays truly hate players on the Red Sox and vice versa, which adds another layer of intensity to the series.

Boston won the first game of the series, and Tampa Bay won the second in extra innings. Both games have been extremely close so far, and the series as a whole promises to be very competitive. The next three games (on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday) will be played in Boston. If the series hasn’t been decided by then, they will return to Tampa Bay.

Quote of the Week: ”The Rays pulled off an impressive feat Saturday by finishing a marathon with a sprint. And make no mistake about it: They’re still alive and kicking.” — Jerry Crasnick, ESPN, on the Rays’ extra-inning win on Saturday

Further Reading: “Beckett struggles; Sox lose 9-8 in 11 innings“ — John Tomase, Boston Herald

———-

DODGING BULLETS: L.A. COMES OUT FIGHTING IN GAME THREE

The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-2 on Sunday night in game three of the National League Championship Series, a best-of-seven series which the Phillies are currently leading 2 games to 1. The winner of this series will represent the National League in the World Series.

After the Phillies won the first two games in the series, many baseball writers seemed ready to write off the Dodgers. But back home in Los Angeles, the Dodgers looked to be back in top form, with a solid offensive and defensive effort. However, the biggest story to come out of Sunday’s game will undoubtedly be the proceedings of the top of the third inning, when Dodger pitcher Hiroki Kuroda threw a pitch directly above the head of Phillies player Shane Victorino. Earlier in the series, the Phillies had taken the same sort of action toward Dodgers players, including Manny Ramirez and Russell Martin. In that context, Kuroda’s message was clear: if you hit my guys, I’ll hit yours. After the inning, both benches cleared and there was a tense moment on the field. No punches were thrown, but it was clear that the incident got everyone’s blood boiling.

While some may have pronounced this series dead, after the Dodgers’ win and the near-brawl, expect it to be back in the national spotlight this week. The remaining games will be played on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.

Quote of the Week: “It could be chilly, it could be windy, but somebody needs to make a Phillies hitter sweat. This is not about headhunting, it’s about win hunting.” — Bill Plaschke, L.A. Times

Further Reading: “Los Angeles gets one back in the NLCS” — Associated Press, via ESPN

———-

BULLED OVER: LONGHORNS TOP SOONERS IN “INSTANT CLASSIC”

No. 5-ranked Texas came up with a comeback win on Saturday afternoon, defeating the top-ranked Oklahoma Sooners. As a result, the Sooners lost their first game of the season and their No. 1 rank in the national college football rankings.

The game between Texas and Oklahoma was the most highly anticipated game of the weekend, not just because both of them were ranked as two of the top five best teams in the country, but also because the two schools have a major rivalry. Every year, the teams play each other in a game called the “Red River Shootout.” The game is always significant, not just for bragging rights, but because both teams play in the Big 12 Conference. This year, the game was especially significant, since both teams walked into it with undefeated records. The Longhorns’ victory immediately launches them into the national spotlight, and it gives them a chance to make the National Championship game.

To the casual fan, it might seem like the top-ranked teams in the country lose more often than they should. It is certainly true that the rankings system is very fluid at this point in the year, but that is one of the reasons why college football is so popular. The country is full of extremely good, extremely competitive football teams, and on any given Sunday, even a mediocre team can knock off the top dogs.

Quote of the Week: “Everybody has questioned this team, including me. I didn’t know how good we are.”– Mack Brown, Texas Coach

Further Reading: “Horns Have Plenty” — Associated Press, via ESPN

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WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK

:: BASEBALL: The Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox play on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, and Saturday and Sunday if necessary. The Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadephia Phillies play on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and Saturday if necessary.

———-

ALL-SPORTS UPDATE

ACTIVE SEASON

:: BASEBALL

MLB (Pro. Baseball): The baseball post-season continues this week. The remaining teams include the Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox, and Tampa Bay Rays. [Official MLB Website]

———-

:: FOOTBALL

NFL (Pro. Football): The regular season is now underway. The standings will begin to take shape in just a few weeks, once teams begin to play their division rivals. [Official NFL Website]

NCAA FOOTBALL (College): The college football season is now in full swing. The national rankings have changed dramatically every week, and that kind of drama is certain to continue in the coming weeks and months. [NCAA Football, ESPN]

———-

:: GOLF

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson

———-

:: HOCKEY

NHL (Pro. Hockey): The hockey season runs through April of 2009. By the new year, the league power rankings should be pretty well set. [Official NHL Website]

———-

:: TENNIS

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

———-

OFFSEASON

:: BASKETBALL

NBA (Pro. Basketball): The Celtics defeated the Lakers to win the NBA Finals, ending the 2008 season. The 2008 season begins later in October. [Official NBA Website]

NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL (College): Now that the tournament is over, college basketball news will focus on which players leave their schools for the NBA, and which college teams land the premier high-school players for next season. [CBS Sports]

———-

October 6, Week in Sports

SportsGuru — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:55:33 +0000

October 6, Week in Sports

:: CHICAGO CUBS UPSET BY L.A. DODGERS (Pro. Baseball)

:: ANGELS, WHITE SOX AVOID SWEEP (Pro. Baseball)

:: OHIO STATE EDGES WISCONSIN (College Football)

———-

A HUNDRED YEARS OF LOSSES

The Chicago Cubs, who were universally recognized as the best team in the National League, were swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Chicago Cubs, in addition to being an excellent team this year, are also one of the most popular teams in the country, and their losing habits are well-documented by the national sports media.

Last year, the Chicago Cubs were favored in the first round of the playoffs when they played the Arizona Diamondbacks, who also swept the Cubbies. That means that in the past two years, the Cubs are 0-6 in post-season baseball. What stings even more is that this year was the 100-year anniversary of the Cubs’ last World Series victory. Every year, analysts talk about the “symmetry of baseball,” which had many Cubs fans believing that this would be the year that they would finally win the World Series. With the best record in the National League this year, they had reason to think that they had a decent chance. However, the Cubs were completely outplayed by the upstart Dodgers. It is safe to say that the Dodgers, led by mid-season acquisition Manny Ramirez, are red-hot and a legitimate post-season threat.

Elsewhere in the National League, the Philadelphia Phillies knocked off the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday afternoon. The Phillies and Dodgers will play in the NLCS, which begins on Thursday.

Quote of the Week: ”It wasn’t a collapse. ‘Collapse’ is too nice a word. A collapse would mean the Chicago Cubs actually showed up for the National League Division Series.” — Gene Wojciechowski, ESPN

Further Reading: ”Cubs swept away in L.A.” — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune

———-

Guardian Angels Keep Playoff Hopes Alive

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim came up with a bloop single in the top of the 12th inning to win Game 3 of their series against the Boston Red Sox. The Angels trail the series 2-1, which means that they are one game away from elimination.

The Boston Red Sox are one of the powerhouses of Major League Baseball, so they can never be considered true underdogs. That being said, the Angels had the best record in all of baseball this year, so it was surprising to see them lose their first to games to the Red Sox. However, their late inning heroics on Sunday kept their playoff hopes alive. The Red Sox and Angels will play Game 4 of their series on Monday night. That game is a must-win for the Angels, who are trying to force a fifth game in the series, and who are also fighting to change their reputation for choking in the post-season.

Elsewhere in the American League, the Chicago White Sox managed to win on Sunday to extend their series with the Tampa Bay Rays, who now lead the series 2-1. The two teams will play the fourth game of their series on Monday night.

Quote of the Week: “This was not a victory. This was an exorcism. The streaks are dead. The Angels are alive.” — Bill Shaikin, L.A. Times

Further Reading: “Halo Heroics” — Jerry Crasnick, ESPN

———-

WISCONSIN GETS BADGERED BY BUCKEYES

No. 18-ranked Wisconsin lost a heartbreaker at home to No. 14 Ohio State on Saturday night. The game was a marquee matchup in the Big Ten Conference, and a huge win for an Ohio State team trying to climb their way back up the ladder.

Entering Saturday night’s game, Wisconsin had won 16 straight games at home, so snapping that streak was a major disappointment. The loss was even more devastating because the Badgers had the lead late in the fourth quarter, until Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor led his team to a dramatic comeback win. Pryor and Buckeyes running back Chris “Beanie” Wells are two of the premiere players in the league. Their clutch success on Saturday night on the national stage will only boost their reputations around the country.

Saturday’s loss marked the second consecutive loss for Wisconsin this year, which essentially means that they will have no chance to make the national championship game at the conclusion of the season. Ohio State, which was considered all but dead after a huge loss to USC, still only has one loss this year, so their BCS hopes are still alive.

Quote of the Week: “We had ‘em, and we let ‘em go.” — Jaevery McFadden, Wisconsin linebacker

Further Reading: “Buckeye Pr(y)orities” — Adam Rittenberg, ESPN

———-

WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK

:: BASEBALL: The playoffs continue this week, as the first round is completed and the remaining teams advance to the second round of post-season play. On Monday night, the White Sox/Rays and Angels/Red Sox will play Game 4, and both of those games will be excellent. The Dodgers and Phillies begin their second-round series on Thursday in what promises to be a fun, high-scoring NLCS.

:: HOCKEY: The regular season truly kicks off this week, so if you’ve been waiting for a chance to get into hockey, this is it. Most newspapers will be providing season previews for the local team, which is a great place to start. An even better place to start–actually watching the games.

———-

ALL-SPORTS UPDATE

ACTIVE SEASON

:: BASEBALL

MLB (Pro. Baseball): This week marks the second week of the post-season. The remaining teams include. [Official MLB Website]

———-

:: FOOTBALL

NFL (Pro. Football): The regular season is now underway. The standings will begin to take shape in just a few weeks, once teams begin to play their division rivals. [Official NFL Website]

NCAA FOOTBALL (College): The college football is now in full swing. The Oklahoma Sooners are currently ranked the No. 1 team in the country. [NCAA Football, ESPN]

———-

:: GOLF

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson

———-

:: HOCKEY

NHL (Pro. Hockey): The hockey season begins this week. The season runs through April of 2009. By the new year, the league power rankings should be pretty well set. [Official NHL Website]

———-

:: TENNIS

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

———-

OFFSEASON

:: BASKETBALL

———-

September 29, Week in Sports

SportsGuru — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 00:11:41 +0000

September 29, Week in Sports

:: MLB PLAYOFF TEAMS (ALMOST) SET (Pro. Baseball)

:: NO. 1 USC UPSET BY OREGON STATE (College Football)

:: NHL Season Preview (Pro. Hockey)

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HAPPY OCTOBER: BASEBALL POSTSEASON BEGINS THIS WEEK

The baseball regular season is coming to a close, and the playoffs are set to begin this week. The playoff teams are: Los Angeles Angels, Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, Milwaukee Brewers, and either the Chicago White Sox or the Minnesota Twins.

The Milwaukee Brewers earned a playoff spot on the final day of the season, winning the Wild Card over the New York Mets, who collapsed for the second straight year in a row. While the Brewers scratched and clawed their way into the playoffs, the Dodgers and Phillies earned their spots in the week before. However, as strong as the Dodgers and Phillies have looked down the stretch, it is the Chicago Cubs who enter the post season as the favorite to win the National League pennant. The Chicago Cubs have looked good all year, and many believe that this will be the year that their 100-year championship drought comes to an end.

The American League enters the post-season as the much stronger league. The Tampa Bay Rays stunned everyone by beating out the Yankees and Red Sox for the AL East. The Rays are everyone’s favorite underdog this year–this is the first year that the perennial losers have had a winning record, and it is their first appearance in the playoffs. That being said, the Boston Red Sox are, as always, an explosive team. In spite of all of that, though, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have been the best team in baseball this year. After a few recent disappointing post-seasons, the experts expect the Angels to be dangerous this October.

The Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins are fighting for the only remaining playoff spot. If the White Sox win their game against the Detroit Tigers on Monday night (a game that had been rained out earlier this year), the White Sox and Twins will face off on Tuesday night. A victory on Tuesday night will give the winning team the final ticket to the post-season.

Quote of the Week: ”The Chicago White Sox aren’t dead. Not yet. But like the Mexican bobcat, the harpy eagle and the gray bat, they are on the endangered species list.” — Phil Rogers, ESPN

Further Reading: ”Year in Review” — Jayson Stark, ESPN

———-

UPSET U: GIANT-KILLERS STRIKE COLLEGE FOOTBALL

The USC Trojans, the No. 1-ranked college football team in the country, were beaten by an unranked Oregon State team on Thursday night. In a week full of upsets in college football, this one was by far the biggest, and it will result in a major shake-up of next week’s rankings.

The Trojans had recently scored a huge victory, when they stomped on Ohio State–another one of the top-ranked teams in the country–earlier this year. That impressive win had football writers across the country predicting that USC was unbeatable and destined for the national championship game, which features the two top-ranked teams in the country. However, after being toppled 27-21 by Oregon State–by all accounts a pretty mediocre team–USC will have a difficult road to the national championship.

However, USC was not the only team to get upset this week. Florida and Wisconsin, two of the best teams in the country, fell to Mississippi and Michigan, respectively. Alabama also knocked off No. 3-ranked Georgia. In the end, four of the teams in the top ten lost this weekend, which is major news in college football. No. 2 Oklahoma won their game easily, which should earn them the No. 1 spot in next week’s rankings.

Quote of the Week: “This is looking like another upset-intensive season when every one-loss team will get a second chance.” — Pat Forde, ESPN

Further Reading: “String of other upsets could help Trojans in college football poll” — Gary Klein, L.A. Times

———-

LACING UP

The NHL season begins next weekend, with the Pittsburgh Penguins playing the Ottawa Senators, and the New York Rangers playing the Tampa Bay Lightning. These games will be played abroad, in Stockholm and Prague, to kick off the season. The rest of the teams will begin play in the U.S. on Thursday.

Hockey fans are some of the most loyal and passionate fans in sports, but for the casual sports fan, it can be hard to figure out where to start with the sport. It’s best to just start following a local team on a regular basis and going to games, if possible. But, like any other sport, another great way to start following hockey is by keeping track of the league’s young, flashy, superstar players. With that in mind, here are some names to look out for: Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin, Jonathan Toews, and Patrick Kane. There are plenty of other stars in the league, to be sure (players like Jaromir Jagr and Henrik Zetterberg, among others), but those four young players often grace the league highlight reels. If the league is excited about them, it will make it all the easier for you to get excited about them, too.

Last season, the Detroit Red Wings topped the Pittsburgh Penguins to win the Stanley Cup. Look for both of those teams to be extremely strong again this year.

Further Reading: “View from the Ice” — Darren Eliot, SI.com

———-

WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK

:: BASEBALL: The playoffs begin this week, so expect to see a whole lot of baseball fever. But before the playoffs start, the Chicago White Sox play the Detroit Tigers on Monday night. If they win, they will then play the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night–the winner of that game will make the playoffs. If, indeed, it comes down to the Sox and the Twins on Tuesday night, that will be a tremendously exciting game, and will get everyone pumped up for the playoffs.

———-

ALL-SPORTS UPDATE

ACTIVE SEASON

:: BASEBALL

MLB (Pro. Baseball): This week marks the first week of the post-season. The eight remaining teams are the Cubs, Phillies, Dodgers, Brewers, Angels, Rays, Red Sox, and White Sox/Twins. Stay tuned. [Official MLB Website]

———-

:: FOOTBALL

NFL (Pro. Football): The regular season is now underway. The standings will begin to take shape in just a few weeks, once teams begin to play their division rivals. [Official NFL Website]

NCAA FOOTBALL (College): The college football is now in full swing. USC, the No. 1 team last week, will be bounced after having been upset by Oregon State this week. [NCAA Football, ESPN]

———-

:: GOLF

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson

———-

:: HOCKEY

NHL (Pro. Hockey): The hockey season begins next weekend with four international games. After that, the regular season will begin in the states [Official NHL Website]

———-

:: TENNIS

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

———-

OFFSEASON

:: BASKETBALL

NBA (Pro. Basketball): The Celtics defeated the Lakers to win the NBA Finals, ending the 2008 season. [Official NBA Website]

NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL (College): Now that the tournament is over, college basketball news will focus on which players leave their schools for the NBA, and which college teams land the premier high-school players for next season. [CBS Sports]

———-