March 2, Week in Sports
March 2, Week in Sports
:: REDSKINS LAND HAYNESWORTH IN RECORD DEAL (Pro. Football)
:: MARBURY TRADED TO CELTICS (Pro. Basketball)
:: PATS TRADE CASSEL TO CHIEFS (Pro. Football)
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WAIT’LL WE GET AL HAYNESWORTH ON YOU
Free agent defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth signed a 7-year, $100 million deal with the Washington Redskins, including a record $41 million in guaranteed money this past week. Haynesworth is one of the NFL’s best, and he was the hottest free agent in this year’s off-season.
NFL free agency, the period when players no longer tied to contracts can begin to field offers from other teams, began on Friday. As soon as he hit the market, Haynesworth reportedly received huge offers from more than six teams, and it’s no wonder why: Haynesworth has been a dominant defensive presence throughout his 7-year career with the Tennessee Titans. Though he has been dogged by injuries and suspended by the league for on-field conduct, he is unquestionably one of the best at his position.
Though the Redskins secured Haynesworth early on Friday, it was actually the second major deal the team had made in this year’s free agency. Earlier on Friday, they signed cornerback DeAngelo Hall to a contract for $54 million over 6 years. With those two mega-deals in place, the Redskins will be expected to improve dramatically on defense this year.
Quote of the Week: “Excluding Peyton Manning, nobody made his teammates better last year than Albert Haynesworth.” — Seth Wickersham, ESPN: the Magazine
Further Reading: “Haynesworths’ Choice: Redskins ” — John Clayton, ESPN
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DON’T LET THE DOOR HIT YOU ON THE WAY OUT
On Tuesday, bad boy New York Knicks guard Stephon Marbury agreed to a buyout, and the team released him to waivers. Marbury was snatched up by the defending champion Boston Celtics on Friday.
The Knicks franchise, though still very popular, is among the most disastrous in professional sports. During the past several years, they have been mediocre at best on the court and a disgrace off the court, where their egomaniacal coaches and players have run the team into the ground. Other than former coach Isiah Thomas, Marbury has most often been at the center of the team’s negative image. During the sexual harassment lawsuit filed against Thomas, for example, Marbury’s seedy behavior was also brought to light. He bickered with teammates and coaches since he arrived in 2004, and his hostile relationship with the organization culminated with his feud with Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni this season. In the first game of the season, D’Antoni benched Marbury in favor of the team’s younger players, and since then, the stubborn guard has refused to play. Since then, Marbury and the Knicks had been in the midst of an ugly negotiation process, which came to an end this week.
Despite his many problems, Marbury is an excellent player who is expected to contribute to the Celtics. However, the Celtics are among the best teams in the league without him, so Marbury’s role with the team will certainly be different than it has been in the past, when he has often been the star of his team.
Quote of the Week: ”If there’s a guy who finally deserved a break, it’s not Stephon Marbury, who isn’t the devil incarnate but is the hardest-core, most clueless mercenary of his era.” — Mark Heisler, L.A. Times
Further Reading: ”Marbury and Knicks Agree on Buyout ” — Howard Beck, New York Times
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CHIEFS WELCOME MATT
The New England Patriots traded backup quarterback Matt Cassel and linebacker Mike Vrabel to the Kansas City Chiefs for a high second-round draft pick this week. Cassel had a hugely successful season in 2008, when he filled in for the Pats’ injured star quarterback, Tom Brady.
Earlier this offseason, the Patriots put a “franchise tag” on Cassel, which effectively prevented Cassel from becoming an unrestricted free agent. The Patriots did this, not because they planned on keeping Cassel, but simply because they hoped he could potentially bring solid talent to the team through a trade. As for whether a high second-round draft pick is the best they could have gotten, the opinions of Boston fans are divided. Some fans feel like they would have lost Cassel anyway, and some fans feel like they ended giving him away for practically nothing.
Patriots fans will also miss linebacker Mike Vrabel, who played an integral role in New England’s three Super Bowl victories. Vrabel was in the last year of his contract with the Patriots.
Quote of the Week: “No doubt, this is going to be a tough sell to Patriots fans. Cassel and linebacker Mike Vrabel to the Kansas City Chiefs for a high second-round draft choice (34th overall, No. 2 in the round) looks like a fleece job. It isn’t.” — Mike Reiss, Boston Globe
Further Reading: “Chiefs get Cassel, hoping quarterback will be a standout ” — Adam Teicher, Kansas City Star
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WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK
:: FOOTBALL: Late in the weekend, it was reported that two NFL players, Corey Smith and Marquis Cooper, were reported missing at sea, along with two other men. Though no evidence has been found that anything happened to them, more than a day has lapsed since they were expected to return.
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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. Spring training is currently underway, which means that the regular season is rapidly approaching. [Official MLB Website]