Sports Blog

While the game itself is usually not much fun to watch, finding out who was selected to the NFL Pro Bowl is always interesting. A mixture of fan, player and coach voting, who is selected to play in the largely lackluster game is often as much of a popularity contest as anything.

And as it will always be when you have to narrow down an entire league into two rosters, deserving people will be left out and some not-so-deserving people will sneak in. This year, of course, is no exception as there are some major head scratchers and down right interesting pairings.

The complete list of AFC and NFC rosters can be found here. After taking a quick glance, here are three of my rapid fire reactions:

-The most awkward group of selections is the NFC quarterbacks. Drew Brees gets the nod to start (no argument here) while Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers back him up. Yes, the very same Favre and Rodgers who played together in Green Bay. The same Favre who never embraced the role of the mentor and was ultimately replaced by Rodgers. I have no doubt that they will be very pleasant in front of the media, but you have to imagine that it will be uncomfortable for the both of them.

-The biggest slight has to be the exclusion of any Cincinnati Bengals, who have the honor of being the only division champion to not have a player selected. At first I found this troubling, but when I realized there is not a player on their roster I’d put in over someone on the AFC team I realized it was a smart move.

-The biggest surprise to me was the inclusion of Wes Welker. It is not that I do not think he is deserving (he is first in the NFL in receptions and second in receiving yards), but I could not imagine him getting in over the much ballyhooed Randy Moss.

Who do you think was the biggest snub? Which player got in do you think should be watching from home? Let us know in the comments section below.

Image Source: Mouth Piece Sports

Although most Americans do not realize it, soccer (or football, as most of the world calls it) is the world’s most played sport. The passion that many countries have for the game borders on fanatical and can be downright frightening to people who have never seen it firsthand.

The top soccer leagues in the world — like the English Premier League, Spain’s La Liga, and Italy’s Serie A — have an atmosphere that would make the Oakland Raiders famous Black Hole look like an after school day care.

All of this energy reaches a boiling point every four years during an illustrious event simply known as the World Cup. During the World Cup, 32 of the best footballing nations square off in a tournament to play for the right to call themselves the best country in the world at soccer.

This summer the worlds 19th World Cup will take place in South Africa, which is historic because it will be the first time the tournament will be hosted by an African nation. While the event is still half a year away, people are already getting excited.

To help get you ready for the historic occasion, I have pulled together some great deals on World Cup 2010 gear. This officially licensed memorabilia comes courtesy of World Soccer Shop and is this week’s Deal of the Day.

The Official FIFA World Cup 2010 Logo Soccer Hooded Sweatshirt by Adidas has the official 2010 World Cup logo on the front and the Adidas logo on the back. Available in sizes medium through double-extra large, it is currently listed for $49.99 but will not ship until Mid-January.

This Adidas World Cup 2010 Jabulani 3D Effect Soccer Ball is currently being sold in size 3 or 5 for only $29.99. From its product description: “Jabulani means to celebrate in Zulu, one of the 11 languages of South Africa, and the design of the Jabulani has 11 colors to honor those 11 languages, in addition to the 11 communities of South Africa and and the 11 players on a team.”

The World Cup History Poster is a great piece of memorabilia for any soccer fan. It has wonderful photos and some great information about the history of the event. On sale for only $13.99, this special order item does take an extra 2-5 days to ship.

Some people love them and some people hate them, but if you fall into the former group this Vuvuzela South African Soccer Horn is for you. Being sold for only $7.99, it is also available in a variety of colors.

It has been five days since we here at the Smarter Sports Blog have posted and a whole lot of exciting games and sports news has happened while we were gone. One prominent college head coach retired (kind of), one young NBA head coach was fired (sort of), and one professional superstar all but walked away from his team for good (we think).

For a long holiday weekend meant to be shared with loved ones, it sure was eventful. But with many people across the country busy catching up with friends and family there is a good chance that some of them didn’t get a chance to see all of these big stories.

Luckily for them (and you!), I had my iPhone in hand throughout the entire break and was able to keep up-to-date on all the happenings throughout the sports world. In case you were not as fortunate, though, here are the highlights of the past five days in sports.

I am retiring … just kidding: In one of the most sudden and unexpected stories in recent memory, Florida Gators football coach Urban Meyer announced his retirement, citing stress and issues with his personal health. Then, just a couple days later, it was announced that he is not going to retire but take an extended leave of absence instead.

During the few hours between his change of heart, questions arose over who would coach the team in their upcoming bowl game, who would ultimately take over the successful program, and just what Meyer’s health issues are. The first two questions are now moot and the last one is largely irrelevant given that his problems are said to be non-life threatening, but look for the rumor mill to start turning since Meyer has been tight lipped on the subject.

If you don’t want me, then I don’t want you: That is pretty much the gist of what happened between Tracy McGrady and the Houston Rockets. McGrady, who is coming off microfracture knee surgery, has been unhappy with the limited minutes he received during the first six games of his return. Displeased with his playing time, he went to head coach Rick Adelman and asked when his minutes would be bumped up to a level that he is accustomed to.

Adelman’s answer? Not anytime soon. With that nugget of information McGrady left the Rockets on Saturday and has given no indication that he plans to go back. In the final year of his monster contract, it is possible that McGrady could be bought out or traded to a team looking for cap flexibility next season, but for now the two sides seem to be locked into a big game of chicken.

The end of perfection: Just a short time ago there were two teams in the NFL pursuing the perfect season. The Saints were derailed last week by the Dallas Cowboys and the Indianapolis Colts were knocked off yesterday after suffering a 29-15 loss at the hands of the New York Jets. Peyton Manning and other starters were pulled from the game with a small lead in the third quarter by head coach Jim Caldwell, so fans who were looking to see the Colts run the table can blame him for the slip up (or the subs who couldn’t do anything).

Dead man walking: Although I can’t feel sorry for someone who gets paid regardless, it is being reported that the decision has already been made to fire Chicago Bulls head coach Vinny Del Negro. Only one problem … he is still coaching the team. As in he has to run practice and bark orders to players who know he is worse off than a lame duck.

He is essentially a dead duck, which I image is about as awkward for a coach as a 12 year old boy at a school dance. If the team wasn’t tuning him out before, they certainly will be now.

Image Source: Examiner

What is supposed to be one of the biggest fights in modern boxing history has suddenly become a major controversy over the type of drug testing to be done leading up to the slugfest between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather.

The fight, which is currently scheduled on March 13 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, is expected to break all sorts of pay-per-view records as two of the best pound-for-pound fighters square off for the welterweight title. Despite all the money on the line, though, this mega event may be KO’d before anyone even steps in the ring.

Let me explain.

Mayweather’s camp is insisting on Olympic-style drug testing, which is more thorough than what the Nevada State Athletic Commission requires. Pacquiao’s camp has thus far refused to undergo the rigorous testing because it requires blood be drawn within 30 days of the fight. The reason?

Pacquiao is “superstitious” about getting blood drawn that close to a fight.

With so much money to be made for all parties involved one has to assume that this ordeal will eventually be worked out, but it would be sort of funny if Pacquiao, one of the greatest boxers in his era, let a little blood come between him and a massive payday.

Image Source: NJ.com

The University of Kentucky men’s basketball team is doing more than climbing national rankings and renting out future NBA lottery pick John Wall. On Monday night they moved up into a strata of college basketball that no other team can currently claim to be apart of — the 2,000 win club.

The Wildcats won their 2,000th game in convincing fashion, absolutely manhandling Drexel, 88-44. The historic win, which brings Kentucky to 12-0 on the season, had started to come in doubt over the last few years. The University of North Carolina, who sits at 1,992 wins, and the University of Kansas, who has 1,980 wins, had begun to close the gap over the past decade.

This year, however, under new head coach John Calipari, the Wildcats have reemerged as a national powerhouse and seemed destined for a long run in the NCAA Tournament. Although Wall is almost guaranteed to leave after the season, Calipari’s strong recruiting should make this revival of one of the country’s most storied basketball programs more than a one year phenomena.

To celebrate their impressive milestone I have gathered up some great deals on Wildcats gear so you can show off your Kentucky pride in style. These three great deals come courtesy of Amazon and FansEdge and are this week’s Deal of the Day.

The University of Kentucky Basketball: The Complete History DVD is the perfect way to celebrate the present while also learning about the past. With a program history that dates back to 1903, there is a plethora of interesting information that even the most die hard Wildcats fan doesn’t know. A thoughtful gift for any college basketball fan, this DVD set is currently on sale for $19.98.

You may not be able to suit up for coach Calipari but you can look like a member of his basketball team with this Kentucky Wildcats Perennial Basketball Hooded Sweatshirt. It comes in sizes small through double-extra large and is currently being sold for only $37.99.

Show of your own John Wall skills while wearing these Kentucky Wildcats Evolution Shorts. These officially licensed mesh fabric shorts also come in sizes small through double-extra large and are currently on sale for only $24.99.

Shop for more affordable Wildcats gear at Smarter.com.

Many people around the country spent the final weekend before Christmas in malls and department stores doing last minute gift shopping, but for those of us stuck inside due to snow or the wonders of shopping via the Internet, there was plenty of interesting sports news and events that took place.

My personal favorite of the past week was the introduction of NFL Saturday night, which brings the number of days we can watch the NFL up to four (3 more to go!). We also saw the start of the college football bowl season, another MLB trade, our first disgruntled NBA’er of the year, some bold accusations against a college basketball coach, and the untimely announcement of the PGA Tours’ player of the year.

So, in case you missed out on this past weekend in sports, here are five interesting stories that your friends and co-workers will be talking about around the proverbial water cooler.

And then there was one: This seasons Saturday NFL debut actually gave fans a solid matchup between the New Orleans Saints and the Dallas Cowboys. The Saints entered the game as one of two remaining undefeated teams in the league but left their loyal home fans in disappointment as their fourth quarter rally fell just short. The loss leaves the Indianapolis Colts as the lone team with the chance at perfection, with two winnable games left against the New York Jets and at the Buffalo Bills.

Not all Knicks have an Empire State of Mind: No can say that New York Knicks’ guard Nate Robinson has been unprofessional, but after being benched for 8 straight games I don’t think anyone would blame him if he was. Robinson’s agent, Aaron Goodwin, is another story. He reportedly asked the Knicks to have his client traded and the two-time slam dunk champion has been surprisingly quiet about it. He says that he wants to stay in New York, but one has to assume that because he is in a contract year he will want minutes on the court more than anything else.

More college football improprieties: The USC football program finds itself in the middle of another recruiting scandal (remember Reggie Bush?), this time surrounding running back Joe McKnight. McKnight was allegedly seen driving an SUV purchased by Santa Monica businessman Scott Schenter, who has thus far denied any wrong doing. Schenter claims that the car belongs to McKnight’s girlfriend and that he is in fact a Washington Husky fan who merely helped her purchase the car because she couldn’t qualify for the loan.

I know we live in America and people are innocent until proven guilty, but if it looks like a duck and it quacks like a duck…

Bob Knight still causing controversy: Coach Knight hasn’t been a coach in years but he can still cause a ruckus better than anyone in the game. He recently said — completely unprovoked, I might add — that college basketball lacks integrity and that University of Kentucky coach John Calipari was a prime example. When Calipari heard the news he basically went all Voltaire on the media, saying he disagreed with what Knight said but still respected him as a basketball coach.

I suppose Calipari is simply being the bigger man, although I can’t help but think that Memphis and Missouri, which were both forced to vacate Final Four appearances by the NCAA for infractions made during Calipari’s tenure, would say otherwise.

The PGA is a mess: By now we have all heard about Tiger Woods’ accident and subsequent fallout with his family and commitment to the PGA Tour, so it is with what I would imagine are ambivalent feelings that the PGA announced Woods as the Tour’s Player of the Year. It is the 10th time he has won the award and the 8th time he has swept the Tours three biggest awards.

There is no question that Woods is golf’s best player and most marketable asset; the question is when will he return and how will the Tour fare without him? The answers, in my humble opinion — not soon enough and not well.

Image Source: Zimbio

If you have gotten this far into the fantasy football season you must be doing something right. While it does take some luck to win it all, to be alive in the penultimate week of the fantasy season (for most us, anyway) is a big accomplishment.

Having said that, don’t start celebrating just yet. A lot of things can still go wrong and it only takes one week to send a great team down to the consolation bracket. Take, for instance, one team that I own in a ten-team keeper league. My team had put up a lot of points all year, but combine a stinker of a game by Aaron Rodgers last week and injuries to Michael Turner and Steve Slaton and I was bounced in the first round of the playoffs.

If you find yourself in a similar situation this week — say you own players who may sit due to injury like Calvin Johnson or Brian Westbrook — you may need to get a little creative. It is likely that by this time savvy owners have already picked up the most sought after free agents like Jamaal Charles, Robert Meachem and Quintin Ganther, but there are still a few super sleepers out there that can help your team.

Some of them are relatively unknown or just getting their first crack at significant playing time, but if you find yourself down a lot of points and are looking for a Hail Mary, any of the following three guys may be able to help get your team to the fantasy Super Bowl. To further help you out, I have selected players that are owned in 10 percent or less of ESPN standard leagues to increase the chance they are available in your league.

QB Chad Henne, Miami Dolphins (Owned in 5.6 percent of ESPN leagues): Do not let the fact that the Dolphins run a wildcat offense scare you. In the last two weeks Henne has put up 19 fantasy points against the New England Patriots and 12 points against the Jacksonville Jaguars. This week he goes up against the Tennessee Titans, which is the third worst team in fantasy football in terms of fantasy points allowed against opposing quarterbacks.

RB Arian Foster, Houston Texans (Owned in 9.1 percent of ESPN leagues): Last week I told you to pick up Texans’ running back Chris Brown. Turns out I had the right team but the wrong back. Following another week where Brown struggled holding onto the ball, head coach Gary Kubiak has hinted that goal line carries will now be going to Foster, who already led the team in carries last week. Foster should also benefit from going up against the St. Louis Rams, who give up 23.2 points a game to opposing running backs, which is third worst in the league.

WR Josh Cribbs, Cleveland Browns (Owned in 3.9 percent of ESPN leagues): Cribbs is a big gamble because the majority of his points come from running in the wildcat, but he has a favorable matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs are ninth worst in fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers and fifth worst in fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. Cribbs has to do well on the ground or in the air, right?

Image Source: Zimbio

A lot has been written (rightfully so) about the blockbuster trade that sent ace pitcher Roy Halladay to the Philadelphia Phillies, but the reigning National League champions are not the only team in Major League Baseball to make significant upgrades.

Yesterday, the Boston Red Sox made a splash of their own, publicly announcing the signings of pitcher John Lackey and outfielder Mike Cameron. The Red Sox were in the hunt for Halladay this offseason and before last year’s trade deadline but ultimately chose to hang onto their young prospects and sign arguably the best starting pitcher on the market.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim were also active over the last couple days, signing now-former Yankee Hideki Matsui to a one year deal that all but assures the end of longtime halo Vladimir Guerrero. And with sluggers Jason Bay and Matt Holliday still in line to get fat new contracts, free agency looks to remain exciting as teams look to instantly upgrade their teams.

With all of this baseball activity going on, I have rounded up some great deals on fan gear from the official Major League Baseball online store. They have some killer sales going on for the holidays and many great gifts in a variety of price ranges.

This Philadelphia Phillies Maxwell Meshback Adjustable Cap is currently on sale for $19.99 and is eligible for a buy one, get one half-off promotion. The cap has a screen printing on the front with an embroidered logo and is guaranteed to be delivered in time for Christmas.

This Boston Red Sox Union Knit Cap is a stylish way to keep your head warm this winter. Currently on sale for $16.99, it features an embroidered logo on the front-left side and is made of 100% acrylic.

Show off your Christmas cheer and team pride with this Forever Collectibles Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 17″ Stocking. Surface washable with embroidered team logo and name, it is currently on sale for $19.99.

Image Source: MLB.com

No matter which team you think got the best end of the deal, there is one undeniable fact that we can all agree on — no one can say that Major League Baseball’s off-season was uneventful.

The term “blockbuster trade” gets thrown around a lot in sports (probably way too much), but this was no doubt a blockbuster trade. Anytime one of the most dominant pitchers in the game changes teams, not to mention leagues, there is a strong argument to be made for deeming the move a blockbuster one. When two Cy Young award winners in their prime get shipped out, it becomes an absolute no-brainer.

In case you haven’t heard, the will-he-or-won’t-he-stay-in-Toronto saga of Roy Halladay is now over. With the Blue Jays unlikely to be able to retain his services in the long term, they finally decided to part ways with their prized possession and were actually somewhat forced to make the move. Teams, in fact, have been inquiring about Halladay as far back as before last season.

The highly sought after hurler was obviously not the only big name to change zip codes in the deal. The other big name in the four-team, nine-player trade is Cliff Lee, who like Halladay is a both bona fide front of the rotation starter that will look to take his new team to the next level. The rest of the trade package is built primarily around minor league players and cap relief, but do not be surprised if at least one of the relatively unknowns turns out to be a star.

Here is a breakdown which teams will get which players as reported by ESPN:

Philadelphia Phillies – RHP Roy Halladay (from Toronto), RHP Phillippe Aumont (from Seattle), OF Tyson Gillies (from Seattle), RHP Juan Ramirez (from Seattle), $6 million cash (from Toronto)
 Seattle Mariners — LHP Cliff Lee (from Philadelphia)
Toronto Blue Jays – C Travis d’Arnaud (from Philadelphia), RHP Kyle Drabek (from Philadelphia), 1B/3B Brett Wallace (from Oakland)
Oakland A’s – OF Michael Taylor (from Philadelphia via Toronto)

What team do you think got the best end of the deal? What team do you think got the worst? Let us know in the comments section below!

Image Source: NY Daily News

People love the holiday season for a lot of reasons. There is the time spent with family and friends, the always interesting office Christmas parties, and perhaps best of all, those delicious home cooked meals.

Of course there is a downside to eating all of that scrumptious food — putting on a few holiday pounds. Starting with Thanksgiving feasts and ending with Christmas dinners, it is easy to find your jeans fitting a little snugger at the start of the new year.

And with the weather getting colder by the day around the country, it is harder and harder to get outside and exercise. So for those of us who still want to shed some calories without having to face the weather or pay costly gym memberships, buying home fitness equipment is the best option.

You might be hesitant to do so because you think the process will be too difficult, but it is actually pretty easy to research and buy gym equipment for your home. To help you get started, here is a quick step-by-step guide on how to buy a home treadmill.

Step one: The first thing to determine is how much money you are willing to spend. Like most consumer items, the more money you are willing to spend the better quality item (in general) you are likely to get. For treadmills, the lower end of the spectrum will be in the $400 to $500 range while the higher end models can cost upwards of a couple thousand dollars. Consider what features you need and can live without to avoid spending more than you have to.

Step two: The next step is deciding if you want a treadmill with or without some type of motor. Treadmills without a motor function off the energy created by your motion and are generally much less expensive than treadmills that do come with motors. If you do decide to go the motor route, check to see what speeds and inclines that the machine is capable of to ensure it offers the experience you need.

Step three: After deciding on the price and type, the next thing to consider is the features you will require. Do you want a treadmill that offers a wide range of inclines? Do you want a treadmill that can automatically track how far you’ve ran or measure your pulse? Do you need extra bells and whistles like built-in iPod integration? There are many different options available to you so make sure to check out all of them before making a decision.

Step four: The final things to take into consideration are how much noise a treadmill makes, how much space it takes up, and how comfortable it feels to use. Many people do not consider the sound a treadmill will make, but ones with large motors and poor design can be loud and very distracting. Space is also a big consideration — especially if you do not have a dedicated space to work out — so if space is at a premium you may want to choose a model that can fold up and fit into tight spaces.

Finally, and this is often overlooked, you want to take into consideration how a treadmill feels when you use it. If possible it is highly recommended to use the model you want before purchasing it because you may find one treadmill more comfortable than another. When shopping online this is not going to be possible, so make sure to check out the return policy before purchasing from an online retailer.

Image Source: Health-Fitness-Beauty

Find deals on treadmills at Smarter.com.