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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

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.

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

In an off season that was supposed to feature a limited amount of dollars, few (if any) big money signings, and a large figurative line drawn in the sand between owners and agents, well, all of those things still hold true.

However, the annual Major League Baseball winter meetings have brought one (and only one, so far at least) piece of juicy news in the form of an almost-done three way trade. Even if it will ultimately fall short of “blockbuster mega-trade” status, it is the biggest news regarding player movement in this early stage of the MLB offseason.

The trade has yet to be consummated, but here is what the three teams should end up with barring any last minute changes.

• New York Yankees: Curtis Granderson
• Arizona Diamondbacks: Edwin Jackson, Ian Kennedy
• Detroit Tigers: Max Scherzer, Daniel Schlereth, Phil Coke, Austin Jackson

Granderson is both the biggest name and the biggest gamble in the deal. The Diamondbacks received a pair of reliable pitchers, the Tigers received four young players with considerable upside, and the Yankees received a player that is seen somewhere between OK and great depending on who you ask.

The Yankees, obviously, think very highly of Granderson and believe he can anchor center field for the next decade a la former New York favorite Bernie Williams. The question on everyone’s mind, though, is which Granderson will the Yankees will get?

Will they get the player with a .272/.828 lifetime batting average/OPS or the player that batted a lowly .249/.780 last year? Will they get the left-handed slugger who should theoretically thrive in Yankee stadium or the player who struggled against lefty pitching last year? Will they get a player who can handle the pressures of playing in the big apple or will they get someone who melts under the bright lights?

Personally, I think he will do just fine. He will have more protection in the lineup than he has ever had thus far in his career, will be playing in a ballpark much more conducive to his skill set, and can rely on savvy veterans like Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera to ease him into the voracious New York media.

He isn’t going to be the cornerstone of their franchise, but then again, they’re not asking him to be.

What do you think of the trade? Was it too much for the Yankees to give up? Can Granderson be the next great Yankees’ center fielder?

Image Source: ESPN

After what has seemed like years of speculation about when Florida State coach Bobby Bowden would step down from his post, it has finally been announced that this season will be his last. Bowden is set to coach his team through their upcoming bowl game and will then retire as the winningest coach in Atlantic Coast Conference history.

His records are numerous and his impact immeasurable, but here are a few of the highlights:

• Winner of 12 ACC Championships
• Winner of 2 National Titles
• Led the Seminoles to 14 straight seasons of winning at least 10 games and finishing in the top-five of the Associated Press Poll
• 388 wins in 44 years of coaching, second all-time to Penn State’s Joe Paterno
• A perfect season in 1999 (also the first time a team went start to finish as the AP’s No. 1 ranked team)

The last few years of Bowden’s tenure have been less than ideal – the NCAA has investigated the program for possible recruiting and academic violations — but they should not tarnish the legacy that Bowden has created at Florida State.

After all, Bowden is Florida State football.

In a time when college athletics have become a revolving door for what have you done for me lately booster clubs, Bowden has been a consistent presence (for better or worse) for over three decades. The last time someone other than Bowden was the head coach at Florida State Gerald Ford was president of the United States. The fact that he has lasted so long is a testament to not only his talent but both his love for the game and the young men who play it.

Think about how much has changed in the world since Bowden first took over the reigns in 1976. The Berlin Wall came down before Bowden did. The Soviet Union fell apart before Bowden did. Even Saddam Hussein’s rule in Iraq lasted less than Bowden’s in Florida.

Sure, Bowden had his faults. Sure, Bowden had years and teams that didn’t meet expectations. Sure, it would have been nice if he could have won a few more titles.

But if I was an athletic director and you told me I could hire a coach who would give me what Bowden did over the course of 34 years, I’d tell you there was and will always be only one Bobby Bowden.

Then, well, I’d hire the person who said they could do what Bowden did.

Image Source: American Sports Blog

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

[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

People under the age of 25 might not realize it but men’s tennis in the United States was immensely popular in the 1980s and 1990s. And arguably no player during that time span was more popular than Andre Agassi, whose flashy clothing, abundance of charisma and undeniable talent made him one of the sport’s worlds biggest stars during his tennis career.

That is why it is so surprising that his soon to be released book, “Open: An Autobiography,” reveals that he used crystal meth during his playing career. The details of his use — like how much he used, how frequently he used and if he ever played while under the influence — are still unknown to the public but the fact that he has admitted to using the illegal drug is nothing short of shocking.

Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised to learn that another athlete has used drugs, but this case is a bit different than usual. Known performance enhancing drugs are often illegal and usually banned from professional sports, but at least they are used by athletes with the intent to enhance their game. While that doesn’t make it right to use them, it certainly has a different feel from a fan’s standpoint than an athlete using a recreational drug like crystal meth.

Unfortunately, we will have to wait until the book’s November 9 release date to find out more information. Until then, we are left with only questions about the latest athlete to fall from grace.

What do you think about the news? Is it better or worse than being caught for using performance enhancing drugs? Should an athletes personal life matter to fans?