SportSpectator Blog

January 12, Week in Sports

:: NEW YORK GIANTS FALL TO PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (Pro. Football)

:: FLORIDA BEATS OKLAHOMA IN BCS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME (College Football)

:: CARDINALS STUN PANTHERS (Pro. Football)

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GIANT KILLERS

 

On Sunday afternoon, the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the New York Giants, knocking them out of the playoffs. The Giants are one of the most popular teams in the league, as well as the defending Super Bowl champions.

The Philadelphia Eagles have had a long and dramatic season, with most of the drama centered around embattled Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb. McNabb is one of the top quarterbacks in the league, and his talent is undeniable, but he is past the prime of his career. Age, injuries, and a contentious relationship with Philadelphia fans have dogged McNabb the past few years, and earlier this season he was struggling so much that he was actually benched by his coach. But now that McNabb has led the Eagles past Eli Manning and the New York Giants, one of the best teams in the league, McNabb will be the hero of Philly–at least for the time being. The Eagles play the Arizona Cardinals next week, and the winner of that game will represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.

On Sunday night, the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the San Diego Chargers. As a result, the Steelers and the Ravens will face off next week, and the winner of that game will represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.

 

Quote of the Week: “He is the best quarterback in the NFL. I don’t think I have to say anything more than that.” — Andy Reid, Philadelphia Eagles Coach on Donovan McNabb

Further Reading: “Eagles Pick Giants Apart” — Associated Press, via ESPN

 

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FLORIDA CHOMPS DOWN ON OKLAHOMA

On Thursday night, the Florida Gators defeated the Oklahoma Sooners 24-14 to win the BCS championship game. The BCS title game is the culmination of the college football season, and the victorious team is the national champion.

The Florida Gators have now won the national championship two out of the past three years. The past two years, the face of the team has been quarterback Tim Tebow, who won the Heisman Trophy in 2007 and was a finalist for the award in 2008. Tebow was the driving force in Florida’s victory this year. Meanwhile, the winner of the 2008 Heisman Trophy was Sam Bradford, the quarterback for the losing team, the Sooners. Because two of the most impressive quarterbacks in the nation were facing off in the national championship game, the game was widely expected to be a high-scoring affair. In reality, the game was relatively slow-paced, and both team’s offenses made critical mistakes throughout the contest. In the end, though, Florida managed to outlast Oklahoma.

The college football season is now over, with Florida winning the championship and being ranked number one overall. However, there is a small contingent of sports writers who made the case that Utah, despite not even playing in the national championship game, should be regarded as the best team in the country. Utah was undefeated this year, and defeated Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. However, according to the current college football ranking system, the degree of difficulty of Utah’s schedule was not as high as Florida, making their quest for the number one spot impossible. In the end, Utah was ranked number two in the nation.

Quote of the Week: ”Florida? Oklahoma? Who cares? Utah is the national champion.” — Rick Reilly, ESPN

Further Reading: ”Florida Raises another Trophy” — Pete Thamel, New York Times

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WILD CARDS

The Arizona Cardinals handily defeated the Carolina Panthers in the playoffs on Saturday night, winning the game by 20 points. The Cardinals were major underdogs in the game (and in the post-season in general), but now they are one win away from making it to the Super Bowl.

The Cardinals are led by veteran quarterback Kurt Warner, the aging superstar who made a name for himself ten years ago, when he was the league MVP and led the St. Louis Rams to a Super Bowl victory. Since then, Warner’s presence on the national stage has diminished–at least until this year, when he led the Arizona Cardinals to an unlikely playoff berth. The Cards were widely considered the worst team to make the playoffs, but now that they have two post-season victories under their belts, Warner and star receiver Larry Fitzgerald are turning some heads. Of course, they got some help from the Carolina Panthers, who had a complete meltdown on Saturday night, when Panthers quarterback Jack Delhomme threw five interceptions.

Earlier on Saturday, the Baltimore Ravens knocked off the Tennessee Titans. The Ravens, who have been one of the hottest teams in the league, did not play particularly well on Saturday, but they still managed to drop the powerhouse Titans. The Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers will play next week, and the winner will represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.

Quote of the Week: “We picked a bad day to have a bad day.” — John Fox, Carolina Panthers coach

Further Reading:  “Soaring Cardinals one game away from first Super Bowl berth” — Associated Press, via ESPN

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WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK

:: PRO. FOOTBALL: The playoffs continue next weekend. The Pittsburgh Steelers will play the Baltimore Ravens, and the Philadelphia Eagles will play the Arizona Cardinals. The winners of those two games will ultimately play each other in the Super Bowl, the biggest event in American sports.

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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): The playoffs continue this week and culminate in the Super Bowl, which takes place later in January. [Official NFL Website]

NCAA FOOTBALL (College): The college football season is now over, with Florida defeated 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. [Official PGA Website]

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson

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:: HOCKEY

NHL (Pro. Hockey): The hockey season is currently under way 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. [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]

 

December 8, Week in Sports

 

:: FLORIDA TOPS NO. 1 ALABAMA (College Football)

:: MANNY PACQUIAO POUNDS OSCAR DE LA HOYA (Boxing)

:: PLAXICO BURRESS SUSPENDED, DONE FOR YEAR (Pro. Football)

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FLORIDA, OKLAHOMA, TO PLAY IN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

The Florida Gators knocked off top-ranked Alabama on Saturday, effectively de-throning Alabama and earning the Gators a ticket to the national championship game. The national championship game is the culmination of the college football season.

The Oklahoma Sooners, who also won their game on Saturday, moved up in the rankings, as well. The result is that Florida and Oklahoma are the top two teams in the country, which means that they will face off in the national championship game. The game is part of a series of “Bowl Games,” the end-of-year contests between the best teams in college football. The matchup between Florida and Alabame will take place in January of the new year.

After Oklahoma and Alabama, the next top-ranked team is the University of Texas. There will likely be grumbling across the country that Oklahoma is unjustly ranked ahead of Texas, especially since Texas beat Oklahoma earlier in the year. It is yet another controversy in the hotly-contested ranking system in college football.

Quote of the Week: “Although there is plenty of room to decry [Oklahoma outranking Texas] as another example of BCS illogic, this cannot be disputed: Oklahoma’s fight-or-flight reflex was astonishingly powerful.” — Pat Forde, ESPN

Further Reading: ”Florida, Oklahoma runaway trains primed for collision” — Pat Forde, ESPN

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THE POUND-FOR-POUND KING

 

Manny Pacquiao defeated Oscar de la Hoya on Saturday night in Las Vegas. Pacquiao’s victory will gain him a worldwide reputation as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, and it will also almost certainly be the last fight of De la Hoya’s career.

 

Oscar de la Hoya is one of the most famous boxers alive, and still probably the most popular. However, the “Golden Boy” is getting older and slower, and while he has been a competitive boxer up until this point, he is clearly no longer the boxer he once was. De la Hoya has already established hiimself as one of the biggest promoters in boxing, and that is likely where he will focus his efforts from now on.

 

On the other hand, Pacquiao’s star is rising. Among boxing afficionados, he is already one of the most respected fighters in the sport. With this victory and the fights that are sure to come in the future, he is quickly becoming a household name among sports enthusiasts.

Quote of the Week: “So this is how it ends. It is the way it almost always does, even for the best of them. It is the way it ended for Muhammad Ali. It remains, over a long, drawn-out period, the way it is ending for Roy Jones. And now it is the way it ends for Oscar de la Hoya.” — Kieran Mulvaney, ESPN

 

Further Reading: “Trigger? What Trigger?” — Kieran Mulvaney

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THEY SHOOT GIANTS, DON’T THEY?

The New York Giants have suspended their star wide receiver Plaxico Burress for the remainder of the regular season. Burress accidentally shot himself in the thigh at a night club last weekend.

 

Burress has a history of being a problem child in a league full of loose cannons, but this incident is by far the biggest indiscretion of his career. He has been charged with possession of an illegal weapon after authorities found that he was not licensed to carry the gun in question. If convicted, Burress could be imprisoned from 3 1/2 to 15 years.

 

Incidentally, because of Burress’ injury and the way the Giants classified it, he will also be unable to rejoin the Giants in the playoffs this year.

Quote of the Week: “There is nothing good that will come of it and there isn’t much to say.” — Amani Toomer, Giants receiver

Further Reading:  “Giants suspend Burress four games in wake of weapons charge” — Associated Press, via ESPN

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WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK

:: COLLEGE FOOTBALL: The Heisman Trophy, the most prestigious award in college football, will be announced next Monday. That means that this week there will be all sorts of chatter about who deserves the award. Last year’s winner, Tim Tebow, put himself in a good position to win it again, after leading Florida to the national championship game.

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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 and the New York Giants are currently the best teams in the league. [Official NFL Website]

NCAA FOOTBALL (College): The college football season is now in full swing. Florida and Oklahoma will play each other 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. 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]

 

December 1, Week in Sports

 

:: OKLAHOMA EDGES TEXAS IN BCS RANKINGS (College Football)

:: ALABAMA AND FLORIDA SLATED TO FACE OFF (College Football)

:: PLAXICO BURRESS WOUNDED IN ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING (Pro. Football)

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BIG 12 CIRCUS

The Oklahoma Sooners outranked the Texas Longhorns in this week’s BCS rankings. As a result, the Sooners earned a chance to play in the Big 12 Conference championship next week. More importantly, since the Sooners are expected to win that game, they will very likely have a chance to compete in the national championship game–the most important game of the college football season.

Normally, conference rankings are determined by team records. However, this year the Big 12 was highly competitive, with Oklahoma, Texas, and Texas Tech finishing the season with identical records. Per conference rules, the BCS rankings serve as one of the tie-breakers to decide which team wins the Big 12 South.

The fact that Oklahoma so narrowly outranked Texas is sure to draw the ire of Longhorns fans, particularly since Texas actually beat Oklahoma earlier this year. The BCS rankings are subject to criticism year in and year out. While the final BCS rankings come out next week, this week’s rankings will likely be the most controversial from the 2008 season.

Quote of the Week: “Oklahoma jumped over Texas and into the No. 2 spot of the Bowl Championship Series standings Sunday, putting the Sooners in prime position to play for the national title should they defeat Missouri this coming Saturday.” — Eddie Timanus, USA Today

Further Reading: ”Sooners Mess with Texas” — Associated Press, via ESPN

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CHOMPING AT THE BIT

 

Alabama and the Florida Gators are slated to play each other next week in the Championship game of the SEC Conference. Whoever wins this game is virtually guaranteed a spot in the national championship game.

 

Alabama and Florida are ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the AP poll, and No. 1 and No. 4 in the BCS rankings. When it comes down to it, the BCS rankings are more important, since the top two teams in the BCS get to play in the national championship game. Though Florida is currently in the 4 spot, knocking off top-ranked Alabama would certainly help them jump into the top two.

 

The college football rankings system is often criticized for being too subjective. However, there can be no complaints about the game between Alabama and Florida. Both teams are playing at their best going into next Saturday, and all they have to do is beat the other team to make it to the national championship game. Let the best team win.

Quote of the Week: “[Florida Quarterback] Tebow could have demanded more throws and more carries, and he probably would have run away with the Heisman…. But the Gators would be 9-3 and headed for a second consecutive Capital One Bowl instead of 11-1 and headed for the national semifinal SEC Championship game next week against Alabama.” — Ivan Maisel, ESPN

Further Reading: “Gators eyeing SEC showdown in Atlanta” — Ivan Maisel, ESPN

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BENCHED, SUSPENDED, FINED, SHOT

 

Plaxico Burress, a wide receiver for the New York Giants, accidentally shot himself in the thigh on Friday night, according to reports. Burress is one of the stars of the Giants, and one of the most famous football players in New York.

 

Plaxico Burress has been a premier player in the league for years, but he arrived at true superstardom in last year’s Super Bowl, when he caught the game-winning touchdown. However, Burress has had his run-ins with authority in the past, including a suspension and fine this year. Regarding the shooting, the facts are not all in, but early reports suggest that Burress was at a Manhattan night club when his own weapon went off. If it turns out that Burress is not licensed to carry that weapon, he could face criminal charges, as well as punishment from the NFL.

 

Obviously, gunshot wounds are not to be taken likely. That being said, the damage to Burress’ leg is reportedly very minimal. However, it will likely take days, if not weeks, before it becomes clear when Burress would be able to play again, and whether or not he will face a suspension from the league.

Quote of the Week: “We’ve come to anticipate the worst whenever Burress’s name appears in a news headline, and this was no different.” — William C. Rhoden, New York Times

Further Reading:  “Giants’ Burress hurt in accidental shooting” — ESPN Services

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WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK

:: COLLEGE FOOTBALL: On Saturday, Alabama plays Florida in the SEC championship game. The game will be played during the day, and it will be aired on CBS. The winner will almost certainly earn a spot in the national championship game. Oklahoma is also scheduled to play Missouri on Saturday–Oklahoma needs to win the game in order to get into the national championship. On Sunday, the BCS will announce the final rankings for the season, which determine the matchups in this year’s bowl games.

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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]

———-

 

:: FOOTBALL

NFL (Pro. Football): The regular season is now underway. The Tennessee Titans and the New York Giants are currently the best teams in the league. [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. The final BCS rankings will be released this week. [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. 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

 

———-

 

:: 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

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

———-

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 24, Week in Sports

 

:: OKLAHOMA KNOCKS OFF TEXAS TECH (College Football)

:: PUJOLS, PEDROIA WIN MVP AWARDS (Pro. Baseball)

:: MARK CUBAN CHARGED WITH INSIDER TRADING (Pro. Basketball)

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BIG 12 BEATDOWN

On Saturday night, No. 5 ranked Oklahoma beat No. 2 ranked Texas Tech by a score of 65-21. This game had major ramifications for the national standings in college football, and for the Big 12 Conference.

Three of the best teams in the country this year are in the Big 12 South–Texas, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma. Each of these three teams now has a 10-1 record on the year, and in each case, the one loss came from one of the other two teams: Texas Tech beat Texas, Texas beat Oklahoma, and Oklahoma beat Texas Tech. A reasonable person might look at that fact and say that these teams are more or less equal to each other. However, there is a ranking system in college football that sometimes ranks teams in a way that seems unfair. The way that the college football season is set up, rankings are determined by a combination of human polls and a computer-based scoring system. Every year, a controversy like this seems to pop up, which is why college football has some of the greatest fan frustration out of any sport in the country.

After Texas Tech’s loss, they plummeted to No. 7 in the A.P. poll. Oklahoma narrowly rose above Texas, to the No. 3 spot. The top two teams at the end of the year get to play in the national championship game.

Quote of the Week: “Order was simultaneously restored and destroyed here Saturday night.” — Pat Forde, ESPN

Further Reading: ”Pointing Fingers” — Pat Forde, ESPN

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A.P./D.P. WIN MVP

Last week, Major League Baseball announced the final major player awards for the 2008 season. Albert Pujols and Dustin Pedroia were named the MVPs of the National League and American League, respectively. The Most Valuable Player awards are among the most coveted player awards in baseball.

Albert Pujols, the first baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals, won the award after receiving 18 out of 32 first place votes. Ryan Howard of the Phillies came in second place, with 12 first place votes. Pujols had a tremendous year, batting .357 and swatting 37 home runs, all while playing injured on a bad team that missed the playoffs. This is the second time that Pujols has received the MVP award.

Dustin Pedroia, the second baseman for the Boston Red Sox, won the award by a slightly bigger margin–he received 16 first place votes, while Justin Morneau of the Minnesota Twins brought in 7 first place votes. Pedroia, a famously undersized ballplayer, was last year’s Rookie of the Year in the American League. It is rare to see a second baseman win the MVP award–the last time it happened was in 1959–so it took a truly exceptional season from Pedroia to capture the award.

Quote of the Week: “For most of his baseball life, Dustin Pedroia has heard the doubts. He’s heard he’s too small, too slow or that his swing is too long, and that, one way or another, he just doesn’t measure up. But now, he might be too good for his own good.” — Sean McAdam, Boston Herald

Further Reading: “Pedroia beats out Morneau to win AL MVP” — Associated Press, via ESPN

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CUBAN CRISIS

 

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was charged with insider trading by the SEC last Monday. Cuban is one of the most well-known owners in professional sports, and these allegations are sure to follow him around for quite some time if he is found guilty.

 

The SEC filed a civil lawsuit against Cuban, which means that if he is found guilty, he would only have to cut the SEC a check of approximately one million dollars–reportedly, no criminal lawsuit will be filed against Cuban, so jail time seems very unlikely. The SEC has alleged that Mark Cuban sold all his shares in a company called Mamma.com after hearing that shares in the company’s stock would be sold to the public below market price. Knowing that this would certainly devalue his stock, Cuban reportedly dumped all of his shares in the company. While Cuban can surely handle a million dollar fine, the damage to his reputation might be harder to deal with. For example, the Chicago Cubs are currently for sale, and Mark Cuban was one of the interested bidders. A couple of weeks ago, it was reported that Cuban was no longer being considered as a potential owner, and some have speculated that this was because the Cubs organization got word that Cuban was about to be charged with insider trading.

 

Cuban is a very hands-on owner, who is famous for yelling at referees during Dallas Mavericks games. In recent years, he has cooled down significantly, and he gained an even greater level of prominence when he appeared as a contestant on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars.

Quote of the Week: “However this plays out, it’s a hit on Cuban’s reputation as the Everyman fan who hit the Internet lottery, became a billionaire and bought his favorite team.” — Associated Press

Further Reading:  “SEC’s Mark Cuban Insider Trading Allegations” — Henry Blodget, Silicon Alley Insider

 

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WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK

:: COLLEGE FOOTBALL: As the season winds down, the games become increasingly important. On Saturday, No. 1 Alabama plays Auburn and No. 2 Florida plays Florida State. If both teams win, then Alabama and Florida will play each other the following week in the most crucial matchup of the year.

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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]

———-

 

:: FOOTBALL

NFL (Pro. Football): The regular season is now underway. The Tennessee Titans and the New York Giants are currently the best teams in the league. [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]

———-

:: 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

 

———-

 

:: 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

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

———-

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]

 

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)

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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

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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

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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.

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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]

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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 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]

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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

:: 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]

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