Sports Blog » 2009 » November

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.

[SPOILER ALERT. THE RESULTS OF THE WORLD SERIES OF POKER MAIN EVENT FINAL TABLE ARE LISTED BELOW]

Although it actually took place on Monday night, the battle between the final two players of the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event field was aired on ESPN last night and it did not disappoint fans who have been waiting for months to see the November Nine be whittled down to one.

After nearly three hours of heads-up play, poker pro Joe Cada took down amateur Darvin Moon to win $8.55 million and the poker world’s most coveted bracelet. And for the second year in a row, a record was set for the youngest Main Event champion ever. Cada is 340 days younger than last year’s Main Event winner, Peter Eastgate, who overtook the 20 year old record from Phil “The Poker Brat” Hellmuth.

The Main Event was as popular as ever this year, drawing 6,494 players when the tournament began back in June. It also received a lot of hype because the final table featured arguably the greatest player in the world in Phil Ivey, who was knocked out in 7th place on a bad beat. And while Ivey received all the pre-final table hype, it is Cada who gets to bask in the spotlight of poker’s biggest spotlight.

So how does it feel to be 21 years old, a multi-millionaire, and the winner of poker’s most popular tournament?

“I’ve dreamed of winning this tournament, and to do it the first year out of the gate is unbelievable,” said Cada on the WSOP Web site. “This is just amazing.”

Image Source: Guardian.co.uk

As we inch our way closer to Thanksgiving another little holiday looms on the horizon. That holiday is, of course, Christmas. It is arguably the biggest holiday of the year and is certainly among the most expensive. While nearly everyone loves to open up gifts from loved ones on Christmas morning, not everyone enjoys going shopping for others. Between fighting for parking in mall parking lots, scouring stores for that perfect item, and watching your hard earned money disappear, doing traditional shopping can be a taxing experience.

Luckily for shoppers, the Internet has made the hassles of shopping largely avoidable. By shopping from the comfort of your home you can avoid the traffic, search for gifts with ease, and save money by finding the best possible price on the item you want.

With that in mind I have compiled some great sports related Christmas gifts to help you get a jump start on your holiday shopping. These special offers are courtesy of Dick’s Sporting Goods and more great deals can be found from them here.

This Razor® Powerwing™ Drifting Caster Scooter is great for people who like to have fun outdoors and get a little exercise in the process. It allows users to turn, drift and accelerate with minimal effort and comes with an effective hand brake. Normally $129.99, it is on sale for $99.99 after a special 10 percent off discount.

This Reebok Duffle Bag is a Dick’s Sporting Goods exclusive and an excellent way to stow all your gear for a trip to the gym or an overnight trip. It has a top loading main compartment, four external storage compartments, and a cable management port with MP3 pocket to store your portable music player. It is also eligible for the special 10 percent discount and is on sale for $16.97.

The Garmin Nuvi 205 GPS System is an ideal gift for anybody who spends a lot of time on the road. It has turn-by-turn directions, optional MSN® Direct services, and comes packed with millions of destinations and maps for the contiguous U.S., Canada, or regional sections of Europe. Another 10 percent off eligible item, the Garmin Nuvi 205 GPS System is on sale for the incredibly low price of $164.99.

Find more Dicks Sporting Goods coupons at CouponMountain.com.

For anyone who thought that the sports world would slow down in the excitement department now that the World Series of Major League Baseball is over, well, think again. From upsets in college football to a certain disgruntled basketball player to the World Series of Poker, this past weekend had a lot of compelling action. There were teams that showed why they are considered among the best in their sport and teams that gained firsthand knowledge of what it means when people say it is a long fall from the top. So without further ado, here are the highlights of another great weekend in sports.

College Football: The top three teams in college football — Florida, Alabama and Texas — made it through the weekend unscathed and remain control of their destiny. If they win out, they will be in the BCS National Championship game. The emerging story, though, is the rise of TCU. Another lopsided victory at the expense of San Diego State has them No. 4 in the latest BCS poll and a potential BCS buster come bowl time. They are joined by No. 5 Cincinnati and No. 6 Boise State, who are both 9-0 along with TCU, as teams that could potentially cause controversy when it comes time to crown a national college football champion.

NBA: In what comes as no surprise to anyone outside of the Memphis Grizzlies management team, newly signed Allen Iverson is already disgruntled with his role on the team. He was allowed to return home over the weekend to attend to a personal matter, but many with insight into the NBA are predicting that we may have already seen Iverson in a Grizzlies’ jersey for the last time. ESPN’s Chad Ford summed it up best when he quoted an unnamed NBA general manager: “He’s finished in the NBA. He can go hang out with Stephon Marbury.”

NFL: While it is still much too early to start dreaming about the perfect season, there are still two teams that have an unblemished record. The New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts both won on Sunday in games that were much closer than anyone expected and moved to 8-0 for the season. Perhaps the most interesting news of weekend, however, came from former Colts coach Tony Dungy. He said that Michael Vick, whom he has mentored since Vick’s incarceration, could end up quarterbacking for the Buffalo Bills. The Bills reportedly had interest in Vick prior to him signing with the Philadelphia Eagles and are currently struggling with the injured Trent Edwards and underwhelming Ryan Fitzpatrick.

WSOP: If it seems like the WSOP has been on hiatus for eternity, that is because it has. On break since the end of summer, the November Nine resumed action on Friday and played until the wee hours of the morning. The field has been whittled down to the final two players, who will square off for the WSOP Main Event bracelet tonight at 10pm PT. I won’t say who the final two are out of consideration for those waiting to catch action Tuesday night on ESPN, but you can get a full recap here on ESPN’s Poker Blog.

MLS: The Chicago Fire, Los Angeles Galaxy, Houston Dynamo, and Real Salt Lake are Major League Soccer’s final four teams following an intense weekend of play. The Western Conference finals kick off on Friday at the Home Depot Center at 8pm PT and can be seen on ESPN 2. The Eastern Conference finals will take place in Chicago on Saturday at 5pm PT and can be seen on the Fox Soccer Channel.

Image Source: TCU Athletics

As I noted last Friday, the first few weeks of the fantasy basketball season are of the utmost importance. I promise when you look back at the end of the season at the roster of the championship team you will see that many of their big contributors are players they scooped up off the waiver wire early. 

With that in mind, last week I pointed out five players that were readily available in standard leagues that I believed were going to be key contributors for the foreseeable future. It is just as important, though, to identify players that are not likely to perform at a high level over the long haul that may have found their way on to your roster. We are specifically looking to identify two types of players:

1) A player that has started off better than expected and is unlikely to keep up that production.

2) A player that was drafted with potential that doesn’t look like he will live up to it.

Identifying these players is important because it will allow you to make better trades and avoid picking up flash-in-the-pan players after single-game breakouts. For instance, if you own a player that is playing above expectations but for whatever reason cannot be reasonably expected to continue to do so, you can trade him at his peak value for a player you believe will help your team more for the rest of the year.

Now that you have a better understanding of what we are looking for, here are a few players that you should either sell high on or avoid picking up on the waiver wire.

G Tyreke Evans, Sacramento Kings (Drafted in 45.8 percent of ESPN leagues): Evans was drafted by a lot of people (including myself in one league) as a rookie point guard with a lot of potential to play big minutes on a team that lacks a lot of talent. How foolish we all were. While Evans may have a bright future ahead of him, he is a rookie playing the most difficult position to learn in the NBA and, as a result, will struggle at times. From a fantasy perspective, owners can look forward to a lot of turnovers, nights of poor shooting, and fewer assists than you would like because the Kings are by far the worst team in the still brutal Western Conference.

F Channing Frye, Phoenix Suns (Drafted in 5.9 percent of ESPN leagues): Frye had back-to-back games in which he hit an impressive six 3-pointers and saw his ownership rise all the way up to 50.1 percent. While those two outings were indeed great from a fantasy perspective, there is absolutely no reason to think he can have that type of production from here on out. Frye has shot 35 percent from behind the arc for his career and offers little else in terms of fantasy production. I would not drop a more reliable big to pick him up unless you feel you can parlay him in a trade for a better talent.

C Brad Miller, Chicago Bulls (Drafted in 78.9 percent of ESPN leagues): His ownership has already dropped to 68.1 percent, so the window of opportunity for savvy owners to trade him for another big man is closing fast. There are many reasons to not like him from a fantasy perspective — he plays under 25 minutes a game, doesn’t get enough rebounds or blocks for his position, and isn’t on the floor enough for his solid field goal and free throw percentage to make an impact on your team. My advice is to trade him while it is still possible or consider dropping him for a less heralded center like Roy Hibbert.

Image Source: Yahoo! Sports