Sports Blog » 2009 » November

Thanksgiving weekend is a holiday when many people spend time with their family, eat way too much food, and begin fighting their way through malls to complete their Christmas shopping. This year it was also a time ofmemorable sports events, ranging from the historic to the just plain odd. One of the best things about this past weekend was the variety of action to watch. There was exciting college football and basketball, the usual professional football and basketball, and some great international soccer. One world renownedsuperstarunusual trouble, providing highly flammable fuel to the media and tabloids.

With so much going on in the world of sports on a weekend where you might not have been able to sit down in front of the TV, I have pulled together the five biggest stories that you may have missed.

1) An unexpected Tiger: In what is surely one of the most unexpected series of events to occur over the past year, Tiger Woods was involved in a one-car accident at 2:25 a.m. Friday morning just two days after rumors of him having an affair hit the tabloids. Even more intriguing is the fact that Woods has cancelled meetings with local law enforcement twice, leaving everyone to draw their own conclusions about the incident.

The most telling piece of information of possible foul play — at least in my humble opinion — is that Woods’ wife used a golf club to smash the back window of the vehicle to allegedly help Woods out of the car. If this were any other professional athlete we would all be jumping to much more salacious conclusions, but since it is Woods the media has given him the benefit of the doubt … for now.

2) Winless in New Jersey: If you think that being a professional coach comes with a certain amount of job security, well, think again. Lawrence Franks became the second NBA coach fired this year (the first being Byron Scott in New Orleans) after his New Jersey Nets started the season with the second worst record in league history (0-16). The silver lining of the situation? There isn’t one. The Nets tied a league record with a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers last night and have a chance to secure sole possession of the dubious record against Dallas at home on Wednesday.

3) College football showdown: December marks the start of the BCS Bowl Series and with another week of games under our belts we are one step closer to cementing which teams will be paired together in a few short weeks. Top teams Florida and Alabama both won this weekend and are on course to face each other in the Southeastern Conference championship for the right to play in the national championship game. Texas, TCU, Cincinnati and Boise State also remained undefeated and remain in the hunt for the other spot in the national championship game.

4) NFL concussions: If you think your job gives you a headache just try to step into the shoes of an NFL player. On the heels of Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger, Arizona’s Kurt Warner and Philadelphia’s Brian Westbrook missing time due to concussions, the NFL and NFL Players Association announced a new rule (to be instituted in the near future) that will not allow a player who leaves a game due to a concussion related injury to re-enter the game.

While fans always want to see their favorite players on the field, this is great news for the NFL because recent studies have shown the long term effects of repeated brain trauma of football players is more troubling than previously thought.

5) NIT domination: People always hate teams that continually crush the competition, so it is no surprise that college basketball fans loathe Duke more than any other school in the country. This weekend Duke gave detractors another reason to despise them, winning their fourth NIT Season Tip-Off Tournament with a 68-59 victory over No. 13 Connecticut on Friday. It was the Blue Devils’ 12th consecutive victory in the tournament and brings their record to 22-2 all time in the tournament.

Image Source: Newsday

Anyone who watches baseball will tell you that Albert Pujols is an absolute machine that strikes fear into every pitcher he faces, but even the most die-hard baseball fan may not realize just how good he is compared to the all-time greats. So, for those that need to be reminded of his considerable talents, it was announced late Tuesday night that he won the National League Most Valuable Player Award for the third time in his career, placing him second in National League history behind none other than Barry Bonds.

Perhaps just as impressive as it being his third MVP title is the fact that he won it with a unanimous vote, which is the first time that is has happened since, you guessed it, Barry Bonds in the historic 2002 season. Pujols finished with 448 votes, which is over 200 more than second place finisher Hanley Ramirez of the Florida Marlins, who managed to tally 233 votes. The top four was rounded out by Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies with 217 votes and Prince Fielder of the Milwaukee Bucks with 203 votes.

In case the MVP award is not enough to convince you of his prowess, take a look at the following stats: he led the majors in home runs with 47, runs with 124, a .658 slugging percentage, and 44 intentional walks. As if that weren’t enough, he lead the National League with an on-base percentage of .443, was second in the league with 45 doubles, and was third in batting average (.327) and RBIs (135).

While most of us would be ecstatic to receive such a prestigious award for the third time, Pujols told the Associates Press that he has other things on his mind:

“I always make a joke. I got 10 fingers. I want to get nine more rings,” Pujols said to the AP. “I want to get as many as Derek Jeter has so far [five]. Obviously that’s hard to do.”

And with the way he has performed over his career, that lofty goal just may be possible.

What do you think? Does he deserve to be mentioned with the likes of Barry Bonds? How many more MVPs do you think he can win?

Image Source: isportsweb.com

As fans of Major League Soccer (and those who read yesterday’s post!) already know, Real Salt Lake won the 2009 MLS Cup with a victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday night. It was Real Salt Lake’s first Cup since they entered the league as an expansion team in 2005 and anybody who watched the match will tell you that is was one for the ages. Between seeing some of the league’s top players play their hearts out on the pitch and watching the match go to the always captivating penalty kicks, it was a game that will be remembered for a long time by fans of United States soccer. 

To help keep those fond memories alive there is plenty of cool championship gear and clothing on sale at the official shop of Major League Soccer. There is a wide selection of memorabilia to remind you of the great 2009 MLS season and all of it is officially licensed merchandise from the MLS.

This 2009 MLS Cup Champions men’s short sleeve tee-shirt has the team, MLS and MLS Cup logo printed nicely on the front. The red championship shirt is made from 100 percent cotton and comes in sizes small through extra large. It is currently on sale for $19.99 and ships within 1-2 business days.

This 2009 MLS Cup Champions Scarf has a different print on each side of it and bears the official 2009 MLS Cup Champions team logo. It is a great way to stay fashionably warm during the winter and is currently on sale for $29.99.

This Wincraft Real Salt Lake 2009 MLS Cup Champions Pennant can be hung anywhere from an office to a dorm room and is an ideal way to show off your Real Salt Lake pride. It has full color graphics, is 12 inches by 30 inches, and is currently available for only $7.99.

This Wincraft Real Salt Lake 2009 MLS Cup Champions Sign is 11 inches by 17 inches and features the official 2009 MLS Cup Champions graphic. It is the perfect decor for a garage or media room and is currently on sale for $4.99.

This Wincraft Real Salt Lake 2009 MLS Cup Champions High Definition Key Ring has the official 2009 MLS Champions graphic and can easily fit into a pocket or purse. Currently available for only $5.99, it is a great way to be reminded of Real Salt Lake’s amazing performance every time you need to use your keys.

Image Source: MLSgear.com

Before this year’s Major League Soccer season began Los Angeles Galaxy superstar Landon Donovan called out David Beckham for what he felt was a lack of commitment to the team. Fast forward to the 2009 MLS Cup and perhaps now it is Beckham who should be calling out Donovan.

After the Galaxy and Real Salt Lake finished regulation and overtime in a 1-1 deadlock the game was left to be decided by penalty kicks. The Galaxy went first and Beckham, who has undergone much scrutiny since leaving Europe to help promote the MLS for a deal that was reported to be in excess of $250 million, lived up to his contract and delivered a goal. By the time Donovan came up as the fourth kicker the two teams were locked at three goals apiece.

Then it all went downhill for the Galaxy. Donovan stepped up and launched a bullet in the center of the goal … about five feet over the crossbar. The Galaxy eventually lost 5-4 after seven rounds of kicks and although he wouldn’t say it, you have to wonder if Beckham feels a little happy about Donovan’s misstep.

It was the first MLS Cup for Real Salt Lake and is only the second time an expansion team has won it all; the other being the Chicago Fire in 1998.

For all of you who play fantasy football, let the countdown officially begin. We are down to (for most people) just three weeks of the regular season and the pressure to win is greater than ever. Whether you have already clinched a playoff berth, find yourself on the edge, or have long since given up hope, now is the time to kick it into high gear. You might feel that there is no way you can pick up a quality player this late into the season but you could not be more wrong. Are you a Michael Turner or Julius Jones owner scrambling for a replacement? No problem. Are you a Matt Ryan or Joe Flacco owner getting tired of poor production? There are alternatives. Are you like the majority of owners who have become frustrated by inconsistent wide receiver play? Let me help you.

There isn’t exactly a dearth of talent on the waiver wire but smart owners (especially in shallow, 10-team leagues) can pick up players right now that can produce this week and beyond and help get them into the playoffs (or at least make your team respectable if you are already out. No one likes a tanker!).

One word of caution before we proceed — I am not suggesting you start any of these players over bona fide studs like Aaron Rodgers, Chris Johnson or Reggie Wayne (all first in fantasy points at their position). What I am saying is that if you find yourself in a bind and need to pick up a player to replace someone who is injured or simply not producing, the following three guys are available and ready to contribute.

QB Vince Young, Tennessee Titans (Owned in8.1 percentof ESPN leagues): I know, I know. I just suggested that Young is a viable pickup in fantasy football but hear me out; it isn’t as crazy as it sounds. Very quietly Young has posted three consecutive games of at least 12 fantasy points and has a favorable match-up against the Houston Texans, a team which has allowed at least 12 fantasy points to quarterbacks in four out of the last five weeks.

RB Justin Forsett, Seattle Seahawks (Owned in 22.6 percent of ESPN leagues): I also like Jason Snelling of the Atlanta Falcons, but with Michael “The Burner” Turner still having a chance to suit up on Sunday I will take the little known Forsett instead. Forsett, the backup for the injured Julius Jones, is slated to start and should get the bulk of the work out of the backfield. I realize he is going up against the vaunted Minnesota Vikings defensive line, but Forsett is also a good pass catcher and has extra value if you are playing in a PPR league.

WR Devery Henderson, New Orleans Saints (Owned in53.1 percentof ESPN leagues): A good buy low option if he is already owned in your league, Henderson has had at least 70 yards receiving in three of his last four games. The even better news is that he is going against the team that has given up the third most points to opposing wide receivers all season — the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Other wide receivers I would buy low on are Kevin Walter (Texans are without Owen Daniels and playing against the worst pass defense in terms of fantasy points allowed) and Jeremy Maclin, who should see more opportunities now that Brian Westbrook is out.

Image Source: SB Nation

NCAA men’s college basketball kicked off with a 24-hour TV marathon on ESPN this past week and began the countdown to March Madness. March Madness, the event that spawns office pools across the globe, is undeniably one of the most popular sporting events of the year. There is simply something special about watching a group of young men — more like kids, really — banding together and becoming a dominant team. Even more scintillating to watch is a team from a smaller school taking down a traditional powerhouse. 

With the beginning of the season now underway it is the ideal time to get your favorite team gear. From team hats to jerseys and warm ups to car flags, there are many different ways to show your pride and support for your favorite team.

Here are three great deals courtesy of Eastbay, GameTime USA, and the College Basketball Store to help get you started with your shopping. They all feature amazing sale items and have cool clothes and accessories from a wide variety of colleges and universities.

This Team Edition Pedigree Hoodie from Eastbay.com is available in many different teams and comes with an embroidered logo on the front. The colored hoodies are 60% cotton/40% polyester and the grey hoodies are made of 70% cotton/30% polyester and come in sizes small through quadruple-extra large. It is currently on sale for $29.99 and is eligible for free shipping on orders of $75 or more.

This Zephyr Duke Blue Devils Charcoal Mystic Fitted Hat from the CollegeBasketballStore.com is currently on sale for $14.99. Sizes range from 6 3/4 to 8 and all orders are eligible for $4.99 three day shipping.

This Georgetown Hoyas 2008-09 Blue Screen Printed Replica Basketball Shorts by Nike Team Sports from GameTimeUSA.com is made from 100% polyester fabric and is officially licensed by the NCAA. It is currently on sale for $29.99 and is available in sizes small through double-extra large.

Shop for more NCAA Basketball gear at Smarter.com.

After a season of dominating American League hitters on a team that struggled to get him wins, Greinke got his well deserved award. He easily beat Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners, receiving 25 of 28 first place votes. While he ended the season with only 16 wins, tied for the lowest total wins for a CY Young winner, voters focused on his other numbers like his MLB leading ERA 2.16. Greinke’s team the Kansas City Royals had by far the worst team record for an AL CY Young winner, something that some experts thought might cast him the award. I mean, put him on a winning team like the Yankee’s and who knows how many wins he would have had this year, and I’m glad the voters didn’t dock him for that. All year Zack dominated and there were some stretches in the season when he just seemed unhittable.

Greinke though, who is extremely shy and was diagnosed with a social anxiety disorder in 2005, said that he has some mixed feelings about winning the award. The good part for him is that he had a great season and he is being recognized for it. The bad part is the attention he will now receive for winning the award. Like I said, he is a shy guy that prefers to remain anonymous so this new attention is going to be a big change going forward, but for now Zack will take the award and what comes with it.

Up by 6 and it’s forth and 2 on your own 28 yard line, no coach would think about going for it in that situation, right? Wrong, Bill Belichick, probable the only coach on earth that would go for it right there (and I mean real coaches not Madden players), had no hesitation going for it and his gamble backfired completely. Instead of making Payton Manning and the Colts drive 70 yards in under 2 minutes to try in win the game, Belichick’s move made it so much easier. Now they only had to go 30 yards and when Payton Manning is the QB that’s practically giving him the game. What was he thinking? After the game he defended the call by saying, “We tried to win the game on that play. I thought we could make the yard. We had a good play, we completed it. I don’t know how we couldn’t get a yard.” I mean that would be fine and all but not on your own 28 yard line. Why not just put the ball and allow your defense to make a stop? Going for it right there is pretty much telling your defense I don’t think you guys are good enough to stop Payton anyway so I just want to win it right here. This call not only cost the Pats the game but it also may cost them a chance at home field advantage in the playoffs. They are now three games behind the Colts for the top seed in the AFC. A win would have put them right there in the mix. We will see how much this decision will cost them in the end.

Photo Source: AP Photo

It took 10 weeks but finally fans of the National Football League have gotten what they wanted — another day of football. NFL fans will agree with me when I say that watching football all day on Sunday is the perfect way to end the week. I’m sure they will also agree that Monday Night Football, as the many commercials for it suggest, doesn’t make going to work on Monday any easier but it does give people something to look forward to. But what are fans of the NFL supposed to look forward to the other five days of the week?  

Thankfully, the NFL has an answer for just that question. To help satisfy people’s insatiable appetite for all things NFL-related, week 10 of the season was kicked off with a Thursday night game between the San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears. As I was watching the game, two things came to mind.

1) Jay Cutler is a turnover machine.

2) Oh my goodness, it’s week 10. The fantasy football playoffs are just around the corner!

For many fantasy footballers, there are only a few weeks left before the playoffs begin. It is rapidly becoming do-or-die time and if you are on the outside of the playoff picture looking in you might feel that all is lost. To that I say, in the immortal words of Journey, don’t stop believing!

If you have players out due to injury, not playing as well as you hoped, or are the victim of some untimely bye weeks, there is still hope. It ain’t over ’till it’s over and it is still possible to salvage your season. It will take a lot of cunning to pull off the necessary trade(s) and a lot of guts to pickup and start a player that other people in your league may scoff at, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

The following three players — one quarterback, running back, and wide receiver — are either not owned in a decent amount of leagues or should be easy to acquire in a trade. Keep in mind that I am not recommending you start any of these guys over obvious studs. However, if you find yourself struggling at a particular position for whatever reason, the following three guys are worth taking a look at.

QB David Garrard, Jacksonville Jaguars: Garrard has scored at least 12 fantasy points in five of his eight games this year and has scored more total fantasy points than both Donovan McNabb and Matt Cassel. Many owners have been quick to pick up Alex Smith and Josh Freeman the last two weeks to fill their backup QB needs, but I would feel much safer with Garrard now that he has a legit wide receiver in Mike-Sims Walker.

RB Justin Vargas, Oakland Raiders: Thanks to franchise killer JaMarcus Russell the Raiders have been the black hole of fantasy points this season, but Vargas has very quietly put together a nice string of games. In Darren McFadden’s absence over the last three weeks Vargas has put up 9, 8 and 13 fantasy points. It is not stellar by any stretch of the imagination but it makes him a solid RB3/flex, especially in deeper leagues.

WR Mike Wallace, Pittsburgh Steelers: Wallace has put up double digit fantasy points the last two weeks and four of the last six. In fact, during that time span he has put up a total of 58 fantasy points, which is 23 more than Steelers starting wide receiver Santonio Holmes. While opponents continue to focus on Holmes and Hines Ward, you can bet that Wallace will continue to get open looks.

Want more fantasy football or basketball advice? Send your questions to my twitter account, @davidcarrillo.

Image Source: ESPN

It is getting pretty cold around the country and that means one thing for outdoor lovers – snow season. Some parts of the country get snow regularly and others hardly at all, but regardless of where you live the snow season is something to be excited about. Whether you want to ski, snowboard or make an old-fashioned snowman, there is always something fun to do during the fall and winter seasons.  

Of course, to enjoy those fun snow activities you have to have the right clothing and equipment. If you live in an area where it snows frequently you probably have a closet full of snow gear, but for those who are not used to the cold weather finding high quality, inexpensive cold weather clothing can be a difficult task. It can also be quite the dent in your wallet if you do not know where to look for the best deals.

Luckily for both newcomers to cold weather fun and seasoned outdoor veterans, I have found some amazing discounts on winter items that will save you money and have you looking great. These unbelievable savings can be found at Sierra Trading Post and more great deals can be found here.

These waterproof Orage Morph Pants retail for $230 but are currently on sale for $74.96. This incredible deal is available in three different colors and comes in sizes extra small through double-extra large.

From its product description:

• Adjustable waistband allows custom fit
• Zip hand pockets
• Rear touch-fasten pocket
• Rear zip-close pocket
• Thigh vents with welded waterproof zippers
• Left thigh gear pocket
• Anatomic knee design provides mobility
• Elastic gripper gaiters snug around boot tops to keep snow out

You can’t go snowboarding without the right equipment and the right snowboarding boots are arguably the most important item to buy. These Burton Freestyle Snowboard Boots are regularly $169.95 but are currently on sale for $87.49.

From its product description:

• Nubuck shell
• Acrylic pile lining
• Knit cuffs
• Snap wrist fasteners
• Thinner, non-bulky midsole improves sensitivity on rails and jibs
• Inner lacing harness for superior heel hold and fit
• Cushioning EVA footbed
• Traction rubber sole
• Height — 10”
• Weight — 4 lb. 6 oz.

The human body loses most of its heat through its extremities, which is why it is so important to wear durable gloves while out in the cold weather. These Grandoe Jackeroo Nubuck Gloves are currently 54 percent off and on sale for $20.62.

From its product description:

• Nubuck shell
• Acrylic pile lining
• Knit cuffs
• Snap wrist fasteners

Find more deals for Sierra Trading Post at CouponMountain.com.