Sports Blog

This past weekend in sports was one of the most eventful of the year. It was the first weekend of the NBA season, the midway point of the NFL season, the start of the MLS postseason, and the final stretch of the MLB season. Sprinkle in some big games in college football, international soccer, and the NHL and there was really too much to watch on this Halloween weekend.

However, for those that did find the time to take in all the wonderful sports action it will be a weekend they will not soon forget. And for those who were not able to catch all the excitement, here is a quick recap of the weekend’s three biggest stories.

World Series: The New York Yankees inched their way closer to their 27th championship and first since 2000. Joba Chamberlain gave the Yankees a scare Sunday night when he allowed the Philadelphia Phillies to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth, but a three run top of the ninth started by an amazing at bat by Johnny Damon propelled the Yankees to a 7-4 victory and 3-1 series lead. A.J. Burnett will take the mound in game five for the Yankees tonight against Cliff Lee and attempt to close out the series in Philadelphia.

NFL: The Denver Broncos entered week eight of the NFL season as one of three undefeated teams in the league. Unfortunately for Broncos fans, the team will not enter week nine with the same status following a 30-7 blowout at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens. The Indianapolis Colts remained undefeated after narrowly beating the fading San Francisco 49ers and the league’s other unbeaten team, the New Orleans Saints, is host to Atlanta tonight on Monday Night Football.

Arguably the biggest NFL story of the weekend, though, was Brett Favre’s return to Lambeau Field to face his former team. Although he already beat the Green Bay Packers earlier this year, it was the first time he has played at Lambeau Field as a visitor since leaving the team to play for the New York Jets last season. He was booed heavily in the beginning of the game, despite there being a fair number of purple jerseys in the crowd, but received the last laugh as he led the Minnesota Vikings to a 38-26 victory.

NBA: Finally, the NBA season is here and opening weekend did not disappoint. We saw some of last years playoff teams take care of business (the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, and Orlando Magic are all undefeated) and others come out of the gate struggling (the Cleveland Cavaliers are 2-2 and the Chicago Bulls and New Orleans Hornets are 1-2). What is more interesting (although we shouldn’t be surprised) is how some of last years bad teams are seemingly worse than they were before.

The New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets, Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Clippers, Indiana Pacers, and Golden State Warriors are a combined 0-17. It is not as though any NBA analyst was predicting these teams to make it to the NBA finals this season, but their play so far has been less than encouraging for fans hoping they would make a strong push to get into the playoffs and possibly cause some damage.

What do you think was the biggest story of the weekend? Any predictions for next weekend?

Image Source: Guardian.co.uk

After grinding out 162 regular season games and nine playoff games, the New York Yankees finally punched their ticket to the World Series Sunday night with a 5-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. It will be the Yankees first trip to the big dance since 2003 when they lost to the Florida Marlins in six games. Although they have struggled sealing the deal this decade, the Yankees history is quite illustrious. This marks the 40th time they have won the American League pennant and a win over the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series would be their 27th time winning it all.

Of course, the Phillies will more than put up a fight to defend their World Series crown. The match up features some of the best pitchers in the game (Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, CC Sabathia, Mariano Rivera, etc.) as well as some of the leagues’ premier hitters in Ryan Howard and Alex Rodriguez. Game one is scheduled Wednesday in New York at a time to be determined.

Other baseball news: The Yankees victory over the Angels and subsequent berth in to the World Series was not the only piece of interesting baseball news over the weekend. After much debate in St. Louis over whether or not manager Tony La Russa would return to the club next year, it was announced that he and management agreed to a one year deal for 2010 that includes a mutual option for 2011. However, the real buzz surrounding the agreement was word that the Cardinals will be replacing hitting coach Hal McRae with a former slugger most recently known for his refusal to speak about the past during a Congressional hearing on steroids. That slugger is none other than Mark McGwire, who was coached by La Russa during his time with the Cardinals and Oakland Athletics.

College football: For those of you (like me) who do not like the BCS and desperately want to see a playoff system implemented, the storm clouds have started to brew with the most recent set of BCS rankings. The top four teams in the current standings — Florida, Alabama, Texas and Iowa — are all undefeated and barring an upset, three of those teams will likely end the season that way. A one-loss USC team comes in at number five and is followed by another set of undefeated teams in TCU, Boise State and Cincinnati. Even if only half of these top-eight teams win out we are looking at plenty of BCS drama and will hopefully move one step closer to a playoff system.

NFL: After seven weeks of play there are still three undefeated teams (Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, and New Orleans Saints) attempting to join the 1972 Miami Dolphins in the NFL history books. The Dolphins ran the table that year and remain the only team to have ever completed a perfect season. The field was nearly trimmed down to two teams this week as the Saints struggled against, ironically, the Dolphins. The Saints found themselves down 34-24 at the end of the third quarter but scored 22 unanswered points in the fourth to secure the victory.

What do you think was the biggest story of the weekend? What are you looking forward to the most this week? Let us know in the comments section below.

As we approach the halfway point of the fantasy football season, the importance of winning each week seems to be magnified tenfold. This is especially true for teams that would not be in the playoffs if they were to start today. For those on the outside looking in it is easy to fall into a panic, but regardless of your current record and roster predicaments there is still time to turn it around.

Even if the future looks bleak because Matt Forte, Tony Romo, and the once mighty Steve Smith (Carolina version) have all disappointed your team thus far, there is still value on the waiver wire that can help you get a win this week. None of these guys are going to carry your team to victory like Tom Brady and his six touchdowns did last week, but they are good bye week replacements that could potentially become serviceable starters.

QB Matt Cassel (Owned in 78.5 percent of ESPN leagues): He laid a big goose egg in week one against the Baltimore Ravens but has been surprisingly dependable since. Cassel has scored double digit fantasy points in four of his last five games and finally seems to be clicking with wide receiver Dwayne Bowe. He also has the fortune of playing at home against the San Diego Chargers, which allowed 18 fantasy points to the less than prolific Kyle Orton and 21 points to Ben Roethlisberger and the suddenly pass-happy Pittsburgh Steelers.

RB Mike Bell (Owned in 49.7 percent of ESPN leagues): Conventional wisdom says to sit Bell because he is going against one of the best run defenses in the NFL in the Miami Dolphins. To that I respond — there are six teams on their bye week and sometimes you have to take risks. Look, while Bell has split time with Pierre Thomas he also has become the go-to guy on the goal line. Goal line carries lead to rushing touchdowns and the Dolphins allowed two of those last week against the New York Jets.

WR Hakeem Nicks (Owned in 25.1 percent of ESPN leagues): Of the big three wide receivers on the New York Giants, do you know which is the only one to post double digit fantasy points the last three weeks? You may be surprised to learn that it is Nicks, who has quietly been flying under the radar due to the emergence of the new Steve Smith and the endless hype of Mario Manningham. Look for Nicks to extend his streak to four games as the G-Men face the Arizona Cardinals, who have given up the 7th most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season.

Any defense that is not the Tennessee Titans: If you would have told me before the season that the Titans would be the worst ranked fantasy defense in the NFL, I simply wouldn’t have believed you. Yet, six weeks and three negative scoring games later that is exactly where we stand. Somehow the Titans are still owned in a mind boggling 50.4 percent of leagues, but with this being their bye week it is the perfect time for all you hanger-oners to let go of the past. A few interesting defenses to consider that are widely available — the New England Patriots (11th ranked defense), Cincinnati Bengals (13th ranked defense), and Indianapolis Colts (16th ranked defense).

For more fantasy advice right up to kickoff, follow me on Twitter @davidcarrillo.

Image Source: Arrowhead Pride

You had to think that the story wasn’t truly over when Favre announced he was retiring three weeks ago; not when the story involves Brett Favre. He’s done this to us twice before and the truth is that he cannot just walk away from the game; not when there are teams telling him they still need him. Three weeks ago Favre was talking about how he didn’t think that his body could make through a full season and that this was the end, he wouldn’t try to come back. Now after training camp has passed and preseason has started Favre has had a change of heart. Favre said that he just didn’t want to leave the game with regret about what if or could have happened.

“I don’t know how I’ll feel a year from now, five years from now, but I didn’t want to say what if,” he said. He also said it wasn’t about getting back at the Packers by signing with the Packers rival. This is not about revenge or anything like that. Believe me. You can’t take away the 16 years I had in Green Bay. It was unbelievable. It was great, and that will be forever cherished by me and the guys I played with. They’ve moved on. I’ve moved on. I think it’s great for football.”

The rival Vikings will give Favre $25 million for two years to come back and be there starting QB. The QB’s on the roster have to be feeling like trash right now after this. And say that this Favre experiment doesn’t work, like it didn’t with the Jets, the Vikings will be looking for a totally new QB, cause they obviously have no confidence in the ones that are there. The Vikings are now thinking Super Bowl but the fact is that Favre has faded down the stretch in each of the last couple years. ESPN has the stats on his last four years and over the last 5 games of the season his numbers drop dramatically.:

Category       First 11games       Last 5 games
Comp pct                64.8                      56.1
Pass yards PG       253.8                   211.4
TD-Int                   75-50                  13-34
Passer rating         88.2                      59.9

*from ESPN.com 

These numbers don’t lie, Favre age is catching up to him and he is no longer able to play at a high level for a full season. The Vikings are hoping he can because they are putting a lot into him. I just don’t see it happening and think the Vikings are making a big mistake.

Brett Favre has finally made his decision, he is going to stay retired instead of playing for the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings recruited Brett very hard this off-season but in the end he just felt that he didn’t have enough in him to play a full season. It was a very tough decision for Favre and it looks like this is finally it for him, although we know nothing’s ever for sure with Brett Favre. Here’s what he had to say about his decision: “It was the hardest decision I’ve ever made. I didn’t feel like physically I could play at a level that was acceptable. I would like to thank everyone, including the Packers, Jets and Vikings — but, most importantly, the fans.”

Its always hard to see a star leave the game, but this was defiantly the right decision for Favre. Last year when he came back he faded down the stretch of the long season finally showing his age. Yes, he probably can still play, but over the long hall there is no way for him to stay health for a full season. With Favre making his decision, it now looks like the NFL and the Vikings can move on and focus on the season. This is good ’cause I’m tired of the only off-season stories being on whether Favre will play or not. Also, if I was the current quarterback of the Vikings, Tarvaris Jackson, I ‘d feel like nobody trusts my ability. I mean, the Vikings were going so hard after Favre was saying things like we need him to win the Super Bowl. This season will tell us a lot about Jackson on whether he is motivated by this, or he falls apart under the extra pressure now on him.

Source:  USA Today, AP Photo

Rather than sitting on the bench and being a back-up in the NFL, J.P. Losman has chosen to sign a one year deal to be a starter in the new UFL (United Football League).  On Tuesday, he announced that he signed to play quarterback for the Las Vegas franchise and will be coached by former Giants head coach Jim Fasssel.  In doing so, he now becomes the face of the league (as long as Michael Vick doesn’t sign in the UFL) because he’s a former first round pick who started 33 games in the NFL.  Losman stated he will go through free agency again after the season but this year he just need somewhere were people could see him play.  “I’m trying to get back on the field as soon as possible,” Losman said.  “I love the game.  I want to play this game.  I don’t want to be waiting for somebody to get hurt or not play well.  We’re trying to have as much success as possible here [UFL], try to create some buzz … and then go through [NFL free agency] again next year.”

Losman was very inconsistent in the NFL throwing one more INT than TD in his six year career.  So, going to the UFL for one season could actually benefit him.  He’ll actually have time to play and develop better skills, though against far inferior talent, in an NFL type environment.  Another good thing going for him is he will be tutored by a veteran coach and coordinator in Fassel, who once reinvigorated the careers of John Elway in Denver, Boomer Esiason in Arizona and Kerry Collins in New York.  Fassel said this about the situation J.P. is in, “Listen, if he’d have went back to the NFL and sat on the bench this year, then he’d have been no better off next year.  Whatever anybody thought about him, they’d still say the same thing.  Nothing would’ve changed….Instead, you go in this league and you play.  The risk you take is you don’t play well.  But if you’re an aggressive person, you say ‘I’m going to play well, people are going to see me, and maybe I can erase some of those negatives that were in the past, and a lot of people will say, wow, look at him play now.  He’s a new guy.”

We’ll see in November if NFL coaches agree, as after the six game season ends he will immediately be able to sign with an NFL team.  The UFL might be pretty interesting and entertaining if each team could land a player as talented as Losman.  If Vick ends up playing in it than I will definitely be watching to see what he still has left.  If I were a 3rd string QB on an NFL team with a star QB, I think I would rather get playing time and publicity in the UFL than ride the bench in the NFL.  Just can’t wait for football to start!

Source:  Getty Images, ESPN.com

It appears former USC star and current New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez is already on pace to break some NFL records.  According to a New York Times blog, Reebok has confirmed the No. 5 overall pick and his No. 6 jersey is the current top seller among all rookies, ahead of first overall pick Matthew Stafford (also a quarterback, drafted by the Detroit Lions).

It points out the obvious (New York has a bigger fan base) and gives the obligatory mention to Brett Favre.  It also mentions the sales are on pace to outsell last years hottest seller, Darren McFadden of the Oakland Raiders.

Then it got me thinking…where are the best places to buy cheap football equipment and jerseys?  I took a look over at Smarter.com’s NFL’s shop and, after overcoming a bout with sticker shock, I found my way to today’s deal of the day.

Over at the Fansedge.com, they have some great deals like Tom Brady’s Reebok Super Bowl XLII New England Patriots Jersey for only $34.99 (originally $89.99).

Their spring savings are up to 70 percent off and include such awesome items as a two-pair of Atlanta Falcons panties for $17.99. After all, what girl doesn’t want a Falcons logo stitched onto her special place?

Image Source: NYJetsFan.com

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for Mark Sanchez jerseys.
Discounts on NFL gear.

If you are a sports fan you probably find yourself stricken with a wicked case of déjà vu right now.  Sadly it isn’t a dream and we aren’t stuck in a day that keeps repeating a la Groundhog Day.

No, the truth is much more grim.  Brett Favre is once again waffling on his retirement plans and appears to be intent on torturing the sports world with another summer of ‘will he or won’t he’ nonsense.

There had been murmurs of it for weeks, but it became official yesterday that Favre and Minnesota Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress will meet at an “undisclosed location” to discuss the possibility of Favre coming back to spite the Green Bay Packers try and win another Super Bowl ring.  Even though I dread having to read/watch a million (only a slight exaggeration) stories over the coming weeks about the situation, there are a few things that make it more interesting than Favre’s usual melodrama.

For starters, prior to going to the New York Jets last year Favre indicated interest in playing for the Vikings.  Of course, with the Packers controlling his rights there was no way he was going to be lining up for a division rival.  Still, the interest was mutual and neither side seems to mind ruining former starter Tavaris Jackson’s confidence.

What I find most compelling is Favre, who multiple times said he had no interest in playing, had his agent request his release several weeks ago.  Why would a man content in retirement care which team held his rights?  Was he lying about his intent to stay retired or are we to believe that he has had a recent change of heart?

Daytime TV drama aside, there is still the question of whether or not the 39-year-old Favre can play.  After helping the Jets get off to an 8-3 start, Favre regressed as the season went on and looked completely out of sync (and breath) in the Jets final few games.

It is also difficult to believe he would risk further tarnishing his legacy by coming back and looking like an old Brett Favre instead of the old Brett Favre, but perhaps we are all underestimating how much bad blood there is between him and Packers general manager Ted Thomson.

For now all we are left with are questions. Will he come out of retirement?  Will fans turn on him more than they already have?  Will I lose my mind listening to up to the minute updates on ESPN?  It is too early to tell, but the smart money is a resounding yes on all three.

Image Source: thisisjuststupid.com

The NFL can be cruel to players on the north side of 30.  Just ask former Arizona Cardinals running back Edgerrin James.

That’s right, the Cardinals released the 30-year-old James on Tuesday, a move that was expected after he requested to be let go at the beginning of the free agency period.  After the team selected Chris “Beanie” Wells in last weekends draft, James became expendable and was finally given his request.

There were a few factors that played into the decision to send James his walking papers.  The Cardinals are still hoping to sign disgruntled wide receiver Anquan Boldin to an extension, as well as a few of their defensive stand outs, and James was due to make five million dollars this year.  The Edge was also frustrated with his increasingly shrinking role with the team last year after then rookie Tim Hightower saw his playing time rise throughout the season.

Now we will have to wait and see if James can land a gig somewhere else, which will be difficult considering most teams have shored up their needs through the draft and free agency already.  His age combined with his decline in production since going to Arizona from Indianapolis (he has not had more than 3.9 yards per carry in Arizona and last year he had the fewest rush attempts and yard in his entire career) are going to make him a tough sell to the few teams still looking for a back.

For people who still want to see him play and prove he still has gas left in tank, lets hope he can avoid the fate of Shaun Alexander, who just a couple years removed from a MVP season struggled to find work and rushed for a pathetic 24 yards last year.

Image Source:  Zimbio.com

According to a report on the Fox Sports Web site, wide receivers Percy Harvin and Brandon Tate tested positive for marijuana during February’s NFL scouting combine. With the NFL draft just days away, the news could not have come at a worse time considering teams are finalizing their draft boards.

While it is difficult to predict how much this will affect their draft status, one has to think that this can only drive down their stock. This is especially damaging to Harvin, who was widely believed to be a first round pick and possibly the third wide receiver taken after Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree and Missouri’s Jeremy Maclin. If he were to drop out of the first round, the mistake could cost him several million dollars.

The report also said that the pair of allegedly 420 friendly wide outs were the only “high profile” players to test positive for the drug, and if true they will have to enroll in the NFL substance abuse plan. While there maybe they will run into other notable NFL pot smoking alumni, such as ganja smoking Ricky Williams.

Harvin, who left the University of Florida as a junior, finished his college career with 1,929 yards receiving, 1,852 yards rushing and 32 touchdowns. Many NFL teams also thought that he would excel returning kickoffs and punts. Tate, who spent his college career playing in the ACC for North Carolina, left college with the NCAA record in kick return yards with 3,523. He was projected to be drafted anywhere from round two to four.

What do you think will happen to the players? Should the NFL care if their players smoke pot?

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