All Sport Report

It has been a busy weekend for sport, with 3 key matches coming to a close on a global scale:

Formula 1 - The Flying Fin - Kimi Raikonnen, pips British rookie Lewis Hamilton and last years champion Fernando Alonso in the final race at Interlagos, Brazil. Kimi had not lead the championship since the first race, however he finished with a phenominal 2nd half to the season and beat the feuding McClarens who drove themselves out of the points repeatedly during the final races in a bid to best each other.

MLB - the Boston Red Sox defeated Cleveland 11-2 in game 7 of the ALCS, firing them into the World Series. They scored and impressive 6 runs in the bottom of the 8th to clinch the victory.

Rugby World Cup - South Africa become world champions defeating England 15-6, amid the outcries of a “dubious” decision by the video referee that disallowed what appeared to be an England try, (which would have, at the time, cut the score from 9-3 to 9-8) the springboks captivated a dream world cup in which they cruised through the entire competition, and ending Englands dream of back to back world cups, and the opportunity to do so by winning 3 consecutive games as the underdogs (beating Australia in the 1/4 finals and home nation France in the semi’s)

(more…)

The answers to that question are obvious:

- Besides a major injury setback, the Pats will be coming out of week 9 with either home field advantage or the other advantage of knowing what the Colts may try should they meet again in the post-season.

- LT is not done yet, 4 TD’s and 198 yards rushing, while still being eclipsed by rookie Peterson’s numbers, it could be the start of something big for the future hall of famer. and i say future hall of famer for both LT and Peterson (he is THAT good).

- Defensive co-ordinators can’t prepare you for everything, all the tape available from the first 5 weeks, and despite missing any big kind of attacking prowess, Adrian Peterson still rolled over the Bears for 224 yards, and he did it behind a line that can’t be considered anywhere near the best in the league, while the Bears stacked up against him. And on the other side of the ball? They are STILL kicking to Hester, it’s simple, on kickoff’s give them the start on the 40, the Bear’s offense is inconsistent, look for turnovers. And on punt’s, give the ball to the crowd! just go for it on 4th and 21, its all better than just giving them an easy 7 points!

- Old dogs, new tricks? Of course im talking about Testaverde, 21 straight seasons with a TD, mind you, he is still more mobile than Drew Bledsoe ever was, but throwing for over 200 yards after only having a few days to get to know the offense is some going, kudos to you old man, kudos…

- If strange men offer you the cover of a certain game, turn it down. I am a firm believer of the Madden curse, so is Tomlinson, and he quickly turned down the offer to be on the cover of ‘08. Vince Young did not, and so far he has thrown only 3 TD’s but 6 interceptions, has a rating of 68.0 and for a mobile QB has only gone for 129 rushing, and then to top it off he hurt his quadriceps against the Bucs and sat out the rest of the game.

(more…)

It’s week 6 of the NFL season, and everything has been turned upside down, at least, in the NFC it has…but first, the “big showdown”, the 5-0 Pats at the 5-0 ‘Boys, Only the 5th time in history that two teams at 5-0 or better have faced off, but whats making this headline news across the board is that of the receivers, or as everyone else has been talking about, the 81 showdown, T.O. vs. Moss.
T.O. struck first, after practice leaving a note on his locker, which read as follows:
“Dear Reporters,

“p.s. Getcha Popcorn Ready.”

Of course the “other 81″ he is referring to is Randy Moss, who is letting his stats do the talking as he currently leads the NFL with 34 receptions for 551 yards and 7 TD’s. and while T.O.’s numbers aren’t shabby, (21 receptions/387 yds/3 TD’s) he certainly isn’t letting the stats take his spotlight. But then there is the QB situation, or rather, the shoot-out situation, since this is how the match is shaping up to be (that could be down to the lacklustre pass defence of the Cowboys). Romo will be playing his 16th career start, and when compared to Tom Brady’s first 15 games, or anybodys for that matter, Romo is on fire, throwing for over 4,000 yards and having a rating over 100, but coming off a game in which he threw 5 interceptions and fumbled the ball, its going to require a big return to form to go against the current number 1 defence in the NFL. But we are looking at a team that has improved from last year, and they beat the 9-0 Colts.
My prediction: even i have to respect how well the Pats are playing right now and go against my fave team; Pats 38-21 Cowboys.
(more…)

New Orleans Loses in NFL Opener

Ok, so my record is 0-1, but this week isn’t over yet. For some reason, Payton Manning had all the right moves and the Saints (even with the talent of Brees and Bush) just didn’t have what it took to take Manning down. This is just the first game of the season. Let’s hope it doesn’t foreshadow how the rest of the games will play out for the Saints this year.

This wasn’t just a win. This was a mess of a game. I hardly recognized the Saints in this game. Sure, the Colts won last year’s Superbowl, but it was a new year and in football who wins one year doesn’t necessarily reflect on how well they play the next. However, this opening game, in which the Colts won 41-10, seems to be the prelude to another season the Colts will dominate.

(more…)

University of Michigan took a stunning drop in the AP polls this week going from number five to unranked in the top 25 list. The AP expanded their polls to list the top 25 teams in 1989. Since that time no team has tumbled farther than Michigan did this week. The cause of the tumble was a loss to Appalachian State, a team that cannot even be ranked in the AP poll.

Despite other losses on the board, it was the 34-32 loss of Michigan that got the attention of sports fans and caused them to take the hardest hit. Most of the other teams failed to even move on the poll. Another team to fall off the rankings was number 19, Florida State. Their drop was due to the loss at Clemson (24-18). With Florida State out, Clemson moved in. Georgia Tech also made it into the Top 25 thanks to their win against Notre Dame (33-3), which almost made U of M’s loss look like nothing in comparison.

(more…)

With the first official NFL game being played on September 6, 2007, it’s time to pick the winners for Week 1. With what is turning out to be a surprisingly good pre-season (filled with drama, the shadows of criminal activity (Vick anyone?) and plenty of great game plays), the unexpected is bound to happen once the NFL main season gets underway.

I find that the hardest games to predict tend to occur during the first few weeks of the season. This does not take away from the fun that is involved in predicting each game. I’m going to try and explain my motivation for choosing each team. Anyone who wants to compete in the NFL prediction game can leave their predictions (with or without explanations) in the comment section. I look forward to seeing what teams everyone else will be predicting to win.

Thursday, September 6, 2007

New Orleans Saints at Indianapolis Colts

While the Colts made it to the Superbowl (and won) last year, the New Orleans Saints were last year’s underdogs turned superstars. This pre-season has shown the Saints still have what it takes to win a football game while the Colts have been nothing more than a disappointment (what gives Peyton?!). While I may be a bit biased in this selection, and I do believe this will be a close game, I have to go with my team on this one.

(more…)

You’d think that after everything Michael Vick had done (66 dogs were seized from his home, they found something called rape stands (used to make the dogs more mean and aggressive - and yes they were used for what the name implies) in his possession, he participated (and admitted to it) in the murder of dogs, and he admitted to running a dog fighting ring near his home) that the Atlanta Falcons would wise up and fire him.

This is not the case. Michael Vick may still have a place in the Atlanta Falcons lineup, waiting for him, if/when he gets out of jail. That guilty admission should have been the thing to make the Falcons kick Vick off the team, but at this point, he will remain suspended until his plea has been filed and his punishment has been doled out.

Sponsors like Nike have already bid Vick adieu, not wanting the negative publicity to affect their sales, and rightfully so. Still, Vick has some people on his side. His Momma still loves him, and has defended her baby to the NY Post. Entertainer, Jamie Foxx has taken sides and remains in Vick corner. Even the owner of the Atlanta Falcons, Arthur Blank, seems to be willing to look past the “terrible mistake” Vick made, and possibly give him another chance.

(more…)

Today was a big day in the Evans household. I had my remote set to flip between three different sporting events. At 1:00 PM EST, the Detroit Tigers took on the Oakland A’s. If they happened to win this game, they had the chance to move half a game ahead of Cleveland for 1st place in the AL’s Central Division. Of course, the Tribe would also have to lose their game today to the New York Yankees for this to occur. With the Yankees playing some damn good baseball lately that seemed like the inevitable outcome.

Meanwhile, Football’s pre-season began in Detroit when the Lions took on the Bengals. I’m not a fan of either team (though as a little tyke my heroes were Icky and Boomer – I perfected my “Icky Shuffle”). However, seeing football on TV was exciting enough to get me all riled up. Besides, being in Michigan, I feel minor loyalty to the Lions, even if they have had some rather “sucky” streaks in the past few years. The exhibition game just happened to be on my Detroit CW station with the Tigers on one of my other, local stations.

(more…)

Brady Quinn has come to an agreement with the Cleveland Browns and will sign a $20.2 Million contract with $7.75 Million guaranteed that will put an end to his holdout. The five year contract has the ability to grow to $30 Million with incentives. The contract was signed Tuesday night and ended a holdout of 11 days. Due to the fact that Quinn has missed as many days as he has, he essentially eliminated any shot he had of beginning the season as the team’s starter.

As the terms have been negotiated, Quinn flew from Arizona to the Browns’ training facility. He will have a chance to begin practicing on Wednesday afternoon, after a press conference that will announce the deal.

The question is will Quinn be able to make up the time he has lost? He not only missed the first 10 days of camp, but he also struggled significantly in the spring workouts and mini-camps. This leads people to wonder just how far behind Quinn really is.

(more…)

August 4, 2007 marked the 8th day Brady Quinn didn’t attend training camp for the Cleveland Browns. He also missed the four day rookie orientation for new Browns players prior to Camp. The former Notre Dame star quarterback was a disappointing 22nd draft pick by the Browns after they traded their first pick with Dallas. While it was projected that Quinn, who was a contender for the Heisman trophy, would have been chosen in the top ten of the first round, his low placement was just the beginning of his NFL career disappointments.

While Quinn works out to keep in shape in Arizona, the Cleveland Browns are preparing for the upcoming post-season, which is fast approaching. Meanwhile, Quinn’s agent, Tom Condon, is busy trying to negotiate pay for his client. Quinn isn’t playing for the love of the game. He’s resisting playing until he gets the pay he wants. As a result, he’s alienating his prospective team and teammates, shaking up the possibility for an NFL career, and making himself look a spoiled, selfish brat.

(more…)

Ryan Tucker, the offensive tackle for the Cleveland Browns, was suspended today for the first four games of the football season. Apparently Tucker was found violating the NFL’s steroid usage policy. Anyone that happens to be a Browns fan is probably aware that Tucker was out for part of last season with what was referred to as an undisclosed mental disorder.

Now that Tucker is healthy and ready to play he has been suspended. He will return to the Browns roster on October 1 after the Browns play the Baltimore Ravens in their fourth season game. Tucker is taking his suspension like a man though or as best as he can. He apologized to family and friends and stated that in an attempt to make a comeback he took a banned substance. He plans to go through with his suspension and put it behind him.

(more…)

One of the greatest coaches in the history of the San Francisco 49ers has died. After battling leukemia, the most difficult battle he endured in 75 years, Bill Walsh finally lost his battle on Monday, July 30, 2007. Walsh passed away with his loved ones present by his side at his Woodside home. Leukemia, which apparently runs in the family, took the life of one of his sons, Steve, in 2002. Steve, a reporter for ABC, was only 46 when he died.

Walsh’s career as a coach can only be personified as its Hall of Fame quality. He won three Superbowls and transformed the 49ers into a West Coast football powerhouse, feared and respected by teams across the country. Despite his diligent and articulate coaching style, Walsh was a soft-spoken individual who was a native Californian and quite proud of that fact.

Joe Montana, Walsh and the 49ers’ star quarterback, who earned his own place in the Hall of Fame, was somber when interviewed about the death. To him, Walsh was not only a close friend but a mentor and father figure. Montana told reporters, “For me personally, outside of my dad he was probably the most influential person in my life. I am going to miss him.”

(more…)

After a few days break from my daily sports run down due to life really giving me a sharp kick, it’s back to the grind. So, what did we miss during my brief hiatus? Scandals abound like crazy in the sporting world. From Cycling to Basketball, Friday, July 20, 2007 was not a good day in the vast majority of the world’s top sporting organizations.

Baseball

Cleveland and Detroit Battle it Out for First Place – The Central Division of the American League has been heating up. With just a half game lead over the Cleveland Indians going into the second half of regular season, Detroit and Cleveland have been in a constant battle to see who will be number one. While Detroit remains just barely ahead of Cleveland, Detroit’s catastrophic 10-2 loss to Kansas City after a four game winning streak on Friday thrust Cleveland (who beat the Rangers 3-2) one step closer to taking over the top spot and kicking Detroit down to second place. My Tigers better hustle and win their next game if they want to remain in first place not only for the Central Division, but for the American League as a whole.

(more…)

This is a new feature I hope to write every day. Each evening, late at night, I plan to run through the top stories in the Sports World. In the Run Down, you’ll get a crash course through the hottest stories, latest scandals, and most exciting news on all of your favorite sports. If you want to know what is going on in Sports, then the Run Down will offer all of the information you need to keep you wanting more!

In this week’s Run Down:

Baseball

Bonds Bombs in Entire Dodgers Series, Losing Streak Continues Onward– Barry Bonds, just five home runs away from beating the home run record of Henry “Hank” Aaron (a true ball player who didn’t have to use steroids to hit 756 home runs – but don’t get me started on how unfair I think this is), is in a slump. Fellow Giants short-stop, Omar Vizquel, said the slugger just hasn’t been the same since he had an All Star Game party, playing host until the wee hours of the morning, a week and a half ago.

(more…)

Chris Chambers, who has spent six years as a top receiver for the Miami Dolphins was arrested early Saturday morning on suspicion of DWI, reckless driving, and speeding. Chambers’ attorney faced the judge in a Charlotte, North Carolina, Mecklenburg County courtroom on Monday, July 16, though Chambers himself did not attend. The case was delayed a month and will resume on August 15.

Chambers was pulled over and taken into custody for the aforementioned charges at 2:31 a.m. on July 14. Chambers was initially pulled over because he was clocked driving 74 mph in a 45 mph zone. While pulled over, he refused to take a Breathalyzer test and didn’t pass the other, basic sobriety tests.

(more…)