SportSpectator Blog

June 1, Week in Sports

:: Magic, Lakers Advance to Finals (Pro. Basketball)

:: Red Wings Take 2-0 Stanley Cup Lead (Pro. Hockey)

:: Rafael Nadal Eliminated from French Open (Tennis)

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DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC?

On Sunday night, the Orlando Magic defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers to win the Eastern Conference Finals and advance to the NBA Finals, where they will face the Los Angeles Lakers. The Magic’s victory over the Cavs was especially significant because it was such a major upset.

The Cavaliers, led by league MVP LeBron James, sported the best record in the NBA in 2009, and they were largely favored to make it to the Finals, even before the playoffs began. After steamrolling over their first two playoffs opponents, they were expected to do much the same to the Magic. However, Dwight Howard and the Magic stunned the league by controlling the series from the beginning, and they ultimately sent James and company packing back to Cleveland–a city that has gone nearly half a century without winning a pro sports championship. In a widely criticized move, James sulked off the court after the game, then dressed and left the arena without speaking to reporters–a classless move by a typically classy player.

The Magic will now face the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals. The Lakers, led by Kobe Bryant, defeated the Denver Nuggets in 6 games to win the Western Conference Finals. The Lakers’ performance in the playoffs this year has been regarded as shaky, and yet when they have been playing well, they have looked nearly unstoppable. The Finals are scheduled to begin this Thursday in Los Angeles.

Quote of the Week: “They’re back from the basketball dead.” — Brian Schmitz, Orlando Sentinel, on the Magic

Further Reading: “Orlando Magic beat LeBron James and Cleveland Cavaliers to reach NBA Finals” — Brian Schmitz, Orlando Sentinel

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PENS ICE COLD IN MOTOWN
The Detroit Red Wings won the first two games of the Stanley Cup Finals over the weekend, dominating the Pittsburgh Penguins in the process. The Stanley Cup Finals are the pinnacle of the NHL season, and the Red Wings are just two wins away from capturing the cup.

This year’s matchup between the Red Wings and Penguins is actually a re-match of last year’s Stanley Cup Finals. Though Detroit won the championship last year, many people believed that Pittsburgh would be much stronger this time around. However, that has certainly not been the case thus far. Just like last year, the Red Wings have exploded to a 2-0 lead, and if that keeps up, the result will be the same as it was in 2008.

As bad as things have been for the Penguins, at least their only losses in this series so far have been on the road. The series moves to Pittsburgh on Tuesday, where the Pens hope that home ice advantage will help them start their comeback. It would also help if their star player, Sidney Crosby, started playing as well as he is capable of playing. Up until now, Crosby has been a non-factor in the series.

Quote of the Week: ”Sidney Crosby, the face of the NHL (if you ask the NHL), the biggest star in this series (if you ask the NHL), the man who is supposed to lead the revenge call for his Penguins teammates, has been as noticeable as a chorus line member.” — Mitch Albom, Detroit Free Press

Further Reading: “Smashing Success” — Associated Press, via ESPN

NADA FOR NADAL: ‘RAFA’ KNOCKED OUT OF FRENCH OPEN

Rafael Nadal, the top-ranked tennis player in the world, was knocked out of the French Open by Robin Soderling on Sunday. The French Open is one of the four Grand Slam events–the most important tennis tournaments of the year.

Throughout the course of his career, Nadal has earned a reputation as one of the greatest clay-court tennis player in the history of the game. For that reason, it was especially unexpected to see him lose on the clay courts of the French Open to Soderling, a 23 seed in the tournament. Nadal has won the French Open the past four years in a row. This is the first time that Nadal has competed in the French Open without winning it. With Nadal out, former No. 1 player Roger Federer becomes the favorite to win the tournament.

In the women’s bracket, No. 1 seed Dinara Safina has already advanced to the tournament’s quarterfinals. No. 2 seed Serena Williams plays her next match on Monday.

Quote of the Week: ”When one player plays bad, he must lose…. I didn’t play my best tennis and for that reason I lose.” — Rafael Nadal

Further Reading: ”Streak Stalled ” — Associated Press, via USA Today

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WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK

:: PRO. BASKETBALL: The 2009 Finals begin this week between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Orlando Magic. Game 1 is scheduled for Thursday night, and Game 2 is scheduled for Sunday night.

:: HOCKEY: The Stanley Cup Finals continue this week, as the series moves to Pittsburgh on Tuesday.

:: TENNIS: The French Open, the second of the four Grand Slam tournaments, continues this week. The finals will be played next Saturday and Sunday.

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ALL-SPORTS UPDATE

ACTIVE SEASON

:: BASEBALL

MLB (Pro. Baseball): The 2009 season is underway, and it runs through October. [Official MLB Website]

:: BASKETBALL

NBA (Pro. Basketball): The 2008-09 NBA playoffs are currently underway.  [Official NBA Website]

NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL (College): “The Tournament” is now over. The University of North Carolina won the 2009 national championship over Michigan State. [CBS Sports]

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:: FOOTBALL

NFL (Pro. Football): Now that the NFL Draft is over, things will be relatively quiet until training camp begins in the middle of July. [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 next Major Championship is the U.S. Open. [Official PGA Website]

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson

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:: HOCKEY

NHL (Pro. Hockey): The Stanley Cup playoffs are currently underway.  [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 French Open is currently underway. [USTA Website]

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

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February 2, Week in Sports

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

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

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

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 MEN OF STEEL

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

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

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

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

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

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KINGS OF THE COURT

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

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

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

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

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BACK ON TOP

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

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

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

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

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

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 WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK

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

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ALL-SPORTS UPDATE

ACTIVE SEASON

:: BASKETBALL

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

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

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:: FOOTBALL

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

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

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:: GOLF

MEN’S GOLF: While there are professional tournaments throughout the year, the most important tournaments are the four Major Championships: The Masters, U.S. Open, The Open (The British Open), and the PGA Championship. The Masters is scheduled for the first week of April. [Official PGA Website]

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson

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:: HOCKEY

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

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:: TENNIS

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

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

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OFFSEASON

:: BASEBALL

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

July 7, Week in Sports

::   NADAL BEATS FEDERER TO WIN WIMBLEDON CHAMPIONSHIP (Tennis)

::   VENUS WILLIAMS TOPS SERENA FOR WIMBLEDON CHAMPIONSHIP (Tennis)

::   ALL-STAR ROSTERS ANNOUNCED (Pro. Baseball)

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NADAL NETS MAJOR WIN

Rafael Nadal defeated his arch rival (and number one player in the world) Roger Federer to win the gentlemen’s singles championship at Wimbledon. The match, the longest in Wimbledon history, was an epic back-and-forth affair between two players at their best–an instant classic.

While Nadal has defeated Federer in the past, this victory is even more significant because it took place on the grass court at Wimbledon. Historically, Federer has been unbeatable on grass courts, while Nadal has excelled on clay courts. That, combined with the fact that Federer has won Wimbledon the last five years, makes Nadal’s victory all the more impressive. For those who felt like Federer’s dominant career is on the decline, Sunday’s title match is, perhaps, evidence of a “changing of the guard.”

Nadal won the French Open earlier this year. With Sunday’s title win at Wimbledon, Nadal became the first player to win both of those Grand Slam events since Bjorn Borg in 1980.

Quote of the Week: ”The greatest match I’ve ever seen.” — John McEnroe, former player

Further Reading: ”Nadal Outlasts Federer in Thrilling Wimbledon Final” — Associated Press, via USA Today

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BIG SISTER, BIG WINNER

Venus Williams won the ladies’ singles championship at Wimbledon on Saturday, defeating her sister Serena 7-5, 6-4. Venus was the defending champion at Wimbledon, and with Saturday’s win, she has collected a total of 5 titles at the All England Club.

The Williams sisters have now played against each other in 7 final rounds of major tournaments. For the most part, little sister Serena has dominated Venus in head-to-head situations with the title on the line, having won 5 of the 7 match-ups. But on Saturday, the spotlight belonged to Venus, who was forced to tone down any celebrations out of respect for her sister.

Later in the day, Venus and Serena both had the opportunity to celebrate as Wimbledon winners–this time after winning the doubles championship, playing as a team.

Quote of the Week: “That was a difficult one to watch. You feel happy that the one won it, but you feel so bad because there has to be a loser, too.” — Oracene Price, Venus and Serena’s mother

Further Reading: ”All-Williams Wimbledon Final Is All Venus” — Christoper Clarey, New York Times

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MLB ALL-STARS, BIG APPLE BOUND

Major League Baseball announced the rosters for this year’s All-Star game, which will be played on July 15th. The starters for the All-Star game are voted in by fans.

The All-Star game is a major event in the baseball season. While all four major professional sports have All-Star games, the MLB All-Star game is the only one that actually has a major impact on the actual season. The game pits the stars from the American League against the players in the National League, and whichever league wins gets home field advantage during the World Series. This year, the event will be hosted at Yankee Stadium, which will be demolished at the end of the season, since the Yankees’ future stadium is currently under construction.

The Boston Red Sox and the Chicago Cubs have the most All-Stars this year. Both the NL and the AL each have one roster spot remaining, and fans can vote on www.mlb.com to pick the two remaining players.

Quote of the Week: “It’s more than just an All-Star Game, it’s like a celebration of Yankee Stadium.” — Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter

Further Reading: “Red Sox, Cubs lead All-Star rosters” — Associated Press, via ESPN

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WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK

:: CYCLING — The Tour de France began this weekend. The race, the pinnacle of the cycling season, runs through July 27th.

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ALL-SPORTS UPDATE

ACTIVE SEASON

:: BASEBALL

MLB (Pro. Baseball): Baseball season is in full swing, but it is a long season, and teams tend to measure their success month by month. The All-Star break takes place the second week of July. By then, teams’ records will be a good indicator of how well they are performing this season. [Official MLB Website]

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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 U.S. Open is over, the next event is the Open (also known as the British Open), which is played in July. [Official PGA Website]

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson

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:: TENNIS

MEN’S AND WOMEN’S TENNIS: While there are professional tournaments throughout the year, the most important tournaments of the year are the four Grand Slam tournaments: the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open. [USTA Website]

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

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OFFSEASON

:: BASKETBALL

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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:: FOOTBALL

NFL (Pro. Football): The pre-season begins in August, and the regular season begins in September. [Official NFL Website]

NCAA FOOTBALL (College): Practice sessions for college football begin in summer, and the regular season begins in August. [NCAA Football, ESPN]

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:: HOCKEY

NHL (Pro. Hockey): The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup Finals, completing the 2007-08 season. [Official NHL Website]

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:: BASKETBALL

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

June 30, Week in Sports

:: DERRICK ROSE, NO. 1 PICK IN NBA DRAFT (Pro. Basketball)

:: SPAIN WINS EURO 2008 (Int’l Soccer)

:: WILLIAMS SISTERS ADVANCE AT WIMBLEDON (Tennis)

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ROSE-Y FUTURE FOR CHICAGO BULLS

The Chicago Bulls selected Derrick Rose with the no. 1 pick in the NBA Draft on Thursday night. With the pick, the Bulls put to an end the weeks of speculation about whether they would take Rose or Michael Beasley with the first overall draft pick.

Rose, a native Chicagoan, will return to his home town to play for the team he grew up watching. Home probably feels a bit different for Rose, who returned to Chicago on Friday $10 million richer, throwing out the first pitch at the Cubs-Sox game.

As expected Michael Beasley went to the Miami Heat with the second pick of the draft. There were also a number of draft day trades. The most notable trade involved the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Memphis Grizzlies, who engineered a trade to swap draft picks O.J. Mayo and Kevin Love, respectively.

Quote of the Week: “It feels great to go in and compete. I’m just blessed to be in that position right now, because a lot of people aren’t. And just knowing that we are a few pieces away from really contending as a team, it just makes me happy.” — Derrick Rose

Further Reading: “Chicago Bulls pick Derrick Rose with first pick in NBA draft” — K.C. Johnson, Chicago Tribune

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¡VIVA ESPANA!

Spain defeated Germany 1-0 in the Euro 2008 Finals, a soccer tournament between European countries played once every four years.

While Spain attracts some of the top soccer talent in the world for the Spanish league, their national team also has a reputation for collapsing on the international stage. Before Sunday’s win, Spain had not won a major international tournament in 44 years. Spain’s one goal came from Fernando Torres, who normally plays in the English Premier League for Liverpool. Torres’ goal came in the middle of the first half, and that was all the Spanish team needed to outlast the powerful German squad.

Quote of the Week: “Torres was taken off in the 78th minute, with his job already done in waking the sleeping giants of European football.”

Further Reading: “Party On, Spain!” — ESPN

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SISTER, SISTER

Sisters Venus and Serena Williams both advanced to the second round of competition at Wimbledon. Wimbledon, the third of the four Grand Slam events, is one of the most important tournaments of the year.

The Williams sisters’ success this year has brought a great deal of attention, in part because they are two of the biggest names in tennis, but also because Americans have struggled greatly at the tournament thus far. All of the American men in singles, including Andy Roddick, have been knocked out of the competition. Other big name players who were upset early in the tournament include Novak Djokovic, Ana Ivanovic, and Maria Sharapova. The Williams sisters are both favored in their upcoming matches.

While many of the world’s top players have already been knocked out, rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal remain in the competition. Nadal recently defeated Federer at the French Open, but Wimbledon is a grass court, and defending champion Federer is the world’s best player on grass.

Quote of the Week: “The epidemic of upset fever at Wimbledon this year has yet to prove contagious to the Williams sisters.” — Christopher Clarey, New York Times

Further Reading: “Williams Sisters Find the Grass Is Greener” — Christopher Clarey, New York Times

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WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK

:: TENNIS – Wimbledon, one of the biggest tournaments in professional tennis, is currently underway. It goes through July 6th.

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ALL-SPORTS UPDATE

ACTIVE SEASON

:: BASEBALL

MLB (Pro. Baseball): Baseball season is in full swing, but it is a long season, and teams tend to measure their success month by month. The All-Star break takes place the second week of July. By then, teams’ records will be a good indicator of how well they are performing this season. [Official MLB Website]

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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 U.S. Open is over, the next event is the Open (also known as the British Open), which is played in July. [Official PGA Website]

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson

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:: TENNIS

MEN’S AND WOMEN’S TENNIS: While there are professional tournaments throughout the year, the most important tournaments of the year are the four Grand Slam tournaments: the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open. Wimbledon is currently underway, running through July 6th. [USTA Website]

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

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OFFSEASON

:: BASKETBALL

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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:: FOOTBALL

NFL (Pro. Football): The pre-season begins in August, and the regular season begins in September. [Official NFL Website]

NCAA FOOTBALL (College): Practice sessions for college football begin in summer, and the regular season begins in August. [NCAA Football, ESPN]

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:: HOCKEY

NHL (Pro. Hockey): The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup Finals, completing the 2007-08 season. [Official NHL Website]

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:: BASKETBALL

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

June 9, Week in Sports

:: DA’ TARA WINS BELMONT, SPOILS BIG BROWN’S TRIPLE CROWN RUN (Horse Racing)

:: RED WINGS WIN STANLEY CUP (Pro. Hockey)

:: RAFAEL NADAL TOPS FEDERER IN FRENCH OPEN (Tennis)

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NO CROWN FOR BROWN

On Saturday, Da’ Tara won the Belmont Stakes, one of the three most prestigious horse racing events of the year. Big Brown, who had a chance to win the Triple Crown with a Belmont victory, finished in last place.

Da’ Tara was a huge underdog going into Saturday’s race, listed as the longest shot to win. However, Da’ Tara will be remembered for years to come, not just for overcoming the odds, but for defeating Big Brown. Big Brown had won both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, and his trainer stated that a victory at the Belmont was “a foregone conclusion.” However, Big Brown looked sluggish on Saturday and ultimately finished the race in last place. This was primarily because his jockey realized that he would be unable to finish in the top five, and thus eased up on Big Brown, whose breeding rights alone are reportedly worth more than $50 million.

Quote of the Week: “If Big Brown was himself, he would’ve been tough to beat, but he wasn’t himself. That’s why they play the game.” — Nick Zito, Da’ Tara’s trainer

Further Reading: “Da’ Tara steals spotlight, Belmont from Big Brown” — Associated Press, via ESPN

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RED WINGS TAKE TITLE BACK TO HOCKEYTOWN

The Red Wings defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins to win the Stanley Cup Finals on Wednesday night. Winning the Stanley Cup is the highest honor in the National Hockey League.

The Red Wings looked dominant throughout the playoffs, and that dominance extended to the Stanley Cup Finals, as well. The Red Wings were on the verge of winning the championship at home earlier in the week, but the Penguins tied the game with thirty seconds left and went on to win it. However, the Penguins’ luck did not extend to Wednesday’s game, where the Red Wings won by a score of 3-2, clinching the title.

The Stanley Cup playoffs have a long and storied past, and the trophy itself is full of history and tradition. There is only one Stanley Cup trophy, which is passed on every year to the new champion. One of the biggest traditions associated with the trophy is for the winning team to drink champagne out of it. The individual players from the winning team also get to spend one private day with the trophy. Over the years, players have eaten out of the Cup, drank from the Cup, damaged it, and defiled it in various ways, after which it is cleaned and repaired for future years.

Quote of the Week: “I’ve had to wipe away a few tears. This is why I play in Detroit.” — Chris Osgood, Detroit Red Wings’ Goaltender

Further Reading: “Wings paint Hockeytown Red” — Mitch Albom, Detroit Free Press

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RAFAEL NADAL, NUMERO UNO

Rafael Nadal, the Spaniard who is ranked as the second-best men’s tennis player in the world, defeated Roger Federer (the number one player in the world) to win the French Open. The French Open is the second Grand Slam event of the year.

Federer is universally recognized as the best tennis player in the world today, and perhaps the greatest player of all time. However, Nadal has beaten Federer in the French Open the past four years, and every year the match-up draws a great deal of attention. As such, the rivalry between Nadal and Federer is on par with just about any individual rivalry in professional sports.

Ana Ivanovic, the top-ranked women’s tennis player in the world, defeated Dinara Safina to win the women’s title.

Quote of the Week: “Today it was tough for Roger, I think, and I have to be respectful with one very good guy.” Rafael Nadal

Further Reading: “Nadal’s fire and emotion propel him to fourth French Open title” — Bonnie Ford, ESPN

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WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK

:: BASKETBALL – The NBA Finals, between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, continue this week. Games 3 and 4 are scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday.

:: GOLF – The U.S. Open, the second Major Championship of the year, will be played June 12th through June 15th.

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ALL-SPORTS UPDATE

ACTIVE SEASON

:: BASEBALL

MLB (Pro. Baseball): Baseball season is in full swing, but it is a long season, so teams tend to measure their success month by month. The All-Star break takes place the second week of July. By then, teams’ records will be a good indicator of how well they are performing this season. [Official MLB Website]

———-

:: BASKETBALL

NBA (Pro. Basketball): The NBA Finals, between the Lakers and the Celtics, continue this week. [Official NBA Website]

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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 Masters is over, the next event will be the U.S. Open, which is played from June 9-15. [Official PGA Website]

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els

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:: TENNIS

MEN’S AND WOMEN’S TENNIS: While there are professional tournaments throughout the year, the most important tournaments of the year are the four Grand Slam tournaments: the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open. The next event is Wimbledon, which runs from June 23rd to July 6th. [USTA Website]

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

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OFFSEASON

:: BASKETBALL

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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:: FOOTBALL

NFL (Pro. Football): The pre-season begins in August, and the regular season begins in September. [Official NFL Website]

NCAA FOOTBALL (College): Practice sessions for college football begin in summer, and the regular season begins in August. [NCAA Football, ESPN]

———-

:: HOCKEY

NHL (Pro. Hockey): The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup Finals, completing the 2007-08 season. [Official NHL Website]