BASKETBALL

In the NBA, Gilbert Arenas has been suspended for pulling out a gun in practice.  This extends beyond the suspension and has been ruled a felony.  What does this mean?  Well, essentially, the Wizards are hopefully going to try to void Arenas’ contract.  They signed a monster deal with Arenas in the off-season, but they really shouldn’t have.  He’s getting old, and is clearly not the same guy he used to be.  Voiding contracts is very difficult in the NBA, but the Wizards are hoping to shed themselves of Arenas and move on.  But they need the money that is currently in Arenas’ pocket if they want to rebuild.Elsewhere in the NBA, a very interesting nugget of history.  Former Cleveland Cavaliers coach John Lucas publicly stated yesterday that the Cavs tanked their 2002-2003 NBA season so they could put themselves in prime position to draft LeBron James.  They wound up winning the lottery, and we’ve seen how valuable LeBron has been to Cleveland.  But to hear a coach publicly admit that they tanked is quite shocking. Lucas said that the team’s owner traded away all their competitive players before the end of the season.  “We didn’t have a chance”, Lucas stated.  Cleveland needed someone as marketable as LeBron and badly because Lucas said it’s really hard to convince marquee free agents to play in Cleveland. 

Finally, some more crazy NBA news.  Blake Griffin was drafted #1 overall this season by the Los Angeles Clippers.  But many feared that joining the Clippers is essentially a curse.  Historically that has not boded well for celebrated rookies.  Well, at the beginning of the season, Griffin was told he’d miss the first 6 weeks.  They wanted his knee to heal.  Yesterday, however, the Clippers announced that Griffin would not play this season at all.  Apparently, he’s ok, but they just want to be safe, and bring him back full strength next season.  Plus, he’s more marketable next year with a fresh start and most likely another strong draft pick to throw in the mix.  This season is pretty much a wash.  Let’s hope that Griffin doesn’t disappoint. 

 

FOOTBALL

In between NFL playoff weeks, the college football world has been up in arms.  Pure chaos.

First off, the Seattle Seahawks were in search for a new head coach.  Instead of picking from potential offensive and defensive coordinators in the pros, they went headhunting in the college ranks — approaching none other than USC superhero Pete Carroll.  Carroll has coached in the NFL before (the Patriots before the Belichick era), but has refused multiple pro coaching opportunities since turning USC into a powerhouse.  In fact, the 49ers approached him just a few seasons ago, and he said he was staying put.

However, USC just had an awful season, and recovering in college football isn’t easy.  Once you slip up (i.e. go from being undefeated almost every season to losing to multiple teams within your conference), it’s hard to recover.  Some of the star recruits don’t want to be a part of your program any more.  With this being said, Carroll took the opportunity and bolted for the NFL.  Perhaps he saw a slump coming in the USC program and got out while he could.  It’s tough to say if Carroll’s success at USC will transfer to Seattle (after all, success in college sports is very dependent on a solid recruiting team), but it’s definitely a new era in Seattle now.  With Carroll as the head coach, it’s very likely that the Seahawks will move on from the Matt Hasselback era.  After all, Hasselbeck was former head coach Mike Holmgren’s QB.  You might see a bunch of changes in Seattle next season.

Furthermore, upon Carroll’s departure to the Seahawks, it left a coaching vacancy at USC.  A very coveted job.  And guess who took it immediately?  Former USC offensive mastermind Lane Kiffin. Kiffin was the offensive coordinator at USC under Carroll, and he took a head coaching job with the Raiders just 2 seasons ago.  Now here’s where things get controversial.  Kiffin signed a big deal to be the head coach at the illustrious University of Tennessee.  He was brought in to reignite their prestigious program (they have been average this decade).  Well, after just one average season at Tennessee, Kiffin jumped ship and went back to his comfort zone — USC.  Perhaps Kiffin knew the SEC is just too competitive to go undefeated, and that USC would be a better place to shine.  After all, USC has practically dominated the Pac 10 this year, and they easily get the best High School recruits on the west coast.  However, Tennessee is not happy about this, and feel that Kiffin betrayed them.  It’s a very shady move, especially because it’s now possible that some of Kiffin’s most notable blue chip recruits might decide to play elsewhere.  This has financial implications for the University after all.  But… what’s done is done.  Kiffin is the man at USC, and there is a (huge) vacancy at Tennessee.

FOOTBALL

It was wild card weekend in the NFL, and we some great games… and some surprises.

First up, it was a rematch between the NY Jets and Cincy Bengals.  The Jets crushed the Bengals last weekend, but many thought that the Bengals would be ready this time — playing all their starters and going full throttle.  Plus, they had home field advantage.  Couple this with Jets QB Mark Sanchez playing in his first playoff game, and you have to give the edge to Cincy.  Well, didn’t matter.  The Jets came to play!  Mark Sanchez gave a solid performance throwing for 182 yards a TD and NO INTERCEPTIONS.  That’s getting the job done.  The Jets will play the San Diego Chargers next week.  NY Jets 24, Cincy 14.

Next up, another rematch from Week 17 between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys.  The Cowboys are RED-HOT right now, with their defense truly playing outstanding football.  But the Eagles are pesky.  They stink one week, but can light it up the next.  The Cowboys have dominated them all season, but could they win a THIRD time?  The answer… YES, ABSOLUTELY.  The Eagles didn’t stand a chance against this juggernaut.  Tony Romo and running back Felix Jones had amazing performances, but it was really the Dallas Defense that deserves the credit for the annihilation.  This sets up an outstanding match-up next weekend between Dallas and Minnesota.  Two smothering defenses going head to head.  Dallas 34, Philadelphia 14.

And on Sunday, the first game featured was the Baltimore Ravens and the New England Patriots.  Ladies and Gentleman, we got to see Tom Brady playing playoff football again.  A return to the Patriot glory days, perhaps.  Um, nope.  The Patriots looked absolutely horrible, and the Ravens… just the opposite.  In fact, on the very first play of the game, Ravens running back Ray Rice rushed for an 83 yard touchdown.  That set a definite tone for the game, as the Ravens crushed the Patriots.  Can Tom Brady and the Pats turn it around next season?  As for Baltimore, they get the privilege of facing the #1 team in the league next week — Indianapolis.  Baltimore 33, New England 14.

And they saved the best for last.  An offensive showdown between the Green Bay Packers and Arizona Cardinals.  The first half was all Cardinals, as the Packers just couldn’t get anything going.  Heading into the half, the Cards led 24-10.  Arizona even kicked it up to 31-10 to start the 4th quarter, but then Aaron Rodgers led the Pack on an amazing comeback, and suddenly the game was tied 45-45 with just under two minutes to go.  Because neither defense could stop the other, Kurt Warner and Arizona marched the ball down the field and set up their kicker Neil Rackers for an easy field goal.  And……. he missed it.  Lucky break for the Packers, who would WIN THE COIN TOSS.  They actually might win this thing.  But then, something incredible happened, Arizona’s defense turned it on.  They caused Aaron Rodgers to fumble at his own 10 yard line, the Cardinals recovered, and ran it in for a touchdown to win the game.  Simply unbelievable!  This was the highest scoring game in playoff history.  Now, the Cardinals will take on New Orleans next week in what should also be a point-scoring explosion.  Arizona 51, Green Bay 45.

FOOTBALL

Last night was the big game in college football — the mother of them all:  The BCS Championship.  Undefeated #1 Alabama vs. unbeaten #2 Texas.  It was winner take all in Pasadena, California, and the extremely faithful fan bases were out.  Both of these teams have rabid loyal fan bases, and they came out in droves.  So what would they see?

The game started off all Texas.  They played strong defense, and kept Alabama’s offense in tact.  However, Texas couldn’t convert touchdowns from certain turnovers, and only put up 2 field goals (6 points) for their efforts.  Then, a tragic event for Texas.  Their Heisman candidate quarterback, and nice-guy golden boy, Colt McCoy, took a shot from Alabama and had to go to the locker room for X-Rays.  It was soon revealed that McCoy would miss the remainder of the game.  Back-up QB, Garrett Gilbert stepped in to what is the premise for many sports movies (the kid coming from out of nowhere with a chance to win the game).

Mark Ingram, the Heisman Trophy Winner, ran it in for a 2-yard touchdown to put Alabama on top.  And then it was all downhill for Texas in the first half, as Gilbert simply could not crack Alabama’s defense. They even intercepted a pass for a 28-yard interception with just 3 seconds left in the half.  And that put Alabama up 24-6.

In the second half, however, with Colt McCoy watching from the sidelines, Texas came soaring back.  Gilbert hit All-American Jordan Shipley for a 44-yard touchdown pass and suddenly gained some confidence.  In the 4th, Gilbert connected with Shipley again for a touchdown, this time for a 28-yard pass.  They even converted the 2-point conversion.  And out of nowhere, it’s 24-21 with just 5 minutes left.  Folks, we have a game here!!!

But Alabama did what they do best in the end — apply pressure defense.  Texas had the ball near their own end zone, and Alabama laid a vicious pop on Texas QB Gilbert, causing him to fumble the ball.  Alabama recovered within the 5 yard line.  And when your season hinges on stopping the Heisman Trophy Winning Running Back within the 5 yard-line… you’re in trouble.  Texas tried, but to no avail as Mark Ingram ran it in for a touchdown.  And that sealed the deal.  The Alabama Crimson Tide have returned to dominance.  The game will be remembered for Alabama’s ferocious defense, and for the tragedy that Colt McCoy wouldn’t get to play in a championship he worked so hard to get to.  Alabama 37, Texas 21.

BASKETBALL

In the NBA, judgment has fallen upon Gilbert Arenas.  Prior to the New Year, Gilbert Arenas had an altercation with teammate Javaris Crittenton.  Supposedly, the bout was about a gambling debt Arenas owed Crittendon, and Arenas become so enraged he pulled out a gun.  Well, this doesn’t exactly fly by NBA League Rules.  After the incident, Arenas told reporters that he and Crittenton were friends and this was just a misunderstanding.  He then made a series of bad jokes, saying he was going to laugh it off.  That didn’t sit well either.  His punishment:  He is now suspended indefinitely.

It’s hard to come back from a suspension like this.  It hurts the ego, and affects the team’s perception of Gilbert.  Teammate Antawn Jamison said he loves Gilbert, and knows he’s a jokester, but when there are guns involved, that’s no laughing matter.  This comes in a year where pro athletes have become targets of violence.  Former quarterback Steve McNair was killed by a jealous girlfriend.  With that said, a league could not let an incident like this fly, and there’s a chance that Gilbert may be forced to miss the rest of the season.  It may be time for the Washington Wizards to put the Gilbert Arenas era behind them.

FOOTBALL

And in the NFL, former New England Patriots offensive coordinator, and Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis has been looking for a job.  There was talk of him landing the head coaching spot in Buffalo, especially since he’s familiar with many of the competitors in that division.  However, it doesn’t look like that will pan out.  Why?  Because Weis has just accepted a position to be the offensive coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs.  Their offense looked bleak this season, and having a offensive guru like Weis just focusing on… offense (not Notre Dame pressure) could be great for them.  They showed some spark towards the end of the season, and even have a bonafide stud running back in Jamaal Charles.  Look for KC to jump back on the scene as a contender next season.

FOOTBALL

After a stunning Fiesta Bowl Monday night, the Orange Bowl had a lot to live up to.  It saw a match-up between the best ACC team, Georgia Tech, and the #2 Big 10 Team, Iowa (who were in the running for the BCS Championship until they lost).  It would be Georgia Tech’s offense against a stingy Iowa defense.

In the first half, it was all Iowa.  Georgia Tech couldn’t do anything against a dominant Iowa defense, and the Hawkeyes truly capitalized on it.  Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi started off red-hot tossing 2 touchdown passes in the first quarter.  The first to Marvin McNutt, and the second to Colin Sandeman.  Georgia Tech brought the game close again with a 40-yard interception return from Jerrard Tarrant.  So even though the GT Yellowjackets couldn’t find any offense, they still only trailed by a touchdown at half.

Georgia Tech did a better job of holding Iowa in the second half, and even brought the game within 3 points in the 4th quarter.  But Iowa was just too much for the Yellowjackets, and the nail in the coffin came when running back Brandon Wegher burst through Georgia Tech’s defensive line en route to a 32 yard touchdown.  That did it.  And the Iowa Hawkeyes are your 2010 Orange Bowl Champions.  That’s the last bowl game before Thursday Night’s BCS Championship between #1 Alabama and #2 Texas.

Finally, some news out of the NFL.  It appears that the Washington Redskins are looking to the future.  Immediately after their season ended, they fired coach Jim Zorn and went shopping.  An exciting figure from the past flew into town, and it looks like he will coach the Redskins for the next 5 years.  Yes, former 2-time Super Bowl winning coach, Mike Shanahan will be the new head coach of the Washington Redskins.  Will this revive one of the most popular franchises in sports?

FOOTBALL

It was Fiesta Bowl night in college football.  This was a much anticipated game between two undefeated teams.  The offensive explosion that is Boise State vs. the defensive powerhouse that is TCU (Texas Christian University).  Small conferences sure, but both of these teams are constantly fighting for respect.  In fact, Boise State said they would be more than happy to take on any top 25 team as an AWAY game.  Typically in college football, when teams schedule each other, they do it for two seasons.  One on each home field.  But Boise State knows everybody is afraid to play them on their home field, so they offered to play TWO away games.  And even then, nobody is accepting the invitation.  After all, a loss to Boise State effectively ends BCS hopes for a major conference team.  Boise State even beat Oregon this year, the Pac-10 Rose Bowl representative.  So, how would they fare against an incredible TCU team that many thought deserved a spot in the BCS Championship Game?

Well, it was an extremely defensive, low-scoring game.  Boise State’s Brandyn Thompson got things started with a 51 yard interception return for a TD.  7-0 Boise State.  TCU couldn’t get much going, but in the second quarter, TCU’s quarterback Andy Dalton hit Curtis Clay for a 30-yard TD.  And suddenly, TCU was only down 3 heading into the half.

But, in the second half, Boise State worked their inventive magic.  For example, on a 4th down punting situation, their punter Kyle Brotzman, threw a 30-yard pass to keep an important drive alive (and keep the ball out of TCU’s hands).  Then, later, Boise State punted again, straight into the hands of TCU’s dangerous return man Jeremy Kerley.  He was about to break away and head for the game-tying touchdown, when he was suddenly knocked down by who, the punter AGAIN, Kyle Brotzman.  Who would have thought that the punter would be such a hero in such a big game.  After that, TCU just couldn’t get the touchdown they needed, and Boise State held on to stay undefeated and win their second BCS bowl.  In fact, they’ve never lost one.  It sure would be great to have a playoff in college football.  Boise State 17, TCU 10.

FOOTBALL

In the NFL, there were a few must-win playoff situations.

First, the Baltimore Ravens needed to beat the Oakland Raiders to get a playoff birth.  Not too difficult a task, but the Raiders have been pesky lately.  Could the Ravens do what was necessary?  Well, they kept it rather close, trailing only 14-10 at the half.  However, the story of the game was a name from the past.  The Ravens running game typically belongs to Ray Rice, but yesterday Willis McGahee was the man.  He rushed for 167 yards and 3 touchdowns to seal the Ravens playoff appearance.  The Raiders, meanwhile, have a lot to fix this off-season.  Baltimore 21, Oakland 13.

Elsewhere, the Denver Broncos, who started the season 6-0, found themselves in a dire position to get a win in Week 17 to have a shot at the playoffs.  Fortunately for them, they were handed an easy opponent in the 3-12 Kansas City Chiefs.  Plus, the Broncos were playing on their home turf.  Unfortunately, Cinderella made an appearance as the Chiefs came out vicious.  Their newly appointed starting running back, Jamaal Charles, rushed for 259 yards and 2 touchdowns as the Chiefs absolutely trounced the Broncos in a must-win game.  Wow, where did that come from?  With the loss, the Broncos were eliminated from playoff contention, and finish a season that started 6-0… 8-8.  Kansas City 44, Denver 24.

Finally, on Sunday Night Football, with the Denver loss, the NY Jets needed to beat the Cincinnati Bengals in order to grab the final playoff spot.  Lets just say they caught a huge break (which everyone was speculating that they would earlier in the week), because the Bengals really had nothing to gain from winning, given that their playoff position is locked in.  They can’t earn a bye (that will go to Indianapolis and San Diego),  so this was basically an ‘off-night’ for them.  They rested starters and played light to prevent injury, allowing the NY Jets to simply roll over them.  However, this sets up a rematch between the Bengals and Jets on Saturday.  And you can bet that the Bengals will be truly growling then.  NY Jets 37, Cincy 0.